A Deadly Beauty

Prologue - How It All Began

As goddess love and beauty you would think that it would be clear that I am the fairest. Right? Wrong. Eris threw that beautiful sparkling apple into our midst, and instead of immediately bringing it to be with the praise and adoration that I deserve, others claimed it! Can you believe that? To think that you are fairer than Aphrodite herself. Horrified I quickly claimed the shining orb, hoping that they would realize their mistake and give it to me. Some did indeed look ashamed, but Hera and Athena, (them fairer than I, I think not!) both stood their ground. We went to Zeus, hoping that he would sort things out for us. He declined, saying that he did not wish to get into the middle of our quarrel. Instead, he suggested that we as young Paris to judge for us. We all thought this a wonderful idea, since Paris had been cursed from birth anyway. At least this way we could not do much damage to the poor boy. 

You see, his parents, Priam and Hecuba, king and queen of Troy, received a prophecy before he was born that he would be the one to topple the walls of mighty Troy. In a pathetic attempt to save their city, they set him on a hillside to die once he was born. But he was found by a sheep herder, and raised as the man's son. So now we go to see him as he sits gazing at his sheep, surrounded by the green hills of Illyria. 

As soon as we appear in front of him, I see that he will be easy to manipulate. He is astounded by my beauty. I listen disdainfully while Hera offers riches and kingdoms. I can see that this is not what he wants. Athena offers him wisdom and victory in all of his battles. The fool! Can't she see that the boy is no fighter; he looks frightened at the mere thought of battle. It is my turn. I know what I will offer him. I step forward and he watches me lustfully.  

"If you pick me," I tell him, "I will give you the most beautiful woman in the world to marry." That she is already married is a minor detail. We will sort that out later. He looks overjoyed at my proposition, and rushes over to me immediately.  

"You are the fairest, O most beautiful Aphrodite!" He says before handing me my apple. I smile wickedly.  

"Good boy. We will talk soon."