Chapter Twenty-Four
Fifteen minutes later Gigi wandered back upstairs to her apartment, more than a little dazed.
“Here.” Darcy handed over a glass brimming with amber fluid. “You look like you could use this.”
“Yes. Thanks.” Accepting the glass, taking a sip before wandering over to the sofa to collapse, her legs no longer able to support her. Nothing could surprise Gigi anymore, not even Darcy having broken into apartment.
“You okay?” Darcy sat on the sofa opposite, smoothing down her black and white striped micro mini pleated skirt. She had on a plain white t-shirt with an alarming splatter of dried blood across the front. Knee high shiny patent black leather boots completing the outfit.
“I…” Gigi couldn’t find the words.
“Do I need to kill someone?”
“No. No. I just discovered that I… I’ve conquered the world.”
“Which world?”
“This one.”
“Ah, I get it. Been there, done that. It’s both more and way less exciting than you imagined, right?”
“Yes!” That was it exactly.
Gigi had been planning a slow methodical business expansion, with a realistic five year plan. Yet within ten minutes of talking to Aunt Daisy, everything had changed.
“Did you know all Aunt Daisy’s lot are bi-lingual? And have management training?”
“Really? All I know is that she’s tired of having them all living back at home underfoot.”
“Not any longer. They’ll each be managing one of my new Emporiums to be located in Paris, Florence, Madrid and London.”
“Cool. Oh, does that mean the High Council will be needing to find a new receptionist?”
“Yes. Shelby will be managing the Emporium in Florence.”
“Which will just leave Troy. But I hear on the grapevine one of the other firefighters is looking for a roomie, so maybe he’s got plans to move out as well. Wow. Four new stores. You’re going to be busy.”
“Not me, Aunt Daisy. She’s just appointed herself Global Regional Manager, or something of that ilk, she hasn’t quite decided what title she wants on her business cards yet.
She’s downstairs making lists, and trying to decide if we need one European based kitchen or whether we should just Transportal everything in daily from here. ”
“Sounds like Daisy has everything covered.”
Yes, which both irked and relieved Gigi, hence her dazed state. Though the whiskey was helping on that front and so was— “Why are you here?”
“As one of my Secret Special Liaison Deputies, I thought you might like an update.”
“One of? Just how many Deputies do you have?”
“What do you not get about the word secret? Any-hoo. Let’s see.
” Darcy’s gaze roamed over Gigi, taking in how pale and wan her cousin appeared.
Damn, focusing in on her Spider Mage senses, Darcy fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Seriously? What was it about the path of true love?
Path? Honestly, it was more like an out of control rollercoaster ride during which flying monkeys flung faeces at you non-stop.
The off key twanging of Darcy’s web was irritating to say the least. And the only way to get it to cease was to meddle, manipulate, and crap, matchmake.
Blowing up Great-Aunt Alma’s car, twice now, was not punishment enough. Nope, getting side-tracked, revenge later. Ick, matchmake now.
“We discovered how the prisonbreak was orchestrated. One of the kitchen staff met the supposed love of their life on a dating site… and bloody Hathor got her hooks in. Steps have been taken to see it doesn’t happen again.
Nell and the baby have relocated to Maat Towers for the foreseeable future and Nell will commute for work, accompanied by a guard of Double-wide’s choosing.
” Darcy took a sip of whiskey. “I might have a lead on Hathor’s lair.
Problem is, it’s located on another Plane.
And we have no idea if Flynn is being kept prisoner there, or even if he’s alive.
Maat assures me he’s alive, that she feels it when one of her Warriors carks it, so that’s some good news. ”
“Dash must be going crazy.”
“He’s suddenly gone scary quiet and focused, according to Hadleigh.
Let’s see, anything else? Oh, so we have confirmation from Neith’s mouth that Sopdu isn’t involved in the Cabal takeover the world bid.
Which is good news. But she dropped something about Heath Gammon’s Godfather being involved, so I’ve put the feelers out trying to work out just who that might be.
I tried asking Sopdu about who he named Godfather to his son, but the God of War is all like peace, happiness and non-interference these days. It’s pretty sickening.”
“How about you tell me why Hathor kept referring to me as some kind of nun.”
“Nun? Oh, no, you mean the pure references they kept making in the Library? Oh, that’s easy.
You know how there’s a whole spectrum of love, and how Hathor and her brats were dabbling mostly on the dark end; obsession, possessiveness, worship?
