CHAPTER SIX HUNDRED and SEVENTY-FIVE

(part four)

Thursday morning — 11:02 a.m.

“Who are you?” Jill asked the human form standing in the middle of the loft. “Why are you in my home?”

“I’m here to protect the children,” said the . . . woman?

Jill squinted at her. This being’s skin and clothing were grey from head to toe. Her hair was in what looked like dreadlocks but could actually be live snakes.

“You’re a gorgon,” Jill said.

“I am,” the being said. “You may call me, Euryale.”

“But that’s not your name,” Jill said.

“It will do,” the being said. “Now, where are the children?”

“Would you mind if I . . .” Jill started.

Jill reached out to the being. She put her hands on either side of the being’s face.

“What are you doing little Titanling?” the being hissed. The snakes on her head awakened and they hissed at Jill as well.

“One second,” Jill said. “Just give me . . .”

The being transformed into the form of a female. As she transformed, the woman’s eyes grew on her face and moved to be wide set. Her lashes became absurdly long, and her teeth straightened. Jill smiled.

“There you are!” Jill said. “You’re a fairy.”

“What have you done?” the being asked.

“I healed you, Callisto,” Jill said. “That’s who you are, right? Callisto the half-fairy?”

The woman’s hands went to her face and head. While she still had a head of snakes for hair, her skin was no longer stone colored but rather a golden brown like Heather’s. Her eyes were deep and dark. Her hands long and supple.

“Would you like to get rid of the snakes?” Jill asked.

“Am I no longer a gorgon?” Callisto asked in a whisper.

“Oh, no, I can’t do that,” Jill said. “I can just relieve your suffering, your trauma, your pain.”

Jill shrugged.

“That is not a Titan gift,” Callisto said.

“No,” Jill said. “I get it from my mother. She’s from Russia. She from an ancient line of healers. Would you like something more comfortable to wear?”

Callisto looked down at her grey outfit. She was wearing a grey dress down to her toes and sandals.

“You’re about my size,” Jill said. “Come on.”

“This doesn’t bother you?” Callisto asked. “Being around a gorgon?”

“I’ve been around abused women all of my life,” Jill said. “My mother was beaten and assaulted. My friends are abuse survivors. It’s not your fault that you were abused. Why shouldn’t you live free?”

Callisto mouthed the words that Jill said. Shaking her head, she followed Jill into Jill’s bedroom.

“I have some of Heather’s clothes here too,” Jill said. “She comes here after she’s been in Olympia so she can change, shower, or whatever. Let’s see . . .”

Jill took a pair of jeans and a couple of shirts out of her closet.

“We wear underwear,” Jill said. “Do you know what that is?”

Callisto shook her head. Jill opened her drawer.

“You’re thin,” Jill said. “Have you been eating?”

The woman shook her head.

“Okay, let’s get you something to eat after you change,” Jill said.

“Women wear these . . .” Callisto started. “What are they called?”

“Pants,” Jill said. “We specifically call those jeans. Everyone wears them. They are comfortable. If you’re going to watch after the children, then you need something comfortable.”

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow...