“Are you talking about Hermaphroditus?” Pan teased.
“Oh, shut up,” Angelia slung over her shoulder. “That would be gross; they're my sibling.”
“They?” I looked back at Pan.
“Just as Angelia's name is the origin of the word 'angel,' Hermaphroditus's name is the origin of the word 'hermaphrodite.' Their pronouns are they/them. They have awoman's body with a cock and balls. Very impressive ones, I might add.”
“Gross!” Angelia growled. “Don't talk about our sibling's sex parts.”
“Why not? They don't care. They whip it out if you ask them to.”
“They,” I whispered again. “The whole they/them thing was here first?”
“Of course,” Pan said. “The Greeks start everything.”
Odin cleared his throat. “Not everything, Pan. May I remind you that the days of the week are in honor of Norse Gods?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Pan said. “But we got everything else.”
“No fighting!” Kirill said. “Ve are here.”
Sure enough, the doorway ahead of us framed Thor, who was seated at a table—the end, as he preferred. He was speaking to someone, waving his hand about as he did, and then he glanced our way.
Thor's expression went relieved. “They're here.”
We entered the room to find the God Squad, Hermes, his girlfriend Panacea, and several other people I didn't know.
“You told me you'd be here in the morning, Godhunter,” Hermes said. “It's nearly afternoon! And don't tell me there's a time difference. I happen to know that the Greek Territory has the exact same time as yours.”
“Dad, I keep telling you that they're parents,” Pan said. “They had to take care of their children before coming.”
“We all needed time to sleep, awake, eat, and dress,” Thor added. “It has only now been an appropriate amount of time forthat. Which is why the rest of us have only just arrived as well. And it is only 10:30, Hermes. That is morning.”
“I know that,” Hermes said in a confused tone. “I think I know that. Damn it all!”
“It's all right, Dad,” Pan said. “V is gonna take a look around. If anyone can find the thief, it's her.”
“With Torrent's help,” I said and winked at Torr. “If there is a trail, Torrent can take me through the Aether to follow it.”
“Impossible,” one of the strangers said.
“No, I've seen him do it,” Pan said.
The man scowled at Pan.
“These are my siblings,” Pan said to me. “Should I make introductions?”
I was about to give in, despite the fact that there had to be nearly twenty of them, but Hermes saved me with rudeness.
“There's no time for that!” Hermes declared. “Godhunter and family, this is my family. Now, come with me, Vervain. I'll show you where I kept the snakes.”
“Caduceus, Dad,” all of his children said at once.
“I know!” Hermes roared.
“All right, that's enough,” Panacea said as she took Hermes's hand. “It's his staff. He can call it whatever he wants. Stop correcting him. He's your father. You will show him respect!”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Hermes said.
