Deadly Secrets

Chapter 24

         I sat next to Bryn upon entering my psychology class. She turned to me with curious and eager eyes. “So he told her?” My grin spread out over my face.

“Not in so many words. He kind of let it slip that he thought she was beautiful.” Bryn raised her eyebrows. “Yeah, and I kind of excused myself before I got any more details.” She smacked my arm, “Ow!”

“Why’d you do that? We’ve been waiting for this moment for like, ever! Now we don’t get any of the juicy details.” I gave her a look,

“What juicy details? You know your brother, after a few minutes he probably backpedaled so hard he fell over.” She sighed exasperated, knowing I was right. “Besides, as much as I wish they would quit this dance they do around each other, I’m worried about what would happen if they got together.”

“You mean like would they still include us or are you worried about a fallout?” I might be worried about both. I sigh and shake my head. I really shouldn’t be worrying about this, they’ve gone this long without admitting how they feel. Thinking back to that look on Kale’s face though, I wonder. That look clearly showed he wasn’t going to back down. Not going to back down…I felt my muscles tense all of a sudden. No, this is not some weird alpha thing. I transform into a panther, not a wolf. There is no problem with authority…right? I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts.

“This is between them, if they want us to know, they will tell us.” Bryn’s face fell.

“Yeah, if either of them talk to me again.” I felt sorry for Bryn. Yes, what she did was shitty on all counts. You can’t help who you like though, it’s like a genetic pull that you can’t abstain from.

“I’m sure they will, just apologize.” I put my hand on hers and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“I don’t understand how you’re being so forgiving, I was awful. I don’t mean to be, its just when Jason comes around, it’s like my brain just flies the coop.” Well I have no right judge seeing as I’m of two minds as of late.

“Bryn, I’m not saying I’m okay with how that unfolded. But I know how much you like him, I just wish you would understand that maybe, Jason just isn’t worth all of this.” Her face twisted like she was in pain.

“And is Tristan worth it?” I looked at her startled and then quickly glanced away. I don’t know what Tristan is worth to me. He is the only one who is offering me any sort of comfort through this whole mess. But if I was honest about all this with my friends, I’d like to think they would to. Then there is the issue with the people who are after us. It’s not like I could turn a blind eye to this threat. It’s better if we’re together. I’m looking at him objectively though. I shouldn’t lie to myself and pretend there is nothing more between us than a common ancestry and threat. I bit my lip.

“I honestly don’t know Bryn, I just met him really.” I looked her in the eyes, “But I think I owe it to myself to see if he is worth the risk. I have never felt as drawn to a person as him.” She looked at me for a moment then smiled.

“You are hopeless.” Just then the teacher walked in, ready to begin class.

“Perhaps, but that’s probably why we’re friends.” She smiled and turned towards the front. I tried paying attention to the class, but my mind kept going back to that feeling from earlier. Why am I stressing? I do not have some weird alpha dog complex.

Perhaps.

I blink at the sound of Mao’s voice. What do you mean perhaps? I get that I’m territorial, I guess, from the previous incident. That doesn’t mean I feel the need to be the center of everyone’s universe.

If we simply look at you from a pure animalistic stand point then the answer could be more quickly determined.

I rolled my eyes. Okay fine, purely looking at me from a strict view of a panther, what is your conclusion?

Panthers are solitary creatures. They tend to only come in contact with other panthers during mating season.

Okay, so this isn’t a panther thing, but a you thing.

I don’t know if I like that you just associated me next to the word thing.

Gosh, well aren’t we being sensitive today. I tap my pencil against my cheek and think back to my research. You were primarily known as the protector right?

That is correct. I am the protector, the guardian of the two lands. I neither enforce, nor do I punish.

Well why not, you’re a daughter of Ra right? You saying you never got your hands dirty?

I never said that. I went into countless battles. When it came to humans however I was not a soldier. To them I was not depcited as a goddess of war, but one of protection. Instead of protecting them as weapon, I was their shield.

Well if you only were seen as someone who protects humans, then someone would have to be, uh, the enforcer? Wait, what about Sekhmet? Wasn’t she supposed to be the other side of your metaphorical coin?

Humph.

Uh, Mao?

That comparison is tiring. All history ever remembers of me is ‘much like Sekhmet’.

Are you…are you pouting?

No.

And here I thought you just didn’t get along with Ptah. Wasn’t Sekhmet like your sister though?

A lot of Gods and Goddesses are considered my brothers and sisters. Sekhmet was simply one that shared  a few similarities with me.

She shared a lot of similarities with you if I remember correctly.

Well to quote from one in your day in age, she was a pain in my ass, let’s leave it at that.

A small giggled erupted from me, I struggled to swallow it down. Bryn looked at me confused but I just shook my head. I bit my lip and told myself to calm down. I don’t understand how you can detest someone so similar to you Mao.

A number of reasons. One happened to be she had an affair with my husband.

The Roman?

No, Ptah.

My pencil slipped through my fingers and bounced on my desk. That son of a bitch.

So I want to dedicate this chapter to DustyJane. I really do love when people tell me they wish to continue reading my story, it motivates me to keep going. I hope you like this chapter and I hope to post another one soon so keep voting and commenting, it lets me know people are still reading :)