29. Drew
Drew
I approached the glass door and peered inside, but couldn't see through the dark. It was unusual. Even when the lights were out, it was still visible inside with all panoramic glass-fronted panels wrapping around the bar.
"What the…" I mumbled and looked at the alarm on the side.
The light on the top right was orange. It hadn't been set off.
That's strange.
I placed a gemstone on the pliable surface of the panel and the light went from orange to green and I unlocked the door of Moon Jinx.
How the hell was I first to arrive? I was usually late to open my own bar. And Fenrir? He was always an hour early when he was on shift so he could organize everything how he liked.
I stepped inside.
"Hello? Is anyone—" I started when I was swallowed by a black cloud.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
My heart rate shot up in an instant and I took a deep breath as I was spat out the other side of the cloud and into the bar where Sett, Gene, Ani, and all my friends were gathered around, all frozen in time with a banner above their heads that read Freedom Party .
"Oh damn it." I sighed. "You idiots. You should know not to surprise a time witch with a sordid past." I rolled my eyes and weaved through my friends if only just to confirm they were all safe and there were no active threats in the room before I let them all go.
"Surprise!" they all shouted at once but it didn't take long for heads to turn.
"Wh-where did he go?" Tomasz asked and I whistled, bringing everyone's attention to me standing behind them all.
"Drew! What are you doing there?" Sandro asked.
"You ruined the surprise," Sett said and came up to me to hug me and kiss my forehead.
"Well, it's not my fault. I thought I was being attacked. You guys should know better than to be shady like that. A blackout spell? Really?" I pointed at the cloud wrapping around the bar that was already starting to dissipate.
"Yeah, I guess that was a bad idea. But we didn't want you to see us," Gene said.
I raised an eyebrow. "You couldn't hide behind furniture like normal people?"
Sandro smirked.
"But darling, we're not normal people."
I shrugged. "You can say that again."
"Anyway," Tomasz said and looked from Sandro to me. "You're free! Yay!" He threw himself at me and I lost my balance. Tomasz fell on an armchair behind him and I fell on top of him.
"Oops," Tomasz giggled.
"Do you want me to get into trouble with your boyfriend or what?" I told him and I rushed to get off Tomasz.
I glanced at Loki expecting to find him frowning but he just winked at me and turned to Hades and whispered something.
"Okay. That's new," I mumbled and Tomasz grabbed my hand to help himself up.
"He's really had a change of heart about you since you told us what's going on," he said. "In fact, it was kind of his idea to throw this party."
I glared at Tomasz. "Okay I may not be the smartest person around here but I'm not stupid."
"No. It was. He said we should celebrate. And I suggested we throw you a party."
I glanced at Loki again but he didn't acknowledge me. Was it true? Had I somehow managed to make a friend out of a foe despite everything?
"Who knew he was such a teddy bear!" I marveled to his boyfriend and he grinned from ear to ear. "Other than you, of course."
"Are we talking about my man? Because yeah, he's a cinnamon roll wrapped up in thorns, but I love him anyway." Sandro came close and put his arm around my shoulder even though I was a couple heads taller than him.
I turned my attention to his boyfriend, the king of the Greek Underworld and cocked my head. He didn't appear threatening. In fact he looked entirely innocent. And a little punk, what with his blue hair that moved a little like flames, but it wasn't that hard to imagine him turning from the sweet, swooning god to a man scorned.
"You're lucky. You got yourself a winner," I said.
"Hey, don't sell yourself short. Sett is completely smitten with you," Tomasz nudged my ribs. I looked at Sett who approached Loki and Hades and they welcomed him into their little group.
I grimaced. "Who said I'm selling myself short? Sett is the best. We're all lucky as fuck."
"You can say that again," Sandro sighed, making heart eyes at his boyfriend.
"Aren't we just?" Tomasz said. "If you'd told me when I was young that my boyfriend would be the trickster god and my step-kids would be the goddess of death and the wolf-god I'd have laughed in your face."
