Endure (53 page)

After the war, I summoned Elyas a final time, demanding my mother be released from whatever private hell she was in. Elyas assured me it had been done, and that night I dreamt about her. She was happy and at peace. I like to imagine that Marcus is there with her, and they’re happy together.

Willy’s memories were fresh in my mind, but I never saw him again. Even in my dreams when I visited the Fade, he never came around, but occasionally I could hear the howling of a wolf from somewhere deep in the Fade’s woods.

Rayna and I haven’t heard from Serephina or any of the other gods. Whatever they did in the Otherworld they kept to themselves, and we were just fine with that. I wanted nothing more than to live a normal life now, but what was normal when you weren’t human? It didn’t matter. I had Rayna and Tiki, and even when I didn’t want him, I had Vincent—we were family.

******

The microwave beeped and I pulled the bag apart at the seams. Steam rose from the bowl, the smell of butter and salt wafted in the air. It was strange to smell something so mundane, and I had to stop and revel in the moment. At this point I didn’t take anything for granted. I knew as well as any of my friends that life was all about these moments. The small ones I once passed off as forgettable were now the ones I held onto the tightest.

“Chase, hurry up, the movie is about to start.” Rayna was frustrated already and I could practically feel her rolling her eyes.

I couldn’t help but smile. I almost looked forward to those eye rolls now. “I’m coming, just give me a second.”

With popcorn in hand I stepped down into condo’s living room. Rai fluttered around me, pecking at the bowl. She cheeped wildly and settled on the back of the couch. Rayna was wrapped beneath a blanket wearing pajama pants and a tank top. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and her green eyes glanced up at me.

“Hurry.” She smirked.

“You know we’re at home, right? You can just pause it and wait for everyone else.”

Rayna looked at the remote on the table in front of her. “But the remote is so far.”

I glanced at it and shook my head, hitting the pause button.
 

“Is this a toothbrush, because I think I need something smaller. That, or I’m not doing it right.” Tiki held up a white brush stained with brown spots.

Rayna and I looked at one another and burst into laughter.

Vincent walked past Tiki and cringed. “Please tell me you didn’t put that in your mouth.”

Tiki shrugged. “Everyone complains that my breath stinks. This is what I do to make it smell all fresh, right? I want it to be minty like Chase’s after he showers.”

“Tiki,” Rayna chuckled. “That’s a toilet brush.”

Tiki glanced at it and nodded. “I thought it was a little rough. It cut my gums at first.”

“Gross!” Rayna cringed, pulling the blanket up over her face.

“The toothbrushes are in the drawer in the bathroom. They’re a little smaller than that,” I said.

“Oh,” Tiki shrugged and disappeared back up the stairs.

“My goodness, it’s been six months since that wretched war ended and you still haven’t taught him how to brush his teeth? Some friends you are.” Vincent reached out and scooped up a handful of popcorn.

The front door opened and slammed shut, the smell of cigarettes filling the air. We all cringed and shuddered as the tapping of bright orange shoes came into the room. “Look at this place, what a mess! Lazy ass kids.” Grams shared her glare with Rayna and me.

“Where are Chief and Jax?” I asked.

“How the hell should I know? Do you think every time they need a walk I get a leash?”

“So glad you could make it,” Rayna said.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get this over with.”

“We’re waiting for Tiki,” I said.

“Who? Oh, that one with the eyes? Screw him, the movie is starting. I
ain’t
got all night for this crap.” Grams reached out and pressed play on the remote. She plopped down beside me,
ashing
into the popcorn bowl. “And you two!” Grams glared at Rayna and me. “Dinner on Friday night. If you try to skip out on this one, I’ll hang you up by your ears.” Grams’s eyes were narrowed and focused. Rayna reached over and wrapped her hand in mine, and I closed my eyes for a second to enjoy the warmth. “And don’t give me that crap about being sick again. Demons and demigods don’t get sick!”

I smiled. “We’ll be there.”

The End

About The Author

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of The Protector series. Having never traveled, he adventures
to
far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he’s usually found at the computer between a pair of headphones and a bowl of cereal.

Connect with Matthew

 
www.mrmerrick.net

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