by Marie Medina
“He’s very nice. He’s quiet, and that bothers people because of who he is. He’s more honorable and honest than either of his brothers, but you may not believe that right now.”
“Did you and he ever…have anything going on?”
Aphrodite shook her head. “I tried, we flirted. Nothing ever came of it. He’s very focused. I was too silly for him. Besides that, he’s into exclusive relationships.”
“So he really wants Persephone? He isn’t just having fun?”
“He loves her very much. He’s never felt this way before. All his lovers have been brief, most of them mortal. No one has ever hurt him, but that is what he’s most afraid of. He doesn’t like to talk about it. He claims to like his solitary existence, but I can feel how lonely he is.”
Alala sighed. “I hope things are going well then.”
“You think they might be bumpy?”
She nodded. “Persephone can be hard to get along with at times, so I can’t imagine living with her. We camped out for a weekend, and by the second night she was driving me a little crazy. I simply don’t see them as a couple.”
“If it’s meant to be, she’ll love him. She doesn’t yet though. They’re only now starting on that path. The Fates aren’t always kind. His being in love with her is no guarantee they’ll ever be together.”
“She hasn’t contacted me, and I’m waiting, even though Zeus made it clear anyone can contact her. I’m worried.”
“For whom?”
Without hesitation, she said, “Both of them.”
Aphrodite nodded.
Alala took a deep breath and decided to get on with the real reason she’d come. “Can we please talk about us?”
Aphrodite nodded again. “Of course.”
Alala got up and went to sit beside Aphrodite. “I don’t hate you. Ares doesn’t hate you. You’ve been avoiding us, and I want you to stop it. We want the goddess of love to be a big part of our wedding.”
“Hera hates me.”
“Well, you nearly killed her favorite son.”
Aphrodite blushed even more than she had a few minutes ago.
“Is there something you want to tell me about you and Ares?” She hoped the answer would be no, since Aphrodite and Ares having a son together already complicated things, but Alala had to ask even if she found out something she didn’t want to know.
“No, it’s Hera. The only reason she doesn’t know is because he hasn’t told her.”
“Ares?”
“Hephaestus.”
Why would Aphrodite still be worried about him? He’d dumped her, if Alala remembered correctly. “What about him? You two have been done for a long time.”
“Not quite. He wants me back.”
“Why?”
Aphrodite leaned over and whispered, “I’m his wife.”
Alala suddenly understood Aphrodite’s anxiety. Hera only had two sons, and Aphrodite had managed to entangle both of them. Add to that a wedding Hera hadn’t been invited to, and Aphrodite was in lots of trouble.
“For how long?”
“Thousands of years.”
“Thousands? You’re kidding.” She paused, waiting for the denial, and when it didn’t come, she said, “Tell me you’re fucking kidding!”
“No. I’m not. It was a foolish thing to do.”
“What happened?”
“Short version?”
“Please.” Alala could not wrap her head around the idea of Aphrodite keeping such a big secret. It seemed miraculous to her. Hephaestus shunned them all most of the time, but how had Aphrodite managed it for centuries?
“We were having sex, and he chained me to the bed. When we were, well, finished, he asked me to marry him. I said no. He said I would stay chained there until I agreed. And he was right. He’d forged chains I couldn’t break.”
“So you agreed?”
“Yes. I thought I could go to Zeus, but he made me recite the vows and marry him before he took the chains off.” She ran her right hand over her left, and a ring appeared. “The ring was forged by him. I can’t remove it. I’m his until he sets me free.”
“A marriage like that can’t be binding.”
“For us it is. Only the vows are required.”
“But you never see each other. Does he really exercise that much power over you?”
“He can call me whenever he wants me, and I have to go to him.”
Alala felt a wave of panic wash over her. She remembered the many times she’d slaughtered men on the battlefield when she’d discovered them violating women and children. Her temper flared. How could such a thing be going on? Hera would be livid. “What? Aphrodite, are you saying he forces you to—”
She held up her hand and shook her head. “We haven’t had sex since that night. He just calls me to him. He makes me dinner or we talk. We go for walks. Depends on his mood.”
