Chapter 5 #2
‘We’ll warm up first,’ Tee said, smirking at me.
We faced off, both adopting an attack stance.
I was well-trained in various fighting techniques: grappling, martial arts, jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai, to name a few, alongside weapon training.
However, the only weapon I truly needed was my divine blade.
I felt naked without it, but I clenched my teeth and inhaled deeply through my nose.
Tee moved as swiftly as a cobra striking, but I was ready for her.
I bent my knees and pushed off the ground, somersaulting over her head and seizing her in a rear-naked chokehold.
Tee twisted behind me and fell backwards, taking me down with her.
Quick as a shadow, she pinned me in a mount position, straddling my abdomen, and when she grinned, my temper simmered.
I planted both hands on her chest, drew my feet up towards my bottom, and lifted my hips forcefully, pushing forward to force her hands down above my head. Hooking one arm around hers, I used the other to push and roll us over. I sprang up in one fluid motion before she could grapple me again.
She was up in a flash and came at me. I threw a hook kick, which she dodged with ease. She was quick and agile. Then she executed a roundhouse kick that would have knocked out teeth and cracked bones had the floor not been so forgiving. Nevertheless, I still fell hard onto my butt.
I groaned and rose fluidly to my feet, refusing to wince at the pain in my ass.
‘Right, let's do some more interesting training,’ Tee said as she turned away, then tossed me a fighting stick, which I caught easily. It was a simple, long, slender, wooden gun staff—the grandfather of all weapons. We both stood with our feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. I held my stick in my right hand, over my shoulder, and my hand close to my ear. Eyeing Tee with caution, I wondered if she’d try to kill me—then gave myself a mental slap.
She was my best friend. I loved her like a sister.
Damn, this was so messed up.
Tee pounced with a spring semi-forward step.
We were evenly matched, both struggling to get too close to inflict any real damage.
I swung my stick in an uppercut, and Tee hissed as I clouted her wrist. I stifled a squeal of triumph until she thwacked me good on my side.
We remained silent throughout the sparring.
I used the time to quiet my mind, avoid dwelling on my precarious predicament, and burn off some pent-up energy.
Eventually, Tee stopped and set down her stick, crossing her arms and adopting a more relaxed stance.
I wondered whether she was contemplating knocking me on my ass again or wounding me with the vast array of stabby things lining the walls.
Instead, she declared we’d done enough, thank the gods.
My muscles ached, and my backside and ribs were bruised.
‘Let’s go back, Sephy.’ Tee took my hand, and there was a loud pop as I was blinded by bright, white light. My stomach dropped off the deep end—I felt like I was flying downhill on a rollercoaster until we were finally back in my room.
‘Oh, my God,’ I grunted.
‘Gods, Sephy. Gods.’ Tee smirked, and I curled my lip at her.
‘What was that? Can’t we just walk?’
‘It’s teleporting. Travelling through the aether.
You’ll get used to it; don’t worry. I thought you might need a drink after I kicked your ass but good.
’ Tee extended the word ‘good’ and winked at me.
I gave her my best resting bitch face, which she ignored as she walked over to a cupboard full of bottles, pulling out a golden-coloured one along with two glasses.
She poured the amber liquid and handed one to me.
‘Have I got wine in my room?’ I asked, taking the glass.
‘Yup.’
‘Great, I might just end up intoxicated for the next three months.’ I lifted the glass to my lips.
The scent was sweet, and a mildly floral, fruity flavour filled my mouth.
Warmth and strength flowed through me as I sipped the drink.
My ribs and butt stopped hurting, and I felt rejuvenated.
‘What is this?’ I asked Tee as my gaze met hers, and I swallowed another gulp.
‘Nectar is in the gold bottles. One glass a day is enough, so don’t overindulge.’
‘Mm, I like it!’
‘Let’s chat… We have a lot to discuss.’ Tee motioned for me to follow her to the sofa, and I sank beside her with a sigh. ‘I need to tell you my real name,’ Tee began, eyes dropping to the glass in her hand. ‘I’m actually called Hecate.’
I shot to my feet, nearly spilling the drink, and glared down at her. ‘You’re the goddess of magic and witchcraft?’ My lip curled, teeth bared.
‘Among other things, yes.’ Her gaze darted to mine, lines of tension bracketing her mouth.
‘And you allowed the gods to kill your brethren? My brethren!’ The pitch of my voice rose, along with the blood pumping in my temples. ‘I—I can’t process this.’ I covered my eyes with my hand.
‘It’s not as straightforward as you think. There was nothing I could do. I tried, believe me. I had no involvement in the war, but right or wrong, the gods had their reasons.’
I dropped my hand and glowered at her. ‘Reasons?’ A wild laugh escaped me, high and brittle, and Tee’s shoulders stiffened. ‘Why couldn’t you stop them? You’re a goddess!’
Her eyes hardened, voice low and cutting. ‘I am a goddess. But more than that… I’m a Titan.’
The word landed like thunder, silencing the room. I froze, staring. Titans were whispered about in myths—ancient, dangerous, extinct. My stomach dropped as if the floor had vanished beneath me.
Tee’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile. ‘Many of us stayed out of the ancient war against the gods. That’s the only reason I’m still here. But Zeus loathes Titans even more than witches, Sephy. I may be powerful… but not powerful enough to take on them all.’ She sighed. ‘I’m sorry. Truly.’
The fight left me. This was all too much. ‘How long have you known I’m a witch?’ I asked as I slumped back down beside her.
Tee hesitated. ‘I’ve known you’ve hunted demons since day one.’
