avengingwarbird | New Nest

“A living room with a beautiful skylight (perfect for flying in through, if you ask me), a little home office, a den, two lovely sky roofs, a loft bedroom, and, well, just wait until you see this!” The goddess Hestia excitedly beckoned Roxie Danvers up a couple of flights of stairs, until they were on the lower tier of a multiple level rooftop garden. “Perfect for meditating or entertaining!” she said with elan as she spread her arms wide, showing the space off.

Roxie couldn’t manage to fake a smile for the goddess, but she did offer the woman a half-nod. “It’s certainly a beautiful space,” Roxie replied. “But I was looking for something tougher. Darker. A little rough-and-tumble and not so elegant.”

Hestia took in Roxie’s current outfit – a pair of dark grey skinny jeans, an oversized black silk t-shirt that had a pattern which oddly resembled a bruise, a pair of spike-heeled leather boots, and a particularly tough, studded leather jacket. The young hero’s brunette locks were pulled back into a messy ponytail, and there was no make-up on the girl’s face, save for a swipe of mascara on her eyes. Now, Hestia was the least judgmental of all of the Olympians, but this was not the Roxie that she knew. The Roxie that she knew was spunky and vivacious, full of life and passion. This dark, intimidating young woman wasn’t the Roxie that she knew, and even she could tell that Roxie was struggling with this new persona.

After all, no one was truly that far gone wore silk.

Hestia smiled brightly and reached out, taking Roxie’s hands in her own. “Don’t be silly,” she said. “I’m goddess of hearth and home. I know what I’m talking about. This place was meant for you, my darling girl.”

Roxie narrowed her eyes and moved past Hestia. It was cold, it being January, and the plants were mostly dead. But Roxie could imagine what it would look like in the spring – all lush green plants and brightly coloured flowers – but it was so very much a place that she was not in, mentally.

But it is prime real estate, she thought. And the mini-office would be a great place to set up a little surveillance place – keep track of mythical monsters and arrogant aliens. I could practice up here during the day – maybe call on Artemis or someone to spar with me. Nothing much to damage up here, except the plants and the skylights.

Her face softened. Vincent would have loved it here.

But that was over now. She couldn’t…after the Kreenapping, she just…couldn’t.

She reached into her oversized Alexander McQueen tote and pulled out a thick bag, heavy with celestial Greek gold. She handed it over to Hestia. “I’ll take it,” she said, “but I want you to bless this place before I move in.” Her brow furrowed. “I need all the blessing that I can get.”

Hestia took the bag and, with a flick of the wrist and a flurry of flames, it disappeared. “Of course, Roxie. But a word of advice: I know what you went through was terrible, but this darkness that seems to be surrounding you? Don’t let it consume you,” she said. “Because darkness is a horrible thing for a child of Ares to have to deal with.” She smiled warmly at Roxie and flicked her wrist again. Downstairs, Roxie could hear flames flickering to life in the fireplace. “Consider your home blessed my dear. The papers will be over for you to sign and send back this evening.” She was going to send Iris with them. This girl needed all the cheering up she could get, and Iris was always better for that than Hermes.

Roxie watched as Hestia then disappeared in another flurry of flame, leaving in her wake the warm scent of chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon, and fresh linen – the scent of home. She breathed it in and let it relax her for a second.

And then she took off into the cold winter sky. She had a lot of work ahead of her.