"Hey!" She said; "Grab your things, I've come to take you home!"

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

Saturday, August 7th, Well past dark
Neither here nor there

I had been checking into days and times that might correspond, position of the moon and the sun...
but when the storm blew in, lighting splitting the sky and thunder making Excolo sound like we had a rail station?

The time was now.

I bundled Rose off to Lucien's. He was concerned of course. Where was I going on such a night? Was someone in trouble? Was I doing something stupid? Well, yes, I am sure it's stupid, but I couldn't rightly tell him that. I kept assuring him everything was fine, it was just something that had to be done, and I would be back as soon as I could. Rose took much more convincing, and she was still agitated when I left. "Mummy loves you and will be back soon!" I called out as I dashed back into the storm. I hoped I was not lying to her.

Changed into something bettered suited for the task at hand; threw on my coat, strapped on my sword and took up arms. Out, into the night, into the storm, into the woods. I had thought of sacrificing a young black calf, burning it as offering, finding the right herbs... but something else guides me now. I know, without knowing, what to do. Stride out with purpose to the clearing in the woods, where I practice my knife throwing. My space. My circle.

I stand in the center of the clearing now, the rain beating down on my upturned face. My leather trench keeps the chill out, but my tank top and jeans are soaked to the bone in spite of it. I watch the sky, the light that illuminates it, and suddenly there is a crack that makes my ears ring, and a flash that turns the night into day. Hold up the shield to protect my eyes and when I lower it again I see one of the trees has been hit by the lightning, and has split down the middle, still smoldering and on fire in some spots.

“Well. If that's not a doorway...”

I take a deep breath, back up several paces. With a battle cry, I run towards the V-shaped opening and hurl myself through it. Using the shield, I keep the flames from my face, and drop into a roll once I clear the blackened wood. Come back up to my feet and---

"Fuck me, it worked." I breathe out, staring up at the mountain before me. The rain still falls and lightning illuminates the clouds that obscure the top from view. Squinting my eyes, I can see a break in the terrain and scrub about 20 yards before me. The break seems to lead upwards in a barely discernible line. I take a deep breath, and exhale. He never said it would be easy. Firming up my resolve to see this to the end, I put one foot in front of the other and begin the trek up.

(open to Ares)

Comments

[ares-thracian.livejournal.com]

....and hurt it does. We hit the ground with a crackle so loud and hard it makes the ears ring and the body feel like it was turned inside out. Thanks, Father, you fuck. Steam rising from my skin, I loosen hold on Wanda only to tighten it again as she wobbles and slips toward the lightening blasted ground. "I told you it would hurt," I chuckle, tilting her head back so the rain wets her face.

"I'm finally back and you want to nap?" I laugh, "Where's the whiskey?" Where the fuck is my sword?

Sit us both on the ground, need to get used to the feel of a body again. Stretching out my limbs, I grin over at the crazy redhead by my side, "So was it good for you?"

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

I can't hear, oh dear Gods I can't hear and it's so bright and---

And then it's not bright thank fuck but there's still the matter of the ringing, no... screaming in my head. I try to stand on my own once the bright goes away, but the wailing in my skull and the fact that every goddamn piece of me hurts makes that just about impossible. And why am I wet? The sky rumbles and it makes my teeth rattle, along with the high pitched thoughts my daughter all but demanding to know where I am.

"Here baby... mummy's okay..." I think towards her, then realize I am speaking out loud.

"...want to nap?" "Sounds great." I mumble, leaning heavily against the body next to me as I'm eased down to the ground. "Where's the whiskey?"

Wait... whiskey? "But why do we need...?" I ponder aloud, and finally the noise in my head starts to recede and my eyes start to refocus and....

"So was it good for you?" I blink at him in absolute shock. I can feel his arm around me, and my shoulder against his, but I still have to reach up and touch his face.

"Holy shit... it worked?" I ask incredulously. "I'm not dead... and it worked?"

[ares-thracian.livejournal.com]

"Holy shit... it worked? I'm not dead... and it worked?"

"You're alive," I confirm, just as surprised, "Pray he sent us to the right plane of existence." It feels right, but it would be just like him to send us to some fucked up realm.

"You did fuck him off a bit," I laugh. Still not sure why I was allowed back. Sun's gotta shine on a dogs arse every once in awhile, I suppose.

Speaking of arse...

"You didn't, by any chance, bring any clothes with you, did you?" Eh, wouldn't be the first time I've strolled into a town wearing nothing but my own skin.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

I'm not dead. Makes sense, I hurt too much to have died and come back. "Pray he sent us to the right plane of existence." I almost go into a panic at that. I try to leap up, but it doesn't work. Look around wildly---

And there's Rose in my mind again, worried and blessedly close. "No, we're back." I sigh in relief. "Couldn't hear Rose over in Olympus. I can hear her now..." Touch my mind to hers, and she settles again.

Ares mentions that I pissed off his father, and I snort at that. "I was trying to be good, you know I was... but he's such an ass!" I seethe for a moment, then shake it off. "Now I know where you get it from." I say, and give him a smirk.

