Maria's capture didn't please me in the slightest. As soon as Zeus disconnected from the link, the demoness instantly regained her senses. At first, she was disoriented and unsure of what was happening. I had to wait a moment until she recovered enough to be available for mental communication.
"Forgive me, my lord," she said as soon as she composed herself. "I've failed you and placed you in a dangerous and awkward position. This was entirely my fault."
"It's alright," I replied, dismissing her apology with a 'mental' wave of the hand. "These things happen. It's not entirely your fault — this could have happened to anyone."
"I'm sorry," she repeated.
"Just wait for me. Don't tell them anything," I told her. "I'll come get you soon."
"My lord," she said, her mind swirling with a tangle of emotions — gratitude, relief, and a multitude of other feelings I couldn't quite identify. "Thank you."
I chose not to probe further into her emotions. Rising from my chair, I noticed Amel nearby. He looked like he'd been waiting for something.
"Is everything alright?" he asked. "The whole building shook just now."
"Yeah, it's fine," I nodded. "I just received some unpleasant news. But it only concerns me."
"Alright," Amel nodded. "Do you need any help?"
"Not for now. But thank you."
After returning to the house, I went straight to my office to prepare for departure. I couldn't afford to leave Maria there for too long — that would be unwise. What do I need for a trip to an island that could easily be a trap? If it comes to that, a few Veils of Death should calm things down quickly.
I also have an ability called Death's Scythe. Its cooldown is currently two weeks after a single use, which is already an improvement from the previous month-long wait.
While my powers haven't grown dramatically, they've become sharper and more controlled. And I haven't even begun mastering the legendary creature transformations I glimpsed during my mushroom trip with Hagrid. Those creatures are still waiting for me. It's a shame I haven't found the time to explore them.
As Emperor, I have full access to the Imperial treasury — naturally. Thanks to Otto the Sixth's memories, I don't need to waste time searching; I already know exactly what's there. I just need to walk in and take what I require.
To protect myself, I wore a remarkably protective suit of armor that allowed full mobility. The hood could transform into a helmet when pulled over the head. Additional artifacts for offense and defense were strapped to my belt and stored in a pouch with expanded space that hung at my side. I had to reorganize it as well — discarding anything spoiled or useless and replacing it with fresh supplies, including food, potions, and medical equipment.
"My lord, do you need assistance?" Narcissa asked as she saw me fully equipped for battle.
"No," I shook my head. "I need you to watch over the house for now. Keep an eye on everyone who comes and goes. Also, make sure all letters are left on my desk. I won't be gone long — there are just a few things I need to take care of."
"Of course, my lord," she nodded. "I'll do everything you ask."
"How's Draco doing?" I asked, tightening a few straps and sealing them with magic. A soft shimmer ran across the armor as the protection activated, rendering the entire suit airtight. Nothing would be able to penetrate the defenses now.
"Everything's fine," she replied with a wide, genuine smile. "The only thing I've noticed is his emotional detachment."
"I told you — wounds of the soul don't just vanish. There will be consequences."
"Yes," she sighed. "But even so… thank you for bringing my son back, my lord."
I simply smiled at that. For a brief moment, a flicker of desire surfaced — a temptation to lower my guard and press her up against the wall for a bit of indulgence — but I crushed the thought immediately. There were more pressing matters at hand.
Isolde accepted my temporary departure with quiet composure. She knew I'd return soon. In the meantime, she would immerse herself in the books and journals I had left her — each exploring different topics in depth.
Such is life.
I apparated from the house to the shoreline and climbed onto my broom. It surged upward, lifting me into the sky, where I vanished into a small white cloud. My armor flickered, activating a suite of concealment spells. Shifting slightly to the side to let a Muggle airplane pass, I resumed course and accelerated.
Lightning remained the fastest broom available, allowing me to reach my destination well before nightfall. But I didn't descend immediately. Instead, I circled high above the island, hidden within the clouds, and began casting subtle enchantments designed as contingency measures should things go awry. Each spell was embedded into individual droplets of water suspended in the air. If needed, I could activate them with a single thought — and true devastation would rain down below.
