Chapter Twenty-Eight
We were in the bird room. It had a name but I couldnt remember it. I just called it the bird room because of the giant aviary in the center of it. Maybe it was the Bird Room, who knows? My mind couldnt focus on stuff like that at the moment. It was swirling with confusion, trying to figure out how the trickster was tricking us. But then I focused on the birds.
The birds were fey, and they werent caged. Not in that aviary, at least. Beyond the gilded bars, the floor fell away and opened to the world beneath the citadel. The birds were lured to this upper level with bowls of food and water, but they were free to fly away at any time. They often stayed though, hanging out on the perches even after theyd eaten their fill. Fey birds are braver than those of Earth and theyre more curious. They watched us as we watched them.
But I looked beyond them, contemplating the shaft below. Could someone use it to gain entrance to the maze? Theyd have to get past the enchanted bars of the cage first and through the citadel before that. But the trickster had proved themselves capable of a lot. The shaft below the birdcage let out somewhere near the entrance of the maze, and guards were posted there. The Elemental Well should be safe. Still, I made a mental note to have Azrael install a grate over the opening so that only birds could pass through.
As if a grate could stop the trickster.
What could? Thats what was bugging me. How were we going to stop this person? And how were they doing this? I was baffled. And, to be honest, frightened. Id spent so long feeling superior, and maybe this was payback for it. Sure, there had been enemies who had come close to triumphing over me, but I always won in the end. I won because it wasnt just me. I had the support of my family and friends, and we had some powerful allies to call on if necessary. But even individually, I felt superior. Terrible word, but true. Analyzing myself, I realized that I had gotten cocky. I think it may have been Jerry who tipped the scales. Defeating him had made me feel as if we could take on anyone.
But we had to face our enemy to defeat them. And this enemy remained faceless.
“Azrael,” Odin said.
We all followed Odins stare toward the doorway.
Azrael strode in, back to his normal self. It was a relief to see him for several reasons. First, I wanted to know what hed found at the scene and if I should go back and have a sniff. But I was also happy to see that he hadnt spent so much time as the Faerie God that he couldnt come back. The last thing we needed in the middle of this was Azrael going rogue.
“Anything?” Machar, who was standing beside the door, asked.
Azrael frowned at Machar, then said, “Nothing. I interviewed the woman who found Alex, and she said he simply appeared beneath the tree.”
“Alone?” I asked.
“Yes. She said he was lying beneath the tree, then he stumbled to his feet and stared around as if he were lost. When she approached him, he looked startled. Then he started crying for his mother.”
“Im going to tear this trickster apart,” Machar growled, blood dripping from his hat to trail down his cheek. “What kind of monster takes children?”
“Indeed,” Azrael muttered.
“Alone,” I repeated. “But Viper wasnt alone.”
“Perhaps the trickster glamoured themselves invisible so the humans couldnt see them,” Trevor said.
I nodded. That had to be it. Was this more proof that this person was a god? Not really. Faeries couldnt make themselves invisible, but they could camouflage themselves to the point where they were practically invisible. Especially if there were plants around.
“Im going back to see if I can find a scent,” I said as I stood up.
“Vervain, its late,” Odin said. “Youve been going all day at this. And you know there wont be a trail for you. This trickster only leaves trails when he wants us to follow. And when they do that, theyre not obvious but theyre not subtle either. I think you would have found something. Or Az would have.”
“I need to look anyway.”
“Very well. Do what you must. But then you come home. Agreed?”
I stared at Odins beautiful face, every line of it strong. And those stunning eyes that went from purple to blue to green. Jewel tones. Shimmering like a peacock feather. Staring at him, I had the oddest thought pop into my head. He was still waiting to have a baby with me. Odin wanted to be a father again, but there were children who needed to be born in a certain order. Id seen them in a broken future, and I had to make sure they were born in this future before I even thought about having other babies.
Now, those children had been born. And yet Odin hadnt pestered me for a baby. Honestly, we already had Vidar, and we had raised Vali together too. The other men thought it was only right that he wait for another chance at fatherhood with me. And then there was Re. Re had children as well, but not by me. He said he wanted to wait, but I wasnt so sure. The way Odin and Re watched me with the kids made me think they werent as patient as they led on.
But Strawberry Shortcake! I needed a break from bearing babies.
“Vervain?” Odin prompted.
“Huh?”
“Thats it,” Odin said and took my hand. “Were going home.”
“What about this trickster?” Machar demanded.
“Your son is safe,” Azrael said gently. “And you are not the only one who has been taken from. We will continue the hunt tomorrow.”
Machars jaw clenched and his lips pressed together. His rough, Red Cap features squished into something almost unrecognizable as a person. Then he grunted. “Very well. I will return in the morning.” Then he strode out, his heavy footsteps thudding on the marble floor.
I stared after him, trying to regain my line of thought.
“Vervain?” Odin tugged on my hand.
“Im not ready to have another baby yet,” I said.
Odins eyes widened. “I didnt ask you to.”
I blinked. “I know. Sorry. I guess Im tired.”
“You dont get tired like zat,” Kirill said. “Torrent, are you sure zat star vasnt enchanted?”
“It wasnt by the time it was given to me,” Torrent said carefully. “Its possible there was a spell on it that slipped into Vervain and dissipated.”
“Fuck,” Viper cursed. “Teharon!”
“A Thaisce?” Arach was suddenly beside me, pushing back my hair and staring into my eyes. “Youre right, Kirill. Somethings wrong.”
“Calm yourselves,” Teharon said as he came through the crowd.
