They complement her dark hair well.” Venus arranged the silken drape of the stola that swathed Polyxena’s unnaturally still body. “Anything that brings you pleasure brings me pleasure, Goddess,” said a nearby satyr. “Yes, darling, I know. That’s why I wasn’t asking you. Now run along and finish wiping the last of that blood off the floor.” Venus patted the creature’s cheek to take the sting from her words. “Eleithyia, I was asking you.” “Oh, yes, Goddess. I think the color is beautiful.” “Then why are you frowning?” “Well, it’s quite, um, unusual that you’ve arrayed the maidservant in such finery, too.” Venus smoothed the creamy silk tunic so that the maidservant’s blush colored stola wasn’t wrinkled. Then she frowned at the little priestess. “Child, it is true that this is a servant’s body, but the soul that is going to reside there is definitely not a servant. It’s going to be a big enough shock for poor Jacqueline to wake up in a strange body and find out she has to play the part of maid to her best friend.”
