Chapitre 335: Tit for Tat
The smell of old books wafted around Jos as she read the same sentence for what must have been the millionth time. Her mind had been darting in so many different directions earlier that she'd decided to head down to the library for some light reading. Unfortunately, no amount of written text was interesting enough to divert her mind from its many wandering paths. Footsteps drew her attention to the narrow opening leading into the reading nook of the uppermost floor." There you are. I've been looking all over." Shelly smiled as she walked over to Jos. "I'm equal parts surprised and glad you're up and about."
Jos sat her book to the side and held her arms out to meet Shelly's embrace. After several long seconds of the tight hug, Shelly finally released her and took a seat in the adjacent Chair. Jos tilted her head. "Where's little Cam today?"
Shelly gave a half-smile. "He's with his grandparents. Jamilla insisted that they keep him a few nights until things get... settled..."
Jos sighed, a frown curving her lips. "I see... Are you guys staying there too?"
"Well, we hadn't been... but we may after tonight..." She shrugged. "Ry and Russ are heading back today. They were going to before you woke up, but Poseidon made them wait until he returns. Chary and Scylla are also waiting to see you before heading back to wherever it is they go for work... Peg and Andy too... though I'm sure you'll also be eager to leave as soon as possible too seeing as to how they're planning on keeping those two vampires here until they can figure out what to do with them..." Shelly snarled up her nose. "I guess they're all bad apples just like the rest of the DeMarcos..."
Jos shook her head as she sat forward and took Shelly's clenched hands. "They're not bad, Shell... I've already talked to the youngest, and I plan to talk to Drake before I leave... I... I hope to be able to work things out with them. I don't want to stay enemies with the vampires... though I can't really know for certain why we were to begin with... Other than curse-related reasons..." She squeezed Shelly's hands as she sent her a reassuring smile. "I'm glad you came here today... I'd also hoped to get to talk to you about something before we part ways again..." Jos turned to retrieve the book she'd been looking through and handed it to Shelly. "It's a book on old artifacts and other valuable items, many of which have been lost to the world for hundreds of years." She pointed to the picture of the last paragraph she'd been reading. "It's not lost... I have this in my home on the island." She flipped through several other pages. "I have several of these things..." She set back with a pleased smile as Shelly scanned over the pages. "I used to take things that caught my eye from the ships and wreckage back when I was younger. I collected so many things over so many years..." She shrugged in wonderment. "It must be worth a fortune now!"
Shelly couldn't believe what she was reading. "Jos... some of these things are priceless treasures..."
Jos smiled brightly as she nodded. "I know, and those are only what I've been able to find so far. There's so much more than just this!"
Her wide eyes met Jos. "What are you going to do with it all?"
Jos's expression became serious. "I want to open a gallery or maybe a museum... or both! The wolf girls can be trained to work there, which will give them income too..." She gave Shelly's hands a squeeze. "And I want it to be yours. I want you to have something to fall back on in case something ever happens to Rin again... or if you just need the money down the road..." She shrugged. "I want to always be able to be there for you in some way... even if I'm not actually there..."
Shelly let the book fall from her lap as she leaned forward and hugged Jos. Happy tears ran down her cheeks. "I don't even know what to say. I can't believe you'd do something like that for me!"
Jos held her out at arm's length. "What do you mean? Why not? Shell, you mean the world to me. You and baby Cam... and you always will!" She let out a sigh. "If the last few weeks have taught me anything, it's that nothing is forever... and I don't want to have any regrets or feel like there are things I've left behind... people I've let down... if... if something like that happens again..."
Shelly nodded in understanding as she leaned in for another hug. "Thank you... Thank you for always being there and always reminding me that I'm not alone in the world! I love you!"
Jos smiled as warm tears trickled down her cheeks. "I love you, too!"
Shelly wiped her moist eyes as she sat back. "I am going to go make sure my idiot brother and husband aren't getting into too much trouble in my absence. You'll come down to the bottom floor when you're ready? I'm sure by now, they've turned the entire bottom floor into a hella celebration." She sent Jos a wink as she stood up.
Jos shook her head with a frown. "I did horrible things... it shouldn't be celebrated..."
Shelly sighed. "It's not about what you did or whether you were right or wrong for doing it... it's because you are alive and here with us... and that's all that matters to any of us." She held Jos's doubtful gaze. "You should know by now, no matter what you are, what you become, or what happens... we'll always be here for you."
