“Hold that thought sweet cheeks!” I noticed Dad walking out of the library through the window and squealed happily. “I gotta run, but we can pick up this convo in my room later!”
“Oh, um, yeah, ok. How does seven sound?”
I flashed him a thumbs up as I walked backwards away from him. “Sounds good! See you then!”
“Yeah, see ya…” he whispered to himself, tucking the book under his chin as I teleported away. I didn’t think twice about his sad expression at first but kicked myself for it afterwards.
Dad jumped out of his skin when I teleported right in front of him. The papers he was holding scattered across the concrete, as did what was left of his sanity. I gasped in horror and flashed around to help him pick everything up before biting my lip in shame. “Er, sorry, Dad. That was my mistake!”
“It’s ok, little love,” he laughed as he centered himself. “Why are you just popping around campus today, anyway?”
“I was looking for Mom and thought maybe you two were together!”
“Your mother, eh?” He tapped his jaw as he thought about where she might be. “Did you check the arena? She was going over protocols for Nick’s new training schedule with Endymion earlier, so she might still be lingering there.”
Endymion and Mom in the same spot?
SCORE!
“I did not check there! I’ll go right now!” I kissed his cheek twice, which made him gleam happily. “Thanks daddy!”
“I’ll see you at dinner?” he reminded me.
“Of course!”
“Then off you go.” He gave me a tight squeeze before allowing me to whisk off after my mother, shaking his head to himself at how fast I ran.
“Ok, Xena, you need to chill. You are totally giving yourself away,” I said to myself, hoping my pep talk would settle my nerves.
Sure enough, Endymion and Mom were sitting on the bleachers of the Death arena with stacks of papers between them. Endymion looked ready to rip his eyes right out of the sockets while Mom was droning on and on about something he probably didn’t give a damn about. She had a knack for doing that, but I thought it was endearing that she was so passionate.
I crossed the dirt arena, panting wildly from running, and waved to the two, who waved back gingerly. “My sweet! What are you doing out here, beautiful?” Mom sang as she held her arms out.
I sat on the bleacher beside her and let her wrap me in her embrace, which was as warm and safe as it always was. “I was looking for you. I had some questions for an assignment that I thought you could answer. Endymion’s advice would be beneficial, too.”
“Me? Helpful? When do those words go together often?” he teased with a wink.
Mom and I rolled our eyes before she kissed my cheek softly. “We’re happy to help. What is your question?”
“Well…” I conjured a notepad and pen and tucked my legs up so I could write against them. “Calyx wanted us to explore the topic of magic ruins and items. He said we should ask aroundand see if anyone knew of or had made something special to aid in their powers. Is there anything you two know of like that?” I lied through my teeth.
I hated lying to her so much.
She had been such a wonderful, supporting mother to me, even after we spent so many years apart, even though I wasn’t her biological child, and here I was throwing it right in her face. I was ashamed of myself on an entirely new level but knew that I had to get this information whether I liked it or not, and however I could get it.
Mom looked to Endymion with an odd expression. It proved she knew something, that she wanted to speak but wasn’t sure of what to say, and she wanted his permission to do so. This was my first big break, as I knew whatever they were about to tell me was going to be incredibly important.
Endymion decided to answer for her. “Well, I have made quite a few trinkets in my time and passed them down to other Gods of Death to aid their powers.”
“Like what?” I innocently beckoned.
He rolled his lips as he recalled the items. “I made a ring for Nicodemus, a necklace for Seraphine, and a bracelet.”
“A bracelet?”
“It is very important,” Mom continued as she braided my obnoxious curls in her long fingers. “It has a one-time trick that can make or break an Elemental’s whole being.”
“And that trick would be…?”
