Tainted Wings

Chapter Fourteen

Hekate and Marcia were right about one thing. Moro and Muninn were furious when they returned. It wasn't until morning when Hekate felt the anger boiling inside of her that wasn't her own.

What have you two done?

Pulling the pillow over her face to block the sunlight streaming from her window, Hekate groaned. "It wasn't on purpose. I already yelled at Marcia for it. Besides, did you even learn anything from those two?"

The anger within her did not subside.

They suggested we take you to them to be cleansed. There might be a way for them to remove the brand. But now that you've both been branded, I'm not sure.

Hekate threw the pillow on her face to the ground and stared at her ceiling fan. The movement hypnotized her, giving her the chance she needed to separate her emotions from Moro's. She wasn't happy about the situation either. "What's done is done, Moro. It was an accident. Now we just have to find a way to use this to our advantage."

Our advantage? How would this be useful?

Noticing the time, she pulled her legs out of bed, forcing the rest of her to get up. "I'm not sure. But we don't think War knows Marcia was branded. His focus is entirely on me. Maybe she could take him off guard. Problem is, we don't know how to find him."

I have a feeling that won't be a problem. Trouble seems to be attracted to you. He'll find you soon enough.

Cocking her head to the side, she raised her eyebrow in agreement. "True."

"Hekate! Are you awake? Get moving!" Her mother called from downstairs.

Hekate stuck her head out of her door. "Why aren't you at your office?"

Her mother peeked around the banister. "How are you supposed to get to school if I don't take you? You don't have a car anymore, remember?"

Resisting the urge to groan or roll her eyes, she simply replied, "Marcia is picking me up. You can go to work. Don't let me disrupt your schedule, Mom."

She moved to stand in full view. "Are you sure? I can take you easily. I already called my boss to let her know I was going to be late."

Hekate tried to give her mother a reassuring smile. "It's okay. I got it covered. Thank you, though."

Her mother thought about it for a moment as her lips pinched together. But as the time ticked away, she glanced at her watch in defeat. "All right. Be sure to ride home with her after your gymnastics meet."

"Will do! Have a good day!" Hekate said as she turned back towards her room.

"Crap," she mumbled.

What?

"I completely forgot we had a gymnastics meet tonight."

Will that be a problem?

Shaking her head, Hekate opened her dresser drawer to pull out the school uniform she hated. "No, not really. I just forgot about it. I would have rather gone demon hunting or something."

Not funny.

"I thought it was," she said as she changed.

How are you planning on getting to school?

Hekate reached for one of her old windbreakers in her closet and a pair of scissors. "The same way I got to the club."

You're being reckless.

"Everything I do is reckless."

Taking the scissors, she cut two long slits in to the back. When she was finished, she pulled her shirt over her head, but left it there instead of putting it on all the way. She slipped into the windbreaker, adjusting to make sure the the slits were in place before zipping it up. Once she was satisfied, she pulled her hair into a tight ponytail. Before she forgot, she reached for her bookbag and hooked it through her arms so it sat against her chest.