Here's to my boyfriend Jagabor, and friend Kovukono, both who haven't updated. (smirks)
Flashback…
Unheard from upstairs, June let out a depressed sigh as she unpacked all her belongings. The pool party had gone great, even better than expected, yet the dismaying event of what was to come after, was not affected nor evaded in any way.
Tomorrow morning, bright and early, Marcus would be leaving for nearly half the summer; leaving June to find other things to… occupy, the word seemed to best define her situation, herself with. She was afraid of loneliness consuming her for this period of time, yet she would do everything in her power to stop it.
Of course, this newly freed space in her time could always lead to positive things: she could study many new spells, enough to even give Dennis a run for his money; she could learn new battle tactics from her grandmother; she could look up and memorize additional magical beings she had not heard about, as well as learn more about the ones she already did.
She could achieve new human experiences as well: she could have more girl-time with Jody, Ophelia, and Lila; she could find better places to hide the sugar from Ray Ray; she could experiment with clothing combinations, hair do's, and (if absolutely necessary) make-up.
She could do whatever she wanted…as long as it never left Orchid Bay premises. Which, in itself, was enough to kill whatever buzz she would've had completely. Solitary confinement, without Marcus at least, is what she called it.
Now frustrated, the already forlorn Te Xuan Ze snatched an article of clothing from her hand bag and yanked the nearest drawer open. As she nearly dislocated it from the dresser though, she noticed something amulet-shaped falling out of its former resting place.
Blinking a few times as she stared down at the object, it only took her mere seconds to realize what it was: a gold colored medal, with 1st place written on the surface. Marcus' prize from their old school's fitness competition, 2 years ago. Though it had been no more than an award-like trinket, June had accepted it without a second decline from her, at the time, crush for the soul reason of it being from him.
At this fond memory June's mouth slowly cracked into a barely visible smile; perhaps this was another, better, way to avoid loneliness during her summer break. She leisurely grinned at the thought of having this small piece of Marcus with her. She could wear it as much as she wanted to remind herself of him and the happiness he brought her. The thought of wearing it, tucked out of sight from everyone's notice underneath her clothes, comfortably hanging around her neck nearly brought a chuckle from the Te Xuan Ze.
Yet as the happy memory was just starting to lift her spirits, June suddenly remembered something else that had to do with this medal…
Which was enough to turn her frustration into flickering anger.
The bittersweet memory of an old acquaintance. Albeit one with more…attractive qualities than the villains she faced before, the very thought of him and his betrayal was enough to send her whole entire body, right to her fingertips, ablaze with fury. Now when she had almost found something to ease her pain during summer, the very object cursed her with double the pain from before.
And right as the once treasured token was about to shatter in her hands, a glance to her suitcase stopped her in time; she realized she was missing her tennis shoes (she hadn't bothered to change out of her purple sandals after the party ended to save time to say goodbye to Marcus).
Forgetting her anger, even if only for a moment, she let the transporting-charm in medal form fall from her grip and unemotionally walked downstairs…
End of flashback…
June, although still trying to recover from the shock, pondered over what her brother just said. How was it even possible for him to be here? Simple, it wasn't. Still, she couldn't bring herself to look away. His whole entire being was the most luscious, delectable sustenance for any mortal girl's eye. Which was why she had to force herself to clamp her mortal eyes shut; she had to look away before his beckoning eyes enchanted her, and it sent chills down her spine to know that if she gave in she might never look away.
She gritted her teeth and made herself bring back those memories which hurt her so deeply those years ago. Taylor hadn't known then, and might never, how much pain he caused her. The night he saved her, after she had gotten back to her home, she cried herself to sleep in her room. Not only had she hurt the one she adored, but she'd lost the other whom she'd grown to love as well. Betrayal, pain, misery; that was all, or so she forced herself to think, he brought now.
Ray Ray noticed his sister's uncomfortable reaction.
"June?" He spoke up, causing all attention to turn on her. After a slight pause when realizing everyone was staring, she silently took a deep breath and looked back at the group before her.
"Ray Ray," she spoke calmly, "would you mind taking everybody into the living room for a sec? I wanna find out what the 'newcomer' here wants."
Diverse expressions filled throughout the room: Taylor, who uncomfortably assumed where this was going, lightly cringed; Lila, who grew dispirited at the thought of leaving him, glanced down at the floor; Dennis, who had never seen this boy before, raised an eyebrow in half confusion and half suspicion; Monroe and Ray Ray, who had somewhat known this boy during his stay in Orchid Bay two years ago, exchanged puzzled glances before shrugging, and motioning for everybody else to follow them out of the room.
