Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning #3)(58)

then fade, as Apollo's light burns away morning

showers."

Bacchus paused to stifle the glee he felt at using the reference to the God of Light in his spell. Refocusing on the business at hand, Bacchus completed the words of his trap.

"The lesson I desire the Sun God to learn

is that there is more than one way to be burned."

Bacchus flung his hands towards the portal, and for an instant it shimmered in liquid light the color of chilled rose wine. Then the blush tint faded, and all appeared to be normal once again.

"Step one completed," Bacchus murmured to himself. "Step two awaits."

The God of the Vine uttered a soft command. His body disappeared, and then re-formed in the rear garden of Apollo's temple. He peered around a well-manicured bush. Just as he had anticipated, the grounds were deserted. Usually, bright nymphs clustered around their favorite god's temple, vying for Apollo's attention.

"The adoration of nymphs must not be convenient when entertaining a modern mortal," Bacchus said under his breath. "So much the better for me."

For a large god, Bacchus moved with surprising stealth. He entered through one of the rear doors of the temple and made his way silently down the marble hall until he came to a cavernous room in which a dozen of Artemis' virgin handmaidens were tittering and laughing as they arranged food and pitchers of wine on platters. Yes, he was in time. He waited, impatient for the handmaiden who seemed to be in charge of the wine to turn her head as she replied to a giggling question from one of her friends, and then with a swift, sure movement, he flicked his fingers at the pitchers of wine, whispering,

"Intoxicate... arouse... flame their desire... fog

inhibitions... set them afire."

The wine glowed briefly with an unnatural, pale pink light. Unseen by anyone, Bacchus backed out of the room and melted into the night. Now all that was left for him to do was to wait and watch... wait and watch...

Bacchus' self-satisfied laughter echoed eerily through the empty gardens.

Artemis rushed into the room, and her handmaidens respectfully silenced their chatter.

"They have arrived."

Excited whispers ceased with one motion of the goddess's hand.

"Tonight by serving my brother you serve me." The handmaidens bowed their heads. "Play your parts well."

"Yes, Goddess," their sweet voices intoned.

"Take them wine," Artemis commanded, and two of the handmaidens hurried to do her bidding. After they left, the goddess drifted over to the platters laden with delicacies. She glanced at her attentive handmaidens and said mischievously, "Shall I aid the God of Light in achieving his desire?"

Her maidens giggled and nodded. Artemis spread her hands over her brother's feast.

"Intoxicate... arouse... flame their desire... fog

inhibitions... set them afire. "

Power showered from the goddess's hands to settle over the food. There it glowed for a moment before settling back into the appearance of normalcy.

"Serve them and then leave them alone. Privacy is what Apollo will wish for tonight."

Feeling very satisfied, Artemis left her brother's temple and walked slowly in the direction of the Great Hall. It would be deserted; she had made certain of that. Aphrodite and Eros had returned earlier from their weekend foray in the Kingdom of Las Vegas, and they were resting in their temples. Artemis herself had made it clear to the nymphs still fluttering about Las Vegas that it was time they returned to Olympus, and with a few sharp words she had sent them scattering back to the forests and glens where they belonged. Silly creatures. The rest of the Twelve Immortals were making themselves scarce. Artemis had begun a rumor that Hera and Zeus were fighting again. Neither mortal nor god wished to get in the middle of that. So she would wait for her brother in the empty hall and hope that before dawn she would feel the bond between herself and the mortal dissolve. She'd certainly done all that she could. The rest was up to Apollo.

"This is absolutely spectacular." Pamela gazed around her in awe. "I can't believe that plain little door was hiding all of this."

"Does it please you?"

"Please me? Are you kidding? This place is magnificent!" Pamela tilted her head back, trying to see to the top of the domed ceiling on which she could just make out some kind of fabulous fresco, but the dizziness that had struck her earlier caused her to stumble back. Phoebus' strong arm was there to catch her.

"Maybe you should sit down," he said, guiding her over to one of two exquisitely upholstered chaise lounges that rested on either side of a marble table.

She sank down on the chaise and rubbed her forehead. "I must have gotten too much sun today. My head feels woozy."

As if on cue, two young women entered the room. They were wearing short, diaphanous tunics made of white silk trimmed with silver thread embroidered in the shapes of forest creatures. One was carrying a tray that held a golden pitcher and two golden goblets. The women smiled shyly at Phoebus and Pamela.

"Wine?" they asked in perfect unison.

"Of course," Apollo said.

With graceful movements that were lovely to watch, the waitresses served them.

"Your feast is prepared," one girl said melodically.

"Shall we serve you now?" the other asked.

"Yes," Apollo said.