They were gathered around Skulduggery's living room, filling Valkyrie in. China Sorrows, Milo Banks and Lila Oo were The Elders now. Ezra and Dexter officially worked for the sanctuary with Skulduggery. Milo was an inventor, as it would happen. Billy-Ray had moved back to Texas. Tanith was in the London Sanctuary, working for them. Ravel was in a isolation, and would remain there for a very long time.
"Now, the gossiping is over. To business. We have something. A taste of a clue." Skulduggery said, his face serious.
"Oooh, I love when you talk nerdy." Ezra teased. Skulduggery ignored her.
"The Demons seem to be Hades'."
"As in... the Greek God?" Valkyrie asked.
"Yes." Valkyrie gave a low whistle.
"So... We need to get Aphrodite on our side." Ezra explained, as if she was deciding to go the shops then the park or the park then the shops.
"As in... The Greek Goddess. Of love. And beauty." Valkyrie asked.
"Yep, that's the one." Dexter assured her.
"Well, how the hell do we do that?" Valkyrie asked. She found she was asking a lot, and she wasn't too fond of it.
"That's the bit we're stuck at." Skulduggery admitted.
"My ears are burning." Said a sing-song like voice. Everybody looked at the woman who was lounging on the table. She was beautiful. She had light, strawberry blonde hair that cascaded in perfect ringlets down her back. She had silvery-blue eyes that were the shape of almonds. Her nose was small and slightly pointed, her lips full and rosy pink. her head was small and heart-shaped. Her body was to die for, all curves where there should be curve and angles where there should be angles. She was wearing a very tightly fitting red dress that fell loosly at her knees, and strappy high-heeled black sandals. A gold circlet adorned her perfect head. She giggled, and it sounded like bells, her face lit up in a way that made the roomful of people happy without knowing why.
"Now now, there's no need to be scared my dear children. You see, I'm just very bored. I was worshipped by millions. Then this God comes along and blows me right out of the water." She smiled sadly. "I'm not bitter, just bored. I heard you say my name and let me tell you, I could not resist. The four Sorcerers who saved the world. I was intrigued. I was... honoured. So, tell me, what is it you desire?" She asked, crossing her slim legs.
"Uh-"
"We-"
"Well-"
"Um-"
No one knew what to say. No one could form a coherent thought. She was beautiful. Obviously she would be because she was the Goddess of it, but seeing her in person was... surreal. Like she shouldn't be there. Skulduggery's living room was just not adequate for such a breath taking... creature to be. Aphrodite pointed to Skulduggery. "You. Tell me. My patient wares thin."
Skulduggery cleared his throat. "Hades has Demons after my sister. The Demons want her, and we aren't sure how to, um, what? Oh, yes, beat them. We are unsure of how to stop them."
Aphrodite nodded. "I can't promise anything but I will speak to him. He is most..." She didn't say what he was most, her beautiful face just contorted with disgust. "I want something though. I am very bored, as I have said. So I want to test you... for my own benefit, of course."
"Test us how?" Valkyrie asked, having not taken her eyes off the woman in front of her.
"Prove your love for each other." She said, then she was gone. So was Valkyrie and Skulduggery.
Thanks for reading!
