The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

five

APOLOGIES MADE

Britomartis jumped from the ledge and landed in a kneeling position, her skirts spread around her in a pool of netting. (She loves those dramatic entrances. She is such an anime-character.)

The goddess rose. She pulled out her hunting knife. "Parker, Apollo, if you value your anatomy, hold still."

They had no time to protest that they couldn't exactly hold still while suspended in a swaying net.

She slashed her knife across Apollos groin. The net broke and spilled them to the floor, thankfully with their anatomies intact.

The pairs landing was not graceful. Fortunately, Leo and Calypso rushed to their aid. Calypso helped Apollo whereas Leo offered Ariana a hand.

After a moment debating whether or not take it, she took his hand; the familiar feeling of butterflies still swarmed her stomach.

Leo and Ariana stared into each others eyes until
Leo reached into his tool belt, perhaps searching for a weapon.

Instead he produced a tin of breath mints. Ariana doubted that would do them much good.

"Who is this lady?" he asked Apollo, his eyes not meeting Ariana's.

"Britomartis," Apollo said. "The Lady of Nets."

Leo looked dubious. "Does that include basketball and the Internet?"

"Just hunting and fishing nets." Ariana said coldly.

Apollo sighed. "She is one of my sister's minions."

"Minion?" Britomartis wrinkled her nose. "I am no minion."

Behind them, Josephine coughed. "Uh, sorry, Apollo. The Lady insisted on getting your attention this way."

The goddess's face brightened. "Well, I had to see if he would step in my trap. And he did, I didn't mean for Ariana to get wrapped up in it. As usual. Hemithea, Josephine...give us the room, please."

Their hosts glanced at each other, probably wondering which of them would have to clean up the bodies after Britomartis was through with them.

Then they retreated through a doorway at the back of the hall.

Calypso sized up the net goddess. "Britomartis, eh? Never heard of you. You must be minor."

Britomartis smiled thinly. "Oh, but I've heard of you, Calypso. Exiled to Ogygia after the Titan War. Waiting for whatever man might wash up on your shores to break your heart and leave you alone again. That must have gotten terribly old." She turned to Leo. "This is your rescuer, eh? A bit short and scruffy for a knight in shining armor."

"Hey, lady." Leo shook his tin of breath mints. "I've blown up way more powerful goddesses than you before."

"And he's not my rescuer," Calypso added.

"Yeah!" Leo frowned. "Wait, I kind of was, actually."

"Nor is he a knight," Calypso mused. "Although he is short and scruffy."

A puff of smoke rose from Leo's collar.

"Anyway"- he faced Britomartis -"where do you get off ordering Jo and Emmie around like this is your house?"

Ariana grabbed his breath mints before Britomartis could transform them into
nitroglycerin.

"Leo, I'm afraid this is her house." Apollo said.

The goddess gave him that coquettish smile Apollo hated so much.

"Why, Apollo, you made a correct deduction! How did you manage it?"