Chapter Eighteen: Chaos Reigns Part Two
1645 Words
“Sometimes Miss, I don't understand any of this at all!” Wailed the young boy across from her. Emma had snagged yet another afternoon shift, and the same group of students were in her library working on their research papers.
“Mmhmm.” She looked at the child skeptically as she leaned on the table, palms flat, giving him her best 'stern librarian' look. She had a sneaking suspicion he was doing one of two things. He was either trying to waste his class time to get away with doing very little while their class had less supervision. Or, and she didn't want to burn through any of her Goddess energy to find out, this little mite had a bit of a crush going. Either way, best to shut it down quickly. She crossed her arms. “You wouldn't happen to be trying to waste time until class is over, would you?” Emma asked pointedly. No use beating around the bush. They were teens, old enough to be forthright with.
“N-no ma'am!” The boy stammered. “I'm really not!”
“He has a crush on you!” A girl sitting near him snickered.
“Yo! Shut up!” He snapped and threw a pencil at her. His face blushed deep scarlet and Emma nodded to herself, having received her answer.
“Honey, my oldest girl is just a few years shy of your age.” Emma said softly. “I'm way too old for you.” There were scattered 'ooh's and various other teasings of the young man.
“Age is just a number.” The young man retorted, crossing his own arms.
“You're sweet, but that number will mean more to you as you get a little older.” Emma laughed. “In the meantime, try to impress your teacher as hard as you're trying to impress me.” She tapped his book and the students around him erupted in catcalls and jeers as she walked away. Emma shook her head.
“Students giving you trouble?” Iris, the other librarian on staff with Emma asked. Emma shook her head.
“Just a case of hormones running wild.” Emma responded. Iris propped a hip against the counter, folding her arms over her large bosom.
“So did you hear what happened to Mona?” Iris popped her chewing gum loudly and Emma winced. Mona was the reason Emma had gotten the two afternoon shifts.
“No, did something happen? All I heard was she'd called in sick yesterday and today.” Emma replied as she stacked books on the counter, ready to be checked in for return.
“Oh she didn't just call in sick honey.” Iris confided, leaning forward conspiratorially and extending a hand to examine her nails. “Listen, the way I heard it, she is in the hospital.. had an accident.. like one of those freak accident kind of things. You know the kind that never seems to happen?” Iris popped her gum again and peeked at Emma, taking her silence as interest. “Yeah, seems she got out of her truck-you know how she always drove that huge hulkin' mess of metal-to open the gate at the end of her drive, and her dog came out of the yard and jumped in the truck when she wasn't lookin'. Somehow stepped on the gas pedal. Ran her over. Can you imagine that? She swears up and down she had the truck in park, but the cops, you know how they are, just say people get tired, long work days, yada yada, make mistakes and all that. I mean she obviously made one leavin' the truck door open, but who doesn't do that for silly things like fetchin' the mail or whatever?” Iris popped her gum again and joyfully noted Emma's horrified expression.
“Yeah so, anyway, Mona's hospitalized, both legs completely crushed, pelvis broken, in like half a dozen places, like four discs in her spine squashed flat. They don't know if she'll ever walk again, and nobody knows when she'll ever get out of the hospital.” Iris waved her hand. “So I would say if you want it, the afternoon job is yours, but you better ask quick 'cuz I hear the boss is already interviewin' some new transfer or somethin'. Some guy calls himself Marc with a 'c'. Can you imagine that? Like some fancy city-boy.” Iris popped her gum and turned away as Emma stood staring. What the Hell was going on around her? A dog pressing a gas pedal? Bel attacking Phoebie, then dropping her, only to chase after her again like she was human. His family dogging her footsteps, Luci's problems, getting trapped on this plane, the Darkness, Cern, the Chaos God...
The Chaos God... Why did all of this smack heavily of the Chaos God's interference? Emma slammed the next book on the countertop. It was time to have a discussion with a certain Fox.
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“I cannot help you God Bel.” Cern stated sadly. Bel began to splutter, but Cern held up a hand. “And it's not for the reasons you think, nor for a lack of trying.” Cern's expression was crestfallen, almost as broken as Bel felt. “I have tried every tactic, combination and persuasion I could think of, but she won't let me Claim her, won't return to you, won't relinquish Luci, nothing's worked.” Cern extended his hands helplessly. Bel sank to the stairs of Lynne's house and ran a hand through his hair with a noisy exhale. It had taken him days to track down Cern, and now this.
“What would you suggest?” Bel almost choked on the words. He couldn't believe himself, asking help of the Stag. Cern shrugged helplessly again.
“I would have no idea what to tell you.” Cern answered.
“Well, then let me tell you this. Mercury paid her a visit a few days ago.” Cern's eyes narrowed as Bel said it and Bel nodded his head, acknowledging the expression. “He was talking of a missed hearing and punishments and the fact that since I relinquished my Claim I could not stand between her and any punishments. She has no one to stand between her and any form of punishment they should choose to deal out, and they're considering her a full Goddess at this time. And I don't have to tell you that... without a Claim...”
“There's a good possibility she will lose her Goddess status.” Cern swore. He sank down on the stairs a few risers below Bel. “I have a radical idea, which neither of us is going to like very much.” Cern exhaled, rubbing his face.
“Tell me.” Bel instructed. “I will do nearly anything to save her.”
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Laughter burst from the Fox's throat as Emma cornered him.
“Well I knew you would call for me eventually, but this is hilarious. You actually called me here to scold me?” The Fox collapsed into a chair in the silent library.
“Well, were you responsible? You've admitted freely to being greedy and selfish! Has this all been a ploy to gain my power?” Emma shook with anger, and she clenched her fists, trying to get herself under control. The Fox laughed harder.
“No. Why would I have any need of doing something so ridiculously strange to one of your co-workers? What purpose does that serve me? And as for the rest of it: NO. Absolutely not. YOU chose to bring the Forest God back to life, foolish girl, YOU chose to try to cure him of his Darkness, YOU infected yourself AND all those around you..” The Fox backed her up against a wall and Emma was suddenly swamped with guilt and anger. She tried to keep herself from avoiding his gaze. She may feel guilty, but she wasn't going to let the Fox know it.
“And why should I believe you? This could all be some sort of elaborate scheme or plan of yours, a long game to win the prize?” Even as Emma hissed the words she realized they weren't true.
“When have I ever been that duplicitous towards you? Seems I've been pretty straightforward and fairly plain in my dealings with you. I told you up front what I wanted. I went after what I wanted. YOUR power. FROM YOU. Have I ever given you the impression I would need to rely on such underhanded, pitiful, talentless tricks to-” The Fox's voice was cut off as another voice interrupted.
“What's going on here?” A male voice rang loudly through the room. The Chaos God's fox features disappeared and he backed up several paces from Emma.
“Nothing, just a simple disagreement.” The Fox grinned lazily, but Emma could see his eyes examining the newcomer suspiciously. Emma pushed past him.
“Hello sir, can I help you with something?” Emma asked. The man glared at the Chaos God, but his gaze gentled on Emma.
“Hi, yes, I'm Marc, I'm actually just here to sort of look the place over. I was interested in taking a job here maybe and kinda wanted to get to know the place before I committed. You know familiarize myself with it.” Marc walked Emma several steps away from the Fox and whispered to her. “Hey, are you having problems with that guy? Should I toss him out?” Emma shook her head and when she looked back, the Fox was already gone. She sighed.
“Come on, I'll give you a quick tour.” She told Marc, and began leading him around the library.
- Writer
