Children of the Lost Ruler- Ghost Goddesses Book One

I Nearly Avoid Getting Skinned Alive At The Hands Of Mortals

Everything went silent except for the waves on the beach, and the birds in the air.  I let out the breath I was holding in, and slammed my pistol into Mars' temple, knocking him unconscious.
Salem came up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder.  I turned to look at him.  He winked, signaling to me that he was faking shock.  Annabeth was the one who broke the silence.
"What did he call you?"
I sighed, muttering "the world is fucked," before answering her.  "Ligeia.  He called me Ligeia."
"Why?" Nico asked, following Salem's example.
I shrugged, trying to pass it off.  "Maybe he had me confused for someone else?"
Frank shook his head.  "He's a god, how could that be possible?"
Sale wrapped me in a hug from behind.  "Hang on, now.  It's perfectly possible to get people confused.  Everybody has a look-alike."
Percy shook his head in disbelief.  "Frank's right.  A god wouldn't make that mistake." He stepped forward, pulling out Riptide.  "Who are you?"
I smiled softly.  "As of right now?  Ligeia A. Nayeli."
"Where's Laraline?" Will followed.
I tapped my temple.  "Oh, you mean the bitch in the back of my head?  Right in here."
They all froze up for a second.  Salem turned to face me, feigned betrayal on his face.  "Why?  How?"
I faltered.  Damn, he was good.  I felt as though I was actually hurting him.  I covered us both in shadows, and stumbled into his arms.  He stroked my hair softly before letting out a small, strangled gasp.  "Geia, you're hurt!"
I pulled away, realising the pain in my left calf.  "Fuck!  There's no way of hiding it anymore, I guess.  If they see the ichor seeping through my jeans, they'll put two and two together before I have a chance to explain, and then they'll try their damndest to kill me," I ranted, frantically.
Salem steadied me by placing his arms on my shoulders and drawing me in for a kiss.  "Stop.  Breathe.  Calm down.  This is no different from you telling Nico last month.  Just breathe, Ligeia.  I'm right here.  I'm faking it for them, but I'm here for you."  He pulled me against his chest.  "Breathe."
I obliged, pulling away and wiping my tears.  "Thanks, Salem."
He flashed me a smile before composing his face into twisted despondency and disappointment.  The shadows dissipated around us as I let a stray tear slide down my face.  "I'm going to say this once.  You're going to let me explain, and then I'll answer questions.  Got it?"
Piper decided against that.  "No.  You'll tell us, and answer our questions all at the same time."  Her voice was so heavy with charmspeak that the other's mouths opened to speak, and Salem's facade almost dropped.  Damn.  He was really fucking good! Thankfully, Piper's eyes were trained on me.
I grinned savagely.  "Actually, Piper, we'll do it my way, okay?" My voice was sickeningly sweet as I said it, causing her charmspeak to lose its effects, and the others were able to comprehend my last sentence.  They all stood in shock, even Salem.  I just grinned wider.  "You heard me.  Get off your fucking power trip and listen to what I say!"
"And if we don't want to?" Jason asked, trying to sound defiant.
"Simple.  You'll regret it."  I looked to see Andy's reaction when I answered.  He looked scared.  He knew I wasn't fucking with them.  "As I've said, my name, as of this moment, is Ligeia A. Nephus.  My mother is Discordia, goddess of, well, discord.  My father--"
"We know your name and parentage, Laraline,"  Anna cut me off.  "Your father's name is Valdis Niobe."
I let out a harsh laugh.  "No.  He’s not my real father.  That was the story my mother used for me when I came to camp.  My father is Pluto, and I think you know about him.  And please, don't call me Laraline.  That's my Greek name, and I am not Greek as of this moment."
They all stood in silence for a glorious moment before rushing at me, weapons drawn.  I shadowed Salem and I away quickly, placing us next to Andy.  "First of all," I yelled across the beach.  "Don't hurt my boyfriend.  Second, you do know that none of you can kill me, right?  It takes a god to kill a god."
They weren't quite sure what to say to that, so I continued.  "Hey, now you all know, anyways, so it doesn't really matter!"
Annabeth recovered quickly.  "What do you mean ‘you all know’?"
I smiled.  "All of you.  Implying that everyone is now aware that I am a goddess.  Not just some of you."
The idiots who'd just found out looked pissed.  I almost laughed.  "You mean to tell me?" Percy asked, uncharacteristic anger seeping into his voice.
I nodded enthusiastically.  "Yep."
"Who?"
"I vote show of hands!"
Instantly, smiles spreading across their faces, Andy, Harper, Nico, Hazel, and Salem's hands shot up into the air.  Sparky stepped forward angrily, but before we could say anything, Kae showed up, holding a very, erm, not fully with it, Mel.  Grateful for the distraction, I rushed towards the two of them.  "What in the fucking names of the gods happened to her?!  She's never tired!"
He smiled somewhat grimly.  "She overexerted herself; she just needs to rest."
I gave him a glare that told him that we'd be discussing this later, but decided to shadow us to a hotel in Baltimore.
"Geia, we could--" Harper started.
"No, trust me.  Too many people." I walked up to the front desk.  "Hi there! I need to reserve the two-room wedding suite, and six regular rooms, please."
She looked bored.  "Sorry, ma'am, you have to reserve a week ahead."
I pulled out my bag of drachmas and placed it on the desk.  "Does a hundred sound good to you? Or do you need more?  Look, I can get more, but I'm sure Zeus would be upset if you didn't let world saving questers stay here on a budget."
Her face changed completely.  "Here you are, ma'am. Enjoy your stay!"
"Oh, I will." I silently distributed the keys to the mortals, pairing couples together, and playing matchmaker with Andy and Harper.  Leo decided to stay in the only three-bedded room with Jason and Piper.  I passed one of the suite keys to Kae.  "You're with her.  Take care of the both of you, okay?"
He nodded.  "Thanks."
"Yep."  I took Salem by the hand and shadowed us up to our room.
Kissing him lightly on the lips, I opened the door of the grand room.  "Whaddya say we order ourselves some room service and end this shitty day on a high note?"
He grinned, kissing me deeply.  "That sounds perfect, Ligeia.  Absolutely perfect."