I dragged myself out the door for school in the morning. Mom assumed I hadn’t fully recovered from my collapse, but the truth was I hadn’t slept in thirty-six hours and was recently attacked by an evil Viking and two ravens. I drank a pot of coffee and forced my body into Liam’s passenger seat.
Liam whistled. “Embracing your heritage?” His heated gaze traveled over my body.
“I couldn’t deal with the flat iron, so I’m embracing the hair.”
“I like it. What about the dress?”
I tugged at the soft hem resting on my thigh. “Everything’s dirty. Mom’s off her game after the attacks. I’m half asleep. Nothing gets done at our place. This was clean.”
“Is it new?” He shifted into gear and pulled away from the curb.
“Allison picked it out when we went back to school shopping this summer. I was upset about Kirk and she thought I needed a makeover. I have a ton of this stuff in my closet.”
“I don’t hate it.” His fingers traveled over my knee to the hem of my dress.
“It’s not me. Not usually. I don’t hate it either.” I gripped his hand on my leg where he’d shoved the skirt up another inch. “Dad gave me his credit card as a peace offering before I decided I didn’t want anything from him. I tried getting his attention by being a bitch. I spent twelve hundred dollars. He never mentioned it.”
“If you want funding for more dresses like this, let me know. Though, I wouldn’t suggest wearing them to your human high school filled with hormonal puberty stricken boys. Probably not a great idea to wear this to my place before the clans leave either.” He took another long look.
The creamy cashmere sweater dress was an indulgence. The short length and cap sleeves gave the cowl collar a sexy edge, though I was fully covered. The material hugged my curves in the right places. “I feel very feminine in it.”
“You should. You’re making it hard to protect you.”
“From who?”
He wiggled his eyebrows.
“Don’t get any ideas. My boyfriend will kick your ass.”
“Yeah, or your father, or your grandfather.” He parked in the gravel lot beside the school. “I’ve never worried about a girl’s grandpa killing me before.”
“Old Papa Zeus.” I puffed air into long, side-swept bangs. “I did a quick search for Grandpa before Mom got home from work. Apparently Zeus is the god of all gods. The god of gods and men. The god other gods call father.”
“You see the pressure I have to honor you?”
“Or be smited. Smote? Smoten.”
Liam smiled. “You’re taking this well.”
“What are my options? I also learned Zeus was kind of a slut. Most demigod bloodlines stem from him. So, I have lots of relatives.”
“In a manner of speaking. Oh, and when you’re speaking, you won’t want to let Odin hear you call Zeus the god of all gods. Many call Odin the Allfather.” He leaned over the console and nudged me with the tip of his nose. “Let’s go, Calypso.”
I stepped free from the car and waited for Liam. “The Allfather?”
“God of all gods.”
“Gee. That’s not confusing at all. There are two of them?”
He grinned. “There are many weak and many powerful gods. For the most part, gods like Odin and your grandfather stay busy minding their realms, heirs, and charges.”
“The big guys don’t mingle? No meetings of the minds? No pretentious shows of fortune, thinly veiled as charity events?”
Liam met me at the car’s bumper. “No.”
“Zeus never invites Odin for a round of golf?”
“These are human customs.”
“What about the Olympics? Wait. Is that only Roman gods?”
Everyone stared as we walked to the building hand in hand. Whether they stared at my bare legs and wild nymph hair, or Liam on my arm, was anyone’s guess. My change from wallflower to girlie girl was drastic, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel insecure. Maybe it had to do with the other change I’d made during the night. I wasn’t the same as I was yesterday. Liam had become part of me for forever.
He squeezed my hand. “Here we go.”
Kirk and Hannah stopped walking when they saw us.
“What happened to you?” Hannah pointed at my middle. “Are you wearing Juicy Couture?”
Kirk stared at my legs. “You never dressed like that for me.”
“What do you care?” Hannah snapped.
“Why don’t you buy stuff like that?” he griped.
Liam grabbed my hips from behind and pushed me into the crowd as Kirk and Hannah’s argument escalated.
“Liam,” Allison’s voice rang through the morning chaos. “Have you seen Callie? She... Who’s this?” Her voice hit a bitch pitch. I loved her so much.
“Hey.” I turned to face her and smiled.
“Ah!” she yelled. “You look like a tiny runway model!”
“Thanks.”
“Your hair’s amazing! I love it this way. I didn’t recognize you without your sleek signature style.” She played with the ends of my crazy hair fanned out on my arms.
