Sweat broke out on Torrent's brow and his breathing deepened. Finally, he shook his head infinitesimally. I widened my eyes at him; this was new. Artemis handled it perfectly, sighing deeply before casting a look at Cephissus.
“Looks as if you're right, River God,” she said. “We'll be on our way.”
“Ha! I told you,” Cephissus said. “My boy's got good wards up.”
“If I find out that you or your son had anything to do with Nemesis' disappearance, I will personally see to it that you are summoned before the Olympians and held accountable,” I said in a cool but dangerous tone.
Cephissus went pale.
“In light of that, is there anything you'd like to say?” I asked him.
“If Narcissus took Nemesis, I have no knowledge of it,” Cephissus growled. “Now, get the fuck out of my territory, Godhunter.”
“That's an Olympian you're talking to!” Artemis snapped. “You will show her the respect she deserves.”
“She's an Olympian because she killed a bunch of other Olympians,” Cephissus snapped. “I'm sorry if I don't feel that should earn her a seat at the table, much less my respect.”
“Fair enough. I was surprised by the offer myself,” I said casually. “But perhaps you should think about what you just said; I killed three of the Twelve Olympians and took Zeus' magic before I knocked him and Hera off their thrones. I'm probably not the best person to piss off.”
Cephissus grimaced and turned on his heel to stalk back into his river castle.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“What happened, Torr?” I asked as soon as we stepped out of Artemis' tracing room.
“There was no ward to unmake,” Torrent said in utter bafflement.”
“What do you mean?” Odin asked slowly. “You couldn't find the entrance?”
“You don't understand; there was no entrance,” Torr said. “There was no way into his territory. It was as if he had completely sealed himself off from the rest of the God Realm.”
“Sealed himself off,” I murmured. “As he was in the Mirror.”
“You think he did it on purpose?” Re asked.
“Some prisoners who have been incarcerated for several years can't handle freedom,” I said. “They'll try to confine themselves in small spaces again. It's a mental thing.”
“So, Narcissus got out, freaked out, and then locked himself in his territory like a crazy convict?” Artemis asked skeptically. “I don't buy it. If that's the case, where's Nemesis?”
“Good question.” I grimaced.
“I don't him, but there's no way that a god would seal himself in his territory without a way out,” Re said. “There has to be a portal. You must have missed it, Torrent. No offense.”
“None taken, but I assure you; I missed nothing,” Torrent said. “I examined every piece of that place. The boundary was seamless; as slick as glass.”
“As slick as glass,” I murmured.
“Vervain, will you please stop muttering cryptically beneath your breath?” Odin asked.
“Sorry.” I shrugged. “It keeps reminding me of the Mirror.”
“You think that Narcissus made the border of his territory a mirror?” Re asked. “I wouldn't even know how to do that; I doubt that a minor deity who's been entrapped for over a thousand years would.”
“Unless the Mirror taught Narcissus a few tricks,” I suggested.
“A curse teaching a god?” Odin lifted his brows.
“It was sentient enough to have a conversation with me,” I pointed out. “Narcissus thought they were friends. The Mirror warned me about him, remember?”
