Titans of Chaos

He moved his feet and pushed me in the "blue" direction, so that I landed in the changing roomone or two over from where I had been. He was straddling me, pinning me down. He did not looklike a snake in three-dimensional cross-section, but like a winged boy, and his vast purple plumesfilled the cabinet above and to either side. He was dressed in gold-trimmed purple robes, and onhis thick, dark, ambrosia-dripping curls of hair, he wore a diadem of woven poppies and redroses, thorns and all. Slung over one shoulder was a Turkish bow of rosy wood, shaped like awoman's upper lip. At his other shoulder was a quiver of ivory, in which arrows fletched withpeacock feathers rattled.

He was strong, and very handsome, and he smelled good. What is wrong with having evil peoplebe ugly guys with wormy features, eh? How come all the Greek gods look like, well, like Greekgods? It seemed unfair.

"You saw me naked," I said. "I get to turn you into a stag now, and have your dogs rend you."

He looked down at my cleavage. I was wearing a lacy black bra. And I started to blush. I amconvinced it was a blush of rage, but it was so unfair.

"You're dressed in love's proper hue," he said dryly. "It is fitting. Besides, I've seen women withless on at the beach." But he stood up and-if I were in a good mood, I'd call what he did helpingme to my feet. In a bad mood, I'd call it hauling me to my feet. With his bulky purple wings fillingthe changing closet, he was standing much too close. "You wanted to see me," he said.

I looked at this youngish fellow. "Are you Mr. Archer?"

"I'm the archer," he agreed.

"Who are you? Apollo?"

"Pshaw! Mightier than Apollo," said Archer with a quirk of his lips. "Ask Hyacinth about that.

Apollo rules during the day; I rule day and night. Omnia vincit amor! All things I conquer. EvenDeath is not as strong."

I said doubtfully, "You mean the Rich One? I saw him- didn't see him, actually-once. Hades? LordDis, you call him?"