45 minutes later we finally made our way out of the shower. Vic was shrivelled up, still sweating, her blonde hair plastered to her head, and apparently in a daze, but I felt… simply great, radiant, happy, elated. Proud. It had been hard, more so than I had expected, but my panties had stayed in place the entire time without Aphrodite’s intervention. Hers, though… well, she hadn’t worn any to begin with. As for everything else… Artemis had said it, hadn’t she? Use your own imagination.

  “I’m going to spend the night with you from now on,” I told her as I carefully hung my clothes close to the sink. My storage was full to the brim, but which idiot would risk damaging a garment that worked better than a spell? “I still mean to go after Katie, though. Dunno if you want to, but it seems only fair to invite you.” With a cheeky grin I found her flushed face in the mirror and added:

  “I don’t think you stand a chance, but you’re very welcome to try. I’ll even pay the bill from your first date, if you get there before me. In case you’re okay with it. I told you who I am, but I’m not going to push it. What you say goes. Tell me now and I’ll only see her at school.”

  “I think I’m going to need all the help I can get,” she winced as she tenderly touched her reddened breasts. Yeah, no experience to speak of and a whole religion worth of enthusiasm.

  “Sorry, Vic,” I mumbled sheepishly. With a sweet smile she walked up to me and caressingly kissed my neck before she nibbled on the tender skin.

  “Don’t be, it only started to hurt afterwards and I loved every second. Didn’t you realise?”

  “Of course I did.” With a gentle flick against her forehead I shooed her off. “Down, girl. Tonight. You have a goddess to meet.”

  “So do you,” she chuckled, but still reached for the hairdryer and brush.

  “I’ve met her before. Just now. She’s… hot. I honestly can’t believe I’ve just said that.” The dryer turned on with a loud hum.

  “I can. You’ve grown up much faster than me. Literally overnight. It makes sense, though. And explains a lot. Can I ask you something a bit more serious?”

  “Always.” I hesitated for a moment before I conjured a new set of clothes from my storage and slipped out of my thong. I had to dry the thing and wear it again, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to access my little treasury. To Victoria’s credit she didn’t stare. Much. Looking was fine, though, I even enjoyed it. If it had been up to me… but it wasn’t. Luckily pleasuring her combined with her forcedly chaste…ish touches had been more than enough. Hopefully it was going to stay like that for quite a while, but in that regard I was quite confident.

  “I… why me,” she stammered, her mind elsewhere entirely. I smirked. “I… I mean why me first? You knew I wouldn’t have gone anywhere, even...”

  “That’s easily answered. One, I’ve loved you for nigh sixteen years. Two you’ve earned it. Three… you’ve always been the most important person in the world to me. I just didn’t know what that meant. Once I accepted… no, that’s not right, once I was forced to accept the reality of this…” I gesticulated helplessly, “it really wasn’t much of a choice, but a fact. When Artemis unceremoniously dumped me in your shower…” I shrugged and shivered when the memories of the past hour threatened to set my blood ablaze. “Like I said. What you say goes.”

  By now my expression was matching hers and I had to close my eyes and take a deep breath. The scent of soap and the faint, sweet taste of her sweat in the warm, moist, heavy air didn’t help one bit, though. Fortunately I had found a way to calm me down. Mathew. The name alone was enough. Sorry, Katie, I knew how strange it was that I used her dead boyfriend as a trigger, but I really needed it. Otherwise… well, we’d surely have put Aphrodite’s proclaimed and mysterious powers of abstinence to the test right now. God, I was a freak. I had used a heinous crime as a cold shower. Way to go, Evee. Way to go. Keep it up and you’ll soon revel in the same debauchery the ancient gods were infamous for.

  “And if I want to keep you all to myself,” she asked breathlessly.

  “Then that’s what’s going to happen. In that case we’ll have to work on your endurance, though. And fast. The shower was an appetiser, at best. If I hadn’t felt like tethering on the brink of losing control entirely I wouldn’t have let you go for quite a while. Look, I know what I said about me most likely being a pathological nymphomaniac and that there isn’t much of a difference for me between being infatuated and in love, but I think you’re all I need. I know you are. At least if we manage to keep you from collapsing halfway through.” She smiled at that and reached out, her fingers gently trailing down my spine. Goosebumps erupted in their wake and I closed my eyes as my head came to rest on her shoulder.

  “I’ll think about it,” she purred. “In the meantime I’ll try to keep up with you. I… have you thought about mum and dad? Do you plan on telling them?” I shrugged.

