Free Volcanoes by Nicole Hamlett Page A

not just by Drew.
    As I ran through the events, a few things struck me with the force of a hammer. I hate painful a-ha moments. Everything had seemed relatively common sense but then I ’ d realize I ’ d been too stupid to see the forest for the trees.
    The one thing that kept coming up over and ove r again during this period was a budding relationship.  One I ’ d ignored and pushed away.
    Maybe it was time to let go of my hurt and give Heph a chance. 
    The little Graces in my brain were cheering wildly at this thought. They had signs and confetti. Lots and lots of confetti.
    Had it really been that long since I'd gotten laid?
    I shook my head to clear the thoughts and concentrated on answering email. The relationship stuff could wait for later.

Chapter 8
     
     
    I was sitting in my chair staring at a blank page on my laptop when a shiver of unease slithered down my body.  I turned my head to the side and listened intently for any odd noises.  Nothing. It was unusually silent.  I focused more closely, listening for Dylan. I could hear him puttering around in his room, but everything else was dead silent.
    Fingers of dread curled around my stomach. The last time it had been this eerily silent, I'd nearly died.
    Quietly, I pushed back from the desk and crept to the window to peek outside.  The rabbits that lived in the bushes outside my window were sprawled out like drunken sorority sisters sleeping off a weekend bender.  I closed my eyes and whispered, "Shit."
    This would have been a good time to have the ability to teleport, to have super speed or reflexes or ev en – hell – the ability to materialize my weapons.  I may have not been able to do much with the weapons, but just having the comfortable grip of the kukri in my hand would have made me feel better.  I took a deep breath, put on my brave face and headed t o ward the front door.
    "Dylan!"
    "Yeah, Mom?"
    "I want you to head to the basement.  Call – shit, I don't know who. Call someone in Olympus and tell them that Hypnos is here.  Stay in the basement. Do not come out under any circumstances. Do you understand?"
    He bumped into me as he came rushing out into the hallway. His eyes were wide with fear. "What are you going to do?"
    I gave him a quick hug and replied, "I don't know yet.  Keep him away from the house as long as I can. Start the call now. Okay? I love you ."
    "I love you too, Mom," he replied quietly.
    "Now go." His feet sped down the hallway and down the basement stairs.  Mine, on the other hand, were dragging a little.  I wasn't looking forward to this and I hadn't lied to my son. I had no idea what I was going to do.
    Finally, my hand gripped the front door knob. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for whatever would come next. The door pushing in on me caught me by surprise and I yelped. Drew's face popped around and stared at me wide eyed.
    "Get into the basement," he whispered.
    "No," I whispered back. " You get into the basement. Wait, why are we whispering?"
    "Because Hypnos is here. I'm going to see if I can find him and take him down. Get into the basement, Grace." He pushed the door furth er and I slid back on the hardwood floor.
    "I know Hypnos is here and I'm not hiding in the basement. Why don't you just teleport us all to Olympus, you idiot?" I was starting to get annoyed. "Why do you think I need to hide but you don't?"
    His eyes widene d and he shook his head at me before stepping fully into the entry and shutting the door. "Because, you idiot , Hypnos can kill you. He can't kill me. I'm not the one who blew out her powers."
    "You don't have to be a dick about it," I hissed.
    "Why do you h ave to keep starting fights with me?" He looked perplexed… and annoyed.
    "Because," I hissed. "Because - I don't know. Just let me handle this. He could just be paying us a social visit." I smiled and nodded encouragingly.
    He raised an eyebrow and replied , "Really? You really believe that?"
    I frowned and slouched. "No. Not