Page 75 of Nita's Redemption

“Hold tight, mon amis. We are going to go and have a fun time tonight.”

Several women held up their hands, their faces pale. “Madame, I’m not feeling too good. It’s like the fluxion I had several years ago.” A small female near Chloe groaned loud enough her voice rang out over the others.

Antoinette walked down the aisle, touching the forehead of each female who claimed to be ill. They were not, but their bodies were going through a lot with being put in stasis and then awoken abruptly. Some had a slight issue trying to regulate. “I feel no fièvre in any of you. If I were to take any of your temperature, I’d wager you’d all be normal. I think the problem is probably due to riding in this big ole bus that is messing with all of our stomachs.” She placed a hand on her own while she made her way back to the front. The murmurs of agreement filled the air now instead of their mumbling about sickness. The absolute last thing she was willing to do was clean up after a bunch of women throwing up. She’d probably demand Cheryl pull over then set the entire sickness on wheels ablaze with a fire so hot it would destroy all inside.

“You are of course right. I already feel much better,” the woman by Chloe murmurs. Antoinette didn’t miss the way Chloe had her arm around the other woman.

“That’s good. Now it shouldn’t take us long to get where we’re going. We’ll stop and freshen up at the truck stop outside of town so you all can get clean and change into new clothes. We’re going to get out and have fun before we head out on our next adventure.” Antoinette slid into the empty seat across from Cheryl.

Cheryl’s hands were gripping the wheel so tightly everyone could see the whites of her knuckles through the thin skin covering the bones.

“You should ease up, vieille ami. They are looking at us as if we kept them stoned out of their minds. I’m tired of this game of... cacher-faite as I’m sure you are. I have a feeling we are close to the end.” Antoinette met Chloe’s startled gaze in the huge mirror mounted on the windshield as she spoke.

Chloe moved down the aisle toward her and her sister, resolve in every step she took. Antoinette waited patiently to hear what the female had to say.

“You call this a game of cat and mouse? Antoinette, these beings are much scarier than cats and mice. They probably eat them for sustenance when they’re out roaming or hunting.” Chloe’s sister Cheryl jerked, like the thought of being eaten by those huge wolf-like animals was disgusting.

“I will keep you safe, ami.” Antoinette had to keep all the women safe, at least until after they helped her get Papa Legba back. After that they could all perish for all she cared.

BAKRA ENTERED ZEUS’S living quarters, giving a loud “Hooty Hoo” the moment she smelled the sweet scent of something baking in the royal kitchen.

“Ah, Bakra, it’s so good to have you pop in. To what do we owe this visit on?” Zeus entered the large room, his white and gold attire blending with the décor. Of course she could pick out the little touches that Selena and her brood had made. Her eyes narrowed as they landed on a gallery wall that she was sure hadn’t been there the last time she’d visited. Goddess, how long had it been since any of her females came to visit the God and his female Hera?

“I was hoping to get clearance to visit Earth. More specifically the trailer park where Nita and her guys live. You know, your gaming buddies.” She held her hands up as if she held a controller, making little pew pew sounds like a good little gamer would.

Zeus snorted, rolling his silver eyes at her. “I do not make those noises. The boys might but not me. Is there a problem I should be aware of? Selena and the children are in Kansas City with Max. I believe Tamara and Malcolm were having some meeting and party there as well. I will call them if there is need.”

That was one of the reasons she loved the big male who could surely take out the entire world the humans called Earth if he so chose. Luckily for all of them, he actually liked humans. Probably because his youngest child had lived the first twenty-five years of her life thinking she was a mere human on Earth. Thank the fuck her mates found her before she came into her Goddess powers and imploded Earth herself.

“Bakra, are you feeling alright?” Zeus asked coming to a stop in front of her.

She worked to smooth her face into the sweet one he’d helped to create. There had been times in the last few years she’d almost missed the extra rows of razor teeth they sported as a demon females. Yet she too had been human once, long before Earth was inhabited with mankind. They’d been servants to Akra, a princess of a King of the Desert. Her twin had been evil through and through, which ended up being the death of not only Akra but her ladies. In the end, they’d found themselves sucked into Hell for thousands of years. Life was a crazy twist of fate. Had Akra been delivered to the Sultan as she’d been meant to, they’d all have died within a normal lifespan, and none of them would be alive today.

“I’m fine, sir. I just wish to visit my friends below for a spell or two. I understand only one or two can go at the same time and since the others wish to stay here for the ball you are throwing, I figure it’s a good time for me to take a solo trip.” Bakra had no plans to attend a party full of uppity Gods and Goddesses who turned their noses up at her and her sisters. While the others found it to be fun, she found it to be hard to keep her claws leashed.

