Page 44 of Claiming Demons

Ramsey sighed. “I’m in charge of keeping my idiot cousin in line. I’ll need to go and tend to him at some point. But I’m sure we can find someone for you to chat with while I’m gone.”

But that only reminded me that Fen hadn’t arrived yet. I quickly pulled my phone from my small clutch and checked my messages.

Nothing.

Where was he?

I tried to hide my worry as Ramsey led me around the room and through a series of introductions that did a good job of keeping me occupied for a while, since most of these people were incredibly fascinating.

The more gods and daemons I met, the more I realized I should have been doing research about all of them. I didn’t know how they could keep track of each other. I met the jovial Vishnu who was chatting with one of the few men here bigger than Ramsey: Thor. Hemsworth was prettier, but only about half the size of the giant god.

After that, Ramsey introduced me to a pleasant duo of women, both dressed conservatively: Nuwa and Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, Uzume for short. They were genial and kind, and I could feel the weight of their power, yet they didn’t lord it over me.

Then we spoke to a pair of gods who looked sort of like identical twins: Belobog and Czernobog. Their features were the same, but one had extremely pale skin — almost luminous — with pure white hair. The other had onyx black skin and hair and emitted shadows.

As we made the rounds, I asked Ramsey if “thatGod” would be here and Ramsey nearly laughed himself hoarse.

Apparently,Hedidn’t do these sorts of events, and his name was Yahweh if I ever did meet him.

Yet, some of the daemons of that pantheon — angels — were attending and Ramsey even pointed one out. He was the epitome of a warrior-angel: golden hair and wings, with golden armor worn over flowing white robes. We didn’t talk to him.

I began to lose track of names and faces and then Ramsey spotted someone across the room and hurried me over to meet them.

“I think you’ll get along well with her,” Ramsey said as he got the attention of the other woman.

She wore a flowing cream-colored gown that was gathered up over one shoulder and flowed like silken waters over her full figure in a Grecian style. The diagonal cut meant her left breast was very much exposed, half a nipple showing above the fabric, which seemed to barely cling to her fullness. Long, wavy hair cascaded down to her thighs and seemed to shimmer through shades of autumn: umber brown, auburn, and dark-honey-gold, with highlights of fiery red. Her face was a perfect oval with high round cheeks, large amber eyes, and full, blushing lips, which smiled at me.

“Ana, meet Aphrodite… she’s Grey’s… ah… great grandaunt?” He looked to Aphrodite for confirmation.

“Oh! Hello!” she said, excited. “You must be the new goddess I’ve been hearing so much about!” She embraced me in a friendly way, kissing both of my cheeks. “And please don’t call me great-grand-anything. If we’re not directly related, let’s just say we’re all… cousins… yes?”

“Has Grey told you about me?” I asked as she drew back.

She laughed. “Grey doesn’t talk to anyone about anything. He’s rather tight-lipped. No, I have other ways of keeping track of things, especially when love and lust are involved. My many kids keep me appraised of such things… and here’s one now!”

I turned and saw an embarrassed and blushing Harmonia approaching. “Ah… hello Mother,” she said to Aphrodite.

“Have you been telling your mother about me?” I asked, not particularly accusing, mostly curious.

“A little,” Harmonia said. “Though I think it’s my brother Eros who’s been telling most of the tales.”

“Eros?” I asked, confused.

“You might know him better by his Roman name,” Ramsey said. “Cupid.”

Aphrodite giggled. “If people are falling in love, he keeps track of them… and you, my dear Ana, have been doinga lotof falling in love, haven’t you?”

My cheeks heated. “Can Eros… ah… see us?” That seemed a bit pervy to me.

“Oh, yes,” Aphrodite said, with a grimace. “He was the first voyeur. But don’t worry, I’m the only one he tells things to. Your secrets are safe with me.”

Yup, I was super-heated and blushing to my toes now. “Oh… good… thanks.”

Aphrodite laughed. “Don’t be embarrassed, dear! Love is a wonderful thing, and so is sex. From what I hear, they’re your aspects as well, don’t you agree with me?”

“I do,” I said smiling, feeling just a little relieved.

“And don’t worry,” Harmonia said. “I only told my mother the more public details of your life, nothing private. We’re friends. I wouldn’t do that to a friend.”

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