Gods (21 page)

The sound of the doorbell made me jump. I couldn’t remember the last time someone did that around here. I was so used to portals opening and magical energy sweeping the room and leaving warmth in its wake.

Frowning, I went to answer it. My stomach dropped when I saw Marguerite’s silhouette through the window. Should I pretend I wasn’t home? No, that was a coward’s way out.
Show her you are not scared of her.

I opened the door with a big smile. “Hi, what are you doing here?”

“I come with a peace offering. Yesterday didn’t go so well. I keep messing up.” She gave me an apologetic look and hefted a white plastic bag. In her other hand was a Starbucks cup. “Fruit and cream-filled crepes. I remember you used to like them. And soy chai with caramel and toffee nut.”

I still loved crepes and my choice of tea is soy chai with caramel and toffee nut. Could she get any creepier? I was so not inviting her in.

“I’m just dropping these off. You don’t have to invite me in. We could sit on the porch for a few minutes if you like, so I can say hello to your father.”

Now that she’d mentioned the porch, I refused to use it. If I did, it would confirm I was scared of her. “How did you know I prefer soy chai?”

“Tammy mentioned it a few months ago. I think she said two pumps caramel, one pump toffee nut, and extra foam.”

Funny how she had answers no one could confirm. First Grams, now Tammy. I wondered when they’d had that conversation.

“Dad’s not home, but you can come inside. I’m trying to tackle my homework packets, but it’s slow going.” I felt Eirik’s reassuring presence and smiled. He’d arrived.

I led the way to the kitchen, and she followed. I wondered if she remembered the cabinet she’d broken when she’d thrown Dad across the room. We had to replace that.

“I could help you with your homework. I wasn’t the best student either, but I loved math.” She removed the Styrofoam container from the plastic bag. “Where are your utensils?”

“It’s okay. I’m not hungry now. I just had a snack. I’ll eat it for lunch.” Hell no, she wasn’t helping me with my homework. I needed answers. I waited until she sat before I took a stool. “Where do you live?”

“Top floor Serenity House. All instructors and Immortal staff live there.”

“And where is Serenity House?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want you to visit that place, Celestia,” she lowered her voice. “The girls in that home are unstable but have powerful magical abilities. I’m like a mother to them, the only constant figure in their lives the last several years. Some might see you as a threat. Ask me anything but that.”

“Why did you leave?”

“I was weak, arrogant. From when I was young, I always assumed I was special. I got my abilities early and it went to my head. I ran with the wrong crowd, did terrible things to so many people, including my sister. Then you came along and, instead of loving you, I resented you. Your powers manifested themselves at a much younger age than mine had. I was too blind to see that you were not my competition. You were my child, a helpless, innocent child who needed my love and guidance. For that I’m sorry. I know you may never forgive me or even understand because you are strong and focused. Not all Witches are as strong or as focused as you.”

I didn’t know how to respond to her. She sounded serious. Genuine, but it was too perfect. Too neatly tied with a bow. From my experience, if it was too perfect, it wasn’t real. Tammy had been like my second mother and Hayden the sister I never had yet I never knew their true identities.

“I didn’t turnout the way I am on my own. Grams taught me to be a strong Witch, and Dad taught me to be a strong daughter. Even Tammy contributed to both in her own way. And I’m not really as strong as you think, or as focused. Sometimes I wing it as I go.”

She chuckled. “You help the police solve crimes. I don’t call that winging it. Anyway, I don’t want to take too much of your time.” She stood. “May I use your restroom before I go?”

“Sure. I’ll show you.” I showed her the one by the den and as soon as she went inside, I raced toward my bedroom. Eirik was lounging on my bed. He sat up.

“You heard everything?”

“I hear you from across the realms. And yes, I heard everything. Do you believe her?”

I sighed. “I don’t know.” His expression remained neutral. “Do you?”

“What I believe doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me.”

“I don’t believe her or trust her. Her heartbeat didn’t spike when she talked about certain things that should have caused an increased heartbeat rate, same with the opposite. She’s baiting you. She’s on the move. Go.”

I hurried back to the kitchen.

“I better leave you to your homework, unless you want my help.”

I was about to test Eirik’s theory. “Eirik is here to help me with math.” Her expression didn’t change. “Would you like to talk to him?”

She smiled. “No, that’s not necessary. I still need to get used to the two of you as a couple. He is…” She shook her head. “He is who he is and you are my daughter. I’ll leave the two of you to it then.”

I escorted her to the door, but Eirik entered the living room at the same time. He smiled easily as though he was the host. “Good morning, Mrs. Marguerite.”

