Goddess Kiss

Chapter 3.2

The nymphs, however, remained silent, their eyes fixed on us with a mixture of suspicion and disdain.

"They're not happy," Hygieia said, her voice laced with apprehension.
"They're guardians of this place. They don't take kindly to strangers."

"Especially strangers who have just emerged from a sea of snakes," Lachesis added, her voice a soft whisper.
"They're not known for their hospitality."

"They're not known for their sense of humor either," Circe said, her voice a low murmur.
"But I'm sure we can charm them."

"Charm them?" I asked, my eyebrows raised.
"With what? A cheese platter?"

Circe chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Maybe," she said. "But I think we need something a little more… persuasive."

"Music," Lachesis said, her voice a soft whisper.
"They love music. It's said that the nymphs of Rhodes are the most talented musicians in all of Olympus Realm."

"Music?" I asked, my eyebrows raised.
"I'm a doctor, not a musician."

"Don't worry, Louise," Athena said, her smile widening.
"I have a plan."

She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Apollo's lyre," she said.
"Play it. It's a gift from the god of music. It's said to have a magical effect on those who hear it."

"Apollo's lyre?" I asked, my eyebrows raised.
"You're kidding, right? I don't even know how to play a guitar."

"You'll be fine," Athena said, her smile widening.
"Just trust me."

Circe, ever the sorceress, leaned closer to me, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Do you even know how to play it?" she asked.

I shrugged, feeling a blush creeping up my neck.
"I'm not exactly a virtuoso," I said. "But I'm sure I can figure it out."

"Oh, you'll be fine," Circe said, her smile widening.
"Just let the music flow through you. It's a magical instrument."

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest.
I had never played a lyre before, but I had a feeling that this was not the time to back down.

I picked up the lyre, its strings shimmering like silver threads in the dim light. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and began to play.

And to my surprise, the music flowed through me, a melody that seemed to come from somewhere deep within me.

It was a beautiful melody, a melody that filled the clearing with a sense of peace and tranquility.

The nymphs, who had been staring at us with suspicion and disdain, softened their expressions. Some of them began to giggle, their laughter echoing through the cavern.
Some of them began to dance, their movements graceful and fluid.

Hygieia, with her snake companion, Asclepius, started to dance as well, her movements as graceful as a willow tree.
Circe, ever the sorceress, joined in, her movements fluid and captivating.

Zes, my Dalmatian, wagging his tail furiously, pushed Ethy, who was giving him a very annoyed look, towards the dance floor. Lachesis just smiled at the side, her eyes filled with a sense of wonder.

And Athena, her eyes twinkling with amusement, clapped her hands at my side.

"You're a natural," she said, her voice a melodic chime.
"You have a gift for music."

I smiled, my heart pounding with a mixture of surprise and delight. I had never thought of myself as a musician, but I was playing Apollo's lyre beautifully.

Maybe it was the power of the instrument, or maybe it was the magic of the nymphs, or maybe it was just a hidden talent that I had never discovered before.

One of the nymphs, a beautiful creature with eyes as blue as the Aegean Sea, approached me, her smile radiant and captivating.

"You play beautifully," she said, her voice a soft whisper.
"Will you sing for us?"

I looked at Athena for help, but she just chuckled. I had never sung before, but here goes nothing.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and began to sing.

And to my surprise, my voice flowed through me, a melody that seemed to come from somewhere deep within me.

The nymphs, their faces lit with delight, danced and sang along with me. The air was filled with the sound of laughter and music, a symphony of joy and wonder.

I was singing, I was playing Apollo's lyre, and the nymphs were dancing and singing along with me.

This was a moment of pure magic, a moment of pure joy.

But as I turned to Athena, my heart sank.
She was pale, her face drained of color.
Her usually bright silver eyes were dull and lifeless.

"Athena," I whispered, my voice filled with concern.
"What's wrong?"

She smiled weakly, her voice barely a whisper.
"Nothing, Louise," she said.
"I'm fine."

But her look said otherwise.
She was so pale, so weak, that it looked like she might collapse at any moment.

I stopped playing the lyre, the music fading into silence.

The nymphs, their faces filled with confusion and concern, protested in anger.

"What's wrong, mortal?" one of them asked, her voice a soft whisper.
"Why have you stopped?"

I knelt down beside Athena, my heart pounding in my chest.
How could I sing a happy song and party all night while my wife was in pain?