I nodded. It was true. Gods were a thing of myth, even in our world. Or at least they were until three years ago. Then everything changed. I still didn't know how or why but something told me Mother Red Cap had played a small part in it or Horus would never have set me on her trail.
"Speaking of step-kids, where is Hela?" I looked around for the mini goddess who scared the crap out of me every time, but didn't find her anywhere.
"School," Tomasz said.
"But it's night time."
"I didn't say she was the student." Tomasz winked and I was left wondering what the hell he was talking about.
If she wasn't the student she must be the teacher, but what could she possibly be teaching someone? How to be a death god?
"And Fenrir? I'm surprised he's not here."
"Oh, he's at my home," Sandro said.
"And what is he doing there?" I raised an eyebrow and Sandro glanced from me to Tomasz to Hades trying to conceal his smile and failing.
"What?" Tomasz asked.
"Well…" he started. "The truth is we've been kind of busy," Sandro said.
"Yeah. With ruling the underworld and stuff," I said.
"Not just that. We…Hades and I found out we had a child."
"What?" Tomasz and I exclaimed.
Sandro pursed his lips and nodded. "Thousands of years ago. Before we were separated. When I…when I was Persephone," he said.
"Okay. Did you find your child again?" I asked.
"Our baby. Yes. My mother hid him from us. He's still a baby."
"How is that possible?" Tomasz asked.
"It's a long story," Sandro sighed. "But yeah, we've been busy adjusting to fatherhood and raising our little Melis."
"Melis? Aww, that's pretty," Tomasz cooed.
I nodded but paused. "It is, but what does Fenrir have to do with it? Don't tell me you decided to add a third to your relationship because that's pretty cool of you."
Sandro gasped.
"No! Of course not. Hades is it for me and I'm it for Hades. We're never adding a third to our relationship."
"Never say never," Tomasz chuckled.
"It sounds like you have already anyway," I said.
"Huh?" Sandro frowned.
"Your son?"
Sandro laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, Fenrir is babysitting for us because we really wanted to be here. He wanted to celebrate with you but we felt so guilty for not being available when you needed us that we asked him for a favor."
"Hey!" Tomasz exclaimed. "That's not fair! We haven't even met your son and my son is already babysitting?"
"I'm so telling Finn you called him your son!" I chuckled.
Tomasz groaned. "Whatever. He likes it even if he won't admit it."
"I'm sure a five thousand year old god doesn't need a twinky twenty-year-old dad. But that's just me."
Tomasz raised an eyebrow and before he smirked he said: "Are you projecting perhaps?"
"Me? Why would I project?" I feigned ignorance.
"Well, you have a son now too," Tomasz said.
"Step-son. And I'm hardly a twink."
'"Whatever you say dear. Just because you have a bit of height on us doesn't make you a bear."
"I didn't say I was a bear either. I'm just me."
Sandro laughed.
"Where is Ani anyway?" I asked and all three of us started looking for him.
He was here a moment ago. And so was Gene. These two had become inseparable the last few days. It was a little irritating but also kinda cute.
"Ah. There we go," Sandro said and I turned in the direction he was looking in.
There was Ani. With his tongue in my brother's mouth.
"I don't know how to feel about that," I said before I realized I was staring at my brother snogging another man, and I turned away. “Can we have a blackout spell over here please?”
"Well, at least they keep it in the family." Tomasz laughed.
"Don't change jobs any time soon. You're definitely not a comedian," I told him.
Tomasz pouted. "I preferred you when you were a flirt," he said and I gasped. "What? Too soon?"
"Definitely too soon," Sandro said and slapped the back of Tomasz's head.
"Sorry," Tomasz said.
I gave him a sideways glance before I smiled. "It's okay. I'm just…I was never that person. I hope this original version of me doesn't disappoint you guys."
"Never!" Tomasz exclaimed and hugged me and soon Sandro followed suit.
