“Questions about place?” Kore made a sign I didn’t know, it was like the sign for god mixed with the sign for castle. Olympus?
“Yeah, what's a champion of Hera or Artemis?”
“Simple. Some gods and goddesses are celibate, some gods and goddesses would never cheat. So they pick a young demigod to be their champion, basically if you aren't your godly parent’s favorite another god sort of adopts you. It's so they have an influence in the mortal world as well as the immortal one,” Bec explained.
“You really know stuff about everything.” I smiled at them.
“Thanks. My dad always keeps me well informed. I know more things and secrets than anyone,” Bec smirked. Kore hit their arm lightly. “I wasn’t going to tell zir. Jeez. I like people to know I know shit but not what I know. I know some secrets are secrets for a reason.” Bec grumbled.
“I'm not even going to ask some secrets should not be shared,” I said. I was curious but it was their personal business.
“Yeah. Speaking of secrets, no one talks about how Mindy came to be. It's a known secret. Also me nor Kore were created in that way. No matter what others say.” Bec snarled.
I was taken back. First I didn’t understand what they meant but then it hit me. I would never think such awful things about anyone. The horrible idea of that never came to my mind.
“I don't. I wouldn’t. I don't even care what secrets y'all have.” I defended myself.
“Good. My mother loved both of them. She loved all of us.” Bec whispered the last part.
“Bec hate when people think bad things about our parents. When they think someone maybe think that, get mad.” Kore pointed to cracks on the table where Bec's hands were.
“How did you do that?” I asked. Fear tried to push me away from them. To leave the table. To run.
“My powers. Sometimes things like this happen if I lose control,” Bec said. They looked ashamed. Like they were told over and over again that losing control was their fault.
“I'm back! Oh no. Bec, are you okay?” Mindy asked. She had set her tray right next to mine.
“Yes. I just accidentally I brought up family stuff.” Bec forced a smile.
“Ah. Speaking of families, Bobbie who raised you?” Mindy asked.
Bec eyed at me. I got the message. Don't tell her about Macaria.
“A woman named Ellen. She was nice,” I said.
“What did she do for a living?”
“She was a librarian.”
“How old is she?”
“She was thirty one when she died.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Eh. I'm living on with the fact.”
“Hey, Mindy. Bobbie knows Jamie and Willow. Apparently they are two of zir friends,” Bec said.
“Really? Oh! You must be the friend Jamie called B!” Mindy said.
“Yeah. After I'm done eating my food I'm going to see how they are.” I smiled at my food.
The door for Jamie’s room was painted a pale blue with clouds.
“Can I just go in?” I asked Mindy.
“Yeah. If you couldn’t there would be a sign saying so or Johanna would be guarding the door. That child is scary,” Mindy said.
“I think he’s sweet.”
“You’ve never seen her when he’s angry. It’s horrifying,” Mindy said.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Good. Now, go in and face your friend.”
I reached and grabbed the knob. Should I turn it? Is that really Jamie in there? Had that really been Willow? Could I have imagined it was them? I hadn’t taken my pill today, and bipolar could cause hallucinations so it was likely.
Fuck it. I opened the door. Laying and reading in a hospital bed was indeed, the one and only Jamie Lee Air.
“Jamie?” I asked.
He looked up from his book.
“Kiddo. It’s good to see you. This shit is crazy right?” Jamie asked.
“Yeah. It’s hard to believe, even more so with both of us being demigods.”
“Well actually. I already knew. My father, Zephyros, comes to visit every winter solstice.” Jamie smiled sheepishly.
“Did you know about me?”
“No, through now that I think about it, Zeph only asked about Mia and Willow. He never asked about you even if I mentioned you. Like he didn’t like you or something,” Jamie said.
“Oh. Well I’m not supposed to be alive but anyway what about Willow?”
“You are what? And what about them? Are they also a demigod?” Jamie looked confused. I noted that Willow’s pronouns were they today.
I took a deep breath and started to explain everything I knew about my past, my family, and Willow being an Oracle. Jamie sat and listened. Catching every word like he always does. Never asking a question, never adding a comment.
When I finish he frowns at me, “B, you poor thing. Stay strong, okay?”
“I always will.”
“Good. Now did you take your meds today?” Jamie raised an eyebrow.
“No. I will later.”
“Bobbie Ellen Flora.”
“Jamie Lee Air.”
“Go get your pill and take it, your mental health is important.”
“I said I will. After I check on Willow.” I promised. Jamie rolled his eyes.
I left his room. Mindy was still outside the door. She gave me a smile and awkward smile. “Macaria raised you.” She whispered.
“You heard?”
“I eavesdropped because I overheard my name and got curious. Do you blame me for our mother's death?” Mindy asked. I almost said yes.
“No.” I grumbled.
“You’re a terrible liar. I blame myself too. If I haven’t been born she would have lived,” Mindy said. I realized I hadn’t told Jamie about my mother’s visions. I blamed Mindy just a little but I also blamed myself. Though I mostly blamed Zeus.
“I was told she choose to die because of two visions she had. The first one was where she lived. I was a baby and your father was lurking nearby. The second was of the two of us with three goddess watching over us and keeping your father away,” I said. She died to protect me. She died to get away from Zeus. Mindy was the tool that killed her, and the tool is always innocent.
“Dear gods above,” Mindy said. She was crying. She hugged me tightly.
I hugged her back, unsure of what to do. Why was she crying? Should I ask?
