Chapter 28
ERDIKOA
Sera, Dume, Rory, and Lauren rode in Lauren’s vehicle, while Keith and Kordie met them at the compound in Keith’s truck. Rory called Keith and Kordie earlier and explained everything. They were shocked but agreed to do whatever they could to help.
Keith pulled up to the security gate first, giving them their names and his parents’ names, and after presenting them with their mystic cards, the gate opened, allowing them through.
Keith used Rory’s new name, which made Rory stare at Lo. She couldn’t believe she named her after her cat form.
This was really happening. Rory might leave the compound with her memories today, and the idea both terrified and excited her.
As they piled out of their cars at Keith’s parents’ house, Rory trembled.
Dume’s hand squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“She drank a mystery potion. I think having a Munin try is safer than that,” Sera piped up.
Dume frowned. “I’m still not happy about that.”
“Me either,” Kordie added. “Why wasn’t I invited?”
“Yeah,” Keith threw in for good measure, and Rory’s nerves eased a fraction.
“I knew you’d try to talk me out of it.” She nudged Sera with her elbow. “She’s crazier than I am.”
“That place was awful,” Sera complained with a shudder. “But I’ll go back if we need to.”
Rory smirked at the others as if to say, See?
“Are your parents okay with me being here?” Rory asked, looking at their front door. “Not everyone is fond of serial killers. Or did you tell them I’m the cousin named Lo?” She glared when Lauren smirked.
Keith waved her off. “They know you saved people. Besides, they wouldn’t have agreed to put you on the list otherwise.”
“Did you tell them why we’re here?” Lauren asked, narrowing her eyes at Keith, making him step back.
“No. That’s where they draw the line. They’re very protective of other members of their community.”
They all nodded and ambled up the porch steps and into the house.
Keith’s mother hugged Kordie tightly, looking at her like she was the best thing to exist, and Rory smiled. It was hard not to like her, and anyone would be lucky to have her as a potential daughter-in-law.
She and Keith hadn’t been dating long, but they were such good friends that Rory knew they wouldn’t risk ruining their friendship unless they were serious about one another.
Dume shook Keith’s father’s hand and exchanged a few words while Sera introduced herself to Rina, Keith’s mother. Rina bustled around the group to stand in front of Rory and placed her hands on her shoulders.
“Don’t be nervous, honey.” She glanced at Clark, her husband. “We know your heart was in the right place, no matter how unsavory your methods were.”
Rory’s stomach tumbled. “Thank you. I don’t plan on hanging people from hooks anymore.” More people were accepting of her than she expected, but the more people that found out she was back, the more uneasy she felt.
Telling Keith’s parents was necessary, but after the way Fiona treated her at the market, she couldn’t let anyone else know unless she had to.
Clark released a loud belly laugh. “You’re all right, young lady. Now,” he said, looking at Keith. “Your mother and I worked all afternoon in the kitchen. Come eat willingly, or I’ll force-feed you.”
Keith clapped his dad on the back and looked over his shoulder. “I went through a stage where I refused to eat at the table. He’ll never let me live it down.”
After dinner, they sat around chatting about random things. Even Lauren joined in, telling stories about Sam that kept everyone laughing.
Finally, Rory cleared her throat. “Do either of you know Max and Tammy Story?” She struggled to keep her voice steady.
Rina grinned widely. “Everyone knows Max and Tammy. If they didn’t before, Max breaking that Cleary boy’s legs did the trick.”
Rory choked on her water and glanced at the others. Lauren neglected to tell her what landed Max in Vincula.
“He had it coming,” Clark grumbled. “That boy was making fun of Tammy’s limp. Now he has one to match.”
Sera stood and began gathering plates, and Dume got up to help.
“They are friends of my mother’s,” Rory lied through her teeth.
“I wanted to deliver the news of her worsening condition personally, but I’ve never been to their home before.
They always came to ours, but they haven’t been in quite some time.
My mother is not well, and I would hate for them to hear secondhand. ”
She prayed they bought it. Everyone knew Munins rarely left the compound, and it was doubtful they’d heard of her mother’s incarceration.
Rina placed her hand on her chest. “Oh, honey. Is she sick?”
“No. She’s a Sibyl.” Not a lie. Her condition was worsening.
Rina leaned forward and patted her arm. “I’m sorry to hear that. Let me jot down their address for you.”
Rina grabbed the paper with Max’s address on the counter and handed it to Rory. “Tell Max and Tammy we said hello.”
Rory looked at the address. Would Max help her? Releasing a nervous breath, she nodded. “Thank you. We’ll be back shortly.”
It was agreed upon that only Rory and Lauren would go. They weren’t sure if a big group would make the couple nervous or not.
“We’ll be right back,” Rory told them as she and Lauren slipped out the front door.
They loaded into the SUV, and Rory shook out her hands to expel her nerves. “This is your last chance to back out,” Lauren said, starting the engine.
“I’m not backing out. This is my last option.” Rory handed Lauren the paper with the address, and within minutes, they arrived at a cute white house with beautiful landscaping. There were flowers and plants of all colors to accompany the lush grass.
“Let’s get this over with,” she mumbled and opened the car door.
