“Vervain is not behind my decision, and she never asked me to break ties with any of you,” Blue said. “This is what I feel is right. I would like to remain friends with you, Lir—with all of you—but I cannot help you manipulate humans anymore.”
“I respect your decision, Huitzilopochtli,” Kuan Ti said. “And I would be honored to retain your friendship.”
“You have been a strong ally, but an even stronger friend. I'm both relieved and grateful to know that our friendship shall continue,” Blue said to him.
“Honestly, I lost the stomach for this when Finn died,” Lir murmured.
“You mean; when we had him murdered,” Tawiskaron's tone was spiteful.
Finn? I frowned as a wave of sadness rushed through me. Had I known him too? Was he...?
No; Finn was just a friend,Alaric said.You saved his life in that other time.
But not in this one.
No.
“Yes; that,” Lir sounded tired and sad. “I regret it every day. A father killing his son is the height of evil, and living with that evil has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do.”
“We should never have asked it of you,” Blue said gently. “I am so very sorry, Lir.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Aphrodite was screaming again. “What the hell is happening here?”
“It's like an infection,” Tawiskaron said. “And I have no intentions of catching it. I wash my hands of you three. Aphrodite?”
“I'm with you, Tawiskaron,” she said. “Let's leave them to their weakness.”
I ran back down the hallway and ducked into Blue's bedroom. Just in time too; I heard Tawiskaron and Aphrodite stomp by a few seconds later. They were griping to each other about gods gone soft.
“Hold on,” Aphrodite said. “I need to collect my things; I have no wish to return here after we leave.”
“I'll wait in the tracing room,” Tawiskaron said.
I stayed where I was; waiting for Aphrodite to leave. But she didn't. Instead, a few minutes later, I heard her shouting. Her angry footsteps pounded down the hallway and stopped near the door I was hiding behind. For a second, I thought she was about to storm into Blue's bedroom, and I darted a look around for a place to hide. But she didn't come in; she just stood there screaming again.
“Where is my gold Dolce and Gabbana?” Aphrodite demanded.
I heard Blue come down the hallway to confront her.
“What are you talking about?” Blue asked innocently as I looked down at what must have been the missing couture.
“Dolce,” I whispered as I ran my hand over the gold fabric. “Why does that make it less trashy?”
“Don't lie to me, Huitzilopochtli!” Aphrodite went on. “I know that I left it here, and it's not exactly your style. Did that witch take my dress? And my perfumes are all over the floor; half of them are broken.”
Blue sighed deeply. “Our first interlude was... well, let's just say that Vervain needed new clothing. I lent her the dress to wear.”
“You gave that bitch my Dolce?!”
“Witch, Aphrodite,” Blue corrected—still utterly calm. “She's a witch, with a W.”
“I demand my property back,” she snarled.
“Do you see her here?” Blue's voice finally hardened. “I will reimburse you for your dress and the perfumes.”
“Not good enough,” she growled.
“Do not let my new attitude toward humans fool you,” Blue's voice sank into sinister tones. “I am still the God of War, and I have no problem with showing you how very violent I can be.”