“Bobbie. It’s getting pretty late for you to not have taken your pill.” I heard Macaria’s voice. Macaria appeared in front of me and Mindy with a Dr. Pepper and a bottle of pills. Mindy pulled away from me and looked at Macaria then bowed.
“I will take my pill. Jeez. First, Jamie now you.” I said as Macaria handed me the soda and pill bottle.
“What's that for?” Mindy asked.
“I’m bipolar.” I muttered.
“Oh. Uh, hello Lady Macaria.”
“Hello Ms. Flora. Bobbie, Jamie literally prayed to me to get you take your meds.”
I took the pill as Macaria and Mindy exchanged how they were doing. Spoilers alert: they were both fine.
“Can I go see Willow now?” I asked.
“Yes. Let's find Johanna Ravi or Zander Hicks so we can figure out what room they’re in,” Mindy said.
“Speak of the devil,” A small voice said from behind me. I turned around to see Zander. He looked just like Apollo did when I meet him. But smaller and much more adorable.
“Can you show us where Willow is?” I asked him.
“Who? Oh! The Oracle. Yes. Yes I can.” He smiled up at me. He was so little and smol. I just wanted to pinch his little cheeks.
He turned on his heels and started walking down the hall. I followed him. Mindy and Macaria stayed behind. He stopped only ten doors away from Jamie’s room. It had a keypad lock and a hand scanner on it.
“They are in here,” Zander said. He typed a code in and pressed his hand against the scanner.
“That’s a bit of security for one person,” I said.
“Many would kill an Oracle,” Zander said. I frowned.
I pushed open the door.
Willow was sitting on a bed wearing a hospital gown. Their eyes were back to their normal dark brown color and their thick coily hair was tied up in a bun. They looked tired and distance.
“Willow?” I whispered. They looked at me and frowned.
“I didn’t want it to be you in my vision. But here you are,” They said.
“I? What?” I asked. I was confused. Very confused.
“The vision I had this morning. You and three people were together. One of you died. I don’t know who,” Willow shook their head.
“What did they look like?”
“One had curly hair and was hugging you. The second one wore a hijab and the third had ghosts around them, Willow said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. They are.” Apollo appeared beside Willow.
“Who the fuck are you?” Willow asked.
“The god Apollo.” He held out his hand.
“One of Jamie's gods? You're truly real.” Willow frowned. Their hand went to their Star of David necklace. I knew they were religious, and it was obvious they would have trouble with the whole Greek gods stuff. Especially the whole Oracle stuff.
“Don't worry your pretty little head, your god isn’t real. Greek gods are real. Your faith, put us into one deity. Not at there's anything wrong with that, worship as you will. No god these days flip out on non believers. Now besides Greek, here’s also Norse, Hindi, and I can't remember which ones but that are like seven others who are real. Maybe your god is, cutie,” Apollo said.
Willow glared at him. They did not like him at all. “Maybe you Greek Gods are more like angels and not real gods.” They snarled.
“Ha! Aw, you’re adorable.” Apollo touch their cheek. This was a mistake. I laughed as soon as they punched him. He stared at them, dumbstruck.
“Willow plans on being a pro fighter. Their punches hurt like hell,” I said.
“Well…. I will leave you two to your reunion.” He forced a smile.
He left in a flash of light. “Asshole,” Willow said.
“His kids are alright. You meet them, yeah? Zander and Johanna?” I asked them.
“Those are his kids? Poor kids, their dad is a creep and is ugly. They’re sweet though.” Willow shook their head.
“Are you okay with all this? I mean I doubt you’re the only religious person here, there’s a girl who wears a hijab and is currently fasting and she has a younger sibling,” I said.
“I’m not okay but I can get use to it, I mean I’m in love with a demigod who I already knew worshipped the Greek gods. I can get use to it,” They said. Their voice cracked a little.
“There’s also another thing,” I said.
“What?”
“I’m going to die when I turn eighteen if I don’t get a cure from Zeus who hates my entire being,” I said.
“Shit. Bobbie. No. I won’t lose you. I will see a way for you to live. I will. You can’t die. Jamie and Mia and I will be crushed,” They said.
Tears were in her eyes. “Willow are you okay?” I asked.
“No I’m not okay, I don’t know how Jamie is, my head hurts so fucking much and now you’re probably going to die in two years. How can I be okay!?” They screamed.
“Willow I’m sorry. And Jamie is fine,” I said.
“Don’t say sorry, it’s not your fault. Oh yeah, me and Jamie got married while we were on our road trip. We planned to have a real wedding someday. I feel like I should tell you. I see bad things coming.” They broke down sobbing.
I felt so bad for them. They had already been through hell. Willow’s parents died when they were eleven years old. They lived in five different foster homes until they were fourteen and got adopted by a Mormon family. They was still Jewish even if they couldn’t worship their own way until they moved out on their eighteenth birthday. And did I mention how much their family hated Jamie? Because they hated him a lot. First Willow’s family hated him because they thought he was a she then they hated him because he turned out to be a he. And blamed him for Willow being genderfluid.
Jamie was the most important person in their life.
“Willow. I… everything will be okay.” I said.
“No. It won’t.” Willow roared. Her eyes turned gold again. Blood red tears dripped down her face.
“The Oracle’s children. The children of the Underworld. They must go.” She whispered.
She fainted. And I knew who she was talking about.
Something was going to happen with me, Mindy, Bec, and Kore.
Johanna had came into the room and kicked me out. Said I shouldn’t be in there for a while. As I walked out, I noticed she had burns on her arms. What happened to her?
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