I touched the wide fabric headband, self-conscious it might move and reveal my bald spots. The dress covered all evidence of the raven attack on my chest and shoulders.
Oliver and Justin walked up behind her.
“There you are.” Oliver grabbed Allison around the middle and swung her in the air.
“Wow.” Justin dragged his gaze over my hair and down my body. He lingered on my waist and thighs before whistling at my boots.
“Thanks.” I popped a hip, striking a goofy pose.
Amusement lit his face. He turned to Liam. “Good luck, man.” He shook his head. “I’m going to homeroom before the bell.” He chuckled on his way through the crowd.
“Ready?” Oliver took Allison’s hand and pulled her after Justin.
“You see?” Liam waved a hand in Justin’s direction. “He knows what I’m in for. One day, though, I suppose he’ll have the job.”
“Nope. I’m your problem. I don’t care what The Fates or prophecies or whatever say. Justin isn’t my destiny. You are.” I snuggled into Liam’s side.
“No PDA!” Kirk yelled from Hannah’s locker in the distance.
Liam wrapped his arms around me, looking both stricken and hopeful. “I hate that guy.”
“Yeah, but he’s too dumb to learn a lesson.” I stretched onto my toes and kissed the underside of Liam’s chin.
“No PDA!”
Liam snorted. “It’s going to be a long day. Are you swimming after school?”
“No. Tonight I’ve gotta go Roll With It.”
* * * *
The shop was busy until eight. I served more soup than Buddy could make. He was in business owner heaven. Allison filled every short break between customers with stories about Oliver. She showed me a bunch of texts he sent while he hung with Justin. Oliver was learning about rodeo. When the last customer left, Buddy went outside for his nightly break. Less than an hour until closing. I wiped down the display case and we dove into full-blown girl talk catch-up mode.
“Ollie’s such an amazing kisser.” Allison leaned over the counter. “I can’t explain it in words. He’s mind-blowing. I’m falling all over myself to see him or talk to him. It’s like I’m new at this stuff, and I am not.” She emphasized her final three words. Feminism fueled her girls-can-do-what-boys-can-do-and-not-be-called-a-whore mindset. Promiscuity was where my mom and feminism parted ways. The nurse in her said, “Sex can kill you. Be smart. Stay safe.”
“I know what you mean.” I grabbed a box of sugar packets and moved to the tables in the little dining area. “I feel the same way about Liam.”
“Really?” She joined me at the table. “Tell me everything. You looked suspiciously comfortable with him today at school.” She tapped her chin with a shiny orange fingernail. “Sexy hair. Sexy dress.”
My cheeks burned under her scrutiny.
I turned for the next table, unsure how to describe the most incredible life-changing event in my existence.
“You had sex!”
The little bell over the door jingled and I said a silent prayer my mom hadn’t dropped by for some reason.
A laugh I didn’t recognize echoed in the quiet deli. “Sounds like I missed a good conversation.” A beefy-looking guy with bow legs and tight pants walked to the counter.
“It was nothing.” Allison met him at the register. “What can I get for you?”
Two more big guys sauntered in and stood behind the first. They had beards without mustaches and wore beanies over braided ponytails. I jammed sugar packets into the remaining containers as fast as possible.
“What do you think, brothers?” the first one asked.
The guys wore jackets. I didn’t see any runes. Maybe they were actual brothers.
He lowered his tone to a deep baritone. “What can she get for us?”
Uh oh.
The group joined in menacing laughter. Allison looked my way. Worry crumbled her forehead. I texted Liam.
Trouble at the deli. Help.
Allison’s thumb rushed over her cell phone screen behind the counter. “We’re out of soup and we’re closing soon, but we have plenty of fresh rolls for a sandwich.”
The leader thrust his hips. “We do enjoy a good sandwich.”
The threesome changed formation, and formed a new line, standing shoulder to shoulder. Allison stepped back.
“Did you tell Oliver Hale we were here?” The leader asked, nodding to the phone in her hand.
“What?” Allison’s posture relaxed a fraction. “You know Oliver?” A tiny smile curved her lips.
“He knows the one marked to lead us. Did he tell you?”
“Lead you where?” She looked in my direction. The others followed her example.
They ignored me. “Don’t mess with us, human wench. Tell us what we want to know or we’ll kill your master.”
Oh no.
“My what?” Allison bristled. “Excuse me? Did you call me a wench? What are you? Like a little gang of pirates?”
