Tainted Wings

Chapter Six

Hekate stood in her driveway as the sky darkened. Her shirt was shredded, leaving nothing to the imagination from the attack. Her jeans were dirty from rolling on the ground. Even her hands were covered in small little cuts and scrapes from the fight. Marcia's hoodie was baggy, allowing Hekate to hide the mess she had become from the events of the afternoon.

Marcia noticed Hekate as she stood next to the car, unmoving. Climbing out, she quietly shut her door and moved to stand beside her best friend. She said nothing and only stood there.

It wasn't long before the light from the kitchen illuminated the hallway leading to the front door as twilight set in. Both could see the shadows from the movement as her mother cooked dinner. It hurried around before disappearing deeper into the kitchen. 

"Thanks for the ride home," she said before pulling at the hoodie's strings. "And the clothes."

Marcia tried to smile reassuringly. "No problem. Are you going to be okay?"

Hekate's expression was solemn. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the cold feeling surrounding the deaths of the day. Two men had died by her hand in one day. If this continued, the body count would reach into the double digits and soon.

The air was heavy as they stood together, waiting. Finally, Marcia nudged Hekate with her shoulder. "Come on. Cheer up, or else you'll get caught. Your mom can smell bull from a mile away."

Hekate's head tilted sideways as her eyebrows raised. "Usually, yes she can. But I'm getting better at hiding things. I have to be."

Lifting her hand, she pointed at Hekate's expression. "Then fix that before you walk in."

Sighing, Hekate raised her lips into a smile. "How's that?"

"Hm," Marcia grunted. "You have some work to do. Seriously. Fix your face before you go inside."

Rolling her eyes, Hekate took a step forward. "Fine. I'll see you later."

Marcia waved and walked back to the driver's side of the car. "Remember! Smile like you mean it!

Standing on her porch, Hekate took one more deep breath. She forced back the memories of the day, felt the edge of her lips rise, and opened the door.

"I'm home," she called.

Her mother's head peeked from the edge of the door. She was standing in front of the stove. "How was your day with Marcia?"

Her bag hit the bottom of the staircase, leaving behind the traces of the day with the journal hidden within. "It was all right. Marcia kept flirting with Erik the whole time. It was nauseating."

Laughing, her mother set a tray of fried chicken onto the counter with some macaroni and green beans. "One day, you're going to find a boy that you like and you'll be just as gross. Or a girl! I don't judge. I approve of any lifestyle."

"Shut up," Hekate said, instantly wanting to change the subject, "You cooked dinner?"

"We lucked out I had some spare time this afternoon. I was able to make one of my famous homemade dinners. Thought I'd spoil you some after you did so well at the gymnastics meet!" she exclaimed.

Hekate found the reason for her mother's fancy cooking ironic. Her mother was trying to do something nice, something to show she really cared about the gymnastics meet and her daughter's efforts. But as Hekate sat on the barstool behind the counter, it felt wrong. Kill a demon, earn a chicken wing. A human died too? Add some of your favorite macaroni to the plate, you rock star.

Bile began to rise to her throat.

Do not continue to punish yourself.

The brand on her chest suddenly began to itch. She reached between bites of green beans to scratch it. She wouldn't touch it directly. Not with her mother sitting just across from her. Instead, she scratched the outside of the hoodie, making sure to continue smiling and responding to any questions thrown her way.