Chapter 49
At least Athena’s curse was good for something. Though, with Di still gone, I still didn’t trust her not to crash into this village and ruin my life. And now that Thalia had put it out there that it was Athena’s magic that saved my body from permanent damage at the hands of the Coalition, she might actually be ready to swoop in and remove this fucking curse.
Benji looked like he was about to explode. His horns and tail were out and his tail was wagging up a storm. I’d already figured out that only happened when he was excited.
“What is it, Benji?”
“We got you a present at the Save Mart!”
“Tampons?”
“I’m going to eat Di if you think tampons are presents, Medusa. That’s morally reprehensible. The tampon aisle was confusing enough. Did you know the women’s razors cost more than the men’s? The whole thing pissed me off but not as much as idiot men thinking tampons are presents. He’s old enough to know better. Di?—”
I grabbed Benji’s cheeks and made him look at me. I was just shitting him. I didn’t think it was going to unleash a whole rant about tampons and the pink tax.
“Benji! Di gives wonderful presents and they aren’t tampons. I was teasing you. And yes, the pink tax is fucking stupid.”
“Still learning your body language, little monster. But since you’re my mate, we’re on the same page about that shit. Nah, we got you plants.”
Benji presented a succulent that hadn’t been watered enough, even for a succulent, and a half dead Venus Fly Trap. If you weren’t a green witch, it probably would have been like your boyfriend thinking tampons or a vacuum cleaner was a good present. If you were a green witch? I flung myself at Benji.
“It’s perfect!”
“It was my idea,” Cas huffed.
I pulled myself away from Benji to hug Cas. When someone coined the term bear hug, they were probably thinking of Cas. He had this way of wrapping you up in his arms and you felt like not even stupid Athena could get to you.
And I wasn’t leaving Pax out of the hugging. Pax wasn’t at the Save Mart picking out plants because he was here taking care of me. Pax did amazing things with bath products and the blender. I didn’t want him to feel left out.
After I hugged everyone, I really needed to get at those plants. I’d been cut off from my very nature since I got kidnapped. Athena turned me into a Gorgon but I’d never embraced that. I’d always be a green witch.
“Stretch your wings, little monster,” Cas said.
Benji slid over a glass of water and the first thing I did was assess how much the succulent needed and give it to her. Carnivorous plants were picky about their water, but there was a gallon of distilled water on the counter.
I closed my eyes and cupped my hands around the Venus Fly trap. I sent my magic to her roots and let her tell me what she needed. Her name was Phyllis, and she needed lots of nutrients. She was also furious she’d been neglected at the Save Mart. I tried to give her everything she needed and a little extra.
I took my hands away and sighed. I really needed that. It felt good to have and use my magic again.
“Look at the cute murder plant!” Benji cooed. Then he yelped in pain. “It fucking bit me!”
That wasn’t right. I opened my eyes, and I hadn’t just healed Phyllis. I’d completely changed her. She was bigger and healthier now but the rows of teeth that used to be soft fronds had calcified and had drawn blood when she bit Benji. I moaned.
“I think my green magic is malfunctioning. Maybe my headspace isn’t as good as I thought it was.”
Benji just shrugged.
“I shouldn’t have poked her. She looks pretty proud of herself. What does she think about what you did?”
“I want a mirror. I feel beautiful and powerful.”
“Anyone got a mirror?”
Cas pulled one from the kitchen drawer and I showed Phyllis her reflection. Oh, she definitely liked her new look. She was profusely thanking me.
“She likes it, but maybe I shouldn’t help out in the garden until I have a little better control over my magic.”
“Kinda badass, little monster,” Cas said.
“She didn’t recommend it, but Thalia taught me a potion that should help center your magic,” Pax said.
Before I could even comment, I felt the familiar vibration that Di was here. I didn’t even have to turn around.
I would have run to him, but I didn’t think I could. I was finally safe from Athena.