This was a precaution, in case the situation turned against me or the Veil of Death failed. I didn't expect it to come to that — but preparation never hurts. It's always better to be ready, even if the worst-case scenario never arrives.
Only once I had enchanted enough of the surrounding mist did I begin my descent toward the island. As I crossed an unseen threshold, I sensed attention shifting toward me. It seemed the locals had been expecting my arrival.
As I flew lower, two chariots materialized in the air, each drawn by strange, otherworldly horses. One carried Aphrodite, the other — Athena. Both appeared to be sorceresses… or at least, that was my assumption. They approached and brought their chariots to a graceful halt beside me.
"Timothy!" Aphrodite called out with a radiant smile. "I'm so glad to see you! It's been years, and you still haven't come to visit us."
"Aphrodite," I nodded. "Good to see you, too. You look as beautiful as ever. Athena, it's a pleasure. You look wonderful as well."
"Thank you," Athena replied with a slight nod. "Timothy, the Olympian Zeus is already waiting for you. Your companion is with him."
"Thank you."
"And I see," Aphrodite added with a smirk, "that you really do understand women well. Our guest is head over heels for you — to the very tips of her hair. Ha."
I remained silent, unwilling to respond to that comment.
"All right then," said Athena. "Follow us."
They guided their chariots forward. Aphrodite took the lead, assuming the role of hostess. I flew in the middle, with Athena behind me — clearly positioned to monitor my movements and ensure I didn't try anything out of line. Not that it would have mattered; if I truly wanted to act, she wouldn't have been able to stop me.
We flew toward a towering mountain that loomed over the island. At its summit stood an impressive structure built in classical Hellenic style — a tall building encircled by a low fence, with four entrances. Each entrance was guarded by a pair of faceless statues. I'm not particularly well-versed in ancient history, but the guardians vaguely resembled Spartans. More importantly, I could sense highly advanced magical constructs embedded within them.
At each corner of the area grew tall, elegant cypress trees, each emanating a subtle magical aura. At the highest point stood a cluster of snow-white buildings, their massive columns supporting an open roof. Atop that roof sat a platform clearly intended for a golden chariot, harnessed to four sculpted horses — though even those statues radiated a trace of lifeforce.
Upon reaching the second level, both sorceresses brought their chariots to a stop. Immediately, several young, silent men in white, single-shouldered tunics and odd sandals came to tend to them. I simply stowed my broom into my bag.
"Welcome to our main building," Aphrodite said with a warm smile. "Zeus will be waiting for you in his hall. If you'd like to grab a bite first, I don't think anyone would object. Right, Athena?"
"Tch," Athena clicked her tongue. "We should go now. It's not proper to keep him waiting."
"You're no fun at all," Aphrodite sighed. "Fine. Let's go."
We began ascending a long staircase of gleaming white steps. Torches mounted on the walls emitted a mystical, flickering glow. Occasionally, we passed statues of warriors — both male and female — each appearing so lifelike that they could come alive at any moment. Their weapons shimmered faintly, clearly enchanted, and capable of significantly enhancing their combat capabilities.
The next level was completely open, offering a breathtaking view of the island and the sea beyond. In the far distance, thin slivers of the mainland could be seen. A magical barrier filled the spaces between the columns, keeping the interior comfortably warm without obstructing the view.
What caught my attention, however, was a cage — and inside sat Maria. She was seated calmly, surveying her surroundings. Our eyes met, and I gave her a subtle nod. She closed her eyes in response and said nothing. The fury radiating from her was unmistakable.
Zeus lounged on a massive throne, his head resting lazily on one hand. Around him, several women in flowing garments offered him food and drink, feeding him directly. Near the cage stood Ares, whom I recognized immediately, though I wasn't particularly focused on him yet.
"Oh!" Zeus finally exclaimed, turning his gaze to me. "You've arrived at last! I was just about to let Ares have a little fun with your girlfriend."
"Well," I drawled, "that's one hell of a welcome. Unexpected. Very unexpected."
