by Marie Medina
She pulled away. She found it very hard to breath.
“Aphrodite? Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t stop trembling. “I’m fine.”
Genuine concern spread over his face. “If you want Eros here, I’ll go get him.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s fine. I’m confused. Can’t you see that?”
“Yes, I see that.” He drew her close again. “Tell me what to do.”
His arms felt so strong, but who was holding her? The man she was sometimes afraid of? The man who claimed to love her with such passion? The close friend who patiently did everything he could to help her and make her happy?
“Kiss me again,” she said.
He cradled her face in his hand. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She brought her lips up to his and opened up to him.
He gave in right away and kissed her deeply. He felt good. His arms tightened around her, and she sighed in his embrace. He kissed her face, his hands frantically moving over her body. “You and I have always had a connection. Why don’t you feel it?”
She grew still in his arms. Didn’t she feel it at times? Wasn’t it as real as he said it was? That would mean she could love someone without destroying him, and that was what she struggled with.
“I do, at times.”
“Is that the best you can do?” he whispered.
“For now.”
He put some distance between them. “All right.” He took her hand and kissed it. “May I sleep here tonight? Just sleep?”
“I suppose. I won’t stop you.” She was amazed he’d stopped when she’d been the one to make the first move.
“And we’ll spend today together?”
“Yes.”
He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted, Aphrodite. The spell someone cast on you and Ares simply delayed this. You’d already promised me another chance.”
“Will you still keep your promise?” she asked. She had to know, and she saw no reason not to ask.
“Yes. I won’t make love to you until you tell me you want me to.” He gazed deep into her eyes.
She wanted to look away, but she found she couldn’t. How could he do that? No other man had ever affected her this way before. Why did it confuse her so much? It should have assured her they were meant to be together, but instead it frightened her.
“I think you’ve enjoyed your stay.”
She decided to be blunt. “Maybe I have. We were always good in bed. You’re a considerate lover, and you focus on my pleasure. I like you touching me. I never said I didn’t desire you. I said I wasn’t in love with you.”
“You think you can’t be in love.”
“It’s my opinion.”
“Does my touch affect that at all?”
She sighed. “We’ve been over this. It confuses me.”
“I still have no idea what that means.” He stood. “I’ll let you get dressed. I’d like to take you out. To the mortal world, of course. I don’t want to be disturbed.” He walked over to a wardrobe. “Many of your clothes are here. Something casual. Jeans maybe.”
She snapped her fingers, and her favorite pair of jeans and a blue cotton shirt appeared on the bed with a pair of brown sandals. “Will these do?”
He smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She was almost disappointed as he left. His mention of Harmonia had sent her anxiety through the roof and his kiss had made her horny. How did he do that? How could he manage to be manipulative without even trying? Obviously, he was constantly trying to excite her desire, but based on what he’d said, Harmonia had not done or said anything to make him suspicious. It had been so long she wasn’t sure why she still worried about it, but Harmonia had many times reminded her of Hephaestus with her behavior. She knew that meant it would be unwise to underestimate her sweet but distant daughter.
She got dressed quickly and hoped Hephaestus would want to talk about mundane subjects for the rest of the day.
* * * *
Eris threw another petal into the lake. Now that Ares was free, she ought to have stopped feeling concerned. Once they discovered who had cast the spell, everything would be settled. She had no reason to worry with her brother safe and back in Alala’s arms.
Still, she wanted to do something. She threw the rest of the flower she’d been picking at into the lake and strode back up the hill with a purpose. She didn’t get that far though. Lachesis appeared in front of her as she reached the top, startling her enough to make her struggle to catch her balance.
“I sensed you were on your way. We haven’t talked for a while,” Lachesis said.
“No, we haven’t. I guess I’ve been focused on Hermes.”
Lachesis smiled. “That’s as it should be. Let’s walk together.”
Eris knew she and Hermes were the best servants the Fates had. No one else had as much faith in them. She shouldn’t have been so hesitant to ask for a favor, but she didn’t know how to begin.
“I’m glad your brother is safe,” Lachesis said.
“I am too. I wasn’t that worried, but I didn’t like it at all.” She looked down at the ground as they walked. “I have a favor to ask. You may not grant it, but I would like to try.”
“What?”
“You know who cast this spell?”
“Yes.”
“Would you be willing to tell me?”
“No.”
Eris wanted to push the issue. She really did. “So this was meant to happen?”
“Everything will work out.”
“But my brother’s wedding. This whole incident is going to overshadow it. That’s not fair. They were so happy, and these events are going to taint their day, hanging over them like a damned cloud.”
“Destinies aren’t always easy. All of Olympus shunned you for so long after Peleus and Thetis’ wedding and the Trojan War. Are you angry with us still?”
“No. I was never really angry. I thought it was unfair.”
“Isn’t it enough of a blessing Alala still wants to marry him?”
“I suppose.” She knew it was a good thing, but she still felt terrible because somehow she knew the wedding wouldn’t be as joyous as it might have been if it had happened a week earlier. “I simply hate doing nothing. I wouldn’t take action against whoever did it. I want them to confess so Hephaestus will release Aphrodite.”
