Page 2
CHAPTER TWO
I knocked thrice on the golden door, as instructed, and immediately felt smarter for thinking of the word ‘thrice.’ I was still feeling like a passable adult when the door opened. I fully expected to see a team of minotaurs or some other bulky group who excelled in the art of intimidation. Instead, a lone dwarf stood in the doorway. The badge affixed crookedly to his security uniform read Skidder .
“Big day, huh?” Skidder said, nodding in camaraderie.
“I guess.”
“You’re the main topic of conversation everywhere I eavesdrop. I haven’t seen corporate this excited since the new full-body massage chairs were delivered.” The dwarf looked me up and down until his gaze landed on the spot where I’d concealed my weapons. “I’m afraid you’ll have to leave those with the attendant.” He angled his head toward a nearby counter that resembled a coat check.
I pressed a protective hand against the throwing knife. “But these are my emotional support blades.”
“We’ll be happy to hold them here safe and sound and return them to you when you leave. ”
If I leave , I wanted to add, but I bit my tongue. No negative thoughts allowed.
My whole body tensed as I handed over my weapons. I inhaled deeply in an effort to calm my nervous system. I knew this would happen, yet my internal alarm bells were clanging like they’d been sucked into a whirling vortex.
“This way, Miss Clay, or would you prefer to be called Melinoe?”
“Lorelei is fine.”
Skidder opened another door behind him, and blinding sunlight flooded the room. The intensity was unexpected. By the time my eyes adjusted to the drastic change, Posy Martell was standing in front of me. Unsurprisingly, the siren was decked out in her signature color of pink.
“At long last,” Posy crooned. “Welcome to The Corporation’s headquarters. We call it Paradise.”
I was almost at a loss for words as I crossed the threshold and digested the area around us. Instead of high-rise buildings, palm trees swayed in a gentle breeze. The sound of lapping water was soothing enough to relax the remainder of my nervous system.
“I can see why. It’s a resort.”
“Oh, it’s far more than that.”
My breathing hitched. “Is that a lazy river?”
She smirked. “And here you thought your moat was something special.”
An unmanned golf cart pulled alongside the curb and came to a stop. “After you, Lorelei.” She motioned for me to sit.
There was no steering wheel, so I sat in what would’ve been the driver’s seat. Posy rounded the cart and settled beside me. The cart advanced without any effort by us.
I glanced at the ground ahead of us. “It isn’t on a track. ”
“No. Sit back and enjoy the ride. You’ll get an excellent view of the facilities from this vantage point.”
“I’m here for the donut,” I said.
“Consider the tour an added bonus then.”
Paradise was a resort on steroids. We passed water-facing balconies with hot tubs. Pools with fountains gushed from their centers. Boats and water scooters bobbed across the waves. Deeper in the water, generous huts sat on stilts.
“Nobody told me to pack sunscreen,” I remarked.
“Oh, you won’t need any here. The sun is simply an illusion. There are no harmful UV rays.”
I blinked at the sky. “An illusion?”
Her mouth quirked. “We’re in a pocket dimension. All members of the organization maintain a residence here, and many of them also have second homes in the human world or other realms.”
“It’s like a timeshare.” I shuddered at the thought of a high-pressure presentation in a place where management could choose to obliterate you.
A woman smiled as we drove past her. “Greetings, Melinoe,” she said with a friendly wave.
I looked at my companion. “Was there a newsletter or something? Does everybody know I’m here?”
“You no longer bear the mark that kept you hidden. It’s much easier to identify you now.” The golf cart slowed to a stop. “And now that you’re here, The Corporation would love to know more about that.”
“I bet they would.” There was no way I’d rat out the sisters who gave me the rose mark. They were only trying to protect me.
Posy exited the golf cart, and I followed suit, joining her at a white marble structure.
She opened her arms. “The meeting will be held here. ”
I surveyed the space. The lanai terrace was about as far from a stuffy conference room as one could get. A gentle waterfall served as a wall on one side, and the opposite side commanded a spectacular view of the glittering sea where merpeople sunned themselves on large rocks. Their iridescent fins caught the light, creating prisms of vibrant color on the water around them.
She guided me to a chair at the end of the table. “One Boston cream donut, as promised.”
Sure enough, a silver platter awaited me, graced with a single donut. So much for the gluttony I had planned.
I frowned at the donut. “This isn’t one of those situations where I shouldn’t accept any food or beverages, is it?” I’d been immune to the offerings in the underworld because that had been my home. I couldn’t say the same for the fae realm, or any other place rigged with rules that could entrap you.
“There are no food rules in Paradise.” Posy waved a hand at the donut. “Enjoy. I promise you it’s the best donut you’ve ever had.”
I eyed the pastry with suspicion. “Better than Krispy Kreme?”
