Fallen Gods: Lotus Blooming Page 6

  “Sharla Tate. It’s good to see you again.” Thena remembered her old schoolmate as being so thin and pretty. The woman before her was hardly either.

  With a bandana wrapped around her hair, and a full-length dress that hung loosely over her ample figure, Sharla hardly looked like the same woman. Frown wrinkles formed around her mouth, and her dark eyes showed a raw bitterness that clogged any other emotions.

  “Hmm.” Sharla gave Thena the once-over, that gesture reminding her of the girl she’d gone to school with. “So you moving back here?”

  “She’s come home to help her mother,” Margaret said before Thena could answer.

  Thena didn’t bother to look at her mother’s face, knowing it beamed with confident pride. She’d made no commitment to stay here, and knew her mother wanted her to. But that was something they could discuss later.

  “Well, you haven’t come back to much.” Sharla raised a shoulder, and dropped it lazily. “See you around.”

  She shuffled off, her children following without a word. Thena sensed pain and unhappiness float after the woman. She watched her for a moment before moving the cart forward in line toward the checkout.

  “She sure has changed,” she whispered so only her mother could hear.

  “Lots of folks have.” Her mother glanced at the magazines lined up on display next to the conveyer belt. She didn’t elaborate.

  “Your produce is looking shoddy.” Perdy Williams was one of the few people Thena did remember.

  The tall white woman didn’t look any different from the last time Thena had seen her. One of the many locals, the thin woman with little figure to speak of handed money to the man at the register.

  “Then don’t buy them.” The man working the register glared at Perdy.

  Thena stared at him, trying to place how she knew him. Cold hatred surrounded the man. The emotions were so strong she had the urge to take a step or two back from him.

  “Samuel Baker! I swear! I don’t know what’s gotten into you.” Perdy Williams placed the paper sacks, full of her groceries, into her own cart, ignoring the boy at the end of the counter who tried to help her.

  Thena didn’t say anything while the man rang up their groceries. Her mother was unusually quiet too. Sam Baker glanced at her several times, as if trying to place her.

  “He seemed positively evil,” Thena whispered to her mom as they pushed the groceries out in the cart to her mother’s car.

  “Yes. Not that he ever had a lot of good in him, but he’s changed.” Her mother squinted against the morning sun. “And he isn’t the only one. Evil has settled in Barren. That’s what I was telling you about.”

  Thena glanced around the parking lot, and then up and down the quaint street that hadn’t changed much over the years. “What do you mean?”

  “You feel it. You see it.” Her mother handed her sacks of groceries and Thena put them in the backseat. “I know you see it. Your powers have grown considerably. I knew they would. I need your help before it takes over.”

  “It? What’s it?” Thena frowned at her mother, but then straightened when a young pregnant woman approached them with a couple of small children in tow.

  The woman pulled her children close to her, away from Thena and her mother.

  “Witch,” one of the kids hissed, as they hurried by them.

  Their actions shouldn’t have fazed Thena. It was behavior she’d put up with since she was the age of those kids. If they hadn’t teased and harassed her for the color of her skin, they’d ridiculed her for being born a witch. People could be terribly cruel, even children.

  She wanted to say something. Let the mother know there was nothing to fear. Reassure the children that they would be safe around them. There were enough bad people in the world. She wasn’t one of them. The pain never failed to needle at her every time she was snubbed. She hated it—absolutely hated it.

  But she wouldn’t let her feelings show. And she wouldn’t bow her head in shame. Holding herself tall, and keeping her expression calm, she turned to help her mother into the car.

  And that’s when she saw him.

  Standing across the parking lot, leaning against a small black car, Priapus watched her.

  Thena froze.

  “What is it?” her mother asked, looking up from the passenger seat, her cold hands gripping Thena’s.

  “Nothing, Mom. It’s nothing.” There was no way to explain him. Anything she could tell her mother would only make her worry or pry into her affairs. Either would be bad.