Once the others had left the scene, June sharply turned her gaze to the demigod boy. Taylor noticed she was reaching into her back pocket.
"Ok, let's get something straight here," she began as she pulled out the desired object, a banishment stone, without taking her eyes off him, "you try anything funny, you get banished. Comprende?"
A dark voice cackled as it watched two Nordic gods incessantly quarrel via a portal inside a heavy, dark cauldron. Well, it was actually moreso one of them was yelling nonstop, the other just seemed to be enjoying the other's presence despite the fact that he was the one being shouted at.
"All going as good as expected: with those two fools distracted by each other, and with the Te Xuan Ze and the demigod boy distracted by…each other as well, it's only a matter of time before my plan is put into action."
The being leaned over the cauldron enough so that the glow of the concoction swept over his face…or rather the face of the warlock he had possessed only days ago. Nardy's expression may have been sinisterly satisfied,
…But it was only Deagkoll who was truly contented now.
Taylor put up his hands in defense, "June, the last thing I want to do is cause you or your family any trouble."
"What're you doing here?" She demanded, ignoring his last statement.
"I…I don't know." He finally said. A blast to a nearby piece of furniture sent the boy's responsiveness sky high.
"You honestly expect me to believe that?" June said, the banishment stone still gripped in her hand.
"It's the truth!" He insisted. "Look, just hear me out-"
"And why should I?!" She interrupted. "The guy who kidnapped me by lying to me then popping me down to the Underworld, is now standing in front of me and asking me to listen to his poor life story.
"The same guy who happens to be the son of Loki, the evil tyrannical god of Lies. How do I know it's not just another pack of LIES? Then, and now. Like father like son…you're just like him."
Her speech was suddenly cut short when she felt her whole body being restricted outside of her own control. Then, she saw herself being elevated into the air, the banishment stone slipping out of her fingers; there was nothing she could do about either. She watched as it flung itself out the window. Helplessly floating above solid ground, she felt herself tilting forward until she could clearly see the Taylor's eyes ablaze with a bright intensity.
"No," he spoke, more serious than June had ever heard him speak, "I'm not." June could only be allowed to listen and nothing else as he went on,
"Because if I was, I would finish you off right now while you're paralyzed and helpless. That's just like my dad; he's a coward." She saw his once serious eyes take a form of slight depression.
Then the Te Xuan Ze felt herself being slowly and safely descended back to the hardwood floor.
June blinked at him, stunned, as he stared back at her as though nothing had happened. Maybe she had come on too strong…then again, he did abduct her, albeit he also sent her back home, despite being the one who brought her there in the first place. …Still; suddenly being a little less hostile now, she decided to at least hear him out.
"Alright," she spoke after a sigh, "let's have it Taylor."
He gave her a genuine smile, June trying her best not to blush in reaction, before explaining.
A few minutes later…
"So, you're saying after some freak occurrence, you and your dad were both sucked out of the void, and, Thor was there waiting for you guys to show up?"
"That's right."
"Well how did he know you guys were going to come back through there?"
"He didn't, he just said he heard something was about to happen in that particular place."
"From who?"
"Who else does my uncle hang out with on his day job?"
"So, the Hammerettes actually are useful."
Taylor laughed. "When they're not busy trying to beforehand smash a monster in his own lair."
"Or an elementary school." She chuckled. At this he raised a brow at her, the 13 year-old girl shyly looked away. "It's nothing. Anyway, how did they know about it?"
"At first I assumed otherworldly gossip; the redhead never shuts up." He finished the last part under his breath. "Then I found out that in the time we were gone, the immortal Nordic blacksmiths invented these new tracking slash scrutinizing slash radar weapons for the gods; so they traded in and that's how they found out."
"Nordic gods have their own blacksmiths?"
"You'd be surprised at what little we can't have."
"…Well, we're getting off the subject. We need to find out how you got out of there and why." June sighed. "Summer vacation barely starts and already I've got my work cut out for me."
"Guess this means I won't be making a transfer to Orchid Bay Jr. High." Taylor smirked.
"Like any more girls need you to break their hearts."
Automatically, a pause ensued after that remark was made. The two glanced at the floor in silence, before the 13 year-old demigod glanced up at the Te Xuan Ze with an all-apologetic look.
"June, listen. I don't know how I can make up for what I did but-"
"Don't. No one needs to know that yet."
Taylor remained silent; not because he knew her friends and relatives wouldn't exactly be happy to find out what happened, but because he knew that June herself wanted anything but to relive that again.
As did he…
…Ok, ok, so maybe it wasn't that long. But at least it was an update, and the next chapter will be MUCH longer!