She nodded. “And far fewer calories.”
“Well, in that case…” I took a bite.
It was heavenly.
No, it was even better than that. It was paradise for my taste buds. The pastry was soft, light, and flavorful, but the cream was the piece de resistance. Sweet, rich, and airy perfection.
“I don’t think I can ever eat another donut. You’ve ruined all pastries for me forevermore.”
“Unless you join us,” Posy said. “Then you’ll be welcome to the donut of your choice each and every morning, if you choose.”
“Oh, I’d choose. ”
“Finally, the legendary Melinoe has seen fit to join us.”
I recognized his velvety voice before I glimpsed him. “Lorelei is fine.”
“Still resisting your true nature, I see,” Mathis said, sliding into the empty chair beside me. As the Director of Risk Management, the avatar with the flattering tongue had shown up on my doorstep in search of Aite. She’d mentioned a fling with him once upon a time; he didn’t strike me as the type to grieve.
“I’m more comfortable with Lorelei, that’s all. How’s tricks, Mathis? Or should I call you Hedylogos?”
“That’s my preference, yes.” He glanced at the half-eaten donut. “I would’ve pegged you for a glazed chocolate girl.”
“I wouldn’t kick one out of bed.” I shaded my eyes to see him properly. “I didn’t realize you’d be attending this meeting.”
“I heard that you’d agreed to come and wanted to see it with my own eyes.”
“I’m big news, huh?”
He smirked. “You have no idea.”
The sharp sound of Posy’s clapping hands interrupted us. “Move along, Hedylogos. You know perfectly well you’re not on the attendance list for this meeting.”
He tipped his smile in her direction. “I’m sure the staff can manage an extra place setting.” His smile brightened. “Posy, your skin is flawless. Are you sure you’re not a goddess because you certainly glow like one?”
Posy wasn’t swayed by his weak attempt at flattery. She pulled his chair out from under him. “Leave now before I call security.” She bent down and said in a harsh whisper, “You know how important this meeting is.”
With a stiff bow, the god of flattery took his leave.
Posy lowered herself into his vacant chair with an apologetic smile. “He’s annoyed that I succeeded where he failed. ”
“Typical male,” I said.
“Typical god,” she murmured.
I looked around us. “Will anyone else be attending this meeting?”
“TBD,” she said. “To Be Determined.”
“I’m familiar with the term.” I drummed my fingers on the table. “What’s the deciding factor? Is it a me issue or a them issue?”
“Does it matter?”
“I’m nosy. Humor me.”
A waiter appeared at the table. “Something to drink, Miss Clay? Miss Martell?”
“I’ll have a cappuccino, extra foam,” Posy said.
“Tea, please.”
He bowed and withdrew.
Posy stretched her arms above her head and sighed. “I find the sound of a waterfall incredibly soothing, don’t you?”
“Yes.” There was no point in lying; I was fairly certain the waterfall was only here for my pleasure. For another visitor, it might be a wall of dragon scales or a collection of beer bottles from around the world.
She snapped her fingers and a thick folder appeared in her hand. “I took the liberty of summoning your file.”
“If you can snap your fingers and get a file, why do we need a waiter?”
Posy sighed. “Must you peer behind every curtain? Truth be told, the file was already here. I had it cloaked until I was ready to reveal it.”
“Clever. I’ve heard about this file. Sounds like it’s passed through the hands of many employees.”
“Only those with appropriate clearance,” she said. “Of course, we’re quite aware of your involvement in the disappearance of Solomon, one of our valued employees, as well as the lost access to our vault in the basement of the house on 27 Thoreau Street.” Her gaze flicked from the file to me. “Bruce Huang tried to take full responsibility for what happened at the house, of course, but our spies are better than his lies.”
As desperate as I was to ask about the fate of the dragon shifter, I knew it was futile. They would either lie or use my interest against me. Instead, I kept my face neutral. “Speaking of basements, where do you keep your dungeon in a place like this?”
“What makes you think we have a dungeon?”
“There must be somewhere for you to keep your undesirables, or do you simply lock them in a storage unit and forget about them?”
“Ah, yes. I almost forgot about your involvement in the release of seven of our special guests. You have been a busy goddess, haven’t you?”
The waiter returned with a tray. He set a dainty porcelain cup of hot water in front of me, along with a selection of teabags in brightly colored foil wrappers. He served Posy next, setting a small white cup in front of her teeming with foam.
“Thank you,” I said. I tore open the wrapper for the hibiscus tea bag and dunked it in the water.
Posy sipped her cappuccino. “Perfect, as always.”
“Doesn’t it get boring?”
She seemed genuinely surprised by my comment. “Why would perfection be boring?”
“Flaws are what make people and things interesting, gives them character.”
