Ishtar, waiting.

Ishtar was anxiously pacing around, metaphorically speaking. She could almost feel a headache coming as she considered her choices. None of them seemed worth the risk, but she had to make a proper choice.

The woman she was with, nicknamed Mel, was still in her apartment. Surprisingly, she was actually tidying up the place like Ruth asked, despite the grumbling. She washed the dishes with disgust, grabbing them as if picking up dirty underwear and feeling sick when having to pull food out of the sink. Ishtar knew Ruth well, so this was 100% Mel’s own fault. She picked up forgotten clothes from the living room and threw it all in a laundry basket before she started sweeping with some of the clumsiest movements Ishtar had ever seen.

THERE’S STILL DIRT IN THAT CORNER, WOMAN!

Ugh, she was missing Will more by the second, which was why she had to make a decision. Should she stay with this Mel girl or take a chance and fly on her own again? Neither choice was appealing enough.

Mel was staying in her apartment, and while she lived with Ruth, the familiar blonde wasn’t coming home anytime soon. She probably would, eventually, but time wasn’t on Ishtar’s side. Could she really afford to wait?

Flying off on her own wasn’t any safer. In fact, it was the riskier choice. Ishtar would be out there again, without all her senses, flying about in search of someone she could possess. Considering the girls were probably in the same place, the chances of finding anyone were even lower. On top of that, even if she were to find another random person mentally weak enough for her to fully possess, she didn’t have the strength to take over their body. She was still very weak. But despite all that, staying put here felt plain wrong. Chances were low, but the potential reward was awfully tempting.

…

No, she wouldn’t gamble on Will’s safety. She couldn’t. If she were to leave this girl and start searching for someone else, she could potentially get lost for days, weeks, months. Helga should be smart enough to realize Ishtar’s worth and the depth of her connection to Will. She wouldn’t kill him. She needed him as bait to catch her again.

Every minute, every second spent waiting was painful. Worse was when minutes turned into hours, when all this girl did after cleaning the place was lay in bed and stare at her phone.

…

Actually, it was also infuriating. The girl was watching short videos, one after another, scrolling down and letting the time fly by. It was infuriating because at one point even Ishtar felt hypnotized by them. Cute dogs doing stupid things, weird fashion advice, cooking tips… Useless, all of it, yet the girl was watching it all and Ishtar couldn’t help but watch them too, seeing the world through her eyes.

Every once in a while, the videos were interrupted by text messages. Friends or acquaintances asking her if she wanted to hang out a certain day or classmates asking if she had done her part of an assignment. Plenty of guys sending flirty texts, too, but Mel’s attitude while answering didn’t match her replies.

‘Hey, we’re getting together tomorrow night at the club. You’re joining us right? I’ll miss you if you don’t,’ said one of the texts.

‘Oh, I really want to go, but I’m super busy! I’ll try to finish everything soon and join you all!’ Mel replied with five smiley faces and hearts before tossing her phone to the side.

“What are the chances my mystery man will be there?” Mel asked herself. “He seemed about my age, so…”

UGH! Ishtar was yelling inside Mel’s head, telling her she’d let her meet her prince charming IF ONLY SHE WOULD GO OUT OF THE HOUSE. Any chance to have something happen, maybe bump into someone she knew. Hell, dangerous as it was, even running into Belphegor would be a blessing! Maybe even someone from the underworld.

Ishtar prayed for some luck for once, after all the shit she and Will had been going through. If only there was some spell to attract luck!

…

Actually, there were, but Ishtar didn’t know them and didn’t have the aether to even play the guessing game!

Come on! Anything, anything! Just let something happen to make things start moving!

The heavens heard her prayers, it seemed, because the next text message wasn’t a friend or a guy flirting. It was a text from ‘Mom’, asking for a big favor.

‘Mel, I’m out of the house and I need to get some work done but I forgot my flash drive. I’m occupied right now and can’t leave. Can you bring it to me?’

YES! Awesome mom. Get your daughter off her lazy, if very shapely and beautiful ass!

‘I’ll do it if you buy me a new coat,’ the girl replied.

SPOILED BRAT!

‘You’ll do it or I don’t fill your car next week. I’m really not in the mood, Melissa.’

Ah, Mel for Melissa. One mystery solved. Also, the amazing mom continues. Then again, maybe don’t fill your daughter’s car… ever, but hey, what did it matter to Ishtar.

“UGH!” Melissa groaned and punched her bed, but still got up.

‘Fine, where is it?’ she asked.

‘My apartment, inside the drawer in the desk in my office. Here’s the location of where I am now.’

Melissa got a message with the map location, but she didn’t check it. She put on her shoes, threw on a coat and left her apartment building dragging her feet.

What a lovely young woman…

She went to the parking lot and found her car. A very luxurious one, by the looks of it, but Ishtar didn’t know much about cars. Maybe Will would know.

…

Wait, what good is Melissa going out of the house if she’s driving a car!? She needed her to walk around, walk past as many people as possible! Ishtar supposed she could still see something in other car drivers, but… Ugh. Nothing could ever go her way, could it!?