Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning #3)(101)

"What will you do?" Eddie asked.

"What I can," Artemis said softly.

She lifted her hands, and they began to glow with the cool white light of a full moon. "Good-bye, my friend," she murmured as she passed her luminous hands down Pamela's body - changing - rearranging - and doing what she could to make it right. When the light faded, the mortal's broken body had been replaced by the body of a beautiful young doe.

Wearily, Artemis stood. "Walk with me, Eddie. I must return and face my father."

"Of course, my Goddess."

Tucking her arm within his, he led her carefully away from the body of the fallen doe. They had almost reached the sidewalk when Artemis suddenly stopped. Scenting the air like a creature of the forest, she turned her head and narrowed her eyes. The car was battered. The front of it caved inwards and bloodied with the clear marks of where it had hit Pamela's body. Artemis stepped closer and peered within the car. The woman frozen by Apollo's spell had both hands gripping the steering wheel. Strapped securely into her seat, she was uninjured, but her eyes were wide and filled with an unspeakable terror. Artemis drew in another deep breath.

The mortal's body reeked of liquor, and not just any liquor. Artemis' keen senses recognized the sweet scent of ambrosia mixed with lust and despair and addiction. The God of the Vine's mark was there, not clearly branded, as her bond to Pamela had been. It was more hidden, though no less binding. Artemis closed her eyes against the intensity of her anger. He would pay, she promised herself. She would see to it that Bacchus paid.

When she opened her eyes, she found Eddie watching her intently.

"You know what caused this."

"I do," Artemis said.

Eddie's face hardened in anger. "Make them pay, Goddess."

"I shall, my warrior. I shall."

Resolutely, Artemis turned to face the carnage that jealousy and spite had caused. She raised her hands. Voice magnified by her immortal power, her words shimmered throughout Las Vegas as the beautiful Huntress Goddess soothed, healed, and then destroyed the last vestiges of Bacchus' malevolent spell.

"Let their spirits be free

tonight no other shall die

the doe is the miracle they see

though they know not how or why.

"Upon their immortal souls my blessings shall rain

washing their memories - easing their pain. "

She dropped her hands, and pandemonium broke free around them. Shouts of "Can you believe it? It's a deer!" filled the night as people rushed into the street and the sound of an ambulance siren wailed in the distance. Through it all, Artemis simply took Eddie's arm. The two of them walked away, unseen, in a powerful bubble of immortal serenity.

"You did a kind thing, my Goddess." Eddie patted her hand as they made their way up the sidewalk that led to the main entrance of Caesars Palace.

Artemis smiled at him. "Thank you." Then she cocked her head, considering.

"Goddess?" the author asked.

"Eddie, I may not be able to return here. Olympus will find these events disturbing."

"I understand that." He hesitated and allowed his veneer of eccentric author to slip so that his heartbreak showed clearly in his eyes. "From the beginning I knew that you would not stay with me. Regardless of that, I chose to love you. I do not regret one instant of that choice. And I shall hold your memory close to my heart as long as there is breath in my body."

"Perhaps there is a way my memory would not be all you held close to your heart," she said slowly.

The author's eyes widened in surprise.

"Eddie, have you ever heard of a kingdom called Tulsa, Oklahoma?"

Chapter 33

"Hades!" Apollo's voice shook the walls of the Lord of the Underworld's Great Hall.

The dark god rushed into his throne room with his wife close behind him.

"Apollo?" Hades almost didn't recognize his friend, which had nothing to do with his strange, blood-spattered clothing or the glowing sphere of light he clutched to his chest. It was the wild, crazed look in his eye that was so totally foreign to what he knew of the God of Light. "What has happened?"

"They killed her. The metal beasts. I couldn't stop them. I didn't get to her in time." Breathing heavily, he spoke in short bursts.

Hades' wife moved from beside her husband. Within Persephone's immortal body, Carolina's soul shivered as she instantly understood.

"This is Pamela," she said, gazing at the bright ball of light.

"A modern mortal's soul? You brought the soul of a modern mortal here!" Hades exclaimed.

"Of course he did," Lina's voice was hushed. "What else could he do?"

"You must make it right! You must make her Pamela again."

Lina's sharp eyes skewered the God of Light. "That's enough of that kind of talk. She is still Pamela, and you're probably scaring her." She glanced back at where her husband was standing. "My love, you must welcome her."

The Lord of the Underworld moved reluctantly. He stretched out his hand, but before he touched the light, his gaze caught Apollo's. "It is not wise to meddle with the Laws of the Universe, my friend."

"She is my soul mate," Apollo said.

The dark god shook his head sadly. "Then let us hope that the Fates are understanding." He touched his palm to the glowing ball. "You are welcome in my realm, Pamela."