Chapter Twelve
“What do mean everyone adored us?”
“It quite frankly bewilders me also.” Faleph had ratcheted up his sneer for today’s meeting, adding a hefty measure of disdain.
“But the fight? The damage?”
“Feedback from the majority of party-goers was extremely positive. Apep is very pleased. And he’s very much looking forward to hosting the next event.
Everyone invited to the soiree has RSVP’d that they’ll be attending.
Now, to the menu.” Faleph clicked his fingers, a large banner appearing in mid-air beside the small table they were seated at.
Nico scanned the list. “I’m sensing a tropical theme. With a bit of a 60’s vibe? Fruit punch?”
“The majority present will be water deities. And my most revered sovereign had the recent privilege of viewing an iconic movie called Blue Hawaii, starring the very talented Elvis Presley. Apep was very impressed.”
“Ah, the pigs in blankets is making a lot more sense now. Could you change the mini hamburgers to pork pulled sliders? I think we should be aiming for retro, and not be slaves to the era.”
“Same here. I’m not going to do anything that involves jello moulds, but I will infuse a whole heap of jellied treats with liqueur in tropical flavours.”
Faleph sniffed, waving his feathered quill in the air, striking out lines on the banner and replacing them. “There. Satisfied?” Before either Nico or Gigi could reply, both the banner and Faleph were gone.
“There goes a very unhappy man.” Nico observed, making a few last minute notes on the pad of paper Gigi had slid his way when Faleph had appeared out of thin air as they were eating breakfast. Other than the mid-air scroll, Faleph hadn’t seen fit to reshape Gigi’s apartment, though perhaps that was an Apep thing.
Gigi glanced at her phone as it beeped, quickly grabbing it closer.
“Aunt Patricia made an identification. Meet Qetesh, second born daughter of Hathor, Egyptian Goddess of Love.” Patricia had sent a photo of a lush painting depicting a dark haired beauty lounging on a bed, surrounded by a hoard of admirers, all offering gifts.
Gigi showed Nico the painting before scrolling down to see what other information was available.
“Deemed a lesser Goddess than her mother, Qetesh is worshipped in relation to beauty, youth and fertility.”
“So she’s a demi-goddess? What about powers?”
“Nothing substantiated. Beauty appears to be her weapon. Oh, but this is interesting, for a time she was consort to her brother, Amren, who was the God of Metal Smiths and Jewellers.”
“Sounds like she either picked up some tips from him, or they’re working together.”
“No.” Gigi shook her head. “He’s dead. Killed by another brother.
Hmmm, hold on. Patricia points out this is the second of Hathor’s children we’ve identified as being involved.
We came across Hathor’s eldest born daughter, Neith, seven months ago.
She’s been going under the alias Belinda Forrest. Maat’s Warriors and Riya thwarted her attempt to take over a cable media network. ”
“She’s dead?”
“No, Neith, Belinda, is in the wind.”
“A cable network? If you were plotting to take over the Earth, having the media under your control would be all kinds of smart. You could narrate the news stories to your advantage. Get the survivors organised and under control.”
“And set yourself up as the hero of the piece. Grateful people worship heroes. No better way to power up your Goddess mojo than to act benevolent and calm in a crisis. Give survivors something, someone, to believe in.”
“So big sis’s plan was a swing and a miss. Little sis must be back up. But what is Qetesh trying to achieve exactly? A media network, I get. But I still don’t understand Qetesh’s game plan here. In fact, the more I consider the events over the past few weeks, the less sense they’re making.”
“Yes. The timing is completely skewed. My first sneak infiltrator turned up over three weeks ago now. All poisons degrade over time, so the chances of it still being viable and doing damage at one of Apep’s parties is pretty damn chancy.
That’s assuming I didn’t use the tainted products before that date just making a batch of cookies or some chocolates for my shop. ”
“Maybe Qetesh doesn’t understand toxins. She did kind of jump gun though, didn’t she?”
“She’s coming across as extremely erratic. Showing up personally at the Olympus party was pretty ballsy. Desperate even, as interacting with you brought her out of the shadows.”
“Maybe she thought there’d be no risk. She just assumed I’d buckle under at her touch. She couldn’t know about you and your muting magic. And maybe she’s not that au fait with micro recording devices.”
“I’m worried what she’ll do next, aren’t you?
