Chapter Twenty-One: Never Trust A Fox
1799 Words
“You... I shouldn't see... you, you know, you, you.” Lynne accused. Bel looked from Emma to Lynne, baffled. Lynne ran a hand over her face, then grimaced as the IV line tugged. She flicked at it angrily. “He said it would all..” She waved her other hand. “.. go away. Obviously that didn't work.” Lynne frowned.
“Who said, Aunt Lynne?” Emma urged, moving to the bedside. She looked at Bel surreptitiously but he shook his head, indicating it wasn't him.
“Scary looking guy, sharp teeth and nails, had a big bushy tail and ears.” Lynne responded. Emma squeezed her Aunt's hand so tight Lynne yelped.
“Oh, sorry.” Emma murmured, loosening her grip. Emma shot a look at Bel, who wore a scowl worthy of his god-side.
“I'm sorry to interrupt, but, what, exactly, happened with this person?” Bel asked sternly. Lynne flinched backwards slightly at Bel's intimidating stance and tone.
“I mean, he just promised me he could get rid of this new.. talent thing that I seem to have. I don't want it. I went all my life without it and he said he could take the power away, and it would all go away, so I told him he could have it...” Lynne offered in a small voice. Bel sighed. He dragged a chair across the room to the bedside.
“Lynne, I think it's time we have a bit of a talk about your abilities...” He said softly.
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Janus stood beside Nadia's body, looking down at her with a good deal of sympathy and sadness in his eyes. Rafe moved quietly into the room.
“I managed to get Phoebie calmed. I was afraid for a moment she'd panic herself into labor.” Rafe shuddered. “Did you find anything?” Janus shook his head.
“Well, technically, it's the lack of anything that is the finding of something, do you understand?” Janus pegged him with an intense stare. Rafe deflated.
“Was it a god or an Innate?” Rafe whispered. The fear was in every line of his frozen body.
“I'm almost certain it was a god.” Janus responded, and Rafe cursed.
“This is getting too dangerous. I don't know what to do anymore.” Rafe ran his hands through his hair and collapsed into a chair. “Phoebie won't leave the kids here alone, and we really couldn't take them to our time with us anyway, and we can't intrude on the current time on the human plane, and we can't just drop them on someone else.” Rafe rubbed his scalp, making his fluffy hair stand up even fuller.
“I could take them.” Janus offered softly. Rafe's head snapped around. A look of relief mingled with refusal washed across his face, so Janus knew what the answer was going to be before Rafe even spoke.
“You have so many responsibilities already Healer, we would never overburden you with ours as well.” Rafe exhaled.
“Then come back to our plane with us. There are enough of us to help keep watch on all of you. We have Warding in place. Measures can be taken...” Janus offered, but Rafe was already shaking his head.
“If this is a god after us for meddling with time..” Rafe looked pointedly at Nadia. “They won't think twice about running through any number of you to get to us. We won't put you in danger. Thank you Healer. You are a good man and good friend for the offer.” Rafe stood and clasped Janus' hand. “But we will have to decline. Please be safe.” Janus felt his heart ache.
“I think I should be the one telling you that.” Janus answered sadly, as Rafe let his hand drop.
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Bel stormed from Lynne's room and Emma chased after him. She had been very upset to learn that her gifts could not be gotten rid of once awakened, but that's not what Bel was angry about.
“Bel, wait...” Emma reached for him and he swung around to glare at her.
“And to think, you were nearly willing to give up your power to this fool.” Bel stormed. Emma blanched when she realized they were no longer invisible and people were staring.
“I still think it would be a good idea...” Emma rebutted softly.
“Look what he did to your Aunt!” Bel pointed back at Lynne's room.
“But she's fine!” Emma objected, holding her hands up. Bel advanced on her, a low growl in his throat.
“As fine as you were the last time someone took the power from you? Oh yes, she got off easily this time around, it nearly killed you!” Bel yelled.
“Ma'am-is this man bothering you?” A stern-faced nurse interrupted, offering Bel a death glare.
“No, my Aunt had an accident and it's stirred up some feelings.” Emma placated the nurse, and then turned to give Bel a meaningful look.
