She hopped on the first bus she saw, without even asking where it would take her. She had to make several connections before she wound up at the depot downtown. There she bought a ticket for as far as sixty bucks would take her. Once settled in her seat, with no luggage, no food, no idea what she was going to do when she got there, she shut her eyes and tried to block out all thoughts of the handsome god-like nut case she was leaving behind.
Mars paced restlessly in his chamber. The wench's wishes weren't as simple a task as it would have seemed. He'd had to use his powers to convince someone called a "justice of the peace" to let them have the ceremony on the morrow. He'd asked his son for help to locate a garden on the top of a mountain, and then he'd had to use more magic to get the reservations necessary to ensure their privacy. Getting her a dress was not something he would have been able to do, so he had gone to his mother, bending low in supplication, to ask her to see to it.
The only thing left to do, was ask her boss Tom and her friend Sally to attend. If they loved her, as she thought they did, he was fair certain of their answer. But by gods! He needed something to fill the hours while he waited. Perhaps he should just go to the diner early? Nay, 't would distract Larissa overly much, and he would not be able to keep his hands off her.
"Cupid!" Mars bellowed. He stormed from his chamber, in search of the young god on his almost busiest day of the year. "Cupid! Show thyself!"
"What, Father," the boy panted, arriving back from earth with a quick flutter of wings.
"Maybe she needs another arrow. We aren't wed yet - what if she changes her mind? What if she doesn't really love me?"
Cupid concealed his grin by coughing into his hand. "The arrow's magic would have worn off shortly after striking her, Father. If she kissed you - and I know she did, it was of her own volition. My magic does not force love. It only opens one's eyes to possibilities."
"But, she is head strong. And willful. And disobedient! Gods, why would I fall for such a creature? My hand is fair sore from her instruction."
Cupid could not contain his laugh. His mirth was contagious, even if it was directed at his father. Mars found himself struggling against the urge to grin.
"Oh, Father! You are a silly goose! You would not be contented with a lesser woman. It took a score of centuries to find just the right mold to please you. You should count your blessings, and treasure every moment Fate deems fit to grant the two of you!"
Chapter Six
At last, evening spread across Larissa's village. Mars fidgeted, eager to be off at once to fetch his lovely bride-to-be, yet at the same time, hesitant to go. What if Cupid were wrong, and she didn't love him? What if all she felt was the moment of infatuation caused by his arrow? Oh, curses! Why had he ever goaded the boy into that infernal wager! If she spurned him, if she turned him away, then the mortal realm did not deserve to exist.
Cupid had long since abandoned him. His son felt he had much yet to do before his big day. It was just as well. If the wench turned him away, 'twas not a thing he'd wish the boy to witness. Mars straightened the ridiculous "tie", which felt a bit like a hangman's noose, and smoothed back an errant lock of hair. 'Twas time. He cleared his throat, and snapped his fingers for yet one more journey earthward.
He appeared near the diner, then strode purposefully inside with more bravado than courage. Anxiously, his gaze swept the diner for his beloved. The diner was in chaos - many customers awaiting their meal, and for a moment Mars was reminded of his first visit there. Of watching his beloved with the sharp tongue snap orders at the customers with brisk efficiency. But there was none of that now. Larissa was nowhere to be seen. Fury filled his breast, as he imagined her walking homeward unprotected in this vile village!
"Where is she," he boomed.
A strangled calm settled on the diner. Larissa's friend dropped the serving platter she had been carrying. Several customers quickly paid their bill and scurried out past Mars without stopping to collect their change. The metal swinging door to the kitchen opened, and Mars thought his beloved might appear, but 'twas the man cook, Tom.
"She's gone, buddy. And if you know what's good for you, you'll leave her be!"
"Gone? Why! I demand an answer!"
Tom wiped his hands on his greasy apron as though preparing to do battle. If Mars weren't so furious, he might find that amusing. Then Larissa's friend - what was the serving girl's name? - stepped in to the fray.
"She was afraid, Marco. You've got her all tied up in knots - I've never seen her like that. Larissa never cries! So she left. And she didn't tell us where she was going, so we can't tell you, even if we wanted to."
His fury melted as the realization struck him. His one and only was truly gone. There would be no more sunrises, no more gentle moments. He would ne'er love again, though the mountains fell, and the seas turned to dust. One day, he would make good his threat and wipe humanity from the face of the earth, but not today. It was time to mourn. Mars turned and left the diner in slow motion, for all the spirit had left him.
Cupid smiled, a feeling of contentment stealing over him as Thomas and Kayleigh snuggled together on the dais watching a movie. All the hurt feelings and misunderstandings seemed to have been worked out for now. He had struck them each with another arrow, rekindling the desire that had all but sputtered out during their petty bickering. Their love intensified and bloomed into full-blown passion very quickly. He turned away to allow them some privacy, for he was not comfortable spying on them when they were thus engaged. The other gods laughed at him, claiming that a good evening's entertainment was little enough payment for all his hard work, but they just didn't understand. Watching Kayleigh and Thomas through the years as they grew closer, discovering each other anew each and every day of their life together, so far outweighed the little effort he put forth to bring them together, that it was he who should be paying them. And now, to imagine that his father might have found that same special love - well! This Valentine's would prove to be the best one ever! With an eager flutter of his wings, he returned to Olympus to see to the final arrangements for the wedding.
