A Different Way
Heaven
Iblink as I return to the present. Mama looks down at me. “What’s that?” she asks, pointing to the Tongue of Dawn, which I had tried to make as inconspicuous as possible, not wanting to share everything straight away. I think they’re already stressed enough.
The Tongue of Dawn; Helios gave it to me, I write.
A collective expression of surprise is on all the elders’ faces, although some are mixed with worry and concern.
“Yeah, Helios likes her,” Allie adds grimly. “I hate him, but it was given without malice.”
“Are you sure about that?” Mama asks.
I nod. I found it and offered it to him as a token of goodwill, but he told me to keep it, I write, turning the glowing letters so everyone in the room can see what I’m writing.
“Right… about that, how did you get it exactly?” Carter asks.
I asked for Hecate’s help, I write, my face void of all emotion.
Aunty Delsanra and Mama both look at me sharply. “Hecate?” Mama asks, her eyes glimmering with worry. “She can’t be trusted, Heaven. What did she want in return?”
Nothing I can’t handle; however, what happened between Hecate and me is not something I can discuss, I write, giving Mama a small nod.
Aunty Delsanra and Mama exchange looks, and I know they’ll be keeping an eye on me far more intently now.
“Sienna, what happened in the past months? How did he treat you?” Uncle Rayhan asks her.
Sienna looks at her hands. “He didn’t treat me badly, but he did get angry when I told him I would never see him as my husband.”
“You married him?” Katara asks, shocked. I’d forgotten she was here.
Sienna shrugs. “That was the deal I unknowingly agreed to, for Dad to come back…” She looks at Uncle Rayhan, who puts his arm around her, giving her a squeeze.
“But most of the days were spent doing nothing. I was left alone mostly, and I liked it that way. I went for walks or sometimes had to attend the games that would be on, or participate in parties, which I would often refuse to go to. Helios has over a thousand women, but he chose me to be his Queen for the wrong reasons. So, I started using that status for my own benefit and demanded access to his library and to the best warriors who could help me train. I focused on controlling my chaos magic, and I began researching in the hopes that one day, maybe there would be a way to send vital information that could be used in the upcoming war. For me, the time there was eleven days short of a year.”
The room is silent, and I look across at her. So, time passed faster for her than it did here. I know that time in the Realm of the Gods constantly changes, but to think it has been that long.
“There are things I learned that I can definitely record,” she adds with a small smile.
“I’m glad you’re safe, ya hayati,” Jaddati says. “And home, that is the most important thing.”
Sienna nods, playing with her fingers. She does that sometimes when she wants to say something or feels worried or stressed. I’m so glad she’s here. It’s surreal, but the happiness I feel trumps everything.
“I know I caused a lot of hurt, damage, and pain to all of you, whether it was indirectly or directly. Mama, I’m so sorry…
When I found out what he wanted in return, I thought it was ok, because I was useless in my studies – in everything, and Dad’s return would be better for everyone because he could do more than I ever could.
We all needed him, whilst I was just so holed up in my own emotions and pain.
So, I’m sorry, Mama, for thinking that, when I know now I was wrong.
No matter what my flaws are, you will always love and miss me. ”
She looks up with a defiance that I have not seen from her since before we lost Uncle Rayhan.
“And Aunty Raven, Uncle Liam… I hurt Jayce, when he’s the last person on heaven and earth that I wanted to hurt, and in doing so, I hurt you both, all of you.
” She pauses, looking at all of the Westwoods.
“But I’m going to fix it; I’m going to make up for what I’ve done. ”
“If Jayce accepts you again… but it might just be worth staying away from him,” Ares says quietly.
Sienna doesn’t reply, and she’s gotten better at hiding how she feels. Usually, you could read her openly. Interesting.
Uncle Liam glances across at Ares. “That’s between Jayce and Sienna, Ares.
” He then looks at Sienna and gives her a warm smile.
“Do what you need to do, but don’t blame yourself for something any one of us could have been tricked into doing.
You were the victim of an unfortunate event, that’s not on you. ”
“And I think Jayce is happy you’re back, even if he wants to act like he doesn’t care,” Aunty Raven says cheerfully as Uncle Liam smiles at her and kisses her softly, before hugging her tiny frame.
I look over at Theo, and he’s surprisingly quiet, one hand tucked under his jaw.
“Thank you,” Sienna says softly to Aunty Raven, as the others ask her a few more questions.
“So, what’s this about Hades and Poseidon?” Grandad Elijah asks, making Theo and Ares exchange looks.
“And how long have you two been hiding such big secrets?” Uncle Liam adds.
