by R. L. Naquin
I cleared my throat. “Is…is everything okay ?”
Polly looked up from the pile of papers she’d been shuffling through. “Of course. Did you not think things were good ?”
“I don’t really know. Did…did Gordon finish in time ?”
One side of her mouth twitched. “Oh, you poor thing. Yes. Yes, of course. He did a fine job. And so did you .”
I exhaled and settled into a more relaxed position. “Thank the gods .”
“Well, I think that was mostly you, not the gods. Regardless, the Fates arranged for you to receive an invitation to the gallery show. Make certain you’re there. It’s the final job you need to do for Mr. Gordon .”
I nodded. “Of course.” That was a huge relief. I didn’t know what it would have taken for me to get into the gallery, but I’d planned to try. About damn time the Fates did something nice for me instead of jerking me around .
She returned her attention to the papers in her hands. “So. A few things we need to cover going forward.” She passed a sheet of paper across the table to me. “I believe you’ll be pleased with this one .”
I read the name on the top. “You’re giving me Susan back ?”
“She was on vacation the entire time you were busy. You should be able to pick up where you left off with her .”
I hated not getting to see my clients through to the end of their projects, but even more so with Susan. She was having a baby. I wanted to see the dinosaur mural completed. I wanted to see the finished nursery. Dammit, I wanted to see the baby when she was born .
I smiled and smoothed my hands over the paper. “ Thank you .”
Polly gave a curt nod. “And this one you might as well take , too .”
This one was Rhonda, who was writing a book. The deadline was a year out. I loved sitting in her office listening to her talk to herself while she planned her next scene. “ Good , good .”
My heart felt lighter already. Everything was going to be okay .
“Okay. Good.” She handed me two more sheets of paper. “Neither of those are going to take up much of your time, so I have two more here for you.” Her hands came to rest in a little tent with her fingers together. “And there’s one more thing .”
I glanced at the assignments. One was a one month deadline for a woman designing a cosplay costume for a comic book convention. The second was for a man redoing his deck and garden for a family reunion that was coming up in three months. Nothing too difficult or tight. “Looks great. What else do you need?” I tapped the four sheets of paper against the desk .
The office door opened, and I turned to see a young woman standing in the doorway. She wore a bored expression, a half-tucked shirt, and a pair of scuffed boots. She did not appear to be pleased to be there .
“Please come in and have a seat.” Polly gestured toward a second chair .
The girl dragged her feet into the room and dropped into the seat. The way her hands fidgeted and her foot tapped the floor gave away her true feelings. She tried to look tough, but she was clearly nervous .
Polly’s melodic voice had an amused lilt to it. “Wynter, this is our newest Muse, Ariel. She’ll be shadowing you for the next few days .”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “I’m training her ?”
Ariel smirked and chewed on a fingernail . “Hi .”
I gave her a quick wave. “Hi.” I glanced at Polly. “Are you sure ?”
Polly nodded. “Show me you can train as well as you can inspire. Do a good job and I’ll make the title official .”
I stared at her for a moment, not knowing what to say, then turned my attention to Ariel. She was a mess. I had no doubt in my mind that she’d hit rock bottom in her life and was forced into being here .
She was me. Not me now, but me six or seven months ago. If I couldn’t help her, nobody could .
I pushed away from the desk and stood. “I guess we’d better get started, then. Come on, Ariel. I’ll show you the supply closet .”
B y Thursday, Ariel was off on her first assignment on her own and I was back to making my own hours. In those few days with her I’d learned that I loved training. As much as I liked Audrey, she’d been a shitty trainer. I seemed to have a knack for it—much like I had a knack for being a Muse .
I had signed a contract with Mt. Olympus that meant I had to stick around for two years. I had no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be going anywhere when the contract was up. I’d found my calling .
I’d found my place .
Which is why I was so relaxed and in such a good mood when I sat down at my desk to check my email first thing Thursday morning. I’d been busy at the beginning of the week learning my new clients, checking in on my old ones, and trying to teach Ariel everything I could before she went off on her own .
