by Simon Archer
Hailey felt the cool metal in her hand and released a roar from her mouth. She swung the sword up and over her head. It aimed straight for my collarbone, poised to slice right through me.
However, I caught her wrist in my hand. My strength halted her swing and stopped her body. We posed, head to head, face to face. Our legs were stretched to brace up against one another, while her sword gleamed over our heads.
With one swift movement, I jabbed my rapier forward.
My sword sliced along Hailey’s side, making it look as though I stabbed her straight through. She arched her back and threw her neck backward, releasing an agonizing moan. It was in perfect harmony with the loud climatic note during the symphony accompanying us.
As the music sloped into something somber and quiet, I noticed our positioning. It was quite the tableau that the pair of us stood at. I held her wrist in my hand over our heads as I kept her sword from slamming down on me. The end of my sword stuck out the back of her while Hailey leaned into me with her legs in a wide stance. It was powerful and dramatic. The entire audience was silent as the soft notes cascaded over them.
This was the moment where Hailey was supposed to die. Her next move was to collapse into my arms so that I could hold her and remove her mask. But Hailey made the mistake of opening her eyes ever so slightly to look at her scene partner.
A sheen of sweat covered my face. My eyes pierced hers with an intensity that transcended beyond the choreography. It was terrifying and vulnerable.
Here was this beautiful woman that I fought side by side with. I laughed with her and held her in intimate moments where we thought the world might explode. My heart soared through my chest and fell right into her lap.
The rest of the world melted away. I didn’t want to move. I wanted to extend the moment into something that lasted for the rest of my life. The feeling surprised me.
She was still frozen at the moment, waiting for the right moment to collapse. When she didn’t respond to my advances right away, I closed the gap and made my intentions as obvious as they could be.
I kissed her.
My lips crashed into hers with no elegance or tact. It was full of passion and no technique. However, Hailey responded right away. She moved her lips to caress mine. I felt her relax into my body, pushing herself up against me. I slid the arm, holding her wrist down her arms with the back of my fingers. They roamed along her rib cage with the grace of a pianist stroking the ivory keys.
Shivers ascended along my spine as the music swelled. I lost myself in the feel of her lips, the taste of her tongue, and the sound of the instruments that accompanied our magical moment. Only when my knees buckled from the weight of the emotion coursing through me, did I remember what we were actually supposed to be doing.
I broke away from Hailey and she let her legs go slack. Her trust in me was rewarded when I dropped the rapier and caught her instead. With a large amount of gentleness, I lowered her to the ground and cradled her. She released the tension from her muscles and went completely limp.
I pressed a light hand to the back of her head while she laid across my lap. My other hand slipped her mask off her face. I heard the audience gasp in tandem with me, caught up in the moment. I, as a mix of Achilles and myself, leaned forward and planted a kiss on each of Hailey’s cheeks.
The music dipped and trailed off as I wept into her neck. We held our moment, stayed in it even in the silence from the audience. Even though we weren’t kissing, we were connected. I held her entire body, and she let me.
A steady slow clap cut through the air, as sharp as breaking ice. My eyes pinched in time with the sound, painful and prickly. I didn’t want to open my eyes and step on to the next moment.
Until I felt Hailey’s breath beside my ear as she turned her head. It rippled down my neck and along my spine, making goosebumps on my skin.
“Cameron,” Hailey whispered, “she’s here.”
A surge of triumph and pride burst through me, forcing my eyes to snap open as I raised my head from Hailey’s neck. I didn’t need to ask who he was. I knew it was the goddess of the hour, the honored guest we’d hope would eventually show up and save the day.
Aphrodite had arrived.
25
The culprit of the slow clap was a tall petite woman with long lashes and a gentle smile. She looked like she’d just stepped off a fashion runway since she was wearing a golden maxi style dress, strapless. Her skin glittered with a perfect, even tan, while golden blond ringlets cascaded down her back all the way to her ankles. The woman glowed as she walked across the dance floor and headed for Hailey and me, who still stayed in our pose on the floor.
