Chapter 15 -
“Ooh gizzard al a carte” Athan says laughingly.
“How many are headed this way?” London asks Athan.
“Mm, quite a few. Can someone shut that kid up” Athan growls as he wipes his finger, across the blood still oozing on the walls and sticks his now coated bloody finger in his mouth.
“Eww, Athan. Get some table manners”, London snaps as she smacks Athan on the back of the head.
“Listen little witch…” Athan starts but stops as the screaming finally ceases, only to have loud slurping noises echo around the room.
Tish, Athan and London all turn their heads at the same time to see Seven licking the blood from the walls like a lollipop.
Tish turns away from the sight before her, gagging as she does.
“Nice, I guess she has no manners either. You should get on like a house on fire, Athan”, London mutters as she moves through the room back towards the door. Opening the door slowly and as quietly as possible, London sticks her head out the door and lets out a small whistle. She counts to five when a whistle is returned. London moves through the door and down the hall with her mother behind her.
“Where are we going?” Tish asks.
“To Tito, Daimon, Tennessee and the others”, London responds, creeping down the hall.
“Hey kid, you missed a little on your forehead” Athan whispers to the Seven as they quietly sneak down the hall with London and Tish.
The slurping and sucking of Seven’s fingers as she licks them one by one is loud in the otherwise quiet hall.
“Who are the people that attacked the Heavenly realm” Tish asks as she follows her daughter.
“What did you find out?” London asks.
“The Queen and the Oracles are at fault here. They seem to be seeking additional power. They are hoping to get the right of the gods and goddesses so that they can rule instead. Seven has had many supers join her. We have managed to get rid of six, but there is a scavenger that is refusing to leave, and it killed the phoenix, so he has managed to gain more power than he should”, Tish says as she continues after her daughter.
“I always knew that the good for nothing group of oracles were going to be a problem. I told Archon that we should have eaten those old ladies as soon as they came around saying they could help us. We all thought that they were eventually going to cause a problem, but this is just not right”, Athan growls as they come to a stop at the next hallway.
London whistles and waits for a reply, the others stand guard waiting and watching. Finally, after several minutes, the whistle is answered with another and London turns to the right and lead the group towards the exit.
“Athan, scout out the next hallway. We need to know where the oracles have taken Nix” London whispers back towards Athan.
“On it”
“How long have you been working with Athan?” Tish asks in a barely there whisper.
“For a few years now. After you blended with Seven, Archon and Aibelle took me in. We trained with the other newborn supers and learnt what we were meant to learn. On holidays, they took care of me, with Nix and Tito. We became a family. I am not angry mom that you left and spent so long with Seven. Clearly, she needed you more than I did, but it hurt, and I am not going to lie and say that it didn’t”, London mutters as she continues to move ahead.
“What was your life like, were you happy?” Tish asked, with a tear running down her cheek.
“I was happy, safe, warm and fed. The gods and goddesses treated us that had no family like their own so it was an amazing life. Hekate taught me everything that I needed to know, and she was an amazing friend or more like an aunt really. Athan is like a big brother and Lycus was a puppy that could talk back to me and bite when he wasn’t happy. Bride was the one that you wanted around if you wanted to be a little naughty she was always joining in on our pranks and escapades. Daimon and Erebus were the grumpy uncles that only showed you their true nature. As for Aibelle and Archon, they were like the perfect mother and father. Archon was protective but also allowed you to fail to experience Aibelle would spoil us, but she was firm with boundaries. You don’t have to worry mother, everyone was happy” London growls.
“I am glad that you had a good upbringing and that your life was just what you wanted. I am sorry that I can’t be here, but I am not sorry to see the woman that you have become.” Tish whispers
A loud set of three whistles sounded as they rounded the next corner. London reaches out to stop Tish and Seven. Tish hisses as Seven plows into the back of her.
“Sorry mother” Seven mumbles as she stops and looks around. London snaps around and Tish turns to stare at her as well.
“Mother?” Tish asks at the same time as London hiss mother.
“Yes, you mother, you mother, her mother, me”, Seven mumbles as she continues to suck her thumb.
“London run” Athan shouts.
London turns around to see another person moving their way at a fast speed. London turns and takes Tish and Seven’s arms. London takes off at a break neck speed with Seven very close behind her. As they turn yet another bend, London looks back and realises that Tish isn’t holding her arm. Instead, Tish is fighting the being that was chasing them.
“Momma NO!” London screams.
“Run, save yourself” Tish shouts back as a large sword runs through Tish’s stomach.
“Momma” Seven screams before racing forward and ripping the being off of Tish and racing toward it again and punching straight through the being’s chest and ripping its heart out. As Seven holds the beating heart, she squeezes her fist and watches with a sick smile on her face as the heart turns to nothing but mush.
“Momma, momma, can you hear me? Please stay awake. I just got you back”, London sobs as she cradles her mother’s body.
“Momma” Seven mumbles before letting out an ear-piercing scream and disappearing from sight.