Chapter Twenty-Eight
Farren
He chuffs like he’s laughing and then nods.
“Alright, Fluffy it is,” I grin.
I’m not going to lie, I sort of love that this giant, extremely deadly creature now has such a cute name. Looking around at the very white room that I’ve landed in, I wonder why I’m here.
I mean, I was very bored in the darkness, but the white room would suggest that I’m somewhere that isn’t in a dream, or maybe it is. I think I’ve been called somewhere, and I know that Fluffy didn’t call me here, so I’m going to assume that it was someone else.
My magic has not recovered yet, I can feel that, so I really hope that it’s a good person that’s called me here and not an arsehole that I’m going to have to fight.
I really don’t have the energy for that.
I look at the giant creature that I’m still petting and smile. At least I wouldn’t have to deal with it alone.
Fortunately, it would seem like I don’t have to wait for very long to find out who has called me to this place.
Fluffy spins suddenly, a low threatening growl echoing around the space, and he stares at a point in the middle of the room.
I stand.
If he’s alert, then I definitely should be as well.
Pulling out my blades and gripping them tightly in each hand, I am incredibly glad that this is one of those dreams where I still have them.
“Oh,” Verena says with surprise as she appears right where Fluffy is looking.
I smile, and then when Fluffy doesn’t immediately back off, I realise that he’s waiting for me to say something, so I say, “Fluffy, it’s okay.”
Fluffy growls once in warning, which is absolutely astounding to me because it would seem that he has absolutely no problem in threatening a powerful goddess. Which means that there’s a good chance that he can take a god or goddess out, which is handy information.
It’s definitely something that I need to look into when I get the chance.
“Well, I was not expecting to see one of them,” Verena says, still looking at Fluffy.
“You weren’t?” I ask, unable to hide my surprise. “I sort of figured that you would know that sort of thing.”
Verena smiles, “Not when it comes to you.”
“Sorry,” I reply with a shrug. I’m not really sure how I’m supposed to respond to that, but apologising seems like a good way to go.
She chuckles, “Don’t be. I love it. How are you? You were given a lot of information, shocking information, and then we couldn’t get to you. Are you okay?”
I nod, “Yeah, it was certainly a lot. If I’m being honest, I haven’t entirely dealt with much of it properly. There has been a lot going on.”
Verena nods, “That’s understandable. We have all been restricted on the amount of help that we can give you, and I have also been restricted on how much time I can spend with you right now.”
I frown, “Why?”
“As much as I want to share that with you, I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“That figures,” I sigh.
Verena smiles at me with sympathy, and then says, sounding as frustrated as I feel, “I am running out of time already. What I can tell you is this. You can use the realm as you always have been able to, Farren. I’m so sorry that I can’t help you anymore.
Being a Fate isn’t all its damn cracked up to be.
” A twinkle enters her eye as she intentionally lets that piece of information slip, and I grin in response, although the information shocks me so much that I don’t ask any of the important questions that I really should ask.
She continues, “At least my sister, your aunt Nyx, is going through something similar. It helps. We will talk soon, my Daughter.”
With that, she simply disappears, and I’m left in this weirdly white room.
Huh.
That was short and sweet. At least I got a decent amount of information from that short visit, and I would guess that the bit about her being a fucking Fate was not something that she was supposed to tell me.
“How am I supposed to process that information?” I ask the room out loud since I haven’t immediately woken up now that she’s gone.
“I would imagine that you process it as you do everything, within your own time,” a familiar voice says.
“X!” I exclaim as he flaps into view. “What the hell are you doing here? I missed you.”
His chuckle gets cut off as I pull him toward me and hug him tightly.
“Farren, need to breathe,” he stammers.
“Shit,” I curse as I immediately let him go. “Sorry, I really missed you. Are you actually here?”
“Sort of, the goddess thought that you might like to see me since your magic has not recharged enough to return to the awake world yet,” Xerxes explains.
I nod as I continue to stroke Fluffy. “That makes sense, I still feel exhausted. Is Fluffy actually here?”
X chuckles, “Fluffy can go wherever you can.”
“Oh really,” I reply. “That’s going to be helpful.”
“Yes, well, no one is really sure how you managed to get one to be loyal to you,” X says.
My eyebrows rise. “Not even Verena?”
“Nope,” he replies. “You know that he’s the creature who was guarding the throne room at Hades’ castle.”
I look at Fluffy’s green eyes. “I thought you were. I’m so very glad that you’re not still there. I was going to come back for you when I could. You’re smaller than you were in the castle.”
Fluffy huffs, takes a step back, and then grows to the size that he was in the castle, before shrinking back down and coming back for pets.
“He must be like Meri,” X surprises me by saying.
“You don’t know?” I ask.
X flaps his pages, “Nope. I don’t know much, to be honest. He’s older than even I am. In fact, as I said, no one, not even Verena or the other Fates, knows where he’s come from, or how he’s bonded with you.”
“Seriously?” I ask.
“Yeah,” X replies. “He’s a mystery.”
I decide that I’m not going to focus on that, because if X says he doesn’t know, then he doesn’t know and there’s no point wasting time dwelling on it when I don’t know how much time I’ve got with him before I wake up.
“Are you going to go back to Hades’ place when I wake up?” I ask.
“Yes, I’ve become quite fond of the library there. It’s nice to have other books to talk to,” he replies.
I smile, “I’m really glad you like it.”
