Fates' Folly (21 page)

I sat down, set the scissors on Carrie's desk
and reached for the chocolates, only to realize I had the
ridiculous string still wrapped around my hand. I unwound the gold
ribbon and then the black string, laying both strands and the
scissors on the corner of Carrie's desk.

Carrie picked up the gold ribbon. "I know
Candy cut the ribbon, I saw her do it, but look." She held up the
gold ribbon for me to inspect. "Both ends of this are sewn with a
tiny gold trim."

I stuffed a truffle into my mouth. "I didn't
understand any of it."

"The Fates, like most of the children of
mythology, have taken aliases." She popped a truffle into her
mouth, savoring for a few seconds before she continued. "The Fates
actually have several names, but it's the original ones that are
important: Lakhesis, the Measurer, Klotho, the Spinner, and
Atropus, the Unturned, or as I like to call her, the Cutter. These
are their names and their jobs.

“I didn't understand entirely what they were
alluding to, but they made it pretty clear that they gifted you
with more than immortality. Whatever they did for you, to you, they
expect you to use it to relieve their boredom. The problem is, the
Fates aren't entertained easily, it would take a huge chaos filled
event to amuse those three which means all of Olympus and Zeus
would notice, too."

I sank down in my chair. "I think I'm going
to be sick."

Carrie leaned over the desk and shoved a
truffle into my mouth. "Eat the chocolate and listen. This doesn't
have to be bad. You just need to find out what they're up to and
beat them at their own game. Like I suggested with Hades, figure
out the rules, and use it against them."

We finished the box of truffles in silence. I
twisted the gold ribbon in my hands while futilely trying to
decipher the Fates' cryptic words.

Carrie handed me a glass of water.

"I thought they were supposed to be ugly old
hags," I said.

Carrie chuckled. "It was a gift from Aunt
Hera. She's a cunning bitch, do your best not to ever piss her
off," she said, taking a sip of her coffee. "Hera decided that
since the Fates' job was to keep a close watch over the progress of
humanity, from its infancy to its death, they too should progress
as if time held dominion over them- from infancy to death, being
reborn and starting over again and again, but remembering all of
their own experiences and the memories of all the lives they watch
over."

"That's some gift, no wonder they're insane,"
I said.

"Hera claimed to Zeus that it was to instill
compassion and empathy in his daughters so they could better serve
mankind." Carrie gave me a conspiratorial look. "Personally, I
think Hera just likes to screw with them the same way they screw
with everyone else, and at the same time, it was a roundabout way
to stick it to Eileithyia, who has to take care of the brats while
in their infancy."

"Eileithyia?"

"Goddess of childbirth, Hera's not so favored
daughter." She waved her hand. "Anyway, the point is, don't ever
accept any gifts from a god or goddess."

I grimaced. "Now you tell me."

Carrie giggled. "I guess that was ill timed
advice, sorry."

"The truth is, I didn't actually accept the
gift, they just gave it, whatever it is."

"You know, that might be a good place to
start. It's possible you could refuse their gift and reverse their
meddling. Though, you'd be dead and, unfortunately, you can't
reverse Hades' knowledge of your existence. He makes the Fates look
like the children they appear to be when it comes to appeasing his
boredom."

"You're making me depressed," I griped.

Carrie winced.

I felt bad, she was only trying to help. "So
what do you think the different strings and all meant?" I asked,
trying to sound more upbeat.

"I don't know. Usually, when you speak of
Lolly and a spindle, it's in reference to the Spindle of Life which
is not made of wood or small enough to be held in the palm of your
hand. They were definitely trying to tell you something."

"I wish they would've skipped the drama and
just told me."

"Don't wish that," Riley said from behind me.
"They only tell you the answers when there's no hope left."

I jumped out of my chair and crashed into
Riley's chest. I wrapped both arms around him and squeezed as tight
as I could. Riley patted my back, and suddenly I felt a flash of
embarrassment burn across my face over my impulsive show of
affection. I started to pull away, but Riley tightened his arms and
hugged me back.

