Free Goddess of Love by P. C. Cast Page A

managed it properly.”
    â€œPlease. It’s frizzy and awful. And what about those clothes?” Persephone shuddered. “Why any woman would wear baggy sweatpants and that horrid appliquéd shirt I’ll never know.”
    â€œShe just needs some help.” Venus sipped her martini, then her eyes widened. “You know, I could help her!”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œThat poor mortal with the bad hair. I could help her.” Venus nodded enthusiastically, talking quickly over Persephone’s protestations. “I adore this realm, I mean city ,” she corrected herself. “It’s so much less depressing and banal than say, Troy.” She rolled her violet eyes. “I believe it would be exhilarating to make a mortal my own special project.”
    â€œThat’s called community service here, and I can put you in touch with the downtown YWCA if you want to help the general populace—” Persephone began, but Venus cut her off.
    â€œNo, no, no. That’s not personal enough. Think about it. To be advised, helped, coached, by the Goddess of Love herself! What a lucky mortal that would be.”
    â€œExcept no one here knows to ask for your aid. That’s part of the beauty of the modern world. Remember?”
    â€œDon’t be so negative.”
    â€œI’m not being negative. I’m being honest,” Persephone explained patiently. “Here you’re not a goddess. You’re a beautiful, desirable woman. You would only offend a plain little nothing like that unfortunate girl if you began offering unasked for advice.”
    Venus sighed. “Fine. I understand that.” Then she brightened again. “But if someone did ask for my advice I’d be overjoyed to help. It would be fun. Much more fun than dealing with hardhearted Anaxarete, or that wretchedly annoying Psyche.”
    Persephone shrugged. “If someone here asks for your advice I don’t see any harm in you giving it.”
    â€œThen we are in complete agreement. As if Love would ever butt in where she’s not wanted.”
    Persephone rolled her eyes.
    â€œDid I notice a ladies’ room somewhere in that direction?” Venus asked innocently, pointing vaguely past the bar.
    â€œIt’s over there through that velvet curtain. But hurry, we need to get going. I just remembered that I promised Mother I would make an appearance in Eleusis tonight. You know, mustn’t miss the great festival of Eleusinian Mysteries….” She mimicked Demeter’s regal tone and then drained her martini and signaled for Jenny to bring their check.
    â€œI know.” Venus shared an understanding look with Persephone. “Demeter does get so terribly serious about her festivals. Don’t worry. I’ll hurry. Oh, don’t want to forget this.” She grabbed the Pricilla’s Toy Box shopping bag and carried it with her as she walked quickly past the bar, almost ignoring the beautiful men who definitely weren’t ignoring her. Even distracted as she was she spared them a small smile and automatically slowed her pace so that her hips moved with a beckoning, seductive roll, causing the firemen to fall silent, hypnotized by her beauty. Venus almost didn’t notice. Almost.
    She ducked through the curtain and followed the sign that pointed her to the left. The ladies’ room wasn’t big, but it was neat and very clean. Velvet curtained stalls lined the wall in front of her. She was admiring the way the burgundy fabric seemed to glitter in the light from the vintage chandelier that dangled overhead when she heard the oddest thing.
    Someone was speaking her name…. No, it was more than that. Someone was invoking her aid! How extraordinary. Quietly she moved forward. The poor belching mortal with the unkempt hair was standing before one of the antique sinks. Staring into the mirror, she was reciting an ancient invocation spell. The