Psyche and Eros

Night Terror

The following night I laid awake three hours past my usual bed time. I stayed up willingly, to think, to stare, to close my eyes and look at blackness until I start to feel alright. Somehow, I do start to feel peaceful after tossing and turning for the first few hours...

Then, suddenly, I hear the sound of my guards speaking outside my window. Very rarely do they make sound, as to not disturb anyone...unless there is some kind of genuine disturbance. I try to not pay it much attention and curl myself underneath the blankets as if they offer protection. I face away from the window, waiting on edge for several minutes in complete silence. 

Then, a door opens downstairs. The guards do not stop them. There is no resistance whatsoever. I feel like my eyes must be deceiving me! That, or I am dreaming a terrible, terrible dream...

Quietly, slow and steady steps mount the steps outside my room. My veins rush with blood, rushing to my feet - my heart, everything pounding within me as the fear finally shows itself.

I have to wonder how I am going to defend myself...if I should accept my fate, or fight...but for what? What do I need to fight for? Or what I have done to deserve to be in danger in the first place? I have wealth to give for my life, but I suspect this goes well beyond that...they are in no need of wealth. 

They are here to prove a point. A point I cannot dispute, only bow down to. 

Finally, my door opens. The air shifting the only indication of this. I thought I would freeze beneath the secure blankets over my head, but instead, my body rushes upwards, my hair flying around my face.

This isn't how I imagined I would meet a Goddess. With bedhead, with fear, with threats lingering between us. 

"H-how did you get in here?" My voice barely reaches beyond my own ears, but I know she must hear me. "Are you here to take me away?"

The Goddess stands, poised, observing me intensely with her eyes. I can see them, even in darkness, sparkling beautifully the colour of the ocean. Her long blonde hair drapes over her shoulders all the way down to her waist.  She takes what feels like an hour of observing before she speaks. "No...dear child. I do not wish to take you away. Not tonight." She walks closer to my bed, but somehow her presence does not feel nearly as threatening up close...perhaps, because she radiates some form of otherworldly motherly love. "You shall walk yourself out in due time though." 

"You're here to help me?" I gasp out. Somehow, my instincts are telling me she is here to lead me out of this joyless life, one way or another...that she is the key to some kind of happiness in my future, whether she wants to be or not. 

She does not appear to be pleased with my answer. I know she must not like me...not very much if she chooses to come to me like this, without a smile, or a hint of likeness.  She answers subtly, without emotion. "You'll be married soon, my dear. And it will be because you'll love someone." 

The Goddess turns to leave, but I can't let her go without itching my need to know her identity for sure. "You are Aphrodite. Aren't you?" I ask her, wincing at my own timid voice. Thankfully with her turned away, she can't see my own self-pity. 

She refuses to confirm. She only turns to look over her shoulder, giving me a look to silence me. I can only suspect most Goddesses or Gods would have too much pride not to correct me if I were to identify them wrongly. I must be right. "Thank you for not killing me and giving me a chance," I murmur avoiding her staring gaze. "They told me that you would."

I can't place her feelings on my forwardness. She stares at me, down her nose practically, before turning away completely and leaving with the same poise she arrived with. 

I stare at the darkness where she stood until the rising sun starts to shine through the window, illuminating me once again, after a restless night. 

The guards seem to exit their trance once the sun has shown itself. I hear them bolt up the stairs seeking my confirmation of safety. Relief floods their expressions once they see me sitting up in bed. Motionless, but upright. 

"Don't worry." I softly smile sympathetically. "Your jobs are secure." 

But is my safety still ensured? I'm not sure if a warning is all I will be receiving.  

"The Goddess promises future harm, princess." The guards bow in shame. "She simply just wanted to see if the rumours were true for herself first." 

My eyes sting. "Do you know this for sure?" 

"Aphrodite can be quite vengeful once her spotlight is threatened. You have stolen worshippers from her on top of threatening her position. As long as you remain vulnerable, protected by mere humans, a terrible fate awaits you unless something changes." The first guard answers sternly, while the second nods in agreement. 

It appears to be the case. The ivory tower of my family home won't protect me anymore, not the way I thought it would when I was a little girl. I thought it would serve me much better than this, just as I used to think so many other things. 

That I would have a future in front of me, for one. A realistic expectation now destroyed with one conversation and lucky beauty genetics...being too fortunate in that department can sometimes turn things disastrous.

Perhaps, once I am married the spotlight on me may disappear, and she may spare me.

It's the best I can hope for. Marriage, the sooner the better.

Solemnly I dismiss both of my guards and prepare myself for the conversation soon to happen between myself and my parents.

It's time to hurry up my match. Surely...surely, someone must want me.