Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans
“Hey, glad I could help. I had some things to get off my chest anyway.” I unlocked the apartment door. “Come in. You think Circe will be okay as a fearless leader?”
“I guess. Remains to be seen. I’m not putting a whole lot of trust in anyone who hangs their hat in Olympus, you know what I’m sayin’?” Aggie shrugged. “We’re all more than a little freaked-out now that we know we can lose our song and the sea, like you did. As a punishment, it’s a living death, you know?”
“I don’t know. That’s the only thing Achy did right, wiping my memory. I can’t mourn what I didn’t realize I had.” I settled on the couch, still jazzed from Laurie’s donation but itching with the need for a shower.
“You going to share what the private convo with Achy was about? We’re dying to know.” Aggie made herself comfortable in the chair across from me.
“No big deal. He just wanted a couple of last words. Like he said. He popped me a few times with lightning too. Just to make sure I knew who was a god and who was a lowly vampire.” I wasn’t about to get into this with Aggie. Not tonight. A daughter of Olympus. Did that mean I had a mother somewhere? A goddess? The very idea made my head hurt.
“Well, you look like the last words were ‘Die, bitch.’” Aggie got up and patted my shoulder. “I’ll leave you to shower and do whatever vampires do to recover. Jump a mortal in an alley or whatever.”
“I have synthetic blood if I need it.” I walked her to the door. “I’m heading to Scotland soon. Going to tell Jerry he’s not my victim and see what happens. Wish me luck.”
“Sure. Go get your man.” Aggie grinned. “Me? There’s lots of fish in the sea. Speaking of… If you ever want to get over that water phobia, look me up. I’ll start you off in the shallow end of a pool. Sorry about that rough trip across the lake before. I was a little, um, nervous about the confab with Achelous and Circe.”
“I get it. But I won’t forget it.” I was wet and felt like I had lake creatures in my bra as I said good-bye to Aggie. One thing I did pull out was Ian’s note to Jerry. I tossed it on my dresser. Maybe it was for the best if it arrived illegible. I didn’t really trust Ian to pass a love note to the Campbells.
I was getting undressed and examining my various wounds when I heard the familiar chime that meant I had a text. Alesa giving me an update:
Beelzebub and LuLu born 12pm Sat. C.U. Mama A.
Two more demons in hell. I wondered how they celebrated. Had Alesa enjoyed a baby shower? Was there a maternity ward in hell’s hospital? I knew I couldn’t worry about the two little ones and that “C.U.,” which must mean “See you.” Waste of energy. Demons were unpredictable and uncontrollable.
I jumped into the shower. If tonight had done nothing else, it had taught me that I was tougher than I’d ever imagined. Hey, I’d taken on the Storm God and survived, by damn. If I could do that, I could certainly handle a little trip by myself to a foreign country. Because I was going. On my own with no help from anyone. Of course, what I’d find when I got there was anyone’s guess.
Maybe it was the were-tiger blood I’d downed that made me feel pumped and ready to take on anything. Or maybe it was the idea that I was a daughter of Olympus, whatever the hell that meant. But Glory St. Clair was on her way to Scotland. The guys in kilts had better watch out.