Interstellar Ross

Chapter 7 Catching Up

Witch Pocket Realm

Month of the Hare

"I'm fine waiting here." Dimitri's voice woke me, though I kept my eyes closed.

"You need to sleep; I can watch by her." Bryn offered.

"No." Dimitri refused. "You didn't see the look on her face. I'd never seen her look so terrified."

"She's hardly fragile. She's strong enough to not need you doting by her side."

"I don't care." Dimitri's stance remained firm.

I waited until Bryn's footsteps retreated from the room before opening my eyes to the light of day.

"You know when I said that it couldn't be any worse than the Human Realm? I take that back." I spoke raspingly, my throat dry and body weak.

"How are you feeling?" Dimitri initially reached for my hand before pulling back, perhaps recalling what had happened the last time he had tried to touch me.

"Like horse shit." I remarked in a tone as dry as my tongue.

"Would you like some water?" He held out a glass.

I nodded and tried to push myself up. Dimitri helped by propping myself up a little with some pillows and holding the glass for me to drink from.

"Thanks."

"It's no problem." He sat the glass down before meeting my eyes with an intent look. "Do I want to know what you saw?"

I smiled but it held no warmth. "I don't think so."

"So the solution worked a little? Did you remember anything important?" He questioned.

I looked out the porthole window that gave view to the grassy fields before me. "I remembered the earliest memories." I revealed. "I really am a Goddess."

"Queen of the Underworld?"

"Yeah." I affirmed. "It doesn't look like how you might think it would."

"In what way?"

"It's beautiful." I reflected, seeing the landscape clearly behind my eyes. "Jutting mountain ranges, violet skies, bioluminescent plant life and clear water."

"Sounds like paradise." Dimitri smirked and dimples pierced his cheeks.

Images of Nergal staining the polished marble floors red and Inanna goading me resurfaced.

"I guess." I dropped my gaze to my hands, noting my chipped nails.

"Circe had to give you the rest of the solution, seeing as letting your memories return bit by bit wasn't going to work." He informed. "She thinks that a way to help let the memories just flow out easily would be to train with Bryn, Tiberius and I, because you've fought a lot in your life and might help you gain control of your own mind."

"I would say it couldn't hurt." I huffed. "But I think it could."

"Look, there's a lot of people out there who want you dead." He softened his tone. "People who still remember you. If you have any hope of surviving you need to be able to remember who wants you dead, you need to be able to fight back."

"Tell me, was I a badass at fightin'?"

Dimitri grinned. "You were the very definition of a badass. You taught all of us how to fight."

"So if I remember everythin', I get to go out and kick some arse?" I asked.

"Major arse."

"I'm so in." I moved to try and stand.