Chapter 41: Chapter 41

“I am aware of the portals, honey. Your father mentioned knowing where the one in Reaper’s Hollow was, that’s true. He had used it. While he stopped all contact with the Reapers the moment he found out about you, he had used the portal. But he never told me where it was—or the other two. And I wouldn’t have asked. We had our own mission to fulfill, darling.”

Still shocked that Maggie didn’t know where the portals were, Ru attempted to stay focused. She’d have to tell the rest of her team, somehow, that at least that part of their trip had been in vain. “Mom—I mean, Sera… uh, Maggie,” she stammered. Taking a deep breath, she muttered, “Damn,” under her breath and then, embarrassed to have cursed in front of her mother, she apologized. “I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to call you.”

Maggie’s cheeks were tinged with pink and a broad smile spread across her face. “You can call me anything you like, Rune, my beautiful daughter.”

Returning her smile, and breathing a sigh of relief, Ru said, “I think I’d like to call you Mom, if you really don’t mind. I know we just met, I just… I always thought, if—I mean when—I found you, that you’d want me to call you that, and in my head, you’ve never stopped being my mom.”

Tears were filling the corners of Maggie’s eyes. “I would love it if you feel like calling me Mom, Ru.”

With a deep breath and resolute expression, Ru went back to her original question, “Do you know what my back looked like, before Raphael? It must’ve still looked like writing in order for you to name me Rune.”

“I do,” Maggie nodded. “Your father and I were both artists. We both did sketches of your scars when you were a baby. I took a photo, too, but who knows what happened to that.”

“Do you still have the sketches? Is it possible there’s a message there, beneath the other one?”

“There might be,” she nodded. “But I had no idea what it might say. We named you Rune because your father said your back reminded him of ancient writing. He had a thing for studying old churches. That’s how he knew about this place. He thought we could all come here and hide out. Like I said, he gave me that drawing in Los Angeles. We talked about leaving New York a few times, but we never made it that far.”

Imagining what her life might’ve been growing up here with her parents made Ru’s heart ache again. She dismissed the thoughts and returned to their topic of discussion. “Where are they now?”

“I have a tiny house, almost a hut, on the edge of the island. They’re there,” she replied. “One of the few things I was able to bring with me. I also have your baby blanket, the one I made for you, if you’d like to see it.”

“I would love to see it,” Ru nodded. “You have a house here?” Of course, she had to. Ru just couldn’t imagine what her mother had been doing all of these years.

“I do. I work here eight hours a day, five days a week, mostly archiving and doing research, and then I go straight to the church, St. Mary’s, and do my penance for the rest of the evening. I go home around 10:00, sleep, and start all over again. On the weekends, I spend the entire day on my knees at St. Mary’s.”

Shock wasn’t quite the word for what Ru was feeling. “You do?” Maggie nodded. “But… why?”

The sound her mother made was a cross between a sigh and a whimper, and once again tears threatened to trail down her cheeks. “For your father, Ru. Raphael said I needed to do penance, so I do. I hope it has kept him from enduring anything too horrific, though I can’t imagine my small prayers mean anything to the ones who torture him.”

Ru could hardly believe her ears. Thanatos’s words sprang back to her. The Keepers, the Archs, and the rest of the angels were supposed to be the good guys, and yet they were constantly torturing her father for following his heart and making a baby with the woman he loved. Everything she knew about good and evil seemed to spiral together, weaving in and out, making a tangled, twisted mess in her mind. “Mom, I’m going to go there. I’m going to make sure that what you’re doing means something. I promise.”

“I know you will, Ru. You can do anything you set your mind to. I firmly believe that.” She reached out and put her hand on top of Ru’s and the feelings of love and reassurance washed over her in a way she’d never experienced before. “And darling, I might not be able to help you with the portals, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find them, if that’s what you feel you’re meant to do. Just follow your heart, darling, and you can do anything.”

The encouragement from her mother meant more than Ru could say, so she only nodded, staring into eyes so very much like her own. However, thinking of the portals reminded her that her mom might still be in danger. “The Reapers might be headed this way,” she said, suddenly realizing they’d been talking for quite some time. “They could be following us. We thought you’d be safe because we were going to take you with us, but you’re really not going, are you?”

Slowly, Maggie shook her head. “No, darling. I’ll never go back there. And I’m not scared of the Reapers. They mean me no harm.”

“Are you sure?” Ru asked, shocked. “Reapers kill Keepers. That’s what they do. Amongst other things.”

“I’m certain they will not harm me, dear.”

“But what if there are demons with them? You never know what evil a demon might perform.” She suddenly realized her mom probably had no idea that Brighton, her grandfather was dead. “Do you know about your dad?” she asked, quietly.