Three days was more training than I ever got, but it still wasn’t much .
As a result of all that running around, my emails and my phone messages had stacked up without my realizing it. And all the messages were from the same person .
Parker had sent me five emails and four phone messages. All he said in any of them was that I needed to call him back .
I was a little worried, but not frantic. I was still staying at Mom’s. If anything major had occurred in the Underworld, she’d have known about it. The only reason she wasn’t down there herself was so she could help Phyllis readjust to the world .
Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good. Probably something the Hags of the Underworld Book Club wanted me to do. Anything more serious and Hades would have called Mom .
I sighed and punched in the Underworld head office phone number. “Hey. It’s Wynter. Sorry I took so long to get back to you. What’s up ?”
Parker laughed, which didn’t appease my dread of whatever he was about to say. “Thank the gods. He’s driving me crazy .”
“Who?” I frowned, trying to think of who he might be talking about and failing .
“Some guy named Scott. He keeps calling me looking for you. Said you told him to. Honey, if you don’t call him back, I think he might have an aneurism .”
I groaned. “Well, hell.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Give me his number. I’m so sorry. I’ll take care of it .”
“He’s in the Asphodel dorm.” He gave me the number. “I get the feeling he won’t be around much longer, so you probably shouldn’t put it off .”
“Wow. I thought they stuck around longer than that. It’s only been about three weeks. He’s really ready to cycle through and start a new life already ?”
“Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes weeks .”
I poked the soil around my tiny, non-sentient plant. Dry. “I guess I’d better call , then .”
“Soon. Before he calls me again ?”
“I’ll do it now.” I scowled, hoping he’d hear it in my voice .
“Luck!” His cheeriness was teetering on the obnoxious side .
“Thanks.” I grunted and hung up .
I poked around the office as long as I could, putting off the phone call. I watered my plant. I refilled all the bubbles in the supply closet and straightened the belts that hung on the wall. I stood in front of the office message board reading all the notices, nearly convincing myself that I should adopt a kitten or a puppy, since so many of my coworkers were trying to get rid of them and Phyllis wouldn’t be sitting in my kitchen window waiting for me when I moved back to my apartment .
That was the moment it hit me. I was homesick. I missed my apartment. I missed my bed and my tiny kitchen and the view out my window of Mark’s kitchen window .
I missed Mark .
“Are you okay?” Kayla stood next to me, staring at my face as if I had an enormous zit on the end of my nose .
I brushed at my nose with the back of my hand, relieved to find nothing out of the ordinary there. “I don’t know. I think I will be, though.” I gave her a hopeful smile and returned to my desk. Without giving myself time to think it over, I dialed the
number Parker had given me .
Someone named Anthony answered and promised to go find Scott for me. I waited ten minutes, with a different person picking up the phone every few minutes to see who I was waiting for. Half the dorm must have come by in the time I waited, which was odd, since it was the middle of the day. Asphodel was one of the few places I hadn’t been yet in the Underworld .
It didn’t sound very interesting .
“Wynter ?”
“Scott. Hi. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important .”
“Not at all. I’m actually almost done here. Sorry to leave so many messages, but I really wanted to see you before I leave .”
“Yeah. Absolutely.” I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. He really was about to move on to the next life. This was it. This was a death that was about to be permanent. “I could probably come down now and have coffee or something if you want .”
My stomach clenched in a knot. I’d gone from procrastinating the whole thing to running head first into it .
We agreed to meet at my favorite spot, House of Nyx. During the day it would be quiet, and I knew Nyx would make sure we were well taken care of and not bothered. I shut down my computer, grabbed my purse, and headed downstairs. Way downstairs .
As usual, Nyx knew I was coming before I did. She met me inside once I’d passed through the Night Zone and settled me at a table in the far back in a corner where I could see the whole room .