“Oh.” Alala let out the breath she’d been holding. “I’m glad to hear it. Why haven’t you gone to Zeus? Aphrodite, Hera won’t be angry because Hephaestus forced you to marry him. She doesn’t approve of things like that, even if he is her son. No matter what she thinks of you, she’ll see him as in the wrong.”
She gazed down at her ring, and then reinstated the glamour that kept it hidden from everyone. “I don’t know why I haven’t tried to tell anyone. I’ve cheated on him so many times. The first time he caught me with Ares, he locked me up for a week. Ares doesn’t know this; I made sure of that, so please don’t tell him. He would’ve tried to fight Hephaestus. Ares had no idea he was fucking someone else’s wife.” She looked out the window. “It’s not a marriage, not even close. He won’t give it up though.”
“If you aren’t together, what does he gain? He doesn’t have a wife at all.”
“He never saw it that way. We had many fights because I wanted to be free. We had one that was far worse than any others. Hermes was the man I wanted at the time, and my frustration at not having him probably made that particular fight with Hephaestus more severe. Hermes turned me away, and I wound up with Ares. That was the night, I’ve always believed, Eros was conceived.” She looked down at her hands. “I thought he would release me because I’d had another man’s child while we were married. He didn’t. He always knew Ares was the father, but it changed nothing. He wouldn’t set me free.” She looked back up at Alala timidly.
“You should have told Ares about this. I’m fine. Really. I know Ares is Eros’ father, and I believed it before you finally told everyone.” She touched Aphrodite’s hand. “He stayed with you so long because the sex was good and he does love you, just not that way. He would lay down his life for you in an instant. We’ll help you. You may never be close friends with Ares again, but you and I can be friends.”
Aphrodite met her gaze and a single tear fell. She took a deep breath. “Ares chose the right woman to love. You’re so forgiving. Far too good for him.”
Alala laughed. “I know.” She repositioned on the couch and released Aphrodite’s hand. “Look, I’m worried about Persephone, but if you need my help, I’ll try. You might not want Eros involved. I can understand that. So tell me if you need Ares to do something.”
She shrugged. “There’s nothing to do. If I don’t return to Hephaestus soon, he may go to his mother. She’ll really have it out for me if she learns I’ve hurt both her precious boys. Her disapproval of his actions will fade quickly if he decides to play up to her love for him. She loves him and Ares so much she’d do anything for them.”
“How do you know he’s hurt? He’s done nothing to stop you.”
She smiled sadly. “He’s never loved anyone but me. I think he’s finally decided to fight for me. When the pain is great enough, I can feel what unrequited love does to someone. I feel it from him some days. He’s going to keep trying.”
“You don’t love him?”
She shook her head.
“Is he really…you know…”
“Ugly?”
Alala felt silly, but she
hadn’t been able to bring herself to say it. “Yeah.”
“He’s rugged and manly, but by no means is he ugly. A long white scar runs down the side of his face. It’s shaped exactly like a lightning bolt. Some say it’s just an old legend, but Zeus really cast him off Mount Olympus when he was born. That’s how he got the scar and why he walks with a limp. The fall shattered his left knee and the lightning bolt blinded him for three days. Zeus is not his father, and Hera took great pride in that because she was angry. Athena was born to Zeus without a mother. She came from his mind as the ideal goddess, wise and with a taste for warfare and seeing justice served. That’s why he favors her so much, even though they are no longer that close. Hera wanted to bear a child without Zeus after this. Also, Zeus had been fucking two nymphs a little too long for Hera’s liking, and she saw having a child without him as a way to express her resentment at his having so many children through all his affairs and at times favoring them over Ares.” She sighed. “Hera let all that resentment and anger come out when she presented Hephaestus to Zeus as her own triumphant prize. His scar takes getting used to, but the limp is hardly noticeable. He’s very handsome and has an amazing body. I just don’t love him.”
