Marker of Hope (20 page)

Startled, Claire glanced up at me. “Upstairs.
You okay now?”

“Yeah,” I said. “You?” I gave her an
apologetic stare.

“It’s fine.” Claire gestured me to go nearer.
She took my hands. “I know you’re going through a rough patch. I
understand how overwhelmed you must feel.”

I nodded, forcing the tears back. She pulled
me in for a hug.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered into her ear.

“It’s fine,” she repeated.

Pulling away, I let out a sigh of relief. I
turned to Samuel and said, “Sorry you had to see that—outburst. I
haven’t been myself lately.”

“So I’ve been told,” Samuel said. “I’m amazed
you’ve kept yourself together this long. And in your condition…” He
widened his eyes. “You need to take better care of yourself.”

“I know,” I said. “It’s just—my head hasn’t
been in the right place in the last two months.”

“If you’ll allow me to, I’d like to help in
any way I can. I don’t plan on disappearing.” He glanced between
Claire and me. “I hope I’ve made that clear today.”

The sincerity in Samuel’s voice alleviated
something inside my chest, lifted a fragment of the world from my
shoulders. I hadn’t felt a sense of security since my dad, Hector,
was laid to rest.

“I’m glad. It’s good to hear,” I said, and to
my surprise, I meant it.

The trace of a smile flashed over Samuel’s
face. Could he sense the truth in my words?

“Anyhow,” he said as he rose from his seat.
“I have to get going. There’s a matter I have to take care of and a
new phone line to contract.” He pushed his chair in. “I’ll be in
touch. Thank you again for breakfast, Claire. Your hospitality is a
lot more than I expected.”

“Don’t mention it,” Claire said. “I’ll walk
you out.”

Samuel and I starred at each other. He seemed
unsure of what to say. I hoped he wasn’t expecting a daddy-daughter
hug.

“See you around,” I said, drowning the
awkward silence.

“Count on it,” Samuel replied.

Claire led Samuel to the door. From where I
lingered at the kitchen entrance, I watched them. Claire held out
her hand to shake his, but Samuel leaned in and kissed both her
cheeks. She stood at the door until Samuel drove off.

“This sure turned out to be an interesting
morning,” I said, standing cross-armed in the center of the living
room. “That was indubitably
the
most unexpected company
we’ve ever had, huh?”

She spun on her heel, turning to view me, her
hands crossed at her chest like mine. “As if my fainting wasn’t
evidence enough?” she said, walking to the sofa. I sat next to her.
“What do you think of him?”

“His nose is too pointy. Considering his line
of work, one would think he’d dress better.”

“I didn’t find anything wrong with the way he
was dressed. I was referring to what you thought of him as a
person. What was your overall impression?”

“He’s okay, I guess. I didn’t talk to him
enough to form a solid opinion. You were the one who chatted him up
all morning. What do you think of him?”

“He’s…” She stopped to think. “Just like I
remember—nice, talkative…”

“Dreadfully handsome,” Galilea said, entering
the room with her backpack. “Right, Claire?”

Claire suppressed a smile.

“Eww!” I shot Galilea a disgusted look. “He’s
my father, Galilea.”

“I was just finishing Claire’s thought for
her,” Galilea said.

I glanced at Claire. Was that really what she
was thinking? The dreamy look on her face was more than enough to
answer my question.

“No comment,” Claire said.

“No comment needed,” I said. “Changing the
subject, we have to get going, Mom. Dr. Gunn was supposed to run
some tests on David early this morning. I’m sure he has the results
by now. I’m eager to see if there’s improvement on his brain
activity.”

“Are you talking to him aloud, like I
suggested?” Claire asked.

I nodded.

“It’s supposed to help. At least it’s what
the articles I’ve read say. Let me know if there’s any change.” She
squeezed my hand. “I’ll try to stop by tomorrow after work. I’ll
call before, as usual.”

“Okay,” I said. “Are you’re going to be okay
after this morning’s craziness?”

“It’s you I’m worried about,” Claire said.
“Galilea, make sure she eats.”

“Mom, I do eat, okay?”

“Lies.” Galilea grabbed her bag from the
floor. “The last time I tried to feed her, she threw a
tantrum.”

Claire pursed her lips and cocked her brow at
me.

“I’ll make sure she eats,” Galilea said. “You
ready, Isis?”