The goddess of night eyed me up and down for a moment, lips pursed. “I can’t tell if you need coffee or booze.” After a long moment, she blinked, then nodded. “I see. I’ll be right back .”
Once she was gone, I gave my full attention to the front door, waiting for Scott to arrive. It wasn’t long before I caught a glimpse of him coming through the door, then flicker and disappear as he stepped into the Night Zone. A moment later, he stepped out, visibly shaken .
I stuck my arm in the air and waved him over, then rose and gave him a hug. “Don’t worry. First time through is rough for everybody.” I returned to my seat .
He slipped into the other side of the booth, his face pale. “Warn a guy next time. Sheesh .”
I wasn’t sure what to say next, and apparently, neither did he. The awkward silence descended upon us like a hot water over a teabag. We were helpless .
Nyx must have known, because she bustled out of the kitchen with a huge mug cradled in her hands. She slid it in front of me, winked, then turned her attention to Scott. “Milkshake ?”
His eyes lit up, then the glow of excitement faded. “No, I’d better not .”
Nyx leaned her face close to his and patted his hand. “Honey, you’re dead. Have the milkshake. You’re not diabetic anymore .”
His smile grew wide. “Could I have chocolate ?”
“Of course. Back in a flash.” She marched away toward the kitchen .
“You…” I cleared my throat. “You were diabetic ?”
He nodded. “ Type 1 .”
“How did I not know that ?”
“I dunno. I know I told you .”
I placed my hands around my mug and stared into the whipped cream piled high. “Wow. I was oblivious .”
“We were kids .”
“Still.” I had a hard time looking at him, but I made myself drag my gaze to his face. “I was horrible. I’m so sorry I hurt you .”
He reached out and took one of my hands. “I’m not mad. Things worked out the way they were supposed to. I grew from the experience .”
I snorted. “I obviously didn’t .”
He laughed and squeezed my hand. “So, you were a late bloomer.” He looked up as Nyx appeared with super-sized chocolate shake. “Thanks!” He took a sip and moaned. “Oh, that’s good .”
I took the opportunity to sip from my mug to see what Nyx had concocted for me. I expected coffee heavily laced with Irish Cream or Kahlua. Nope. Pure hot chocolate, thick and creamy, with a hint of cinnamon and piled with whipped cream. Nyx knew exactly what I needed to settle my nerves .
I sighed. “I’m still very sorry. Apparently, you weren’t the only one I did that to .”
“Are you still doing it?” His smile was kind and patient. I could see how he would have been great at helping troubled kids .
“No. Sort of. Maybe.” I frowned. “I don’t know how not to run away .”
Scott sucked on his straw, swallowed, then wiped the corner of his mouth with his fingers. “You know they don’t teach classes in that .”
I grunted. “Yeah, thanks .”
“It’s like anything else in life. You want to learn how to keep a job? Don’t quit the moment it gets tough. You want to quit mistreating people? Help someone. You want to stop screwing up your life? Make something of it, instead .”
I sipped my cocoa. “Are we talking about you or me ?”
He grinned . “Yes .”
I nodded. “Okay. Yeah. I think I get it .”
“Good.” His blue eyes sparkled. “Now. News gets around in this place. I used to be a big fan of Gordon Gordon. What the hell happened down here? People are passing around a really weird story about you, I don’t know, paying the Ferryman to keep Gordon busy while you looked for a girlfriend to hook him up with ?”
I laughed while I was about to take a sip, and ended up with whipped cream on my nose. “That’s not what happened at all.” I wiped my napkin over my nose .
“Well, I’d love to hear what really happened. Also…are you really the princess of the entire Underworld ?”
I laughed. “Okay, fine. One thing at a time .”
We chatted for hours, and Nyx kept us in food and drinks while we caught up. When it was time to go, I felt better than I had in a long while. Scott helped me to understand my mad break-up skills were fear based, and it was time to stop being afraid .