The leader slapped her face so hard her head spun. A red welt appeared instantly over her cheek. Her eyes welled with tears.
“Do you know the nymph?” he demanded.
I covered my mouth with one hand.
She rubbed her swollen cheek, fury burning in her eyes.
“Tell me what you know!” he screamed. Spittle flew from his lips.
I texted Liam again. HURRY 9-1-1 NOW
The room flashed green. I whipped my head up. The men wielded various sizes of light swords and light hooks in their hands. Their features morphed and their muscles bloomed. Allison’s eyes rolled back in her head.
“Allison!” I ran to her in slow motion. My legs moved like they were encased in quicksand. I couldn’t reach her in time.
Her knees buckled and her forehead smacked the counter’s edge, throwing her head back. Her bottom hit the ground a second before the side of her head bounced against the tiled floor.
“No!” I dove to her side. “Allison, open your eyes.” I cupped the back of her head in my hands. Warm sticky blood oozed between my fingers and over the tiles beneath her.
The little bell rang again and I sobbed in relief.
“What the hell?” Buddy’s voice sent a wave of icy terror through me.
I jumped to my feet. “Buddy. Don’t. Allison fell and hit her head. Can you call nine-one-one? I need ice and a compress to stop the bleeding.”
He stared at the light swords, unhearing. He lifted the EMF meter from his belt and it lit up like Christmas.
“Don’t worry about them. Allison needs us.”
“Leave,” the leader commanded Buddy.
Buddy left. He walked past the windows and disappeared.
“Do you know Oliver Hale?” They closed in on me behind the counter, weapons drawn.
“He’s my neighbor.”
“Are you his wench also?”
“No.”
“Is the nymph here?”
“I don’t understand.” My fingers itched to adjust my headband. My gut curled into my backbone. I couldn’t make a run for it and leave Allison. Where the hell were the Hales and their massive entourage?
The back door creaked open and clicked shut. The men turned their heads in unison.
“Who’s there?” The leader extended the tip of his sword toward the kitchen and his henchmen crept toward the back door.
“Where can I find the one marked as our leader?”
“Aren’t you the leader?” I played dumb, dropping back to Allison’s side. I turned away so he couldn’t see my lying face.
“Heeyah!” Buddy lunged to my side from the hallway beside the kitchen. He held a long shiny sword in front of him. A large silver cross hung on a chain around his neck. “This is my sword, you gargantuan mother effer. I don’t know what you are, but your light saber’s on sale this week at the closeout store. This, however, is a genuine katana sword. It’s dipped in Holy water and blessed by the priest. Guaranteed to cut through your inhuman flesh like mashed potatoes. I suggest you leave my store before you see for yourselves.”
The sword vibrated in his trembling hands. “Call your friends back here and get out.”
“Humans,” a henchman scoffed behind us.
Buddy and I turned toward the sound. Light sliced through the air beside me. Buddy gurgled and his torso fell to the floor. His legs, hips, and waist followed.
“Ah!”
Blood sprayed over me. I wiped frenzied hands across my eyelids and mouth, clearing the hot spray. Tremors rocked my body. The killer looked into my eyes.
“Forget,” he commanded.
I slid on my knees over blood-slicked tiles to Buddy’s side and hovered my hands helplessly in the air. His killer knelt beside me and tossed Allison’s limp body over one shoulder.
He looked into my eyes. “Go to your neighbor and tell him the Stians have his wench. Tell him to bring the marked one and the nymph. Then forget I asked.”
I nodded in my best impression of a trance. It wasn’t a hard pretense. My emotions and mind were detaching from reality by the second.
The motley crew filed out the front door. I ran my fingertips over Buddy’s eyelids as the door sucked shut behind them. “I am so so very sorry,” I sobbed.
I swallowed my instinct to call 9-1-1 and lifted Buddy’s keys from the chain on his belt. Decision made, I turned out the lights. I flipped the “Closed” sign in the window. The Stians carried my best friend to an open top Jeep at the corner.
I stepped into the night on trembling legs and suppressed the limitless sobs bubbling in my throat. My shaking fingers fumbled over his keys, scratching the door of his car every time I missed the keyhole. Behind the wheel of Buddy’s Jetta, I said a prayer for my entire town and the whole of civilization then headed in the direction of the open top Jeep.
I sent Liam one more text. Buddy’s dead. They took Allison. I’m following so they don’t get away. Please find us fast.