Hera’s familiar presence preceded her entrance, breaking the stare-down Zeus and she were having. “What is that delicious smell wafting from your kitchen, Hera?” Bakra asked, taking her eyes away from the large male.

“It’s a dish Tamara gave me the recipe for. Its name is quite scandalous, but I must say it is delicious. Better than Sex Cake is a rich chocolate cake that is topped with sweetened condensed milk, caramel sauce, Cool Whip, and crushed Heath bars. All the ingredients Tamara had delivered before she left for Earth, and I swear it makes for the ultimate treat!” Hera pushed her way in front of Zeus, taking Bakra’s hands within hers. “You must come and sample it for yourself before you go and have drinks with the wolfies, yes?”

Bakra had known the female was listening and goddess she loved the female for stepping in and helping diffuse the situation between Zeus and her. There was just something motherly within Hera that transcended time and space. While Hera didn’t look a day older than any of them, she was very much the one they all looked up to when it came to certain things. Well most of them did, not her. She wasn’t good enough to look up to such a sweet soul.

“Oh, I would love to taste this cake with such a decadent name. Thank you for asking. Um, Zeus, what do you say about my request?” Although she held her breath, Bakra pretended to appear normal, letting her chest rise and fall steadily.

“I don’t see why you can’t as long as you don’t sense danger.” He bore that swirling silver gaze at her, daring her to lie to him.

Since she didn’t sense danger, she nodded. She’d seen it in her dreams, totally different altogether.

“Well then you are free to go and have a good time, but not so good that you never want to return home.”

Zeus’s casual use of such a term made Bakra’s eyes burn. Home. She didn’t really have a home. None of her females did except Akra since she had been claimed as a Fated Mate to two handsome males. She and the others who’d served Akra hadn’t been as lucky. They’d met the other Ravens but hadn’t felt the pull all Fated Mates did. Which meant they were doomed to forever be alone. Homeless but welcomed within Olympus as a guest. It sucked to know she would always be a welcomed female amongst her friends, but never welcomed as a mate to a loving other half. She pressed the unwanted and unneeded thoughts and feelings to the farthest parts of her heart and mind. She could find happiness with what she was given. They were alive and not struggling to find food and safety every day and night.

“Thank you, sir. I shall return in a few days. Hera, lead the way. I have a feeling I will need sustenance to get me through a raucous night of partying with my wolfie friends.” Bakra made sure she had only thoughts of fun within her mind, knowing Zeus would be taking a look, the nosey God.

As she’d suspected Zeus gave Hera a nod of approval, which meant he did his stealth search and found within her frontal lobe or whatever they called it, exactly what she allowed. What they didn’t know was she had a wall thicker and stronger, hiding things no living or dead being could ever see behind if she didn’t allow it.

After eating the dessert that was by far the most delicious thing she’d ever eaten, she flashed to her living quarters on Olympus. It took her a little time to select a few outfits that she wished to take with her. Of course the clothing would disappear within her mental closet and be accessible whenever she needed it. With one last look around, she used the powers Zeus had gifted her, flashing to Earth with speed and accuracy. She didn’t go directly to the trailer park like she’d planned, her trajectory going to the life essence of her bestie Akra. She stayed to the form of the tiniest molecules, her heart filling with joy at the sight of Akra singing and dancing in her and her males’ home. They had built a lair within a land they said was called Hawaii. It had volcanos that reminded Akra of Hell, but the surrounding area was simply the most gorgeous any of them had ever seen. Waterfalls surrounded by foliage of so many colors they all agreed rivaled Olympus. Akra’s laughter sounded like tinkling bells floating on the air. She inhaled, filling her memory with the sound then flashed away. The fact one of them was happy and settled was enough for Bakra to be happy. She materialized in human form in the tiny town outside the outskirts of the pack lands. For whatever reason, there was a large presence of her wolfies in the small town. There was also a thick miasma of evil working its way closer, too close for Bakra’s liking. She realized that was the reason she’d felt an itch to get to Earth and her girl Nita.

Nothing and nobody would ever hurt the small child ever again. Although Nita had grown into a beautiful and tough female, she was still a child who had suffered more than any child should’ve ever faced. She and her sisterkin had taken the pain and suffering within their own souls, adding to the things they’d gone through in the thousands of years they’d lived in Hell. To them it was nothing, but to a shifter/human child, one like Nita, the scars were almost more than her fragile mind could handle. Had they not stepped in and taken the damage away, the woman-child would’ve been killed, or she’d have become a killer. She was unlike anything the wolfies had ever seen.

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