Psyche and Eros

First Meeting

How could I say no?

"I..." I can't believe I'm about to agree. Despite the lack of choice I truly have, agreeing and cooperating are two very different things.

He waits ever so patiently for me to answer. With my own words. Unprompted.

I inhale deeply. Preparing myself for handing over my fate. "Mmmm...yes." I gasp out, closing my eyes tightly.

He exhales in relief. "I promise you won't regret it."

I feel a brush of wind as hands gently take hold of mine.

I look down at my empty hands. "What happens now?" I whisper anxiously.

"Well, it's time for a little flight." He chuckles. "May I?" He is nudging closer to hold me securely around the waist.

Heart beating, I nod quickly. I close my own hands over his to give myself more sense of security before he takes off.

My feet leave the ground gently at first. I merely watch the grass below in wonder as I lose contact with me. The higher we go, the more nervous I become until it is too much to peer down any longer.

"Ready?" He asks again, both of us resting in place, still vertical, hovering the in sky.

"Yes." My eyes are closed but I say it firmly, ready to let go, ready to stop looking at this damn meadow, and this damn hill.

I feel the rush of us moving forward off the edge of the hill. My body turns horizontal as we soar forward. The grassy meadow whizzed by below us, which only made me dizzy to look at. Instead, I turned my eyes toward the sky, counting every second until it was over. 

We come to a gentle stop, hovering to the ground. When I hear the soft landing of his feet touching ground, I find myself still horizontal in his arms. "Did you lose your shoes?"He chuckles. 

I fix my skirt as he sets me down. "No...I just chose not to wear them. Didn't think I would need them wherever I was going." 

He stays silent at my answer for a while. He must know I was expecting, even if it was a small part of me, to be killed today...or at least miserable with my pairing. 

I still don't know how to feel completely now. Not being able to see him is completely too suspicious to just skip past. A conversation about that is fast approaching. 

Right now that can wait. Not the time when he's gesturing towards my apparent new home. It's much newer, and nearly grander than my parent's home. Even with their riches, they never updated it the way it should have been. Never designed the exterior the way that I wished they would...then again, they never asked for my opinion. 

"What do you think?" He asks, easing my wandering mind. 

I take it in proudly, nearly feeling as if I designed the home myself. As it sprung from my mind...though that was a silly thought. It stood three stories high, consisting of smooth white stone. Just enough lights and vines are strung naturally over the structure, illuminating it beautifully. There were beautiful, big sun windows. I just knew there were be the most perfect sun beds sitting underneath them inside. 

"I love it..." I whisper in awe, still treading carefully with my words. I would be easily won over with this house alone if I had nothing to be wary of. No oracle words of so-called monsters to think of...all those words would disappear if I could just see him. 

"I'm pleased to hear. And I know you must be famished. There's a meal waiting inside for you." He guides me forward, an invisible hand pulling me gently towards the door.  

Is the inside just as perfect? Just as I would envision it?

As the door bursts open, I'm hit with the wonder scent of a freshly prepared meal, and an apple and cinnamon desert. I have to close my eyes as I imagine the taste of it all - because, he's right. I am absolutely starving and suddenly painfully aware of it. 

Still, there is a bit to talk through before we can get to dinner. What is even more remarkable is the candle-lit interior. At the end of the small entrance hallway, laid out a beautiful grand staircase on either side, and to the left is that scrumptious meal, ready for me. 

"I feel like I'm being....what's it called? Bamboozled? Misled? Are you buttering me up before you tear my heart out and eat it, or what?" I scoff. Comments that would make my mother squeal in protest are now freely flying out of my mouth. The very suggestion of something eating my heart out would make her slap my wrist, at the very least. 

But now, I truly don't care. I don't care what he thinks of what I have to say either. 

He laughs. "You truly think I'm the monster, don't you?" 

I draw closer to the food, not looking back as I continue to speak. There's no point anyhow. There's nothing to see. Even if it's impolite, again, I'm not in the mood to care right now. Not until my stomach is filled and I'm finally feeling content again. 

"Not at all..." I finally whisper, taking my seat at the table. My eyes practically bug out of my head at the feast in front of me. I'm in an awe for a moment, not knowing what to grab first. The freshly baked bread, or the turkey - 

On its own, white wine begins to pour itself. Both in my own glass and another on my left. I nearly forgot what brought me for a second. 

"Yes, I'm right here, love." He chuckles, setting down the half-emptied bottle. "You do like wine, don't you?" 

"I've never had it, actually." I swallow a sip nervously. Feeling the slight bitterness on my tongue carefully. Truth is, I've always been curious...but my parents never encouraged it. Being the baby of the family tended to have that effect on what they still stubbornly kept away from me. 

They were ready to marry me off but not let me indulge in a bit of wine. I can't help but giggle aloud at the ridiculous thought. 

He hesitates. "Sorry - you really don't have to have it if you don't want it." 

I shake my hand in his general vicinity to dismiss him as I take another sip. "I have no issue trying new things. It's being forbidden that I have an issue with." A comment I'm not sure where it came from, but he seems to be amused by. 

"By all means, go ahead then. Though I wouldn't be responsible if I gave you any more, so savour that one glass." He gives the rest of the bottle to himself. Something that quite astonishes me. The half of a glass I've had on my own seems to be already making me quite warm. A sensation I'm sure only grows greater and more wonderful. 

"I know what you're thinking. My tolerance is a little different than yours." He fills me in vaguely. "And I'm not aiming to get you drunk. I do want you to be comfortable though, however that can be accomplished. Is there anything else I can get you?" 

The bread is practically melting in my mouth now. My eyes are nearly rolling to the back of my head as he speaks. My attention span completely lost. 

He simply waits in amusement until I'm stuffed and ready to make use of my ears again. 

But with that comes intense exhaustion. The day behind me finally catching up with me with unforgiving force. My eyes are fighting to stay open as I lean back in my chair. 

I feel him brush my messy hair back from my face, gently whispering. "Come on, I'll take you to bed and we'll talk in the morning." 

I grumble indistinguishably and he pulls me up, my arms wrapping themselves around his neck. I can feel his hair against my cheek...and I lean into him as close I can. Fully comforted in arms for the time being - so comfortable, in fact, that I fall asleep before he even finishes climbing the stairs.