The Stolen Jewel of Hecate

Chapter 21

I was walking home and all I could think about was and what Logan said. 'You deserve better and I want to be the one to give you better' was ringing in my ears and I couldn't stop hearing his soothing voice in my head and not wanting to melt. 'I don't like him' was all I kept telling myself. It's probably just a phase. I'll get over it, right? I thought this was the time to tell Hephaestus the new ground rules with my parents home, this will hopefully get Logan off my brain. "OK Hephaestus, with my parents home there are going to be new ground rules," I said firmly and all I hear is a groan. "No bellyaching. Number one, you do not leave the backpack unless I say so. Number two, you now sleep in the closet, but I will put a pillow in there for you. Number three, you eat at the next given times. While I'm walking to the bus stop and/or on the bus, that is your breakfast time, but it better be quiet. Also, you eat lunch in my backpack during my lunch break, but you are waiting 'till I get to an empty classroom. Dinner is different, you eat dinner in the closet after my parents go to bed. Lastly, you need to keep the noise to a minimum. I don't want my parents hearing strange noises and getting suspicious. Do I make myself clear?" I asked. I bet I looked slightly weird talking to thin air because Hephaestus was in my bag. "Kid, relax. I have been doing this for a long time. I'm basically an expert. I think I can handle being inconspicuous," He said in a bored tone. I am at my front door, but when I go for the door handle the door opens revealing my very excited Mother and Father. "Sam! We are so happy to see you! How's school going?" Mom asked while giving me a warm bear hug along with Dad. "It's fine. A few weird things but nothing alarming. How was your trip?" I asked and my parents smiled at one another. " We got the business deal sealed and we couldn't be happier," Mom said. " We have been working on this deal for a few months now and it is great to see all the hard work is paying off," Dad piped in. I smiled at them and they gave me a giant smirk. "What's the smirk for?" I asked with a head tilt. They looked at each other and got a long box off the table. "I didn't lie when I said we might have something for you," Mom said. I eagerly grabbed the box from their hands and ripped off the lid. It was a new pair of drumsticks and they were signed by one of my favourite drummers. "Another reason we were happy to go on this trip was because we knew one of your favourite drummers was in Detroit doing a meet up along with the rest of the band. Do you like them?" My Dad asked and I nod my head still in awe of the sticks. I give my parents another huge hug. "Thank you!" I basically shouted and my parents giggled. "You also said you had some news for me?" I asked, not wanting the surprises to stop. "Well while we were in Detroit we got a call from Alec," Dad said and I was worried. My brother normally calls when there is a problem. What happened? Is he hurt? "What happened? Is he OK?" I asked worriedly and my parents laughed. "Of course he's OK. He actually called with good news," Dad said. That filed my head in confusion. "Your brother is actually coming home!" Mom yelled. Wait what. I love my brother to bits, unlike most siblings, but how am I supposed to transform if I'm home? I put on a somewhat fake smile. "That's amazing but how? He has another year to go before graduating," I said confused. "He is transferring to a college close to home so he can move back in. He said he missed you and thought about you being home by yourself," my parents said with a fake babyish voice and we laughed. " Well, that is awesome. When is he gonna be here?" I asked excitedly. Dad looked at his watch and looked like he was thinking "Say three hours. Around there."Dad said and Mom nodded in agreement. I have got to tell Hephaestus. "Well, I'll be right back. I just got to have a shower real quick," I say as I start running up the stairs with my new drum sticks in hand. I got to my room and put my drums sticks on my bed then ran to the bathroom. I shut the door and turned on the shower. I take my backpack off my back and see Hephaestus out cold. "Did you not hear the news? This could put us in danger," I whisper shouted. Hephaestus yawns as if he didn't hear what I said. "Did you not hear what I said? This is horrible," I said with concern. "Relax, I bet your brother isn't going to notice," Hephaestus said calmly. How can he be this calm? I get he has done this before but still. "What if Alec finds you? Then what? I'll actually have to give you up," I said sadly and Hephaestus smirked. What is so funny? "What?" I asked, agitated. "So you admit I was right about you liking this after a while?" He said and I facepalmed. He does know there are more important things to deal with besides who was right about what. I sigh and he laughs. "OK, who cares who is right about what we have a problem," I say waving my hands around like a lunatic. "Relax, you're making more problems than necessary. There are loads of people at your school and you don't see that as a problem. So what's the difference with one extra person at home?" He asked with a raised brow. He did have a point. I'll give him that. " I guess you have a point, but I think it's just riskier," I say with worry and Hephaestus shakes his head. "Just relax. You worry too much," he says and I sigh. Why does everyone see that as a bad thing? I finish 'showering' and leave the bathroom with my backpack, with Hephaestus inside. I reach my room and shut the door. I put my backpack in the closet and I was about to shut the door before Hephaestus piped on. "You were serious about the closet thing?" He asked and I nodded. "It's safer," I say and he mumbles something under his breath, probably about how he shouldn't have to hide in the closet. I headed back downstairs to see my parents watching T.V, and they were watching all the news they missed and I didn't want to believe what was on. They were watching all the battles that have started and they were shocked. It showed all the beasts we beat, all the interviews and my alter ego self. "Sam, how could you not tell us about all this danger? You could have easily been hurt with all this battling nonsense. Maybe me and your father shouldn't leave on Monday and stay home with you and Alec," Mom said and my blood went cold. They can't stay. They will most likely want me home for battles and that doesn't exactly work, I can't just split myself in half. "You don't need to do that. I always come home to be safe. You don't need to worry. Your work is more important than your worrying. Nothing is going to happen to me or Alec. I promise," I say with a fake smile. They look at each other with worry clear across their faces. " I'm not so sure Sam, how can I be sure you are safe?" Dad asked with his arms crossed. This wasn't working the way I hoped. " I-uh- could call you. How about after every battle I call you to check-in and say I'm OK? You can go back to work and not have to worry about us," I say with a triumph smile. My parents looked like they were considering it. "How about me and your father talk about it, and we will give you an answer before we leave?" Mom asked and I nodded in approval. I give my parents another giant hug before going to the kitchen to find a snack. A bit for me to eat, and a bit just in case Hephaestus wants some too. "I'll be upstairs if you need anything," I say rushing up the stairs with my crackers in hand. I get to my room and shut the door, and when I turn around I see Hephaestus once again going through my phone. " You do know I placed rules for you for a reason? What if it wasn't me coming through that door?" I asked annoyed with my arms crossed, and Hephaestus laughed. "Relax, I knew it was you, remember, I can hear what you're saying," He said in a 'duh' tone and I rolled my eyes. " Do you want some?" I asked him to hold up the crackers and he eagerly nodded. We both are sitting on my bed with him still in his tiny form, eating crackers, and watching videos on the internet when my phone gives off a ding. It was a text from Ellie.

