Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Nana’s mouth hung open. “Take it away and dispose of it? Now just how in the world were you going to do that?”

“White magic,” Ru whispered.

“What?” Nana nearly came out of her chair. She turned to face her daughter. “You taught my granddaughter to use that same hocus pocus nonsense that got you into this trouble in the first place? Seraphina! So, help me….”

“Wait—Nana! It’s okay!” Ru interrupted as Nana scooted to the edge of her seat like she would rise up and punch Maggie in the mouth. “It’s okay! I’ve already spoken to Raphael about it, and he is glad I did it.” She knew she was getting ahead of herself, but she saw no other way to even remotely calm her grandmother. Perhaps she should’ve opened with the comment that everything she was about to disclose was Archangel approved.

“You spoke to Raphael?” Nana asked.

At the same time, Maggie said, “Does that mean you did it?”

Ru looked from one matron to the other. Both answers were the same. “Yes.”

Maggie let out a sob and covered her mouth, while Nana’s eyes continued to bulge. ”Well, I never…” she muttered under her breath.

With a deep inhale, Ru decided to get as much out as she could while they were still in stunned silence. “I did the incantation, as I was told, but Cutter wouldn’t let me absorb the Reaper essence. He sent it to Hell. I didn’t know that would work, but it seemed to because it disappeared.” Turning to her mother, she said, “I put the white cloaking spell on him, too, to protect him from Reapers. He said he needed to get his head together, but he’d let me know when he was ready. I think he was hesitant to see you, afraid you might be angry at him, even though I tried to let him know that you weren’t.” Turning back to a fuming Nana, she said, “When I got back to Cutter’s house, Raphael was there.” She didn’t mention she assumed he was God. “He told me that he approved of everything I’ve done, but he said that I had to do two more things.” Turning back to her mom, who had tears rolling down her cheeks, she said, “Before Raphael will allow the two of you to be together, he wants me to close the remaining portal, and….” A lump formed in her throat, and Ru was having trouble finishing the sentence. Eventually, with her mother’s wide eyes beckoning her on, she managed, “And destroy Thanatos.”

The room was quiet for a moment, and Ru was certain the other two women were pondering why it was so difficult for her to complete the thought. “Oh, Ru,” Maggie finally said, her tears beginning to dry up. “I know you can close the portal, but killing Nat is going to be hard for you, isn’t it?”

Ru nodded, hoping to keep her own tears inside of her eyes where they belonged. Nat certainly wouldn’t cry over killing her. At least not in front of anyone else.

“I don’t understand,” Nana finally said. “He’s a Reaper. An awful one. Why would you have a problem destroying him?”

“It’s complicated, Nana,” Ru said. She knew both women had some inkling that there was more to their relationship than mere enemies after Ru’d awoken from her last visit with Nat in front of them, but she couldn’t even explain what it was, let alone expect them to understand. Her mother must’ve gotten a sense already that there was something there between them, but Nana didn’t seem to get it. Ru couldn’t put words to what it was. She certainly didn’t have romantic feelings for Thanatos. And he wasn’t her friend. But, nevertheless, she couldn’t think of him as only her enemy. The idea that she would be forced to destroy him had her insides churning again.

“Well, darling, I’m sure you’ll do the right thing,” Maggie said, leaning forward with her elbows buried in her lap. “Whatever you decide that might be.”

Ru rubbed her eyes with her hands. “Mom, I want you and Dad to be together more than anything. I will definitely close the portal. I just… I don’t know how I’m going to handle the second part of his orders.”

“I know, honey,” Maggie said, reaching over and patting her daughter on the arm. “It’ll be okay.”

“Will it?” Ru asked, looking from one of them to the other. “I know this doesn’t really change anything. I was supposed to be plotting his death this whole time.” She remembered Rider getting so angry at her for not nabbing Nat in the grocery store realm. “Maybe I didn’t really think about it too much before because I didn’t think I was strong enough to do it. But now… I know I am. And… I just can’t imagine what it would be like standing across from him with my power consuming him, sending him to Hell.”

Once again, a silence hung between them for several minutes before Maggie asked, “Have you spoken to Cutter about it?”

