“She was supposed to meet me this morning and never showed,” Morpheus said.
“That's not like her,” Artie murmured.
“Which is why we're going after her,” I concluded.
“Well, I can get you into Cephissus' territory,” Artie said. “His grandson is my nephew.”
“His grandson?” I blinked at her.
“Cephissus' daughter, Malaeno had a son with Apollo,” she clarified. “We're kind of related.”
“All of you Greeks are kind of related,” Re said.
“Isn't that the Egyptian pot calling the Greek kettle black?” Artemis huffed.
“You have me there.” Re chuckled.
“Whatever the case, I'm not looking a Trojan horse in the mouth,” I said. “I'll gladly take the help.”
“Isn't the Trojan horse the reason we have that saying about being wary of Greeks bearing gifts?” Torrent asked.
“That's why it's funny,” I said patiently.
“Right; gift horse, Trojan horse.” Torrent snickered. “I get it now.”
“Well, this Greek doesn't have to sneak anyone in.” Artemis gestured for us to follow her. “I have the chant.”
We went back to her tracing room with Torrent in tow and then everyone held hands so Artemis could trace us into Cephissus' territory.
Chapter Thirty-Two
We reformed in a Greek pavilion on the bank of a wide river. A bridge led to an island in the center of the river; an island nearly covered by a medieval castle. Obviously, it was the source of inspiration for Narcissus' palace; the location, not the actual construction. A lot of Greeks went traditional, but Cephissus was going with the day's theme and straying from the norm. The tracing pavilion was all his adopted culture would get.
We ambled over the arch of the stone bridge and came to the castle's gate. An iron portcullis guarded an empty courtyard. I stared up the sheer walls but no one manned the guardhouse either. Water slapped against stone boulders along the island's perimeter; the liquid equivalent of wind whistling through the trees.
“Cephissus!” Artemis shouted. “I know you're in there. I just wanted to let you know that we're looking for Nemesis and we'll be wandering through your territory.”
“Why are you looking for that bitch here?” A man strode up to the iron portcullis as if he'd been waiting nearby.
I could see Narcissus in his face, but he wasn't as attractive as his son. Cephissus had blond hair hanging in lanky disarray around his wide brow, watery blue eyes, and a greedy look to him. I don't know what it was exactly, perhaps his mouth or the angle of his jaw, but I got selfish vibes from him.
“Don't call her a bitch, Cephissus,” Morpheus growled. “Your son was in the wrong, and you know it.”
“Regardless,” Cephissus growled, “Nemesis is not welcome here.”
“Precisely why we are here,” Artemis said. “Nem was keeping an eye on your son and now, she's disappeared. We heard that you gave Narcissus a portion of your territory so we're here to pass through into his.”
“You can't pass through.” He laughed. “He's not going to let you in.”
“We have our ways,” Artemis said. “Just point us in the right direction.”
“I'll do you one better,” Cephissus said as he hit a lever and the portcullis lifted. “I'll take you to the border; it's right over there.”
Cephissus waved his hand behind us and headed through our group. We gave each other wary looks before cautiously following him. He walked across the bridge and then across a meadow before he suddenly stopped. The air felt thicker there and something shimmered in it.
“There you go; do your worst.” Cephissus stood aside.
No one drew attention to Torrent, we didn't want to let this stranger know what Torr could do, and Torr didn't need to wave his hands about or even move at all to unmake a ward. He just stared at the border. We all waited as we stared straight ahead along with Torrent.
Cephissus scrunched up his face as he watched us. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Shh,” Artemis hushed him. “Almost done.”
Sweat broke out on Torrent's brow and his breathing deepened. Finally, he shook his head infinitesimally. I widened my eyes at him; this was new. Artemis handled it perfectly, sighing deeply before casting a look at Cephissus.
“Looks as if you're right, River God,” she said. “We'll be on our way.”
“Ha! I told you,” Cephissus said. “My boy's got good wards up.”
“If I find out that you or your son had anything to do with Nemesis' disappearance, I will personally see to it that you are summoned before the Olympians and held accountable,” I said in a cool but dangerous tone.
Cephissus went pale.
“In light of that, is there anything you'd like to say?” I asked him.
“If Narcissus took Nemesis, I have no knowledge of it,” Cephissus growled. “Now, get the fuck out of my territory, Godhunter.”
“That's an Olympian you're talking to!” Artemis snapped. “You will show her the respect she deserves.”
“She's an Olympian because she killed a bunch of other Olympians,” Cephissus snapped. “I'm sorry if I don't feel that should earn her a seat at the table, much less my respect.”
“Fair enough. I was surprised by the offer myself,” I said casually. “But perhaps you should think about what you just said; I killed three of the Twelve Olympians and took Zeus' magic before I knocked him and Hera off their thrones. I'm probably not the best person to piss off.”
Cephissus grimaced and turned on his heel to stalk back into his river castle.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“What happened, Torr?” I asked as soon as we stepped out of Artemis' tracing room.
“There was no ward to unmake,” Torrent said in utter bafflement.”
“What do you mean?” Odin asked slowly. “You couldn't find the entrance?”
“You don't understand; there was no entrance,” Torr said. “There was no way into his territory. It was as if he had completely sealed himself off from the rest of the God Realm.”
“Sealed himself off,” I murmured. “As he was in the Mirror.”
“You think he did it on purpose?” Re asked.
“Some prisoners who have been incarcerated for several years can't handle freedom,” I said. “They'll try to confine