The palace was strangely silent at his return. The musicians he'd hired to play for the reception were not practicing. The decorators were not decorating. The bakers were not baking. All in all, it was a catastrophe of immortal proportions! He felt a rage build up inside, something he rarely felt, and he longed for a target to vent the unpleasant sensation.
"Grandmother, what has happened," he blurted, bursting into her chambers unannounced and uninvited.
She did not rebuke him, but held herself aloof. "Only what I might have expected, child. The mortal woman has spurned my son's affection. He sulks in his room even now."
"No! She can't! She'll ruin everything! Oh - now what? I must hurry back to earth at once."
"You shall do nothing of the sort. Ares is too full of himself. It's about time someone took him down a notch or two."
"But, grandmother! The wager!"
She arched her eyebrows at him disdainfully. "I could care less of your fool's wager, Cupid. Wait in your room, until this matter plays itself out."
Cupid opened his mouth to argue, but she silenced him with a haughty wave of her hand. There would be no reasoning with her this evening. Cupid spun around and left. He would do as she commanded, but he would take the long way to his room - and if he managed to find his father first, then there might still be hope.
Mars was not hard to find. He was, as Juno had said, in his room sulking. "Father," Cupid called.
"Go away." Mars sounded tired, and strangely, very old.
"I cannot. There is much to be done! Why do you sit there feeling sorry for yourself? You have never walked away from a fight in your life!"
" 'Twas not a fight I longed for, my son. But love."
"You said it yourself. Love and war are more alike than not. If you love this woman, you must fight for her!"
"I'd slay dragons, destroy entire countries, if it meant having her affectio
ns. But 'tis the wench herself who has turned me down. I cannot fight that."
"Yes, you can. You can find out why."
"She is gone."
"Find her! Demand an answer! She owes you that much."
Mars shrugged, his broad shoulders slumped in a very un-warlike position. Cupid feared that perhaps his father's heart truly had been broken. Quickly he fetched his glass ball and swirled the mists.
"Let us find her, Father. And at the very least see for ourselves that she is well?"
He sighed, but made room for Cupid beside him on the dais.
Larissa was not easy to locate. Cupid tried her apartment first, then her work place. He searched the streets of her village, and all the places that mortals were wont to gather. Getting desperate, he tugged a hair from Mars's head, crushed it and sprinkled it on the ball. It would not work if the woman bore no feelings for his father, but Cupid suspected that was not the case. No one could kiss like she did and not feel something!
Finally the mists cleared. He saw a large bus rattling along a dark road. Inside the bus only a few lights were on, as all but one of the passengers were trying to sleep. The one was slouched into her seat, a wad of soggy tissues clutched in her fist, as she wept silently. 'Twas the wench.
Mars stared at the image, shedding a tear of his own. "I have hurt her, son. See how she weeps? Curses be the day we met."
"Perhaps she cries because she misses you?"
"But she was the one to leave!"
"You said it yourself. Women don't often know their own mind. Perhaps 'twas all a misunderstanding. Perhaps you can yet make this right."
"How? I do not think she realizes my true nature. If I suddenly appear on the bus, 'twould only frighten her more."
"Then appear at the next bus stop, and walk on that bus. Sit beside her. Get her to talk to you. There is more to a relationship than the physical, my father. I can hold back the dawn, if need be, to give you a little more time. But you two will be wed in the morning, or I am not the god of love and romance!"
Mars' lips quirked in a half grin. 'Twas a good sign. Then he clapped Cupid on the back. "Now ye sound like the son of my loins."
Cupid returned the grin. "I'll take that as a complement."
In his haste, Mars nearly forgot to change into modern attire. A cold rain fell, but he was too intent on his mission to stop and alter the weather. The bus squealed to a stop beneath the flickering street light. No passengers disembarked. Mars handed the driver a paper ticket, then strode down the narrow aisle to reach his beloved at the rear. The bus started again, nearly knocking him off balance. Mars growled under his breath, but he did not wish to wake the passengers. To ensure success, he scattered a sleeping spell over them. Then he slid into the empty seat beside Larissa.
She glanced up, her eyes wide with fear. She bit her lower lip, that delicious, perfect lower lip, as she had done before when he prepared to spank her. He felt like giving her thorough spanking now, for the agony she had put him through. Mars counted back from ten a dozen times, very quickly, before he felt he had calmed down enough to listen to the wench.
"You left," he said, stating the obvious.
She nodded. Her wits seemed to have fled, for she did not offer an explanation.