Jos nodded, still not fully convinced. "I'll be down after I straighten up the area."
Shelly nodded. "Alright... Don't take too long..."
Jos nodded as she began gathering the many discarded books around her. "See you in a bit."
Drake flattened himself against the bookshelf as much as he could as Shelly left the nook on the other side. He'd not meant to but had caught the biggest majority of their conversation. He'd not been surprised to hear the young werewolf's feelings toward his family... but what had come as a surprise was Jos's reply... He stepped away from the shelf and turned the corner into the nook where Jos was now reshelving books. "Mind if I give you a hand?" He asked bending and retrieving a book from the floor.
Jos's wide eyes met his brilliant green ones as she turned. She took an involuntary step back. "Wh... what are you doing up here?"
He held her gaze as he held the book out to her. "I wanted to have a word with you... I assume you'd like the same with me?" He took a step closer, not releasing the book as she took hold of it. "Mattie has already told me about earlier..."
***
Poseidon let out a huff of anger as he popped into the hotel room his brother and sister-in-law were sharing during their stay on the surface. "You will have to deal with him, I'm at my limit!" He hung up the phone in his hand as his eyes landed on Hades. His brows arched as he took in the king of the underworld's attire... or rather lack thereof... "Am I interrupting something?"
Hades' silver eyes shined brightly in the low light of the luxurious suite. "Not at all. My wife and I were only merely enjoying our first night away from hell in over three centuries... Your spat with our brother is much more important." He held out a hand toward the seat across from him.
Poseidon pursed his lips. "I'll not take much of your time with this. I'm simply asking that you look into the Nyx issue and try to talk some sense into our brother."
Hades chuckled. "I already said I'd do the first, as for the second..." He shrugged with another chuckle. "I'm afraid even I don't have that power... but I'll see what I can do." He waited as Poseidon took a seat. "What is it that you hope to get from Zeus? What is your end goal?"
Poseidon let out a heavy sigh. "This room doesn't have a drink bar, does it? I'll need it for this conversation."
Hades smiled. "I've never known you to be one who relied on drinks to speak your mind."
"It's not that... it's simply the headache of listing all the infractions I have against our dear little brother, to date..." Poseidon retorted as he flicked his wrist and produced his favorite decanter of scotch and two glasses. He poured them and handed one to Hades. "I don't ask for more than is expected. I want my children safe from his wrath and those they care for... and I want his influence over the current council to end. We chose to set it up for a reason, you know... There is no justice as long as the members can be swayed so easily."
Hades nodded. "So, you want everything to return to a fair balance. What shall you ask for as punishment to him? Will you ask for him to step down from his position?"
Poseidon shook his head. "No, I wasn't lying when I said I convent nothing he has. All and all I see no one else more suited for the role... however he must atone for his many crimes against my children and their families, and for the wrong actions and judgments his interferences created..."
Hades arched a brow. "Shall you ask for retribution for all the situations that fall into that vast account, or shall you focus on only a few instances? Surely you understand that if you dredge up too old of infringements others that he's wronged will expect equal retribution. Olympus doesn't currently have the means to see to such lengthy and taxing affairs at the moment... nor does the underworld."
Poseidon nodded in agreement. "I understand as much... but I don't think that asking that he be stripped of the titles: God of justice, law, and order; is asking too much..."
Hades thought it over for several seconds. "Very well. Write up your grievances and we'll present them to Themis together. I do ask that you leave Hera and his children out of it, though. Again, only in the best interests of keeping things simple and to the point."
Poseidon nodded. "Very well. I'll begin working on them immediately... and I assume you will as well with your end of things?"
Hades chuckled. "I'll not be starting anything quite so soon. I have a lovely wife who's expecting to monopolize the better potion of my time while we are here. I'll see to Zeus over the next few days and pressure him to complete his list of new council candidates. I'll expect your list by then as well." He pushed himself up from the deep, black leather armchair, adjusting his robe as he did. "I assume you can see yourself out?" He said with a meaningful nod as he turned toward the hallway leading to the large private bedroom, raising his hand in a wave as he did.
Poseidon let out an irritated grunt as he finished his glass of scotch. "Indeed I can..." He mumbled as he watched Hades depart. He shook his head as he grabbed the decanter and prepared to teleport. "At least one of us shall be enjoying ourselves... I get to return to the doom and gloom of the most recent clusterfuck brought on by Zeus and his meddling..." He bit out in a low, hushed grumble.
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