Page 10 of Hera

By dinnertime, Hera had a tidy row of bottles ready to be delivered over the next few days to the customers who had ordered them. She checked her list of orders and made a mental note to work on the shifter-masking potion the next day.

Must be someone who works topside.

The absentminded thought flitted through her head and then she promptly forgot about it as she strolled into her room to get ready for her evening out.

Hera headed for her closet, perusing her options. She settled on a one-shouldered dress in a jade green. It had bronze brocade work gathering the material on her left shoulder and under her bust. The skirt floated around her legs when she walked.

When she joined Demi at the table in the dining room, she was assessed appraisingly.

“When you said you weren’t going to put any effort in, I was worried,” Demi said. She nodded slowly. “But this... I see what you mean. You’ve worn this to work in the garden, to go shopping, to visit friends. It’s not fancy, but it is veryyou. Are you going to put on any make-up?”

“Do you think I need to?” Hera asked challengingly.

“No.” Demi speared a bite of potato on her fork. “Stop attacking me. Sometimes you wear it. I wasasking.”

“Sorry.” Hera sat and picked at the food on her plate, pushing it around. “I figure if this mythical guy is going to see me in the mornings before I get out of bed, he should know what to expect, right? I mean, do you apply mascara before Charles wakes up?”

Demi snorted with laughter. “Of course not.”

“Exactly. And getting all sweaty with the guy will be even less attractive—well, besides the fact that we’re, you know, doing it—so he might as well see the real me right away.” Hera took a bite of chicken and moaned her appreciation. “Delicious, Demi. Thank you for making dinner.”

“I knew that if I didn’t, you wouldn’t remember to eat.” Demi rolled her eyes fondly.

“Sure I would have,” Hera protested, but she knew her sister was right. “I might have grabbed a bun or something.” She changed the subject to avoid chastisement. “I’m actually looking forward to tonight.”

“That’s a great attitude to have! It’s not the end of the world if you don’t find your soulmate tonight. Just have fun and enjoy the conversations you have.” Demi waggled an asparagus at Hera in admonition. “Don’t get all caught up in your head.”

It was on the tip of Hera’s tongue to argue that she never did that, but she knew that was a lie. Instead, she nodded and continued her meal in deep thought.

You have nothing to lose tonight.

You can do this.

With that thought in mind, Hera finished her meal and then made her way down the street to the cafe.

“I’m here for the speed dating?” she informed the bouncer, who let her in with barely a glance.

The entry from Purgatory was on the same level as the speed dating event. Hera knew that there was an upper part of the cafe topside for humans, but she wasn’t interested in that part today.

“Hera! You made it!”

Hera recognized the sultry voice of Eve before she saw the blonde vampire bent over behind the desk. “There are still a few minutes before it starts, aren’t there?”

“Yes, of course.” Eve sat up and handed her a ballot and a pen. “Please sign in and we’ll get you organized. I believe you’re the last person to arrive tonight so the evening will start after you’ve—ah, thank you.” She plucked the ballot from Hera’s fingers and put it in a box. “Right this way.”

She’d never been inside Lucifer’s celebrated cafe before tonight. The coffered ceilings were high, with elegant golden candelabras that illuminated the space. The walls were covered in a rich, woven wallpaper with mahogany beams as accents. Leather chairs were arranged around round wooden tables, one on each side so that the participants could see each other while they chatted on their speed date.

Aphrodite swooped in and escorted Hera to a table at the side. “You’re just in time to be the last person seated. I thought we might end up with an uneven number tonight!” She gave Hera’s shoulders a gentle push.

Hera found herself seated across from a short, thin man. He smiled at her, but she didn’t have time to offer one in return before Aphrodite started speaking to the room of people.

“You have five minutes to date your partner before the men switch tables. You’ll be given ten seconds to mark down your compatibility on your ballots before you start your new date. Any questions?” Aphrodite paused, looking around the room for raised hands. “You may begin!” She rang a little bell.

The man turned back to face Hera and clasped his hands on the table. “Good evening, my name is Cliff. I would like to begin by saying that you look lovely tonight.”

“Thank you. I’m Hera.”

The little man jumped. “As in the Goddess? Zeus’s paramour?” He looked nervously around the room.

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