Aphrodite's Flame

21.

Anchises was sitting at a table with all his friends and subjects, when I heard him boasting of a particular night he spent with "Aphrodite, goddess of Sex."

'...and let me tell you!' the drunkard hiccupped. 'She is mighty good. Let me do with her whatever I wanted. Begged me for more, even. Said I was the best screw she ever had. Told me I was the most handsome chap she'd been with for a long time.' I let out a sigh, not enjoying the way Ares and Zeus were watching me closely.

When Anchises was finally done with his more than boastful story, in which we apparently fucked for over three weeks on end, and did things only gods can dream of, I lifted my head to look at Zeus. I bit my cheek while I watched the way his flame flared up, reaching a temperature and height I never saw before in gods or mortals. There was a throbbing vein in his neck, his knuckles turned white.

He jumped from his golden chair and hit the chunk of massive marble with both fists, crumbling it under his force. While Ares looked at me, and Zeus and I looked at each other, the others were looking everywhere except at us.

'You,' the god thundered in a jealous rage as he stormed up to me, 'YOU REJECTED ME AND SLEPT WITH THE MORTAL SHEEP MONGER INSTEAD?' Somehow, it was not fear I felt.

'Yes,' I hear myself say the words. Zeus let out a horrifying scream before unleashing his lightning bolts on the exact spot where Anchises was sitting, leaving nothing but a black spot of soot and a smoldering chair. I was hardly shocked at this turn of events. Slowly I rose from my seat, seeing Ares getting up in the corner of my eye. He watched both Zeus and me closely, already trying to decide how he would save me without getting us both sent to Tartarus.

I didn't need saving.

'Is that all?' I asked Zeus calmly, nodding toward the water we recently watched Anchises in. The water was dripping from what was left of the table. He was panting, his chest rising and falling with every angry breath he took.

'YOU. NEVER. LEARN,' he thundered before calmly following with my verdict: 'I, Zeus of Olympia, sentence you, whore of a goddess, to the one thing you fear most! I sentence you to a lifelong marriage to Hephaestus, lowest of the twelve gods!' I staggered back, looking for Hephaestus in the tiny crowd. He looked at me with judging black eyes and shook his head before averting his face. I looked for Ares, who just stared at the floor defeated. My heart was pounding in my chest. I figured I would be sent to Tartarus - a fate I wholeheartedly accepted - not this.

***

And that is why Hermes is escorting me down into the heart of the mountain, where it is dark, hot and filthy, to meet with my husband-to-be. There is a deep rumbling sound echoing through the caves. I wonder what it is, but stop thinking about it once we enter a large room bathing in the golden red fire of a forge.

Hephaestus looks up for only a second when Hermes and I walk in. Hermes shrugs before pulling me into a hug. He glances over at Hephaestus one more time, who seems to be awfully busy, and mouths a 'see you later' before leaving me. I'm studying Hephaestus as he lifts a huge hammer and lets it come down on a red hot piece of metal, over and over again. His skin is glistening with sweat, his back muscles ripple with every exert of strength. I've never looked at him this intently, and only now do I wonder whether his arms are stronger than Ares'.

'Love what you've done to the place,' I say after having been ignored some time. I slowly walk over to him, and glance over to the hearth, which is more of a steady stream of glowing magma.

'Why have you come here?' he sighs. I'm feeling a little uncomfortable around him. It's not lust or desire or love I feel... it's pure and utter revulsion - from his side. I have never experienced that before. Normally, creatures tend to love me, or envy me at worst. I swallow before smiling and pull myself up on a table.

'Since we are getting married, I thought we'd talk for a bit before all of that.' Hephaestus stops whatever he is doing and pushes the metal away from him, letting the hammer fall down on the ground.

'Married?' he repeats, 'sentenced, you mean. It's not only poor fucking Aphrodite who got a life sentence in that room, you know.' I hold my chin up high.

'There are gods and men alike dying to be in your position, and you tell me you would rather die than be my husband?' I spit. He shrugs, a smug grin playing his lips. Before, I never really studied his features. He has a sharp jawline, covered in too long stubble. His black eyes are framed with thick, black lashes and protected by thick, black eyebrows. His muscled neck is broad, I guess it's just strong enough to hold his thick head on his shoulders.

I never get an answer from him. He just looks at me. It riddles me what he sees exactly, because I still don't feel desire or longing from his part. I can see his flame, though, and it's different from any flame I know.

'So, how long will I be held prisoner here?' I ask him, not wanting to analyse its particular colour or shape. Hephaestus turns around and picks up his material.

'You're not a prisoner. You can leave any time.'

'What do you mean? I was sent down here.' 

Hephaestus huffs. 'Wasn't me.'

'So what do you expect me to do now?!' He turns toward me again, cocking his head to the side and folding his strong arms. The light plays on his olive skin, turning it golden, and on his dark hair, which he pulled into a tiny man bun. I hate man buns.

'This might sound like a surprise to you, but I don't care. Stay as long as you'd like, leave as soon as you want. I'm working, I don't have time to entertain you.'

Maybe Zeus would just forget about my punishment if I kept away from both Zeus and Hephaestus long enough. I get off the table.

'Marriage to you should indeed be labelled a sentence.' I start walking away and only whince as he starts hammering the metal again, this time harder than is necessary.