Posy wrinkled her nose. “To each her own, I suppose.”
I held out my hand and wriggled my fingers. “While we’re still on the subject of flaws, I’d like to see my file.”
“Not so fast.” Posy angled her head toward the silver platter. “Another donut? ”
As tempting as the offer was, my stomach was now too twisted with knots to fit a second donut. “One is enough, thank you.”
She ran her thumb along the pages of the file. “What is it you’d like to know?”
“Nothing in particular. It’s my file. I’d like to know what’s in it. I was an orphan, remember? Maybe there’s information about me that I don’t know.”
“Is it your information that you’re truly interested in or information about your parents?”
“Can’t it be both?”
Her eyes turned downcast. “I never knew my parents.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize this meeting was about you. Should we add your file to the collection? I’d love to see it.”
A scowl twisted her features. “And here I was under the impression you’re compassionate.”
“Oh, please. We both know that bit about your parents isn’t true.”
“No, but I haven’t spoken to them in decades. Does that count for anything?”
“Doesn’t make you an orphan,” I said. “Why try to emotionally manipulate me? You’ve got me right where you want me.”
A shadow passed over her features so quickly, I thought I might have imagined it. “Before we get sidetracked, I’d like to mention there’s a mix and mingle cocktail hour later. We’d be honored if you’d attend.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“A promotion.”
“Whose?”
She beamed. “Mine. A promotion was promised to whichever one of us could get you here.” She lifted her cup. “I won, which is no easy feat considering I’m not a deity. The corporate ceiling is much lower for those of us without natural immortality.”
“So there was a bounty on my head.”
She tilted her head and smiled demurely. “Not a bounty, a boon. It seems appropriate to invite you to partake in the celebration. It would also give you a chance to meet others like us.”
“You think sticking me in a room with a bunch of egotistical, all-powerful beings might persuade me to join your ranks?” I scoffed. “File or not, you don’t know me at all.”
“Whether you choose to become a member or not, I still think you’ll find the gathering worthwhile. That reminds me. We have a gift for you.” Posy snapped her fingers, and a wrapped box appeared. She slid it to me. “A small token of our appreciation that you finally agreed to a meeting.”
I tore off the paper and removed the lid from the box. Beneath a layer of delicate tissue paper was a cobalt blue T-shirt.
“We know how fond you are of leisurewear,” Posy explained.
I unfolded the T-shirt to read the logo. “Team Corporation? Someone was feeling optimistic.”
A slight, dark-haired woman entered the lanai, carrying a basket of fruit. Her haircut was severe, with bangs that sliced across her forehead in a sharp line and hard angles that framed her face.
“My apologies,” the woman said, stopping short. “I thought you were part of our department meeting.”
“No, this is a private meeting. Lorelei, this is Kami. She works in the Prophecy Department.” Posy glared at her. “And I can promise you that my assistant booked this conference room for this exact date and time.”
“Then perhaps the scheduler double-booked it,” Kami said .
“I highly doubt that. Check your calendar. You must be mistaken.”
“Is that even possible with a prophet?” I interjected.
“You’d be surprised. They’re wrong as often as they’re right.” She scrunched her nose and gave the prophet a condescending smile. “Isn’t that right, Kamikins?”
Kami didn’t return the smile. She dropped the basket at her feet, causing apples to spill across the floor.
Posy huffed. “Such a drama queen.”
Kami’s body stiffened as her eyes rolled back until only the whites remained. “Melinoe, goddess of death and darkness.”
“Yes, yes,” Posy said in a bored voice. “We know who she is.”
Kami’s voice sounded robotic. “A devil’s bargain. The devil lies in the details. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t are one and the same.”
Posy snorted. “Ah, how I love the sound of gibberish in the morning.”
I didn’t understand Kami’s ramblings either, but I wasn’t inclined to be rude about it. I rose from my chair and collected the apples that had rolled away. By the time I dropped the final apple into the basket, Kami’s eyes had returned to their dark brown color.
“Thank you,” she said with a bow.
“No problem.”
Posy flicked a hot pink fingernail. “Go tell your department to find another lanai. This one is taken, which you would’ve known if any of you were good at your job.”
To her credit, Kami didn’t knock the chair out from under Posy, which I might’ve been inclined to do. The prophet was a better deity than I was.
“Nice to meet you, Kami,” I called after her.
Posy examined her nails. “She’s one of those earthly deities. No better than a basic supernatural, really. Her whole job was to deliver messages from earth to the celestial realm.”
“But she doesn’t do that anymore?”
“She can see the future without any magic or divination. Obviously, The Corporation finds her useful.”
“But you said she’s only right half the time.”
“Still better than zero.”
“Miss Martell and the infamous Melinoe. What a fine day in Paradise this is.”