"I'm sorry, Myra. I…"

I squeezed harder. "Don't you dare apologize
Riley Black. Let's just go home. We can plan our next move over
pizza or something and forget this whole day even happened."

Riley nodded, and after telling Carrie -me
with a hug, Riley with a head nod- goodbye, we shifted home. I
dealt with the pain of shifting as quietly as I could and went into
the bathroom to take a bath while Riley jogged the two miles back
to the Piggly Wiggly to pick up my car.

As I sat in a tub of steaming water, I
thought about my suggestion to Riley that we forget the day's
events. I truly hoped Riley could do so, but I realized I had no
desire to bury anything that happened to me today.

I wanted to remember the quiver in Melanie
Brock's voice when I told her I owned a gun. I wanted to relish the
look of surprise on Barty's face when I threw him to the ground. I
didn't want to forget the anguish Joshua's mother must have felt
knowing she'd never see her son again, and yes, I even wanted to
hold on to the small feeling of pleasure that came from Bo and I
walking hand in hand. Most of all, I refused to forget even one of
the cruel words Hades used to hurt and demean Riley today.

Some things shouldn't be forgotten or hidden
away. They should be used as fuel, put into a tinder box to burn
and rage until they emerge as the cold calculating beast of
revenge.

When Riley got back, we didn't actually eat pizza, and we didn't
discuss a new plan for catching Sebastian. Instead, we ate hot dogs
smothered in chili while watching Rudy Ruettiger doggedly pursue
his dream of playing football for Notre Dame.

By the time the movie was over, I crawled
into bed feeling battered and bruised. My strung out emotions had
left me with the raw and empty feeling of a long, ugly cry, and my
body ached, every joint and muscle making their presence known.

I had meant to offer encouragement to Riley-
say something wise and noteworthy. Of course, wise and noteworthy
weren't exactly my thing, and other than, Hades is an asshole,
which seemed a bit redundant, my brain was empty. I closed my eyes
with the idea of formulating my thoughts into a well said statement
of support, but with eyes closed, my mind remained blank, and I
fell into the numbing bliss of sleep.

I woke up, and though it was still dark, I
could tell by the quiet of the night that it was only hours before
sunrise. I spent several frustrating minutes fluffing my pillow and
changing positions in an attempt to go back to sleep. When I
realized it was a futile effort, I leaned over the side of the bed
to see if Riley was awake and was not surprised to see the floor
empty.

He must have already started his search for
Sebastian. I was disappointed- between our exhaustion, messy hot
dogs and the movie, we had barely exchanged ten words last night. I
had hoped we could talk this morning. Not that there was a whole
hell of a lot to say, Riley had three days to find Sebastian, and
of course, Hades was an asshole.

I sat up and leaned my back against the
headboard, my pillow held securely in my lap. Staring into the gray
darkness of my room, I wondered where Riley would have begun his
hunt.

We still didn't know what happened to Joshua
or who moved his body, ransacked Sebastian's office and wiped and
rearranged the minds of Joshua's parents, Sebastian's girlfriend
Amelia, and most of the staff of Morgan Hill.

The logical choice was Sebastian. Joshua
killed himself in Sebastian's office, he was one of Sebastian's
prized pupils, and Sebastian went nutso within the same time frame
as Joshua's death. Sebastian could have ransacked his own office,
hidden the evidence of Joshua's suicide and moved Joshua's body,
but did he wipe all those memories?

Riley said it wasn't possible for Sebastian
to have done it. He had the power of misdirection and, most likely,
the power of persuasion, but neither was enough to permanently
change a person's memory.

A god could have done it, but not without the
other gods finding out. The gods had rules too and, though they may
have the capacity to break them, the other gods, including deities
of other beliefs, would know and not be pleased.

Thinking of other deities, I wondered just
how much Peter of the Pearly Gates knew of the events surrounding
Sebastian going rogue. Why was Peter on the hunt anyway? What did
Sebastian taking my soul, one held in Greek belief, have to do with
the Christians’ gate keeper?

Not for the first time, I had to wonder if
Sebastian did something before he showed up at my door. Why else
would Peter be hot on his trail and Hades have already pronounced
him Rogue?

