Triumph of Chaos (Red Magic) (3 page)

I made it home without exploding in anger, but it was a good thing that Mom and Dad didn’t try to talk to me. As soon as I was safe in my room, I slammed my door shut and grabbed a pillow from my bed. With a surge of Red energy, I chucked the pillow at the window, releasing my anger with it. The glass shattered as the pillow sailed through it.

That window had already been replaced once: Rochelle had jumped out it during our last confrontation. Somehow, I didn’t think my dad would be willing to replace it a second time.

“Damn it,” I muttered, instantly calm. My magic had been bubbling close to the surface for months, but I hadn’t lost control like that in a long time. I felt frayed and vulnerable, but at the same time, I felt relieved.

“Mreow?” Xerxes poked his head out from under my bed and looked at me curiously. I sank down to the floor, kneeling beside him. The old cat sniffed me once, bumped his head against my hand, and then turned and went back under the bed.
Even he can’t stand to be around me right now
, I thought bitterly.

Gods, what was wrong with me? I leaned my head back against my bed and squeezed my eyes shut. It was like I couldn’t decide which destructive emotion to feel. I’d been vacillating between anger and depression ever since I came back from Europe, but right now, it felt like self-loathing was winning. “I could really use a little help right now,” I said out loud to my empty room. The air shimmered for a moment, and a warm breeze rustled my hair, but nothing else happened.

I had not had contact with a single god since returning home in January, and I was starting to freak out.

Witches at my old school were trained to believe that it was old-fashioned to take a patron, but most of the Witches I’d met had all sworn to someone. I’d even had a patron, at first: Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Our bonds were broken by a choice I made, and I hadn’t had much contact with her since.

But it wasn’t Aphrodite I was desperate to talk to. Persephone had been a constant fixture in my life ever since I declared to follow the Red path. She’d even helped me in the beginning by switching places with me, giving me time to learn about my magic under the protection of her husband, Hades, while she distracted Hecate and Rochelle from their quest to kill me. But Persephone hadn’t had much to say to me since I’d arrived in Scotland over a year ago.

The last god or goddess I’d spoken to was Freya. I shuddered at the memory. She knew that I had released Loki, and she said the other gods knew as well. Maybe that was why Persephone hadn’t answered any of my pleas for help.

Still, the silence was strange. When I first declared to Red magic, the Red gods couldn’t stay away from me. There are only ever three Red Witches at any given time, and the gods were all courting me. I’d learned a little bit more about the patron relationship since then, and I was really glad I didn’t sign up for that with any of the gods who came calling. The patron oath is binding, and if I’d taken, say, Kali as my patron, my magic would have been bound in her service. As it was, I’d only narrowly escaped being Aphrodite’s pawn.

Now that Rochelle was a Red Witch, it seemed like the Red gods had forgotten about me. I didn’t miss the strange visitations from Kali and Pele, but Persephone had felt more like a friend.

That’s stupid
, I told myself sharply.
Gods aren’t friends with humans, not even Witches.

There was a gentle knock at my door.

“Come in.” I didn’t get off the floor.

“I heard a crash. Is everything all right?” Mom spoke quietly from the doorway.

Too tired to lie, I pointed to the window. “I broke it. Again. Can’t wait to tell Dad.”

She knelt down beside me on the floor and patted my shoulder. “I think we might have some plywood in the shed. You and I can take care of it, if you like.”

I shrugged, but my heart surged at the thought of her helping me again, even with something as stupid as the window.

“How did it break?”

“I threw a pillow at it.”

Her voice was carefully neutral. “Oh. I’m glad you aren’t hurt.”

“I was trying to get Persephone’s attention.”

She was quiet for a moment, and I risked looking at her. Tears stood in her eyes, and I felt a sharp twist of guilt in my stomach. Ever since I’d pissed off Hecate, Mom’s contact with her own patron had been limited, too. My mom’s patron was Demeter, the mother of the goddess I trusted most. It hadn’t seemed ironic at first.

“Have you heard from her?”

Mom shook her head, and the tears spilled over. “She never got back in touch with me after your trip to Greece.”

It had been well over a year since that happened; in that time, I’d gone back to Europe, found Marcus, released Loki, and set off a nuclear disaster. “It’s not fair that she’s punishing you because of me.”