He counted to ten once more. Then he remembered something his mother had once told him. That true love meant putting another's needs above one's one. It was a novel idea, and not one the gods often practiced. But he had seen Jupiter defer to his wife at times, although Jupiter was god of all. Mars gazed at Larissa, letting everything about her fill him. She was trembling, and not just from the cold. She was truly afraid.
"What have I done, to make ye fear me so?" he whispered.
Her gaze dropped. Long black lashes rested against the pale complexion, still wet with tears. "I, I don't know if I can explain it," she murmured.
"Is it because I put you over my knee?"
"No."
"Because I told you how much you mean to me?"
"No. Yes. I don't know! It's just that, well, I don't really know you. And you don't really give me a chance to talk, you just tell me "we're getting married." Like my opinion doesn't even count. This is the new millennium, mister! Women don't have to be barefoot and pregnant anymore."
"Is it the babe? Is that what has you so frightened?" He placed his large palm over her belly. 'Twould hurt him greatly to lose his daughter, almost as much as losing the love of his life.
"Part of it. I know you want children, you said so yourself. But I can't have children."
"Of course you can."
"No, I can't. Believe me, Marco, when I tell you that. I saw a doctor, and I had my tubes tied."
"I do not understand your speech, Larissa. But believe me when I tell you, that even now you carry our child."
She shook her head, coughing as a new wave of tears spilled down her face. "Oh, I wish that were true! I never thought I wanted kids. But ever since I met you, I can't help thinking that a dozen little ones all just like you, would be almost heavenly. Sometimes this surgery can be reversed, but it's risky at best. And, and I'm not that young any more. And you wanted to move to a farm - I don't know anything about farming! And you seem so sure of yourself, like you don't have a care in the world. How do you make your money? Is any of it legal? Oh, Marco! You see what I mean - we really don't know each other well enough to commit our lives together."
Mars shook his head at her. Cupid had been right. She didn't know her own mind. She loved him, for sure and for certain, if the tears she shed were any indication. But she was afraid of making a commitment. It was up to him to set her straight. Even if that entailed another trip across his knee.
"Then 'tis fortunate we are on this bus together, for we have the entire evening to get better acquainted, my beloved."
She shuddered, pressing into her seat as though to put a bit of distance between them. The seats were narrow, and Mars was not small. Still, he tried not to crowd her. "First off, my sweet, I should tell you that my name has changed over the years. I was named Ares by my parents. Later it changed to Mars. I had no wish to frighten you, for I am certain you have not met many immortals in your life, so I took on the name Marco when we first met.
She gulped, her eyes wide, and pressed herself further into her seat. "Immortals?"
He shrugged his shoulders. Most mortals could not comprehend the idea of immortality until they witnessed it themselves. A pang struck him at the thought of watching her grow old, while he would appear to remain the same. The gods did age. They sometimes died. New gods were born, though not so much anymore. Cupid was among the youngest, and he had been around for slightly more than two millennia.
"I spoke the truth when I told you I come from Olympus. But I do not think you realize that Olympus is the city of the gods, and not some mortal realm."
"You are insane. I knew it," Larissa gasped.
" 'Twas only truth, when I spoke of my love for you. And though you did not speak the words, you showed me with your heart that you have feelings for me, as well. Together we have created a child, and it is only fitting that we wed. My son Cupid never had a solid home, 'tis a terrible thing to do to a child."
"Cupid? You mean your son is the fat little baby with a bow and arrow? And Juno - your mom. The goddess of all? Good lord! I need to get off this bus."
"Cupid is not a fat little baby any more. He has grown to a fine young man. And you will not step off this bus until you promise to marry me."
"You cannot make me marry you, Marco. Mars. Whatever the hell your name is! Even among gods, some things have to be the same. You told me that a promise is solemn and holy. Well, I can't promise you anything!"
"You are frightened. Would it be better if I brought you to Olympus, to see for yourself?"
"I'm not going anywhere with you!"
" 'Twill only take a moment. I can return you right back here in an instant."
Larissa opened her mouth, but Mars acted quickly, before she could voice y
et another complaint. With a thought, he brought them both to Olympus, where it was yet early evening. A soft glow of evening sun warmed the horizon, and scented oil lamps filled the palace with their fragrance. Mars gazed at the palace, trying to see it anew, though he had lived there for so long. The floors were polished marble, as were the columns and arches. Exquisite tapestries adorned the walls, along with fine swords and shields wrought from Vulcan's forge. Vases were fair bursting with bouquets, for Juno loved her flowers. Many years ago, Mars would have been the one to bring them to her, from his own garden. Now she had a servant bring them, for he had other things on his mind.
"Where are we?" Larissa asked, clasping his arm, and rubbing her forehead with her other hand. Her coloring was ashen, and he feared she might faint. "What is this place?"
" 'Tis Olympus, my dear one."
He guided her to a window, where she would have the best view of Earth. It was a large blue marble, not quite as dirty or noisy when seen from this distance.
Cupid's Wager Page 7