A quiet rage burned within me. Zeus's words only added fuel to the fire. I was going to ask Ares a single question — and depending on his answer, everything would change.
"You're not joking…?" I said slowly. "Ares, would you have followed through on that order?"
"Yes," he replied calmly, without a trace of hesitation. He didn't seem concerned about the possible consequences.
"What if you gave it some thought?" I asked again, my voice still steady. Zeus watched our exchange with clear amusement.
Only then did I notice them — three strange beings hidden in the shadows. Each had an open palm, and within each palm, an eye stared directly at me, devouring me with its gaze. Let's just say… those creatures were creepy as hell — deeply unsettling.
"Kid," Ares began, his tone shifting as emotion seeped in, "I'd have done it even without an order or request."
"I see," I said, nodding.
My wand snapped into my hand faster than a blink. What followed was a precise, rapid spellweave.
"Avada Kedavra!"
I'd spent considerable time researching this spell while developing my Soul Scalpel, and that work had made upgrading the Killing Curse relatively easy. My enhancements had turned it into something truly lethal. Unless someone had strong magical protection — or could read minds or see the future — there was no way to react in time. As for the latter, I wasn't sure. As for the former — there were very few.
The green beam struck Ares squarely, sending him flying. He flipped through the air before crashing to the ground, lifeless. At that moment, I felt my soul absorb his — and something extraordinary began to unfold. My magical power didn't increase much, but my soul… My soul was undergoing a strange and rapid transformation I couldn't yet comprehend. And deep inside, within that flare, a tiny, fragile flame sparked to life.
Zeus observed it all with a smile, seemingly unbothered by the fact that I had just killed one of his subordinates right in front of him. Ares's memories didn't simply appear in my Archive as another drawer — they became an entire section of the library. Surprised, I made a mental note to study that part later. Along with the memories, a new mental package had arrived — very similar to what I'd received when I acquired the Veil and the Scythe. That, too, would have to wait.
For now, I focused on the flame that had ignited inside me — and immediately sensed similar flames in others: Zeus, Aphrodite, Athena, and a few more nearby. Zeus's flame burned brightest. If mine was a flickering candle, his was a towering cathedral torch.
And let's just say… that flame raised more than a few questions — and suspicions.
"What's happening?" Zeus asked as he rose from his throne. "Moirai?!"
"Soul!" cried the first.
"Soul!" echoed the second.
"Devoured!" shrieked the third.
"His!" shouted the first.
"More!" called the second.
"No-o-o-o-o!" howled the third.
Zeus looked at me, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. Clearly, this wasn't how he expected things to unfold. Sparks leapt from his hands as he raised them. Lightning burst from his fingers and surged toward me — not magical in nature, but something else entirely. This was raw, physical energy. I could do something similar, but not as effortlessly. Defending against this kind of attack wasn't straightforward.
There were a few options: the fastest was to conjure a specialized shield. Another was to transfigure a grounded metal rod to redirect the lightning away from me.
I didn't have much time.
I quickly cast a protective barrier around myself. The lightning struck the shield and ricocheted across the stone floor, leaving behind molten trails and scorched grooves.
Aphrodite and Athena jumped back. In Athena's hands appeared a sword and shield. She charged forward — but a wandless burst of force knocked her back into the nearest column with a thunderous crash.
As for Zeus — a hammer materialized in his hands, and he lunged.
Now, hold on there, my friend — you're way out of line. What, you think I trained for nothing?
My wand slipped into its holster. I was ready to turn Zeus into a meat cutlet.
Lightning danced along the head of his hammer, but I wasn't particularly worried. Ultra-light, high-density rubber gloves appeared on my hands. In the next instant, a full-body rubber suit materialized — lightweight, yet highly insulating against electricity.
He brought the hammer down from above in a vicious arc. I rolled sideways on my hands, dodging just in time. The hammer slammed into the floor with explosive force, cracking the stone beneath and sending shockwaves through the building.
Perfect.
I apparated — and reappeared mid-strike, delivering a brutal punch straight to his solar plexus.
