We Bent Fate

Chapter 7.

The Gods are standing against us. I fear a war is coming.

"Okay, then. But if hypnotizing didn't help, would those Oreo guys be helpful enough to reactivate Martha's memories? I doubt self defense techniques would overpower an army of Greek Gods standing against us." I said, my scalp prickling up in stress.

"Oneiroi." Lila corrected me, rolling her eyes. "I think until and unless we don't appease Hade's, we don't stand a chance to bring her memories again. But we can try."

"So how are we going to do that? Appease him?" I say. This is getting us nowhere. We are done for!

"We wait. Till one of the judges of the underworld himself comes for Martha, we need to wait. First Martha needs to prove herself worthy of her life and her true purpose to be revived, then only will she be allowed to gain her memories back. I think Minos would take the lead." Chloe says thoughtfully.

"And.." I hesitate, fearing the worst. "If she fails to prove herself, then?"

"Then she returns to the underworld." She says solemnly and I gulp a huge lump that had appeared in my throat. I try to breathe evenly but it feels like I had been running an endless marathon. I cannot breathe.

"What will they do to her? The judge?" My mind swam through the worst scenarios, like getting eaten by sea monsters, or sucked on by a vampire, fed on by a zombie, falling in a pit full of hot boiling lava that would melt you into liquid. My stomach turned at the thought and I suddenly wanted to puke.

"Don't worry. They are fine people. Very impartial. If they think that Martha is resourceful, they won't hurt her. There's a reason why they are the judges. They are bounded by the law. They won't harm her." Chloe said and I frowned at how calm she looked.

"Okay-" I began but Lila cut me off.

"Austin, I think that is enough information for you to carry out your self defense classes. She may not remember anything but she still is powerful enough. She is in her room and now everyday you will teach her to protect herself."

"Yeah..er..sure. I'll go talk to her."

I ran upstairs to her room and opened her door, revealing to myself a shirtless Martha trying to hook her bra.

I stand there frozen to position, "I-I am sorry. I should have knocked." I say, hurrying out of the door, shutting it behind me.

I hear a soft squeal of embarrassment at the other end of the wall and I shake my head, mentally cursing myself with an embarrassed smile on my face.

After a minute, I hear the door unlock and just to be sure, I knock. "Come in." Martha says in a small voice and I tell myself not to smile.

"Uh, hi. How are you?" I steal a glance of her face that was no less red than that of a shade of a tomato itself. She was now wearing a black sweater, a beanie and calf-length tights. She nods then turns away, kneeling down to pick up the black kitten.

"I am good." She says softly. "You are back."

"Yes, er... Your sisters told me that you haven't had any self defense classes. And, believe me or not, but these do come in handy. I am not going to be always around to protect you, Martha. To protect yourself, you need practices. Although you don't need many...but-"

"Okay." She mewled and dropped to bed. Lulu played in her lap, its paws nailing Martha's socks. Martha was not even looking at me. She didn't look fine. Maybe something is bothering her.

"Is something wrong, sweetheart?" I come near her and she doesn't answer for a minute. I come closer and sit next to her on the bed. Lulu stretches itself in Martha's lap as I pet it with my fingers and Martha looks into my eyes.

"I don't know Austin. But I have a hunch that something is wrong. I have a feeling that you all are hiding something from me." She says then sigh, momentarily closing her eyes as if in frustration. A cute frown emerges from a 'v' on her forehead.

"No. We-we are not hiding anything. Why would you think that?" I ask her, feeling flustered.

"It is not just that." She shakes her head. "I keep getting weird dreams about a huntress and her mortal lover, and every time I dream, the story about them continues from where I had last left it."

I don't say anything. It has to be something to do with the Oreino- whatever their name is. And, I am certainly not going to tell her about it.

"I think I have seen her before. The huntress. Every time I see her, I feel fearful." She says and then picks up Lulu in her hands, hugging her. I feel myself wanting to remove Lulu from her hug and make her hold me instead, but I don't move. "Anyway, it is just a dream, right?" She smiles.

A pause, and I say, "Yeah. Of-Of course, it is just a dream. Don't worry about it." I try to let out a laugh.

"What were you saying about the self defense? When are we starting?"

"Whenever you say. We'd practicing hand-to-hand combat." I say. Because that is what all I know in the name of self defense. "And then, if your sisters allow, I can teach you to use guns as well."

"Guns?" Her eyes widened.

"Yes, my Dad was in the force." I said, nodding.

"Oh...sorry." She cat her eyes down and I realize what she is thinking.

"No no. I mean, he is retired now. He doesn't work anymore." I say and her mouth turns into a cute 'O' shape. Lulu looks at her and then holds it paw out to me. I hold the paw and Lulu jumps on my lap then puts a paw on my nose. I laugh.

"She likes you." Martha gushes with admiration in her eyes. I grin at her.

"She does?" I wiggle my eyebrows with a tease and she bites her lower lip.

"Yes, I think so." Our toes touch and Lulu meows, its paws touching its small triangle face as if it is shy. Martha and I share a look as my hands release the cat and I reach for her waist.

"Come on." I lean closer to her. "Let's fight."