Invictus

Chapter 12

LIU

After Lyanna's stint with Ares, it was quite obvious that she was the leader. Workout went smoothly, Ares barking orders while rubbing the place Lyanna's axe struck. Artemis teased him about it.

When we finally finished, we were an exhausted heap of sweaty work clothes on the floor. The Deities commended us and bade us goodbye, hoping to see us the next day. Ares called us out by the nicknames he had given us.

Flame, Earthquake, Waterfall and Snowflake . That was me.

When they faded out, Khione padded over to us.

" you look beat" She started " but I'm proud of you. All of you."

Then she gave us a small hug and vanished.

"What was eating you?" April asked Lyanna.

"Nothing really, he just wasn't supposed to draw blood." She said, drawing flowers into the gym floor with her fingers "I pictured the enemy weapon and I just didn't know what I could do if any of you got hurt. "

She turned away. "I've never really been a friendly person, and you guys just accepted me. It means a lot, I would defend you with my life. Especially now we all have powers."

Denise placed a hand on her shoulder then hugged her, then she turned to us and said "Let's have an impromptu sleepover. Tonight"

"What?" I said.

"My place" She continued "you can go home in the morning if you like, or you can get dressed my place"

"Won't it be a crowd?" Lyanna said

"Obviously, you haven't seen my place" She said, "I have clothes I haven't even worn yet, right down to underwear "

I smiled, "yeah, sure. I'm so tired and your casa is close by"

April smiled and nodded, Lyanna picked up the bags.

"We going or nah?"

"Wait, what about Khione and Fireball? " I asked.

Lyanna thought for a while "these beings are connected to us, all we need to do is summon them. Besides they'll be fine. The dog is a walking flame and who knows how big my wolf is now."

We shuffled out and into the cars, the sun was going down and people were returning home from work.

Lyanna was asleep when we finally parked in Denise's garage. I tapped her and she stirred.

"We here?" She mumbled and  when I nodded, she climbed out of the car.

"So, one room or separate rooms?" Denise asked.

"It's not a sleepover if we have separate rooms" April said.

I pulled out my phone from my bag and a black envelope fell out.

"You got invited by the Hardin girl? " She asked, "I saw her give Lyanna that."

We got in, Denise dropped her keys in a bowl by the door.

Lyanna looked around, pokerfaced. Paintings and sculptures dotted the house, alongside potted plants.

Ceiling to floor curtains spanned the expanse of the living room with state of the art tech and catalogue worthy furniture.

I knew Denise was well to do, but not this well to do.

"Ah! Denise honey, you're back " A honeyed voice stopped us mid-living room , " You brought friends home'

She smiled widely, and met us by the tv, "and that Aimee girl isn't here. Good riddance. "

She smiled at me, " I never liked her"

"You all look hungry, let's eat first before you rest"

Lyanna smiled widely, dropping her bag on the couch and tagging along. We followed meekly, still looking around.

Lyanna established her place in Denise's mothers heart by helping her set out the plates. "So what are your names "

"I'm Lyanna Black" She said,

"What a pretty name" a pot was opened, something that had chicken was in it,

"I'm Liu" I said, sitting beside April, who introduced herself.

"Well, you can call me Mary" She beamed at us, then spotted Lyanna's tattoo.

We were treated to shredded chicken in tomato sauce and basmati rice. We ate in relative silence. Mrs.Rydal left the kitchen to us.

"So are we going for that party?" Denise said.

"Yeah, I guess. It's the first one I'm aware of " April said, picking the plates and heading for the sink.

"We should Ask Khione to come with us " I said,and Lyanna nodded.

After we cleaned up, we headed up to Denise's room which had a massive bed in the middle.

"We are gonna have to share that" She said, throwing nighties on the bed from a drawer "you guys can have the bathroom and shower"

April went in first, then Lyanna, Denise and finally me.

I stopped as I went in. The bathroom must've come straight out the pages of a catalogue. Pristine effects, a makeup mirror, a wall to floor mirror, a transparent bathtub and the shower.

I went for the shower, the thick glass shutting out the sounds, the warm water over my bare skin. 

When I got out, Lyanna was beside April in bed, Denise was towelling her hair. "I used another bath"

I slowly got dressed up, oblivious to the averted eyes

"I'm a nudist" I gave. Lyanna nodded, April threw a shirt at me, which I pulled on giggling.