She nodded at him, either too scared to speak or too pissed. I couldn’t tell. Her face was red. I’d never seen her move so fast. As soon as she stepped outside, she opened a portal and disappeared through it. I closed the door and turned to face Eirik.

“Well? How did I do?”

“How did you do what?” He was headed toward the kitchen, so I followed him.

“I mentioned you so you could listen to her heartbeat. Did it spike the moment she realized we weren’t alone?”

“It shot up like a space shuttle and kept going. The woman fears and hates me. When she talked about you visiting Serenity House and her crazy patients, there was no fear for you in her heart. It stayed steady. When she talked about the past, now that she got a kick out of. Why would she relish retelling the past? What are you going to do with these?” He opened the box of crepes.

“Dump them. I don’t trust her enough to eat anything she gives me.” I went to pour out the chai, but when I turned around, Eirik was seated with a fork in his hand. He cut a section of the crepe. “What are you doing?” I dove and knocked the piece from his hand.

“Testing a theory. If she poisoned this, I should get a nasty stomach ache.”

“No-oo.” I grabbed the Styrofoam from his hand and left him holding the ripped lid. “What’s wrong with you? You’re not putting your life in danger to prove anything.”

He chuckled. “Dimples, I’m Immortal. That means poison can’t kill me. I’ll get the cramps, sweat a little, and be as good as new.”

I wanted to dump the crepes and the pancakes on his stupid head. “And that’s supposed to reassure me? If you think I’d ever sit back and see you suffer to protect me”—I threw the plate and its contents in the garbage compactor, closed it, and turned it on—“then think again, pal.”

He pulled me in his arms. I was shaking. “Shh, I’m sorry. I should not have suggested it. I’m an idiot.”

He was. I gripped his shirt and held him close when all I wanted to do was punch him. Didn’t he realize what he meant to me?

“I’m fine.” I wiggled out of his arms. “Go home. I have homework, and you’ll only distract me.”

“You are angry with me.”

“No, I’m not. I’m livid, but it will pass. Part of loving you is putting up with your stupid ideas. Eat poison. Sheesh. What’s funny?” He wore a big grin on his face.

“Nothing. I’m going.”

“Good.”

“But I’ll be back tonight.”

“I know.” I’d be calmer by then. I glared at him until the portal closed behind him. I threw the coffee cup in the compacter too before heading back to my room. Instead of writing, I got my sketchpad. I sketched and sketched, until I calmed down. When I looked at what I’d sketched, some were Eirik. I always capture him perfectly. The rest were Marguerite. She looked evil even in my drawings.

I went back to my homework.

CELESTIA

“Are those new?” Dad asked, eyeing the mid-calf boots I wore the next morning.

Nothing ever escaped his detective eyes. “Yes. They are a present from Eirik.”

I was surprised when Dad didn’t comment on that. I grabbed my stuff and raced out the door. Two steps and I stopped. Daiku and Ranger were sipping coffee by my car.

“Morning, guys. What are you doing here?”

“Making sure a certain Immortal doesn’t bother you,” Daiku said and offered me a Starbucks cup. “Your favorite. Grande soy chai, two pumps caramel, one pump toffee nut with extra foam.”

I laughed, yesterday’s events flashing in my head. Eirik and I had discussed my mother at length and even laughed over it. “I’m impressed. How did you know? If you say Tammy I’ll have to dump it.”

“I pay attention to details.”

Ranger snorted at the idea. “Baldurson left instructions.”

“So do you guys plan to shadow me everywhere or just make sure I get to school in one piece?”

“Shadow you,” Daiku said.

“But you won’t see us,” Ranger added.

“Fine. Get in. You can disappear once we get to school.” The curtain in the living room moved, so I knew Dad had seen me talk to them, except they were invisible. I hoped he assumed I was talking to Eirik. “Please, stay invisible at all times around my father. I don’t want him worrying about me.”

We took off. Fifteen minutes later, I pulled up outside the school and switched off the engine. When I glanced over my shoulder, the Grimnirs were gone. I hoped they were right about staying in the shadows.

It was strange being back after visiting the other realms. The normalcy of it was surreal. Students walked by in groups of twos and threes, catching up on the weekend’s activities. A few peered at me and waved, then whispered to their friends and glanced back at me. Our school was so small I bet everyone knew I hadn’t attended school in weeks.

I glanced at my watch. Hayden was taking her sweet time. I reached for the phone when three girls appeared from the corner of my eye. I whipped around and studied them—a redhead, an Asian, and a brunette. Why did they look familiar?

Warm air rushed into the car as a portal opened. Hayden slid into the backseat and waved to her mother. Tammy was in their living room. I searched her face for Draugr-like qualities. Not that I’d know what a Draugr looked liked. I’d only seen the Witches Eirik’s crazy grandmother had reanimated and they’d seemed normal.