“He never tries to seduce you?”
She shook her head. “We had great sex, but he doesn’t want to just fuck me. He wants to love me. Wants me to love him.”
Alala looked down. “I’m sorry. Everyone thinks you have it so easy.”
Aphrodite smiled, but it looked forced. “I nearly botched things for you and Ares, and then Apollo started mooning over Daphne again. Now Hades.” She paused. “You knew all about Daphne, didn’t you?”
She shook her head. She’d lost her virginity with Apollo, and they’d been lovers for decades, but he’d never told her about Daphne. “It was before I was born. He never told me. Hypnos mentioned it, and Eris told me the story.”
“What did you think?”
“It helped me understand him. He never let me in that far, but her rejection of him explains so much. I mean, she’d rather be a tree than have anything to do with him? It’s awful. He can be so insensitive, but I think he’s done it to himself. He’s hardened his heart, and it’s poisoned his whole being. I understand the pain he kept trying to hide now. As much as it would upset Ares, I feel very sorry for Apollo.”
Aphrodite nodded. “He’s never loved anyone but her. Never. It’s been hundreds of years by mortal reckoning. I sometimes hope I’ll feel her calling out to me to break the spell.”
“Could you?”
“I could break the power of the arrow that made him seem repulsive to her. Any of us could reverse her father’s spell. Peneus turned her into a tree to protect her because he had no power to compete with Apollo’s when she cried out for him to help her. He’s only a minor water deity, after all. But she begged us not to change her back.”
Alala shivered. “The singing in that field. I used to think it was the wind or other nymphs. It gives me the creeps now that I know it’s her.”
“I know what you mean. That was my fault too. I made that stupid arrow because Apollo made fun of my son’s archery skills.” She shook her head. “It was a farce that turned into a tragedy.”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t blame yourself. I have to go home to meet Ares, but I hope you feel better. I seem to have opened old wounds though.”
“No, no, it’s fine. It’s nice to talk to someone. Hera’s always been my confidante, but I can’t talk to her about Hephaestus.”
“I know. I’m here if you need me.”
Aphrodite smiled and showed her out.
As Alala headed home, her mind whirled. She’d wanted to make Aphrodite feel better, but with everything that weighed upon her, she doubted even Atlas himself could ease Aphrodite’s burden.
Chapter Three
Hades stood at his bedroom window, watching Persephone talk with Hypnos in the garden. It had been three days since they’d last spoken. He always knew where she was, so he stayed out of her way. Her shunning of him was less painful when he didn’t actually have to see her turn or walk away from him. He’d hoped her usual impatience might get the better of her and make her seek him out. That hadn’t happened though. She’d spent most of the past three days in her room or in the library. Today she wanted to learn more about the Underworld and had asked Hypnos to give her the tour that had been erotically interrupted her first day here.
Hades trusted Hypnos not to succumb to temptation again. The god of sleep pushed the limits from time to time, but he also knew Hades wouldn’t forgive the same thing twice. He watched Persephone pull her long hair back into a ponytail and tie it with a ribbon. A strong breeze blew through the garden, and Hades wondered if Hypnos would tell Persephone what that meant. Since the Underworld was unaffected by the world above, the weather it did have was the result of Hades’ emotions. The storm that had been brewing but never breaking for three days reflected his brooding.
Persephone smiled and laughed at something Hypnos said. Hades watched her and Cerberus follow Hypnos from the garden. He looked back at the letter he’d been writing. It burst into flame and disintegrated, leaving no sign it had ever been there. Writing her a letter would be breaking his word. He’d promised to leave her alone.
He looked into the mirror near his bed, but then he hesitated. He wanted to talk to Alala, but he wasn’t sure how she would react. She might not trust him. He touched the mirror’s edge and thought of her. Luckily, she was lounging on the diving board in Ares’ training room reading a book.