“But you’re my daughter. I’m responsible for your actions.”

Her voice trembled, and I looked at her, surprised. “Mom, I’m almost a legal adult. I can make my own choices.”

“I know you can, sweetie, but that doesn’t change the fact that Demeter blames me for your behavior.” Her voice dropped and she wiped away her tears. “I blame myself, too.”

Shocked, I stared at her. “That’s why you’ve been like this?”

“Like what?” She choked back a sob.

I spread my arms helplessly. “Like whatever you’ve been since I came home. I knew Dad was mad, but I couldn’t figure out if you were mad or just didn’t trust me anymore.” I struggled to keep my tone even, but Mom heard the clash of emotions in my words.

She reached out and gripped my hand. “Of course I trust you! I’ll always trust you. But the things you’ve done, Lena—” Her voice broke, and she squeezed my hand, trying to regain her composure. “I must have done something wrong,” she finally whispered, “to let you come to this place.”

The unfairness of it pushed at the raw wound inside me. “Mom, I have enough guilt for both of us. You can’t start feeling like this is your fault, too. It’s not. I chose to be a Red Witch. I chose to pursue Hecate. It was my choice to make a bargain with Loki.” My voice rose as I spoke, and energy pulsed under my skin.

She shook her head, tears wet on her cheeks, but I ignored her. After avoiding the painful topic ever since I’d come home, I suddenly felt like I’d explode if I didn’t tell Mom everything. Standing up, I took a deep breath and reached into my carefully warded closet. I pulled out my ratty backpack and handed it to her.

“I may not have made the best choices,” I said softly, “but I do have a weapon I didn’t have before.”

She clutched the bag nervously, not opening it. “What’s in here?”

I took a deep breath. “Chains that will bind a god.”

Her expression was confused, so I went on.

“That was part of the deal. Loki gave me his bonds when I set him free.”

“Lena!” Mom stood up swiftly, holding the backpack at arm’s length. “You need to give these back to the gods! Let them deal with Loki: they’ve done it before.”

I nodded once, feeling miserable. “I know. But I went to all that trouble to get them. I had planned to bind Hecate.”

Her eyes looked sad. “Do you really think Hecate is your biggest problem right now?”

“No. It’s not just Hecate, or even Loki. It’s all of the Red gods.” I swallowed, looking at the strange weapon in my hands. “We have to figure out a way to use these chains to stop them.”

A familiar voice floated across the room. “I’m surprised at you, Darlena. It isn’t all of us.”

When I looked over my shoulder, Persephone stood there next to my shattered window.

The sight of her made me want to dance around in relief, but I was still angry about her silence, so I crossed my arms and glared at her. “Where have you been?”

“Still arrogant, aren’t you? Darlena, even I did not know where you were or who was in your place until recently.”

“I’ve been home for two months.”

Mom pinched me and shook her head, but I didn’t care. Persephone had some explaining to do.

The goddess spread her hands wide. “You must remember that it was winter. I am bound to the Underworld with the seasons.”

I snorted. “That didn’t stop you before! I seem to remember you coming here in the fall.”

She shook her head. “That was different. I had not yet made my annual descent. Remember?”

Of course I remembered. The goddess hadn’t gone down to the Underworld that year because I had gone in her place. She’d sent me to Greece to keep me safe from Hecate and Rochelle, and I owed her for that. Big time. I frowned, struggling against my anger. If there were any gods I could trust, Persephone was one of them. I hoped.

“It’s good to see you,” I finally offered, grudgingly.

The goddess frowned. “I was not pleased when I heard what you have been doing.”

Just like that, my anger boiled over again. “What was I supposed to do? You showed up in Scotland, told me that Hecate was planning to stir things up and cause the world to end, and then you expected me to just sit around and let that happen?”

Mom pushed her way in front of me, bowing to the goddess. “Lady, please forgive my daughter.”

Persephone sighed. “I am used to her fits of temper by now. Reds are never mild.”

“Hey,” I snapped, “I’m right here.”

The goddess looked at me again, searching my eyes for a long moment. Finally, she said, “I came as soon as I could. You will need a patron now more than ever.”

