Page 38 of Anger

“Hydra!” Banshee shrieked.

“Let them go!” Vampire ordered.

Hydra ducked back into the portal, and it snapped shut.

“We won’t blind you because you’d never identify where we are,” Mac said to Lanie as she looked around, bemused. “Hello! Thanks for the rescue.”

“You take too many chances, Mac,” Hydra hissed.

“I can’t believe it’s you. We thought you were gone!” Lanie exclaimed.

Hydra’s seven heads peered at Lanie. “Am not dead.”

“No. Clearly not. Where are we?” Lanie asked.

“Refuge,” Hydra replied.

In the sky, a shadow flew towards them, gradually turning into a female shape with wings. The figure landed, and Lanie’s eyes widened. Standing in front of her with bat wings outstretched with claws on the tips and snakes hissing in her hair stood Tisiphone, the last living fury. Blood-red eyes stared at Lanie.

“It is you!” Lanie exclaimed. She rushed forward to hug Tisiphone and then Hydra.

“Welcome, sister,” Tisiphone said.

“I am sorry about Alecto and Megaera,” Lanie replied.

“We three were born together. It was a harsh loss. I survive, though, thanks to the Saviours. Now they survive and thrive thanks to me,” Tisiphone responded.

“You need to come home,” Lanie urged, and Tisiphone shook her head.

“We are,” she said and motioned Lanie forward.

Lanie stepped towards the edge of the platform they stood upon. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “What is this?”

“Refuge,” Hydra explained.

Below, Lanie swept an amazing sight. An old Greek citadel, fully functioning and preserved, bustled with everyday life. Lanie saw hundreds, if not thousands, of people hurrying about. The designs of the buildings reminded Lanie of Ancient Greece, a time Hydra and the Erinyes had loved.

“It’s like looking at Ancient Greece,” Lanie spoke her thoughts.

“Indeed. Our home is designed on an era we enjoyed,” Hydra agreed.

Homes were dotted onto plateaus and hills. They rose above a central plateau that seemed to have the governing buildings on. Lanie saw large practice areas where men and women trained in various forms of fighting. There was a huge temple, an arena, shops, two markets, and many other buildings. Lanie noticed farms far and wide and turned to Tisiphone.

“This is like a whole country. How does this exist?” she asked, stunned.

“It exists because we need it to,” Tisiphone answered.

“Are we on Earth?” Lanie questioned, feeling dumbstruck.

“Sure as hell hope so,” Mac replied with a laugh.

“This is where you grew up?” Lanie inquired.

“Yup. My father was abusive after my mother died. But he trained me well until he went too far one day. Justice was served, and I was brought up with Ranson. Once, Dad had been a good guy, but Mum’s death soured him. I was lucky, though, to survive. My sister didn’t,” Mac said, and sadness touched his eyes.

“I am sorry to hear that,” she murmured.

“Come. Ranson is in the healing hall, and he will be fine thanks to you, Lamia,” Tisiphone stated.

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