Aeternum Vindicta

Act I, Chapter I

ACT I, CHAPTER I

EMNITY

"This is all your fault!" Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, thundered, so loud that she might have rivaled her own father, as she pushed herself off her throne on Olympus and rose to her feet.

Her voice trembled with barely controlled rage as she glared furiously at the goddess that was seated before her. Long, loose tendrils of black hair brushed against her back as she spoke.

"All. Your. Fault." She seethed as her index finger punctured the air with each word, while her eyes were alight with a murderous grey fire.

In front of Athena, Aphrodite sat at ease, calmly on her throne, one leg crossed over the other. The love goddess's hair curled in large beauty-queen ringlets that were swept over her thin shoulder. It's color flickered rapidly, switching from blonde to auburn to a fiery red. The goddess of love raised a thin eyebrow as she regarded Athena with interest, scrutinizing her reaction.

"How so?" Aphrodite asked.

Athena's right eye twitched in fury. "Are you kidding me? It was you who promised Helen of Sparta to Paris. It was you who made him fall for her. This war was started because of your actions." She threw her arms wide in exasperation, sending her white robe flicking out around her.

Aphrodite's cool expression hardened at the Goddess's words, the corners of her mouth tightening. Anger flashed in her ever-changing eyes and her hands, which were folded together in her lap, tightened, as if she wanted nothing more than to strike Athena with her accusations. The rest of the council stayed silent, knowing when it was better to speak, and trying very hard not to get caught in the crossfire of the two non-stop bickering goddesses.

"How was I to know that it would start a war?" Aphrodite shot back tightly. "It was not as if I could predict these mortals' actions," she grumbled, rolling her eyes for effect.

"Well, we all know intelligence has never been your strong point," Athena countered, sneering viciously.

To Aphrodite's left, Ares, the God of War, let out a whistle at the blunt, tactless insult. His eyes flickered repeatedly between the two goddesses, thoroughly entertained. The other immortal beings seated around the room watched on readily, expecting a fight to break out any moment.

Aphrodite stilled, her gaze turning dangerous as her eyes zeroed in on the goddess in front of her. She ascended from her throne, and strode forward with measured steps until she stood directly in front of Athena. The latter rose her chin defiantly as if daring Aphrodite to challenge her.

"I don't take kindly to an insult," Aphrodite stated coldly. Her eyes scanned Athena up and down, her lips curling into a look of disgust as if she were a rotting fish, not a goddess. "I find it funny that a goddess of wisdom and strategy could not predict a war, let alone know how to end it."

Athena's face twisted into a look of murder. If Aphrodite weren't an immortal goddess, the owl head might have actually terrified her. But she was the goddess of love, and one glare wouldn't send her six feet under, far more likely would her petty attempt of being intimidating cause her to laugh.

Athena extended an open hand to the side. The air around her fingers sizzled, and with a crack, her legendary spear materialized out of thin air and appeared in her grip. Celestial bronze glinted dangerously in the ethereal glow of Olympus.

Zeus rested on his throne, his hand supporting his head as he sighed, watching the Trojans clash against the Achaean's below. Aphrodite regarded the weapon vigilantly for a moment, before her gaze returned to Athena's face, which was pinched slightly. "Try to attack me and I will order you to skewer yourself," the goddess warned, referring to her ability to charmspeak others.