Posy shot to her feet, her cheeks as pink as her outfit. “Sir, I apologize. I didn’t realize you were here.” She bowed her head. “This is Skanda. He serves on the Executive Committee.”
“I thought you had a Board of Directors.”
He sat in Posy’s chair, effectively bumping her to the far end of the table. “We have that, too. The Executive Committee is a smaller group that oversees the day-to-day operations. The board is our primary governing body. They’re responsible for high-level strategic decisions.” He opened my file and began to flip through the pages with idle interest.
“Will anyone else be joining us?” I asked, curious to meet the gods that comprised the Board of Directors.
Skanda didn’t make eye contact. “No, I told them you’d be available for a meet-and-greet at the cocktail party.”
“I thought this was only a breakfast meeting. I didn’t dress for a formal event.”
“Posy can take care of that.”
“I’m not sure it’s necessary…”
Skanda cut me off with a stern look that quickly melted into a pleasant smile. “If we can’t impress you, how else are we to persuade you to join our illustrious organization?”
There weren’t enough cocktails in the world to convince me to put on that cobalt blue T-shirt .
“Impress me with information. I want to know more about my parents.”
He shut the folder and gave me his full attention. “Hades and Persephone, yes. Hades and I were good friends back in the day. I don’t suppose you’d know that.”
‘Back in the day’ could mean the 1970s or 680 BC. “And did you order the obliteration of your so-called friend?”
The god didn’t flinch. “No orders are given by a single deity here. Ever. Everything is done by committee.”
What a perfectly bureaucratic answer. It occurred to me that if I couldn’t get my burning questions answered during this meeting, then mixing with a group of inebriated blowhards might be the ideal setting to test for loose lips.
“What time is the cocktail party?” I asked. “I have friends expecting me at home.”
“Your paramour, Mr. Sullivan, I presume,” Skanda said.
“And others.”
His eyes glinted with recognition. “There’s no cause for concern, Melinoe. A deal is a deal. I know you think we specialize in glorified entrapment, but I am here to assure you that everything we do is above board.”
“Above your board, which isn’t saying much.”
He chuckled. “A fighting spirit, like your parents. I should expect nothing less.” He consulted his bronze watch. “Time is at our beck and call here, Melinoe. The party can start whenever you need it to. It’s in your honor, after all.”
Posy clenched her jaw. “Technically it’s in my honor, sir,” she muttered.
“Then start it now, but when I say I’m ready to leave, I want someone to whisk me straight to Skidder where I left my weapons. No delays.”
“Agreed. I’ll send a message to the invitees with the updated time.” He scraped back his chair and stood. “Posy, if you’ll escort our esteemed guest to the party. I need to take care of some business first.”
“Yes, sir.”
He smiled at me. “Great to finally meet you, Melinoe. I look forward to a fruitful relationship.”
Fat chance of that .
Posy adjusted the fit of her heels before rising to her feet. “Right this way, guest of honor.” There was a faint trace of bitterness in her voice.
We left the lanai, passing under an archway and into a courtyard.
Posy paused at the base of a statue—a man with a dog by his side. “Good evening, Lucius.”
The statue morphed into flesh and bone. The dog barked and wagged his tail.
“Good day, Miss Martell,” Lucius replied. He pivoted to me. “And a good day to you, as well.”
“Can I pet your dog?” I asked, because how could I not?
Lucius smiled. “Of course.”
“What’s his name?”
“Spedo,” Lucius replied.
Posy pursed her lips. “Huh. Who knew the dog had a name?”
As I scratched Spedo behind the ear, his tongue lashed out and licked my arm.
“Ew, gross,” Posy said. “That’s enough of that.” She produced a fuchsia handkerchief and offered it to me. “You’re a VIP about to meet other VIPs. You don’t need dog drool on your arm.”
I withdrew my hand and accepted the handkerchief. Before I could say another word, Lucius and Spedo had returned to their marble forms.
Posy continued forward. “This way.”
“What are they?” I asked, falling in step beside her .
“Lucius is a Lar. His brother Tarquin is in the main lobby.”
“And their job is to greet you?”
She rolled her eyes, as though the question bored her. “They’re Etruscan gods. Their job is to protect their descendants from harm, but since they don’t have any, they protect us instead. In ancient times, each household kept a Lar, who was acknowledged at mealtimes, and whenever you left your house and arrived home again.”
“An entire company of gods needs protection?”
She shrugged. “It’s an old custom. I don’t even know why we bother, except I think they pissed off the wrong board member at some point and ended up stuck in the courtyard and the lobby.”
“And Spedo?”
“Dogs are their sacred animal. Tarquin has one, too. If I get drunk enough, maybe you could persuade me to introduce you since I’m sure you’ll want to know that mongrel’s name, too.”
