Chapter 21:

Leia POV:

    Today was the day I would get to see Alley. Pythia has been telling me what all has been going on and as much as I wanted to spend a good portion of the day with her I knew I couldn't and we had to leave. No one really knew when Bosch was going to try to attack but they knew it would be soon. "Do you want me to walk with you?" Brad asked. "No, go with mom and dad. I'll see you guys soon." I replied as I packed the rest of my stuff. Pythia was making me take all the things she bought for me already even though I insisted it stay in case someone else needs it. I sat on the bed and looked around and let my mind wander back to when I finally agreed to see my parents...

            **FLASHBACK**

    I was pacing in the living room, I was nervous. My parents were anxious to see me and although I wanted to see them too, I think I was more nervous I was going to be reprimanded and let's be honest here I do deserve it. I'll probably be grounded for the rest of my life. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad, college sounds good right now. "Stop stressing yourself." Una huffed. "How can you be so calm?" I asked, taking a deep breath. "Because they are your parents, they are more happy that you're alive but your mom might kick your ass. Just take it." Una replied. I rolled my eyes. My mother was always so soft spoken and gentle but man did that woman have a temper on her. I could hear them talking and I froze, this was it. The moment everyone had been waiting for. The door flung open and there stood my parents with Brad behind them. "Oh my baby!" My mother yelled running towards me. She ran right into me wrapping her arms around me. We stumbled a little bit but when I  balanced again I hugged her tightly. "Now honey don't hog her." My dad said walking towards me. "Hi daddy." I whispered, hugging me. 

    I could feel his body relax. It was as if he couldn't believe I was standing here until he hugged me. "How are you doing?" My dad asked. "A lot better than I was." I replied, stepping back. "We are so glad we are finally getting to see you. Are you okay? Eating?" My mother asked, grabbing my hand. "Momma, I promise I am fine. They've been taking really good care of me here." I replied. "Let's have a seat in the living room." Brad offered. We sat down on the couch and my mother nearly sat on top of me. "Let me have a look at you." My mother said cupping my face. I had a long sleeve shirt on with pants because I didn't want them seeing my scars right now. I didn't even want to look at them so why would they. "You are still as beautiful as ever." She whispered with tears in her eyes. "Momma, please don't cry." I replied with a small smile. "We were so worried for a while. Pythia wouldn't let us see you no matter how hard we tried." My dad said, making me look at him. "I know, I didn't want to see anyone just yet. There was some stuff I had to get through." I replied. "We understand baby, we are just glad you are safe, healthy and back to yourself." My mother said quickly. 

    Was I back to myself? Not fully, but it was something I had to work through. "What is that smell?" I asked, looking around. It smelled manly, like the woods after it rained. "Who were you around?" I asked, looking at Brad when I realized it was coming from him. I knew it wasn't his scent. "I met up with Brandon and Alex before we came over here, Alley had asked them to come see how you were doing." Brad replied. ''You smell like one of them. It smells good though. Not musky like you." I laughed as he narrowed his eyes. "You're the one to talk, smelling like a whole sewer." Brad replied, sticking out his tongue. "This is what we have missed." My dad said laughing at us. "Yes we have. Did your brother tell you we found a little house in Oklahoma already?" My mother asked. "How could I tell her when you told me this morning?" Brad said flatly. "Good point, but we did. It's in the woods but close enough to a town so we can still do things if we want to. We will stay as long as you want to." My mother said, patting my leg. 

    I smiled at her, "Thank you guys. I've been trying to keep my mind occupied and Brad started to train me again, slowly though." I replied. "Yeah I don't feel like pissing Pythia off. She kind of scares me." Brad replied, sitting back. "She has gotten a bad reputation that doesn't suit her. She is actually really caring and funny." I said smiling. "Sounds like she is someone you look up to and admire." My dad said. "She is, she's shown me kindness that I didn't think I deserved at the time." I replied. "You deserve everything good in the world. Don't you forget that." My mother said, hugging me. "So when are we leaving for Oklahoma?" I asked. "Next week, your father and I have to go up after we leave here and sign some papers and get it all stocked up and ready to go. When we come back that is when we will leave." My mom replied. That would give me some time to get the little things I have packed up and ready to go. "Speaking of that, we do need to leave, Brad will still be here should you need anything." My dad said, kissing the side of my head. "I want a phone call once a day just so I can hear your voice." My mother added with a small smile. "I'll call you before bed every night and we can talk about our day." I replied, hugging her.

