“Hey mama,” I sang as I welcomed her with a kiss and hug. “We were just discussing our final picks, actually.”
“I can’t believe so many of my friends are going to be second-in-commands!” Xenobia cried as she squeezed herself in a huge hug. We all shushed her loudly, which made her giggle and hide her burning cheeks in her arms. “Whoops, sorry, I forgot it’s a big secret.”
“Don’t go blabbing to half of the Realm you dummy,” Praxis laughed as she flicked Xenobia’s nose.
Xenobia wrinkled it before sticking her tongue out. “Have some faith in me!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Xena,” I began, which made her turn to me excitedly. “I need your help with something, actually, if you don’t mind me stealing you in between classes.”
“I’m yours!” she promised with a beaming grin.
Seraphine came up behind her daughter and ran her fingers through Xenobia’s curls with a gentle smile. Xenobia knew exactly who it was and hummed happily at the gesture. “Don’t forget that you need to make a decision, too, my sweet. You’re a God the same as everyone else at this table.”
“I know, Mom, I know.” She brushed Seraphine’s hand off to swivel around and press her cheek to her mother’s stomach. “How is little baby Aurelia doing?”
“Aurelia?” I prompted.
Seraphine rolled her eyes. “Xena has decided I’m having a girl and has named her Aurelia, our little shining light.”
“What if she isn’t a Life Elemental?” Odysseus asked.
Xenobia shot him a demonic glare. “She is because I said she is!”
“Ok…” he said while rolling his lips.
I stole an apple slice from Mom and wedged it into my mouth before snapping to get Xenobia’s attention. “We’re burning daylight, kid.”
“Imma coming, imma coming!” she groaned as she shimmied out from between Seraphine and Praxis.
“Have fun you two!” Sebastian called with a wave.
Xenobia waited until we were in the main courtyard to run ahead of me and begin walking backwards so she could spew a dozen questions. “So, what secret mission are you taking me on? Are we hunting demons in the arctic? Freezing the polar icecaps? Sending a blizzard to Tokyo?”
“We’re hunting down Pandora,” I bluntly said.
Her smile faded to a thin line, and she slowed her pace. “Whoa, really? Without the help of the others?”
I chose my words carefully. “This is… something for our Earth team, so to speak. I’ll let the others in when I know we’ve got a concrete lead.”
“Our Earth team…?” She trailed off for a moment before realization slapped her across the face. “You’re working with Decimus, after all he did to you?”
“More or less.”
“Are you insane!”
“Shh, shh!” I covered her mouth with a deep scowl that she mimicked. “Decimus is a lot different then before. Gehenna has, knocked some sense into him, so to speak. He’s been very trustworthy and honest, and considering I have to work with him for the rest of forever, it’s probably a good thing to bury the hatchet.”
She wriggled free but kept up her glaring. “This screams bad idea.”
“You don’t have to help,” I said with a shrug.
Betrayal flashed across her face. “What, no, that’s not what I meant!”
“You’re either in or out, Xena. I’m not going to force you into anything you’re not comfortable with, but this is the path I’ve decided to take, so you’re either a ride or die or a crash and burn. It’s your choice. You’re nearing sixteen; I can’t treat you like a child forever.”
“I suppose not.” She glanced back at the dining hall before nodding once. “I’m in, but I get permission to get the others if shit hits the fan.”