A cautious look filled her mother’s eyes. “No, but I suppose you’re going to tell me he’s passed?” Ru nodded, glad she didn’t have to say the words. Maggie’s expression was a cross between remorse and pure sadness.

“I’m sorry to have to be the one to let you know.”

“No, it’s okay. We were never close. I am sorry to hear that, though.”

“He died looking for you, Mom. Looking for us. A demon got him.”

Eyebrows arched. “He did?”

“Yes. Nana loves you, Mom. Honestly, she does. Maybe you won’t go back there, but you should at least call her. And… if you’re going to stay here, what about us?”

“Oh, Ru, honey, I am never, ever going to lose you again. Nothing is ever coming between us. Nothing. And when you and Cutter have kids someday, I will absolutely be the best grandmother that ever existed. I promise. We will make it work.”

“What?” Ru asked, a guffaw escaping her lips. “Mom! Cutter’s not my boyfriend.” She realized as soon as the words escaped her mouth that she sounded like a teenaged girl embarrassed by an uncool comment made by her parent. She loved it.

“He’s not? Well, why isn’t he? He clearly has feelings for you, honey.”

Shrugging, Ru said, “It’s complicated, Mom.”

Leaning forward and whispering, she added, “And he’s so hot.”

“Mom!”

“Well, he is.”

Ru laughed loudly, maybe the loudest she’d laughed in her whole life. “Mom, I’m so glad I found you.”

“Me, too, honey. So very glad.”

Maggie reached forward, her arms open, and enveloped Ru in another hug just as tight as the first one, and the tears this time rang of happiness and comfort. Ru hoped she’d never, ever have to shed tears of sadness over her mother again.

After a long moment, Maggie released her, saying, “We should go look at those sketches. Stew will cover for me.”

“Okay, but Mom, you might not be worried about the Reapers, but I am. I need to know how close they are.”

“Can’t you sense them?” she asked, nonchalantly.

Ru shook her head, sighing. “Not very well. But the rest of my teammates probably can. I am learning, though.” She wanted to stay positive, focusing on everything she had accomplished.

“Can you send Cutter a message and see if he comes in?” Maggie asked, a sly smile on her face. “I bet he’s pacing back and forth out there waiting on you.”

Ru raised an eyebrow. “I can try.” The only time she’d ever attempted sending out a message, it had been when she’d needed someone’s, anyone’s, help. She had no idea how to hone in on just Cutter, or even what to think to cause him to come into the room.

“It’s pretty easy, honey. Just center your thoughts on him, and think about him coming into the room. He’ll know that you’re calling him, even if he doesn’t know what the message is. It’s more of a feeling than words.

Nodding, Ru closed her eyes and pictured Cutter’s handsome face in her head. Her mom giggled, and she assumed it was because she was blushing. She decided to keep it simple and pictured the word “Come” in her head, hoping he didn’t think she had him confused with a dog. After a full minute, she thought it hadn’t worked and let out the breath she’d been holding in, opening her eyes. “I don’t think it…”

The door opened a crack. “Hey, did you need me?”

Stunned at what she’d managed, Ru caught her mother’s eyes, and they erupted into another burst of laughter, Maggie patting her lightly on the hand.

“I’m not sure why this is so funny, but seriously, did you call? I couldn’t tell if it was me you wanted or one of those stray dogs outside.”

“I did! I called,” Ru assured him, finally getting control of herself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you like a dog… I just didn’t know how to do it. Mom told me how. But it worked?”

Opening the door fully, he stepped in. “Apparently, since I’m here.” He had a wide smile on his face, and she was sure he was glad that she’d said “mom” and that they seemed to be getting along so well. She had no idea how he would react when she told him that Maggie didn’t know where the portals were, but she was glad he could see how important just being with her was. “What did you need?”

“I was just wondering if you had any idea where Thanatos and his peeps are?”

“You mean his Reaps? See what I did there?” Rider asked, stepping into the room behind his cousin.

“Yes, you are hilarious,” Ru conceded. “Mom, this is Rider. Rider this is…”

“Maggie. Nice to meet you.” He extended his large hand and she took it. Ru assumed Cutter must’ve filled the rest of the team in on what had happened in the basement.

Maggie politely replied that it was nice to meet him as well, and Cutter answered, “Nat is in London. He’s been there a while. Lyric thinks that he lost you there. Either your cloak is still working or it had something to do with that hum.”

Ru was disappointed to hear that Nat had even made it across the Atlantic, but she wasn’t surprised. He’d said he was coming. “Mom, Nat asked me to tell him where you were. Why would he want to know that, why would he come here, if he wasn’t trying to find you?”

“I didn’t say he wouldn’t want to find me, dear, I said I’m not afraid of him.”