I wonder how he’s truly doing. He seemed worried last night, but maybe I’m looking too deep into it. I’m concerned about nothing.
“Kiya. I know you want to see Neron.” *Damn Phoebe and her psychic abilities*. “This would be a wonderful opportunity to reunite with your family and catch up with him. Kill two birds with one stone, as people say.”
Ivory’s soft fur brushing against my ankles helped ease the anxiety threatening to grip at my heart. “I guess you’re right. Seeing the new pack has been long overdue, I guess.”
“That’s the spirit! And… maybe you can figure out when Nuria will be coming over again?”
The sudden silence between us was deafening, but the growing smile on my face made all the noise. Phoebe’s pinkening cheeks graduated to red as she shot me a haunting glare. Her attempt at intimidation made me laugh because she knew what I was thinking. “Phoebe… I’ve been meaning to ask you…”
“No. The answer is no.”
“There is no shame in liking Nuria.” I grinned. “She is a very beautiful woman and—!”
“Just let me know when Violetta messages you back,” Phoebe said quickly, stomping out of the kitchen with her strawberry-blond hair flying behind her. I’m no Cupid, but if fate played their cards right, there could be something in for those two… but I don’t want to get my hopes up. Pulling the cotton shirt from my head, I texted Nuria about my attendance and sent Violetta a message right after. Her response came through when I was walking toward my parents’ home. confirming that she was in California.
Looks like tonight’s meetup was happening.
An hour later, I walked to Mom and Dad’s home. When I reached the petite abode, I swung the door open because it was unlocked. However, I sincerely wished they remembered to lock the door because what I saw had my eyes screaming for holy water.
*Oh, why the fuck didn’t I knock*?
My memory needed to be erased. Cursed imagery was right in front of me. Mom and Dad were seconds away from peeling their clothes off and fucking on their couch.
Of course, they had every right to do the devil’s tango in the privacy of their home, but lock the goddamn door before that! They shrieked, hopping off each other and smoothening out their clothes and hair, but never mind the bright cherry red lipstick on Dad’s lips.
It’s a nice color on him.
***Mija*!” Mom shouted, finger-combing her hair. “W-what are you doing here? Haven’t I taught you to knock?”
“Hey, don’t blame me for walking into a whorehouse because you two forgot to lock the door!” I huffed, crossing my arms. “I have my fair share of interrupting loving couples in the middle of their loving, but this is too much.”
“We apologize for disgracing your eyes, *mi rayo de luna*. Next time, we’ll let you know beforehand.” Dad grumbled sarcastically, obviously upset from the interruption. I bit my lip to stifle my laughter when he turned his head away like a grumpy old man. Mom poked at his side. slowly but surely bringing a smile back on her mate’s face. My heart was warm. I hope to have the love they have one day.
“What brings you by?” Mom asked.
“Nuria invited me to Aunt Essie’s birthday party, and I want to go this year. I know you two are attending, but I was wondering if you have any suggestions on gifts I could get her?” My parents tapped their cheeks in thought. Dad patted a seat next to him for me to take, but I opted for the armchair.
I’m not sitting in their “sin*.
“Jewelry is always the way to go. Celeste loves anything and everything shiny.” Mom answered, placing her arm on the armrest. “Anything custom made she’ll love, even clothes. Does that help?
“I sent her jewelry last year.”
“You can never have enough jewelry!”
“Oh, I know. I spent thousands in jewelry since we got married.” Dad chuckled when Mom punched him in the arm. “Think about what she means to you, *bebita*, and you’ll find something. I promise.”
“What did you two get her?”
“Bath bombs, skincare stuff-the usual,” Mom responded.
“Celeste brought us a soft set of robes and towels on our wedding anniversary, so I got her the same,” Dad answered.
“Hmm. Okay.” I hopped on my feet with my mind running through many gift options. “I have a week until the party, so I should have the present wrapped and ready to go until then. Be sure to lock the door this time when I leave, okay?”
“You don’t have to keep reminding us!” My laughter echoed through their home as Dad pushed me out, muttering under his breath in Spanish. Hearing that telltale lock of the door, I skedaddled out of there to protect my ears from the hellish noises of lovemaking bound to make their appearance.
Wolves were too fucking loud.
Selenite. Moonstone. Diamond. Clear Quartz.
Jewels of the earth couldn’t rival the moon shining over the wavering sea. The moon was entering its last quarter, soon fading into the new moon of June. Silver light entranced me as Phoebe and I sat side-by-side on a large rock on Millennium Beach, a beach closest to pack territory.
