“Of course, of course.” Apep smiled warmly. “Oh, drinks, marvellous.” Suddenly there were four matching pineapple ginger mocktails on the counter, one before each of them. Apep scooping up his and taking a big gulp. “Tasty and so refreshing. We definitely need to serve this, don’t you think Faleph?”
A humongous golden banner abruptly appeared out of thin air to their right, unfurling dramatically. The thing just hanging there, seemingly unsupported. Probably ten feet high and six feet wide. Covered with bullet points. And there, squeezed between a line that said craft beers and cranberry mimosas, the words pineapple ginger mocktail appeared, glowing red for a moment before settling in to match the black colour of the other items listed.
“Um.” Gigi’s eyes travelled down the list. Her gaze narrowing in on twelve or so items in particular, they were familiar, very familiar. She’d created and named those treats after all. “Oh. You want us to cater a party for you?”
“Four parties.” Apep smiled again. “There are a lot of Gods and Goddesses who are very eager to meet out fiery K’in. Everyone wanting to see for themselves where she’ll fit in the scheme of things, given her recent rise to Goddess-hood. All curious to see whose followers she might be a threat to. Some no doubt hoping to take advantage and piggy back a power play of their very own off of her arrival to our ranks.” Apep clapped his hands, grinning. “Exciting times are ahead. I do love change.” He drained the rest of his mocktail, smacking his lips in appreciation. “And I really do like this drink. Well, I’ll leave you in Faleph’s capable hands to make all the arrangements.” He stood up, patting Faleph on the shoulder who couldn’t hide the slight flinch at his God’s touch. “Don’t disappoint.”
Was that directed at her, Nico, or Faleph, or perhaps all three of them? Gulp. For all his warmth and smiles, Gigi had the feeling that disappointing Apep was not something many lived to regret.
Within a blink of an eye The God of Chaos was gone. Leaving them with sneering Faleph. Who took out an ink pot and feather to write with before gesturing at the huge golden banner and the listed items.
“Since getting acquainted with his many, many, many times granddaughter in this Realm, Apep has attended several high teas, barbeques and casual family get togethers.” Faleph flinched again, but this time it was clear he was just appalled at how low Cara, Apep’s recently discovered granddaughter times a hundred plus, had dragged his deity down into the filth and muck of mixing with base humans. “These are several of hisfavourites that he has approved for the first function. Do either of you foresee any difficulties?”
“Can you cross out party pies and put down empanadas instead?” Nico enquired, frowning up at the list.
“Are they markedly different? If so, Apep won’t be happy.”
“Not markedly. More of a regional thing, with more spice.”
With a resentful sigh Faleph dipped the tip of the feather into the ink pot before writing in the air. On the banner the word empanadas overwrote party pies. “Anything else?” His navy eyes narrowing with dislike apparently for the world at large. Which seemed a habitual expression. Wow, and Gigi had thought Nico was grumpy, but he was paddling in the kiddie pool compared to Faleph’s grim attitude.
“You said this list is for the first party. When, where, and how many people will be attending?” Gigi’s fingers itched to write all of this down, but her laptop and paperwork that had been on the kitchen bench earlier and was now nowhere to be seen. The pile of crumpled bar napkins and pen Nico handed over was most welcome. Thank Heavens. Quickly scribbling down some notes, she highly doubted Faleph was going to leave a ten foot floating menu behind for their convenience when he left.
“This coming Saturday afternoon. Mount Olympus. Numbers are a little hard to pin down. We’re trying to keep the guest list selective but so many of the upper echelon have significant hangers-on when it comes to sycophants, and their descendants.” Faleph’s sneer never lifted, so clearly he saw no irony in his own position as Apep’s general dogsbody. “Perhaps an intimate three hundred. Although you should plan for double that. The space can only hold so many. And we can count on Zeus to start throwing out the lessers if he deems it getting too crowded.”
Zeus? Mount Olympus? Gigi shared a quick look with Nico who was likewise jotting down some notes on his own set ofcrumpled napkins. Except there was a gleam of anticipation in his eyes that didn’t match her own impending feeling of panic. This Saturday was way too soon. Those numbers were a lot to cater for with such short notice. And again, Zeus, King of the Gods, was expected to be present. Why wasn’t Nico… oh, this was the start of their mission. The fated path that Darcy had foreseen them travelling down.
Gulp. But no one had said anything about catering a party for the Olympus Gods, that was a lot of pressure on its own, and then times that by a thousand if she and Nico were expected to sniff out the traitorous deities intent upon ruling the Earthly Plane at the same event.
Flipping over her crumpled napkin Gigi hurriedly made more notes on the back. Thank Goddess, Nico had been here with a spare pen for her and a pocket full of fresh bar napkins. Life saver, and right there Gigi’s shoulders relaxed slightly and the feeling of panic began to recede as she recalled she didn’t have to do this alone.
Crap, she could never let Darcy know, but suddenly she was beyond grateful that she had a partner in all this. Together they would throw a kickass meet and greet party for his sister Copper, the newly minted Goddess K’in. And take down anyone’s name who was acting the least bit suspiciously. It wasn’t like either one of them would be in any actual danger or anything.
Crap, and she’d just gone and jinxed it, hadn’t she?
Chapter Ten
“Duck!”
“You duck.” Gigi growled back.
“Let’s both duck.” Nico yanked her down to the ground. The two of them peering out from their new hiding spot behind one of the heavily laden buffet tables as fireballs and lightning bolts zig zagged overhead.
Gigi cringed as the buffet table on the far right was struck. The smell of burnt material, wood and charred food filling the air as it exploded upon impact.
Eek, Gigi lifted the tablecloth, scooting under the table, Nico hustling in fast behind her as flaming debris cascaded down. The two of them breathing hard.
“We can’t stay here.” That was obvious, given what had just happened.
“That way.” Nico pointed to the left. “Start crawling, and try and stay under the tables.”
Why left? Gigi was about to ask when a large body fell to the ground with a thud, sending the tablecloth billowing, enough so she could see the dark haired God covered in scorch marks grinning wildly, a bright splotch of glittering gold staining his cheek, as he sent a thunderbolt off in the direction of his foes.
Honestly, this was like being caught in the world’s most dangerous food fight.
And it had all been going so well.
Olympus was stunning. Beyond stunning. Golden. Ethereal. The space designated for the party, wonderous. Located at the very pinnacle of the mountain. The party goers gathering in a large oval room with no ceiling. The floor made of a marble so white and pure it was almost blinding. Eerily, there was no sky.No clouds. No nothing. Just the suggestion of something vast and infinite hanging overhead.
