Blooming Idolatry

Chase

I rubbed Enna's back and wiped my snot on the inside of my shirt.

"I'm sorry." I looked into her bloodshot eyes. My heart gave itself a squeeze knowing I'd caused her more trauma. "Apologies will never make the harm I caused you to go away, but I promise you I will do better." I kissed the crown of her head. My dark-haired terror. My name for her suited her more than I could have ever wanted.

Enna hugged me tighter in response to my words. It would take time for her to calm down. Time we do not have.

"My Enna, let's go find Kane and beat his ass." I'd been trying not to swear in front of Enna, but I could feel my walls fall away. The five-year-old had wormed her way into my heart.

As we walked hand in hand, I searched the floors for the rainbow-colored walking rope I'd had to lead my cult. I found it along with my cultists, inside the school cafeteria.

The open doors let out the smell of marinara sauce and corn. The children were downing cartons of chocolate milk with their cardboard pizza. Kane sat at the head of the table. Oliver saved seats for the girls. I nudged Ella and Enna to go sit with them. But not before I whispered reassurances into Enna's ear.

"Go get your belly full and you'll feel better," I promised Enna. "We'll find a place to sleep for the night." My cultists needed rest. I could feel it in the way the bond was faint. Unnoticeable unless I concentrated.

I took my seat next to Kane.

"You look rough." He side-eyed me. Handing me a slice of rectangle pizza, he leaned over the plastic laminate table top. "Whatever happened, you can vent to me. For the time being, we're allies." Kane's hand brushed mine as I took the pizza.

"I've got a problem with you Kane." I let loose a breath I never held. His nosey actions reminded me of a time before the Eclipse of Humanity. Before my brother ran the human race to near extinction, he was always asking me nosey questions over planning. Just like Kane.

"Mhmm." Kane hummed through a mouth full of corn. The food choices of modern schools are bizarre.

"We've taken three steps back instead of any forward. Your plan sucks."

He swallowed before speaking. "But it's the only plan we have. You're so ignorant about modern gods you couldn't come up with a better plan even if you tried." Another bite of corn. "Which you haven't."

"She seems to be targeting my cult, not unmarked children at the moment." My eyes flitted over to Emma's half flos divus. "I say we lure her out with them. What do children like to do as outings these days? The kids can have fun and be bait for Leta."

I noticed my check was cold and wet.  A shiver went through me as I felt the kernels of corn fall off my face. Searching the group of cultists, innocent brown eyes found mine.

My Enna has wonderful timing.