My heart squeezed as I thought of Cerberus. “I happen to be a big fan of mongrels.”
We stepped into another lanai, this one much larger and surrounded by palm trees. A handsome man approached us with his muscular arms spread wide. “Good afternoon, gorgeous ladies. Is this her?”
“The one and only,” Posy said with a proud smile.
He pumped my hand with enthusiasm. “Melinoe, great to finally meet you. I’m Tonatiuh.”
The name of the ancient Aztec sun god took me by surprise. “I didn’t know you were part of the organization.”
“I move between departments every century or so, keeps the boredom at bay. I haven’t been involved with the mortal realm for quite some time, though.”
“Do you miss it? ”
Light shone from his eyes. “What a question. I certainly do. Mortals and I go way back. I keep putting in the paperwork for a return visit, but the head honchos keep vetoing my requests. Don’t know why.”
“Maybe it’s because the last time you were among people, you sacrificed thousands of them,” Posy remarked.
He chuckled. “Could be that. Who knows? The board marches to the beat of their own drum.”
“Who are the rest of the head honchos?” I asked.
“The full list is confidential,” Posy said.
“Confidential to you or only outsiders?”
“Does it matter?” Posy snapped.
Confidential internally, too. Got it.
A waiter swung past us and circled back when he noticed our empty hands. “Can I offer anyone a beverage?”
“I’ve got a tankard waiting for me over there.” He motioned across the room. “I plan on getting wasted today.”
“As opposed to yesterday,” Posy murmured. “A spicy margarita for me,” she said more loudly.
“I’m not a fan of those,” I said.
Posy contemplated me. “Your file says you like gin. I can recommend the French 75.”
The fact that she didn’t offer me Puck’s Pleasure offered me a strange sort of comfort. They had a file on me two inches thick, but they still didn’t know everything about me. My favorite drink was so rare that Kane had to pull strings to obtain it for me.
“A French 75 sounds perfect,” I said.
The waiter dipped his head in acknowledgement before withdrawing.
“Is there mead?” I asked.
Posy tossed her head back and laughed. “Mead has been out for centuries. There are much better options in Paradise. You’ll learn about them if you choose to join us. ”
Tonatiuh slapped my back. “I’m going to get to work on that tankard. I’ll catch you later.” He aimed a finger gun and pulled the trigger as he sashayed across the room.
“Deified bro dudes,” I said. “Gotta love it.”
Posy wrinkled her nose. “Or not.” She jerked her head to the side and averted her gaze. “Shit, look away. Do not—I repeat—do not make eye contact.”
Naturally, I turned to see the object of her revulsion. He didn’t look particularly repulsive. In fact, he reminded me of Clark Hewitt, the owner of the local hardware store.
“Hi, I’m Lorelei.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.” His gaze shifted to Posy. “I heard a rumor that Melinoe is here. Have you seen her?”
Posy groaned under her breath. “This is Melinoe, genius. She’s a goddess reborn, remember? Lorelei is her human name, which she still seems to prefer for some ungodly reason.” She laughed at her own unintentional joke. “The files aren’t just decorative, Kumarbis. Some of us read them for information.”
Kumarbis gave me an apologetic smile. “My humblest apologies. I’m a sky and weather god. I tend not to take much of an interest in what happens on the ground unless it affects me directly.”
“Typical,” Posy muttered.
I shook his hand. “A pleasure to meet you, Kumarbis.”
The god continued toward the dessert table.
Posy leaned over and whispered, “Do you know how he became a ruling god?”
“No.”
“He overthrew his father, Anus, by castrating him and swallowing his testicles.”
Cringing, I glanced at the hand that had shaken his and wiped it on my leggings .
“If he drinks enough, he’ll tell you all about it in excruciating detail. Ask me how I know.”
“I’d rather not.”
The waiter returned with two cocktails. I accepted the flute, and Posy took the old-fashioned glass. She sipped her drink and offered a thumbs-up. The waiter pivoted toward me, and I realized he was awaiting my approval. I took a quick sip and nodded.
“Here she is, the goddess of the hour,” a woman said, brushing straight past Posy. The shimmering blue and green hues of her kaftan were more vibrant than the Mediterranean. She extended a poised hand to me. “Inanna. Goddess of love, war, and fertility.”
“You’re Mesopotamian.” Inanna was also associated with political power. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn she was one of the secret board members.
“That’s right. Gold star for you.”
Posy’s nostrils flared in annoyance.
“And how are you finding our headquarters so far?” Inanna asked. “Have you chosen a hut? I know of one that just became available if you’re interested. Has a hot tub right on the deck.”
I swallowed the mouthful of liquid I’d been savoring. “I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting a beach resort.”
