Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(20)

"Fornicating satyrs and their furry balls!" Venus cried in frustration. "What by all the levels of the Underworld is wrong with this goddess-be-damned thing?" But even as she cursed and paced a thought tickled at her mind...a thought that took her back to Lola's restaurant and the ladies'

room and a simple invocation that had unexpectedly pulled at her soul -

"The invocation! I answered the invocation and agreed to give Pea my aid," she told Persephone as the goddess reappeared from the portal.

"So? We've been answering invocations for eons. That never stopped us from returning to Olympus."

"I know, but there's something different at work here. I don't know what for sure yet, but the invocation touched me in a way I've not been touched before." Venus paused, concentrating.

"I'm bound to her!"

"Her?"

"Pea. That's why I've been feeling so odd - they're not my feelings. I've become linked to the mortal!"

"Oh no. Venus, what exactly did the mortal's invocation ask of you?"

"Pea asked that I give her happiness and ecstasy," Venus said miserably.

"And you agreed? Aloud?"

Venus nodded. "And I remember that I felt something during her invocation - something tugging within me that was compelling me to answer her." The goddess closed her eyes and shook her head. "I thought I was just experiencing the effects of our lovely martinis, but that wasn't it. It was the invocation itself; it was literal and binding."

Persephone gasped. "Which means you won't be able to leave this world until you've brought that pathetic mortal happiness and ecstasy."

Chapter Six

"D on't call her pathetic. She just needs some help," Venus said automatically.

"Well, she certainly has it now."

"Yes, she does." Venus drew herself up, straightening her elegant spine and lifting her perfect chin. "I am Goddess of Love. I can certainly bring happiness and ecstasy to a mortal - modern or not."

"Venus, you don't know anything about modern mortals."

"What possible difference does that make? I know love, and love is timeless."

"What are you going to do?"

"Go to Pea, of course." Thinking, Venus began to brighten. "She'll need a complete makeover -

new clothes, hair, attitude, everything. Actually, it'll be fun and I'll be performing a good deed."

Persephone looked doubtful.

"Once I've made her over I'll take her out and give her a few simple lessons on how to seduce men, and she'll be able to experience all the happiness and ecstasy she desires."

"And how are you going to find her?"

Venus stopped and thought for a moment, then smiled. "We're bound together, remember? I know where she is right now." The goddess pointed toward Midtown Tulsa. "Pea is there."

Persephone let out a very ungoddessly snort. "Of course she's there. There is a big area."

"Don't be so droll. I meant that I can feel exactly where she is. I can will myself to her doorstep if I wish." Venus laughed lightly. "It's not like I'm here with no powers."

"No, but if I don't give you these it'll be worse than having no powers - you'll have no money."

Persephone dug into her purse and pulled out a thick wallet. She flipped it open. "Okay, remember how I paid for things today? These" - she ran a manicured nail down a row of neatly placed plastic - "are credit cards. Think of them as you would bars of gold, only these won't run out - they have no limit. Remember to sign the slip of paper the clerk gives you and be sure to get the card back after you've made the purchase. Oh, wait. Let me fix them first." Persephone clicked her fingers and the name on the cards changed from Persephone Santoro to Venus Smith.

"Why do I have to have such an average-sounding name?"

Persephone rolled her eyes. "How's this?" She clicked her fingers again, and the embossed name changed to Venus Pontia, which means "born of the sea."

"Much better."

"Now please pay attention and stop complaining. This" - she opened a compartment, exposing a thick wad of neatly placed bills - "is cash."

"I know how to use coins," Venus said.

Thunder rumbled overhead and the goddesses glanced up.

"Zeus?" Venus asked.

"No, you really don't have to worry about him here. What you're hearing is an authentic Oklahoma thunderstorm, which really shouldn't be happening in February, but with Oklahoma weather you never really know what to expect."

"You should go before it begins raining," Venus said.

"I don't know.... I don't like leaving you here."

"I'll be perfectly fine. I've traversed the ancient world. I can certainly navigate my way around the Kingdom of Tulsa."

"It's not a kingdom."

"I was just testing to be certain you're listening."

Persephone rolled her eyes again. "Don't tell anyone besides Pea who you really are. Oh, and you'll have to perform some magic to convince Pea that you're not a raving madwoman."

Venus frowned.

"You're not in the ancient world anymore. No one believes in us here. That's usually a good thing. For you, stuck here, it could be a very bad thing if you act too eccentric."