Marker of Hope (18 page)

Galilea gave Samuel the stink eye. “I don’t
trust you.”

“Believe me, the feeling is mutual,” he told
her.

“How did you find out I’m pregnant?” I
asked.

“I’ll get to that. But first, I think we
should tend to her.” He glanced down at Claire.

Galilea didn’t budge.

“I guess I’ll get that towel and ice myself.”
I gently set Claire’s head on the floor and stood up. “And for the
record, I don’t trust you either, Samuel.” I went to the kitchen
and prepared the makeshift cold compress, promptly bringing it back
to the living room. Samuel took it from me. I lowered myself next
to Claire.

He patted Claire’s forehead with the icy
towel. “You know,” he said, “you don’t know me well enough to have
an opinion of me.”

“You know,” I said, “you should’ve thought of
that eighteen years ago.”

“I left Claire because it was the only way to
protect you,” Samuel snapped. “I’m sorry.” He handed me the cold
compress. “I didn’t want to leave. The moment you were conceived, I
was terrified for your mother. For you.”

“The moment I was conceived?” I squinted at
him. He nodded as he stood up. “The
exact
moment?”

“Yes. And I knew you were pregnant when I
sensed you in my office in Greece.”

“How could you have?” Galilea stepped closer
to us. “Unless… Samuel isn’t your given name, is it?” He shook his
head. “Then who are you?”

“My birth name is Amadeus.”

Galilea’s jaw dropped. She turned to me. “No
wonder you got knocked up so fast. This makes so much sense
now.”

“What does?” I asked.

“He’s one of the gods of fertility,” Galilea
said.

“And?” I waited for an explanation, but
Galilea looked like she was having an internal conversation with
herself and stopped speaking.

“Your grandmother—my mother—was Cytherea,”
Samuel told me. “There’s a likeness of her in you.”

“She does look like her,” Galilea said,
surprise still present in her face. “How did I miss that?”

“I’ve never heard of Cytherea,” I said

“Because Cytherea,” Samuel explained, “is
better known as Aphrodite.”

“And Samuel—Amadeus—is a fertility god,” said
Galilea. “It’s no wonder Eros salivates when he sees you. A pretty
face, pheromones oozing out of your pores, eggs falling out of your
ovaries by the gazingamillions…” She gasped. “No wonder the birth
control didn’t work for you.”

“Eros?” Samuel raised his brow, a look of
displeasure on his face as he said the name.

“This baby doesn’t belong to Eros, if it’s
what you’re thinking,” I said.

“I know,” Samuel said. “It’d be impossible
since Eros is unable to have children.”

“Eros is sterile? No way.” Galilea’s eyes
creased. “But he’s the god of love.”

“You know about that, too?” I asked
Samuel.

“Yes,” he said. “It was I who took his
fertility many years ago. It wasn’t by my judgment,” Samuel
explained. “The Council sent me. But I’d like to know how you know
about this when no one else does.”

Now I understood the reason behind Eros’s
obvious loathing toward Samuel when they saw each other in Greece.
I didn’t blame Eros for hating Samuel.

“It doesn’t matter how I know,” I said.
“Listen, I’d appreciate it if you don’t tell my mom about us
meeting in—” Claire moaned and shifted her head. I ran the cold
towel over her forehead. “Mom, you awake?”

“Yes,” she muttered, her eyes closed.

“Would you like some water?” Galilea asked
her.

“No.” Claire squinted as she opened her eyes.
“Galilea, when did you get here?”

“Just now,” I said. “While you were
unconscious. How do you feel?”

“Dizzy.” She blinked as she looked up at me,
and I quickly glanced at Samuel, who I now wished I would’ve told
to leave. Claire rubbed her forehead with one hand and asked, “What
happened?”

“You answered the door and…” I said, glancing
at Samuel again, “…and well, he—”

“You fainted,” Samuel said as he kneeled next
to Claire. “I’m sorry to have surprised you like this.”

Claire stiffened, her eyes unblinking and
glued to Samuel.

“Are you going to faint again?” I asked.
“
Mom
?”

She shook her head, slowly, and I put hand
across her chest, hugging her, as if it were enough to shield her,
protect her from Samuel.

“Do you want to sit up?” I asked.

She nodded without looking at me.