“I remember when it was a single high-rise building without air-conditioning. With each acquisition, we get better and better.”
Acquisition. The word rankled me.
Inanna noticed my expression. “You look like you have something on your mind. Go on, spill.” Her gaze flicked to Posy. “Fetch me a drink, Martell. I’d like a moment alone with our special guest.”
Posy’s eyes widened. “You know my name. ”
“Drink,” Inanna barked, prompting Posy to leap into action.
The goddess turned her sharp gaze back to me. “You’re in Paradise now. Ask your questions. I suppose you’re worried about your home.”
“Fairhaven?”
“The human town?” She flicked a dismissive finger. “Your real home. It’s only natural that you’d be concerned about a rudderless underworld.”
No surprise she knew that Hestia had agreed to hold down the fort until summer solstice. At that point, the goddess expected me to take my parents’ place as queen of the underworld.
I lapped up more liquid courage. “It wouldn’t be rudderless if you hadn’t murdered my parents. On that note, I’d like to speak to the manager of the obliteration department while I’m here.”
Posy passed a martini glass into Inanna’s outstretched hand. “I see,” the goddess said. “And I assume you’d like to ask them whether they’re responsible for the obliteration of your parents.”
“Seems like a reasonable question.”
She nodded as she brought the cocktail glass to her lips. “And what if the response is affirmative? What then? Will you exact revenge right here and now? Because I can promise you won’t like the outcome. This isn’t Fairhaven. You don’t make the rules here.”
“I wasn’t aware that I made the rules there, either.”
“You’re the queen of the crossroads, or so I’ve heard. Surely that gives you some sway in that little town of yours.”
“It’s a group effort.” I surveyed the beach scene. “Much like The Corporation.”
“Power isn’t true power unless it’s concentrated in the hands of only a few. ”
“Tell that to your employees at the bottom of the corporate pyramid. They all seem to think they’re head honchos.”
She offered a vague smile. “That’s what happens when you have an organization filled with deities. Even in the animal kingdom, there can be multiple apex predators per biome. Same is true for other realms as well.” She pressed her lips together. “The problem is, of course, if you aren’t the predator…”
“You’re the prey.”
“I’ll leave you with that thought. Enjoy the party.” She ventured toward another group with an airy wave.
Another woman hovered outside our tiny circle. Her dark hair was fashioned in a single, thick braid. “Hello,” she said, surprisingly shy for someone in Paradise.
Posy released a bored sigh. “Melinoe, meet Libitina.”
“Libby,” the goddess corrected her. “It’s nice to meet you.” Her handshake was warm and welcoming.
“You, too. And please, call me Lorelei.”
Posy groaned. “That name shackles you to earth. You won’t be able to transcend until you let it go.” Her gaze snagged on someone across the room. “Look alive, people. There’s Olelbis. I’m going over to say hello. He never stays more than five minutes at these things.” She sailed across the room calling his name in a singsong voice.
Libby and I exchanged the kind of awkward glance that only introverts understood.
“So, how do you like working here?” I asked.
Libby shifted her weight to her other foot as her awkwardness intensified.
I broke the tension with a laugh. “Was that the wrong question?”
“No, no. It’s a perfectly reasonable one. It’s only that no one ever asks me that. They assume we’re all happy to be here. I mean, it’s Paradise, right? ”
“If you’re unhappy here, why not leave?”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “And go where?”
“You’re a goddess, aren’t you? You can go anywhere.”
“I’m the goddess of death and the underworld.”
I gasped. “Hey, me too.”
She offered a grim smile. “I know who you are.”
I cringed. “Should I know who you are? I’m sorry.”
“I’m the Roman equivalent of your mother, Persephone.”
“Oh, right,” I said, struggling to recall whether Pops had taught me anything about my mom’s Roman counterpart. I was coming up empty, or maybe it was the effects of the deified alcohol.
“Our underworlds sort of got merged together at some point in history,” Libby said. “I’m not as popular as some of the others.”
“Sorry about that.”
She shrugged. “That’s the life of a worshipped deity. It’s all coins and poems until they forget you.” As a waiter passed by, she plucked a full glass from the tray and gulped down the golden liquid.
I took the opportunity to polish off the French 75, which was probably the best cocktail I’d ever tasted, not that I’d admit it to my hosts.
“You must be the famous Melinoe reborn,” a scratchy voice said.
I turned toward a slender man with a pencil-thin mustache and even thinner lips. He wore his black hair in a ponytail.
“I am, but don’t be fooled. This party is about Posy’s promotion, not about me.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. “I am Zhi Peng.”
His name wasn’t familiar. “A pleasure to meet you. Do you know Libby? ”
“I do, indeed.” He gave Libby a slight bow.
“Are you another god of the underworld? We seem to be forming a club.”
