Aphrodite's Flame

49. Specks

Titans, I miss Hephaestus. I miss the way he holds me, the way he looks at me, the way he works, the way he ruffles his hair when his plans don't succeed immediately. This morning I said goodbye to Adonis and walked him back to the entrance to the Underworld. Persephone will meet him Down Below, I guess. September is nearing its end when I return to Mount Olympus. Dry leaves swirl up and are blown away by the cold Autumn wind. 

I will just grab a couple of things from my room at the Olympian Palace before I'll head over to see my husband again. I find happiness in the prospect.

However, when I return to my room at the Olympian Court, Demeter is waiting for me. Agitated she jumps up and walks up to me before I even get to the door. I seem to be popular these days. 

'You smell,' she tells me, scrunching up her nose. I shrug, not knowing what to tell her. Sulfur. It doesn't wash out easily.

'What's up, Demeter? Did Persephone leave early this time?' She crosses her arms.

'That's the thing,' she says. 'I thought she had - but it seems someone snatched her before she reached Hades. You see, my brother paid me a visit. Said she never came home.' She huffs. 'Can you imagine? Home! That awful hole of his!' 

I roll my eyes. 'Did he tell you who took her?'

'No. But Helios did.'

'Anddd....'

'It was Ares.' I stare at her dumbstruck. That can't be right. He is impulsive but not stupid. 'I came to you, because you are the only one he listens to. Please, Aphrodite, let him return my daughter before Hades unleashes Tartarus on Earth. If he finds out it was Ares who took her, we will all be doomed.'

'What did you tell Hades?'

'That she was helping out a friend and she would be with him soon. I know, it's the worst lie I could come up with. I don't even care. I told him I hadn't exactly shackled her to her bed.' Okay, at least that buys us some time.

'I'll talk to him,' I tell her, feeling rather heroic today. I know exactly where Ares is right now. It should be sorted pretty quickly, and then Hades won't unleash Tartarus and I can be with Hephaestus. Soon I'm on my way to Sparta.

***

I walk up the fifty steps to Ares' Sparta palace. It's been a while since I last visited this place. The door is opened for me as soon as I reach the top step. A servant leads me into the atrium, where I wait for his master. I look around, admiring the flowers that bloom here. Like his chambers at Olympia, everything is very tidy and organised. He is the perfect soldier.

Two strong arms wrap themselves around me from behind, and a mouth I'm too familiar with kisses the secret spot behind my ear. I know why he took her. He feels like he has to make up for Adonis' death - and he does - but taking the Queen of the Underworld hostage to force a trade with Hades isn't the way back to my heart. Only Ace is impulsive enough to actually kidnap another goddess. Queen or not, Up she never stood a chance against him.

'You came faster than I thought,' he whispers, kissing my neck where it is most sensitive.

'You have to let her go,' I tell him. I turn around, never leaving his embrace, and wrap my arms around his neck. Titans, he smells good. Familiar. He frowns.

'If I do that-' I lean in and nip his earlobe.

'Come on, Ace, anything you want,' I whisper, kissing his neck. I know it is lame, but I'm actually trying to defuse him. Getting angry at him will only rile him up. He lets out a sigh.