Page 50 of Shadow Running
Blushing, Penn sputtered out, “I need to ask your permission for something.”
“I trust it’s a serious matter.I’m not your mother, after all.”Suddenly, Hecate paused.“I’m sorry.That’s insensitive, considering what’s going on with your mother.And yes, before you ask I know all about it.I thought perhaps you wanted me to heal her for you.”
“You can do that?”Penn asked, a quiver of hope in her eyes.
“I can do a lot of things, although I’m far from omnipotent.The only omnipotent being in the universe is, the universe.And that sort of knowledge is so far beyond any of us that we can’t even comprehend what level the universe works on.But, to your question, yes, I can heal your mother.I’ll take care of matter as soon as you finish telling me what you want.”
Penn let out a shout.“Really?You’d do that for me?I can’t begin to tell you what that means to me.I truly thought I was going to lose her.”
“I hate those creatures.They’re like leeches.I’ll be glad to squash it for you.Anyway, get to the point.What you need me to give you permission for?”
“Seton has offered to introduce me to someone who can help train me.Apparently I’m stronger than I knew, and he thinks it’s a good idea that I have some guidance.I guess something shifted when I tried to create a counter spell to what’s essentially a Romalie curse.We’re trying to clear a haunted house, and one of the ghosts was a victim of a serial killer.She used the Romalie death wish on him.Together with the other spirits of his victims, and his spirit who lingers there, it’s created one hell of a mess.”
Hecate smoothly crossed one leg over the other.Even though she looked like a beautiful, elegant visitor, the energy that swirled around her was enough to belie her goddesshood.She glanced over at me again.
“You wouldn’t happen to have a glass of wine I could cadge off of you, would you?I’m actually feeling a little peckish.”She patted her tummy.
The absurdity of feeding snacks to a goddess who was hanging out in my living room hit me, and the nervous laughter I’d been suppressing bubbled over.
“Yes, I think we have some wine in the refrigerator,” I said.“Would you like some cheese and crackers with it?I think we might have cookies.”
She pointed to the remains of the pizza that was sitting on the table.We finished off one and half of the other.“Is that up for grabs?”
“If you want the rest of the pizza, it’s yours,” Penn said, flashing a look at me.There was a small stack of unused paper plates sitting next to the box, and Penn picked up one and handed it to her.
Hecate tore a off two slices of the pizza and dropped them onto the plate.Then, the goddess gave me another look.“You said you had wine?”
I jumped up, heading to the kitchen.“Of course, I’m sorry.”I hurried into the kitchen, where I leaned against the counter and pulled out my phone.
you’ll never guess who is sitting in the living room eating pizza and drinking wine,I texted to Dante.
who?He texted back.
hecate.i’ll tell you about it a little later.
He sent back a laughing emoji as I retrieved a crystal goblet from the cabinet and filled it with wine, carrying it back to her.
“Here you go.I hope you like Cabernet Sauvignon.”I handed her the wine.
“I do,” she said.“At least it’s not Mad Dog 2020.”
“You’vehad Mad Dog?”Now I’d heard everything.
“Don’t be so surprised.As I told you before, the gods often walk the earth.You just haven’t noticed before.”She sighed, took a sip of the wine, and then set the goblet on the table.She had already finished the pizza, and she took the remaining two slices.After she set them on a plate, she turned to Penn.“So, I assume it’s your Fae heritage that is altering your magic?”
“That’s what Seton seems to think.By the way, he told us who he is.”
“Did he, then?Good, now I can talk about him without worrying about what I say.He actually studied with me at one time, back when Athens was still one of the centers of the world.He studied in my temple for a while.He’s not a witch, per se, but is more of a Renaissance man.He knows a bit of magic, he can fight, he can even play the piano.And of course, he has pledged himself to Solimentary.His talents are much better suited for research than for actual magic.”
“So you two actually do know each other?”I asked.
“Yes, and I will tell you right now — I would trust him with my life, if I were mortal.I approve of his assessment, Penelope.Go and train with whoever he pairs you with.”
“Maybe you can help me too, if you don’t mind me asking,” I said.
“I am aware of what you are about to ask me, and no, I cannot interfere.If you were my priestess, I could.But the lines of destiny are set there, I can see them around you as clear as I can see the web of the universe.If I interfere, it could cause disaster down the road.You’ll have to walk through this on your own, I’m afraid.The best I can tell you is to trust Seton and what he is asking you to do.”She bit into the remaining pizza, then picked up her wine glass.
“Thank you,” I said.“In a way, that answers a question that I had.I’ll walk through this as best as I can.”