“I can help you to the couch, if you like,”
Samuel offered. He held out his hand, and she took it. “You’ll be
more comfortable there than on the floor.”

“You’re…” Claire said. “You’re…here.” Sitting
now, Claire glanced at me. “Do you know who he is?”

I nodded.

“Oh.” She raised her brow in surprise, and
then turned her attention to Samuel. “This is embarrassing, but…
I—I don’t know your name.”

“Samuel,” he said.

“I’ve waited a very long time—” Claire
glanced at their joined hands, and then up to his face again “—to
know your name.
Samuel
.”

“And I’ve waited a very long time to see you
again, Claire.” He smiled at her. “Far too long.”

My mother and my biological father stared
mutely at each other for what I felt was longer than necessary. It
made me uncomfortable and irked me at the same time. He’d left us.
He’d left
her
—alone and with a monster in her stomach. And
why was she staring at him so lustfully?
Gross!

“Excuse me,” I said, removing Claire’s hand
from Samuel’s grasp. I helped her stand and walked her to the
couch. “Do you want me to call Dr. Jameson to come have a look at
you?”

“I’m a doctor,” Samuel said. “She looks fine
to me.” He looked her over. “Perfect, to be honest.”

Claire blushed. She combed her fingers
through her hair. “I must look a mess.”

Are they flirting?

“Not at all,” Samuel said, taking the space
next to her on the couch. “You’re stunning, as always. I’m
surprised it wasn’t me who fainted at the door when I saw you.”

Claire giggled.

Flirt alert!
I let out a huff of
air.

“Hey,” I pointed to them. “Stop that—both of
you. Right now.”

Samuel and Claire shot me a puzzled look.

“What?” Claire asked.

“Isis, dear.” Galilea took my arm and pulled
me away. “Let’s give them some time to catch up, yeah?”

“No,” I objected.

“Yes.” Galilea tugged harder. “C’mon. Be a
good girl for your mommy and daddy.”

I scowled at her all the way up to my
room.

“So here’s the deal.” Galilea shut the door.
“You know how I said I didn’t trust Samuel?”

“Yeah, which is why I’m very confused right
now. Why did you make me leave my mother downstairs alone with
him?”

“Yeah, so, I changed my mind. I trust him
now. So be nice to him. Call him ‘Dad’ or ‘Old Man’ or whatever.
Just make him feel welcome.”

“I can’t believe what you’re suggesting.
You’re making no sense to me right now. Whatsoever.”

“His being here means more manpower for us.
What if Turpis attack again?” She pushed her hands out, palms up,
as if raising the invisible words of her justification. “We need
him, Isis.”

“No, we don’t. I don’t need him and neither
does my mom.” I checked the time on my phone. “I want to get back
to the estate. Back to David. And I want Samuel—or whatever his
name is—out of here before we leave. But first, I’m going to
change.” I walked into the closet. Galilea followed me in. “The
nerve of him coming here!”

“Isis, listen to me…” Galilea said as I
rummaged through the clothes in my closet. “Are you listening?”

“No.”

“You’re impossible.” She gave me a light
shove, and then walked out of the closet, mumbling under her
breath.

I shuffled through every article of clothing
on the hangers. My jeans no longer fit, so I had no choice but to
wear leggings and a once loose-fitting shirt—now too snug, but it’d
have to do. I walked back into the bedroom.

“What?” I asked. “Why are you looking at me
like you want to hurt me?”

“Because I do.” Galilea’s eyes shot daggers
at me. “You have a really bad habit of not listening to me. I’m
always trying to look out for you, and you’re an ungrateful little
brat in return.”

I was doing it again. Being a bad friend.

“You’re right. I am, and I’m sorry.” I
sighed. “Tell me the reason you want Samuel to stay.”

“Because he’s your father. No one will ever
protect you or fight for you like your parents.”

I couldn’t argue with her point. Heck, I was
willing to kill demons for the baby inside me. But, lately,
something about Galilea was off, and I wanted to know what it
was.

“Is it the only reason?” I asked.

“No.” Galilea looked down at her feet. “I
can’t shield you for much longer, much less go head-on with demons.
I overdid it when I made the town vanish. And you were right; I
need to rest. Otherwise…” She met my gaze. “If I fail you, we all
die. That’s the one thing the Stones do show me. I can’t see past
that.”

