cupid's curse

02 | THE DAMNED

LOVE FOR HEDONE WAS much like falling in love with a painting in a museum. She'd stare in awe, admire the masterpiece before her until the realisation that no matter what, she could never touch the beautiful piece of art would sink in.

The first boy she'd fallen in love with was Alkaios. The demigod had her the moment her gaze landed on his eyes so blue they almost glowed. Of course he would have eyes which appeared to be containing the ocean, how could she expect less from the grandson of Poseidon? It was safe to say that those pools of azure were also her first heartbreak. The first of a hundred more which came after. It was her greatest sorrow ; to love so deeply and not to be loved in return, a curse bestowed upon her by no other than The Goddess of Love herself.

The girl eyes her surroundings warily as she trails behind her father out of the airport, dragging her baggage along with her. The stares the pair received from the people did not go unnoticed and the fact that she was already overwrought about going to Olympus for the first time did not help at all. She takes a deep breath and reminds herself that it's normal, gods and goddesses were meant to attract attention. They are unworldly beautiful creatures.

Eros' footsteps cease immediately upon seeing a black Chrysler parked outside the terminal. A man with two differently colored eyes steps out of the vehicle and assists them with their luggage. "Angelos," her father greets, familiarity present in his eyes. Hedone merely stares, taking in Angelos' appearance. He was tall and well-built, his skin a deep reddish-brown, like sepia. His eyes catch hers with a mischievous glint in them as she was climbing into the vehicle, making her wonder if he knew.

The feeling Hedone had whilst hiking to the foot of Olympus after Angelos dropped them off was similar with what she had at the airport. Locks of blonde whip behind her as she craned her neck, her eyes narrowing at the odd-shaped tree. She knows she's being watched. "They're only nymphs. They like to play sometimes." Eros tells her but his assurance did not alleviate the amount of adrenaline she had running through her veins.

The beating of her heart grew even more rapid as they reached the mountain's foot. She takes in Olympus and its breathtaking structure before asking, "What now?" Looking over her shoulder at her father who was now standing next to a Sycamore Tree situated a fee feet away from her, the palm of his hand grazing its trunk.

"Now, we call for Mother Gaia."

The soil beneath her boots rumbles slightly as the Sycamore's lengthy branches twist as it's trunk splits into two and from it emerges a lissome woman clothed in green. Hedone marvels at her beauty, how can someone born off of chaos be so enthralling?

The woman's forest green eyes crinkle, "You have called for my help?" she asks the gods standing before her with their heads bowed in respect, her voice silvery yet it possessed a kind of power even Zeus would feel the need to submit, after all, she is his grandmother.

"If it would not be too much trouble, we we would like to be allowed entrance to Olympus. Hedone has been called by the twelve."

The woman's gentle eyes fall on her at the mention of her name, something quite similar to sympathy passing in her greens as if she already knew.

"Yes, of course," and with one wave of her hand, one side of the mountain's base caves in, revealing a passageway.