Thor was back to being confused. “So, it is a pipe to smoke out of.”
“Yup.” Then Jesus winked at Pan. “After you've used it for other things. I've never used it for the backdoor, though. Mainly, because I like to double toke, if you know what I mean, and I don't want to inhale what's been up there.”
“Oh, that's brilliant!” Pan said. “I thought it would just be a bit of fun to see a beautiful bottom smoking. So many jokes. But now, I'm rethinking things.” He set the pipe back down. “I don't think I need to borrow it. I've got it firmly in mind now.”
“We all do,” Brahma drawled.
“If you ever think about sliding a pot pipe in my divine flower, I will crush you,” Sarasvati said to Brahma.
“Never, my darling. Never would I ever dare to disrespect the glory of your perfect channel with toxic smoke.”
Everyone groaned and finally left the room.
As we walked out, going back into Jesus's comparatively sedate bedroom, Teharon, the Mohawk God of Healing, murmured, “I'm glad Karni had other obligations today.”
Karni Mata, the Hindu Goddess of Rats, was Teharon's girlfriend. Yes, rats. Get over it. I have. Granted, it's taken me a while.
Free from the grip of the holy sex room at last, I tried my question on Hades again, “Hades, did you smell bleach?”
“Did I . . .” He frowned and slid his glasses back in place. “Oh, in the Underworld. Yes, I did. They covered their trail.”
“Definitely the same god then,” Torrent said.
“As if that was in doubt?” Finn asked.
“Hey, watch your tone with my man,” Artemis growled. “If he says something obvious, it's because Torr is always the smartest person in the room, and he never knows who's up to speed with him.”
Finn took one look at the badass Goddess of the Hunt, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket, and said, “Ease back, Hell's Angel. We're all friends here.”
“I'm Greek.”
“No, sweetheart. He's referring to the infamous motorcycle club, Hell's Angels, because of your jacket,” Torrent said.
“And her attitude,” Finn grumbled.
“What the fuck is wrong with my attitude, asshole?” Artie demanded.
We all went still. Artemis could be aggressive, but never like this. That's when I noticed she was still holding that springy snake.
“Artie, drop the snake!” I said urgently.
“What?” She scowled at me, her brown puppy dog eyes gone feral.
Torrent's eyes widened. “Sweetie, the snake. You're still holding it. I think it's enchanted.”
Artemis looked down at the bright pink snake in her hands and flinched. “What the hell?” Her hand clenched instead of opening. “I can't let go!”
“Artie!” Torrent reached for the snake.
“Don't touch it!” I shouted. “Torr, stand back.”
“What are you going to do?” Torrent asked urgently.
“Burn it.”
“Burn it?!” Torr and Artie screeched together.
“I can be precise,” I said.
