Page 29 of Battle of Witches
“This video is a good idea. If Killian can turn into Batman and do a little reconnaissance so I can plan, that would be great.”
“Oh, my Lilith, you are totally a much cooler Batman now!” Ravyn said. “Sleipnir has fans, too. I think the three of you should do the video while Killian does his flyover. I’m still mad she used that toxic smoke potion to get away. It got past my magical shield, and I haven’t decided if it’s cheating or not. IthinkI know how to make a similar one, but instead of making you unable to breathe, there’s some sleeping potion in it. IthinkI have the ratios in my head to make it a gas when you throw it.”
“If it works, patent it, and the bureau will buy the recipe for the witches. Killian, call meas soonas you have the lay of the land there so I can plan this. And for the love of the moon, no spoilers on your video. Don’t let on we know where she is, and we are coming for her.”
For once, Loki didn’t joke or poke at Kaine. This was it. We already blew our one chance at stopping her. She was viral now.
Wehadto get her this time.
Chapter23
Bjorn
Ihad to admit that Killian’s idea was a good one. I wasn’t much for social media. Ravyn said I had a different aura than most supernaturals, and while I was proud of what I was, I didn’t want my DMs blowing up like Sleipnir’s with people asking me if I couldseeif their partner was cheating.
That said, Ravyn, Loki, and Sleipnir all had massive social media followings. Reyson wasn’t the first god to blow up there. Ravyn had been gathering followers since high school, and many people loved her videos about the objects she came across at the museum. Also, she and Ripley made videos together reviewing the smutty books they enjoyed. Sleipnir blew up immediately because everyone wanted to get in his pants. I don’t even think they realized he wasthatSleipnir.
Ravyn was off in her potions corner of the warehouse of the museum. Loki popped off to pick up all kinds of equipment to make our video. He was currently fussing over the best place for us to sit to set the right atmosphere. Honestly, we could have filmed this in the bathroom in front of the toilet with what we were planning on saying. Sleipnir and Loki were both stressing about it. Social media was a weird place. I wasn’t all that sure I wanted to play there after we did this video.
I jumped when there was a small explosion over where Ravyn was working. I looked over to make sure she was okay. She was fanning purple smoke away from her face.
“Imeantfor that to happen. Instead of shooting it at the warehouse, why not shoot it on the steps of the main building? It’s gorgeous out there, and maybe if the nut heads listening to Asfrid won’t assault my precious museum trying to get her grimoire back if they see there’s a god, Sleipnir, and a seer that might be able toseethem coming.”
“Ooh, good idea. You aren’t going to explode the warehouse while we’re gone, are you?” Loki asked.
“Please,” Ravyn scoffed. “I’veneverexploded a potion when I didn’t want to. Neither has Ripley. We were always in advanced potion classes. Who do you think you’re talking to?”
Loki smacked her on the ass and grabbed his equipment.
“Onlyone of the most powerful witches this generation has ever seen.”
We made our way to the front of the museum. Now that I’d been here a while, we’d gotten tours of the city and surrounding buildings. Unfortunately, I hadn’t had time to fully explore to my liking, but we went to the library once because Ripley was cranky pregnant, and Ravyn said the only thing that was going to cheer her up was a durian smoothie and twin time.
Ripley was technically on the clock, so I asked for a library card. Ravyn and the smoothie cheered her up, but I think playing with my blood also improved her mood, especially when I got approved for a library card. I was looking forward to spending all day in there when this was over.
Ravyn was stressing about Killian one day, and I think she wanted five minutes to herself. So, she sent us all over to the main building and had someone give us the full tour. It was pretty amazing. The museum was massive, and there was so much history here. I wanted another tour with the sexiest history nerd I knew, but that would have to wait.
The front of the museum was the perfect place. There were imposing steps, and all the bushes were trimmed in the shape of every magical creature alive. Of course, Freya was responsible for all these buildings in a different lifetime. She loved a good effigy back in the day, but she was still mad about the Beatrix Halliwell statues at the academy and in front of the museum.
So, of course, Loki set up his tripod with the statue in the background. Loki adored Freya, but those two were constantly poking each other. And honestly, Freya gave as good as she got. Minerva would see that video and plan something epic for Loki when this was over.
Loki got the tripod set up, and we stood together on the stairs. Loki and Sleipnir struck dramatic poses. Yeah, I wasn’t doing that.
“Should I take my shirt off for this?” Sleipnir asked.
If there was ever a time for him to keep his shirt on, it was right now. Loki looked like he was thinking about it.
“Damn. That’s a good question.”
“No, it’s not,” I growled. “This is a serious message, not a thirst trap.”
“Yeah, but the easiest way to get someone to listen to a serious message is with sex. Sex sells, Bjorn. My followers expect to see videos of me talking about fucking people over. Sleipnir’s expects him to be topless. Ravyn’s wants to see a deathly sexy witch talk about history, cursed objects, and dirty books. We don’t want them to stop watching when they open the video because it’s not the norm. We want them to watch and share. I can keyword my way into getting it in front of new people and Asfrid and Scooter’s followers.”
I officially hated social media. I let out a little grunt and ripped off my shirt. The whole point of going into that pocket dimension and staying there over a thousand years was to come back and stop Asfrid. I just never thought I’d be doing it shirtless because you couldn’t be taken seriously in this century unless someone liked how you looked.
Sleipnir took his off, too, and for some reason, even though I had to stand here with my shirt off for this, Loki kept his on. Why was this my life right now? I had no problem posing topless in any other situation, but it just felt fucking silly right now.
“Okay, I didn’t have time to prepare an epic speech, so I’m just going to wing this. Insert if you must. Peopleloveother people’s drama. So, air it all out.”