I liked the idea that Sebastian had done
something unspeakable before he killed me. It would certainly be a
valid reason for Joshua's parents, Amelia and the staff at Morgan
Hill to have their memories erased. They were probably all
witnesses to whatever atrocity Sebastian had committed.

It would actually be a great theory, except
Sebastian supposedly didn't have the power to erase memories. But
what if he did? Hell, maybe the erasing of those memories was the
unspeakable act Sebastian had committed? But then, the question of
why he needed the memories erased was still left unanswered.

Damn, Scooby and the gang always made it look
so easy.

***

I had just locked up my classroom and was
walking to my car, thinking about the fact that my day had actually
turned out much better than it had started. The seniors were all
done for the year except for graduation, my two drawing classes had
just finished their self-portrait's, which counted as their final
exams, and when I opened my kiln from the last firing of the year,
I discovered not even one of the pots from my pottery class had
exploded or cracked. It had been a fun, active day, and the sight
of Bo leaning on my car at the end of it didn't bother me one
bit.

"Hello, Ms. Collier," he said with a slow
smile that made my insides tingle and tighten.

"Hi, yourself," I said, walking up to stand
in front of him.

Bo pulled a strand of hair out of my eyes.
"How are you feeling?"

"Fine. You?"

"I feel fine. But you know what would make me
feel even better?" he asked.

I shook my head.

He reached out and pulled me forward so I
stood in between his outstretched legs, wrapping his arms around
me, pulling my body against his. Strangely enough, I had no
inclination to stop him, and I absolutely refused to think about
why that was, or what it meant. I was just going to enjoy the
warmth of his chest as I rested my head against it, and the feel of
his legs around mine. I felt petite and delicate and warm. Very,
very warm.

"God this feels good. I swear I've been
waiting and wanting just this simple embrace for so long." His
laugh felt deep and gravelly with my ear pressed against his chest.
"Kids are staring at us and I know I should-but I really don't
think I can- let you go." His voice became quieter, more serious,
"I really don't want to let you go."

I looked up at him. He was smiling down at
me. It wasn't the charming smile he always wore- it was a fiercer,
unpracticed smile. His eyes were soft and maybe a little sad. He
looked vulnerable.

At that very moment I desperately wanted to
crawl on top of him, rip his clothes off and get as close to his
body, his heart, his soul, as possible. It scared the crap out of
me. Holy fucking hell, what is wrong with me?

"P.D.A. Coach Kelley," someone in a group of
students yelled from behind us.

I breathed a silent thank you to the kid and
stepped back out of Bo's arms. Bo gave me a small smile and opened
my car door. I quickly got in, and would have just as quickly shut
the driver's side door, but Bo stopped me. He leaned down and
kissed me. It was a scorching kiss that made my poor neglected
vagina rejoice as the rest of my body melted into a creature of
pure want.

Bo finally ended the kiss. Of course, I had
practically pulled him into the car on top of me.

He gave me a chaste peck on my cheek. "I'm
letting you go, but we both know this is only temporary." He kissed
me again, this time on the lips, not quite the kiss of a few
minutes before, which only left me wanting more.

"You need to make sure your uncle is off
doing something Friday night or I'll be kidnapping you and taking
you to my house. One way or another, we're going to finish what we
started last Friday," he whispered intently.

Before I could respond-I'm not sure I could
have-he shut my car door and walked away.

I sat there watching him, admiring his slow
confident gait, broad shoulders and impressive ass. An ass that
starred in an equally impressive daydream that I was still
enjoying, who knows how long after Bo had already climbed into his
shiny gunmetal gray Shelby and driven away.

A knock on my window pulled me out of my
reverie. I looked up, and Sebastian Black's face was pressed
against my driver side window.

"Hello, pretty."

I opened my mouth to scream, and a hoarse,
choked, garbled sound came out. Apparently my vocal chords stopped
working when I was scared shitless. I reached for the ignition and
realized I didn't have any keys in my hand. Sebastian started
lightly drumming his fingers on the window.