Tammy’s smile dimmed when our eyes met, her expression begging me silently to forgive her. She and I needed to talk and clear the air. I waved, and she nodded. Hayden stared at me with a frown after the portal closed.

“Next time, portal before I reach the school,” I said, reaching for my backpack.

“I had to help Mom with something.” She opened the back door.

“You are still cloaked.”

A guy walking by peered at me and smiled. There were perks to attending a school of Witches. Everyone understood that talking to invisible people and opening a door using telekinesis meant you had a kick-ass gift. Hayden uncloaked and joined me.

“Do we have new students?” I asked as we started for the building.

She looked around. “Yep. There was a sudden enrollment after the first Guild meeting. Most are happy to wait until next year while a few decided not to. The principal held a special assembly to welcome the new students. I guess no one knew about the school, until your man made an appearance here and we became famous. Now we are the school every Witch wants to attend. They’re talking about expanding and turning it into a boarding school.”

“Someone in the audience mentioned a private school for Witches that night. Maybe this is a start. But where are they staying if they’re not local?”

“Local families are acting as hosts. They sent us home with letters to drum up more support from local parents until other accommodations are made available. The school is going to stay open this summer.”

“No way. Who would want to go to school in the summer?”

“Young Witches desperate to learn their craft. I’m sure the hours will be different.” She nodded at a guy from our math class, who almost tripped on himself when he saw me. He wasn’t the only one staring. I noticed the new faces. One girl elbowed her friend and pointed at me.

“What’s wrong with everyone? Why the stares?”

“You are Eirik’s girl.”

“Is it written on my forehead?”

“No, but you flew into his arms in front of everyone that night, and he told everyone you were his contact person. When you disappeared, some thought you were in Asgard. Others”—she shrugged—“bought the story Mrs. Mouton mentioned. And then there’s that rumor about Giselle and Eirik, so the stares could mean something totally different. Still, I didn’t expect this kind of welcome.”

The attention bugged me. If I were under scrutiny, Hayden would be too. “Maybe you shouldn’t open portals to my car. People will realize you are Immortal and—”

“Witches hate us now, I know. I’ll be careful. Funny how
I
was always the one telling
you
to be careful. Oh, and FYI, you are”—she leaned and whispered—“Immortal now.”

“No, I’m not. It takes a while for me to”—I glanced over my shoulder to make sure there were no eavesdroppers and lowered my voice—“self-heal.”

“Why can’t Eirik give you more healing runes?”

“He wants me to use my own artavo. Sharing is not good for me, he says.” I rolled my eyes. “I think he’s just using it as an excuse. He likes playing the hero and rescuing me.”

“And showering you with gifts. I see you are rocking your new boots.”

I looked down and sighed. “I tried to give them back, but he promised to quadruple the purchases if I did.”

Hayden laughed. “I like his style.” She stepped on the first step in front of the school and turned to face me. “Did you know he had the stores close, so we could shop undisturbed and have the salesgirls focus on us?”

“What? Are you sure? I thought it was a slow Saturday.”

She laughed. “According to Zack, the first, or the second store, I can’t remember which, said Ranger and Daiku were scaring away customers. Your man told them to close for an hour.”

“He runed them?”

“No, he paid them.”

My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”

She nodded. “The first time, he asked. After that, the salesgirls must have called their friends because they offered. Most of the stores we went to closed up just for us.”

I couldn’t believe that man. “He’s crazy. I still don’t know what to do about the boots and things he bought.”

“Oh please. You are wearing them.”

“I’m a boot-whore.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. And FYI, he’s perfect. He wasn’t just taking pictures, he paid attention and noticed when you drooled or sighed, or contemplated turning into a klepto. Trudy and I caught on, so whatever you tried on, anything that looked really good, we just threw it with her purchases. He even got me these for helping.” She wiggled her fingers to show off her new rings and bracelets. “Now I want to hear about Einmyria. Thanks, Garret,” she told the boy holding the door for us.

We entered the foyer of our school and someone yelled my name. Einmyria was forgotten as Phil Gilbert and Ethan Reed smothered me. We’d become close after my first trip to Hel.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were attacked by an Immortal?” Ethan asked.

“And were in a coma for three weeks,” Phil added, not bothering to lower his voice. “We had to read it in the Guild Newsletter.”

Could that be why people were staring at me? “We have a newsletter now?”

“And a private online forum. The moderators said you were attacked and those saying otherwise”—he cupped his mouth to project his words—“should check their facts, starting with Dr. DuBois at Windfall General.”

