Children of the Lost Ruler- Ghost Goddesses Book One

The World Goes To Hell In A Handbasket

I was shaken awake by a frantic Andy.  "Fuck, Andy, what's going on?  You're gonna wake up Salem!"
He slapped me.  "Wake up, Ligeia!  That's what I'm trying to tell you!  Salem's gone!"
I shot up.  "WHAT THE FUCK?!"  He stood there, not quite sure what to say.  I punched him in the face.
"I deserve that," he groaned.  "I should've broken it to you better."
"No shit, Andreus."
I looked over to find my sister in a heap.  "Well, fuck.  Mel?"
She didn't even move, just grunted in acknowledgment.  I begrudgingly got up and went over to her.  "What the fuck did you do?" I whispered.
She glared at me.  "I made a choice."
"What kind of choice, Melaena?"
"I saved Show Off, and he took them away.  I know it's fucked, but I did what I had to.  I don't like it, either."
"I'm sorry, them?!"
"Yes.  He took Kae, too."
"Fuck.  Come on, let's get you food."
She took my hand, and let me pull her up.  I shadowed her to my favourite ice cream place.  "Come on, Nightmare, I know you could use some.  Also, welcome to Ohio."
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly as I walked her in.  Since it was summertime, I knew they wouldn't have pumpkin, but they did have spumoni, which is just as good.
"So," I said in between bites, "This clearly proves that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, doesn't it?"
She nodded, but said nothing.  I reached across the table, squeezing her hand comfortingly.  "Sorry for being a bitch, earlier.  I get that way when I freak out."
"I know, Lara."
"Ligeia," I gently reminded her.  "That's why I'm so pissy.  But it's a good thing.  Lara would've just passed out.  Ice cream helping?"
"A little."
"That was the goal.  Ice cream always has helped me with shock.  Why don't we just take a down day?"
"What about the mortals?"
"I don't give a fuck anymore, Mel.  Let's go relax."
I shadowed us to a park in town, and sat down on a bench overlooking the brook.  "I figured this was a place to start.  What do you want to do?"
"I have no idea. Have you gotten any leads?"
I grinned.  "Yes.  I've got a lead, and my own ulterior motive.  The blob man is fucked over.  What did he say about where he was taking Says and Kae?"
"That they'd be harder to find than the others.  Now answer my question.  What motive and what lead?"
"Larissa.  That's my motive.  And my lead is this." I pulled a golden-bronze necklace out from under my shirt.  In complex script, it had the word καλλιστι engraved.
"What the fuck is a necklace supposed to do?"
I laughed, and went into my full blown goddess form. I watched as my hair, normally black, went into a full dark navy blue.  My eyes were the same colour as the necklace on my chest.  I made myself my normal 5'5" height, and smiled at her.  "That."
"And that tells me what?"
"That we could go back to Florida at any time, and the peasants wouldn't die at the sight of me.  I'm only telling you because I know that you and your Greek counterpart are strong enough to keep the blob man out of your head.  Don't tell anyone, or we're fucked.  Trust me."
She looked almost apathetic.  "You know I won't tell the mortals shit."
I choked back a laugh.  "Fair point, now that Salem's missing."
I saw a flicker of emotion cross her face.  I reached out and touched her arm gently  "Hey, I'm upset, too.  I just have a fucked sense of humour."
"Oh, believe me, I know," she retorted. 
“Have you figured anything out?"
"I figured out that blob man is named Benjamin Zeal."
"Well okay then.  How does that help us?"
"He's a soulless shadow reaper."
"Oh, fuck.  Well, that's an interesting plot development."
"Yeah.  He's fucked up."
"Definitely.  Hey, other than the way he got a hold of you to tell you about Protista, did you get any other messages?"
"No.  You?"
"Nope.  You seem to be his favourite."
"Well that's reassuring."
"Hey Mel?"
"Hmm?"
"My mom mentioned time slipping away faster than we'd like.  What do you think that means?"
"I have no idea."
"Well Zeusy didn't mention a time limi-- gods above, I'm an egit!"
"What?"
I grinned wickedly.  "We have to pay a visit to Antevorta."
Changing back to my typically bearable mortal form of goddessness, I shadowed us back to Florida.  "Hey, idiots!  We're back!"
"What the fuck, Li--" Andy caught himself.  "Lara?  What's going on?"
Thankfully, nobody noticed what he'd said.  I gave him a warning glare.  "I swear if you fuck this up, Andreus," I hissed.
He pulled me in for a hug, knowing that that was my weakness with him.  "Guys, what’s wrong with you?  Something's clearly going on!  What happened, Lara?"
"We gotta go.  Get your shit, we're checking out."
They all gathered around.  "Well where are we going?"
"Prague, Czechia.  The Prague Orloj, to be exact."
I shadowed us there, and smiled.  Antevorta was there, waiting for us.  "Well hello there, Li--"
"Skip the fucking pleasantries, Antevorta.  I know you're not happy to see me."
She laughed.  "You are your mother's daughter."
"Damn straight I am."
"Come here, you and Melaena both."
"Okay." We slowly approached the lady.
"You," she started, pointing to me, "have a very complex future.  You both do.  Surprisingly, both pleasant.  But you aren't here for that, are you?"
"No.  Disc--Eris," I caught myself.  "Eris sent me.  I think she gave me a hint to come and--"
"Ah, Discordia.  She's a shifty one.  Yes, I remember now.  Yes.  This makes perfect sense."
"What makes sense, dammit!?"
"Take a moment, calm down."
But I couldn't calm down.  Not without Salem.  "Oh, for fuck's sake!"  We both yelled frustratedly.  "Just tell us!"
Her laughter filled the room.  I growled.  She looked to me.  "Fine.  If you must know.  To make any further progress, you must gain and lose friends in the time span of a week and a half.  But you must get them all back in time to prevail."
I wanted to scream.  I'd get Salem back, at least, but I was damn tired of losing people.
I turned to Mel.  "This entire quest is fucked."
"Yes, it is," she responded softly.
"What're we gonna tell the peasants?"
"I have no idea."
"Maybe you should start by telling them not to worry.  We're the only ones who haven't disappeared,"  Andy came up behind us.  "And it's hard enough to keep one god captive.  They probably wouldn't even think about taking you two."
I turned around to Andy sweeping me into a hug.  "It's okay, baby sister.  I'm okay with it."
"Fuck, Andy, I'm the same age as you."
"I know."
"Then why do you keep--"
He pulled me against him tighter.  "Shut the fuck up, would you?"
I submitted, squeezing him back.  "Do you want to?"
He pulled away, nodding slightly.  Andy didn't show fear well, and if that's what he needed, I'd do it for him.  I returned with him and Mel to the group.  We said nothing, and I shadowed us to the small bayfront town of Resolute, Canada.  What I wasn't expecting was for Malik to be there with his parents, ushering us in the door, almost like they were expecting us.