“Thank you,” he says. “Now, did you have anything that you wanted to ask me before you wake up? I sense that it’s not going to be much longer now.”
“Oh, I hadn’t even thought about that, I was just so happy to see you that it didn’t occur to me,” I reply. “Give me a moment, my brain is a little fried.”
“Take your time, there’s not too much rush,” X reassures me.
I nod and continue to stroke Fluffy as I think about the most important thing to ask X.
Something occurs to me, it’s definitely not one of the most important questions, but it is one I want an answer to. I know he said that he didn’t know much about Fluffy, but maybe if I ask him directly, the information will appear like it sometimes does. It’s worth a shot.
“Can Fluffy take down a god?” I ask.
Xerxes pages flap and turn as he thinks over my question and tries to find the answer within his pages.
“Yes,” he replies with surprise. “His kind supposedly naturally went extinct, but what actually happened is that the gods hunted them to extinction because they are the only creatures who can kill them.”
Fluffy’s eyes flash with a mixture of anger and sadness, as he looks up at me to gauge my reaction.
“I am so sorry,” I tell him sincerely, my head resting against his. “The gods are arseholes, that much is becoming abundantly obvious.”
“It is very curious that he’s chosen to show you allegiance and loyalty, you are, after all, a goddess.”
“Shh, I still haven’t dealt with that properly yet,” I reply, with a smile making my eyes go comically wide.
X chuckles, “That’s understandable. However, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s true.”
I sigh, “I hear you. I’m not sure why he’s chosen to guard me. I feel honoured though.”
“I’m sorry, Farren, I have to go,” X says abruptly.
“Wait, do you know Sage?” I ask. I don’t know why, I don’t know what prompted me to ask, but the question is out there now, and I’m curious to hear the answer.
X’s pages flap. “I will show up when you need me, and it’s deemed that my help is necessary.
Yes, I know of Sage. I haven’t met her yet, but something tells me that’s going to change very soon,” X says, and before I can reply or say that I want to see him even if he can’t help me, and ask more questions about Sage, he just disappears.
Of course, I mean that’s really helpful.
At least I know that he’s safe back at the house. I frown as I think about his words and amend my previous thought. I thought he was going to be safe at the house, but I’m not too sure that’s the case anymore.
He'd better stay safe, I’ll kick arse for X any day.
Fluffy moves away from me faster than a creature of his size should be able to move, and I’m confused for half a second before Magnus and Monty appear, backed up against the wall where Fluffy is staring at and growling.
How the hell does he do that?
I had no idea that they were about to drop in, and yet Fluffy knew, and from the looks on Magnus and Monty’s faces, they didn’t know that he was here. Just like Verena had no idea either.
He really is a predator of the gods.
“Erm, Farren, Dear,” Monty starts, looking at me with wide eyes. “Would you care to explain how in the hell you got a Mors-Fidelis to be loyal to you?” A mischievous light enters his eyes, and he adds, “And please tell me it took a chunk out of Hades before you managed to tame it.”
Magnus smacks him, “Monty! You’re going to have to let that one go.
It’s obvious how much Hades cares about our daughter, and to be honest, at least we know she’s safe.
Hades is fucking formidable, especially when it comes to people he cares about, and you know that he more than just cares about Farren. ”
Monty pouts, “I know. I know. I’m just going to be a little salty about it for a while.”
“Er guys,” I say as they look like they’re going to continue their conversation despite the fact that they’re practically pinned against the wall by Fluffy, who hasn’t moved an inch.
“Sorry, Dear,” Monty says. And adds through a false smile, “I didn’t mean it.”
I burst out laughing. “You definitely did, but that’s fine.”
“Erm, Farren, I know that you’re mad at us for not telling you that we’re your fathers sooner, but could you please call off your beast?”
“Fluffy,” I say as I walk across the room and pat him.
Let them sweat for a moment. I am mad. Even though I understand why they couldn’t tell me.
“What?” Magnus asks.
I point at my beast, “I named him Fluffy.”
“Of course you did,” Magnus replies, looking amused. “I mean, why wouldn’t you?”
“I look at him and immediately think, yep, that’s a Fluffy,” Monty says, his eyebrow raised, and a smile stretching his lips.
“Fluffy, it’s okay. They’re my dads,” I say through my laughter.
Fluffy immediately backs up to stand behind me, and Monty and Magnus’ eyebrows hit their hairlines.
“Well, damn, you really can control him,” Magnus says.
I frown. “Not control. If he doesn’t want to listen to me, then he won’t.”
“That’s not reassuring in the slightest,” Monty points out.
My smile turns sharp. “It’s not supposed to be.”
“Wait, you called us your dads,” Magnus says, his smile lighting up his expression.
I try not to smile as I reply, “Maybe.”
“You totally did,” Monty grins as he balances his walking stick and perches on top of it as easily as if he’s sitting on the couch.
I clear my throat and change the subject, making their smiles widen even more, “Why are you guys here in my dream?”
“To see you, and make sure you’re doing okay, of course,” Monty replies, like it’s a no-brainer.
To be honest, that’s what he’s been doing for as long as I’ve known him. He turns up with some random advice and then manages to check if I’m okay without me necessarily realising that he’s checking in.
“We can’t get to you, so this is the only chance that we’re going to get to check in on you, and it’s only because Verena called you here, she’s not going to be able to do it again for a while, and we couldn’t come with her when she appeared because we didn’t want to bring too much attention to ourselves,” Magnus explains.