Aphrodite's Flame

3. Flicker

The night of the feast I am wearing a gorgeous red dress with a thigh high split and a modest little train. I can see them looking at me, some hungry, some envious, some with undisguised lust. Artemis picked up the glittering dress I laid out for her, but she's not here yet. Apollo is. Sulking, he stands at the far wall, drinking the thick godly nectar and watching everyone. I know he is looking for his sister and for his sake I hope he doesn't drink too much of Hebe's golden liquid before he finds her.

'Aphrodite, beautiful Sun,' a well-known voice rumbles. Holding my breath out of sheer annoyance, I turn around to face Zeus and smile. 'This red dress is outrageously sinful. Why don't we exchange it for a more appropriate peplos? Let's take it off. I am sure Hera keeps her boring dresses in her bedroom.'

'I am sure she does. I doubt your wife has something even remotely daring.' He laughs, a boyish twinkle in his hard grey eyes. 

'There should be something lacey from our first days. Maybe you're even wearing something lacey underneath that dress.' I don't know what it is that drives me, perhaps it's some primal instinct that forces me to smile seductively and lean into him. Some I would have teased ('Maybe I'm not wearing anything at all'), some I would have kissed on the cheek, and some really don't need any more encouragement. 

'Thunder and lightning are too fierce for me,' I tell him in a low voice. Laughing he looks up at me.

'Are they? You don't seem to mind fire and gunpowder, though,' he jokes before leaving me be. You see, men like Zeus love the chase and the flirt. He knows he can't fool me, I'd smell it on him whatever shape he would take. He accepts my rejection because I am not a damn mortal and because he would invoke Ares' wrath. Just as he walks away, I look up at Hera on her throne. Her face is red and she is shaking with anger. I smile at her. I could've been the one up there. I'm glad I'm not. Zeus' jealousy would have destroyed all the worlds and everyone would be at the mercy of Hades.

I walk around the place, obviously flaunting what I have, including my sweetest smile. Apollo is still leaning against the wall, silently hoping his sister is still coming. Zeus is talking up some lower goddess with less self respect. Athena and Hera are silently judging everyone in this room, as they do. Hermes catches my eye and he smiles at me as I walk up to him.

'Why, look what we have here,' he says. Hermes and I have a history that is mainly friendly. I think there is no one in any of the worlds that doesn't like Hermes.

'Have you even seen half of these people?' He smiles, leading me to a marble bench at the far end of the party. There we can see the pile of presents we all brought for the tiny hero. They are crazy if you think about it - swords and daggers, maybe a shield and sandals; but really everything to fight our battles or mortalkind's monsters. No pacifiers, blankets or toys.

'You have been distracted lately,' he points out. 'Is there anything I can do for you?' I look up at him, he seems sincere. But no, there is nothing I want from the God of Thieves.

'Hermes, a word, please,' Zeus' rumbling voice schors through the hall. He bows his head, sighs quietly enough so only I can hear and gets up. With a smile I look after him, inhaling deeply.

Four fingers caress my neck, pushing my loose hair aside. Goosebumps follow his fingers in their trail. I already know it's Ares, I know him so well I can distinguish his touch from everyone else's. His fingertips slowly follow my hair down my shoulders and open back, along my spine. I feel his warm breath on my skin, like hasty kisses at the base of my skull.

'Why are we here?' he whispers, breaking the spell I'm under. I slowly raise my glass and sip from the contents.

'I've heard a hero was born.' He clicks with his tongue.

'What baby hero deserves to have you wear that dress?'

'What's with everyone commenting on my dress? Athena is wearing something a lot more revealing.' She is - her white dress is skin tight and ends mid thigh. Sure, she wears a dark red cape with golden lining which is clipped to her shoulders, but that is hardly covering anything.

'Her dress doesn't have you in it, Di. None here can resist you.' I turn to face him, although I know I'm blushing from the godly drink and his proximity. Thirty years is a long time. Not that either of us have been sitting still.

'You know,' I say, trailing my fingertips down his chest to his rock hard abs, feeling his heart rate speed up as I put my hand against his skin. I'm not sure how long I can keep resisting him. His gaze studies me intensely, his eyes are darkening. Both of us seem to forget we are in a public place, surrounded by divinities that yearn for some great gossip.

'You were saying?' Ares murmurs when I don't finish the sentence. I was going to mock him, I was going to make fun of this man - but I can't. I smile at him shyly and really, that is all he needs to see.