Earthrumbler

Chapter Twenty-One: Trickery

Eros! He wants me to convince Eros that I’m my mother! I dusted the robe I wore, trying to ignore the loose fitting material and my lack of undergarments. My shoulders straightened, likening my posture to hers, and I entered the tavern.

At the early morning hour, when only dull light peeked through the sky, few travelers would awake, providing me with a chance to speak to Eros alone.

What will I say? ‘I’m somehow powerless right now. Think you could take me to Persephone?’ Terrible! He’ll figure you out in a moment. I kept my footsteps and breathing in harmony to keep myself calm. When I sighted the small pudgy figure and tried not to cringe, I said, “Hello, old friend.”

Eros turned to me, his withered face paling. “Lady Pallas Athena, I thought we had discussed everything that we needed to upon your last visit. I promise that I’ve not seen the girl.” Surprise leaked in his voice. Worry darkened his eyes.

I brushed him off. “This isn’t about the girl, Eros. I am here on other business. I came from Poseidon’s realm. He has drained me, and you were the closest immortal to me. To be frank, I require your assistance. Could you take me to Persephone?”

“He’s drained you? You mean to tell me that you’re powerless?” He tried to keep his expression flat, but the faintest outline of a smirk poked through. “Dear Lady, what a pity.” He reached his hand out to my arm.

My composure almost slipped. He’d not console me with a touch. I stepped backward, studying the open palm, the arrow peeking through his skin. “Uh…” She doesn’t falter! “What were you doing?” My heart pounded in my throat. She’d be angry. “Were you trying to stab me, to make me fall in love with you?” My voice ticked like a clock, a quiet, pulsing rage building up into an hour. Too angry. Level, more level.

He circled me. “Well, if you’ve no power at the moment, you’d not fight it. You’d do anything if you loved someone enough, wouldn’t you?”

I clenched my fists, trying to find an insult for him. “I ought to stab you, you insolent swine! Do you wish for the Olympian council to know of this?”

“Do you wish for them to know of…the girl?”

My teeth grounded into one another. “You are to leave her out of this, Eros. If you think you can out maneuver me, you are sadly mistaken.” I loomed over him.

Eros lunged at me, but with a quick ungraceful move, I shoved him back before he could pin me to the wall. He recovered and swung a fist at me.

I dodged it and tumbled to the ground.

He stood over me. His face was curled into a sneer as he stomped on my stomach. “My, my, you certainly lack grace when you lose power. I should wonder what I’ll do when I have all of your power in my hands. Restore my appearance? Take your seat on the council? Kill the last of those filthy muses?” Eros pulled the arrow from his palm, paying no heed to the blood coating it. From behind him, he drew a bow. Notching the arrow, he aimed it straight at my heart. “It’s a difficult choice, isn’t it?”

I grunted at the pain in my stomach, but kicked my leg up at the bow. As it flew from his hands, I scrambled to my feet. “Eros, make this easy on yourself. You know what I can do. Even powerless, I’ll make you regret the day you crossed me.” The threat was awkward as it left my mouth, lacking the conviction my mother spoke with. I held the bow in my hand. My hands curled tightly around it, poised to snap it in half.

He halted, my silent threat resonating with him. “Let’s approach this differently then. What do you have to offer me in exchange for my help?”