Scarlet Rain Part 3

"I think I already found one." Eva pulled the dress from its hanger and held it up in front of her body.

"It will look lovely on you. You may put it on in here. I can step out if you would like."

"Are you kidding? We're friends now, and we have all the same girl parts. You don't have to leave. Plus, I'll need your help with the clasps in the back."

The dress felt like water as she pulled it over her head and let the gauzy fabric lap against her legs and flow to the floor. "This color is amazing," she commented, admiring how the orange fabric made her skin appear to be a bit darker. "It reminds me of summer."

"I must have had thoughts of you while making the gown. It is perfect." Maiden smiled.

"Will you take me to see Alek now?" Eva asked as she studied her reflection in the grand mirrors. "I mean, I absolutely love your closet and I can't wait to see Tartarus get back to normal, but I won't stop obsessing about whether or not he's actually going to be okay until I get to see him."

"Last I checked, he was not awake. And Mother, though she was quite rude, did have a point when she said he needs his rest."

"That's okay." Eva turned to face Maiden. "I don't need him to be awake. I won't disturb him. I just need to make sure he's really here and that he's really alive."

Maiden sighed and bit her lip. "Who am I to keep you apart? Yes. Yes, I will take you to him."

"Thank you!" Eva blurted, surprised by her own excitement.

"Follow me. I will lead you to his quarters. However, we cannot enter until Crone has finished her healing ritual, if she has not done so already."

Eva stayed in stride with Maiden as she exited the magnificent closet and walked briskly down the wide hallway. "How long will that take?"

"It is different with each individual. With you it did not take long, because your injuries were not severe."

"My injuries?" Eva thought back to her time in Mohawk Park. "I might have sc.r.a.ped up my hands and knees, but I wouldn't really call those injuries. You make them sound so major."

"Although you did have a few sc.r.a.pes and bruises, the injuries I speak of were sustained from your travel here. Never before have I, or any one of us, brought a mortal through the void between the realms and into Tartarus."

"Yeah, Alek told me he couldn't bring me here because he'd only brought dead bodies back with him before. Creature dead bodies, not normal human dead bodies."

Maiden smiled. "And he was wise not to try. Although my abilities are more advanced, and I have more control over them than Alek does his, you were not free from danger when I pulled you from the Mortal Realm."

"How did you know coming here wouldn't kill me?" Eva asked.

"I had to accept the risk. I knew my son was dying and I a.s.sumed the worst would happen to you. Luckily, it did not. You only suffered a few minor burns from the abundance of energy created when traveling through realms. With your ability to heal, and Crone's ability to a.s.sist with that process, you were restored to health quite quickly. The only reason you slept for as long as you did was because coming here was a great shock to your system, and understandably so."

"Wait, you know that I can heal myself?"

Maiden nodded. "It was something Crone discovered when she was working on you, but I was not surprised. I know it is an ability possessed by many of the Oracles who came before you."

"Did Crone discover anything else? Any other abilities?" Eva asked, trying to still her antic.i.p.ation.

"You do not yet know what other powers you possess?"

"Well, no. That's why I'm asking you. Why? Am I supposed to know already? Is that something I missed?"

Maiden chuckled. "Remain calm, Eva. Most abilities come in threes. There are some exceptions to this rule, but I do not believe you fit into any of those."

"So you're saying I have two other abilities I know nothing about?"

"Perhaps. And perhaps, in time, they will come."

"But what if I want them now? What if I need them now, for the next bad thing that's running loose? How do I speed up the discovery process? I need all the help I can get, and it kind of freaks me out that these abilities are just sitting inside of me, waiting to pop up at any time."

"If you were newly birthed, would you expect to walk?" Maiden asked. "Even though you are in the same body with the same memories, part of you is new to this world. Have trust and be patient. Give yourself time to grow and mature."

"Oh my G.o.d. This is like going through p.u.b.erty all over again," Eva groaned. "At least I won't be shoved in an inst.i.tution that bases your social worth on where you sit at lunch."

Maiden looked at her, puzzled.

"Never mind. Can I ask you a question?" Eva continued, "It's probably going to sound really stupid, but I was just thinking about how much I loathed high school. I always thought I'd go back to our ten-year reunion and have this amazing career and husband, and all this other stuff I could rub in people's faces. Now I don't see any of that happening. I know you said I'm new to this world, or at least part of me is, but does that mean I have to completely change who I am?"

