The Forgotten Witch

26 ~ Lexi

* Mature Content *

Lexi had never seen Hades so rattled. Melinoe had gotten inside his head. Was that her plan all along? Was Hades her intended target and not Lexi? He had made two visits to Melinoe's place in the past twenty-four hours. She was probably on cloud nine, the scheming witch.

Hades made it clear that everyone was to stay in their rooms while he was gone. This meant the nymphs were unavailable as they hunkered down in their bedchamber behind the main staircase, while Lexi entertained the children in her bedroom. The twins were given permission to sleep in the oversized fireplace chairs, but nobody was sleeping. They were all discussing the palace ghost.

After helping his father chase the wily spirit around all day, Ely was especially determined to see that justice was served, and he looked the part of a Jedi Knight, marching across the hearth in his Star Wars pajamas. "I saw him inside the stable and Daddy rooted him out," he said as he swung his sword back and forth, taking care not to disturb the knick-knacks on the mantle.

Lexi observed from the bed, where she had laid out a baby blanket and was playing with Juniper's toes. "How did he do that?" she asked.

"He smacked the sash on the stable door – Whap!" As Ely shouted, he sliced the air. "That scared the snot out of the horses, but the ghost got scared too. He shot through the roof like lightning."

"He isn't a ghost, Ely. He's a spirit," Elm corrected him. "A bad spirit."

"I know. Daddy might banish him to Tartarus," Ely said confidently.

"I don't think he will take things that far," Lexi told them. "Melinoe is going to banish the spirit. Probably with magic."

"Can we watch?" Ely asked.

"If it's safe for you to watch, I don't see why you couldn't."

"I don't want to watch," Elm said. She didn't look up from her chair, giving Lexi a chance to watch her. She had spent most of the hour clutching her favorite stuffed animal, a black cat named Raven. Lexi had seen Elm speaking covertly to her feline friend, a game Lexi used to play with her rabbit, Peter, whenever situations got sticky.

"Your grace, we have a problem." Fiona's voice echoed up the speaking tube, and everyone stopped what they were doing to look at it.

"What's the problem? Is it Josef?" Lexi asked.

"We haven't seen him, but he was able to lock us in our bedchamber. Lacy heard something at the door, and when she tried the handle, it wouldn't turn."

"Sounds like he's up to something. I'll come down and see if I can set you free."

"No, your grace. Leave us be. I don't want Hades upset with me for putting you in danger."

"What danger will I be in? I am a goddess. I don't need weaponry to protect myself."

The handle of Lexi's chamber door suddenly turned. First one way then the other, clicking softly as if someone was trying to enter quietly.

"What's happening, momma?" Ely bolted away from the hearth and climbed onto the bed, holding his sword to his chest.

"I don't know, but I'm going find out. Will you stay with Juniper?"

He nodded as Lexi left the protection of the four-poster bed. She tried to look confident for her children, but she had a bad feeling about the way events were unfolding. If Josef was desperate, she needed to be ready for anything. As she reached the door, she hesitated, imagining Josef on the other side. She sensed his presence, that slight pull in her belly. It felt stronger than before, and she pursed her lips determinedly as she tested the knob. It was stuck in one position, as if the mechanism had been welded in place.