As they walked along the sidewalk, an old man appeared around the edge of the house holding a weed eater. His skin was weathered, but his eyes were kind, and Rory felt a sense of familiarity.
“Are you Max?” she asked when he approached them.
“I am,” he said, leaning the weed eater against the porch. After wiping his hands on his overalls, he stuck them in his pockets. “And who might you be?”
He hadn’t taken his eyes off Rory, and she hoped he wouldn’t send her away once he realized who she was. “I’m Rory, and this is Lauren,” she answered, adding another person to the roster of those who knew she was back.
He stepped forward and held out his hand. “You’re The Butcher.” She winced, and her heart sank. “We must have met before.”
Her eyes snapped to his. “You remember me?”
“No, but we were in Vincula together. It’s why you’re here.”
Rory and Lauren exchanged a bewildered look. “Can Munin read minds?”
“I can’t reveal all my secrets.” His eyes ticked between Lauren and Rory. “Well, say what you came to say.”
Lauren pushed Rory forward, and she shot the Angel a sharp look over her shoulder. “Before you say no, hear us out. Please.”
Max stood watching and waiting, and when she said nothing, he motioned for them to follow him. Once in his backyard, he ushered them inside his garden shed. “You want me to restore your memories or at least attempt to?”
She needed to read up more on Munin. Could they read minds? “Yes.”
Lauren’s wings burst from her back, and Rory startled with a yelp, but Max didn’t flinch.
She smirked at Rory. “This is the fastest way to convince him we are telling the truth.” She turned back to the old man.
“I work under the Umbra King, and long story short, we need Rory’s memories back.
Her life depends on it, and she’s a very important person. ”
Max stayed quiet for an eternity before nodding. “All right, come here.”
She hadn’t expected him to say yes. Lauren moved behind Max and laid a hand on his shoulder. He glanced at her hand. “Trust me,” she said.
He turned back to Rory. “I need to touch your temples.”
She stepped closer, and he grabbed the sides of her head. “Keep your eyes open,” he instructed.
His eyes bore into hers and turned a bright blue, making her gasp. She felt a buzzing under his hands right before they sparked, throwing them both backward.
Rory shrieked as she fell to the ground, but she couldn’t focus on anything but her memories as they came flooding back.
The Scales of Justice.
Falling into Caius’ throne room.
Her friends, her foes, her life hanging on by a thread.
“Hello, Miss Raven.”
She sobbed on her hands and knees as memory after memory pounded into her.
Lo ripping a man’s throat out.
Running through the garden.
Max.
Asher.
Bellina.
Cat.
Kit.
Tallent. Her stomach roiled.
Running through the garden.
The red bowl.
Destroying his office for her to clean.
Their bedroom filled with twinkling lights.
His hands against her skin, murmuring in her ear.
Finding him in his office with Lauren and Sam.
He sent her away. A scream tore from her throat as hurt and betrayal ripped her in two.
“I love you more than anything, and I always will.”
“LIAR!”
Voices were in the background, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying. Hands tried to pull her up, but she slapped them off as she cried. “How could he?”
Her sobs were loud, and she could hear Lauren soothing her. “How could he do this to me? To us? That fucking bastard.”
With her head in her hands, she let her anguish salt the pieces of her heart scattered on the ground. She stood on shaky legs and wiped her face with her shirt.
“I need to go to sleep.” She had to see Caius.
“I remember,” Max murmured, and both women swiveled to face him. Lauren cursed under her breath.
“You remember me?” Rory asked weakly, choking down another sob.
“You’re a terrible gardener.” He smiled, and she saw a single tear trail down his face.
Her shoulders shook, and she crushed him in an emotional embrace. She didn’t know how long they stayed like that, her crying and him rubbing her back. How did she forget her friends?
Max kneeling in the garden, meeting Asher in the clothing store, Kit and Cat bickering.
She laughed through her tears.
Bellina laying on the floor, bloody and bruised. Tallent’s head smashed in as her fists flew.
She forgot them all.
“I’m sorry I asked this of you,” she rasped as she pulled back. “Caius said the realm is suffering because of his brother.”
“I would have helped you no matter what,” Max replied. She remembered now he couldn’t read minds; she’d asked him once, but he always knew things others didn’t. “Have your memories ever been altered while manipulating someone else’s?”
He shook his head. “It’s unheard of.”
Lauren cleared her throat, and the other two turned their attention to her. “I might have given you a tiny push with my power.” Rory sputtered, wide-eyed. “It seems to have worked a little too well.”
“You could have given me my memories back this whole time?” The betrayal stung.
“No,” Lauren replied, looking hurt at Rory’s accusation. “I merely boosted his abilities.” Turning to the Munin, she said, “Thank you, Max. We have to get back to the group.”
His eyes, still bright blue, moved to Rory. “I’m putting your name on our list. Come and see me. I want you to meet Tammy sometime.”
She hugged him again, swearing she’d be back.
When the group stood in Rina and Clark’s driveway, they asked her about getting her memories back, and she could only nod. Lauren had a hushed conversation with them while Rory stood in a daze, and they backed off.
Dume and Sera rode back with Keith and Kordie, and Rory switched between wallowing in grief and stewing in rage.
Caius had a lot to answer for.