I grinned at his antics. Mrs. Mouton must have believed me and passed on the message. I got smiles and happy-you-are-okay comments all the way to my locker.

“So how was Asgard?” Ethan teased.

“Amazing. Beautiful.” The look on his face was priceless. “I’m kidding, dufus.”

Phil slapped Ethan on the back. “She got you, man. So we’re throwing you a welcome back party on Friday at my place, so be there. Now that the Guild supersedes the covens, we can do more things together. We are DJ’ing on Friday.”

I glanced at Hayden, and she shrugged. Five months ago, she would have said no. “We’ll try to be there.”

“We can’t have a party without the guest of honor, so try harder,” Phil shot back.

“And he’s welcome to join us, too,” Ethan added as they walked away.

“Why do I have the feeling that the party is because of Eirik?”

“Does it matter? You two are an item now. Wherever you go, he goes.” She opened her locker and stashed her backpack, but selected the books for the next class. “And I get to tag along. Zack is still talking about Karle’s village and the marketplace. If he didn’t show me every day that he loved me, I’d think he had a crush on Niorun. Trudy was on the list too, but I cancelled her out after last weekend.”

“I wish Zack wasn’t so cold toward Eirik. I noticed it yesterday when they first met, then he thawed a bit as we continued to shop, but by the time we left, he was back to giving him the evil eye.”

“You can’t blame him. Your man was a total douche to Alejandro yesterday. Zack and Alejandro are tight.”

“I know. Eirik refused to explain why he dislikes Alejandro.” I grabbed my books and followed her. “As for the mess with Einmyria, Eirik already blames himself even though I’ve told him it wasn’t his fault, so Zack needs to back off.”

“I’ll tell him. So tell me about her?”

“She has them wrapped around her fake fingers. They all believe Granny told her lies about Eirik and the goddess, and that’s why she wants to hurt him and she’s scared of the goddess, who is so desperate to bond with her daughter that she asked for my help.”

Hayden’s jaw dropped. “You’re going to be buddies with the girl who wants to destroy your boyfriend?”

We turned a corner and almost bumped into Giselle. She was talking to the three familiar girls from the parking lot. Once again, I tried to remember where I’d seen them.

Giselle gave me a fake smile. “Nice to have you back, Celestia.”

“Thanks, Giselle.” Her new friends stared without saying a word. “Your mom was supposed to give you a card.”

“From your half-sister. Yeah, she mentioned it, but she didn’t give it to me yet.” She continued toward math class, her new friends trailing her.

Hayden groaned. “Why do I have a feeling she has it, but is keeping it to be mean and petty?”

Wouldn’t surprise me. When we entered the classroom, she was talking to some new students, who watched us as we walked past. I ignored them and slid behind my desk. Instead of her going to her seat, Hayden leaned in and whispered.

“Want me to get inside her head and get it?” Hayden touched my arm.

“Try it,” I mumbled, still trying to remember where I’d seen the three girls.

She stared at the back of Giselle’s head, and then frowned. “Weird. I can’t get inside her head. I’ve done it before and had no resistance.” She tried again and then gasped.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. She did something back.”

Mr. Dupree entered, and we pushed the matter aside.

“Nice to have you back, Miss Deveraux,” Mr. Dupree said when he entered my math class. “See me after class.”

As the morning continued, it became obvious most students had read the Guild Newsletter. I guess I owed Mrs. Mouton. Or maybe it was the Eirik effect. He had the knack of bringing out the best in people. Most teachers also wanted to see me after school. Hopefully, they’d say I didn’t need to do everything in the damn packets.

I was happy when lunchtime arrived because I wanted to see a copy of the Guild’s Newsletter. I searched for Daiku and Ranger in-between classes, but they kept their word and stayed hidden. I sensed their presence though.

I met Hayden by the lockers.

“Do you subscribe to the Guild Newsletter?”

She scoffed at the idea. “No. Mom and I don’t attend meetings either. We are still considered renegade Witches, but I might come with you so as not to arouse suspicions. Eirik suggested it, but Mom wanted to talk to you first. To see if you were okay with it.”

“I’ll talk to her this weekend.”

Hayden grinned. “I’ll tell her.”

We grabbed our tray and utensils, got our tacos and looked around for an empty table. Phil waved us over. He usually carried his laptop to lunch to piggyback on the school’s Wi-Fi. Despite the attempt by the administrators to stop students from using it, we always found a way. At least some of us did. I was technologically challenged, but Hayden had my back.

“Let’s join them.”

“No,” she said, eyeing the students sharing the table with Phil and Ethan. “I might have agreed to go to their party because there’s nothing happening this weekend, but that doesn’t mean we are lunch partners, too.”