Saying goodbye to Scott was sad, knowing I’d missed so much time with someone who could have, at the very least, been a good friend if I’d only let him. And in a few days, he would cease to exist as more than a life record in the archives. He’d be starting over soon as a baby somewhere in the world .
As far as I knew, I still had a lot more time left in this lifetime. I was determined to make the most of it .
Chapter 22
I moved back to my apartment the following weekend. It was quiet without Phyllis there, and I had to do my own snooping out the kitchen window .
Determined to make things right, I showed up at Mark’s door on Sunday morning with two coffees and a box of donuts. He didn’t answer. I took them back home and stared out the window all morning. The coffee went cold, and eventually, the donuts went stale. By Wednesday, I threw them out, though why I kept them so long, I had no idea .
I waited and waited, but Mark didn’t come home. With each passing day, I grew more worried that he’d moved out. Maybe he’d moved to another state. Maybe he’d left the country. Maybe I’d never be able to find him .
Maybe that’s what he wanted .
Normally I dropped the rent check in Mrs. Terwilliger’s mailbox, but for Mark, I braved the full force of my crazy landlady. I knocked on the door, rent check in hand .
She opened the door, her eyes wide. “I thought you were back! Are you staying, now? How’s your mother, dear? She was sick or something, wasn’t she ?”
“Um…” I wasn’t sure how to answer because I couldn’t remember what the hell I’d told her before. “I just wanted to say hello and pay my rent.” I handed her the check .
“Of course. Wonderful.” She snatched the check and it disappeared into the depths of her bathrobe. “Would you like to come in for some corn? I just opened a can .”
Corn? What? I shook my head. “I need to be getting back.” I pretended to turn away to go, then turned back. “Did Mark move out while I was gone?” I held my breath, pleading to the gods for a no .
She frowned. “Not that he’s told me.” She looked troubled, then a flash went off behind her eyes and she brightened. “Wait. He’s out o
f town. Some kind of personal problems he had to work out, I think.” She pressed a gnarled finger to her mouth while she thought. “I honestly don’t remember .”
I let out a sigh of relief, though my stomach hurt thinking I might have been the personal problem he was away dealing with. “Do you remember when he said he’d be back ?”
She shrugged. “A couple of weeks, I think.” She glanced over her shoulder, then back at me. “My commercial is over, dear. If you’re not coming in, I need to go. Adam just told Dorinne that he shot her father.” She closed the door and left me there .
I went back to my apartment and resumed my watch for Mark to come back. As the days passed without any sign of him, I refused to give up hope .
I saw Gordon’s obituary, but the funeral was held in another town. I’d already said my goodbyes, and nobody in this world knew that I knew him. And honestly, to me, he wasn’t even dead. There was no reason for me to go .
But the gallery showing of his new work—that I wouldn’t have missed for the world .
Just as Polly said, I received an invitation in the mail. It was fancy and embossed in gold. Pretty, but Gordon probably would have hated it. I went alone. Trina and Jilly would have been happy to go with me, but it seemed like something private I had to do. No distractions. I wanted to see the paintings I had a small hand in inspiring. I wouldn’t stay long. Glass of champagne. A slow walk around the gallery. Then that part of my life could be put to rest .
I ’d been nervous about the little black dress and the high heels, but Mom had insisted I borrow them, as well as a string of pearls Poseidon had given her as a birthday gift centuries ago. When I stepped into the gallery, I realized Mom had been right. I blended in perfectly .
People mingled to the sound of soft music, and as I moved through the crowd, they glanced my way, smiled, then continued their conversation. I was no one in particular to them. That suited me fine .
The paintings were artfully arranged on the walls beneath lighting that perfectly showcased them. I was pleased to see he’d finished the series of smaller paintings. The vibrant colors and engaging figures danced on the canvas. He’d filled in the faces on each of the humanoid characters. I was unsurprised to find each fairy, faun, nymph, and mermaid bore a striking resemblance to Charlotte .