The impact launched Zeus into the ceiling, embedding him slightly in the stone. As they say, a bit of magic and a good punch can go a long way.
With a surge of magic-enhanced strength, I leapt upward.
Before he could fall, my fist slammed into his gut again, driving him even deeper into the ceiling. Then I apparated back to the ground. As Zeus began to fall, I swung my hand and conjured a high-pressure air blast, slamming him down with tremendous force.
"Graaa!" he roared, bursting with white-green lightning. The stone cracked and crumbled around him, but I didn't flinch.
Zeus lunged at me — and collided headfirst with a wall of diamond-hard air that had suddenly transfigured in front of him. The impact was brutal. He hadn't seen it coming.
Lightning erupted again — this time blinding white, pulsing like a living force around him. He stood slowly, his eyes blank and locked onto mine. They burned with power and raw hatred.
Too bad that's not how this works.
I had to apparate just in time as Zeus launched himself at me. He was fast — too fast. If I hadn't sensed his intent, I wouldn't have reacted in time.
Still, I hadn't used Avada. Maybe I should've. To be honest, I was getting tired of this fight.
"Khh-khh-khh…" Zeus exhaled, the lightning dimming as clarity returned to his expression. "Tch… Cronus's bastard. Fine."
He returned to his throne and slumped into it, legs spread wide.
"Well?" I asked him. "What now?"
"Take your assistant," Zeus said.
With a wave of my hand, I shattered the cage. Maria rushed over and stood behind me.
"You killed Ares," Zeus said. "You smacked me around. What more do you want?"
"And what did you expect?" I shot back. "That I'd just stand there while someone planned to rape what belongs to me?"
Of course, Zeus wasn't going to let this go so easily. But for now, he decided to play along — survival instincts kicking in. The sensation of death had come too close for comfort, and he didn't like that one bit. Who would? I certainly wouldn't.
"Let's try to talk this out and settle things peacefully — not with a massacre," he said, shooting a quick glance at the three beings he'd earlier called the Moirai.
"Sure," I grunted.
I transfigured a comfortable chair and sat across from him. I could sense how much he hated this — but he swallowed it. Later, when I was gone, he'd likely take it out on someone else.
Meanwhile, the staff and healers were tending to Athena. She clearly hadn't expected my kind of retaliation. When she came to and saw Zeus and me calmly sitting at the same table, she quietly stashed away her sword and shield. Aphrodite reappeared soon after, watching the proceedings with obvious curiosity.
"What's this fruit?" I asked Zeus, setting the one he'd given me onto the table.
"Tch…" he exhaled. "I guess I'll have to take you back a bit. Roughly six thousand years ago, there was a massive war. In that war, both heroes — what you now call wizards — and we, the gods, fought side by side. It was a major conflict because, through one of the anomalies, foreign gods appeared — manifestations of humanity's darkest emotions. To defeat them, I had to seal away certain key concepts: faith, free will, and heroic energy. After that, no true heroes were ever born among mortals again. Every wizard alive today carries a spark of hero blood."
He paused for a moment, then gestured toward the fruit.
"Anyway… those sealed concepts now reside within this so-called Devil Fruit."
"That's all very nice," I said with a nod, though I wasn't quite ready to believe something that insane just yet. "But what does it actually do?"
"Because you possess immense potential, your soul could act as a catalyst to unseal both faith and free heroic energy," Zeus replied. "It would restore power to our pantheon — the only one to survive the extinction of all others — and humanity would once again be able to produce true heroes."
"So wait, you're the gods of Ancient Greece?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"You don't believe us?" Zeus seemed genuinely surprised.
"To me, you still seem like a bunch of eccentric wizards who took on the names of mythical beings," I told him. "Maybe you came through some anomaly too, and now you're just trying to seize power here."
"Fair enough," Zeus nodded. "But last time, we gave more than enough hints…"
"Let's not go there," I cut him off. "You were planning to regain your power by sacrificing me, right?"
