The Trials of Aphrodite: Righting the Wrongs

Life Is All About Messing Up Others' Lives

The Trials of Aphrodite

♦ Chapter Two ♦

I blinked away the sleep from my eyes and sat up in bed. I tried to use my godly powers, but my attempts were futile. I was absolutely powerless.

I wanted nothing more than to burrow under the covers and drown in heaps of cotton, but I knew that would be cowardly. Besides, I felt something a goddess never feels: a will to live. I feared death. I wanted to breathe, to walk, to talk, to thrive.

You humans are extraordinary. As much as it pains me to admit, you have things that we don't. Curiosity and creativity. You want to explore the world, and you see things differently as gods do. When I look down upon the earth, I see nothing but war and death. You see hope and possibility. Humans are souls that are down to earth. Ahem, excuse the unintentional pun and my failed attempt at poetry.

I always thought that mortals were little toys I could play with. Pulling the strings on a puppet. When I promised Helen of Troy to Paris, it was all a game to me. I caused a war between the Trojans and the Greeks, all because I wanted to be recognized as the most beautiful goddess. I realized what a horrible decision I'd made. I'd costed thousands of people their lives.

Your fault, a voice whispered in my mind. All of this tragedy is your doing.

Piper had left clothes out for me, and I stared at them absently. Black leggings, black combat boots, a dark green long-sleeved shirt, and a black winter coat with brown fur lining the hood. I sighed and changed into it, fully aware that I would never be caught dead in combat boots if I was a goddess.

You aren't a goddess anymore, I thought. Get used to it.

But I couldn't. On any normal day, I would've been sitting on my throne on Olympus and combing my hair. Or floating on a pink cloud in New York City, matching couples. Or perhaps dancing with my lover, Ares. Or not. He isn't a good dancer. He steps on my toes when he tries.

I wondered if the other Olympians missed me at all. No. They were most likely celebrating.

There was a mirror on one wall in the room, and I studied my reflection. I wasn't a knockout, but I wasn't ugly either. Piper had left several makeup products, hair ties, hair sprays, and brushes on the edge of the bed, and I had never loved my daughter more. I got to work on my appearance.

My hair was the first thing I fixed. I don't have many skills, but I am skilled at this kind of thing. I brushed and yanked the knots out of my hair, using a little bit of hair spray. I wrapped it into a tight bun and left two strands out, which framed my face and made it softer. I didn't like black hair, but I supposed it would do.

Thankfully, my lips weren't blue anymore. I applied chapstick to my lips and used mascara to make my eyelashes longer. My muddy brown eyes weren't very flattering, but a girl could try. I still had scratches on my body, and that wasn't a quick fix. I groaned and banged my head against the mirror.

The door creaked open, and Piper slipped inside. "You can have breakfast here, and then I'll drive you as far as I can. It'll be a couple hours, though."

I nodded sadly and leaned away from that cursed mirror. "Thank you, Piper. I'm in your debt."

Piper hugged me, which startled me. "Of course, Mom. I'm really sorry this happened to you. Do you have any idea why?"

I pulled away. "I think it's a punishment. For what, I don't know. I suspect Zeus sent me here."

Her brow furrowed. "What could you do to anger the king of the gods?"