Magic and Myth by Sadie Anders

Author:Sadie Anders [Anders, Sadie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Coquelicot Press
Published: 2020-03-15T16:00:00+00:00

10

I only made it a few feet before I heard him call out to me.

“Alexis. Please stop.”

Raphael.

He didn’t yell or raise his voice at me. It was a simple, plaintive statement.

Turning to look over my shoulder as I stopped, I could see him, standing calmly in front of the quickly disappearing portal entrance. Of course he hadn’t landed on his butt as I did. Someone so graceful would never do that. Someone who wasn’t me, in other words.

The Apollonian was kneeling before Raphael, with the front half of his body on his knees and head bowed. Raphael approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling kindly at him.

“No need for that. Stand, my friend.”

The centaur stood to his full height, several heads taller than Raphael. I hadn’t realized how big this creature was before. And this giant was subservient to Raphael?

Who was this guy? Raphael, King of Asphodel and Italian Vineyards, First of His Name?

Like Nick had said, everybody answers to somebody.

Despite my wariness, there was no getting away from him this time, and I didn’t think that I wanted to anymore. This place was intimidating, scary even, and I was happy to have someone familiar here.

I approached the two slowly, listening to them exchange jovial greetings with one another. They spoke to each other like old friends, which amused me. Maybe they used to meet for coffee and long gazes at the sky.

“I’m glad you decided to return to us, Alexis.” Raphael smiled at me, but I could sense his agitation with me bubbling below the surface.

“Well, it’s not like I would’ve gotten very far. I’m sure you could both outrun me.” I tried cracking a little smile, trying to lighten the mood that hung heavy in the air.

“There is truth to that,” the Apollonian agreed. “But you are no prisoner here. You are of Asphodel, young one.”

Somehow, though, I didn’t feel so free. My life had been completely derailed in the past couple of days. Nothing would ever be the same again when I returned home, if there was even a home to return to. The snatchers knew my safe places, my livelihood. What could I possibly go back to? An empty apartment and no family. The centaur might have thought that I was from Asphodel, but I sure as hell didn’t feel like this was home.

Raphael walked up to me, a cold, unreadable expression on his face. I looked up at him, unsure of what was happening. For a second, I was worried that he might lift me over his shoulder and haul me back to Portland.

I crossed my arms in front of my body. Nobody was hauling me anywhere.

“Let’s go find your uncle,” he said, an amused look of defeat crossing his face. He spread his arms out in front of him, clearly signaling that I had some say in all of this now.

Damn right.

The heaviness lifted suddenly from my body. He would help me again, and he would accompany me in Asphodel. I jumped up and threw my arms around him, giving him a huge bear hug.

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