Hey. So I'm once again sorry for not coming back to class. I was too shaken up. Anyway he said yes and he is bringing a friend to be your date. It's on Tuesday at 6:30 in the park. Don't be late :)

Well, I text her back with an 'OK' and I go back to watching videos. " Who was that?" Hephaestus asked with a smirk and I rolled my eyes. That's becoming a habit with him around. "It was just Ellie. She said our double date is Tu-" " Whoa, double date, as in you're going too? I thought you hated that kind of thing," He says with a laugh. " Do you want me to strictly follow the rules and put you in the closet?" I asked and he shook his head. That's what I thought. "Also, yes double date, and yes I'm going. Ellie didn't want to go alone and didn't want me to go be the third wheel so she got Steven to bring a friend. Don't get too excited because I don't want to go," I say with a huff and Hephaestus laughs. " Didn't you hear her say that?" I asked with a questioning look. " I was sleeping. It gets boring in that backpack of yours you know," He said with a laugh and I joined him. " So what are you gonna wear? You can't just show up in a hoodie and sweatpants," He asked with a raised brow. "Why not? We are all friends, who cares?" I asked and Hephaestus facepalmed. What? It's true. We have been friends for a very long time. It's not like we care about what the other wears. "Friends or not it's still a date. Besides you will be so underdressed, you will stick out like a sore thumb. Let's look at your closet, let's see what you got," Hephaestus said jumping off my bed still in his tiny form. I sigh and roll my eyes, but reluctantly follow. He grows in size and opens the closet and shakes his head. "Do you ever go out?" He asked with sarcasm. He is going through my clothes saying 'no' and 'not appropriate' like he was a fashion expert. He eventually pulls out a few nice pairs of jeans, a few nice long sleeve shirts, a few T-shirts, and he gets out some black pairs of shorts. He takes items from the different piles and puts them into outfits. "OK try this on first. This should bring out your hourglass figure more," Hephaestus says handing me a pair of high waisted, light blue jeans with a black long sleeve shirt. I go to change, but Hephaestus grabs my arm. "Hold on you need accessories, geez, is this your first rodeo?" He asked with a sarcastic laugh. I roll my eyes and hold out my hands for him to hand me something. He hands me a small black belt, and matching headband and sends me on my way to change in my big closet. It's a walk-in closet so I had plenty of space. I slip everything on and walk out and Hephaestus shakes his head. "What?" I asked, agitated and he just kept shaking his head. " I thought the blue jeans would make all the black seem less goth but I was wrong. Try this instead, it matches your skin tone nicely," He said and hands me a strapless, white, loose fitting top with a pair of black shorts along with a white and black watch. Once again I slipped it on and went to see what he thinks. He nodded hysterically while I'm shaking my head as fast as I could. "Oh, why not? It looks amazing on you. It shows off your figure, once again, it matches your skin tone, it shows you're a cool girl who isn't afraid to get out there and it gives your date a lil' somethin' somethin' if you know what I mean,'' He said with a cocky brow and smirk. " Yeah, that last part is exactly why I'm not going in this. I look like a desperate hooker. I don't even like the guy who's going so why would I want to impress him?" I asked in annoyance and he shook his head. "Did it ever occur to you, to, I don't know, try and look nice for your date. Whether you want to go or not you should at least do your date a favour and act, and dress like you want to be there. Besides, you might actually like him once you get to know the guy," he says and I scoff. "Please, if the guy knows I was dragged along then he definitely won't ask for a second date, and I'm OK with th-" Ding. I ran out of the room but heard Hephaestus yell about how this, whatever this is, wasn't over yet. Still, in my hooker uniform, I open the door to see my brother Alec. Was I really watching videos and trying stuff on for that long? "Alec, it's so great that you're home," I almost yell, giving him a bear hug that he returns. "Sam, why not tell the dead I'm home while you're at it," He laughed and I joined him. Eventually, my parents came to join our hug. " OK enough hugs for one day, I need to sit down," Alec says and my parents go to whip us up some dinner while he sits down. I go to join him and he sighs. "Why are you really here Alec? I don't think it's because you wanted to see me, as flattering as an excuse that is," I say with a fake swoon and he rolls his eyes. "Well, I came home to finally tell them," He says quietly so my parents don't have a chance to hear him. "Really? That's great. I'm proud of you," I say, giving him another bear hug. My brother was finally going to tell Mom and Dad he was gay and I couldn't be prouder.