I hugged them back and looked up to find Sett, Hades and Loki staring at us quietly but with fire in their eyes.
My cheeks flushed under their scrutiny. Especially under Sett's, who looked at me as if I was the most precious thing to have ever existed, a preposterous idea by all accounts but…when he stared at me like that I could almost believe it.
Almost.
We might have to spend a few hundred years together before I digested it.
I just hoped he was up for the challenge.
“This is…it’s great, you guys,” I said and took in the room and everyone in it as if for the first time.
I hoped the other guys, Horus’s other men, also had friends like mine to celebrate with them, but even if they didn’t, I’d made it my personal mission to help each and every one of them with my potions and my friendship or guidance. And I’d be there for everyone, even if they saw me as an enemy or an accomplice. I didn’t need them to like me to help them.
There was a loud bang and we all turned to the front where a man was glued all over the glass door staring at us with all the desperation any one person could possess.
"What the—" I started but then I approached the door and recognized the tall white man with the dark curls and piercing hazel eyes. "Hi," I said, opening the door.
The man stepped into the bar and almost fell to the floor before Sett caught him and put him down on the nearest armchair.
"Hi. You-you remember me?" he asked.
I did. He had been at the bar the other day so full of wonder and pride about his new-found witch powers. He'd been composed and a little cocky, but he looked nothing like that now.
"I do. Nathan, right?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Ethan."
"Yeah. That's right. Are you…are you all right? What's wrong?"
He sunk deeper into the chair and stared at his lap. "I'm just so…so lost. I thought being a witch would mean everything would be great from here on out but…nothing is going my way. I can't even get him to notice me. I've tried everything. I'm so hopelessly in love with him but he won't even give me the time of day. It's affecting my sleep, my work, my health. I don't know what to do anymore."
I pursed my lips and got down on my knees to get him to look me in the eyes.
"I'm so sorry things aren't going great. Unfortunately being a witch isn't the magic cure for all."
"But…how? How do I fix this? You said if I ever needed anything, I should come to you."
I had said that, hadn't I?
"I…I guess I can make you a potion to forget this guy? But I can't guarantee that it won't affect other parts of your mind. Memories are tricky and interlinked."
He shook his head.
"I don't want to forget him. I've…I've known him all my life. He's my everything."
Then I definitely couldn't help. If he'd only just met him I could fix him up with something real quick but when there were months, let alone years involved, it was far too risky.
"What am I going to do?" he cried.
I sighed and reached for a pen and paper. "Here," I said. "If there's anyone who can help, it's her."
He took the paper in his hands and read my scribble.
"Mother Red Cap?"
He asked and I felt Sett’s gaze on me.
"Yeah. She's helped us all before. You can trust her," I said.
Ethan looked up at me and pressed his lips with appreciation.
"Thank you so much, man. I owe you one," he said.
I shook my head. "Don't mention it. I hope you find what you're looking for."
He squeezed the paper in his fist and took a deep breath.
"Me too, mate. Me too," he said, wiped his face with his sleeve and stumbled out of the bar.
"Are you sure about this?" Sett asked behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist.
"I don't know. Maybe she is what he needs. She's older and wiser. She might know of a spell or something to help him."
"Or she'll summon a god for him."
"Well, I hope not. The man needs to mend his broken heart, not a rebound fling with a god."
Perhaps I had made a mistake in guiding him to Mother Red Cap. But it was too late now. I just had to believe that whatever was supposed to happen would happen and Ethan would get the help he needed and deserved.
"You're a sweetheart," Sett said and turned me so he could kiss me.
"I'm really not," I said.
"I beg to differ."
I raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Beg, did you say?"
Sett claimed my lips with a growl and we kissed in a symphony of hooting and cheering from our friends.
This was how life should be for everyone. Full of hope, family, friends and happiness.
And gods who would risk anything for you and who'd love you unconditionally.
What more could a witch want?