Goddess of Light by P. C. Cast Page B

later tonight they will have incredibly good luck at the . . . what did you call those clanking boxes? Slot . . .” Her voice trailed off as her mind registered the look of shock on Apollo’s face. She turned her head and followed his stunned gaze. Her eyes went large and round as the seated statue at the center of the spurting fountain rotated in a slow circle towards them and began to speak.
    â€œCOME ONE, COME ALL, COME TO THE MALL!”
    â€œThe horrid thing looks like Bacchus,” Artemis gasped.
    â€œI think it is Bacchus,” Apollo said, careful to keep his voice low.
    The statue opened its mouth and chortled grotesquely. “Ah, but tonight we have a special show for you! Nymphs, I command you dance for the Vegas revelers, two by two!”
    As per his order, pairs of nymphs detached themselves from where they had been standing at the edges of the crowd and, to the delight of the watching mortals, they began a seductive dance around the circumference of the fountain in time to the canned music of bells and pipes and horns. Golden glitter haloed the lovely forest deities as they twirled and leapt and frolicked with superhuman grace.
    The Bacchus statue mechanically nodded his head in appreciation. Jell-O-like, his chins wobbled as he continued to speak.
    â€œNymphs, the magic of your beauty is pure and true. Tell me, Apollo, what thinks you?”
    At the sound of the animated statue calling his name, Apollo jerked in surprise and took a half step forward. Then his body froze as one of the lesser statues rotated and came alive in response.
    â€œI agree they are lovely, fair and bright. Tonight I enhance their beauty with the magic of my immortal light!”
    The real Apollo was struck speechless as he stared at the caricature of himself. In the next instant the music intensified as a laser show began and the nymphs stepped up the tempo of their dance to the spontaneous applause of the captivated audience.
    â€œHow dare he!” Artemis hissed, but her brother caught her arm as she started forward with fire in her eyes.
    â€œWait! We can’t do anything here before all of these mortals.”
    â€œLet me have my bow and but a single arrow, and Bacchus will be eternally sorry for his distasteful little jest,” Artemis said.
    Apollo shook his head at the statue that was supposed to represent him. “He could have at least made it look more like me.”
    â€œIt is blasphemous.” Artemis’ voice was low and dangerous.
    â€œIs my lyre actually glowing green?” Apollo tried unsuccessfully to smother a chuckle. “And please tell me that my head is not that large.”
    His sister’s next words were drowned out by the bellowing Bacchus.
    â€œLovely Artemis, how fair thou art. It is by your royal command that the invocation shall start!”
    It was Artemis’ turn to stare, dumfounded, as an unflattering copy of herself came alight. It turned and lifted one thick arm. Artemis gasped as it began to speak, the mechanical female voice sounding nothing like her own.
    â€œIt is my intent and tonight I do dare, to send out through the nymphs in the shimmering air, this invocation—this summoning spell. So I cast my power and amidst you tonight it shall dwell.”
    The nymphs instantly began a hypnotic humming as the canned music faded into vague background noise against their sweet voices.
    â€œHe goes too far.” Apollo’s eyes darkened. No one mocked his sister, not even one of the immortals. But he was surprised to feel Artemis’ hand tighten on his as this time it was she who kept him from striding forward.
    â€œListen to the nymphs.” Her voice was thick with tension.
    Apollo put aside his anger at Bacchus and listened to the music of the nymphs. The melodic humming had a seductive, familiar tempo, and even before the semideities began to sing the words of the invocation, Apollo felt the hair on his forearms prickle in response