I met Teharons turquoise eyes and smiled. Teharon was so handsome. I loved his long black hair. And the feather that he always wore. I loved that the white feather was tipped in blood. I loved blood. Its so delicious. And I loved Teharon. He had saved my life.
“Yes, theres something here,” Teharon said.
I hadnt even noticed his hand on my shoulder. I was too lost in his eyes.
“Close your eyes, Vervain,” Teharon said.
“Okiedokie.” I closed my eyes.
“Okiedokie?” Horus asked. “Promise me we will never become that type of parents, my love.”
“Shut up, Horus!” Hekate hissed.
Then cool magic rushed through me like a waterfall, taking something with it. Clarity came. I opened my eyes with a sharp breath. “Son of a biscuit!” I growled. “They got me again!”
“What happened to you?” Re demanded. “What were you feeling?”
“It was subtle. I didnt notice it until it took over. It just crept up on me.”
“What crept up on you?” Horus demanded.
“Confusion,” I whispered. Before he could back away, I squeezed Teharons arm. “Thank you again, Teharon.”
“Anytime, Vervain.”
“Confusion,” Odin said, his focus going inward. “Thats a very specific magic.”
“It would explain how they got Cerberus, Viper, and Alexander,” Re said.
“And made my Red Caps stand down,” Arach added. “Fearghal kept saying that he didnt understand why he didnt act.”
“He didnt understand.” Odin nodded. “He was confused.”
“Yeah, thats what I felt,” Viper said. “I was too confused to do or say anything.”
“There are numerous gods of chaos who can cause confusion,” Torrent said. “Set, for example, is called the God of Confusion.”
“Set?” I looked at Re.
Set was Anubiss father. And Anubis was Res great-great-grandson. Set was not the most pleasant man. His wife was lovely, though, and had even protected me once with a blessing.
“Its not Set,” Re said. “This isnt his style.”
I snorted.
“Why is that funny?” Arach asked.
“Because its true,” Horus said. “Set is more the sort to storm a castle, banners streaming so you know youre about to get your ass kicked by the Great God of Chaos and Adversity. He is not a trickster. In fact, hed scoff at the very thought. Playing tricks is beneath him.”
“Theres Cydoemus, the Greek God of Battlefield Confusion,” Torrent offered.
“Not powerful enough,” Hades said.
“Well, Eris was powerful enough, but shes dead,” Torrent said. “She was the Goddess of Chaos and Confusion.”
A shiver went down my spine. Eris had been more than Id expected. Not only did she have her children—deadly gods who had been fathered by Ares, but she also had an army of dead souls to fight for her. If Arach hadnt shown up with the Wild Hunt, Im not sure that we would have won that battle. But we had. Eris and all her children were dead. Sort of sad, really.
“Who else?” Trevor asked Torrent.
I almost chuckled at Odin, whose expression had gone tight. He used to be the one whom people would consult on occult matters or about other gods. Odin had an extensive library of spellbooks and something I called his Santa TV that was the god equivalent of a teddy bear cam. But everywhere. Could we have used it to find the trickster? Maybe. If we had known who the trickster was. And he wasnt smart enough to protect himself with a ward.
But then Torr joined the God Squad, and he became our version of Alexa or Google. He was both of those combined and times ten. Torrent didnt just have access to the Internet; he ruled it. He was the Internet God and nothing could hide from him there. Government databases, bank information, whatever. If it was in any way connected to the Web, he could find it. In an instant. Frankly, if he hadnt been on our side, I would have suspected him of being the trickster.
“Well, theres Loki.” Torrent winced. “I know, I know, it cant be him.”
“Not necessarily,” Thor growled.
“Thor, its been years,” I said. “Let it go.”
Viper looked at Trevor askance.
Trevor shook his head. Nope, he wasnt about to open that can of worms. Not in front of Thor. And neither was I.
“Theres also Hermes,” Torrent hurried on.
“No,” Pan said. “Its not my father.”
“He did print that article about Vervain becoming human,” Odin said.
“Sure, during the time when all of you hated her,” Pan shot back. “Hes all right with Vervain now.”
“Even after her time as the Dark Star?” Trevor asked.
“My father loves drama. Vervain gave him enough material to fill the Hermes Herald for months.” Pan looked at Az. “And then you happened. You shot past Vervains Dark Star, Azrael. You became the Super Dark Star.”
“Thats what Vervain and I were thinking,” Arach said. “We believe this is about Azrael. The trickster attacked his family, then went after one of the children under his protection.”
Everyone looked at Az.
Azrael grimaced. “That doesnt exactly cut down the list of suspects.”
“No, but it brings us back to your pantheon,” Odin said. “They would have access to Heaven and Hell, and maybe even Faerie through that rath.”
“No,” Arach said. “If they had used the rath, they would have come through another location in Faerie. They entered through the Great Tree, the tracing point.”
“Thats one thing to be grateful for,” Az said.
“Enough of this,” Mrs E. said. “We may be gods, but we still need our rest. Lets reconvene here tomorrow.”
“Not at Pride Palace?” Trevor asked.
“Machar,” Az said simply.
“Ah. Right. Okay then. Back here tomorrow at ten.”
“Hold on. Ten in the morning?” Pan asked.
“Yes, Pan. Ten in the morning,” Az said.
“But ten in the morning Pride Palace time or Texas time?”
That made Az pause.
“Pride Palace time,” I said. “So three in the morning Texas time.” I winced and added, “Someone needs to tell Machar.”
“Not it!” Pan ran for the door.
The rest of the Squad followed Pans lead, some of them grinning at me as they left. I looked at Az.
Azrael said, “Ill have one of the knights call him. Frankly, I doubt hell sleep at all tonight.”