“Of course. Yes! Bride’s sister…. Psyche? She is alive?”
“No time for questions! You must go, now, not a moment to lose. The longer you dally here, more will suffer.”
“Of course, I will go at once!”
“May your horse be swift, my friend.” Without another world, the strange figure vanished into the air.
Eros watched the sweat and tears drip onto the stone floor beneath him. His knees hurt from kneeling. His muscles twitched and shivered with exhaustion from trying to pull off the invisible bonds that tied him to the tower. His throat was chafed from bellowing. It was no use. There was no hope. Psyche was going to die any minute. He didn’t know for sure, but he could feel it. She was in grave danger. They all were.
As much as he tried, Eros could not forget the sight of the little baby in the blaze of Demeter’s hateful eyes. ‘Joy’, she was to be called, the one whose smile could melt the darkest heart, the one he saw reaching up for him, wanting assurance, protection, and love.
Eros had always known his plans with Psyche were risky. He was ready to face them, knowing that their love deserved a chance to blossom, even if it would only be brief. But seeing Joy was like glimpsing a wonderful future that he didn’t even consider possible, one that tormented him with longing. Never had he wanted something so much. In the small cherubic face was all the potential that Psyche and his union had, all the things missing in his entire life, the only thing that truly mattered. A family. A home, people who accepted one another unconditionally, exchanging love forever. Joy was all that romantic love had the potential to be. There she was, just out of reach, and soon to be gone.
Eros knew that his yelling must have enraged Zeus. Punishment was coming, but Eros’s heart felt no fear. There was no room in his soul for fear anymore. Only bleakness, and rage.
At first, the ground only vibrated slightly, like a distant clap of thunder. Eros recognized the sound. He knew he should be afraid. Fear would be a sign of reason, of intelligence. Fear might help him survive. But all he could do was feel relief. Perhaps his torment would soon be over. At last, he would have something onto which to release his animosity.
The vibrations became louder. Eros clenched his fists, knowing he needed to be ready. They were getting closer. But which of Zeus horrifying beasts were coming for him? Eros looked out at the dark, temperamental sky, purple streaks of lightening signaling Zeus’s displeasure. His grandfather had chosen the Erinyes, the Furies, the most vicious punishers of Olympus, to silence Eros. They did not just destroy their victims, they ripped them to shreds, keeping them alive to torment until the very end. The floor began to shake as the Furies drew closer, pecking occasionally at one another as their powerful wings caused turbulence throughout the heavens. Zeus usually hated having the Erinyes in Olympus, for they belonged in Tartarus, the most evil place in the universe. Zeus was making an exception today.
The closer the Furies got, the clearer Eros could see their details. He had never seen them so close before, as he and every god knew to keep away. The beasts had taken the shape of three flying harpies today, the bottom half of their bodies were giant eagles with mangy, sickly wings, the other half disfigured women, with long saber-like fangs, and sharp beaks. Their gaunt faces were desperate with hunger, their fingers curled like talons. As their eyes met, Eros could feel the power of their empty gaze mirroring the hopelessness that was eating his own heart.
Before the first of the three Furies could descend upon the chained young god, Eros flew up to meet her, just high enough for the chains to reach. The tower began to quake as the fury screamed with surprise and dug her claws onto Eros. Eros tore back at her, trying to fling her off of him. He felt her jagged beak bury itself on his side. Eros closed his eyes. He knew it would be over soon. The second Fury grabbed Eros’s leg and together, she and her sister tried to tear him apart. The third swooped in to deliver a finishing snap with her mouth wide open, swooping toward his exposed chest. Just as Eros felt her teeth sink into his heart, the tower began to sway. The unbreakable chains that held Eros were attached to the floor of the tower. The tower began to crumble and Eros felt the ceiling collapse above him. The harpies screamed as the stones fell upon them.
End of Excerpt
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Rupture: Origin of Love Book 3
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