Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning #4)(44)

The goddess raised one elegant hand, and she and the dogs disappeared in a shower of star-colored sparks.

Shaking her head, Mikki walked to the table that was laden with fruit and bread and cheese. "It might be easier if I really was kooky," she muttered. Pouring herself fragrant, rose-spiced tea from a steeping pot, she wished desperately for a couple aspirins and some BenGay.

Chapter Fifteen

THE food really was delicious, especially the cheese. Mikki took one last bite of a creamy white cheese she'd spread on a slice of chewy bread. She'd been carrying on a passionate love affair with cheese for as many years as she could remember - as her curvy butt could certainly attest to - and the selection someone had laid out for her breakfast was even more extraordinary than last night's feast.

Was that because the Guardian knew what she liked best? Could he, like Hecate, read the passions and fears in her mind? Had he plucked her favorite foods from her subconscious? If he had, then that would mean he would also know that she was thinking of him . . . and that she was intrigued as well as intimidated at the thought of seeing him again.

I am here for the roses!

She jumped guiltily. He was a beast. A creature from a strange world who had sworn an oath to guard Hecate's realm. Clearly, something had happened a long time ago and he had screwed up, Big Time, and ended up a statue in Tulsa.

What had he done? Whatever it was, she'd bet he wouldn't do it again. Mikki sighed. There were so damn many mysteries and unanswered questions here it was overwhelming. No! She shook her head and took a last sip of tea. She'd take things one step at a time and figure them out as she went. She just needed to think of this as a new job. It might be daunting to learn all the new . . . well . . . procedures, but not impossible.

And the Guardian? If she thought of him at all she should think of him like she would any security guard. For a moment the image of the Tulsa Rose Gardens' night watchman, Mel, flashed into her mind. He was short and round and very gray. Actually, he reminded her of a balding Santa Claus. Mel couldn't have been more different from the magnificent creature who had turned from stone into living flesh. Her lips curved up at the comparison. The Guardian and Mel? She really was crazy if she started thinking of the two of them as similar.

Mikki bit nervously at her lip. She didn't know how she was supposed to deal with the creature, the roses, the magick . . .

Before she could get overwhelmed - again - she stood and stretched carefully, focusing on working the stiffness out of her muscles. Her body had definitely felt better. Then she made her way slowly back into her bedroom. Busy. She needed to get to work and keep busy. It would help her muscles loosen up and her brain not to obsess on horns and hooves. And she was anxious to check out the roses. Her roses. Hecate had said that she was in charge of caring for them, that it was her destiny. She was no longer just another volunteer who daydreamed about making the gardens her own.

Eagerly, she looked around the room. Hecate had said to call the handmaidens to help her get dressed. Did that mean there was some kind of bell/rope system in her room? Isn't that how they did things in palaces "back in the day"? But this wasn't a scene from some old English movie with castles and such; this was a realm of myth and magick, something her personal life experiences hadn't exactly prepared her for.

"Maybe I should try calling a messenger owl. Talk about Hogwarts," she grumbled to herself. "Okay, you're being ridiculous." Mikki put her hands on her hips. "It can't be that hard. Hecate said to call them. So I'll call them." Actually, she thought she'd just call Gii. She felt the most connection with her, and, quite frankly, all four of the girls at once were a little more than she wanted to deal with so early. She cleared her throat. "Gii?" she said tentatively and then a little louder, "Gii, could you come here, please? I could use your help."

Nothing. Nadda. Zip. The handmaiden didn't suddenly materialize. No pitter-patter of little feet were heard rushing across her balcony.

"Okay, there must be another way to do this." Mikki paced while she thought. She was supposed to call the handmaidens . . . she came to an abrupt stop. The handmaidens were really the personification of their element. She'd called each of their elements into the circle last night. Maybe she could do something like that now. She closed her eyes and thought about Gii . . . the element Earth . . . last night the element's presence was preceded by scents that invoked the fertility of the earth and the harvest . . . the sweetness of newly cut hay . . . the ripeness of fruit and berries. Mikki could almost smell and taste the richness of a green and growing Earth.

"Gii," she said softly. "Come to me."

Almost instantly two quick knocks sounded on the far wall of her room. Mikki opened her eyes in time to see a door open seamlessly into the opulent bedroom, giving Mikki just a glimpse of a wide, moon-colored hallway as Gii hurried in. The handmaiden's arms were filled with several lengths of amber and cream and gold cloth.

"Good morning, Empousa." She curtseyed gracefully.

"I did it!" Mikki grinned. "I called and you came."

Gii's smile was warm. "Gladly, Empousa! It is a true pleasure to once again have Hecate's High Priestess within our realm. We have been idle too long." She paused and looked around her. "Did you not call the other handmaidens as well?"

"Actually, since I'm not used to having any handmaidens, I'd like to start with just you for today. Is that okay with you?"