“Sadly, no. My domain is somewhat smaller.”
I hazarded a guess. “The forest?”
“I am one of the Tien-Wang.”
“Chinese deities of doors,” Libby added.
“Doors,” I repeated. “Well, that’s one I haven’t heard before.”
“I have brothers, but only two of us are members of The Corporation.”
“And how do you like working for them?” I asked.
He took a sudden interest in the spread of food. “Will you look at that? No one told me there were golden pears. If you’ll excuse me.” He hurried off without a backward glance.
At least I knew the right question to ask if I wanted to avoid a conversation with someone.
Posy’s head popped between Libby and me. She wrapped an arm around each of us and squeezed. “Isn’t this the best party?”
Libby looked as uncomfortable as I felt. We managed to slip out from Posy’s grasp.
“Have you tried Kvasir yet?” Posy asked.
I looked at her blankly. “What’s that?”
The siren swatted Libby’s arm. “You didn’t introduce her to Kvasir?”
Before Libby could answer, Posy steered me across the room to a table at the far end. Although there was a line of guests waiting, Posy pushed to the front.
“Excuse us, guests of honor coming through. Step aside.” She turned toward me holding a copper cup. I had to give the siren credit; she was unflappable. “Forget the ocean views. This is the real perk of Paradise.”
I took a sip. “Is there honey in it? ”
She nodded. “The sweetness offsets the bitterness of the blood.”
I started to cough. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, I probably should’ve explained. This is a very special drink that The Corporation only brings out on special occasions.” She broke into a toothy smile. “Like my promotion.”
“Why blood? You’re not vampires.”
“Do you know the story of Kvasir?”
It didn’t ring any childhood bells. “No.”
“He’s a giant. According to legend, he was killed by dwarfs. You mix his blood with honey and then it goes through a whole boring distillery process in a magic cauldron.”
“Why do you drink it?”
She swilled more of the drink. “One glass gives you more wisdom than Aristotle and more inspiration than all the Romantics combined.”
Did it actually work—or was it basically a hallucinogenic that made them believe it did? I decided I didn’t want to find out, but I was more than happy to let them imbibe. I was far more likely to get answers to my questions while they were heavily intoxicated.
“If he was killed by dwarfs, how do you have access to the giant’s blood?”
Posy leaned over and whispered, “I said according to legend. I didn’t say according to reality.”
A lump formed in my throat. Wherever Kvasir was now, I had a feeling the giant wished he’d been killed by dwarfs thousands of years ago.
“You have dozens of departments,” I said. “Surely you have one that can create a synthetic version of his blood so you can release him.”
Posy’s laughter tinkled like a bell. “It’s comments like that one that make you so intriguing, Mel. ”
Mel? It seemed the elixir was having an effect already. “Is anybody here from the obliteration department? I’d love to chat with them.”
She smirked. “I bet you would. Listen, there are far worse things than obliteration.”
“What could be worse than that?”
“Unas,” she whispered.
Unas. The longer I spent here, the more I realized that Pops had barely scratched the surface of gods-related knowledge.
Posy steered me to a quiet corner. “I was going to wait until the very end of the meet-and-greet for this, but I’m too excited.” She lowered her voice in a conspiratorial whisper. “I’ve been authorized to offer you a golden ticket.”
“Pfft. No, thanks. I’ve seen Willy Wonka.”
“Not for a candy factory. It’s essentially a Get Out of Jail Free card. If you’re in trouble, we save the day.”
Monopoly I could relate to. “I assume this is a metaphorical jail.”
“Most likely, but who knows with you?”
I played along. “So if I find myself on the receiving end of a speeding ticket and I invoke the card, you’ll get the cop to let me off with a warning?”
Posy huffed in annoyance. “You can charm your way out of a speeding ticket. I’m talking about solving an insurmountable problem. If you find yourself in a no-win situation, we’ll win it for you.”
“What’s the catch?”
Posy didn’t bother to pretend there wasn’t one. “If you take advantage of the card, then you’re agreeing to come on board as a member. The contract will be signed in absentia.”
I decided to humor her. “Which department would I be in? Because I type with two fingers and I’ve never made coffee for anybody except myself. ”
“Let’s worry about assignments if and when the day ever comes.” Posy snapped open her pink purse to retrieve the card. “All you need to do is say that statement and you’ll be free of whatever trouble you’ve gotten yourself into.” She smiled. “I think we both know how frequently that happens.”
I noticed The Corporation logo first, followed by the statement. There’s no place like home. “I take it one of your members is a fan of The Wizard of Oz ?”
“That would be Brian. He dresses as Dorothy every year on Samhain.”
“Do I need to click my heels together three times while I say it?”
Posy blew a raspberry. “If you’re able to move your feet at the time, sure. Knock yourself out.”