"Yes," he said without hesitation. "Because wizards don't come to our island. You're the only one who's appeared here in the past decade."
"Hm," I mused. "Suppose I did eat the fruit. What would happen to the wizards?"
"They would immediately rise in power — roughly to the level of a decent demigod," Zeus explained. "They wouldn't become gods, of course, but it would still be a massive leap from what they are now."
"Got it," I nodded and slipped the fruit back into my bag. I'd decide what to do with it later. "So — how exactly are you planning to pay me back?"
"You think the information you just received wasn't payment enough?"
"Of course not," I replied. Then, lowering my voice slightly, I added, "I'll be honest with you — I consumed Ares's soul."
I nudged the flame within me, causing it to flare slightly — just enough for Zeus to notice. His face went pale.
That's when it really hit him. This wasn't an ordinary situation. And knowing how I held grudges, he realized he couldn't just send me off the island empty-handed. He'd have to give me something… satisfying.
"…Understood," he said, his voice tight. For a moment, I thought he might keel over from stress. A god dying of a heart attack — now that would be hilarious.
"Aphrodite, Athena," he called. Both goddesses approached the table, standing silently as they awaited his instructions.
"Timothy," Zeus said carefully, "are you into guys or girls?" He paused — then added, "Or… are you more into animals?"
"…What?" I asked, completely thrown off.
"Ah no, never mind… you're into women," Zeus muttered to himself. "Alright. Aphrodite, Athena — from now on, you belong to Timothy Jody. You are to be his loyal, beautiful wives. Understood?"
"Yes," Aphrodite answered with a smile. Athena, however, shot me a sharp, suspicious look.
"…Yes," she finally said. Apparently, they didn't have much of a choice in the matter.
"And that's your idea of compensation?"
Now, I have a serious question: what the hell is going on with this world? Why does it keep tossing more women into my bed? I mean, I'm not exactly complaining — it's better than being surrounded by guys — but still. Maybe it's because I'm a powerful wizard, and the world wants strong offspring from me? That's the first — and admittedly most insane — theory that pops into my head. It sounds absurd… and yet, weirdly plausible.
"Yes," Zeus said with a nod. "Want more? I could call Hera over. She's a divine beauty too."
"No, it's fine," I waved him off. "Whatever. How are they supposed to leave the island?"
"Not my problem," Zeus snorted. "They're your women now."
At that moment, I felt two sparks transfer from Zeus — connecting the flame within me to those of Aphrodite and Athena. He felt it too, and his expression darkened — flashing with both rage and fear. Meanwhile, the two goddesses looked at me with a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite identify.
I also sensed something else: their connection to the island had been severed. It was an instinctual awareness, like suddenly knowing something I'd always understood on a subconscious level. Looks like I'll need to analyze Ares's memories as soon as possible. I'm certain there are answers in there — ones I desperately need.
"Alright," I said, accepting his so-called offering. "Then I'll look into what can be done with the fruit. If I feed it to someone else, what happens?"
"It'll have the same effect — just slower," Zeus replied truthfully.
"Got it. Thanks," I nodded. "Anything else you'd like to tell me?"
"No," he said curtly.
"Then I think I'll take my leave from this lovely company," I smirked. "Take care."
"You too," Zeus replied through a forced smile.
I turned and headed toward the exit, with Aphrodite and Athena trailing behind me. Maria watched them with quiet suspicion but said nothing — at least not yet.
"Do you need to grab anything before we go?" I asked the goddesses. "I'm about to leave the island."
"Yes, my sweet," Aphrodite purred, her voice sweeter than spun sugar. "I think my dear friend Athena needs to grab a few things as well."
At the exit, I sat on a stone bench. Maria sat beside me in silence.
"How are you?" I asked her mentally.
"Could've been worse," the demoness replied. "Be careful with those goddesses. They're real snakes."
"No doubt," I chuckled. "Zeus definitely wouldn't have sent them with me unless he had a plan. Especially if what he said is true — and he's that ancient — then there's no way he doesn't."
"I'll keep an eye on them," she said in my mind.
"Perfect."