Well, you’re one of those rare people who has neither the time nor patience for all those negative emotions.
Your definition is locked in and you refuse to accept anything that falls short of your expectations. ”
“That sounds awfully simplistic.”
“I know. But shockingly, most people just don’t have such a positive opinion of themselves and understand that in order to be happy, you need to find someone who loves and respects all the aspects that come together to make you, well, you.”
“I’m not little mary sunshine here.”
“No, you’re missing the point. You also have a very clear idea of your weaknesses and flaws, and refuse to be with anyone who doesn’t acknowledge and respect them as well as all your good points.
Because of your clear convictions, and rock solid self-worth, there’s no wriggle room for Hathor and her harpy twats to make you doubt yourself or sway you.
Pure. Immoveable. Which is why, how, you provided Nico with a safe space of immunity to their powers. ”
“Really? It sounds so simplistic. Though I suppose it’s nice to finally know the reason I was able to act as Nico’s safety buffer zone.”
Darcy absently tapped her fingers against her glass, a slow steady beat.
“Let’s see, what else? Oh, the babies. I loathe saying my mother was right, but after watching the CCTV footage of the encounter with Hathor and the Wonder-twats, I think I’m going to have to take a more active role in their lives. ”
Oh, the poor babies. Gigi fought hard to hide her concern. “Um, when you say involved? Do you mean like kidnap and raise them up in your image, to be freakishly ruthless Southern Sanctuary agents of death and destruction?”
For a moment Darcy ceased tapping the side of glass before continuing. “That hadn’t been the plan, but now that you float that idea—”
“No!”
“But—”
“You really think Nell would be okay with that? That Hadleigh, Vaughn and Drum would be on board? And your Mother? Besides, do you really want pooping, squawking, needy, time suck infants in your life, twenty-four/seven?”
“I really never thought about motherhood before, but I watched the footage. If I could get me one that shoots laser death beams from its eyes, then maybe.”
“Yeah, but there’s never any guarantee when it comes to magic, is there? Then you’d be stuck raising a child, and they say they never stop being your responsibility, no matter how old they get.”
“I suppose, and Declan will probably taint my pool of DNA perfection. Instead of getting a fun kid with death ray abilities, we’d probably get one that chats to birds and lets them have way too much input on what they wear each day.”
“Wait. What?” That was oddly specific, but Darcy was already moving on.
“No, I think I’m going to have become an active participant of the ICMDP.”
“The what now?”
“That’s the official name of the group Patricia and Great-Uncle Nestor have formed: Infant and Child Magical Development Program. Storytelling and parent support is all well and good, but I think those babies need to start magical offense and defence training.”
“Darcy, they’re just babies.”
“And my three week old niece already has a body count.” Darcy snapped her fingers.
“Brodie. She’d be perfect. I’ve seen how she’s whipped you and the Great-Great’s into shape, thanks to your self-defence classes.
Our resident Valkyrie is impervious to tears and tantrums. She knows how to identify potential talents.
Is manic about her pupils learning their limits and all about control and owning your powers.
She’s strict and yet totally awesome. The babies are going to love her.
And best of all, Brodie won’t be swayed by worried or over-wrought parents like Gaia, or my sister. ”
“Oh, way to pass the buck.”
“And you know who else would be great for the new and improved ICMDP Management Team? The Feral Forest Queen. Lady Mud herself.”
“Who?”
“Copper Yanez. She’s a savant at camouflage and we’re going to need someone to work with Asher one on one.
That kid, I swear, I’ve watched the footage a hundred times, and he’s in that car seat one moment and gone the next.
And he either knows where every camera blind spot is, or he’s invisible.
I still don’t know if he walks, crawls, or slides around on his ass.
Any and all of that should be impossible, but given the Valhalla and Maat lines, who knows what the kid is capable of.
He’s practically the size of a two year old already.
You don’t realise it when Hadleigh or Vaughn are carrying him about because they’re so tall, but the kid is massive for his age. ”
“I really don’t think Gaia and Nell will be on board having their infants trained in the ways of war by a bloodthirsty screaming Valkyrie.”
“We’ll call it Jumble Gym Tumble Tot Fun Time.”
“I don’t think labelling the activity with a cutsie name will sway Gaia or your sister. Especially when the class is being led occasionally by a Goddess who wears mud head to toe, and knows a thousand ways to poison someone.”