  “Mum knows, doesn’t she? And dad… I guess we’ll let her worry about it. I’m not going to tell him that his daughters have decided to be together. Can you imagine how he’d react? Mum can open that particular can of worms for all I care. Besides, as clever as he is, he’s totally oblivious when it comes to something like this. I’m sure he won’t even realise anything happened unless we push his nose into it. Mum, though…”

  “Yeah, she’ll know as soon as she sees us. I… to be honest I’m kind of scared. She… when we left Paris she…” I reached for her medicine cabinet and interrupted:

  “I know. Don’t worry, I’ll tell her the truth. You didn’t do anything. Well, nothing I haven’t asked you to.” I quickly went through her collection of creams and salves before I picked an orange one.

  “Are you… do you also plan on telling her why?” I deflated and busied myself fidgeting with the tube for a few moments.

  “I don’t know,” I finally said. “Sooner or later I will. Maybe once I’ve gotten a grip on this whole insanity. Right now, though… it might take a while, but she’s going to accept it. I know she will, but that also means… don’t you think she’ll try to use me? Sure, right now I’m still in school, but once I’ve graduated I’m pretty sure she’ll try to rope me into the firm. My mind reading alone would be invaluable to her.” She frowned.

  “That sounds like you have no interest in ever working with them.” I nodded and beckoned her to come closer.

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  “I don’t. To me money is about as valuable as the things you can actually buy with it. I don’t want to spend my life, not even a few years, trying to increase an imaginary number in an account.”

  “I think that’s the most rich kid thing I’ve ever heard you say.” When I cocked an eyebrow and raised my lotion smeared fingers she added: “what? The only reason you talk like that is because we’ve always had more money than we can spend. Doesn’t mean I disagree. It’s going to be quite the blow, though. I’m not going to join their business without you and they don’t have more children do they?”

  “It could yet change. Mum’s not that old and I… carrying me might have changed her quite a bit. Who knows, if we tell them they might actually try for another one.” She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t prevent a satisfied smirk from tugging on the corners of her mouth when I reached out and gently spread the soothing cream across her reddened, tender skin. She moaned softly.

  “Great. Another kid to raise. This time we’ll share the burden, though.”

  “Could,” I laughed, “I said could change. But honestly, having a little brother doesn’t sound so bad.”

  “That’s only because you can’t remember how much you screamed during your first year.”

  “I screamed and you held me,” I chuckled, “nothing much has changed, has it? Well, this time around you screamed as well.” She blushed profusely as I finally withdrew my fingers.

  “That’s different… you’re not taking it very seriously, are you?”

  “No… not really. To be honest I’ve got bigger problems, but this,” I kissed her cheek, “was an amazing first step. I’m not going to bother with the future much, though.” My voice darkened when I added: “there’s something in my past I have to deal with first.” She eyed me curiously, but I shook my head. “That’s the one thing I’m not going to share. Ask me anything and I’ll tell you the truth, but don’t ever ask me how I’ve ended up here, please. Maybe I’ll tell you of my own accord, sometime, but right now I really don’t want you to know.” With an effort I turned away and filled the basin to allow my thong to soak for a while. With my mood considerably dampened I traipsed back into the shower and quickly cleaned myself. She hadn’t been able to reach every spot after all and it was pretty necessary. When I turned off the water and faced her again she looked thoughtful. “What,” I asked and finally wrapped myself in a fluffy, purple towel. I had never before wondered why Vic always bought purple towels, but now…

  “I don’t think that’s going to fly,” she admitted with a sigh of regret as the soft cotton folds closed over my chest and I nicked her brush to comb out my damp hair. “Evee… if you really wanted me to stay out of it, you shouldn’t have said that. I probably wouldn’t have been able to let it go yesterday, but now…” With a loud clack I put down the brush and closed my eyes, my nostrils quivering when I took a deep, shaky breath.

  “You’re right… but I can’t. Telling you would make it real and right now it’s… almost a nightmare I can’t quite remember, but only feel lurking near by. Please, don’t force it into the light. I’m fine and I’m not in danger from it. It’s over, but it still just… hurts.” My stinging eyes flew open when her warm fingers caressingly trailed up my sides and she pulled me back into her, her arms wrapped around my neck.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I guess I’ll have to come to terms with you calling the shots.”

  “Not really,” I snivelled, “but in regards to what I am…” I paused and turned around in her embrace, “what you will become… probably. For an ancient, arrogant goddess that’s already a pretty massive concession, don’t you think?” She hummed and kissed the corner of my mouth.