“Since five minutes ago,” I said, and then
turned to Claire. “I’ll talk to you later?”

She nodded. “Take care of yourself, honey. I
worry.”

***

The gas station’s parking lot was filled with
cars—beachgoers, pumping gas and loaded up on Styrofoam ice chests
and drinks. A few kids whose faces I recognized from my graduating
class were packed into a Jeep, smiles on their lips and excitement
in their eyes. I couldn’t say I didn’t envy them just a little.
Parked off to the side of the gasoline station was Samuel in a
small, red car.

Galilea signaled him, and he set the car into
motion, following us out of the gas station. We headed west on
Ocean Boulevard.

“What were you going to ask me back on the
porch?” I asked Galilea, remembering the unfinished conversation.
“When you told me not to get my panties in a bunch.”

“I was going to ask why you were so upset
Samuel and your mom were into each other.”

“Oh gawd.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry I
asked.”

“Claire is a looker, Isis. I’m not gonna
lie—if I were into females, Claire would be my woman crush. No
joke. As a matter of fact, she makes me feel a bit sexually
confused at times.”

“You’re making me feel so uncomfortable right
now.”

“Focus on the conversation, please?” She gave
me a pointed stare, and then directed her attention back at the
road. “As I was saying, Claire is a babe. And those curves of
hers…” She let out a whistle. “It’s no wonder even Eryx has a thing
for her.”

I gawked at her. “What?”

“But that’s beside the point. What I’m trying
to tell you is it’s normal for people who’ve—well, you know—done
the deed, to have an attraction for one another. It’s animalistic,
human nature.”

“Whoa.” I raised my hand. “Just stop. Right
there. Please.”

I closed my eyes and tried to shake the
thoughts of Samuel and my mom doing anything other than
talking.

“Would ya let me finish?” she asked,
irate.

“I’m listening.” I opened my eyes.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t make
Claire feel guilty for something she doesn’t regret. Like having
you.” She gauged my reaction. “Sometimes we can’t help who we love.
It just happens.”

“I know,” I agreed. “I was harsh with her
today.”

“You made her cry,” she reminded me.

“And I feel horrible about it.” I tugged at
the seatbelt on my pregnant belly. It was too tight, like my
leggings. “Does Eryx really have a crush on my mom?”

She grinned. “You didn’t hear it from
me.”

Galilea clicked on the radio and sang along
to an 80’s pop hit. I rested my head back on the seat. Through the
side mirror, I watched Samuel’s red car following close behind.

Samuel didn’t have to send checks to my mom
and me. He didn’t have to show up at our door. He didn’t have to
agree to help protect me. But he did it anyway. That had to count
for something. If he cared enough to do all those things, maybe he
wasn’t as bad as I’d made him out be in my head.

“They’re not expecting him,” Galilea said. I
hadn’t noticed we’d arrived at the estate. “I thought it would be
better this way.”

We stepped out of the car, and Samuel met us
on the porch. Galilea took the key out of her pocket and opened the
door.

“Isis, Galilea, is that you?” Nyx’s voice
came from upstairs.

“Yes,” Galilea said. “And we have
company.”

Alezzander walked into the foyer with a drink
in his hand. He stared at Samuel. I couldn’t decide if the look on
Alezzander’s face was surprise or irritation. And for some reason,
I suddenly felt very protective of Samuel, which made me take a
step forward and position myself by his side.

“Alezzander.” Samuel tipped his head. “It’s
been a long time.”

“Amadeus,” Alezzander said, his voice low.
“How—?”

I stepped in front of Samuel.

“He goes by Samuel,” I said. “He’s my
biological father, and if you touch one hair on his head, you’ll
regret it.”

CHAPTER 23

Nyx walked into the foyer just as the threat
rolled off my tongue. Stunned silence filled the room. I didn’t
know if the muteness was due to Samuel’s presence or because I’d
challenged all six feet and four inches of Alezzander.

“It’s been so many years,” Nyx said. “We
thought you were dead, Amadeus.”

“As did I. Yet, here I am. Alive and well.”
Samuel stared at Alezzander. “Reunited with my best mate.”

“You’re friends?” I asked.

“Best friends,” Samuel clarified.

“I can’t believe you’re standing here. I
searched for you,” Alezzander said. “Everywhere. It was like you’d
ceased to exist.”