“Why do you care?”
“How will they ever work out their problems like this?”
“They are alone together. That seems like the perfect situation to me.”
Eris stopped walking, and after a moment Lachesis halted. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“Afraid to ask what?”
“Did you plan this? Like the Trojan War? Like the twisted way Hermes and I came together?”
“You aren’t happy we brought you and Hermes together?”
“No, I’m very happy, but it could have been easier.”
“I think you two had fun. The struggle made it worth it.”
Eris didn’t want to argue about that. The bumpy road she’d traveled had ended in her and Hermes falling in love, and it had been worth it, but part of her still resented knowing the Fates had willed it and manipulated some events to make the outcome more certain. “Who was your lackey? Who did you get? You knew I wouldn’t risk my brother, so you didn’t ask me to help. Who’d you get?”
“No one. We didn’t make anyone cast that spell.”
“But you didn’t stop them. You obviously wanted it to happen.”
Lachesis gazed into her eyes and took a deep breath. She let it out slowly before she said, “Eris, I did it.”
“What?” She knew what she’d heard. She knew Lachesis wouldn’t lie. The Fates could be manipulative and illusive, but they never told lies. “You cast a spell on my brother? You made him fuck her? That was your plan?”
“You think it was a bad one?”
“Well, what are y
ou? A fifteen-year-old boy? Gods, you did this?”
Lachesis furrowed her brow. “Eris, why are you so upset?”
Eris grabbed her by the throat. “I wish you’d all just go away.”
Lachesis didn’t struggle. “A moment ago you wanted my help. Now that you know the truth you want me to stop using my powers.”
“What is the purpose of this? To cause havoc? To make life here more interesting? More like the ‘old days’ you loved so? The days when you were worshipped in temples and at oracles? When every young lover prayed to you? Every parent petitioned you?”
“Hephaestus and Aphrodite are meant to be together.” She pulled herself out of Eris’ grasp. “Haven’t you seen how unhappy Aphrodite is? Do you know that’s something that can kill even an immortal?”
“Being unhappy?”
“Yes. I’ve answered enough of your questions. Whether you liked my plan or not, soon Aphrodite will love Hephaestus as much as he loves her. They’ll be happy.”
Lachesis disappeared.
Eris balled her hands into fists. “Gods, what a fucking bitch!” Immature or not, shouting that had felt good. She ran her hands over her face and thought. Should she go to her brother? She decided she owed him this knowledge. She didn’t know how he’d react, but no matter what he did, she’d support him. She’d learned the hard way who was on her side and who wasn’t. The Fates had gone too far this time. If Zeus wouldn’t act, she would.
* * * *
Zeus paced in Hera’s bedroom as he waited for her to emerge from the bathroom. Even though he’d explained it was urgent, she was still making him wait. One minute she was telling him she’d never stop loving him and the next she was cursing him for clinging too close to her. He’d known convincing her they didn’t need anyone but each other would be difficult, but he hadn’t counted on her stubbornness affecting every other part of their lives this much. Since she’d been determined to make him wait, he’d decided not to tell her it was about Ares. She’d be mad, but that was her own fault.
To his surprise, she emerged in a very ordinary outfit. She wore tan slacks, a yellow cotton button up shirt, and brown sandals. He’d hardly ever seen such things in her wardrobe.
She huffed as she came to a halt. “What?”
“You look nice, just different.”
She looked down at her clothes and smoothed a wrinkle from the pants. “I’m too tired to make any effort. I thought I’d go trudge around in the garden.” She went to her dresser and began putting her long black hair up in a bun. “What’s the big news?”
“Ares had some news for us. Eris discovered who was behind the spell.”
She stopped and let her hair fall down her back, throwing the hairpins and elastic band aside. “What? Who?”
“Lachesis.”
Hera stared at him. “But why? What good could come of this?”
“Hephaestus and Aphrodite are supposed to be together, and apparently she was tired of waiting.”
“Has she lost her mind? She thinks they’ll be happy after this?”
“Hephaestus still thinks so, or else I think he’d have released her by now. It’s all new to us though.”
Hera crossed her arms and walked toward the window. Zeus didn’t want to push for a reply. She’d have one soon enough. She leaned forward and pressed her forehead against the pane. “Why didn’t he tell me? Years ago? Why?”
“You two have never been close.”
“And whose fault is that?”
She’d spoken so softly he knew she wasn’t blaming Hephaestus. She was reprimanding herself.
“Hera, let’s focus on the present.”
“The present, the past, what’s the difference? What’s the point? The mortal world changes and forgets so much. Here everything piles up around us.”
Zeus was not used to Hera speaking abstractly. Was she this upset about what was happening? “Are you that unhappy?”
She turned to him and tried to smile. “I’m not unhappy. I promise. I just get so frustrated at times.” She bit her lip and ran her fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck. “What’s the point of being immortal? I don’t mean what’s the meaning of life or anything, but why do we keep going on and on if we don’t matter anymore?”
