“That was kind of you,” I said softly.
I tried to hide my surprise. Not that I knew Nemesis enough to be surprised by her kindness. It was quite the opposite. But her looks alone gave the impression that she was more calculating than compassionate. Nemesis looked deadly. Her ebony hair hung in a straight line down her back, her face was all dramatic lines and aggressive angles, and her piercing eyes were the pale gray of a sword's edge. I saw bits of Nyx in her face and that might have influenced my opinion as well, but regardless, Nemesis did not look like someone who would take pity on a criminal while she also took her revenge.
“It was more about practicality than kindness,” she admitted. “If Narcissus were to ever have gotten loose, I didn't want a raving lunatic running through the God Realm.”
“Good call, Aunty Nem,” Morpheus said. “That guy feels off.”
“Yeah; he might have gone insane despite your precautions. The Mirror warned me before I set us free,” I said grimly.
“What did it say?” Nemesis drew closer; her stare going even sharper.
“It said that Narcissus is a psychopath.” I grimaced. “It said it was Narcissus' idea to pull humans into the Mirror and kill them. That none of them died by starvation but were sacrificed by Narcissus to the Mirror in exchange for the Mirror sharing power with him.”
“I knew they were lies,” Nemesis hissed. “All Narcissus' talk about change.”
“You can't know that for certain,” I said. “The Mirror could have been lying to protect itself. But there's one more thing; when I was snooping around Narcissus' bedroom, I found boxes of braids in his closet. Locks of human hair tagged with names, hometowns, and dates. They belonged to the humans who died in the Mirror.”
“He's a fucking madman!” Nemesis shouted angrily. “Why didn't you say something before he left?”
“Because Narcissus told me the hair was his way of paying tribute to the humans and giving them a memorial. He was very convincing, Nemesis. I'm not sure what to believe even though I suspect you're right. Plus, what would you have done? Would you have killed Narcissus on the mere suspicion that he was lying?”
Nemesis' face contorted in a sneer that was mostly self-directed. “I suppose you're right. I shall simply have to watch him more closely than I intended. Or perhaps I'll prepare another curse.”
“Do you have a way of keeping track of him?” I asked, ignoring the talk of a new curse.
“Once a god has been imprisoned by me, I can always find him or her,” she smiled viciously. “He won't escape me.”
“Then what are you bitching about?” I huffed.
“I'd rather not waste time tracking and watching Narcissus if I don't have to,” she said. “I'm in mourning after all.”
Well, that shut me up.
“I'm sorry.” I sighed and shook my head. “I should have offered my condolences sooner.”
Nemesis laughed and it changed her face completely; softening all her hard edges. “I hardly think it would be appropriate for you to give me condolences, Olympian.”
“Fair enough,” I agreed. “But no matter what my feelings were for Nyx, she was your mother, and she was executed. I truly am sorry for your loss.”
Nemesis' laughter faded, and she regarded me somberly. “In that case, thank you. My mother was a hard woman to love, but I did all the same. That being said, I support the Council's decision. It makes for a very complicated grieving process.”
“I can't even imagine,” I said softly.
“You've taken a lot from my family, Vervain,” Nemesis said and then looked over at Morpheus. “But you've given us a lot in return. You've done good things for my entire pantheon, and I'm most grateful for the way you've helped my nephew. Keep following your heart, and I won't have cause to turn my magic on you.”
“Okay.” I didn't know what else to say to that.
Nemesis smiled and chuckled a little before she hugged Morpheus goodbye and traced away.
“There is something you missed,” Re said to me.
“What?”
“Valentine's Day.” He sighed dramatically. “We had a very elaborate celebration planned.”
“You're the one who gave her the damn mirror,” Trevor huffed.
“Trevor, let it go; he was obviously manipulated into buying that mirror,” I said.
“And I will find out who by,” Re growled. Then he took a deep breath and relaxed. “But until then, I shall let that go too. I'd rather focus on making it up to you. Tomorrow shall be our Valentine's Day.”
“I don't need a romantic day,” I protested. “Every day is magical for me. Being home with all of you is more than enough.”
Re looked stricken.
“You'd better let him have his way,” Toby said with a grin. “After the Mirror debacle, Re's latched onto Valentine's as an opportunity to make amends. The Sun God is going to be a burning pain in the ass if you ruin his plans.”
“I believe that's called a hemorrhoid,” Pan said merrily.
Re glared at him, and everyone started laughing.
“Well, I definitely don't want burning ass pain,” I said as I hugged Re. “You can have your Valentine's Day.”
“Thank you, Lala.” Re's grin was decidedly devious.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I spent the next morning with my cats; my daughter and Nick. Lesya was effervescent in her excitement to have me home; the trauma of my mirror adventure had already faded for her. Children are resilient like that. It wasn't so easy for me or Nick, though. He kept curling around my feet as if I might disappear again, and I kept seeing Lesya standing on that pile of firewood while the Mirror called her an abomination.
But it was hard to focus on the Mirror's illusions in the light of Lesya's brilliant smile and impossible to not smile yourself when she laughed. I could be a trifle biased, but I thought Lesya was the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen, and her spirit was just as stunning. To think that I had nearly lost her at Ragnarok.
My hand drifted
