Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(17)

"Except no one here knows to ask for your aid. That's part of the beauty of the modern world. Remember?"

"Don't be so negative."

"I'm not being negative. I'm being honest," Persephone explained patiently. "Here you're not a goddess. You're a beautiful, desirable woman. You would only offend a plain little nothing like that unfortunate girl if you began offering unasked for advice."

Venus sighed. "Fine. I understand that." Then she brightened again. "But if someone did ask for my advice I'd be overjoyed to help. It would be fun. Much more fun than dealing with hardhearted Anaxarete, or that wretchedly annoying Psyche."

Persephone shrugged. "If someone here asks for your advice I don't see any harm in you giving it."

"Then we are in complete agreement. As if Love would ever butt in where she's not wanted."

Persephone rolled her eyes.

"Did I notice a ladies' room somewhere in that direction?" Venus asked innocently, pointing vaguely past the bar.

"It's over there through that velvet curtain. But hurry, we need to get going. I just remembered that I promised Mother I would make an appearance in Eleusis tonight. You know, mustn't miss the great festival of Eleusinian Mysteries...." She mimicked Demeter's regal tone and then drained her martini and signaled for Jenny to bring their check.

"I know." Venus shared an understanding look with Persephone. "Demeter does get so terribly serious about her festivals. Don't worry. I'll hurry. Oh, don't want to forget this." She grabbed the Pricilla's Toy Box shopping bag and carried it with her as she walked quickly past the bar, almost ignoring the beautiful men who definitely weren't ignoring her. Even distracted as she was she spared them a small smile and automatically slowed her pace so that her hips moved with a beckoning, seductive roll, causing the firemen to fall silent, hypnotized by her beauty. Venus almost didn't notice. Almost.

She ducked through the curtain and followed the sign that pointed her to the left. The ladies'

room wasn't big, but it was neat and very clean. Velvet curtained stalls lined the wall in front of her. She was admiring the way the burgundy fabric seemed to glitter in the light from the vintage chandelier that dangled overhead when she heard the oddest thing. Someone was speaking her name.... No, it was more than that. Someone was invoking her aid!

How extraordinary. Quietly she moved forward. The poor belching mortal with the unkempt hair was standing before one of the antique sinks. Staring into the mirror, she was reciting an ancient invocation spell. The words wrapped around Venus like a lovely silken robe, caressing her skin and filling her with what felt suddenly like magical warmth.

"Pleasure, joy, delight and bliss, oh dear Venus, grant me this. With love and hope I call to thee, work your magic just for me. Beautiful Venus, blessed be, happiness and ecstasy are the gifts I ask from thee!"

As the invocation concluded Venus felt a tremendous tug within her, as if something was compelling her very soul to listen to this mortal's cry. She rushed forward, and still holding the Pricilla's Toy Box bag, she spread her arms dramatically.

"Of course I shall aid you!" Venus cried.

Pea gasped and whirled around, her hand going to her throat. "Oh, shit! You scared me. I thought I was alone in here."

Venus frowned mildly. "Not quite the reception I usually receive when I personally answer an invocation."

"What do you mean? Who are you?"

"Venus, of course. And your name is?"

"Pea," she said automatically.

"Pea? What an odd name. Are you quite certain?"

"Of course I'm certain. It's my name. Well, actually it's my nickname but it's what everyone calls me." Then Pea blinked, shaking her head like she was trying to clear it while her mind caught up with her words. "Who did you say you were?"

"Venus, the Goddess of Sensual Love, Beauty and the Erotic Arts," she replied a little smugly, using the most formal of her titles.

Pea's mouth flopped open.

"You besought my aid, and gladly I offer it to you!" Venus proclaimed with a flourish that made the tissue paper in her shopping bag rustle.

Pea closed her mouth, opened it and then closed it again.

"I understand. You must be overwhelmed with delight." She walked around Pea, clucking her tongue softly. "We do have considerable work to do." Venus reached out and touched her appliqued ballet IS the pointe shirt as if it were a rare insect she had the misfortune to discover. Then she shifted her attention to Pea's hair. Shaking her head she said, "By Aeolus's gaseous anus, we must do something about this first."

"What?"

"Your hair, of course. You don't brush it, do you?"

"Of course I brush it. What else am I supposed to - " Pea broke off, passing a hand across her forehead and looking utterly confused. "Look. I don't want to be rude, but how is my hair your business?"

"You invoked my aid. I remember exactly what you asked for - you said, 'Happiness and ecstasy are the gifts I ask from thee.' I already told you that I'm answering your plea. I'm here to help you find happiness and ecstasy. Clearly you can't find either with such misbehaving hair."

"Okay. Well. Hmm. That's nice of you. I guess. And I appreciate your, uh, interest, but I'm fine. Really." She started to move carefully around Venus like she was afraid the woman might suddenly explode.