Page 51 of Shadow Running
“Iamthe goddess of the crossroads,” Hecate taste said.“You may not realize it, but you’ve just made a choice that will define your future.You set into motion one fork in the road.I cannot help you with your father, but Icanhelp you by taking the spirit of the serial killer with me.That way you’ll be able to exorcise the house without a problem.Once he’s gone, the ghosts will be happy to go on to rest.”
“What will you do with him?”Penn asked.
“Oh, I have quite a little collection of serial killers in my closet.Trust me, their spirits don’t need a cushy life.Eventually, I send them through to be cleansed in the Great Lake where souls go when they’re ready to step out of the cycle and be cleansed forever.”
“What happens to them afterward?”I asked.
“They forget who they were and simply become universal energy again.They go back to their primordial selves, all sentience wiped clear.They are not absolved, but they are absorbed.The universe draws on that well of power to create anew.”
Hecate finished the pizza and then chugged down the rest of the wine.“If there’s nothing else you need, I will go check in on your mother and take care of her.She has usefulness left in this world, she’s not ready to go.”
“Tell me,” Penn said.“Would she live if you didn’t intervene?”
Hecate shook her head.“Not everyone is ready for death when it comes.But I can see her on the web in the future, and there are places her presence is necessary.So I’m more than willing to change the path she’s on.There will be a price, of course, but there’s always a price for every choice you make.”And with that, Hecate stood, and in another whirl of smoke, vanished.
Penn and I stared at each other.Then, looking at the empty pizza box, I once again broke into laughter.
“I can’t believe your goddess just sat here and ate our pizza and drink our wine like she was one of the girls.It’s kind of fun, isn’t it?”I realized I was getting a kick out of it.If hanging with the gods was this much fun, I wouldn’t mind doing it more.
Penn snorted.“We have a lot to go over,” she said.But first, I’m going to call the hospital and see how my mother is doing.I can’t believe that Hecate spared her.I’ll never be able to repay her.”
She put in a call to the hospital where Eileen was staying.When she explained who she was, I could hear the doctor’s excited voice on the other end of the line, blaring out from the speaker.“She is?She did?… That’s incredible!I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am… Yes, it is a miracle.”After she listened for a moment more, Penn said goodbye and hung up.
“Hecate already made good on her promise?”I asked.
“Yes, she did.My mother’s going to be okay.She’ll have to remain in quarantine for another week, but she woke up, and she’s going to be okay.”
On that note, we declared the rest of the evening a drama-free holiday, and broke out the ice cream.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Too tired to think,but hyped after Hecate’s visit, I brought out my phone.First, I texted everyone and asked them to meet us at work the next day, even though it was a Saturday.I told them it was an emergency and that we needed to talk.
Then, I did what Seton had asked me to.I wasn’t looking forward to this, but with Hecate’s encouragement, I decided I might as well get this over with.
I brought up Vaurice’s number and texted him.i need to talk to you tomorrow.it’s an emergency, and you know exactly what it’s about.After thinking about it, I added:tell daddy hi.
I sent it before I had time to think it over.Then, I showed Penn what I had texted.
She snorted.“That should get a rise out of them.”
“You think?”I yawned and stretched.“Let’s go to bed.I’m too tired to do anything else tonight.”
We headed to bed, and I fell asleep almost the minute my head hit the pillow.
* * *
The next morning,there was one simple text from Vaurice:call me.
I decided to let him stew for a while.I fed the cats while Penn fed Mr.crumbles, and then, after deciding to pick up breakfast on the way, we headed out for work.Penn drove her own car, just in case we had to split up during the day.
After a quick stop at Starbucks, and then at the bakery across the street, I pulled into the parking lot at work.It was another beautiful day, although muggy.I glanced up at the sky, trying to read the weather.I had the feeling a thunderstorm was on the way, though I couldn’t see any clouds.But the air was heavy and wet and clammy.Penn pulled in right behind me, and we headed up the stairs together.
Sophia was at her desk, and I wiggled my fingers at her.“Gather everybody in the break room now.”
With Penn in tow, I headed back to the break room where I set down the box of pastries and my latte, and then shrugged off my sweater.It was too warm to wear one, but the weather was so changeable that I always brought either a sweater or jacket with me during the summer.
Five minutes later, everybody was sitting around the table, bear claws and maple bars in hand.Nobody grumbled, thank goodness, but then again, my crew knew how important things were right now.Weekends weren’t always guaranteed.But Dante and I paid them accordingly, so there wasn’t much pushback to meeting outside the regular work week.
