Read Online Catalyst (A Grace Murphy Novella) by Nicole Hamlett - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nicole Hamlett
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parting shot, I said, "Whatever this is? It's done. We won't be doing this anymore. Moving forward, it's professional or nothing."
I teleported as soon as I could and landed in the middle of my hotel room.
"Mom? I didn't expect you back so soon. Was it a trap like you suspected?"
The stone lodged in my chest thumped a few times before I could answer. "Naw. It was just a boring dinner party."
"Are you lying to me?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
I turned and smiled at the enigma that was my child. "No. But thanks for asking. Is it okay if we go home?"
He nodded and grabbed my uninjured hand squeezing my fingers. "It's totally okay. Grandma and I went on the rest of the rides today anyway. Why do you want to go though?"
"You cleaned my clock yesterday, kid. I think it's time for me to get serious about this stuff. I have a bad feeling in my gut and I just want to be prepared."
He nodded solemnly. "I can help you with that."
I smiled and pulled him in for a hug. "I would love that. With you training me, Nyx is toast."
Diana poked her head into the room. "Grace, can I talk to you a moment?"
I gave the kid a quick hug and nodded. "Sure. What's up?"
She came in carrying a large syringe filled with a milky liquid. "Well, first I need to give you this shot."
I backed up. "Whoa. What did I do?"
She shook her head. "Not what you did. That bite mark on your arm is in need of attention."
"Oh. Well okay. Where do you want me?"
"Right here is fine. I just need to inject it near the entry site."
I gritted my teeth and waited for the needle to sink into my arm. I hated needles. "Will this make it all better?"
"Well it will stop you from turning into a Gorgon at least," She jabbed the needle into my arm and pushed the plunger down.
"G-What?" I shuddered at the pinch and stepped back.
"Gorgon. It doesn't happen with all Gorgon bites but when Medusa hits you with her venom, someone of our race has a good chance of turning into a Gorgon if it's not treated. She sent along this present as an apology." She waggled the syringe in front of me.
"Well, it's nice to know that she wasn't intending to kill me."
Diana shrugged. "Not this time at least. Did I hear you talking about going home?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I need a vacation from my vacation. Oh, and I need to figure out how to keep from getting my ass handed to me every time I get into a serious fight."
She paused a few moments and then nodded. "You should know that the anger you've been exhibiting over the last two days has been because of the bite. That's a nasty side effect of her toxin. The angrier you are, the faster the toxin moves through the system. Are you sure you don't want to try for a normal vacation?"
It didn't take me long to think about it. "I'm sure. I think that Dylan and I have a nice long talk coming and I don't want to be surrounded by babysitters when it happens. Also… well… just yeah – I want to go home."
I'd think about Heph tomorrow. Twice now he'd stepped up to the plate and through timing or sheer stupidity, nothing had come of it. We had long lives. Maybe he'd smarten up, I'd stop being so pissed off at his misogynistic ass and the third time would be the charm.
In the meantime, I had a relationship with my kid to repair, a war to prep for, a novel to write and a thousand other reasons I couldn't concentrate on the wreck that was my love life.
It would all be okay if I just ignored it right?
Right.
Epilogue
Not long ago in a gala… er… I mean right here on Earth
Over a year has passed since Grace defeated Hypnos. She's continued on with her life, training and trying to prepare herself for a battle she doesn't even know will come. Things seem quiet, but little does she know that a nefarious plan is in effect.
A plan that will ensure she never realizes her destiny…
The ink was barely dry on the letter when she folded it quickly and sealed the envelope with a glob of her own saliva.
I teleported as soon as I could and landed in the middle of my hotel room.
"Mom? I didn't expect you back so soon. Was it a trap like you suspected?"
The stone lodged in my chest thumped a few times before I could answer. "Naw. It was just a boring dinner party."
"Are you lying to me?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
I turned and smiled at the enigma that was my child. "No. But thanks for asking. Is it okay if we go home?"
He nodded and grabbed my uninjured hand squeezing my fingers. "It's totally okay. Grandma and I went on the rest of the rides today anyway. Why do you want to go though?"
"You cleaned my clock yesterday, kid. I think it's time for me to get serious about this stuff. I have a bad feeling in my gut and I just want to be prepared."
He nodded solemnly. "I can help you with that."
I smiled and pulled him in for a hug. "I would love that. With you training me, Nyx is toast."
Diana poked her head into the room. "Grace, can I talk to you a moment?"
I gave the kid a quick hug and nodded. "Sure. What's up?"
She came in carrying a large syringe filled with a milky liquid. "Well, first I need to give you this shot."
I backed up. "Whoa. What did I do?"
She shook her head. "Not what you did. That bite mark on your arm is in need of attention."
"Oh. Well okay. Where do you want me?"
"Right here is fine. I just need to inject it near the entry site."
I gritted my teeth and waited for the needle to sink into my arm. I hated needles. "Will this make it all better?"
"Well it will stop you from turning into a Gorgon at least," She jabbed the needle into my arm and pushed the plunger down.
"G-What?" I shuddered at the pinch and stepped back.
"Gorgon. It doesn't happen with all Gorgon bites but when Medusa hits you with her venom, someone of our race has a good chance of turning into a Gorgon if it's not treated. She sent along this present as an apology." She waggled the syringe in front of me.
"Well, it's nice to know that she wasn't intending to kill me."
Diana shrugged. "Not this time at least. Did I hear you talking about going home?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I need a vacation from my vacation. Oh, and I need to figure out how to keep from getting my ass handed to me every time I get into a serious fight."
She paused a few moments and then nodded. "You should know that the anger you've been exhibiting over the last two days has been because of the bite. That's a nasty side effect of her toxin. The angrier you are, the faster the toxin moves through the system. Are you sure you don't want to try for a normal vacation?"
It didn't take me long to think about it. "I'm sure. I think that Dylan and I have a nice long talk coming and I don't want to be surrounded by babysitters when it happens. Also… well… just yeah – I want to go home."
I'd think about Heph tomorrow. Twice now he'd stepped up to the plate and through timing or sheer stupidity, nothing had come of it. We had long lives. Maybe he'd smarten up, I'd stop being so pissed off at his misogynistic ass and the third time would be the charm.
In the meantime, I had a relationship with my kid to repair, a war to prep for, a novel to write and a thousand other reasons I couldn't concentrate on the wreck that was my love life.
It would all be okay if I just ignored it right?
Right.
Epilogue
Not long ago in a gala… er… I mean right here on Earth
Over a year has passed since Grace defeated Hypnos. She's continued on with her life, training and trying to prepare herself for a battle she doesn't even know will come. Things seem quiet, but little does she know that a nefarious plan is in effect.
A plan that will ensure she never realizes her destiny…
The ink was barely dry on the letter when she folded it quickly and sealed the envelope with a glob of her own saliva.
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