Luna had almost shrieked when Hecate suddenly went down, throwing up something that looked inhuman. "oh god," she said, trying to help Hecate up. "Oh god, do you need a hospital? Do you need- is there someone we should go to who can help you?" Hecate couldn't die could she??
But the goddess of magic was shaking her head, and Luna didn't know what to do.
Holding Hecate up, Luna turned to look into the street and waved her free arm, trying to get a taxi.
When she managed to hail one, she got into the backseat with Hecate who leaned against her. She still seemed conscious, by barely.
"Just stay awake a little longer," she begged Hecate. "I can't carry you, but I swear I'll get you somewhere safe. Please just stay with me."
The driver looked back at them and Luna gave him her address. She thought for a moment he might ask questions, but seemed to think better of it. Thank god for that.
Back at the apartment, the doorman did ask questions.
"This is my sister," she told him. "She just found out her husband's been cheating on her and she went and got stupid fucked up. She just needs to sleep it off."
Luna had, thankfully, already built up something of a rapport with this doorman and he helped Luna get Hecate to the elevator. There Luna stroked her head and whispered you'll be alright and I'll keep you safe now. Nothing got more than a small moan from Hecate.
Getting Hecate to the bed was almost impossible, Hecate having passed out completely in the corridor and Luna having to drag her. She prayed no one came out and saw that!
Once Hecate was on the bed, Luna stood watching her with her hands on her hips, breathing hard from exertion. She stayed standing like that until her breathing was normal, and she was convinced that Hecate was still breathing as well.
Then, more calmly, she tucked Hecate under the blankets and sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking dark hair off her face. "Thank you," she said again. "Thank you for everything. I won't let anything happen to you."
With a sigh she got up and went to make a cup of raspberry tea for herself. But when she turned on the tap, Luna realised how much her hand was shaking.
The apartment door was locked behind her. Hecate was asleep and safe. Ares wasn't coming after her. There was nothing but the quiet of this room.
Luna took a shuddering breath to keep herself together, and followed it with another. The third breath was interrupted by a sob and Luna backed up to the fridge and then slid down the wall, her body shaking violently as she cried, every fibre of her filled with such fear and helplessness and anger and horror at what had almost happened in that room.
She stayed there crying on the kitchen floor for a long time, curled around herself until finally there was nothing left inside her and Luna just felt empty and used up, her eyes sore and puffy, her nose running everywhere.
Luna felt like there was no stable ground anywhere, but she realised there was one thing she still had faith in. Feeling hollow, Luna slid her phone out of her pocket and wrote a post to Will.
Then she dropped her head back against the fridge, sniffed, and let out a heavy breath.