There are only three more of Apep’s meet and greet parties for Copper planned.
Three more events for her to spoil, and create enough chaos that she can take another shot at your sister, and you.
” Gigi’s eye widened suddenly. “Qetesh must sense you and the ring are tied, but can’t possibly know why you haven’t buckled under.
She was either very sure her mere presence would be enough to send you over the edge, or she’s getting desperate when it comes to bringing you, you specifically Nico, over to her gold loved up side. ”
“Oh, shit, I’m her back up plan to get to Copper, aren’t I? Fuck if that bitch doesn’t want me to kill my own sister.”
“You need protection at the next party. Just in case she tries to kidnap you. If you get too far away from me—”
“I might be vulnerable to Qetesh’s power and fall under her control. Mierda. Do you know of any Enforcers who would rock a Hawaiian shirt and can mix a mean pina colada?”
“No, I have a much better idea. And bikinis will be the attire for the day.”
* * *
Damn, that was such a cool idea, Gigi was totally going to steal it for Great-Aunt Rose’s one hundred and second beach birthday bash. Admiring her two younger sisters lofty ‘Gidget-style’ white blonde bee-hives and attached ringlet ponytails.
“Love the hair.”
“Thanks.” The twins echoed one another, both grinning, patting their sky high do’s.
Gigi wasn’t the only one admiring her sisters, every God, lesser deity wanna-be, and more than a few Goddesses were eyeing Chase and Brynn with interest. That was the problem when you looked like the living embodiment of Disney’s Elsa, times two.
Gorgeous, slim yet with some curves and stunning violet eyes.
Fairytale princesses come to life, both currently rocking 1960’s bikinis.
Brynn’s blue with big white flowers. Chase’s pink with red dots.
“Sorry we’re late.” Brynn looked a little peeved for a moment. “But the guards at the entrance insisted upon frisking us for hidden weapons.”
Oh, Merciful Lady, Gigi prayed they’d left them alive.
Or maybe not. You tangled with her no longer baby sisters, recently turned twenty, you got what you deserved.
They might look like damsels waiting for a prince to come along to romance them, but they were in fact diabolically smart with a vengeful side of humour that typically only her extended family appreciated.
“Where’s our body that needs protecting?” Chase’s gaze sweeping over the crowd that had gathered on the grass and sandy palm covered atoll that had sprung up especially for this occasion.
Oh to be a party planner with a God as a client.
Locations could be manufactured from thin air.
As was the cooling breeze, the gently lapping clear idyllic ocean and the massive tiki bar off to the side and the covered thatched open structure next to it, where the food had been laid out across three massive wooden tables.
“Surly dude, only one in all black, at our two o’clock.”
“That’s your new boyfriend?”
“Nico Yanez? You’re dating Nico Yanez?”
“Where have you two been? This has been like a thing for over a week now.”
“We had exams.” The twins were studying in Germany. “And then there was a party to celebrate the end of exams and then another party to celebrate that party.”
“We don’t generally keep up with the Sanctuary grapevine, it’s generally all, blah, blah, the cats, blah, blah, Darcy blew up Great-Aunt Alma’s car with a rocket launcher.”
“Same old, same old.”
“But now we discover our sister is dating a hot Latino bar owner. Go you.”
Gigi rolled her eyes, little sisters could be so annoying. But also great, when they dropped everything to help out last minute acting as bodyguards for your faux boyfriend, that you may or may not genuinely have the hots for.
Suddenly Brynn paled. “Uh-oh.”
“Double uh-oh.” Chase looked pale also.
“Problem?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
The twins looked at each other. Clearly having a silent argument that lasted a few seconds. Finally they seemed to come to an agreement. Turning once more to look at Gigi.
“No problem. We’d just assumed this was about Copper, I mean the Goddess K’in. But I see Elijah is glued to her side.”
“Who’s after tall dark and broody?”
“If there’s something I need to know…?” The twins gifted her with their guileless innocent look, which only alarmed Gigi more. “Come on, spill.”
“It’s nothing.” Brynn spoke up.
“Not nothing.” Chase contradicted. “But not something you need to be concerned with. We’re just kind of breaking the girl-code rules here.”
“But sisters trump ho’s.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Come on. I have three minutes to fill you in on everything before I need to get the frozen treats displayed and circulated.”
* * *