After that, I cast a Chinese tracking spell — I was curious to see what was happening back on Zeus's floor. The spell revealed quite the scene: Zeus was furiously smacking the Moirai across their open palms. It looked like the divine equivalent of slapping someone across the face — repeatedly.
"What the hell was that?!" he demanded.
"Lord Zeus," said the first Moirai, "we don't know!"
"His fate was woven into our tapestry," said the second, "but the thread turned out to be the wrong one."
"The thread was fake and nonexistent," echoed the third.
"So that means…" the god began.
"It means we know nothing about his fate," said the first.
"We cannot weave him into our tapestry," said the second.
"His threads are false and do not exist," added the third. "We cannot foresee or speak of his destiny."
"This should not be!" cried the first.
"It should not!" echoed the second.
"It should not!" repeated the third.
Honestly, I had to fight the urge to go up there and slap each of them myself — maybe poke those freaky eye-palms of theirs. Or better yet, just reincarnate them and be done with it. Their screeching alone could poison the air.
At that moment, a swirling circle of water formed — and from it emerged a large, muscular figure.
"My brother, Poseidon," Zeus said, addressing the new arrival — a god wielding a trident.
And sure enough, a moment later, a dark shadow gathered in one of the corners. From it stepped a tall, skeletal figure with stringy hair and deep-set yellow eyes. Hades had arrived.
"You summoned us, Supreme One?" Hades asked softly.
"Yes," Zeus replied, adopting a calm, almost spiritual demeanor. "But you weren't exactly in a hurry."
"We came as quickly as we could," Poseidon rumbled in his deep voice.
"I had to put Cerberus back in his pen," Hades added. "Didn't want my doggies running loose on the island and eating the last of the believers."
"Fair enough," Zeus nodded, gesturing toward the wreckage left behind by his own body slamming into the floor and ceiling. Then he pointed at Ares's lifeless form.
"What happened to him?" Hades asked, brow furrowing. "Strange…"
"He was killed by a wizard," Zeus said. "I fought him afterward."
"I can see you won... ha-ha-ha-ha," Poseidon chuckled, the amusement clear in his tone.
Zeus's expression soured.
"You did win, right?" Poseidon asked again, a smirk in his voice.
"He devoured Ares's soul and absorbed his divinity," Zeus said tightly. "His name is Timothy Jody."
"I've heard of him," Hades murmured. "He managed to escape from you?"
"He nearly killed me," Zeus said through clenched teeth. "I had to negotiate. And you know how much I hate that."
"And the Moirai?" Poseidon asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What about them…" Zeus exhaled, his voice calming. "They can't see his fate. They can't touch him. His thread doesn't exist."
"Yeah…" Poseidon drawled. "If this were ancient times, he wouldn't have even been able to squeak."
"I sent Aphrodite and Athena with him," Zeus continued. "Their task is to persuade him to feed the fruit to another wizard. I'm confident they'll succeed — and when they do, we'll begin restoring our power… for revenge."
"He stole Ares's divinity," Hades noted. "That means he'll continue gaining power."
"Exactly why I'll need your help," Zeus said, looking at both of them. "When we've regained our strength, we'll wipe him out — and make the world tremble at our return."
"Agreed," Poseidon nodded. "That sounds very appealing."
"I'm in as well," said Hades. "Especially curious about how he wiped out the goblins. That was fast… and efficient."
"So here's what we'll do…"
At that moment, Aphrodite and Athena descended to meet me. The latter — who had previously been noticeably displeased — was now acting completely different. She actually seemed cheerful, as if she were genuinely enjoying life. Too bad I wouldn't get to hear the rest of the gods' conversation. But what I'd already picked up was more than enough to start preparing — and eventually devour them on my own terms.
If there's anyone I'd want to consume, it's definitely those three gods. That kind of power-up isn't something I'm going to pass up. First, I'll absorb Ares's knowledge. Then I'll build a trap — and only then, when the moment is right, I'll feed the fruit to someone. I'll decide who later. There will be candidates.
"Ready?" I asked the goddesses.