“Alala?”
She looked at the door, then all around the room. She finally looked down at the water in the pool and jumped. Her book went flying, and she fell off the diving board. She emerged and looked at his reflection.
“You scared the shit out of me!” she exclaimed as she coughed up water.
“Sorry. May I come talk to you?”
She pushed her wet hair out of her face. “Yes, this is kind of creepy, swimming with you just kind of floating and rippling right in front of my tits.” She swam away from him quickly.
He sighed, feeling he’d gotten off to a very poor start. He appeared next to the pool as she got out and reached for a towel. “You can see already I’m terrible with women.”
Alala looked up at him and then dried her face and ran the towel over her hair. He had no idea what she might be thinking. She’d always been Ares’ silent and beautiful shadow, but she was just as deadly as he was. She could kill with a touch, like Ares and Thanatos. It was the one power she had to top his own, and at this moment he was far more afraid of her than he was of the gods of war and death.
“I talked to Aphrodite. But I want to hear you say it,” Alala said.
“Say what?”
“How you feel.” She sat by the pool and put her feet in the water. “Come sit down.”
He did so, changing his clothes to black shorts and a t-shirt and putting his feet into the water too. It was very warm, but he still felt chilled as he looked at her. “I love Persephone, but I know her feelings for me aren’t that strong.”
“No, they aren’t. I thought you were just a passing interest. Did you know I suspected ‘Hellraiser’ was you? Before Ares got sick from Aphrodite’s spell. I was with her brother Arion and the thought just came to me.”
“That weird kid who plays the guitar?”
She narrowed her eyes. “The weird kid you want for a brother-in-law.”
“Sorry. I thought you and him hooking up was a rumor.” His stomach lurched. He’d now insulted her ex. What else could he do wrong?
“We were never really together, just a few dates. Nothing serious. He’s dating Psyche now.”
“Eros’ ex-wife? You’re serious?”
“They both love mortals. She lives in California now. He’s there all the time.”
“That’s interesting.”
“It is, but it’s not what you’re here for.”
“I know. She’s angry because we d
idn’t have sex right away. Then I tricked her into drinking something I made with magic. She has to stay with me for one hundred days now.”
Alala glared at him. “She wanted to leave and you wouldn’t let her?”
“No. I was afraid she would leave. She only wanted to be away from me after I admitted what I’d done.”
Her expression hardened even more. “That doesn’t sound like love to me. It sounds like obsession.”
“I know. It was wrong.”
“You’re damn right it was wrong! I’m sure you’ve been punished for it. She’s good at holding a grudge and making people feel like shit.”
“She won’t talk to me.”
Alala kicked the water with her feet. “Wow, you’ve really fucked this up. I thought maybe you were just frustrated because you’d found out how hard it is to get along with her.” She laughed and added with fake enthusiasm, “But it’s you screwing it all up! What fun!”
He didn’t know how to react to her sarcasm. He hadn’t expected it from her, though he preferred it to outright anger. “So have I screwed it up too much to still have hope?”
“Well… that’s up to her. You were a fantasy to her, and you needed to take it slow. I know Demeter would have been a problem, but you shouldn’t have taken her down there.”
“I know I don’t deserve your help, but you’re her only real friend. Tell me what to do.”
She looked into his eyes for a long time. “You’re afraid of me.”
“Is that so odd? You could kill me.”
“But I wouldn’t. You made mistakes, and I don’t really like this, but I do see your side. She’ll hurt you more than you can imagine if you keep going like this.”
He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words and hide his frustration. “Help me then. Help me be a better man.”
Alala bit her lip. “Only you can do that. Someone else could motivate you or advise you, but being a better man is all about what you do. You have to balance being yourself with trying to please her. I don’t know. I don’t even see how I could help. What could I tell you? I don’t know what she’s feeling now, and I won’t spy for you.”