“I apologize.” Samuel looked at his feet,
then up at Nyx and Alezzander. “I had to do what was in my best
interest. Holding a chair on the Council wasn’t for me. I’m no
lawmaker. The only reason they needed me on the board was to
represent my mother’s lineage—to make the Council seem diverse,
sensitive. The son of Aphrodite was perfect as their puppet, which
is what I was for a long time. I grew sick of it and asked to be
pardoned from my role, but they refused to let me step down. So… I
took matters into my own hands; I left. But I knew if they found
me, I’d be quarantined to Caelum. I don’t belong there, Alezzander.
I belong here, with the mortals we vowed to protect and aid.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?” Alezzander
frowned. “I could’ve helped you.”

“Friend,” Samuel shook his head, “you too
were seated on the Council. How could I? Besides, we were at war.
It was the perfect time to disappear.”

“I understand,” Alezzander said, studying
Samuel more closely now. “You’ve aged—aged well,” Alezzander
said.

“Thank you. It’s only happened in the last
eighteen years.” Samuel glanced at me. “Once she was born.”

“Oh, sure. Blame the Creatura,” I muttered in
a quiet voice.

Alezzander set his drink on a small table. He
stepped closer. “It’s good to have you back, my friend.” He shook
Samuel’s hand and gave him a one-armed hug. “You’ve been missed
greatly.”

“As I’ve missed you, old friend. As
I’ve
missed you.”

***

While Nyx and Alezzander filled in Samuel
about the reason Turpis wanted to rip my child from my womb, I went
upstairs to check on David.

Dr. Gunn and Eileen concentrated on the
clipboard in Eileen’s hand.

“Hi,” I said. They looked at me and smiled.
“Are those the test results from this morning?”

“Yes,” Eileen said. “He’s stable.”

“Which means he’s not getting better,” I
said.

“No. It means he’s stable,” Dr. Gunn said.
“As long as it’s not worse, it’s still good.”

I glanced briefly at the wires and tubes
attached to David’s body. “But not better.”

“We’re never on the same page with you, are
we?” Eileen pursed her lips. “Maybe this is something you’ll like.
We ran blood tests on David and compared them to the samples we
took from you yesterday.”

“And?”

“We have reason to believe the metamorphosis
has come to a halt,” Gunn said. “

“You’re telling me it’s done?” I asked in
disbelief. “The transformation is over?”

“For now, yes.” Eileen turned some dials on
the monitor next to David’s bed. “However, we’d like to run a few
more tests to confirm.”

“Then it’s not good news.” I said. “You’d
told me it was slowly retroceding. I thought I was going to be
human at some point in my life.”

“Trust me,” Gunn said. “It’s good news.
Compared to a pregnant human mother, your health is impeccable.
With the trauma from the demon attacks, you would’ve lost the baby.
Without the durability your body has achieved in this
transformation, Isis, I don’t want to think of how many pieces you
would’ve ended up in.”

I shuddered at his words. “So I’m still all
three—human, deity, Creatura?” Gunn and Eileen nodded. “Do you know
how much of each?”

“Dear.” Gunn held out his hand for the chart
Eileen was holding. “Thank you.” He flipped through the pages. “As
of the last results, both you and David show Superhuman—deity, as
you call it—genetic makeup of thirty-two percent, Creatura makeup
is twenty-one percent, and human genome comes in the highest at
forty-seven percent.”

“The numbers changed. How is it possible that
I’m only twenty-one percent Creatura?” I asked. “Not that I’m
complaining.”

“The only explanation we have is that this
unprecedented variable,” Gunn waved his hand at my stomach, “offset
the transformation. A woman’s body is a highly intricate mechanism,
able to create suitable living conditions for a healthy fetus. Not
only does your belly grow, but also, there are subtle changes that
occur in a pregnant woman’s body, all to accommodate the arrival of
the newborn. Do you know what this is called?” I shook my head.
“The miracle of childbirth.”

“What about the baby?” I asked. “Is it going
to be like this—like David and me?”

“Theoretically and from a genetic point of
view, yes. However, your blood has been changing throughout the
entire first and part of the second trimester. I can’t determine
what makeup your child has, unless…”

“There’s a very long needle involved,” Eileen
said. “And there’s a risk of miscarriage.”

“No,” I said immediately.