  Priapus’ look was intent. The parking lot wasn’t that large, and although he’d parked toward the other side, she noticed his dark brooding stare. He wasn’t too happy about something.

  “We best get these groceries home. It’s mighty warm in this car.” Her mother let go of Thena and adjusted herself in her seat.

  Thena closed her door and hurried around the car, stealing her gaze from Priapus. It was a free country. He could be wherever he wanted to be.

  His gaze had unsettled her though. No—more than that. He’d branded her with hard, penetrating eyes that she swore saw through to her very soul.

  She’d done nicely focusing on helping her mother all morning. It hadn’t taken much more than a glance for Priapus to consume her thoughts. And that was so wrong. Nothing took over her mind unless she allowed it. No one controlled her life. And she’d always been happy with it that way.

  “Stop in here.” Her mother pointed to the gravel lot with one of the more rundown gas stations on it. “I don’t like the tank getting below a quarter. It’s not good for your engine, you know. And if Leroy is working, he’ll give me a break in the price. Damned expensive gas.”

  “You get a break on gas?” Thena glanced at her mom. “No one gets a break on gas. He must be paying for it for you. Mom…do you have a boyfriend?”

  Her mother snorted, pursing her lips. “Not everyone hates witches.”

  “True.” She’d had quite a few friends back home in Kansas City who’d admired her calling. “But no one ever gave me a break in gasoline.”

  “You didn’t have evil lurking everywhere.” Her mother’s gaze hazed over, her tone turning to a hushed whisper. “I can’t protect everyone.”

  In spite of the fact that she knew her mother enjoyed the dramatics, a cold chill swept over Thena. She shook her head, refusing to let her mother make a drama out of ill-behaved people, and pulled into the gas station.

  Her mother disappeared inside the station, leaving Thena to pump the gas.

  “Thena Cooke! Well, I’ll be damned. Thena Cooke, is that you?”

  A thin woman walked around the gas station, her hair wrapped in a scarf at the back of her neck, and faded jeans hugging her thin legs.

  Thena shaded her face with her hand, squinting in the sun, as the woman approached.

  “If you don’t remember me, I swear I’ll smack you silly.” The woman smiled, showing off large white teeth, and gaunt cheeks.

  “Audry Simpson.” Her memory clicked in, and at the same time she wondered what happened to the pretty young woman that she’d gone to high school with. “How are you doing?”

  Audry’s smile faded, dark shadows under her eyes indicating she’d had better days. “I’m doing okay. But I’m so glad you are here. Your mama said you were coming home. She said what she couldn’t do that surely you could do.”

  Thena finished pumping the gas and secured the cap on the car. “Well, I—”

  Thena didn’t have a chance to question the woman before Audry took her by the wrist and started walking across the dusty gravel lot.

  “You’ll help me. Won’t you help me, Thena?” Audry wasn’t making any sense. “Your mama can’t help me. But I just know that you can. Margaret said you were stronger.”

  “What are you talking about?” Thena managed to free her wrist and rubbed it while staring into the anxious expression on her high-school friend’s face.

  “It’s my boy. He’s five. You never have met him but
he’s the most precious child—best thing that ever happened to me.” Worry lines spread around Audry’s eyes.

  An uncomfortable knot formed in Thena’s tummy. She knew she was about to hear bad news. Instinctively, she put her hand on Audry’s arm. Her old friend was loaded down with fear, something damn near panic. It rushed through Thena like a wildfire.

  She pulled her hand away, rubbing her fingers together. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.

  Audry’s blue eyes widened, hope filling her so quickly that the panic subsided. Thena wrinkled her brow. Audry was too easy to read.

  “I knew you could help. Already you know something terrible is wrong. Did your mama tell you? Did she tell you about my little Nate?”

  Thena shook her head. Her mother hadn’t even mentioned Audry.

  Audry put her hand to her mouth, simply studying Thena for a moment. Finally she looked down, licking her dry lips.

  “Come with me. You’ll see.” She turned, returning toward the side of the building where Thena first saw her approach. “He used to chatter up a storm. Nate’s teacher told me he was real smart, already reading.”