“What happens if I’m playing a trivia game and this is the answer?”
She looked at me with a deadpan expression. “Do you overthink everything?”
“When it comes to this organization, yes.”
“We want the agreement to be ironclad, that if you say these words in a qualifying situation, then you’re knowingly accepting the terms of our assistance.”
“For a price.”
She snorted with laughter. “We’re called The Corporation, duh. Of course there’s a price.”
I would rather die than join their organization, not that I felt the need to say that out loud. I knew the smart play would be to string them along so that I didn’t give them a reason to obliterate me here and now. Instead, I heard myself say, “I’ll never use this. Not in a million years.”
“So you’re saying there’s a chance.”
I slid the card into the pocket of my leggings. “Not even if I was unemployed and you were the only employer left on earth. ”
“According to your file, you are unemployed.”
“I keep busy.” I noticed that Posy’s eyes now had a glassy sheen. I was curious to see exactly how wise the cup o’ knowledge made her. “I have a question, although I doubt you’ll know the answer.”
And there it was—that flash of steely determination. To prove that she was every bit as smart and valuable as the deities that surrounded her.
“Try me,” she said.
“Where’s Anubis?”
Her eyebrows pinched together. “Who?”
“Anubis. Egyptian god in charge of their afterlife. Head of a jackal. You can’t miss him.”
“If he’s in charge of their afterlife, then I expect you’d find him in the Duat.”
“Except he isn’t there, which is why Apep recently came through my crossroads searching for him.” I gave her a sympathetic look. “See? I didn’t think you’d know. Whatever the plan is, I’m sure it’s above your pay grade.”
Posy ran her finger along the rim of the glass and licked it. “The Duat and your underworld in chaos. Fancy that.”
“I don’t know about chaos. Aunt Hestia has the underworld in hand.”
“Then why is she so set on having you take the throne?” She offered a smug smile. “See? I know things.”
“Because you have my file, which I would still like to see. Hestia is old fashioned like that. I’m the heir. She thinks I’m shirking my responsibilities.”
The siren cocked her head. “Would it be the worst thing in the world to claim your realm?”
“It isn’t my realm. My home is in Fairhaven, in the human world.”
“Yes, Bluebeard’s Castle.” She snorted. “It would be a cozy little place if not for the peeling plaster and banging pipes. ”
“It’s a work in progress,” I muttered.
“Yes, your file makes that very clear.”
“Why not show it to me? You wouldn’t have brought it to the meeting if you were dead set against me looking at it.”
“Perhaps we can negotiate the terms.”
I groaned. “The Corporation is worse than Faerie with all your deals.”
“What do you hope to learn that you don’t already know?”
“I want to know what happened to my parents. The detailed version.”
“What do you think happened?”
“I assume your organization obliterated them, but according to Hestia, that’s impossible. She claims obliteration is a myth. She also said that Hades and Persephone announced their decision to take a hiatus to the whole underworld, which suggests their absence was planned.”
Posy shrugged. “Can’t it be both?”
Not the most promising answer. “Is she right about obliteration? Is it just a scare tactic used to keep your members in line?”
“I’m a lowly siren, remember? Information like that would be above my status. You might try asking Inanna. Should I get her for you?”
I lowered my voice. “If you’re so desperate to recruit me, try throwing me a bone.”
Her tone matched my own. “You said you wouldn’t join in a million years. Seems like a waste of valuable information.”
I changed tacks. “Is Anubis here?”
Posy groaned in frustration. “You don’t even know him. Why does it matter?”
“It matters.”
“Fine, I’ll play. What makes you think he’s here?”
“Apep followed his trail to a sealed door, not a natural crossroads. He only came through to Fairhaven because it was the next closest entry point. I think the door belonged to you and that you lured Anubis away from the Duat.” And now that I’d met Zhi Peng, deity of doors, I was certain of it.
Amusement danced in her eyes. “For what purpose?”
“The only purpose your organization seems interested in—power. You find ways to extract deities from their posts and then replace them with your own puppets.”
“If that’s true, then why is Hestia ruling the underworld and begging you to replace her? And why is Apep ruling the Duat while he searches for Anubis?”
“I haven’t figured that part out yet. Maybe you messed up and your stooges weren’t ready yet. Or maybe this is all happening according to plan.”
“Perhaps, Lorelei Melinoe Clay, we’re simply eager to see you where you truly belong.”
“What good would that do you?”
“If you were queen of the underworld, you’d stop interfering with our activities in the mortal realm, for starters.”
There was more; I could feel it in my bones. “And why would I do that?”
The twinkle in her eye told me this was the moment she’d been waiting for since I arrived. “Because if you don’t—and I’m only spitballing here—everyone you love will die.”