Chapter 284: Ice witch
A small crowd had gathered near the gates, waiting for the team that went to engage the snake to return. After the snow outside was melted and the cars drove into the base, the audible sighs of relief could be heard.
Even though Major Elio had called to inform them that they were safe and, on their way, back, one could not trust the times they were living in. Anything could have happened on the way back. Even when the cars were outside the gate, they were not fully safe. Safety was when everyone was inside the wall and gates sealed shut firmly.
As men and women stepped out of the cars, some people broke protocol and rushed out to hug them. They did not care about the risk of contamination from whatever the squad had encountered outside. They would gladly follow them to the decontamination center.
The snowstorm had scared them greatly. Some people had almost given up on their loved ones, assuming that they were dead. It was a relief to be wrong.
Alfred stood by a pillar near the gate, flexing his finger and finally feeling pain from the area around his knuckles where he had punched the wall as soon as the snowstorm warning went off in the base. His heart was still racing.
He saw Sunshine stepping down from the car, dirty, tired but alive and laughing. He rushed towards her but stopped dead when Hadrian stepped in front of him, blocking his path with a firm chest and a smirk.
"She should see her husband’s face first; it’s only fair dude." Hadrian said coolly, tilting his head towards a group nearby. "But Nimo will be over the moon if you welcome her. So go to her."
Alfred hesitated, his grin faltering. He looked between Sunshine and Nimo, torn by something within him.
Hadrian crossed his arms. "Go on. Don’t be that annoying ex that buzzes around like a fly until someone swats it to death. Keep this up and Suni will be the one doing the swatting. Now, go where you belong, she is not your concern anymore." He added, his tone left no room for argument. "By the way, we Quinns have our eyes on you. Sunshine is one of us, you should brand that into your brain."
Alfred blinked, forced uneasy smile, and backed away, waving faintly. "I was worried as a friend, nothing more. I have also known her longer than you guys, don’t act as if your family owns her or something."
Hadrian scoffed. "If there is any owning, she is the one that owns us. Her value to us is immeasurable as a wife, mother and member of the family. Your friendship has a lot of one-sided delusions that you need to kick to the curb before my cousin stomps you to death with his robot leg. Dude, just stop trying to be a shameless mistress."
Alfred huffed and walked away.
Hadrian’s sneer followed him as he left. He had made a vow to protect his cousin’s marriage from the shadows if he had to. Sunshine was not just a sister-in-law to them but a great asset they could not afford to lose. Dancing eyebrows needed to be put in his place and if Hades would not do it, he would step up and be the villain or hero.
Warren laughed from behind Hadrian. He was sure that Alfred was on his cousin’s hit list.
Meanwhile, Hades was already at the truck, his heart hammering against his ribs. The moment Sunshine’s boots hit the ground; he swept her into his arms without hesitation. He held her tight, as though he’d been holding his breath for days. The faint scent of smoke and stench from her clothes didn’t bother him. She was back to him safe and sound.
"My God, I was really worried." He murmured against her hair. "That snowstorm gave me quite the scare. I was ready to go out and search for you, but mom held me back."
Sunshine only nodded, her cheek pressed on his shoulder. "I told you that I will always come back. I am the ice queen; how can a wee little snowstorm affect me?"
"Your arrogance and confidence are very comforting." He replied with a laugh in his voice.
"I was thinking." She leaned back and looked into his eyes. "Between ice queen and ice widow, which name sounds cooler?"
Hades was speechless for five seconds. Then he raised his eyebrows. "Ice widow!!"
She chuckled.
"Are you planning to murder your husband, Mrs. Quinn?" He asked playfully.
She rolled her eyes. "No ice widow got it. But you will never guess how Scorpion died."
All around them, returning soldiers were being embraced, questioned or fed. One mother was even sprinkling some salt on her son as if he had gone out demon hunting.
She was getting more than a few frowns.
Philip was loudly sharing their journey into the forest at the top of his voice, standing atop a vehicle. Those who had stayed behind hung on every word he said. The word marauders slipped through the murmurs again_spoken with awe, fear, disgust.
Hades caught fragments of the story as he walked beside Sunshine. Attacked the snake....One fell into the lake....Strange small fish in a lake that was not frozen but rather hot.
He turned his head toward her, brows drawing together with concern. "Is this all true?"
Sunshine exhaled heavily, brushing dirt from her sleeve. "I will tell you everything after a bath and a proper meal." She said softly. Her voice was calm, but her voice carried mild exhaustion.
Then she paused and motioned Hadrian over. "The snake is in last truck, have the scales removed. Ask the villagers to skin it carefully and chop the meat into small pieces. Then transfer the meat to the cold storage warehouse, as for the skin.....take it Professor Chloe first, she will figure out what to do with it."
"Yeah...yeah...sure." Hadrian hurried off.
Hades then suddenly lifted her gently into his arms despite her protests. "I know you can walk but I prefer to carry you." He sat her into the car and drove off.
When they entered their home, the air was gentler and warmer. The smell of cooked beans and freshly baked bread hung in the air. On the table were homework books scattered in a storm of crayons half written math problems and sketches of suns and clouds. The living room floor was a battlefield of color and clay, miniature towers and bridges half formed.
The children were in one corner, deeply engrossed in their work with Tank supervising.
Ariel, ever the perfectionist was arguing passionately about the shape of the windows and doors with Tank. "I am telling you; the doors are wrong! They are too round!" Ariel said, waving a lamp of blue clay in frustration.
Tank let out a sound which seemed like a chuckle, his mechanical eyes blinked softly. "No, Foreman Ariel, they are not wrong. I am being creative."
"Creative is for non-professionals." Ariel said strongly. "If you worked in my company I would have long fired you."
Sunshine groaned.
Castiel and Earl were kneeling beside Ariel, rolling play dough in their hands.
Castiel looked up at the sound of footsteps. His eyes widened and then_"mom!"
The three boys sprinted towards her, arms flung wide. Sunshine bent down, laughter bubbling her exhaustion as they crashed into her.
"Mom, did you kill the giant snake?" Ariel asked.
His young ones paused, terror replaced their smiles.
Quickly, Sunshine said that she had. "It was small....very small and could cause us no harm."
"That is not what..." Ariel paused when he saw the disapproving looks on the adults faces. Earl was scared of snakes so knowing about a giant snake would give him nightmares. "That is good then. The tiny harmless snake is dead."
Earl collapsed to the floor, sighing in relief. "Thank God for the ice witch," he said dramatically.
Sunshine nodded. "Ice witch....much better than ice widow."