Free Soul Kissed by Courtney Cole

that you’re…”
    “A demi-god.” I nodded.  “My mother is Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft.” 
    Brennan shook his head wryly.  “I don’t believe this.  I can’t.  This is unreal.”
    Before I could say another word, the moonstone on my bracelet began glowing, a soft ethereal glow against my skin.  I sucked in air, unable to speak, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum.  Around me, the ghosts began flitting to and fro.
    “Your father,” the girl who I had made eye contact with murmured.  “Your father is coming.”
    “He’s coming.”
    “He’s coming.”
    All of the ghosts were murmuring and each of them sounded afraid.  Suddenly, Gaia appeared out of nowhere, her face drawn and anxious. 
    “Empusa,” she cried.  “He’s here.”
    And then suddenly he was. 
    In a swirling fog of mist, Mormo stepped from thin air.  His black cloak fluttered in the wind and his eyes, as gray as mine, glittered in the sun.  He was pale and dark-haired, like me.  But his face was as solemn as death.  He took one step toward me and I grasped Brennan’s hand.
    “Away,” I gasped.
    And we were gone.
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    We emerged onto the deserted fairways of Adventureland Amusement Park as fear coursed through my veins like ice water.  Since it was October, the park had closed for the winter so the normally bustling walkways were silent and still. The only things moving were the dead leaves blowing across the pavement. The only sound was my pounding heart.
    “What the hell?” Brennan demanded as he turned to me.  “What the hell just happened?  Why are we were?  How did we get here?”
    I spun in a circle, checking our perimeter.  If Mormo had been close enough to us when we left, he could have followed us here.  But I realized as I examined our surroundings that had apparently not been the case.  Brennan and I were the only ones here.  Even Gaia hadn’t been able to follow us.
    I sighed a quick breath of relief.  I had brought us to the first place that had popped into my mind and I honestly had no idea why I had even thought of Adventureland. But it was for the best.  If there was no logical reason, then Mormo wouldn’t think to come here.
    “Em?” Brennan appealed to me, more firmly this time.  “What is going on?”
    “I told you that there was more to life than you knew,” I reminded him. 
    “Yes,” he acknowledged.  “But you hadn’t got to the part yet that covered people appearing from thin air and me getting teleported.”
    “I’m sorry,” I sighed.  “This is a lot for you to absorb.  I know that.  And this changes everything.  He saw you with me.  And that’s not good.”
    I trailed off as my mind raced a mile a minute.  Mormo had seen Brennan with me, which put him in danger.  My father wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him or even kill him to try and get information from him. 
    “Who was that man?” Brennan questioned calmly. 
    I glanced at his face and saw that he was back to being unflappable. Any logical person would be freaking out right about now.  The fact that Brennan was staying cool and collected was interesting. He must be tapping in to his demi-god abilities and he didn’t even realize it.
    “My father,” I murmured.  Brennan was clearly surprised.
    “So, Demis don’t get along with their parents?”
    “No, that’s not true.  My father is evil. Yours is not. I’m sure you’ll get along just fine with Apollo.”
    He didn’t look convinced, but continued.  “What about your mother?  Can’t she help you?  Didn’t you say that she’s the goddess of witchcraft?”
    I nodded.  “Yes.  She’s a very powerful witch.  But she wants me to go someplace that I don’t want to go. She trusts people that I don’t and I’m too nervous to seek her out- not just yet.”
    Brennan stared at me yet again, clearly trying to wrap his mind around everything that I was telling him.  I was surprised he was still here