42. Medusa

A lot of the people we busted out of the secret lithium mine chose to leave with Athena and use Hera’s resources to find their families. The rest came home with us. Cas must have sent a text in secret because when we portalled back, there was a welcoming committee to show everyone to their new homes and the rest of the town was throwing this massive celebration that the Coalition was finally gone.

Michael looked wholly uncomfortable but Cas just clapped him on the back.

“Go get Yahweh and the rest of the angels. Everyone knows you helped, and that you had nothing to do with what happened to us. You deserve to celebrate part of your mess being over, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. You need it and so do we. You need to relax and have fun. Everyone needs to learn that not all of you are bad. I can tell them that it was one faction of angels that did all of this, but it would be better if they could meet you and put a face to the resistance.”

“Gotcha. I’ll be back.”

Benji had left to show his parents their new house. I expected them to be gone awhile. I didn’t think either of them would be up for a party, but they came back as soon as they saw where they were staying.

“Let me introduce you to my pack,” Benji said.

Benji went around and introduced us to his dad. His dad was a hugger, which shouldn’t have been shocking since he was a werewolf.

It was kind of beautiful. His mother and father had been separated for several decades. They’d been tortured and endured so much trauma. They were still so much in love. They always had to be touching each other, and they were just so proud of Benji.

Cas hadn’t given everyone much time, but this was a supernatural village. They didn’t really need time to throw together a party when they had magic or super speed.

The Fae and witches in the village did the lighting. There were a few restaurants and food trucks in the village who brought out food. Some people made and sold moonshine and bourbon. Dionysus waved his hand and brought several cases of his wine and conjured even more food.

There was a group of teenagers who’d formed a band and were providing live music. The lead singer was a siren, so he was automatically good, but the rest of the band was just as talented. They kept the whole thing upbeat so everyone was dancing.

Jezebel was already a little drunk when she nearly crashed into Cas and spilled her drink all over him.

“Who’s the kid singing?”

“That’s Xander,” Pax said. “His parents really want him to be a therapist, but he’s got his heart set on being a rock star.”

“Well, yeah. Look at him. He’s going to have the full package when he hits eighteen and you can clearly tell how much he loves performing.”

“Benji wanted to be the first hybrid on Mars when he was a kid.”

“Oh, my goddess, Mom, don’t embarrass me.”

“Well, I don’t have your baby pictures any more to show your pack and embarrass you.”

“Oh! Come see,” I said, whipping out my phone.

I didn’t really join the brawl at the lithium mine with my fists. I was pushing fury magic to the guards, but I also had my snakes out if anyone decided to come at me. I got several photos of Benji and his mom during the fight and I got the whole thing on video when his family was reunited.

Everyone crowded around my phone while I flipped through the photos. Benji had mostly just been snapping necks and ripping off heads, but he brought his shadow wolf out a few times and I got it on camera. His dad snatched my phone and was staring at it in awe.

“You figured out how to merge both sides of your heritage? That’s amazing.”

“He worked hard to figure that out,” Cas said.

“He was determined to use everything at his disposal to help bring the Coalition down and find out what happened to you,” Pax said.

Benji’s mom and dad tensed. I followed their line of sight and realized the entire party had briefly just stopped. The angels and Yahweh had arrived. Everyone just kind of stood there uncomfortable for a minute. Xander nodded to his band, and they immediately switched to this jaunty tune that you couldn’t help but dance to.

Cas marched over and started shaking hands and introducing people. He was the leader and putting people at ease. I was sure Athena and Hera gave Benji’s mom the full story and she’d been out long enough to see things go down on television and online. His dad had been kept from all that information and we’d only given him the basics unless Benji had given him more details while they were at their new house.

“Sorry, I know you told me the angels had factions, and it was one of them that started the Coalition. I also know you said the rest of them and their god either couldn’t come stop it or didn’t know about it until now, but it’s going to take some time. We used to talk about what we’d do if we ever met an angel before we fell into bed at night in the barracks.”

“I hated them, too, but a piece of my ass got away from me and killed the one who was responsible for the Coalition.”

Benji’s little piece of shadow decided to make itself known again. It pinched my ass and then flew to caress his mom’s cheek.

“You haven’t put that back yet?”

“It’s the first time it’s ever happened to me. I didn’t think I could, but I had some plans for the sheriff with it.”

“There used to be weapons that could do that to a shadow demon. We destroyed most of them, but we passed the knowledge down just in case they ever came back into play. I would have taught you when you were older, but then we all got kidnapped and separated. We can put you whole and get back to the party.”

Benji started sulking.

“Can I fuck with the sheriff a little first?”

“No! That’s part of your soul. You put it back right this instant, young man.”

Benji’s wolf ears popped out and drooped.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be right back.”

At least that was one problem solved. I’d never met Sheriff Riddle before, but I didn’t really think Benji had any control over that piece of shadow, even if it was a part of his soul.