While she was undoubtedly beautiful, the woman’s aura exploded around us. It was powerful and intoxicating. The way she moved was alluring and drew me towards her. It was a feeling that struck my core and tugged. My mouth ran dry, and my fingers twitched in anticipation of her arrival.
There was a sense of perfection about her. The unnaturalness of it made me feel uneasy. When I examined every inch of her, my eyes roaming over her body, the attractiveness was certainly there. However, that weariness prevailed. She was like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, dangerous and lethal despite her attractive demeanor.
She commanded the quad, all heads following her as she moved closer towards Hailey and me, who remained on the floor in one another’s arms. Despite the trained warriors that we were, neither of us moved. We could only seem to stare at the woman who approached us.
Until Sasha swooped in. She literally slid across the dance floor, her exuberant robes flitting behind her like a flag. The tall woman steadied herself as she separated the incoming woman and her students. Sasha knelt into a low and reverent curtsy.
“Mighty Aphrodite,” Sasha announced. “It is an honor that you grace us with your presence.”
Aphrodite’s eyes narrowed on the drama teacher, precisely sculpted eyebrows coming together suspiciously. “The honor is mine, daughter of Dionysus. It has been a while since I’ve had the chance to visit the Academy.”
“We always welcome the gods to our humble establishment,” Sasha continued, laying on the flattery.
“Normally, I wouldn’t waste my time,” Aphrodite said. Her voice boomed across the quad, reaching the ears of every stunned student who watched in awe. For some of them, including myself, this was the first time seeing a god in the flesh.
Unfortunately, most of the gods were aloof and distant. They rarely ever visited the mortal world, and when they did, it was mostly to woo a mortal, have sex with them, and then head back to Mount Olympus or wherever they resided in this modern-day world. Many demigods never had the opportunity to meet their godly parents. Aphrodite’s arrival, while expected and anticipated by those of us who knew the true nature of the dance, was still a sight to behold.
“You see, the Academy never engages in anything of interest to me,” Aphrodite continued. She threw out her hands and gestured to the decorations and the environment created by the rest of the committee and me. “But this, this is a marvel. Very out of character for the Academy, so I had to see what it was all about.”
“We hope it pleases you, Aphrodite,” Sasha said, still lowered into an impressively low curtsy.
“It is decent enough,” Aphrodite said with an offhanded shrug, clearly not too impressed. “But the true prize is these two and that performance.”
Aphrodite’s thin, elegant finger pointed between Hailey and me. I knew the goddess was offering us a compliment, but I couldn’t help but feel like a child being caught by a parent under the accusatory point. Hailey squeezed my arm, and it was the first time I realized she was shaking in my arms.
The magnitude of her grace, her beauty, and her power overwhelmed me. I had never met anyone like her. Her godliness shone in a superior glow around her. The god of love and desire knew the power she held here, over us demigods. I could only imagine what mortals must feel like around them.
“You two,” Aphrodite made a noise in h
er throat as if she were enjoying a delicious meal. It was a sinful moan from the most beautiful goddess in mythology. She began her slow clap all over again but raised her hands in our direction, indicating that the applause was meant for the two of us. “You stole the show. Your depiction of Achilles and Penthesilea was magnificent. I’m surprised the campus didn’t explode because of the chemistry between the two of you.”
A blush raced to my cheeks, making them grow hot. I had been so lost in the performance that I wasn’t sure how it looked to the audience. But I knew the passion I felt in my heart, how it pulsed through me. It must have translated very well in order to impress the goddess of desire.
“Thank you, Aphrodite,” I said, finally finding my voice. I peeled myself from Hailey’s grip, albeit reluctantly, and got to my feet. The soldier followed suit, though the minute we stood up, she took my hand in hers, as though she couldn’t bear to be disconnected from me. I let her and tried to hold back a smile playing at my lips.
“A daughter of Apollo and a son of Hephaestus.” Aphrodite’s head ticked back and forth between us, and she clicked his tongue. “An unusual pair for sure.”