CHAPTER 21

A vision of caution was what Galilea received
from the magical Stones that aided her prophetic abilities. It was
what she’d called it, anyway. If she couldn’t keep me invisible,
the weight of keeping me unharmed fell on the Chioses. But
they—
we
—had the added concern of David’s health. While
Galilea was desperate for help, I was desperate for the one good
day I wouldn’t have to live in constant fear of Turpis.

For a split-second, I considered Eros’s
offer. We’d have an advantage with Eros on our side in the event of
a demon attack; after all, he was a remarkable warrior. I’d seen
him in action with my own two eyes in Greece. Conversely, he was
extra baggage on my list of problems, which is what I was trying to
rid from my life. I discarded the notion, knowing my distress was
to blame for the stupid thought to begin with.

Although I held a world of resentment toward
Samuel for leaving my mother pregnant and alone—and difficult as it
might be to accept him into our lives—I had no other choice but to
ask for Samuel’s help.

For a long time, I’d thought Claire would
side with me if Samuel ever showed his face, that she’d be angry he
never came back to look for us. I thought she’d tell him what an
irresponsible coward of a man he was for sending anonymous letters,
instead of presenting himself in person. Yet, here she was, serving
him coffee. In our kitchen. With a huge grin on her face.

Watching Samuel and Claire from the kitchen
doorway, Galilea leaned close to me. “They’re kinda cute together,
yeah?”

I huffed and rolled my eyes so far back I
could’ve sworn I saw my mutating brain.

“…but finally, I deposited the check into my
bank account and used most of the money to pay off the mortgage on
this house. Thank you for the help.
Really
,” Claire said,
looking sheepishly at Samuel. “Hector was paying for the mortgage
after the divorce. He knew I couldn’t afford it on my salary. When
he passed, I could barely make ends meet.” She refilled her cup of
coffee. “I wasn’t sure it was you who’d sent the check since there
was no signature or return address, but I never ruled it out. When
the letter addressed to Isis arrived, well, that’s when I pieced it
together. To say I was surprised is an understatement,” Claire
said. “Anyhow… I always wondered how you knew my address.”

“Public records. You should know this working
where you do.” He reached over and patted her hand. “It also helped
that you told me your name.”

“But I forgot to ask yours. Who does that?”
Claire shook her head, red-faced.

“So, anyway… You went to the public records
department at the courthouse to investigate?”

“No, no. The Internet was my friend. Even
back then, there was so much information that could be found on the
web.”

“A stalker. Wow. I don’t know if I should be
flattered or scared for my life right now,” Claire said. They both
laughed.

My nose flared.

“I’m glad you’re taking this lightheartedly.
I didn’t know what reaction to expect from you. It’s been rough on
you both, I know.” Samuel rubbed his chin. “Getting back to how I,
admittedly, stalked you… In my search, I stumbled across your
marriage license. I didn’t dare interfere in your life.” He tipped
his head to the side. “
But
I did know you were pregnant. I
saw Isis in the hospital when she was born.”

“You knew I was pregnant?” Claire sounded
surprised. “But how—how did you know Isis was your daughter?”

“Well, that’s where the story gets
interesting. You see, I met Hector once.”

“You did? When?” Claire was as surprised as I
was.

“Before your wedding. I’d come back to town
because I thought maybe I’d build up the courage to see you. I
wanted to know you were doing well. I took the back roads to think
about what I was going to say if I did end up at your house that
night. At a stop sign, I got rear-ended. When I stepped out of the
car, I met a very drunk and nervous boy. He pleaded with me not to
call the police. He said he was on his way back from his bachelor
party, and he was getting married the next day. I agreed, but only
if he’d let me drive him home. He was in no condition to be behind
a wheel.

“The drive took longer than expected because
in his drunkenness, he couldn’t gather his bearings, so I drove
around town with him in the passenger seat. To make small talk, I
asked him about his wedding, his fiancé… He told me his girlfriend
was pregnant. Naturally, I congratulated him. He thanked me and
went on to tell me how the baby wasn’t his, that the father was, as
he put it, some unknown son of a bitch. And I agreed with him.

“‘And it doesn’t bother you the child isn’t
yours?’ I asked him. To which Hector replied, ‘I love Claire, and I
already love that baby like it’s my own.’