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CHAPTER TEN

After we reached the so I could pick up my car, Duran and I left Orik and Dante to deal with stowing our unwelcome captive away.

We headed for Terrance’s apartment. Sure enough, Coco was there—a little shiatzu.

She was a wriggly thing, and I scooped her up, thinking how afraid Terrance had been when he begged us to take care of her.

“You didn’t ask for this, little mutt,” I whispered. I didn’t know how to take care of a dog, but I knew who did. I called Sophia and told her what had happened. “Do you have the space to take in a foster?” I asked.

She sighed. “Yes, I can do that.”

“When can I drop Coco off?”

“Go ahead and bring her over now. You know my address.”

I hung up and started the car. We had also taken a good supply of dog food from Terrence’s apartment, and what appeared to be a well loved doggy bed.

“You have an interesting life,” Duran said. “How did you decide to become an investigator?”

“I knew I didn’t have the nature for a typical 9-to-5 job. And, given what happened to my mother, I decided I wanted to help others who were in trouble. I’m not very nurturing, so investigating seemed to be the best choice.”

I turned around and drove back north on Tenth Avenue until I reached West Crockett Street, then turned right. I continued until we reached Third Ave West, made a right, and then finally made another right onto West Howe, pulling into the driveway of Sophia’s home.

I turned off the ignition, and asked Duran to bring in the dog food and dog bed. I lifted Coco out of the car, making sure her leash was firmly attached to her collar.

As we headed up the steps, Sophia met us at the door.

She invited us in and I set Coco down. The shiatzu began to bark as two other mop dogs came running into the room.

They bounced around her, yapping their heads off, but they seemed more excited than upset.

Coco sniffed their butts, and they sniffed hers, and suddenly the three bounded away, falling over one another.

“Looks like they’ll get along,” Sophia said, as I gave her the food.

“Good. Poor little mutt. She’ll miss her daddy for now. I hope he gives in and changes sides. We could use someone on the inside of Brim Fire,” I said.

“But could you trust him, if he does?”

“That, I don’t know. Maybe there’s something magical that can be done to ensure his loyalty. I won’t brainwash the man, but damn it…I feel like we’re floundering around in a pool like a bunch of fish who know there are piranhas in with us, but who can’t see where they are.”

And I did. It felt like we were alone, trying to work against a force intending on destroying the world as we knew it. And we had no leaders, no guidance, no help.

“I know,” Sophia said. “Coco will be fine here. I’ll give her love and care as long as she’s with me. Let me take that worry off your shoulders.”

“Thanks,” I said, sighing. “I wonder… Penn is a priestess of Hecate. Is there a way to petition the goddess for help?”

Sophia paused. She exchanged looks with Duran. Then, slowly, she said, “Yes, there is. I can act as an intermediary.”

“Will Zeus be able to trace you?”

Zeus had cast Sophia out, when she refused to sleep with him.

She sighed. “Let me ask Pythia. I follow her lead, though I’ve never been a pledged priestess. I think she might even help. She has her own grievances against Zeus. Why don’t you come in and I’ll see what I can do.”

As we followed her into her living room, I felt an instant sense of peace. Sophia wasn’t a witch, but her house felt magically protected. Decorated in muted shades of blue and cream, it reminded me of the ocean.

Several of the paintings on her walls were of the seas—tranquil and calm, stormy and wind-tossed, and endless like a silver mirror that stretched forever on the horizon.

The furniture was cream colored with blue throws, and the walls were a pale blue, like the first hints of morning sky on a spring day.

While not minimalist, the affect was mindful, with everything placed thoughtfully.

“Every time I visit, I remember how much I love your house,” I said. “I always feel at peace here.”

“Oracles need a calm, uncluttered environment for our powers to work,” Sophia said. “Clutter interferes with our focus.”

“That’s the same with most magic, too,” Duran said. “It really is a peaceful place. You must have it warded to high hell. I can’t sense any of the outer world’s issues pressing in.”

“I do,” Sophia said. “It’s my refuge. And with Zeus still pissed at me, even after all this time, I want a warning if he shows up.”

“Shows up?” I said, staring at her. “Zeus might show up here ?” I wasn’t sure if I’d heard her right.

“Yes, why?” Sophia gave me a puzzled look.

“I just…” I’d never heard of the gods showing up in our world. I wasn’t sure what to think about that. “You’re saying that Zeus could show up here in the flesh?”

Sophia nodded, as though it was an everyday occurrence. “As could any other god. Why?” She paused, then added, “You really didn’t know about this?”

“How could I? I’m not pledged to a god. I have no clue how they work.” I sat down, aimlessly petting Coco who waddled up and rubbed against my leg.

“You know the portals? Well, some of those lead to the domains of the gods. They can travel through them, just like demons can come in from the UnderRealms, just like the Fae can come and go through their portals… Well, you get the drift.” Sophia snapped her fingers and Coco stood at alert, turned, and bounced over to her.

My mind took a sudden turn and I found my thoughts wandering. Had I ever met a god? Had they passed by me on the streets and I didn’t realize it? Did they get offended if people didn’t recognize them? But a moment later, Sophia brought me back to focus.

“All right, I’m going to call on Pythia.”

I had the sudden vision that a goddess was going to appear in Sophia’s living room, and that thought scared me shitless. “Um, should Duran and I be here? Will she mind?”

