"I'm awake," said Persephone, flopping onto a chair at the table. "Why is everyone cleaning?"
"Hera," said Isis.
Persephone nodded, not having the faintest idea what that meant. Then she picked up a bottle and started drinking. "Did I eat a lot of carrots? Maybe some marshmallows?"
"You did," said Al, smiling. "How do you feel?"
Persephone thought for a minute. "I feel...fine," she said. "Do I have a Harley in the parking lot and where did all the tattoos come from?" she asked, looking at her arms.
"Yes, on the Harley, and the tattoos are part of your magic," said Isis.
"So is Kitty Kitty," said Demeter, dumping a dustpan full of broken glass into a garbage bag.
"Is Hera part of the 'auntie' group?"
"She is," said Demeter. "You have a lot of aunties."
"Seems like it. Are they all Goddesses?"
"Pretty much," said Demeter, tying the bag closed.
"That's good, right?"
"It's the best."
"Is this lemonade I'm drinking?"
"Could be," said Al. "Diana likes it."
"Nothing makes sense anymore," sighed Persephone. "I missed my meeting."
"That was yesterday, dear," said Isis. "You are no longer that person."
Persephone put her head down on the table. "Who knew my life could change just by getting into a cab."
"We did," said Sally.
One of the hounds put his head on Persephone's lap. She petted him until a flying cat attacked him from behind.
"MINE!" he hissed at the dog, who was quickly running to hide behind the bar.
"What is your problem?" Persephone shouted, at the cat. "I was just petting him. You need to chill out, Kitty Kitty."
"You are mine," said the cat.
"I'm your WHAT, exactly?"
Kitty Kitty looked at Demeter.
"Hey, you're on your own," said Demeter.
"You're my...person," said Kitty Kitty, sheepishly.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that...I have to...look out for you, I guess."
"You guess? I was petting a dog and you got all killer cat on the poor thing."
"Okay, I admit I may have been a bit harsh on the hound but he needs to know his place."
"And just where IS his place?"
"Wherever I say it is," said Kitty Kitty."
"Got it," said Persephone. "You're in charge."
"Believe it," he said, and sauntered away, his tail fanning the air.
"I think you're all mad," said Persephone. "I'm going outside to look at my bike."
The parking lot was still empty but for the bikes and the cab. She wondered if anyone ever came to the cafe that wasn't out of their mind. Then she saw her bike. Pitch black and shiny chrome. It was beautiful. She ran her hands over it and sat down. The first thing that came to her was, MINE. She understood what Kitty Kitty meant. "MINE," she whispered.
We are a possessive bunch, she thought. Humanity may be made of the same stuff when we're dead, but that feeling was definitely only for the other side. "For now," she laughed, "I'm happy to be separate." She thought she felt the bike smile.
Kitty Kitty jumped onto the seat behind her. "I get it Kitty Kitty. I'm yours."
He rubbed his face against her back and she grinned.
Back inside she said, "Hey, do any normal people ever come in here?"
"No," said Diana. "Not really."
"So it's just for Goddesses and..."
"Their hounds, or cats," said Diana, kissing the top of one of the hound's heads. "I think someone brought in a goose once."
"Ack," said Kitty Kitty. "I remember that."
Persephone gave Kitty Kitty a look, since he was staring at the hound again.
"You all need to get along," she said, holding out her hand to the dog.
Trembling, he started crawling toward her.
"Kitty Kitty, get over here and be nice to?"
"Nickie," said Diana.
"Be nice to Nickie. Who knows, one day we may all need to be fighting together against...uh, something, right?"
The cat sniffed the terrified dog and then head butted him, rubbing his face against the dog's neck. The dog held his breath, something Persephone didn't know was possible, then exhaled and fell to his side. Kitty Kitty, curled up under the dog's chin and went to sleep. The dog was afraid to get up and finally fell asleep himself.
"See?" said Persephone, smiling. "Now their friends."
No one in the room agreed with her. They all knew Kitty Kitty too well.
"By the way, who are we fighting and what happened to my apartment and belongings?"
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