Good Gods

Chapter 21

My mom.

The world as we know it has ended, there is a war for control of the earth raging all around me, and despite any logic, I can understand, I've got my mother on the phone.

Rip's horse rears into the air, its hooves send up clumps of soil flying.

"I warned you." He bestows me with his pissy-face. His black robes blow like storm clouds around his body. He's transformed from his European model visual and gone all skeleton-ish again. Not judging, but normally Rip's fashion is above the bones look.

"You answered her call, she's all yours." His horse dances in a circle and Rip steers its head so he can again face me. The animal swishes its tail. "Remember, before you pass judgment—seek Roman." Rip's tone is dark, dripping with foreboding. I quiver. Funny how death's words can have that effect on a person. Then he, and his ultra-creepy horse, thunder up into the clouds, and it's me, my flower-cased phone with my mother on the other end.

While this may seem like a tad overdramatic, I think I preferred Death's presence to that of talking to my mom.

"I'm almost there darling," she says over the speakers. "I can see you on the hill."

Huh? I glance up and see a black-winged horse flapping towards me from the south. Upon the dark beasts back, I see my mom's golden locks and black hair of my half-sister, Dee entwined in the breeze. While Rip and his creature, thinking to call that thing a horse isn't fair to the equine species, moved like they were connected in a fluid line, my mom and sister ride more like unequal pistons ready to spring off at any moment. It's a gangly ugly sight, and on this, I'm blaming the riders versus the animal. I rub my bruised ass. Guess horsemanship isn't in our blood.

The massive horse they're riding lands with a flourish of its wings, and with long strides, it gallops with the sound of thunder over to where I stand. For my part in this, let-me-just-say, I'm speechless. Also, I'm impressed my mom and half-sibling have remained astride against their obvious poor equestrian-ship.

"Quick," my mom says. "Jump onto your brother and let's get out of here."

My mother and half-sister are riding a winged horse. My mom can call me on my dead phone, and by doing she can also find me? Wait a sec, did she say what I thought she said? I blink at the black haired animal who is staring quite deliberately at me while pawing the ground.

The creature eyes are red-rimmed filled with raging fire. The animal appears pissed. I understand, my mom's been riding my back since I was born, in a different sort of way, it jerks me off too.

"My brother, your half-brother." Dee clarifies in her typical snotty tone.

I have a half-brother who's a horse? What did my mom do that my brother is a horse? Oh wait, I never what the answer to that question. Ever.

I tilt my head in my mom's direction. She's all done up in flowing white robes, gold-belt and gold loral-leaf crown. Picture the textbook Greek goddess that would be my mom. My half-sister Dee's not far off with wearing a toga that is dark brown.

I'd heard that figuring out one's whole life is a lie can be physically devastating. Let me confirm this statement. I want to be sick, right here, on the grass. The urge to vomit has nearly brought me to my knees. Hopefully, some of it will hit my half-sister who's bestowing me with a very condescending smile.

"You're a goddess too?" I question her.

If I got a do-over, I may have preferred to say something more intelligent, witty, or cleaver. Stating the obvious is about the best I'm up for.