The wind howled around us, taking our strands in its methodical dance like lovers on the dance floor; gentle. We waited for Violetta to arrive. Sneaking out of pack territory was no easy feat, and Phoebe and I surely would get into trouble, but we needed this.
All three of us needed this.
Quiet minutes had passed, the sound of the waves hitting the shore serving as our only music. Soon, dissonant splashing was heard, capturing our attention. I squinted my eyes to spot an anomaly in the water swimming toward us. An iridescent fluke hit the surface, glittering under the moonlight as the body propelled toward us. When the culprit rose to the surface with a grin. Phoebe and I breathed in a sigh of relief.
“Am I late?” Violetta asked, stretching her arms toward us. We worked to pull the mermaid from the waters, settling her in between us, her tail flopping against the rock. Her fishtail reminded me of the angel aura quartz; every shift revealed a part of the rainbow glistening in her scales.
“Nope, you’re right on time.” Phoebe answered. “How’ve you been?”
“Blessed, if I’m being frank. The band has been doing well. My partners are amazing, and I’m living my life to the fullest as a full woman. I’ve never been happier.” Vio’s smile warmed my heart, her happiness shining through her ocean blues. I remembered the news she shared about fully transitioning into her true self, and to see the change in her eyes and smile from it made me realize just how precious life and happiness were.
If there is an opportunity to make yourself happy beyond belief, take it, no matter the cost.
“Our peace has been great, as well,” I answered back, but my smile lessened to a forlorn frown. But I’m scared that it’ll be cut short.”
“Yeah.” The mermaid pushed wet strands of her hair behind her ear. “I’m praying to Amphitrite that what we’re feeling is wrong. It has to be. I don’t want this peace to end.”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have that luxury as avatars.” Phoebe exhaled, staring back out into the sea. “If something wants to happen, it will. Being part god isn’t all that is cracked up to be.”
“No kidding.” I drew my knees to my chest. “So, how are we going to do this?”
The three of us fell into silence, trying to figure out the best way to go about this. Phoebe perked up, her eyes shimmering through the darkness, giving her more of a haunting yet alluring appearance. “Well, this is where the associations of our goddesses have met. Why don’t we use it to our advantage?”
“Explain,” Violetta said.
“The sea is Amphitrite, the moon is Selene, and the night is Hekate. I’m not saying this could happen every night, but we can use this one to ask for a sign. They can hear us, and I know if we ask, they’ll respond.”
Despite the moon entering the latter stages of its cycle, the bond between Selene and I was strong. The moon’s strength goes through its phases, with the full moon being the strongest time between my goddess and I. Selene was here and is listening. Two other powerful presences linger around us; Hekate and Amphitrite. Phoebe has never been wrong with mystical dealings, so the fact that I could feel all three goddesses was proof enough for me.
Violetta, Phoebe, and I prayed to our goddesses, begging for guidance on this next phase of our journey. To give us a sign or a clue for what was coming. To tell us what we need to watch out for, and what risk it can post to us, our friends, and our families. The surrounding silence howled with the wind as it picked up around us, centering us in the middle of its non- threatening whirlwind.
Trickling water drew us to its tune, allowing the three of us to witness a magical spectacle that children would dream of. The moonlight bent and danced around the funnel of water in the middle of the sea, growing in size and potency with wisps of violet encircling it like a dancing thread. We watched in awe, charmed by the show.
The display of white and violet, however, suddenly flashed red, and the sea moved to the tune of force and violence. In the pillar of red light, we saw the vision of a monstrous serpent with its head imbued with flint, releasing a menacing roar that rocked the earth beneath us. I didn’t have the power to look away because every second of the vision forced me to look while horror floated in and around my chest like a balloon.
A smaller version of that exact snake attacked me in the museum.
The serpent slithered in and around what appeared to look like a mountain deep in a dark realm, unreachable by mortals and creatures alike. I felt fury beyond anything I’ve ever felt within myself or anyone else. The red eye of the serpent found me, and my body seized in fear. It couldn’t see me, but I felt as though it could.
“What… the fuck…” Violetta whispered, trembling beside me. I grabbed her hand, squeezing it for reassurance more for myself than her. I heard Phoebe whimper and felt her hand clasping mine. She must’ve reached over to do so.
“Guard your hearts and your bonds.” A voice in the wind whispered around us. It wasn’t Selene, but one of the other goddesses. “*The mad god seeks revenge, and he will not stop until he does*. *He cannot escape for now, but tread carefully, young goddesses*.”
In the blink of an eye, everything reverted to normal. No more of the flashing light show. No more whispers of the wind. It was as if nothing ever happened. The three of us shot each other looks of worry and fear at what was told to us.
Mad god?
A GOD?!
I… I don’t know if I could do this again.