"You didn't, by any chance, bring any clothes with you, did you?"

Look at him in confusion, then look down--- "Oh!" I gasp, then turn my head quickly. How, pray someone tell me how I missed the fact that he's stark naked? "Ahhhh.... no. Never even occured to me. I would have loaned you my coat..." Get over my slightly embarrassment to give him a stern look. "You owe me a coat, by the way."

[ares-thracian.livejournal.com]

She confirms we're in the right place, mentioning that she can hear her daughter. That's a handy little trick. Wonder if she's thought of how handy that can actually be.

"I was trying to be good, you know I was... but he's such an ass!"

I laugh, "You caught him in one of his more amicable moods. You're lucky he let you out at all, pretty little thing like you could prove useful in many ways." Though I know I'll never hear the end of being bested by her.

I roar with laughter over her shock my nudity. "The Whore of Satan embarrassed by the sight of a cock? Juno's CUNT I've been away for far too long!" Continuing to laugh, I wave my hand at the mention of her coat, "Eh, a coat, a hat, a favor.... so many things to be repaid." The thought of a leather trench coat sacrificed to Zeus in trade for his son makes me roar with laughter again. "We shall have to remember to bring him a matching vest and breeches next time. Oh! and a squeak toy for the mutt! Perhaps a fruit basket as well?"

Lugh would have loved this. Hopefully he wasn't too busy banging the fairy folk and missed it. "So aside from new found prudishness, anything else I should know?" I ask, laughter dying down to a smirk.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

"That's amicable? Hate to see him in a bad mood." I say in shock and shake my head. "And he wouldn't have kept me..." No one does. "...I'm too annoying to keep around for long periods of time." I say, chuckling.

He's laughing at me again, but now that I remember; he does that a lot. "I am not embarrassed. You were clothed, now you are not. Just a bit shocking, is all." I mutter as Ares is talking about about a matching vest and breeches for his Father along with dog toys and fruit. "I am sure your family can get all the fruit they want, but the poor hell hound needs more playtime. Poor thing is starved for attention."

"So aside from new found prudishness, anything else I should know?"

With I sigh I lay back and rub my face, getting even more soaked. "It's raining and we should get indoors?" I smirk back. "Let's see... the things that you might be interested in; The Twins miss you terribly and you need to go say hello as soon as possible. Side note; they are not joined anymore." I add for good measure. "Valmont will be pleased to see you too. He married Hermia... the Greek librarian. We have a dance hall, still no permanent mayor, a psycho that mutilates people on the loose..." I can see I am losing his interest.

"...and it's not Whore of Satan. It's the Ex-wife of Satan." Hold up a hand devoid of rings. "Handed the form walking papers in June." I mention as if it's nothing. "Ex-wife and custody holder. Other than that..." Shrug, and wipe rain from my face.

[ares-thracian.livejournal.com]

"...I'm too annoying to keep around for long periods of time."

"Nothing that a proper gag won't fix," I wink, happy to see she's coming around from the daze. I laugh at her comment about my family and the three headed mutt. "He gets enough amusement guarding the underworld, believe me. Although, I think you might have made a friend for life. One much more loyal than the last few dogs you've played with." Must remember to keep her out of Hades reach, the girl is a fucking magnet.

"It's raining and we should get indoors?"

"Not as is we'll perish from a cold," I shrug, "Haven't felt the rain since I was last in mortal form." Some of what she says about recent events does surprise me. I wonder how the twins are fairing now that they're apart; And Valmont... "Married?!" At least he chose the Greek girl. The man always did display fine taste, I just hope his loose morality is still there as well.

We have a dance hall, still no permanent mayor "I prefer marshal law, myself," I shrug. Much good a mayor would do this town, politics have always been a fucking bore. "a psycho that mutilates people on the loose..."

Ah, now my attention is now restored...

"Can still taste it in the air." I've missed that. "How recent?" Something was very recent from what I can tell. Blood and pain. The combination brings a grin to my face. Standing up, I hold out my hand, "Come, Ex-wife-whore of Satan, let's to home, whiskey and getting you out of those wet clothes," My grin widens.

[mistresswanda.livejournal.com]

"A hell hound as a friend." I smirk. "I suppose I could do and have done much worse." I wink back as I look about for my spear as he goes over what I filled him in on. "May not perish from the rain, but I can get a head cold, and there's nothing worse than a Diva win a head cold." I grumble, but it's good natured.

Figures, the psycho is what gets his attention. "The victim was left in my kitchen back in March. It was..." I still have the image of Derek looking at me from lidless eyes burned into my memory, I always will. "It was terrible. The fact that he was kept alive while disfigured... I would like to have a go at whoever did it, that's for damn sure." I admit, taking his hand and letting myself get hauled to my feet.

"Come, Ex-wife-whore of Satan, let's to home, whiskey and getting you out of those wet clothes," I note the grin, and laugh. "Alright, Bare-assed God of War... let's sneak you back into town. But the whiskey and clothes will have to wait, I have to go collect something from Lucien first." Nod to a point to my right. "Looks like our weapons over there. Let's grab them, and I'll let you into the house then go on my errand."