A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 120: Book Two - Chapter 13

I left Noah in Zac’s capable hands and got his word that he’d call my father to say the job was completed per normal.He was risking a lot for my sake, I knew that.

A lot of risk for what seemed like absolutely no reason.

The level of danger associated with this insane plan wasn’t lost on me.

After all, the last thing 1 wanted was for Zac’s name to end up in my next manilla folder.I headed home as soon as I could, leaving enough time to arrive well before daylight, and walked towards my front door.

But it was as I was entering through the front gate to our property that something caught my eye.

It was an old lady, huddled up in a shawl, standing just on the street outside.

She had grey hair and eyes to match, clearly at an age that would suggest a retirement home or carer was required.

And yet she stood randomly outside my house at three o’clock in the morning, staring directly at me.

I paused for a moment and looked around, trying to see if she was with someone.

But when the empty street was completely silent and devoid of all other life, I started to wonder if maybe she’d gotten lost.

...Did I really have the energy to deal with this right now though? I was already so exhausted and just wanted to go inside to sleep in my own bed, something that would be a first after many days.

I could already perfectly visualise how soft my pillow would be...

just begging to be laid on and—.

"I can save her," the old lady suddenly said.

"I can save the girl." …

What? I took my hand off the gate handle and turned back around to fully face her, part of me still wondering if she was even talking to me.

"..Pardon?" I called back.

Wasn't it common for older people to lose their minds at a certain age? What if she was a dementia patient who wandered off? I should probably just look up where the closest hospital or retirement home was and tell them where to find—.

"The girl.Clarissa," she said.

As if that was of any real help.

I blankly stared back at her.

"I’m not Clarissa," I clarified.

"I think you’ve—."

"I know that," she snapped sharply, making me flinch a bit in surprise.

"Oh...kay.Well, is that...your daughter?" I asked, still trying to be polite.

"Or your carer? Do you want m e to call someone for you—?" 

But then she started to walk towards me, her stride more steady than I would have expected given her appearance.

There was something oddly strange about her too.

A weird atmosphere around her.

Or maybe I was just slightly unnerved by the whole creepiness of the situation.

"Do you not know who I am?" she asked once she stood within a few feet of me.

"Ma’am, truthfully, I’m not even sure if you know who you are.No offence," I said, starting to get more uncomfortable the longer this drew out.

"If you just wait here a moment though, I’ll head inside and wake up one of the maids.They can maybe help you out or something."

didn’t care about courtesy anymore and just wanted to leave

about this entire encounter that just rubbed me

neck standing up.I turned around and tried to open the gate, but she

said, and I had to bite back my instincts telling

that there was nothing to be worried about.She was just an old

be pushed

"Wait, amoment," she repeated.

reluctantly turned back around to

seemed to hold an

she spoke in a tone so low that I almost didn’t hear

you know the true story of the Winter Mist?" she

expression was completely serious as I shuffled uncomfortably under

her scrutinising me, analyzing my face for

course, I

like a

book you used to read

to my immense discomfort, she only continued to stare

I really wanted to

so close to home, merely a foot away from being back on

step forward and I could close the gate

I wasn’t sure what

wasn’t right in

the sound of bird wings loudly flying into the air somewhere, she finally turned away,

save her," she

walking back down the

that just been? I didn’t waste any more time in stepping through the gate and

much fear caused by just one crazy

terrifying than the old crone, I would have to answer that it was the

walked through my front door, I saw a light had been left on in

the house should

happened, I had every intention of just ignoring it and heading

...

familiar scent of someone I knew

been on the first step of the staircase as I came to this realisation, so close to finally being

He was expecting me.

a small sigh, I stepped back...and headed towards

greeted me,

was standing, I could only see his arma s he held a drink in his hand, the

"Father," I replied.

from Zac not long ago," he said, taking a sip from the

than expected."

this old lady outside,"

was lost.Kept trying to talk

Raven.You’re several hours late from the job.The agreed

"Ah..." 

"Did everything go...smoothly?" 

No.No, it had not.

fact, I couldn’t think of many ways in

definitely shouldn’t have, opening a door to a liability of my own

job...then by failing

consequence because I didn’t want

I couldn't mention any

already in far too deep

I knew I shouldn’t be...but I couldn’t

to find

it all went smoothly," I

is all.A crowd of people were drinking outside and, well, intoxicated o r not,

so...?"

feeling was bubbling in my chest.He couldn’t know I was lying...could he? But then again...there was no such

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