Page 85 of Seph

Circe pulled a lever, and the elevator creaked slowly upward.

He could hear Emily’s heart pounding as she discreetly stepped back into her heels. This would be a horrible place to have their cover blown. Or for Circe to have any kind of control over them. One push of a button would leave them trapped between floors.

“Mr. Crow, how have you enjoyed your time in Vegas?”

“Hm? Oh, it’s been a treat.”

“Your lovely lady was telling me how much you enjoyed the showgirls.”

Great. Emily’s going to get me turned into a pig.“Well, what’s not to love? Of course, some of them are all looks—but you.” He stared at her with a smoldering gaze, the kind vampires seem to acquire the second they’re turned. “You’re the whole package. A goddess.”

Circe started, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks. “I’m not so sure that Emily appreciates such comments. Here we are. The Garden.”

The Garden. She was a Goddess of Spring. Spring specifically.

“She’s here,” she breathed the words rather than speaking them, knowing Simeon would hear her.

“You must have a fantastic gardener!” Simeon said loudly, stepping out into a world of pink and purple flowers, many of them exotic.

“Yes. Let me give you a tour, Mr. Crow. Emily, why don’t you sit in the lounge for a few minutes?” Circe winked.

Emily nodded.

“Ooh, but first.” Simeon pushed Emily back under the pretext of gathering her in his arms for a long, passionate kiss. “Why isn’t she loopy?” he hissed, lips pressed to hers.

“Dust her.” Emily hissed back.

Simeon reached into his pocket as they parted. “Sorry about that. This is sort of a naughty holiday. Gotta kiss my girl wherever I can. How does your husband feel about you being such a sex symbol, Circe?”

“I’m not married. Women in my line devote ourselves to—a higher love.”

“Like love for a goddess?” Simeon asked.

Circe’s smooth face suddenly twisted, eyes burning with anger. Her mouth opened as if to scream for backup, or maybe to hex them all into pork products. It didn’t matter. Instead, she swallowed a mouthful of Lethe’s Dust as Simeon blew it directly into her face. She started coughing and gagging, shaking her head and stumbling around the flower-packed prison.

Emily popped open her purse. The crystal for Mnemosyne was still glowing bright, but now it wasn’t golden yellow, but a blinding white.

“Where’s Mnemosyne? Here? In this garden?” she demanded, stepping forward as Circe reeled and finally fell onto a padded loveseat.

“How dare you.” She gave her attackers an angry glare that melted slowly into blankness.

“Hello?” Simeon snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Circe? You in there?”

“What have you done?”

They whirled as one, finding themselves suddenly face-to-face with a powerfully built woman with a green, glowing aura.

“Ohhh. Sothat’swhat Zag meant by stacked redhead,” Emily breathed, eyes wide.

“Hey, Mem. How’s tricks?” Simeon smiled at the Titaness as if he’d been expecting her all along.

Simeon liked to play far too much. Subtle was better. Subtle, then strike. “Where’s Persephone?” Emily demanded, hand sliding to her leg.

“What? How do you... Hades. He finally found someone with brains.”

“True.”

“Well, if you think dealing with Hades is scary, just wait until I introduce you to—”

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