For the first time in her life, Serena just does not know what she is going to do. She can't even call on the Goddess to ask for help, because Odessa is an aspect of Her. She needs a god, she thinks, if she has to fight a goddess.

She hears a tinkling sound like windchimes, and she senses Larna Lock as he appears behind her.

"You shouldn't just appear in my bedroom like that," she chides him.

"Beloved," he sighs as he bows down to kiss her hand. She needs a god to help her get Byron back: love gods aren't particularly powerful or even useful, in Serena's opinion, but in this case, he's the most appropriate for the job. "I'm not your beloved, Larna Lock, and you know it," she says, "I saw your beloved today..." That catches his attention immediately: he stands straight, dropping her hand.

"Tell me," he says hoarsely, "Tell me how she looked..." Just remembering Odessa makes Serena nauseous, but she swallows her disgust to paint a word picture for the ailing love god, watching him wince & shiver as she lovingly describes Odessa's long hair, her lovely eyes and lithe, beautiful body. "And her smell, Serena, tell me how she smelled," Larna begs next, pacing the room now as Serena tells him Odessa smelled of orchids and honey: she thinks perhaps that was more the spa than Odessa, she doesn't have the senses of a god, to detect the subtle fragrances of the skin. Larna groans, "And her taste, Serena?" he asks next, "Tell me how she tasted..." "I didn't taste her, Larna," Serena answers, forcing herself not to smile or laugh. Gods are sensitive, and she needs to get him on her side without having him try to seduce her all the time.

He stops pacing suddenly, takes her in his arms. "I cannot go on any longer," he says hoarsely, grasping her face, drawing her in. She thinks of all the cautionary tales her mother had told her, of priestesses who didn't properly respect the gods of love, and who were always punished. It is too easy to disdain them, petty, vain, embodiments of the passions that people like Serena seek to keep at bay. But they are powerful indeed, they can take you over mind & body. Cautionary tales are not much help when you are in the arms of a love god, and he wants to kiss you.

For a moment, Serena feels really good about the situation. She doesn't need Byron any more than he needs her. She has her own love god.

"She tastes like roses & sweet air," Larna sighs, "I think I might die without her...Can I die, Serena, do you know?" he asks, as his arms fall away from her. Serena feels a moment of regret, but is relieved he let her go. She would not be able to hold him off much longer. "Help me get Byron away from her," Serena says "Then she'll be yours again." Larna looks at her doubtfully "No one would ever willingly leave her..." Serena sighs. She would rather not discuss her relationship with Byron to outsiders, but this situation is forcing her into many difficult situations. "Byron & I share a special bond," she says, trying to come up with better words to express the soul closeness she has with him. Larna touches her face & looks in her eyes, "I understand," he says, "Then there's hope. But she can be very cruel, Serena, she'll punish us both severely if we fail." Serena smiles in relief. Of course he would understand: love is the only thing he understands. "We can't fail, Larna," she answers him.

NEXT