Thanks for all the reviews. You made Bob very happy. Here's the next chapter. Sorry it's been so long.
Morrigan smiled. She was wearing a long black dress with a low neckline, tight sleeves, and a flowing skirt. Her black hair was pulled into a loose plait and an emerald pendant hung around her neck. The goddess smiled and walked forward, her arms open. She hugged Molly and said, "I came by to to help. You can ask anything of me and I'll help." She pulled back, becoming serious. "I understand that Dagda came to see you?"
Molly nodded, walking past her. She set Amelie on the sofa and let her sleep. "Aye, he did. He's worried about ye." She turned to Morrigan. "But ye're here, now. Were ye followed?"
Morrigan snorted gently. "What do you take me for, Molly? I've done this enough times to lose any tails. I'm here and no one knows. Not even Dagda."
Molly shrugged. "Then ye should be safe here," she said. Her eyes flashed dangerously as she met Morrigan's gaze. "But if ye harm any other agent, person, creature, wether directly, or indirectly, I will cast ye out to the wolves. I donnae care if I was assigned to yer case; I have the right to drop it whenever I please. And that willnae look bonny to any of the others. Are we understood?"
Morrigan nodded slowly. "Yes," she said.
Molly nodded her head once. "Good," she said and walked over to Abe. She lifted Oliver out of his arms and smiled at the child. Abe walked over to a shelf and started scanning the titles.
"You're different," Morrigan said slowly. "You're more...loyal. And not to the gods."
The redhead turned and said, "I've made good friends. They're nice and good people. I donnae want them harmed." Her green gaze traveled to Abe, who was reaching up for a book. "I couldnae live with myself if I let anything bad happen to them."
Morrigan looked at Abe, then to her friend. "You love him," she said.
Molly blushed and rocked Oliver when he began to whine. "Nae," she said. "Abe is only my assistant."
The goddess gave her a look of disbelief. She leaned against the table that Molly had moved to stand over, and leaned forward. "Have you fought him yet?" she asked. "I've heard that Nessie likes him...but can he beat you?"
Molly shook her head. "Nae. I have nae fought him yet. I willnae, anyways. We are friends."
"But if you fight and he wins," Morrigan said, smiling. "You know what that means, right? It means that you have found your soul mate."
Molly forced a chuckle. "Ye ken I donnae believe that. Tis just some lie the gods tell all Guardians so they will never lose."
"Wouldn't you like to settle down? You've taken care of a number of children, but you've never had a real family." Morrigan placed a hand on her Guardian's shoulder. "Maybe you should think about it."
Molly turned to Morrigan and smiled. "If I were to settle down, Morrigan, the gods would be down a Guardian. Guardians cannae have a family. It makes them a liability." She shook her head and set Oliver down next to his sister. The two cuddled close to each other and fell asleep. Molly sighed at the sight.
Morrigan came up behind Molly and said, "But-"
The Scot turned and said, "Let us just concentrate on finding out who wants ye blamed, Morrigan. That's the job." She turned back to the table. "We're nae here to discuss my personal life."
Morrigan gave a small mischievous smile before making it vanish. She gracefully sank onto a chair and folded her hands in her lap. Her back was straight and Molly saw the calculating glint in the goddess's eyes. "I did not murder those people," she said.
Molly nodded. "I ken. They look like ye committed them, but I ken that they are nae yer doing."
Morrigan nodded her head once. "They started two months ago. The connection was made to me right away," she said. She sounded as if she were giving a statement. It was the basic equivillant, though.
"Who made the connection?" Molly asked.
"Sequana, goddess of the Seine. Though she is a Gaulish river deity, she has been envious of my powers and my territory. That is my opinion. In they eyes of the gods, though, she is a visitor from other lands. She planted the seed of doubt. There have been rumors that she has been petitioning the Danu for my position."
"Can she do that?" Abe asked, joining them.
Molly jumped slightly at his quiet approach. "Aye, she can do that," she answered. "Sequana is technically Gaul, or French; but, if she petitions Danu, it is quite possible, with the other gods and goddesses behind her, that she can replace Morrigan as the goddess of battle, strife, and the dead."
