The Trouble with Hades

Chapter 15

I laid on my back, staring at the bright blue sky. The grass was soft, but there was a twig digging into my back. Did I care? Yes, but I lacked the energy to deal with it.

Anzide interrupted my view of the blue and the white fluffy clouds, giving me a smirk.

"You're wiped."

"I'm always wiped. What's your point?"

"Grandma's on her way over."

He sat back on the grass next to me. As Anzide helped me sit up, Beatrice pulled back the material and gave me a smile.

"Wow, okay. I was going to ask that you pick up the parcel at the post office, but I guess not."

"I'll be fine. Just give me some time to recover."

"Well, it's almost five, so we don't have time. It's okay. I'll go."

"Is it the marquee?"

"Yeah, that's why they're not delivering it. They said it's too bulky for their poky van. Not sure how we're going to get it here."

"Maybe we should all go," Anzide suggested, rising to his feet. "Take both cars."

Helping me to my feet, Anzide held on. I could feel the giddiness and was grateful that he saw it.

"I know what's going to be said."

"It's fine. Once we've got the marquee set up, no one will see a thing."

Anzide held onto me as we emerged from the walled area and into the yard where I was exposed. It was just a few steps, but everyone agreed that it was too much.

Brad was standing at the doorway, shaded by the cover. There was a mighty frown on his face.

"We have discussed this, and we agree that you are risking too much by this kind of exposure."

"Well, we're about to fix that, so chill out."

Brad huffed and turned back into the caravan. Inside, I saw Niko at the table. It seemed to be his favorite place, but in reality, there wasn't much of a choice given how little space there was. I hoped that the marquee was large enough to give him a little more freedom.

"Okay, into the cars."

I was in the car with Beatrice in her alternative form while Brad drove Anzide in his car. If I weren't so tired, I might have been able to drive, but Brad was adamant that it wasn't happening. So, he risked the sunlight and drove to the post office.

We'd packed Brad's car as much as we could, then put the smaller items into Beatrice's car. Both were loaded, and the postal worker agreed to bring the rest of the items when he finished work in half an hour. We had the marquee pieces, so we would start setting it up when we returned to the property.

"Hey, look at that. It's Drakkus, and he clearly has no idea that we're here."

"He's distracted." I offered.

Anzide nodded and then grinned like he had a terrible idea.

"When Brad comes looking for me, tell him that I'm on a mission and will find my own way home."

Fading from sight, Anzide left me in the car. It wasn't for long. Brad opened the door and leaned down to look at me.

"Now, I thought that I saw Anzide in the car, but he's not here."

"He's somewhere over there near Drakkus and said to tell you that he's on a mission and will find his own way home."

"Alright."