Maiden stopped in front of a large door identical to the one they had just exited. "I am afraid, young Oracle, that is a question to which only you can find the answer."

"It's just, I really liked the old me, and now I don't feel like I know who I'm supposed to be. The more I think about everything that's going on, the more I don't think I can do this. A week ago, I didn't know this place existed, and my biggest worry was that I'd end up being some lonely old spinster who still lived with her mom. I don't know anything about anything that's going on now. What's worse is that, if I mess up, a lot of people will die. I bet they'd all be super p.i.s.sed if they knew I was half of the team that was supposed to keep the world from ending." She leaned her back against the wall, and slid down to the floor. "Go team," she said, lifting her arm in the air listlessly.

"You are being too hard on yourself. I am impressed with how you have handled all that has been put in your path. There is a lesson I learned many years ago. One which, I am sorry to say, I have not been practicing as I should. However, it did help me when I had the sense to use it. Would you like to know what it is?"

"Of course! I'd love to learn some kind of magic." Eva stifled the urge to hop up and down like she'd just received an invitation to Hogwarts.

"No, Eva, it is not magic that I speak of. At least, not the kind of which you are thinking. This power is within us all, and is the simplest gift you can give yourself. Kindness."

"Kindness? I already try not to be mean to anyone. Sure, a lot of people out there could use a refresher course, but I don't see how that's giving myself a gift, or how it's supposed to help me sort this out."

"What would it be like if the person you spent the most time with always judged and criticized your actions, your appearance, your likes and dislikes?"

"I'm sure it would suck really bad, but they also wouldn't be in my life for long."

"Precisely. If you would not allow another person to treat you so cruelly, why then do you do it to yourself? Be kind to yourself and mirror that kindness in your thoughts. After all, your thoughts are with you always. Change them, and you change your world."

"I'm pretty sure I've seen that on a magnet somewhere."

The door opened, and Crone emerged from the dimly lit room. "It is nice to see you up and well."

"Maiden told me about what you did when I arrived. I want to thank you for helping me, so thank you." She curtsied sloppily.

"It was an honor to a.s.sist the new Oracle." Crone nodded respectfully as shadows slipped into the deep creases nestled around her smile.

"How is our son?" Maiden asked.

"Much improved. It should not be long now before he is again on his feet and causing trouble."

"Can I see him?" Eva asked.

"He would welcome your visit more than that of any one of his mothers. Now, I must retire. This day has taken much out of me." Soothing scents of sage and wet earth drifted from her skin as she brushed pa.s.sed Eva and disappeared down the dark hall.

Eva nervously approached the open door. "I can go in now, right?"

"Whenever you wish."

Flickering candlelight cast dizzying shadows around the room. A tall mirror, a large wardrobe, and an empty shelf were the only items in the undecorated s.p.a.ce. "Alek." Eva rushed to him and stood motionless at his bedside. A thick, white bandage wrapped around his thigh, protecting the huge gash he'd suffered in the Mortal Realm. "Crone is sure he'll wake up soon?" she asked, studying his face. His skin was flushed and dotted with sweat. "That wound on his leg was really bad."

"It is not his bodily injuries which worry me. Alek is not only his body, just as you are not only yours. His body will heal. The worry I have for him is the same he had for you before you awoke as the new Oracle."

"What are you worried about? What could happen to him?"

"Alek, with Pythia's aid, contacted you in the dream world so you would not be lost there. Now we can only wait and hope he finds his way back to us, just as you found your way back to him."

Carefully, Eva sat next to him on the bed. "Alek, please." She took his hand in hers, and a spark of electricity crackled between their palms. "Ouch, dammit." She dropped his hand and shook off the pain. "Why does that keep happening?"

"Ouch, dammit." Alek dropped his keys and let them slap against the stone steps. He brought his hand closer to his face and inspected the quickly healing burn on his palm. "Strange," he remarked, plucking the keys from the step. Remembering how easily mortal craftsmans.h.i.+p could be destroyed, he unlocked the front door and opened it gently. "Eva," he called, stepping inside and jiggling the key free from the lock. "I've returned."

The house was dark, and the air conditioner hummed steadily though the vents.

"Eva?" He closed the door and quietly hung his keys on the hook. "Are you here?" Concern bubbled in his stomach as he took inventory of the kitchen and living room. Alek quickened his pace as he approached the closed door at the end of the hall. Muscles tensed and ready, he carefully pushed it open. "Eva?"