"Of course, darling," Aphrodite said, her voice as sugary as cotton candy. "We're ready to follow you to the ends of the earth."
I almost winced — but held it in. I brushed against their emotions briefly and felt the first layer: so sweet, so convincing, it could almost fool you. The feelings they projected were believable — excitement to leave the island, gratitude for being freed from Zeus. And for most people, that illusion would be enough.
But beneath that mask, it was different.
From Athena — mild contempt and a faint but deliberate wish for my death.
From Aphrodite — a simmering desire to twist my neck at the earliest opportunity.
They were completely prepared to do whatever it took to make me feed the fruit to some wizard. And by whatever, I mean everything.
Honestly? I don't even mind. Heh.
"We still need to get our chariots, my sweet," Aphrodite said.
"Just a minute."
"I don't trust them," Maria said to me mentally. "They're way too sugary."
"I don't trust them either," I replied. "But you've got to hand it to them — they know how to act."
Aphrodite and Athena soon returned, their chariots ready.
"Alright. Let's move," I said with a nod.
Maria climbed onto the broom behind me, and we took off. I opened the map and set course for Corsica. Naturally, I had no intention of introducing the goddesses to the rest of my girls. No doubt they'd try to influence them somehow. Six thousand years of experience — or however long it's been — isn't a joke. I'm sure they could even outplay me, if I hadn't already overheard Zeus and his brothers' plan.
But now that I know it... there's no fooling me.
Slowly, night took the world into its hands. Two chariots followed behind me, carrying the goddesses — beautiful, truly beautiful — but that beauty meant nothing to my buddy in underwear. He understood, just as I did, that these snakes would gladly strangle him if they had the chance.
We landed on Corsica under a high moon. I planned to house them in one of the properties I'd been settling into recently, just after my last round of data analysis. I'd probably have to dive back into that again — but this time, with Ares's memories.
"This is my island," I told Aphrodite and Athena. "You can stay in my house, or pick an empty one and claim it for yourselves."
"We'd rather stay with you, darling," Aphrodite said sweetly. "If it's alright, we'd be happy to sleep in the same bed with you. Isn't that right, sister?"
The last part was directed at Athena.
"Of course. You wouldn't mind, would you, darling?"
"Not at all," I replied, smiling back at them with the same polished charm they used. "But first, I need to take care of a few things here on the island. In the meantime, feel free to start thinking about how you'd like the house arranged to your tastes."
"You're so sweet," Aphrodite cooed.
"And thoughtful," added Athena.
Their saccharine voices made me want to spit and chew on salt and pepper. No one had ever spoken to me like that before — not even Maria or Narcissa, who, technically, were my slaves.
"Maria," I said through our mental link, carefully monitoring for any signs of intrusion. I already knew Zeus could connect mentally — whether these two could was still unclear. "Go to the girls and let them know I'll be delayed. Don't tell them anything else."
"Yes, understood, my lord," she replied instantly.
"Now play along."
Switching to my outward voice, I said, "Maria, I need you to head to the Berlin market and pick up some magical plants for me."
"Of course," she nodded smoothly. "What exactly do you need?"
"I need at least twenty grams — more if possible — of Candida-Ionia from the Denei Nation. I also need twenty bodies of the Chilean Water Strider, and five jars of silk from the White European Silkworm."
"No problem," she said with a slight bow. "I'll return as soon as I've secured everything."
"Excellent. Then I won't keep you."
Maria left quickly, though it was obvious she'd have preferred to stay. I understood her — but for now, I had no intention of risking anything. Better to let Aphrodite and Athena settle in, play their little charm game, and slowly realize how utterly ineffective it would be.
"Aphrodite, Athena — make yourselves comfortable," I said, turning back to them. "I have a few matters to attend to. I'll be back in a few days."
They had no choice but to accept it. If they pushed too hard, it might've raised suspicion. By leaving them alone, I gave them just enough space to think they had room to plot. And it would be such a shame if the walls just happened to have ears — ears that remembered everything… and passed it all straight to me.