Zeus and Hades had often discussed these issues. Hades pondered these topics frequently and had a number of theories about them. “Would it be fair for us not to? What if one of us died once the number of people who believed in us dropped off? We’d all be dead.”
“That’s not exactly what I mean.”
“Then what do you mean?”
She shook her head sadly. “I don’t know.”
“Then let’s focus on right now. Do you want to do something about what we’ve learned?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Come on. We’ll go trudge around in the garden, as you put it, and decide the best action to take.”
She let him take her hand and lead her outside. Though he was pleased not to be dealing with her temper, her lack of fire disconcerted him. It wasn’t like her. Had something happened? Was she depressed? That was completely unlike her. She lived in constant motion, always making decisions quickly and stepping right into action. Perhaps she felt calmer because Ares was free, but he knew she was still concerned. He couldn’t be sure how she truly felt about Hephaestus and Aphrodite as a couple. She didn’t seem optimistic, but would she put that aside if Hephaestus appeared to be happy? Was this going to permanently fracture her friendship with Aphrodite? Hera had a tendency to bring up old arguments when she was angry, and he hoped she wouldn’t revisit every conflict she and Aphrodite had ever had. Aphrodite had been unhappy for months now. He knew that much. It wasn’t his place to do anything about that. Hera’s feelings always proved harder to read. Unless she opened up to him fully, he didn’t know what he could do to help her. He’d give up all his powers if he could only make her happy.
Chapter Five
Hephaestus had been heading back to the bedroom to get Aphrodite when he felt someone at his door. It was Eros. He knew he had to let him in, but Eros could be so much like both his parents Hephaestus had no idea what to expect from him. He opened the door, and Eros barged in and shot past him.
“Where is my mother?” he called back over his shoulder.
“She’s in our bedroom,” he said as he caught up with Eros, who had stopped in the large foyer.
Eros looked at all the doors and hallways, and then looked up at the ceiling. “You live in a huge cave? Figures.”
“Does it? Sorry you don’t like the décor.” He smiled to himself. His stepson, if he could use that term, had just called him a caveman, but not straightforwardly or to his face. Eros obviously had Ares’ temper but not his courage.
Eros turned to glare at him, but before he could speak Aphrodite came down the hall from their bedroom. She looked surprised to see Eros.
“Hephaestus, I’m fine. I said you didn’t have to send for him.” She smiled at Eros, and Hephaestus could see she was nervous about her son’s reaction. “So, I suppose you’ve heard.”
“I’ve heard my mother was kidnapped!” He ran up to her and took her hands. He started looking her over as if she were a child who had fallen down while playing. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, really,” she said. She pulled her hands away and turned around in a circle for his benefit. “Not a mark on me.”
“There’s a bruise on your arm!” he said, grabbing her hand again to look at it. “Looks like finger marks to me.”
Hephaestus wanted to laugh. As many problems as he had with Eros, he’d always found him amusing. He’d grown up a lot since meeting Iris, but Hephaestus still thought he’d gotten a healthy share of childishness from both Aphrodite and Ares. He held back his laughter because he could hardly blame Eros for caring about his mother.
Aphrodite, to his surprise, looked offended at Eros’ insinuation. “Your father did that while we were under the spell. Hephaestus would never
hurt me.”
Eros turned bright red. Hephaestus felt bad for him in a way. He knew Ares had teased him for years about his affair with Eros’ mother. It had apparently stopped since the truth of his parentage had finally been confirmed, but Hephaestus knew it had probably had a lasting effect on their relationship.
“I promise I haven’t hurt her. And at the moment, she is here as my guest. My reaction was wrong, but once I admitted to myself it had to be a spell, I let Ares go and let your mother choose if she wanted to be here or not. She is my wife, after all.”
“She didn’t make that decision of her own free will. And what happened before you let Ares go? What did you do to her then?”
“We’ve both already answered that question,” Aphrodite said. “What do you think he’s done? Chained me to the walls and beaten me with a whip? Does it look like he’s hit me? Do you think he’s raped me?”
“He forced you to marry him! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t plan on staying married.”
“What? You do now?”
“Lots of time has passed. There have been lots of changes in all those years. I’m considering it. That’s what’s happening right now. It was my plan before that spell screwed everything up.”
“Your plan, huh? This was your plan when you were lying to all of us and pretending to help him win someone else?”
“What would you all have said if I’d suddenly told you we were married? You’d have been just as upset no matter when we told you.”
“I’d have been fine if you’d told me when I came of age and if it hadn’t been such a disgraceful, twisted act! Do you know how this feels? You’ve been married since before I was born yet never cared enough to confide in me. Or let me help you.”
Hephaestus stepped forward. “Eros, you’re being too hard on your mother. Take it out on me, not her.”
Eros turned on him. “I have never been so glad you aren’t my father! The Fates knew better than to let you have any offspring!”
“Eros, stop it!” Aphrodite said.
“You think so? How do you know I don’t have any children? Maybe I do. Maybe they’d disagree with you and be happy to claim me as a father.”
