Page 11 of Hex You

Hunter reached her flaming limbs into the basin and through the magical portal that had denied her access before she’d harnessed the energy of a goddess.

“I am Hunter Goode, and I command the power of the cosmos.”

She gripped two outstretched hands and pulled Mercy and Khenti from the Underworld.

FOUR

“It was quite horrible, kitten. Horrible I tell you!” In human form Xena was curled up in the corner of the couch swathed in Abigail’s plush bathrobe with a chenille throw wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was drying in a crazy halo around her head, but she still looked drenched. “I should have been faster. I should have pounced on her and raked my delightfully sharp claws down her watery”—the cat person paused there to shiver in disgust—“body.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.” Hunter was sitting on the arm of the big recliner that was always Jax’s favorite and the seat he’d claimed when they’d all piled out of his car and the Camry and hurried into the Goode family home. “Amphitrite would’ve just found a way to hurt you to get at me.”

“And you really were sp-sp—ACHOO!—spectacular. Totally very scary.” Wiping her nose and smiling apologetically, Emily scooted farther away from Xena to the opposite side of the couch.

“Goddess bless you, kitten. Did you not take your medical pill that keeps you from being allergic to my incredibly powerful dander?”

“I forgot.” Emily sniffed again.

“Here ya go, Em.” Mercy emerged from the kitchen and handed Emily two pink pills. “Benadryl,” she told her friend with a grin. Following her, Khenti carried a tray filled with mugs of steaming hot cocoa, which Mercy passed out to everyone before she and Khenti sat beside each other on the couch between Xena and Emily.

“This is gonna put me to sleep in, like, thirty minutes—which is actually good because Mom just texted me and reminded me it’s a school night so I gotta get going in a sec, but…” Emily’s gaze—along with everyone’s except for Mercy’s—went to Khenti.

“What is this called again?” Khenti asked her after he took a second big swallow of the cocoa.

“Hot chocolate or cocoa,” said Mercy. “Here, you have some marshmallow on your, um…” She took a napkin off the tray and dotted the white goo off Khenti’s upper lip.

He grinned at her. “Thank you. This is my new favorite drink.”

“Wait until you try pizza,” said Xena. “It’s especially delicious with extra tuna.”

As Khenti’s smooth, umber brow furrowed in confusion, Mercy said, “Now that we’re settled and not in the middle of the park it’s time for formal introductions. Hunter, you’ve already met Khenti.”

“Nice to see you again, Khenti,” said Hunter with a little wave, the tips of her fingers caked with dirt from digging a hole near the banyan for the sea goddess’s poppet.

“Mighty Cosmic Witch Hunter—thank you for coming to our rescue.” Khenti gave her a little seated bow.

“Us Gatekeepers have to stick together,” said Hunter.

Khenti’s shoulders slumped. “I am Gatekeeper no more.”

“Why? What happened?” asked Hunter, picking dirt from under her nails.

“It’s a kinda long story. First, introductions.” Mercy gestured at Xena. “This is—”

“I know this lovely creature,” interrupted Khenti. “In humanform or feline, your fur is as I recall it, quite magnificent, even if it is wet.”

“Thank you, Khenti kitten. I do appreciate a demi-god who acknowledges furred excellence,” Xena said, then went back to lapping her cocoa.

“Demi-god?” Emily chimed. “I’ve never met a demi-god before! And by the way, you two being pulled from that water thing was one of the most awesome things I’ve ever seen.”

“Khenti, this is my best friend, Emily,” said Mercy.

“It is nice to meet you, Emily,” said Khenti.

“Hey, I haven’t met a demi-god, either, though I used to really love those Percy Jackson books when I was a kid,” said Jax.

“And that is Hunter’s best friend, Jax,” added Mercy.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, too, Jax. Though you still have not met a demi-god. My father took my position of Gate Guardian away from me and disowned me. I’m afraid I am only a mortal human now.”