Ru nodded. “He said he’d help. And I don’t think Raphael cares who destroys Nat, so long as he’s out of the picture. I know Nat has done a lot of despicable things and been involved with the claiming of thousands of unmarked souls, either by taking them himself or sending out his minions to do it. But… like I said before, I still feel like he didn’t have a choice, that because he is Azrael’s son, he had to become what he is today. And… that’s not fair. Everyone should be allowed to choose their own destiny.”

“That’s life,” Nana said with a shrug, which was a similar sentiment to what she’d said before. “I know it sounds harsh, but it is what it is, dear. Some people are born into rich families and never have to worry about a thing. Some people are born in squalor and can’t even find suitable drinking water. It’s unfortunate, but that is the world we live in.”

“Why does it have to be?” Ru asked. “Just because we can’t save everyone, does that mean we shouldn’t try to save anyone?”

“Of course not, child,” Nana admitted. “But the soul you’re talking about is so black, so far gone, there wouldn’t be anything left to save.”

Her grandmother’s words should’ve sounded true to her ear, but they didn’t. She disagreed. Even if the tears over the family who were killed by Deena Jones were fake, even if he wasn’t really interested in what Ira was building, and even if Kyle was all a hoax, for some reason, she still saw a flicker of light in Nat whenever she spoke to him, the possibility of goodness. She felt like she was spinning her wheels going over all of this again, so she decided to talk about something else. “Anyway, I know Raphael wouldn’t be happy if the two of you spent too much time with each other before I finish my assignments,” she said the last word as if she were back in school and neither task was more than something to check off of a list, “but I do think it would be okay for you to at least meet for a little while, if Dad lets me know where he’s at before I leave for Japan.”

Before Maggie could respond, Nana added her two cents worth. “Well, he’s not coming here.”

“Nana?” Ru was shocked. She knew her grandmother wouldn’t be happy, but the fact that Raphael had already approved made her think Nana would, too. “I don’t expect you to be overjoyed, but… he’s still my dad.”

“Rune, if you had any idea what that man put our family through….”

“No, Mom, it’s okay,” Maggie spoke up. “I understand. I won’t bring him here. If I can see him, we’ll… find another place.”

Ru could hardly believe her ears. Tears began to sting the back of her eyes. “Listen,” she said, leaning forward in her chair. “This is the first chance at having a real family I’ve ever had. And I know that both of you have been through a lot because of Mom’s love for Larkin. I know that hurt you, Nana. And I’m so sorry for both of you for everything you’ve been through. But let’s not forget, if Mom hadn’t followed her heart, I wouldn’t be here. You don’t have to like my dad, Nana. You don’t have to welcome him into your home and bake him cookies. But you do have to let this be okay with you, because if the two of you start fighting again, if you refuse to see Mom because of Dad, if you can’t accept him, then… then….”

“Oh, honey,” Maggie said, getting up and wrapping her arms around Ru as she began to sob. “It’ll be okay, honey. I promise.”

Nana stood as well, and Ru felt one arm around her and imagined the other was around her mom. “Ru, I’ve been missing my family for over twenty-five years. I’m sure the heck not gonna lose either of you now. We’ll figure it out, dear.”

Ru choked out a few more sobs before she finally got herself under control. Her mom pulled a few tissues out of a box on a nearby table and handed them over, and Ru swiped at her eyes, feeling a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“Don’t be sorry, dear. I can’t blame you for being upset.” Nana kissed her on the forehead and then headed back to her seat.

Taking a knee next to her chair, Maggie said, “Ru, once the last portal is closed, and your work is done, who knows where you might end up next or what you might be doing. We all have a lot to figure out. We’ll work it out together. As a family.”

Her mother’s arms still wrapped around her, Ru leaned her head on her mom’s shoulder. She knew what she wanted for herself after the portal was closed, though she had no idea how she’d ever manage it all. Her ideal future seemed like a dream, one she’d likely never experience. But she was certain that she wanted both of these women in her life from now on, which meant they had to get along. She hoped their promises to work it out would hold true.

“You look tired, honey. Why don’t you head to bed?” Maggie stood and offered her hand to Ru, which she took and pulled herself out of the chair.

Despite the nap, Ru did feel tired—and overwhelmed. Even though it wasn’t even quite 10:00, she decided the bed was calling her name. She hugged her Nana and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then hugged her mom and told them both goodnight. She headed off to the guest room hoping that she wouldn’t have any other unexpected visitors. Three was enough for one day.