“Well we must insist you take this outside. Our patients need to heal, and healing requires quiet. NOT marital disputes in the hall.” The nurse gave them both a harsh look and Emma apologized, placing a hand on Bel's arm. Bel tried to cool his temper long enough to apologize to the nurse, but as they headed out, she watched them with a disapproving look.
“Worse yet, the Stag nearly had me talked into going to that trickster for aid.” Seethed Bel. Emma grabbed his arm and jerked him to a stop. He turned, trying to hide his expression.
“Explain yourself.” Emma demanded.
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Mercury stepped onto the plane created by Belinus. It had taken forever to get away from the library after Emma returned, but at least he had gathered some, possibly useful, information from Iris. He shook his head. What a lark. Humans and their gossip. He cracked his knuckles. It was time to start stirring things up here a little. He'd gotten rid of that little troublesome spirit Nadia. He'd told her to stop speaking, but she kept on going, so he'd made sure that she would choke on her own words. A neat little curse he'd learned from a certain jealous Goddess many years before. Either way, he had people to interrogate and punishments to dole out. Rubbing his hands together, Mercury sped towards the house, determined that this time, no troublesome spirits would bar him from entry.
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The night was cold when Emma walked out of the library and she let out a startled gasp, hugging herself for warmth. She walked away from the building, waving to Iris and looking around for Cern. A figure approached out of the shadows.
“C-Cern?” She stammered, her teeth nearly chattering from the cold.
“Not quite.” Marc replied with a chuckle. “Is your ride late?” He stubbed out a cigarette and Emma grimaced.
“A li-little, yeah.” She replied.
“Wanna ride?” Marc offered. Bel's warnings rang in her mind and she shook her head.
“No th-thank you. I'll b-be alright.” She tried to smile at him, but she was starting to tremble, which made it hard.
“Well at least let me offer to let you warm yourself in the car while you wait!” Marc exclaimed. Emma hesitated. Her first instinct was to refuse.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” She asked Marc.
“Oh, I forgot something earlier, but looks like you're all closed up now, so I'll get it in the morning.” Marc replied.
“O-oh.” Emma replied. Marc moved closer and she repressed the urge to run.
“Seriously, car's warm...” Marc pointed into the shadowy part of the parking lot.
“I d-don't th-think so. I th-think I'll just start walking, th-thanks though!” Emma shivered again and waved to him. She was nearly ready to break into her Goddess abilities to warm herself or transport herself home. She wondered what happened to Cern. She stepped off the curb and started walking across the parking lot. There was a frustrated growl behind her and she barely turned in time to see Marc barreling at her. “Marc!” She screeched and tried to jump out of reach.
“Stubborn Goddesses, all headstrong and willful, the lot of you.” Marc growled, grabbing her around the waist. She kicked at his legs and scratched at him but he had a good hold on her.
“Stop! Stop! Let me go! What's wrong with you?!” Emma screamed as he dragged her towards the dark part of the parking lot.
Emma's chin slid off her hand and she jerked awake with a start. Her heart was pounding and she was breathing fast.
“Fascinating nightmare.” A voice spoke from above her, and she looked up to see the Fox sitting on a bookcase, looking down on her.
“What did you do to my Aunt?” She spat. He held up his hands, palms out.
“Only what she asked me to do.” He responded. “Though I have to say, this power and I, we took some time to get acquainted.” He patted his chest.
“She was in hospital most of the day!” Emma raged. The Fox frowned.
“I didn't touch her except for the power exchange. She did faint...” He replied, crossing his arms.
“And you didn't think to, I don't know, heal her, or help her out?” Emma picked up a book and threw it at him. He vanished and appeared behind her.
“I called for an ambulance.” The Fox pouted. Emma picked up another book, swinging it at his head. He caught it before it could make impact.
“You know,” She seethed around the book they both now held in a power struggle that he was most definitely winning. “I was actually considering doing what you asked, and then you pulled this stunt!” She snapped at him, then abruptly let go of the book. The shock of her words, combined with the lack of pressure, nearly overbalanced him.
“But, but...” He protested.
“Nope. You did it to yourself. Like I said before. The stories were right. Never trust a fox.” She stormed around the counter, leaving him blinking behind her. The book he held was one of mythology. He grimaced and dropped it in a chair.
“Damn.” He whispered.
- Writer