  “It is, but for my little sister it still seems quite cheeky. I’ve protected you for…”

  “Longer than you should have been forced to. Believe me, I know. Come to think of it, that’s also why you didn’t want me to read your mind, isn’t it?” I felt her smile when she replied:

  “That’s not what I wanted to say,” she whispered, her hot breath a tantalising caress I just about managed to ignore, “I’ve protected you for all your life and I’m not going to stop now, whoever you are. But when it comes to your mind reading… yes, I didn’t want you to know how I felt… feel. A boatload of good it did, didn’t it?”

  “I’d call that a win,” I chuckled hoarsely. Jesus a few more minutes like this and I’d dissolve into a puddle of tears. What had I ever done to deserve someone like her? Coming back from the dead seemed paltry in comparison. Thanks, mum. I had no clue how my parents had raised her when I hadn’t been around, but they had done a bang up job. “Fine,” I added chokingly and leaned in even closer to breath into her ear: “I’ll tell you, but we’re not going to talk about it. Not now, at least.” When I felt her nod I steeled myself and uttered a few, strangled words. She tensed immediately and her embrace became tight enough to hurt, but I didn’t mind.

  For a drawn out moment we remained like that, both lost in our own thoughts, until she gently pushed me back, her eyes, brimming with tears, glued to mine. Her jaws worked, but no sound was coming forth until she stammered: “I know what I promised, but I have to say this: it isn’t your fault and it doesn’t change who you are.” With a Herculean effort she managed a forced smile and kissed me again. “Come on then, if we don’t hurry up we’ll keep the goddess of the hunt waiting and that sounds like a horrific idea.”

  “Thanks,” I whispered, more than grateful for the lifeboat of normality she had offered.

  Barely ten minutes later, a surprisingly short time considering we had shared her bathroom, we snuck through the flat. On the way I nicked my mum’s black card and left a short note where we had gone off to. Just as I left the post it her mobile vibrated and I almost jumped in fright. Who… it was barely seven thirty and the caller’s ID was unknown. No one in their right mind would dare call… Katie. I bit my lip, my gaze automatically darting to Victoria’s, but she only shrugged.

  “Answer it,” she said. “If she wants, she can join us. I’d rather be around when the two of you meet up, anyways.” I grimaced and reached out, but before I could accept the call I hesitated again. With a frown I ignored my insecurity and finally answered the phone.

  “Good morning, Katie.”

  “Hello, this is… Evee?” She sounded surprised and a bit out of breath.

  “Yup. My mum doesn’t get up before eight. You’re quite lucky she left her mobile in the living room, otherwise she’d be chewing you out right about now.”

  “I… I didn’t know. Wait, do you play secretary when she’s at home?”

  “No… but I expected your call and since the number was new… you get the picture. A fair warning, my sister is listening in.”

  “Oh… would you like… I thought…”

  “Very much. My… aunt has invited Victoria and me for breakfast, though. Would you like to join?”

  “Your aunt? I thought your family lived in Europe.”

  “Most of them. It’s a long story, but she’s… interesting. I know that’s probably not what you’re looking for, but unless you want to wait until noon you’ll have to meet her.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude…”

  “Trust me, she’ll be delighted to meet you.”

  “Oh, Artemis will, but I’m not so sure if Katie will enjoy the experience,” my own voice whispered into my other ear, but I immediately silenced her with a gesture. Vic and her were none of Aphrodite’s business.

  “Then… sure. I can catch the next sub. Where should I go?”

  “110th. We’ll pick you up at the station. How long do you need?”

  “Half an hour, maybe?”

  “Hmm, tell you what, I’ll give you Victoria’s number. Just call her as soon as you’re on the train.” I rattled down a string of numbers and faintly heard the scratching of a pen.

  “Got it. See you soon… bye.” She had hesitated a moment and I was pretty sure she had wanted to say something else entirely.

  “Bye. Take care. The subway can be dangerous.” I chuckled softly when I heard her sharp intake of breath and clicked the line shut. As I turned around I found my sister smirking at me.

  “That girl is head over heels into you, whether she knows it or not. But meeting the family on your first date? It was my idea, but is it actually a good one?” I shrugged, but couldn’t quite keep the corners of my mouth from drooping.

  “Nothing about this is in any way normal. Or do I need to remind you what happened to her boyfriend? I’m quite surprised you’re actually okay with me going outside.”

  “You said those creatures are tiny and I’ve packed a taser and pepper spray.” Great…