  Audry slowed when she got to the side of the gas station. Ahead of her, a small boy sat on the ground, his back to them. Icy chills rushed down Thena’s spine.

  “He won’t come in the store while I’m working. He sits out here like that, not talking to anyone.” Audry stared at her son for a moment and looked over her shoulder at Thena, the worry on her face drawing deep lines in her forehead. “You got the gift, Thena. You can fix him.”

  Thena didn’t even know what was wrong with him. The child didn’t move, didn’t turn around when they’d walked up behind him. He simply sat there, cross-legged on the ground, staring at the empty field that spread out behind the gas station. An eerie chill crept through her, the behavior of the boy more than a little spooky.

  Taking a step closer, she reached down and put her hand on the small boy’s shoulder. “Nate?” she whispered.

  The little boy turned around quickly, jumping to his feet. A piece of clothesline, knotted many times over, was wrapped around his small waist. Thena recognized the knots as part of a protection spell and guessed he wore it as something her mother might have suggested. It held no power though, and the way he wore it, it didn’t even serve as a belt.

  Thena wasn’t sure she’d seen such outrage on a grown person’s face before, let alone on a little boy’s. He pointed a dirty finger at her, and for a moment, Thena thought his eyes glowed red.

  “Get the fuck out of here.” The voice that came out of the child didn’t sound like a little boy’s voice. It was raspy, deep, venomous.

  Thena’s heart thudded in her chest so hard she thought it would explode. Nate’s actions completely took her off-guard.

  “Nate. My baby.” Audry started crying behind her. “That’s the first time he’s spoken in over a month. What’s wrong with my baby?” she wailed.

  Thena didn’t look away from Nate. His eyes were wide, dilated, and glowing with an evil so raw that it absorbed his little body. There was no way a child his age could have so much anger in him, so much fury and hatred. He looked well-fed, cared-for. His clothes were simple but clean. And other than the fact that he’d been sitting in the dusty gravel, Thena could see that Audry took good care of him. There were no bruises, nothing to show he’d been abused.

  Whatever consumed the child, it had taken over his entire existence.

  Evil lurking everywhere. Her mother had said that right before going into the gas station. And she’d told her before she came down here that she needed Thena’s help, that things weren’t right.

  Thena glared at whatever it was that was inside the young boy. “You are the one who is going to get the fuck out of here,” she hissed, bending over so that she stared the boy in the face, and speaking quietly for only him to hear.

  The boy stared at her for only a moment before collapsing to the ground, going limp at Thena’s feet.

  “Nate!” Audry screamed so loud that Thena jumped.

  Her childhood friend hurried to the child, scooping him into her arms. At the same time something terribly cold rushed past Thena. And then it was gone. For some reason, she knew that the evil that had been inside the boy was no longer there. She walked up to her friend and stroked the hair from the boy’s face.

  “He’s okay now,” she whispered, watching long, soft lashes flutter over Nate’s deep blue eyes.

  He looked at her, and then up at his mother. “It’s gone, Mommy. It’s gone now.”

  Audry burst into tears, clinging to the child while she covered his face with kisses.

  Thena turned, hearing footsteps behind her crunch over the gravel. Her mother appeared, an old man beside her who looked like he was at least ninety. If that was Leroy, he’d sure aged since she’d seen him last.

  “Did you see?” Audry looked past her at the others. “Did you see how she fixed my baby? Oh Thena. You got the gift. Thank you. Thank you so much!”

  Margaret Cooke took one look at her daughter, and then at the others. She reached out and stroked little Nate’s forehead. “Didn’t I tell you my daughter would be able to take care of it?”

  “I really didn’t do anything.” Thena tried to make light of it.

  She had done something though. Whatever passed by her, the icy cold sensation she’d experienced had come out of that child. Shivers rushed through her, and she stared at the ground suddenly feeling very tired.

  “Take your boy on home,” the older man said, giving Thena a strange look but then focusing on Audry. “I can manage around here for a few hours.”

