Then she scowled at Pan and ruined it. “It's about time.”
“I've barely been gone ten minutes,” Pan huffed.
“Well, the rest of your friends are getting on my nerves.” She stood back so we could enter. “Hey,” she said to me. “I'm Angelia. Thanks for coming.”
“Sure,” I said. Then I processed her name. “Angelia? You're the one who got taken when you were a child.”
“So they tell me,” she said and shrugged. “I don't remember it. And I don't let it define me. Especially since I'm not a well-known goddess. My biggest claim to fame is my name.”
“Why is that?” Viper asked.
“Angelia,” Re said slowly.
“Yeah, it's pretty. So?”
Angelia chuckled. “Yup. That's about right. Even that isn't well known.”
“She is the originalAngel,” I said to Viper as I waved at Angelia's wings. “It's where the word comes from.”
“Ah!” Viper declared. “Every word has a Greek origin,” he said in a bad Greek accent. “Give me a word and I tell you what Greek word it is from.”
I snorted at his poor quoting of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Still, he tried, and I loved a movie reference. “Well done, babe.”
“Thanks!”
“Why do you encourage him?” Re drawled.
“I don't know if that's true,” Azrael said.
“What?” I looked at him. “Me encouraging Viper? I totally do.”
“No, the Angel thing.” He grimaced at Angelia. “Sorry, but I've always heard the source of our name comes from the Greek word 'angelos.'”
“Yes, which meansmessenger,” Angelia said in a duh tone. “Where do you think that comes from?” She lifted her brows at him.
“Oh,” Az said. “Well, then, it's an honor to meet you, name-source-of-my-race.” He shook her hand.
She snorted. “Yeah, whatever. It's this way.”
As Angelia led us through the wood-paneled corridors, I slid up beside her. “So, you don't remember any part of yourabduction?”
“No, and I don't want to.” Angelia slid a look my way. “You worried about your daughter remembering that shit?”
“A bit. She wasn't mistreated, but she was away from us for a while.”
“I doubt she'll remember anything. Maybe a few random images. If you don't talk to her about it, she'll think it was a dream. I recommend that. I prefer not remembering. I wish I hadn't been told about it at all.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But I did all right even knowing. It didn't hurt or hinder my growth as a person. I've got me a place on Olympus now. I'm even dating someone. I'm happy. Normal. I'm sure your daughter will be fine too.”
“Good. And thank you for the advice. I'll take it.”
She grinned. “My pleasure, Godhunter. I know my dad isn't all that fond of you, but I admire what you've done. Well, most of it. That shit in the Middle East was whack. But I heard you were possessed or something.”
“Sort of, yes.”
“Then I won't hold you accountable for it.” She smacked my shoulder with a wing. “I like a woman with balls.”