Then the goddess sidestepped the drama teacher and went to circle the pair of us. Sasha had to let Aphrodite pass, but she kept a watchful eye on the goddess at all times. I didn’t know what power Sasha thought she might have over a god, but I appreciated her protectiveness at that moment.
Aphrodite circled Hailey and me with an eager look in her eye, like a vulture hovering above a carcass until it was dead enough to eat. My muscles twitched at the thought of being judged so obviously and so publicly. We were still surrounded by fellow classmates, who seemed to hold a collective breath. They watched with an admirable level of attention, completely entranced by the goddess and her mere presence. They waited with bated breath to see what she would do. Most of us had never seen a god in action, and this was a rare but special moment for the demigods.
“I approve of this.” Aphrodite pointed between the two of us. A half-smile prickled at her lips, and she gestured as though she were encouraging us onward. “Go on then.”
Hailey and I shared a look of confusion.
“Uh, what?” I asked, seeming to find my voice before Hailey.
“Go on,” Aphrodite beckoned. She flicked her fingers at us and then shifted her weight so she could lean back and observe us. “You have my permission to kiss.”
Before I had a second to gather my thoughts amongst the shock of this line, someone out in a crowd of students hollered their approval. Then our fellow soldiers burst into applause, encouraging us.
The goddess of love and desire seemed to just notice that everyone was watching her. She looked around at the students, decorated in masks and elaborate clothes. Aphrodite pursed her plump lips and raised an eyebrow expectantly.
I sent Hailey another look and was surprised to see the fear in her eyes. Instead of the desire and want, Hailey was filled with hesitation. The public nature of this relationship was an immediate turnoff. Still, the cheering propelled her forward, towards me.
But I put a hand on Hailey’s chest. While the fire sparked between my touch and hers, I held firm. I kept Hailey at bay and turned to face Aphrodite.
“We don’t need your approval,” I said, keeping my voice sharp with pointed edges on my consonants. “But thanks anyway.”
“You reject my approval, son of Hephaestus?” Aphrodite said with a dramatic hand on her hip. “It is an honor to be granted approval over your relationship by my son or me.”
“Well, thanks, I guess,” I said, feeling defiant. “That’s nice and all, but we’re not monkeys to perform when you tell us to. And I would rather have all of my girls up here with me and have their consent than have you decide who I am to be with.”
“Cameron,” Hailey said out of the corner of her mouth, a tense warning.
I ignored her. I understood that Aphrodite was a god, an Olympian at that, and I was taking a huge risk by defying anything she said or commanded. However, I didn’t appreciate how she made Hailey feel uncomfortable. Or how she thought that Hailey belonged to me and I to her, without any concern about others who may be in a relationship with us. We were not here for her entertainment.
Aphrodite’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline so fast, I thought they might fly right off her face. “You have a bold tongue, son of Hephaestus. I suggest you put a leash on it quickly and keep it in your mouth.”
I opened my mouth, preparing another strike when a hand landed on my shoulder, interrupting me. It was an elegant hand adorned with a series of gold rings. I looked up into the face of Aphrodite’s own daughter, Genesis. Makayla appeared on the other side of Hailey, with her own hand on her shoulder.
“Mighty Aphrodite,” Genesis said with a soothing voice. “We are honored to have you here. How about we migrate off the dance floor so the demigods can enjoy the rest of this party with their loved ones?”
Her word choice was precise, her tone measured. The Elemental Official spoke like a politician, defusing a situation. Aphrodite smirked at Genesis, realizing what she was doing in taking the attention off me and my rudeness. At first, I wasn’t sure she would oblige her request, even with Genesis being her daughter. The way her glare burned into me, she looked as though she was trying to make my head explode with a simple look. I held my ground, though I could feel my muscles tense under Genesis’s tight grip.
“I noticed the tableaus on my way over,” Aphrodite said with a lazy point behind her to the garden setting. “We can occupy one of those and watch the festivities.”