"Why would she covet such a position?" Abe asked. "And is that motive enough to frame Morrigan for murders?"
"Morrigan, as said goddess, has the power to manipulate the dead, determine who's side in a battle will win, and much more. It is great power. Anyone would kill for it," Molly said. "It's the third most important position for a being."
"What are the first two?" Abe asked.
"Danu's and Dagda's positions. Danu is head. Dadga's kind of second in command. Both are powerful. Nae gods ye want to cross." Molly turned back to Morrigan. "Did Sequana only make the connection, or did she also accuse you?"
Morrigan shook her head. "She made the connection, but I'm sure she was working with Neit."
Molly ran a hand over her face, resting it on her neck. "Neit died centuries ago, Morrigan," she said. "How could he be working with Sequana?"
Morrigan sighed. "Molly," she said, a little frustrated. "I was his wife for some time. I know when he's back."
"Why would he want to do this to ye, then?"
Morrigan shrugged. "I don't know. Isn't that your line of work? Figuring out why Neit and Sequana are working together is what you do. Not me."
Abe spoke up. "Did your ex husband ever have illicit relations with Sequana?" he asked.
The goddess looked as if she wanted to laugh. "'Illicit relations'?" she said. "Molly, where did you find this guy?"
Molly gritted her teeth, not at all happy that Morrigan was making fun of Abe. "That is nae what ye are here for, Morrigan. Just answer the question."
Morrigan calmed herself. "As far as I knew, Neit didn't have an affair when we were together. I did, mind you. It's written in the books. But Neit was loyal. He could have, but it would have had to be kept so secret that even Danu didn't know."
"Does Sequana have that kind of power?" Abe asked.
Molly and Morrigan exchanged a look. "It's possible," Morrigan said.
"Aye," Molly said. "Gaulish gods and goddesses are something that the Gaelic do nae associate with as much as they'd like. If we donnae ken the limit of their powers...it's verra possible that an affair could have happened." She hung her head. "It's also possible that Sequana brought Neit back from his death. Damn," she said, stomping her foot so as not to wake the children. "That means that this just crossed over from a local trial...to a Major Tribunal Order."
Abe saw the upset looks on the women and dared to ask that question. "What does that mean?"
Morrigan didn't answer, but Molly spoke up. She was angry. "It means that this case will have to be presented, and ruled over, by every Mythological god and goddess that exists. Every powerful being will be in the same place to pass judgement...and the sentencing is never pretty."
Abe was almost afraid to ask, but he had to to understand the severity of the situation. "What happens for a sentencing?"
Morrigan shuddered. "The guilty party is sentenced to the darkest, hottest, and worst parts of Hell. There, they are torn apart by the souls, their souls shattered to bits, and then healed completely so that it may continue every day until the end of time. Sometimes, the gods of the underworld will come and..." she trailed off in a haunted voice. "It's called Requitation."
Molly shuddered and closed her eyes as the word fell from Morrigan's lips. Abe reached out and wrapped her in his arms as he saw the pain cross her face. Even from just hearing Morrigan's explanation ran a shiver up his spine. The gods were ruthless...and having every god there for the trial? It was going to be hell, no pun intended.
Molly turned into his embrace for a moment before looking to Morrigan. "I've asked Dagda to have a list of suspects. I'll interrogate Sequana later. Right now, find an extra room and sleep. Ye donnae look so good."
Morrigan nodded and left, back straight and head high. She left as if she weren't in the least bit tired. But Molly knew when Morrigan needed sleep. When the doors closed behind Morrigan, Molly looked up at Abe. "This changes things," she said, not moving from his arms.
"We have to present this to the Major Tribunal Order," he said. "I don't know what will be needed, but you can count on me to help."
Molly smiled. "Ye're so kind, Abe," she said. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. "It's all so frustrating. The work, the fighting...it wears ye down." She looked back up at him, her smile matching her eyes. "Ye're the first person in two thousand years that has treated me like this. Thank ye."
Abe stared into her shamrock eyes and leaned forward. Their lips met in a sweet kiss. There was not passion...just honesty and understanding. It didn't last long, either. But, when they pulled back, they were both smiling.
