The Five Demigods Who Saved Olympus | Book 1, 2, & 3

Book 2 - κδ′

"Please! You must help us." Aphrodite begged, holding onto the creature before her. A cyclops named Polyphemus.

"It was foolish of you to come here." Polyphemus said, pushing Aphrodite off of him.

"Why would you ever suggest such thing?" Polyphemus started, tutting afterwards. "This is suicide. You're practically begging to be killed." Polyphemus finished, though he knew nobody who stood in this room could ever be killed.

"We shall succeed. And we cannot do it without you." Helios said with full confidence, stepping forward.

"Again I ask why you would ever suggest such thing? We cannot overthrow Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades! Why do you desire it?" Polyphemus asked, sitting down in his chair made of the bones of sheep's cotton.

"Because, Polyphemus, they've all gone mad. Letting mortals into our home? It's outrageous! It's disgusting!" Aphrodite exclaimed. Though she felt it was true, she felt she had to convey what she felt. She had to convey the real reason for why she was doing this.

"Five of those mortals you talk of saved Olympus if I remember correctly." Polyphemus reminded her.

"They almost failed, Polyphemus. We all could've been swallowed by Cronus." Helios snarled.

"Even so, they saved Olympus. And you both are alive now because of them. I want no part of this. We don't stand a chance." Polyphemus said, making an attempt to walk away.

"I have grown tired of being treated smaller than all of the other Olympians! I am tired of being treated as if I am a nymph! I am tired of being only the Goddess of Love. I want more. I want power. I desire it. I crave it. And I shall have it!" Aphrodite shouted. "And you... I came to you because I knew you loathed your father for leaving you here to rot in this cave." Aphrodite continued, motioning to the cave they stood in.

"Why'd he do it again? Why'd he leave you here, Polyphemus?" Helios asked.

"I couldn't resume my duties alongside my father after Odysseus blinded me. So, he left me here, away from all of my family." Polyphemus said in a quiet voice. He kept his eyes off of Aphrodite and Helios, not wanting them to see the sadness that pooled within them. Aphrodite moved closer to him, watching him closely, her face just inches away from his.

"He made you feel worthless. Like you weren't capable of continuing without your eye, didn't he?" Aphrodite asked with an alluring voice, knowing she was now reaching him.

"Yes.." Polyphemus mumbled.

"And you'd like him to suffer for making you feel so terribly about yourself?" Aphrodite asked, a smirk appearing on her face. It was like her tongue was laced with a spell. She could make any man, woman, or creature do what she pleased with her sultry voice.

"Very much so." Polyphemus answered. Aphrodite backed away and smiled to herself, feeling pleased.

"Good. We must go fetch the others." Aphrodite said, walking out of the cave. Helios awaited for Polyphemus to stand, and once he did, Helios walked alongside him out of the dark cave.

"What others?" Polyphemus asked, looking down at Helios, who was much shorter in comparison to him.

"You'll see." Helios said, gesturing for him to walk ahead. Aphrodite approached Dolos, Spirit of Trickery. Polyphemus and Helios reached the two who were now conversing.

"Is he one of those helping us?" Polyphemus asked, turning to Helios.

"Just with getting you all to Kommos." Dolos replied, taking hold of Aphrodite's hand. Aphrodite reached for the hand of Helios as he reached for Polyphemus's arm. Polyphemus took notice of how Helios wouldn't hold his hand but brushed the thought out of his mind once Dolos spoke once more.