‘And is our friendship real, Tee?’ I asked in a small voice.
‘Sephy, babe, I’ve always loved you, and still do. That’s never changed. You gotta believe me. When we found you again’—Tee swiped her hand across her eyes—‘I was so happy.’
I clasped her hand in mine. ‘I’m glad I found you,’ I whispered as we hugged, cried, and laughed like two adolescents sharing a bonding moment.
Tee pulled away and ran a hand down my face. ‘Zeus is a dick. Don’t tell anyone I said that.’ I giggled weakly. ‘He fears me. Fears Hades. He knows we are both as powerful, if not more so than he is. That’s why he bound Hades, Thanatos, me, and the rest of Hades’ allies to the Underworld.’
‘But how can you go up top if you’re bound here?’
‘Because Hades refused to fight with the gods unless Zeus broke the bindings that tied us all here.’ Hecate showed me a tattoo of four different runes encircling her calf.
‘These were the bindings that tethered me to the Underworld. When Zeus deceived us, we could go nowhere but here or Zeus’s kingdom.
Not that any of us wished to go to Zeus’s kingdom. It’s full of ass-wipes.’
‘Zeus sounds like a manipulative asshole,’ I mused.
‘That he is. Though since Hera vanished, he’s mellowed a little. He can still be an ass, though. And Sephy, when Hades lost you, well, let’s just say your return has cheered up the grumpy bastard.’
I snorted a laugh. ‘I find it utterly crazy… mind-numbingly so… that you genuinely believe I’m really the goddess who was married to him. Whatever happened to the real Persephone, Tee?’
Tee studied me for a beat. ‘I’ve told you. That’s Hades’ story. Don’t be too hard on him about the war until you hear what he has to say. Understand the reasons behind the events. Alright?’
I gave a lazy shrug, but it still rattled my brain. ‘And me being a witch?’
‘You’re still Persephone.’ I huffed a frustrated breath.
She was utterly convinced I was the Persephone, so I swallowed my retort.
‘Eventually, you may be able to help sort out the banishment of magic. You never know. You could be the saviour of witchcraft in the human realm.’ I narrowed my eyes and tapped my forefinger against my lips.
Would that be possible? ‘But, oh, the irony of it.’ Tee chuckled darkly. ‘The crafty old crone.’
‘Old crone?’
‘My lips are sealed, sorry. Speak to Hades. In fact, he’s eager for you to have lunch with him.’
‘What?’ I gasped so hard, I almost choked.
‘He won’t bite, Sephy. Well, not unless you want him to.’ At her words, a hot, tight shiver ran through me, and my lady parts tingled. I cursed my ridiculous body. ‘We can start doing some magic training if you’d like?’
My breath hitched in my throat. Magic training with the goddess of magic? ‘I, I only have flora magic.’
She gave me a knowing smile. ‘You sure about that?’ I nodded emphatically. I couldn’t mention the dark magic I wielded. Because it was uncontrollable. Dangerous.
‘Come on, let’s choose an outfit to impress.’ Tee stood up.
‘I have no desire to impress him.’ I grimaced at her as she lifted her brows. I closed my eyes and said, ‘I need some advice. Not about Hades, obviously, because there’s no way I’m interested in him.’ Again, Tee cocked her brow at me. ‘I’m, erm… I’ve never had sex—like, you know—full sex, before.’
Tee bellowed with laughter. ‘Seriously? You’ve never been penetrated by a penis? Or anything that resembles a penis?’
I wrinkled my nose, shifted uncomfortably, and gave a slight shrug. I’d pleasured myself if that counted; had a bit of foreplay with Matt, but maybe my vagina was broken because sex with a man just wasn’t that important. Or hadn’t been.
‘You’re a twenty-two-year-old virgin?’ She choked out the words through her laughing fit. I scowled at her, feeling rather offended. She wiped her eyes and sucked in her cheeks.
‘Glad you find me so amusing,’ I said with a clenched jaw.
‘Why does society believe someone not wanting casual sex is a freak?’ I spat.
‘Just bang someone and move on. It’s no biggie.
But I refuse to follow society’s conventional wisdom.
Do what works for you, I say… And stop laughing at me,’ I growl-hissed at her.
‘Sorry.’ She burst out laughing again, then sobered for a beat. ‘What about Matt?’
I shook my head. ‘I’ve never really been attracted to anyone in that way. I think I might be frigid.’ My shoulders sank. Well, unless I’m around the god of the dead. At that thought, an involuntary shudder ran through me, but Tee cracked up laughing again.
I glared at her as she carried on with her inappropriate laughter. Eventually, she settled down from her hilarity; she cleared her throat and managed to speak.
‘Sex is fun. Much more entertaining than slaying demons. You’ve obviously never had the right guy or girl.
’ She blew out a breath and shook out her arms, still trying to control her laughter.
I narrowed my eyes at her. ‘Come on, let’s get you ready for lunch.
I’ll sort your hair. It looks like a rat's nest.’ She snorted through her nose, which made me grit my teeth, but I ignored it.
I swear to the gods, if she laughed again, I’d punch her.
‘Gee, thanks,’ I muttered as she shoved me towards the bathroom.
‘Shower. Hurry up, you only have an hour. I’ll be back soon; need to see the boss. Oh, and here’s your blade.’
The divine blade, still in its sheath and with the leather straps attached, appeared in her hand. ‘And keep that thing away from me.’ She squinted at me.
I laughed evilly as I sauntered into the bathroom, then dramatically slammed the door shut.