“I would like to know that, too,” Uncle Leo says.
And here I am, hiding something, too…
“Well, you know, sometimes there are certain things you shouldn’t share with anyone; you never know when the enemy is near,” Theo says lightly, with a cocky smirk.
My eyes snap up to him; he’s smirking, but I know him better than that. What is he really implying?
“You should have at least told your family,” Grandma Scarlett says.
“Yeah, or me,” Ahren adds as he bites into the last cookie. “You know I can keep secrets.”
“I’m sure you all have some secrets,” Aunty Kiara says, “But I think us older generation can say keeping secrets often does more harm than good.”
“Maybe,” Theo says. Uncle Leo’s lost in thought.
“So does a god get to choose what side their chosen picks, or is that up to the favoured?” Uncle Leo asks after a moment.
“A good question, next time I have tea with my man Hades, I’ll ask him,” Theo says sarcastically.
“I love when Leo doesn’t know something,” Allie whispers loudly, although everyone can hear her.
“It’s a good question,” Grandad Elijah says, looking between Allie and Theo, and the others agree.
“I’m not sure, ask someone else,” Ares says.
“Yeah, and I’m not favoured, so I have no idea,” Renji says.
The door opens, and I glance up as Grandpa Alejandro enters. His expression is grim, but he says nothing, kissing Aunty Kiara’s forehead as he sits down again.
“So, what about the attacks? What happened?” Renji asks.
“The Indomitable; they’re trying to reduce our numbers,” Uncle Leo informs us quietly.
“Do you think it’s time to move pack locations underground?” Uncle Rayhan asks.
Uncle Leo’s eyes snap up to him, a deep frown furrowing his forehead.
“It’ll do much more harm than good. We’re wolves, we need nature, and this ain’t about some trauma or shit,” he adds with a pointed look towards Grandpa Alejandro, who was about to say something.
Instead, Grandpa Alejandro closes his mouth and takes out a cigarette.
“Well, just making fucking sure,” he grunts.
“Are the barrier spells not working?” Ahren asks.
“We’ve had the strongest of witches create barriers alongside Enrique, but the Indomitable also have witches, and one is Hecate’s favoured…” Uncle Leo explains. “And when people enter and exit the barrier, it weakens in those moments, and that’s when they act.
Also, even with Enrique’s power, they cancel each other out, because Enrique is Hecate’s descendant and Calindra is her favoured, I write.
“How does that work?” Grandpa Alejandro asks me, taking a drag on his cigarette.
I uncross my legs and stand up. It’s a rule of magic, just as certain elements are stronger than others.
Hecate controls all elements, and this is exactly what she’s given to her favoured, too.
It’s what Enrique has as well, although he favours fire like Roja.
We need a new kind of magic to counter Calindra.
A power different from the common elements, I write.
“It’s almost as if Hecate fucking planned that,” Carter mutters. “Making someone powerful enough to rival Enrique.”
I wouldn’t put it past her…
“So, what do you suggest, Heaven?” Ahren asks me, knowing I have something in mind. I pause, looking between Allie and Sienna.
I think the Hallowed Blood Trinity witches can create something stronger, I write.
Sienna and Allie look at me, both raising an eyebrow, so different yet mirroring the same expression. Everyone looks at me sharply, and Mama raises both eyebrows.
“The Hallowed Blood Trinity? As in connection to the Book of Flame, Crown and Veil; that’s the name of the grimoire you have, isn’t it?” Aunty Delsanra asks.
Yes, because Mordana, Aldona, and Caladena are the next Trio of the Hallowed Blood Trinity. We are the next trio, I write, pointing at Sienna and Allie when I say their names.
“We are?” Sienna asks.
I nod. Yes, but we have a lot of work to do, I write. I don’t know exactly how I know, but I can see it, the link that connects us, formed of the same symbol that is on the cover of the grimoire already in our possession.
Grandpa Alejandro smirks. “If you’re saying this bottle of poison is a witch, then she must be like the caretaker from Hogwarts, right?” he says, looking at Allie.
Aunty Kiara shakes her head as Allie narrows her eyes. “Even a squib can roast your ass, Dad. Besides, I might not be a strong witch, but I still am one,” Allie says in a deadpan voice.
“I’m just shocked Uncle has read the Harry Potter books,” Uncle Rayhan remarks.
“Half the time, I’m impressed he can even read,” Uncle Leo adds. Both men smirk at one another as they share their joke.
Grandpa Alejandro takes a drag on his cigarette. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get cocky, fuckers. I was reading when you were both in nappies,” he counters with a cocky smirk.