Lifelight: Calypso Returns

18.

She started training again, Lam still kicked her ass. Hawa had her for most of the day, preparing for the separation. Hera gained a new disdain for witchcraft in the week after announcing the date for her separation. She had moments of panic when she was alone. She knew what had to be done but the thought of it filled her with fear. She had trouble sleeping and it showed. She was much shorter with Lam and even Abu.

"Hera,stop!" Thur said.

She blinked and saw the hissing girl she had pinned to the floor. She saw frantic with fear, struggling against her hold. Hera let go and stepped away. The girl scrambled away but Hera kept staring at the same spot.

"I think we should stop there everyone." Thur said.

The solstice was eight weeks away and she was down to three hours of sleep. She was torn awake each night with the ugly but perfect demonic face that had come for her in Lithia. She had sworn Lam to secrecy about the nightmares but she knew that she was fraying at the edges.

"Hera, is there something you want to talk about?" Thur said.

"No."Hera said and walked to the door.

"You know after the solstice, you will still be here. That you are more than just a vessel."

"I know Thur, thanks."

Later that day, after apologizing to Turi - the girl she had pinned down,Hera set out to find Mika. She was in a different training gym than theirs dueling with Yuli. They were both so fast it looked like they were dancing. Her nose was bleeding and Yuli was limping but they did not slow down. Hera sat and watched.

Mika scaled up the bleachers to sit with her. "Hi, feeling better?"

"Yes."Hera said.

"What's up?" Mika said.

"I think I'm overdue for a night out. It's a little claustrophobic here."

"Meet me by the bike at midnight. Bring Lam."

She was ready for a night out. Lam was convinced that it was a good idea, Mika was on board, and there were no protests from Calypso.

"You can't leave the cottage." Thur said.

"No, we'll be careful. I need this Thur." Hera said.

"He's right, too many people know who you are." Kairu said.

Mika was dressed too and sulking on a sofa in the living room. Hera felt a lot angrier than was justifiable at being grounded.

Your guardians know better.

The voice only made her angrier. Everyone but her made her decisions. She was an adult, she could do whatever she wanted. But Hera was a pushover, she had always been a pushover.

She stormed out of the living room, stilettos and all, and escaped to the library. Khatya had also been maniacal about keeping her in Lithia. The tiny island was all she knew and all she had ever known before Kairu and Yuli came looking for her. She knew why now but it was still frustrating, there was always the assumption that she needed taking care of.

It was hours later that she found reason to step out of her frantic recollection. She had found a series of journals by a so-called Witches Council that had several entries on cloaking.

Of the many methods there are of cloaking a being or an object, none has the consistency or longevity of putrification. As the term suggests,when one desires to cloak that which holds a pure life light, they could place it within close quarters of a being whose soul harbors such darkness as would make the detection of the cloaked one extremely difficult.

So that was why her wonderful, intelligent, loving Aunt Khatya had kept her revolting uncle around. Hera felt immediate regret at the resentment that had built against her aunt as she got sicker but insisted that her uncle stay around.

Lam found her and sat by her,"They're right you know. You can't just walk into a crowded club."

"I know."

"How long ago did Iso and Gelife get married?" Hera asked.

"About 15 years, she'd been around longer though." Lam said.

"How bad was it?"

"Not too bad. The nobles love her obviously, and the people in the capital relate to her I guess."

"Yeah,everyone loves a fairy tale."

"The nymphs and witches were livid. My grandfather smacks me over the head every time I speak of her." Lam said, "How do you feel about her?"

"How do I vessel of Calypso feel about a half-demon half noble queen, specifically from the Rashilo family of traitors? I feel like I'm missing something."