Aphrodite's Flame

7.

Adonis is really gentle, carefree and boyish. I know I've been handed the greatest gift: thirty-two years of utter bliss. I mean, sure he has to spend sixteen years with me, but I'll make sure he wants to spend the next sixteen with me as well. In order to celebrate our first Autumn together, I invited Artemis to go hunting with us.

'Is she as fierce as they say?' Adonis, young cub, asks me enthusiastically. 'Persephone always spoke very highly of her.' I figure she would.

'She is a protector amongst gods, so I think she is.'

'Is Apollo coming along as well? I have heard an awful lot about him.'

'I did not think to invite him,' I lie without effort. 'Perhaps some other time.' Right before he can ask me anything else, Artemis comes into view, wearing her hunting attire and bow. Her hair is bound into a thick braid. She is an awe striking vision.

After the pleasantries Artemis takes him to the far edge of the field, leaving me a little distant behind. He looks over his shoulder with a questioning look, but my smile fases him. He follows the goddess of Hunt and Wild Animals to a spot where she explains him how to hold the bow and how to aim and shoot the arrows. They are having so much fun, I can feel his happiness vibrate through my own body. It certainly has been a while since he has been Up. His arrows land into their aimed projectories one by one, and I can hear Artemis complimenting him. He is a natural. Beaming, he looks back to me - I let him know I can see everything.

After a small lunch, where we eat grapes and figs and I happily butter some bread for the young mortal, Artemis wants to head out into the woods on the hillside. She knows where the swine are and she wants to take Adonis on his first hunt. He is very obviously ready to do whatever she says. She gifts him the bow he used to practice his aim, and six arrows.

'You sure he is ready?' I can't stand their beaming smiles, what if they get too eager? I know Artemis, she will protect him at all cost, but I also know mortality. None of mortalkind can be cured of death. I get up and braid my own hair. No way I'm letting them have all the fun. I'm coming along.

The hunt is exhilarating. We move swiftly through the woods like shadows, our toes hitting the soft forest floor, pushing our bodies up and forward again. The predator can't afford to lose much time dillydallying through the woods. When we near our prey, we stop moving fast and begin stalking the swine. Our breathing slows down, our steps toward the beasts are chosen carefully. The wind blows into my face, playing with loose strands of hair. When we actually see them, scurrying through the leaves and branches, I stop moving and hold my breath for a second. They haven't seen, heard or smelled us yet. Artemis is giving instructions to Adonis soundlessly. He lifts his bow and places his arrow.

I can't look anywhere but at him. His slender body looks strong. The wind plays with his curls, and I can hear his shallow breathing. Mine is mimicking his. I can feel his body heat and his slowing down heart rate. He is obviously made to do this, to be good at this.

He lets the arrow go and while Artemis is watching where it's going, I'm watching him. I want him. I don't know why I want him right now, but I know my body is reacting to him. He kills the little swine and the rest of them start running in every direction in distress. The little swine has fallen down and both Artemis and Adonis walk up to it, Artemis giving her protege the last directions on how to kill it quickly so it won't suffer. He does as he is told, and although he is holding back, I can feel his obvious enthusiasm.

After the hunt the three of us end up in a field next to the cliffs. Artemis is sitting there, legs dangling off the rocks, looking wistfully out to sea. Deep down we hear the crashing of tiny waves against the high walls. Birds are singing and chirping, I can hear a couple of frogs in the distance. I am sitting a few yards away from the goddess, with Adonis' head in my lap. This day couldn't possibly get any better. Absentmindedly I'm playing with his hair while he softly sings a song. He has a beautiful voice, Apollo would love to favour him.

'What will we do tomorrow?' he murmurs. His eyes have been shut for some time now, I presume he'll fall asleep within the next couple of minutes.

'Whatever you want to do, love.' He smiles and I feel myself light up on the inside. It didn't take long to fall in love with Adonis. Perhaps it is the bleeding void Ares left behind. Perhaps it is because it is so easy falling in love with him. It is very different from Ares' destructive love, Poseidon's demanding love, Dionysus' hedonistic love, or even Hermes' brotherly affection. It is so innocent and sincere.

'Get up, lazy bee,' Artemis demands playfully and he immediately opens his eyes. 'We need to fix our dinner. Let me show you how.'