Prologue
Wild Winds
The stroke went wide and then hooked around to land on the far edge of the fairway. A scowl from the statuesque woman in a white blouse and pale pink pants was the only response to the hit. Her companion dressed in a shocking pink mini-dress, giggled and drew out her own club.
“What’s blown your concentration, Persephone? Normally, you slaughter me on this course and now I’m up by three.”
Persephone just allowed her scowl to deepen. “I don’t find it funny, Aphrodite.” Persephone watched Aphrodite step up and take a swing. Both women watched as it gently rolled to a stop on the green just feet away from the cup.
“So what’s eating you? I thought you would enjoy your yearly visit to your mother.” Aphrodite said as she picked up her tee and followed Persephone down to where their balls had landed. Behind them a couple of satyrs carried their golf bags and kept score.
Persephone shrugged and selected an iron for the next shot. “I can’t help but feel that Hades is up to something and I’m not going to like it when I return home. Ever since he brought that creature into our service instead of sending him to Tartarus my entire peace of mind has been shattered. I don’t even want to fight with Hades and you know how much we both enjoy that.”
“Thamas?” Aphrodite asked as she took a putter to address her ball. She glanced up long enough to see Persephone nod sharply and then took her stroke. “Well, is it better that he’s there or somewhere here on Earth? You know as much as anyone the trouble he caused while he lived. Where else would you send him?”
Persephone sighed as Aphrodite made a birdie yet again and then took her final shot and sunk her own ball. The two women selected their balls from the cup and were about to head to the next hole when Aphrodite put her hand on Persephone’s arm. “Look, this obviously isn’t your day to play golf. Why don’t we go to the clubhouse and talk about it over a couple of mao-tai’s? C’mon, Persephone, I hate to see you this upset over some little detail that you know had to be.”
Agreeing with Aphrodite, Persephone put up her clubs and ball and waved her satyr off and turned to head back toward the clubhouse. “You’re right, of course. I just can’t help but whine a little. I mean, why is it all the undesirables end up in Hades? Why can’t Hel take a few or even limbo for that matter, and give me a break from dealing with all the riff raff no one else wants?”
Aphrodite laid her finally manicured hand on Persephone’s arm and looked into the other woman’s eyes. “But, Persephone, who else can deal with them? You have handled even more unpleasant details than Thamas before. Who do you suggest we trust with such responsibility?”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way before. Thanks again for listening. You are right, of course, but I still need to complain every now and then.” Entering the clubhouse, the two were waved over to a table with other women already sipping various drinks and nibbling on canapés. “Don’t say anything about my distractions please. Athena is still angry that I didn’t help her more against Hades when it came to destroying that cursed spell. I’ll buy the first round if you keep quiet.” Persephone said from the corner of her mouth.
“You’re on, but I think Athena is taking the whole thing a bit too seriously though. Brianna and Fairy had things under control. Oh well, let’s go brag about how I beat you today.” Aphrodite giggled
A wave of power washed through the clubhouse and a collective groan went up from everyone present. Hera stood and looked over at a table where a couple of men had been laughing but were now suddenly quiet. “Puck, I know you are enjoying the cross over the breaking of the spell has created, but if Brandy doesn’t do something about her daughter, and now, then we will have to step in and deal with it. I know it isn’t your fault, but please let her know how things are.”
The little man with sharp features paled and nodded, then flitted away from Loki and Hermes to inform Her Majesty, Queen of the Fairy, that Brianna had once again used uncontrolled magic.