    I knew that would make her happy because for as long as I could remember she always asked about our days, she wanted to hear it from the time we woke up until she had asked the question. I watched the two of them walk away and I sat back. "Bet you thought you were going to have your ass handed to you." Brad chuckled. I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "I did but I'll take conversations like that any day." I replied. "How are you holding up? Ready to leave?" Brad asked. "Yes, and no. I like it here, it's different but refreshing but on the flip side of it I walk by that room and it all comes back to me. The pain I had to go through to get me here hurts to remember but it's also the place where Pythia and I really bonded." I replied. Part of me hated that room but the other part of me liked it. It was pain ridden and my own screams haunt me at times but it was a place where I was shown kindness too so it had it's good and bad. "I'm sure Pythia will come and visit when she can." Brad replied easily. "She said she would. When I do come back I might move in with her." I laughed. "Good, I can have two rooms then." Brad replied. "You need your own house." I said. 

    "Yeah, yeah I know. We have things to get through first, then maybe when we come back I can look at some places. I know mom and dad want to travel when they finally retire." Brad replied. "That would be good for them. Are you ready to be the beta?" I asked. "More than ready, of course I'll have you to help if I ever need it." Brad replied, smiling at me. "Yeah you will. So tell me about these guys. Are they cute at least?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows. "Oh my goddess shut up." Brad replied, throwing the pillow at me making me laugh. I knew how much he hated it when I asked that but his reaction was still hilarious. "Don't be mad at me! One of them smells good." I said laughing harder. "I'm going to take a shower." Brad huffed standing to his feet. I watched him stomp out of the house mumbling under his breath. At least this was a little more normal

     **FLASH FORWARD.**

    I looked around the room before I closed the suitcase. "Are you ready to go?" Pythia asked, leaning against the door frame. "Yes and no. I'm going to miss it here." I replied. "You can always visit whenever you want to. I have something for you." Pythia replied walking forward. She sat on the edge of the bed and took out a small little box and handed it to me. I looked at her then down at the box. I pulled out a silver necklace with a moon at the bottom of it. I looked back at her not really understanding why she was giving this to me. "It was mine. I bought it to remind me that I am a creature of the night, strong and brave." Pythia said, smiling at me. "I- I can't accept this.." I whispered. "Of course you can, and you will. When you feel weak, wear it. Let it remind you of who you are and how far you've come." Pythia replied, giving me a look I knew all too well. I placed it around my neck and held the moon between my fingers. "Thank you." I said. "You are most welcome, now let's go and see Alley." Pythia said standing up. I grabbed my suitcase and Pythia rested her hand on my shoulder. I took a deep breath and when I opened my eyes I could see Alley standing across the room. Everyone stopped and looked at me but I was too focused on the one person I wanted to see the most. "Alley.." I croaked out walking towards her. "Leia!" Alley replied, wrapping me in a tight hug. 

    I couldn't help the tears that were now falling down my face, my most absolute best friend was standing in front of me.   "I'm so sorry! I should have listened to Jackson but I didn't and I caused so much pain. Please forgive me." I blurted out. Alley pulled me back and wiped my tears. "All is forgiven my friend, I will leave you alone with your family but I will be back soon okay?" Alley replied with a large smile. I didn't want her to go but from what I gathered from what I overheard Bosch will be appearing very soon. I nodded my head and watched her walk away. "She will be fine in the fight. I'll come and see you when it is all over but you must go now." Pythia said and I could tell by the look in her eyes that something was going to happen a lot sooner. I hugged her quickly, "Thank you so much." I whispered before I walked into the room with my parents. I nodded at all of them and quietly we snuck out and started to load into the car when that same scent hit my nose. I looked around but I didn't see anyone. "Come on Leia, we need to go." Brad said, taking my suitcase from  me. "Right, sorry." I replied climbing in the back of the SUV. I wanted to know where that smell was and who it was from but I guess I would have to wait until I came back to find that out. As we started to drive away I sent a silent prayer up to the goddess to protect everyone here and I really hoped she was listening.