Sophia laughed. “She’s not going to show up. At least I don’t think she will. She might, if the situation’s complicated enough, but chances are I’ll commune with her and hear her answer.”

She stared at me, and I suddenly broke down, laughing.

“I must sound like a nutcase,” I said.

“No, not considering the situation. If you’ve never encountered the gods, it can be daunting.

They’re so much more powerful than we are.

And immortal. But remember: they’re not infallible, and neither are they omnipotent nor omniscient.

Nothing in the universe is. The universe itself is sentient but on such a vast scale we can’t fathom it.

Everything is connected, a vast web of energy points.

We make up the universe and yet, it’s more than everything combined. ”

“The sum of the parts is greater than the parts themselves?” Duran said. “We’re taught that in school at the magical academies.”

“Right. All right, wait here. I’m going to get my tincture. It helps me go into trance on a deeper level.” She vanished down the hall.

I turned to Duran. “Did you know?”

“What?”

“That the gods can visit us here?” I was still dumbfounded.

“You know, I think, in the depths of my heart, I don’t even know if I believed they really existed.

I mean, I know magic works, I know that psychics exist, I don’t know why I thought of the gods as some nebulous energy.

” I realized that I’d conveniently filed them away and ignored any questions about their actuality.

It had prevented me from going down the rabbit hole of what part the gods played in our lives.

“I don’t know if I’ve thought about it, though I knew they existed,” Duran said. “Penelope’s met Hecate, I do know that. So, I guess I knew?”

At that moment, Sophia returned with a small bottle. She settled down on the sofa, crossing her legs, opened the bottle, and used the eyedropper to let three drops fall on her tongue. Grimacing, she capped the bottle again, setting it to the side.

I wanted to ask what the tincture was, but she was already closing her eyes and I could feel her withdraw into trance, so I kept quiet. I could ask later.

“Look,” Duran said.

At first I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but then I saw it.

A faint, lavender mist was rising around Sophia.

As the seconds ticked by, it became thicker, a gentle fog that rolled around her.

Sophia didn’t move. She sat there, breathing deeply, and the energy in the room grew dense.

While the fog didn’t boil out to encompass Duran or me, we could feel it. It penetrated every corner of the room.

The lights seem to flicker, although when I stared at them, they were holding steady.

Everything felt nebulous, like reality was losing its hold.

I felt like I should be nervous, but I wasn’t.

There was no malignant aura, no sense of the malign.

Duran and I waited patiently, keeping quiet so we didn’t interrupt the process.

A few moments later, Sophia opened her eyes. They were glazed over, black as night.

“I am here.” The voice that echoed out of Sophia’s mouth wasn’t hers, and it crackled like an old-time radio program.

“Pythia?” Duran asked.

“Yes.”

A shiver raced up my spine. I knew, absolutely, that we were speaking to a goddess, and I had no clue what to say. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.

Sophia spoke again, but it wasn’t her—that much was obvious. “I understand the situation. I will speak with the goddess Hecate.”

I glanced at Duran, and he gave me a soft shake of the head, bringing his finger to his lips. At his prompting, I remained silent. I wasn’t sure how much time passed, but after what seemed like a few moments, Sophia cleared her throat.

“I have spoken to Hecate and she has told me that she will visit you, given Penelope is her priestess. Prepare for her visitation tomorrow morning.” Sophia was starting to look a little strained.

Worried about her, I asked, “Is Sophia okay?”

After a brief pause, Pythia said, “I will leave before she’s in any danger.”

“How will Hecate find us?” I asked.

“That is not your concern. She will find you. And now, I will withdraw.”

One beat…two…and boom , Sophia was back and Pythia’s energy was gone.

I knelt by her side as she slumped. Her hands were so cold they were like ice. I turned to Duran. “Get her some tea.”

He nodded, vanishing into the kitchen.

“How are you?” I asked.

With a shudder, Sophia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Cold. Hungry.”

“Bring some cheese and bread or something,” I called out to Duran. I pulled a navy throw off the back of the sofa and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Do you remember what happened?”

She nodded. “Yes, I do. Pythia spoke through me. I vaguely remember what she said.”

“She said that Hecate will visit us tomorrow to talk about Penn.” I brushed Sophia’s hair back from her face, which was as cold as her hands. “You’re so cold, are you sick?”

Sophia coughed, then pulled the throw tighter around her shoulders. “No, this happens when the gods speak through us. We expend so much energy being a vessel for them. I’ll be all right in a little bit.”

Duran returned with a tray. On the tray was some toast, cheese, a few dates, and some strawberries. “Here. You need to eat. I’ll be back with your tea.” He headed for the kitchen again.

I wanted to know what it felt like, what it was like to have a goddess inhabit your body, but it was such a personal question that I decided to keep it to myself.

Once Sophia had her tea and food, I glanced at my phone. It was seven-thirty. I had time to visit Seton. “Listen, I have an appointment at eight. Duran, I’ll drop you back at the building?—”

“Stay awhile,” Sophia said to him. “I’d enjoy the company and we can discuss different types of magic.”

Duran nodded. “I can find a taxi home, so if you like, I’ll stay.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” I said. “Eight. Duran, since you’re part of this, you’re welcome to join us. I know you’re invested in Penn’s disappearance.”

He nodded. “I’ll be there.”

As I left, I kept thinking about Pythia and how she showed up, and what that meant for the way I viewed the world going forward. And that , was something that I had yet to figure out.