Chapter Text
Chapter 44: Seeing Double
Brigid enjoyed marital bliss that night. She wasn't sure how it came about that she was sleeping in the arms of the Warrior God, but she was happy with the decision. She was surprised at how much she liked him. Oh sure she loved him, but she found that love was an easy emotion for her. It was the liking part, the enjoyment of another, that she sometimes found more difficult. But Ares was likable in this world. Brave. Confident. He was someone to be reckoned with, yet at the same time kind. He was a true warrior. He was revered.
Of course, Brigid was revering him in a totally different way than most. Hers was a most succulent and lusty application of adoration, though very very sincere. She surrendered her heart without a fight and fell into the depth of his very soul and he reciprocated with all of his being. Their coupling was poignant, untamed and sweet and afterwards she rested in his arms and slept the sleep of the well loved.
She awoke very early in the morning, still held in his secure embrace. His eyes twinkled. "Sleep well?" She purred in response and crawled up him for a little bit so she could plant a good morning kiss upon his lips. For some reason, it developed into something more.
Later that morning, she went for a walk. She had intended to go by herself as usual, but Janice, Mel and Nikkos opted to accompany her. Jolene stayed guarded by a watchful Callisto. Brigid didn't think the walk would take that long.
It is surprising how far you can go in a half hour when you are in good company. The conversation had been pleasant and distracting. They were in deep woods before they knew it. Not that Brigid was in any way lost. She knew exactly where they were at all times and she had no worries about trespassers. The only way anyone ever found their way onto her land was if she showed them or if they themselves got lost. Actually, come to think of it, they were pretty close to the truck and she'd been wanting to check on that for awhile.
Her mind kept track of their idle conversation and she gazed thoughtfully around the land. It was beautiful. She loved it here. She gazed peacefully at her wives and at her son. They added dimension to her world. She felt a contentment she hadn't experienced in a long long time.
It was abruptly shattered by a howl of demonic rage.
The creature was lost. She could tell that just by the way it searched about. She had no idea why it would be on her land otherwise anyway. But she knew it was trouble, she knew it had not yet seen them and she knew she had to get her son and her loves out of danger. She was the only one armed (at her son's insistence) and she wasn't too confident that this huge lumbering beast wasn't the type to eat and run.
There was an obvious place to go, if they could reach it. If they could make it to the truck, they'd at least have a faster mode of getting away. She deliberately hefted a sizable rock and threw it in the opposite direction successfully distracting the lizard creature and then she connected with the others in a look that said follow me.
There was no hesitation, thank the gods. They ran as if the very wind carried them and maybe it did, after all, Melinda was the priestess. When Janice caught sight of the Bronco, she shouted, "What in Tartarus is that?"
Brigid grinned even as she almost slid to the truck, "That my love is our ride."
The air buzzed them with a bit of magical resistance, but Brigid knew how to override it and pulled the side door of the Bronco open with one swift movement. "In, In, In!" she shouted. They could hear the lumbering beasty crashing through the woods behind them. Brigid ran to the front of the car and dug under the rim of the bumper until she found the spare key. She kissed it. "Janice I love you!" Then the demigoddess ran back to the drivers side and scooted in besides Janice, shut the door and stuck the key in the ignition.
They will tell you that there is such a thing as good timing and bad timing. It applies to everyone even the Gods.
Zeus had been sounding out the clues that Brigid had provided, each time coming that much closer to the answer, so it was that with impeccably bad timing he said the Nameless One's true name as he read the final clue (V-el-ask-a! Velaska!) just as Brigid was starting the car.
She didn't even have to press the gas. Their world was surrounded by a burst of magic so intense that their skin tingled as if it were sunburned and they had to cover their eyes with their arms.
The next thing they knew, they were in a parking lot in front of a spacious building that Brigid could not believe she was seeing. She turned to look at Janice who's own face betrayed a true consternation. Then she looked in back at Nikkos and Melinda, who also seemed phased by the recent event. Then she turned back to look at the entrance and gave out a strangled cry as she watched the semi familiar forms of the Amazons making their way in and out of an inn with a hand painted sign that said Hero's Rest.
"Gods are we in trouble," she said as she very carefully opened the door of the truck. She looked at the passengers who seemed to finally be registering the fact that they were no longer where they used to be. "Beloveds, stay in the car." She swallowed. "I need to check on," she tried to continue, but was interrupted
"HERO!!!! Where the Hell Have YOU BEEN!!!!" It was a voice that sent unpleasant chills down her spine. Worse yet, it was a voice speaking perfect American English. She saw Janice blink in surprise and heard Melinda's intake of breath and winced. The demigoddess turned around and saw a truly concerned and perplexed Robin making her way towards them and she tried not to flinch in memory of the last time she'd seen the woman.
"Oh Gods," Brigid heard Melinda whisper in perfect Greek. This time Brigid did wince. They were in deep.
Brigid took a deep breath and centered and let her face assume an aspect of serenity. Robin practically collided with her before giving her a huge hug. Brigid ignored the prickles of gooseflesh that erupted and gave the woman a hug in return. This was not the same Robin, she reminded herself over and over until the dark friendly woman freed her. Brigid gave her a lopsided smile.
Robin started speaking quickly, "I was so worried! I couldn't feel you anywhere! We looked all over! What are you doing in Jan's Truck?"
"Yeah! That is a good question. What in hell are you doing in My Truck." Brigid looked thunderstruck when she caught sight of the speaker. Janice Covington stood before her in jeans and a sweatshirt, peering past her hat and waving a nasty ol' cigar. Standing next to her was the lovely Melinda, also wearing jeans and a sweatshirt (which somehow she made look much more stylish and feminine).
Brigid heard the doors click open before she could open her mouth and she watched as the women in front of her suddenly changed expressions from one of worried anger to one of startled astonishment. Robin stepped back, her own face registering true confusion.
She felt someone's arms wrap around her waist and looked up into the priestess' face. Melinda looked serene, though Brigid suspected that it was a kind of artifice. Still she was able to borrow courage from it and did the only thing she could think to do.
She nodded to the couple and to Robin, "Jan, Mel, may I introduce my wives, Melinda Pappas and Janice Covington and my son Nikkos."
Janice Covington, the one who owned the Bronco, dropped her cigar.
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(1) Greek Anonymous (Really)--(But I think it was Gabrielle, don't you.)