My heart lifted at the idea. If I had a patron, I would be safe. I was ready to say yes, but something held me back. “Has Rochelle declared a patron yet?”

The goddess snorted. “She is playing the Red gods for fools, letting them court her and coax her, accepting their gifts but promising nothing in return. But I am sure it will not be long before she makes her choice, and you must realize that a patron’s power will only strengthen her.”

I bit my lip, considering. I needed Persephone’s help, but I had to tread carefully. If Rochelle didn’t have a patron yet, maybe I could still beat her without making such a binding vow. “But how would having you as my patron help?”

Persephone frowned. “Surely you have realized by now that magic is amplified when you work with a patron.”

I nodded. “But it’s also amped up when multiple magical paths work together. Izzy helped me fight Rochelle, and it was a lot easier than it had been the first time.”

Mom tapped my shoulder and lowered her voice. “Sweetie, you don’t want to offend
another
goddess. Her offer is very generous.”

I glanced at her, remembering that her own patron had cut her off for the past year and a half. She’d been drained and miserable, and her magic was weaker than it had ever been. Slowly, I turned back to face the goddess. “Why did your mother abandon mine?”

Persephone stared at me, her eyes blank. “I do not meddle in her affairs.”

“She dropped my mom because of me. Because I’m opposing Hecate.”

Persephone inclined her head slightly. “Perhaps. It is likely.”

My mom made a warning sound, but I ignored her. “So that’s what a patron can do for me, huh? Abandon me when I need her most? No thanks.”

The goddess met my gaze. “I would not abandon you. The fate of the world is still within your grasp.”

Gods, no pressure
.
I wanted to beg for her help, but I stiffened my spine and shook my head. “Fix this.” I gestured to my mother. “Give her back her patron, and I’ll consider vowing to you.”

Persephone smirked. “Do you really think that a daughter has power over her mother?”

I shrugged. “I know you want to help me, but I know you also need a Witch to work through, to use. Without someone to take you on as a patron, you’re virtually powerless in my world, aren’t you?”

The goddess glared at me, and I held my breath. Saying it out loud had been a gamble. I knew it was true, but maybe I’d crossed a line and she would just incinerate me on the spot. The seconds ticked by, and nobody moved.

Finally Persephone nodded, but her face was expressionless. “I need a Witch. You need a patron. I will do what I can to mend our mothers’ bond. And then, Darlena, I will hold you to your word.”

She vanished in a shimmer of sunlight. “I didn’t promise anything yet!” I called to the empty air. “I just said I’d consider it.”

Mom shook her head sadly. “Oh, Lena,” she whispered. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t want a patron if she could hurt me the way Demeter has hurt you.”

“But the power of a god will help you. Remember, you’re up against more than just Rochelle.”

I rubbed my forehead. “I know. They’re just using her.”

“You said that Hecate and Loki are trying to end the world: anyone else?”

I laughed weakly. “Does it need to be more than that?”

Mom paused, her nose crinkled in thought. “If you knew for sure which of the Red gods were involved, maybe we could predict the coming disasters. If we knew which gods were acting, we might know how they would try to destroy the world.”

A name popped into my memory, something Marcus and the Coven had discussed that I hadn’t had time to process. “Set.”

Mom’s eyes widened. “The Egyptian god?”

I nodded. “The Coven said he’s the one who held Izzy prisoner last year, but we never really had the chance to talk about it.”

Mom drew a shuddering breath. “Well, then, you need to call Izzy.”

I glanced at my clock, doing the math quickly. “It’s only evening there. Maybe I can catch her.” Now that Mom had suggested it, I realized I really missed the Blue Witch. I crossed to my desk and turned my computer on. Izzy and I had been keeping in touch via Skype, and I hoped I’d get lucky and she would be at her computer. The time zone difference was annoying, but we’d been able to talk almost once a week ever since she returned to Scotland. I hadn’t asked her much about her captivity, and she hadn’t volunteered any information, but Mom was right: we needed to have a better idea which Red gods were involved before we could come up with a plan, and maybe she remembered something that could help.

My mom opened the door. “Remember, Lena, I want to help.”

“I know. But I’m still not sure what to do.”