"Alek, you're back." She poked her head out from under the comforter and yawned.

"You are safe."

"Of course I am. I have you to protect me." Her smile melted the tension rippling in his broad back.

She motioned for him to come to her, and he slipped off his s.h.i.+rt and dove beneath the covers. He left a gentle trail of kisses up her thighs, stomach, and chest before his head broke free of the silky sheets, and his eyes met hers.

"I've missed you." Eva pressed her soft mouth to his. "I didn't think you'd come home to me."

"I will always find you and come back to you. I promise." She smiled against his lips and she wrapped her legs around his waist, lifting her hips toward him. He pressed his body against hers and kissed her hungrily.

"Wait, wait," she whispered. "He's here, and wants to talk to you."

He pulled back, studying her face. "Who? Are you in danger?"

"Shh," Eva pressed her finger against his lips. "Don't act, just listen."

"Warrior of Tartarus," an una.s.suming voice called.

Alek shot from the bed and faced the slender man leaning against the doorframe. "I will give you one chance to leave unharmed," he growled.

"Relax, Alek." The man took his hands out of the pockets of his tailored pants and held them by his sides. "I'm not here to cause any trouble."

Alek tightened his fists. "How do you know me?"

"I've had a long time to watch you, Tartarus, and the Mortal Realm, and I want to help." He nodded at Eva. "Both of you."

"Who are you?"

"You're stuck here, and until you're free, nothing can move forward." He waved his bony fingers in the air. "All of this-her, this form I've taken-none of it's real. You really messed yourself up on your last excursion to the Mortal Realm. Because of that, you're now trapped in a kind of dream world and, unfortunately for you, you're not strong enough to get out by yourself."

"Let me guess, you are here to lend a.s.sistance."

"I am." His eyes were the green of an antique computer screen, and they glimmered when he smiled. "I can call upon someone with enough juice to launch you back into your body."

Alek crossed his arms. "For what price?"

"I knew I'd like you. Didn't I say that I would like him?" He winked at Eva, and she giggled.

"Get on with it," Alek commanded.

"No need to get huffy." He cleared his throat and continued. "There will come a time when I'll ask you a question, and the only thing I'll need you to do is say yes."

"And if I say no?"

"I'm not a fan of veiled threats, and I don't like beginning relations.h.i.+ps with dishonesty, so I'll be blunt. If you choose to deny me, I'll slaughter the Furies, then I'll kill your cute little girlfriend over there. Well, the real version of her."

Alek charged forward, but the man evaporated as soon as he made contact.

The air s.h.i.+mmered as he reappeared. "Not a very nice thing to do, Alek. I won't hurt them if I don't have to."

"Tell me who you are." Alek spit out the words from between clenched teeth.

"For now, you can call me H." He brushed clean the sleeves of his suit coat and adjusted his striped tie. "So, do we have a deal?"

Alek's eyes settled on the fake version of Eva. She waved at him gaily, unaffected by H's presence.

"Or, you could choose to stay here with this version of the Oracle. No harm will come to either of you, but in reality, she and Tartarus will both die because of your selfishness, and it'll happen soon."

"I'll do it!" Alek roared and turned to face H. "If any harm comes to them, I'll rip you apart."

H extended his hand, and Alek glared down at his thin fingers. "Say yes when I ask, and I won't kill them. I'm a man of my word, Alek, as I know you are too."

Against his instincts, Alek forced his hand into H's and shook it.

"You're doing the right thing," H rea.s.sured. "I'll make sure one of your friends knows of your existence here-anonymously, of course, but she'll still return you to Tartarus. You won't remember meeting me, not until I want you to, but I'm sure it's going to be a pleasure working with you. Talk soon."

Alek blinked, and H was gone. Dull, pulsing pain spread through his forehead, and he ma.s.saged his temples.

"Hey, you okay? Come back to bed. It'll make you feel better." Eva shuffled over and patted the open s.p.a.ce next to her.

"I feel like there is something important I've forgotten." A blurred memory sat at the front of his mind, and he fought to focus on it through the haze.

Laughter trickled into his ears, and Alek's gaze darted around the room. "Do you hear that? The sound is familiar."

"I hear many things, young immortal," Pythia said, staring up at him with a sultry smile.

Alek recoiled. "Pythia!"