Chapter 5: Andy
1332 Words
Andy's P.O.V.
I was dancing around the room, cleaning and popping my hips to the music. Makeba by Jain was playing and it was really giving me the dancing fever. I was putting our clothes away, happy that thanks to Jesse, Ares and I were able to be intimate with one another. We don't get very many chances at doing that with Elara around.
I love Elara, deeply. It's just sometimes you can use a break, even from the people you love the most. By the way, I've been wanting to wrap myself around Ares I could tell my mating season was coming soon. I need to be careful, we can't afford to have another baby. Elara is a full-time job, one I get overtime in daily. She's worth it though, more than worth it. She's an amazing child. I just hoped that Ares and I could do a good job at raising her.
Yesterday proved that we don't only have to worry about what we teach her, but also about how we will keep her safe. Other dark creatures will want to take her from us. Perhaps even angels will try. I know for sure the council will when they realize the child they have is not the right one. They think they found the right baby, but they didn't. I feel bad for lying to grandpa Nate, and I know dad does too. I was surprised he kept it a secret.
"Your grandfather would never take her away, but if the council ever found out he knew and didn't bring her in, they'd execute him. It's better that we don't tell him." Those were Dad's exact words to me.
"Mommy, you dance funny," Elara's little giggle snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Excuse me, little miss, but I have the best moves around," I joked with her, moving my hips in a more dramatic way. She giggled again, filling me with deep joy at her happiness. She had the most beautiful and whimsical little giggle.
"What about me?" She asked, waving her arms around as she showed me her dancing.
"Oh my heavens, Elara, you better be careful who you show those moves to, they're too amazing."
She smiled at me and we danced together for a little bit, until the door began to open and we both quickly stopped, standing still like we'd been caught doing something bad. She stifled her giggles as we watched to see who was going to come in. It was the demigod with her blue wavy hair braided to the side today. She had stayed as she said she would, sleeping in Jesse's room because she said she wasn't letting her out of her sight.
"Hello, Petra. What can I help you with?"
"I'm looking for Jesse. She slipped into her shadow and now I can't sense her at all. Not anywhere on the planet. Can she cloak her soul?" She asked me, seeming very confused by her inability to locate Jesse.
"No, none of us can do that. She's probably in the shadow realm. Like her mother, she likes to go there when she needs a minute to herself."
"Hmm, I see. And when does she usually leave the shadow realm?"
"I don't know. That depends on her."
"No matter, the moment she appears I will sense her and go to her side. It seems that I am currently free, so I shall spend my time with Elara. Let's train, Elara, you need to be strong to fight off the monsters."
"Monsters?" Elara asked, seeming frightened as she hid behind my leg.
Demigod or not, I am mad now.
My dragon, Fera, surfaced, making my chest glow with the buildup of fire. Petra looked at me unintimidated but surprised.
"You may be a demigod, and I may be grateful to you for keeping Jesse safe, but Elara is my daughter. Mine. You do not get to come in and start deciding things for her. She hasn't even been on this planet a full year yet. Physically and emotionally she's about 5, maybe early 6. She trains with us and we certainly don't try to frighten her with the mention of monsters," I seethed.
"I meant no offense. Training with a demigod could be very beneficial to her is all. I am sorry for mentioning monsters. That's just how we were trained growing up. We started at age 3."
"We're different here. Elara honey, it's up to you. I do agree that it would be a good experience for you to train with a demigod."
"I will go, but only if Mommy comes," Elara stood her ground, releasing some magic in an attempt to intimidate Petra. It surprised me, and worried me that she did. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
"That's a lot of power you have little one, but I have more," Petra crossed her arms, wiggling her eyebrows at Elara now. "Come, I'll show you."
A white fog began to gather below our feet, spreading up and encompassing us entirely. It traveled us with a warm feeling, like we'd been kissed by the sun. We landed on the training field the Watt's had in their backyard.
"That was cool! How'd you do that? Can I do that too?" Elara asked excitedly.
"You can do something similar. How much magic training have you had?" Petra asked her.
"We don't know many witches and we've been keeping her existence a secret so not much," I answered for her.
"That won't do. She needs to be able to harness that power. We must find her a good tutor and I think I know the best one. You can trust her to keep Elara a secret from others. If this is okay with you, since as you said she's yours." Petra seemed to respect my role now.
"I want to meet her first."
"You're very protective, Andy. I hope that doesn't come back to bite you in the ass. I can have Stella meet with you, if you insist."
"I insist."
"Very well then. Have it your way."
After that small moment of tension Petra began to train Elara. She had her release all her magic so that she could assess how much of it she had and how powerful it really was. To say she was impressed is an understatement. Petra then taught her how to compact it and harness it so that it was focused and not just pushed into the air around her. Petra was a really good teacher, teaching Elara things I didn't even know about. It certainly brought to light how desperately we need someone to teach her about magic. Petra was right and I'm going to have to bite my tongue and let this Stella train her if she truly is a good person.
"Hello, my flower." Ares greeted me, kissing my temple. "What's going on here?"
"Training. We need to talk." I pulled Ares aside to where I knew Elara wouldn't be able to hear us. "She needs someone to teach her about her magic. We're doing a terrible job at it and it's making everything so much harder. Petra has someone coming who can help. She's going to meet with me first. You should be there and sus her out with me."
"I already have. She's a good person, Andy. We have nothing to worry about," he swore, kissing my forehead.
He already knew about this conversation, but let me have it anyway. He knows I hate it when he interrupts what I have to say even if he knows the words that are going to come out of my mouth. I like to get them out either way.
"Are you sure?" I was worried, never really having had to trust someone outside the family with Elara.
"Absolutely certain. I wouldn't let her near our daughter otherwise.
Seems I'll have to trust Ares' vision and Petra's word. We'll see what happens.
- Writer