  Audry smiled, her narrow cheeks damp from tears. “Thanks, Leroy. And Thena, you’ve saved my little boy’s life. I won’t forget that.”

  Thena didn’t know what to say. She glanced at her mother who placed a reassuring hand on Thena’s arm.

  “Blessed be. You just cast out the devil, girl.” Her mother looked proud enough to burst.

  Thena just stared at her wide-eyed. Her good sense returned to her in a rush. That was the last thing she needed townsfolk to start saying.

  “Bite your tongue, Mama. I did no such thing.” Although she wasn’t quite sure what had just happened.

  “I saw little Nate. He was possessed hard and good and that’s for sure. I knew you would be powerful. But my baby.” Margaret reached up and stroked Thena’s cheek, here eyes suddenly looking moist. “You left home before you were full-grown. I guessed you would be strong, so much stronger than me. But I never guessed—”

  Her mother’s words broke off, and she faked a cough so that Thena couldn’t see that she’d teared up.

  “Oh, Mom. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.” Thena couldn’t help but feel a bit shaken though.

  “Now that I know, there is much work to do.” Margaret turned away, leaving Leroy with a pat on the arm and heading for her car before Thena could question her. “This whole town needs cleaning up.”

  Thena followed her, wondering if she actually did have what it took to cast evil out of a person. The foulness that had been in the boy still seemed to linger in the air. But something stronger slowly moved in on it. She looked up, the power immediately grabbing her attention, and across the street, Priapus stood watching her. The shiver that had rushed through her a minute before was replaced by a flushed heat. Her mouth went dry and she couldn’t look away.

  Chapter Seven

  Priapus watched the demon fly through the air, cast out, exposed and vulnerable. He raised his hand, pointing his finger like a gun and aiming it at the demon.

  “Pow,” he said out loud, pulling the imaginary trigger in his hand.

  The demon exploded, disappearing.

  He returned his attention to Thena, who watched him over her car, looking more than just a bit curious. Raising an eyebrow, he blew on the edge of his finger, all the while watching her.

  Her eyes widened at his small gesture. Whether or not she realized that he’d just ki
lled the demon with his theatrics, he wasn’t sure. At the moment he didn’t care. She looked up toward the demon that fell to the ground like powdered dust, and then returned her attention to him.

  Just watching her strut around her car, looking too high and mighty to give him the time of day, his cock stretched against his leg, throbbing with need to know her better.

  He’d never known a human to have that much power. No one could see him, and he hadn’t willed Thena to be able to see him, yet she did. And she noticed the demon explode in the air. Humans had never bothered to develop their abilities to see beings around them, other than themselves.

  Something didn’t sit right here, and Priapus had a feeling that if he didn’t get to the bottom of it soon, things could get ugly. Thena had just drawn attention to herself by ridding the demon from the boy. No matter that she’d done a good thing. The demons would catch wind of what she’d done, and they would retaliate.

  His insides hardened at the thought of those fucking demons getting their hands on Thena. It was time to intervene. She had no idea what she was getting herself into and he wouldn’t see her get hurt.

  But he would have to be careful, making a scene would only make the talk spread faster. Already he sensed the demons were outraged, arguing among themselves as to how to handle this matter.

  For a moment his decision brought him pause. It mattered to him that Thena be taken care of. He barely knew the woman, yet something inside him stirred whenever he laid eyes on her. She was strong, beautiful, and filled with a passion for life.

  Times had hit her hard, and she’d come home to her mama on the pretense of helping her. But he knew that like him, she’d been humiliated and had run. He related to those hard feelings and wanted to reach out to her, share his experiences, talk more with her, learn what made her tick.

  Another time, another place flashed through his mind, a memory almost forgotten. Priapus watched thoughtfully as Thena climbed into her car, ignoring him. Somehow the time when he’d helped a small boy popped into his head. It had been so long ago, over a thousand Earth years, and in a land so far away and no longer recognized in today’s world.