“It was unnecessary.” Odin waved away Thor's irritation. “Even now, there may be nothing you can do. But we need to discuss what happened and try to come up with a way to fight this.”
“It sounds as if Agwusi will need a replacement for the mirror.” Horus cocked his head sharply, hinting at his other form—a falcon. “Any ideas on what she'll go after?”
“She needs another relic with Transformation Magic.” I looked at Torrent. “Torr, could you do a quick search for magical items with that power?”
“That's not as easy as it sounds.” Torrent frowned as his gaze went distant, scanning the Internet. Many items not known for having Transformation Magic could still be transformative. It just depends on your definition of transformation.”
“It could be a physical or mental transformation.” Blue, AKA Huitzilopotchli, took his wife's hand, rubbing it as a child might do with a blanket. “Even the earth can be transformed.”
“Rivers carve the land. Slow but steadily.” Mrs. E nodded, her long, dark braid sliding over her shoulders. As the Navajo Goddess of Change, she was familiar with transformation.
“All right, how about an item whose main ability is transformation?” Trevor asked.
I slid my hand onto Trevor's thigh. He wasn't doing so well after seeing Ty.
Torrent shook his head. “Nothing. There are items that can transform people, but their main magic isn't transformation.”
“Like what?” Viper asked.
“Things that can hide or shift people. Selkie skins can shapeshift a person into a seal, and there's a necklace Hephaestus made that can transform the wearer.”
“Selkies are Fey, so I doubt Agwusi will go after them. But that necklace sounds like a possibility.” Thor made a go-ahead motion at Torrent.
Torrent shook his head. “It's a messed-up story. The necklace is cursed. Hephaestus made it for Harmonia, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, to punish her parents for their affair.”
“That tracks,” I muttered.
Torrent went on, “It makes the wearer beautiful, but also brings tragedy to their descendants. He gave it to Harmonia on her wedding day.”
“Talk about sins of the father,” Re said. “What a dick.” He glanced at me, saw my lifted eyebrows, and extended it into, “Dictionary. What a dictionary.”
I snorted a laugh.
“Hephaestus has always been jealous and vindictive about Aphrodite's affairs.” Hades grimaced. “Yet, he could never leave her. You did him a favor, Vervain.”
“Funny you should say that.” I glanced at Thor, whom I'd been dating when I'd killed ol' Afro. “While Aphrodite was torturing me, Hephaestus came in. He told her he was done with her and left. He was mad, not because she was torturing me, but because she wanted you.” I pointed at Blue.
“Ah, yes, I remember.” Blue shook his head and smirked at his wife's raised eyebrow. “She was insane. Aphrodite thought I was going to marry her and make her Queen of the World.” Blue rolled his eyes.
“And why would that make her angry with Vervain?” Eztli stared down her husband.
Blue stiffened and swallowed roughly. With a strained voice, he said, “I have no idea.”
I snorted. “Yeah, okay.”
Eztli kept staring at Blue.
“I was a different man then, my love.” He raised Eztli's hand and kissed it. “I had decided the Godhunter would make the perfect goddess to rule beside me.”
“In other words, he was insane too,” I said.
Eztli drew her hand away. “Nowthat, I believe.”
Blue grimaced.
“So, you don't think she'll take the necklace?” Trevor asked Torrent.
“I doubt Agwusi would put a cursed object into her divine machine.” Torrent made a wincing expression.