“What a marvelous idea,” Genesis said with a cheery voice and a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She removed her hand from my shoulder, and I sighed, relieved.
The daughter of Aphrodite approached the goddess with outstretched arms. She took her hands and kissed her cheeks with a surprising amount of respect and decorum. I heard a gentle, “Hello daughter,” from Aphrodite to Genesis that seemed to startle the demigod. Makayla, on the other hand, hiked up her flowing dress and skipped up the steps of the cafeteria building, leaning over the DJ’s table. Soon after, the music began again, a thumping, heavy beat that made me want to tap my foot. However, I stayed still, my eyes never leaving Aphrodite’s as she took Genesis’s arm in hers and led her off the dance floor.
The daughter of Hermes approached Hailey and me before joining the goddess and her fellow official.
“Don’t worry,” she said as she reached out and squeezed my hand. “We’ll speak with her, and all of this will soon be over.”
The Elemental Official followed the pair while Hailey and I just watched them go. They settled themselves in the garden scene, Genesis and Aphrodite sharing the bench while Makayla laid out her skirts at Eros's feet, like a devoted lover. Her eyes grew wide as she listened intently to her words. Even though I couldn’t hear them from here, I knew that it couldn’t be as interesting as Makayla looked. Her doting on the god was completely exaggerated and purposeful.
Part of me wanted to be over there, hearing Aphrodite’s explanation for the Tainted Love infection. But I fought the urge to move and kept my feet on the dance floor, even though it swarmed with a new round of eager dancers. I had to take a step back and let the officials handle this situation.
Frankly, I didn’t trust myself around the goddess, either. Her arrogance annoyed me, but her beauty was intoxicating, and I could see myself losing control around her.
Sasha’s round face appeared in my line of sight, a smile so wide and bright it bordered on frightening. The drama teacher clapped her hands together excitedly.
“That was incredible!” Sasha cheered. “Marvelous. Spectacular. I knew you both had it in you.”
“Uh…” I stammered, “thank you.”
Then, surprisingly, Sasha reached out and grabbed my hand. She pulled it to her chest and held on tight. I tried to yank away from the intimate, heaving breast under my hand, but the daughter of Dionysus kept a firm grip.
; “For what it’s worth,” Sasha said softly, almost unhearable under the constant beat of the music. Then she reached out and took Hailey’s hand, cradling it to her chest as well. “I approve of this as well. Why do you think I put the two of you together in the first place? It’s meant to be.”
Then Sasha united mine and Hailey’s hands. She quickly patted the tops of our intertwined hands, then she stepped away, seemingly having said her piece.
Hailey and I stood there, in the center of the dance floor, with both of our hands holding on to the other. When I examined her, her expression was unreadable. The blankness of her worried me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked immediately.
“Why did you kiss me?” Hailey spat out like the words had been building in her chest for hours.
I blinked at her, surprised by the sudden question. When I didn’t answer her right away, Hailey barrelled on, the words spilling out of him like a waterfall.
“If you tell me it was the show, that you were just caught up in the performance, I completely understand. It was intense for me too, and sometimes things just get away from you like that and--”
Seeing that she wasn’t going to stop anytime soon, I leaned in and kissed her. I swallowed her words, burying her doubts and concerns with the intensity of my lips on her. I stroked her chin with my thumb as Hailey leaned into me, and once again, our mouths molded to one another to find a comfortable and alluring rhythm.
As if on cue, the thudding beat from before transitioned into something softer and slower. Immediately, students coupled up and swayed to the music. Hailey and I stood awkwardly for a moment, still taking up space in the middle of the dance floor. We looked anywhere but at each other, unsure of what to say but both knowing what we wanted to do.
Then I opened up my palm and held it out to her, a silent invitation to dance. I watched her put her hand in mine, felt her light touch on the small of my shoulder as I pulled her closer to me. We didn’t spin into a waltz or anything, but we twirled in a slow circle, swaying to the music as we danced together.
