Aphrodite's Flame

38. Fired up

Everyone seems to want or need something from Hephaestus lately. They come into the forgery unannounced, they send Hermes for him. Then it's about repairing something, then it's about making something, then it's about something else totally unrelated. I have the feeling they're dropping by so often to eavesdrop or to see something they didn't think they would. Whisper's still on the street that I'm the most miserable creature around, for having to be bound to ugly, uninteresting, super serious Hephaestus. 

Sitting at the table I watch him at work. I don't want to admit it, but it's turning me on. I mean, the roughness and the force and the art that comes from it are truly fascinating. Together we decided to let them do the talking. Although I'm annoyed by it he thinks it's rather amusing that they think so highly of him. I told him they would still say those things over a thousand or over two thousand years, they would still say I'm a miserable wretch and they would still say he didn't deserve me. Hephaestus doesn't care - as long as we are happy. And I am. Happy.

'Is it possible to hide your flame?' I ask him. I have been wondering about it for a while now, because sometimes I can see his and sometimes I can't. It's not really because I'm not concentrating, it's almost like he's closing off for me. Not like he would know. I still haven't told him and I want to tell him so badly. Ares always thought it was a childish game and purely me gauging someone's mood, but that's not what this is. It's far more than that.

Hephaestus stops hammering the metal and gives my words a thought before turning around.

'Not purposefully, I think,' he says. 'If you want someone not to know badly enough you could hide it, I guess. Build your walls high enough, thick enough.'

'Do the others know you can see their soul?' I never kept it a secret because I didn't want anyone to know - I just never saw an opportunity to tell anyone except Ares, and his response was disappointing.

'The Olympian nobility you mean? Hera knows, but she brushed it off. Only Titans can know such a thing, she'd say. She would say I made it up to sound more interesting.' I swallow - he's wording exactly what I'm afraid of. But he also tells me something that makes me swell with pride - is it true it's something only Titans can see? Then why can I see it? Why can Hephaestus see it? Are there others residing on the mountain that have the ability? Self conscious about the latter possibility I smile and cross my arms. It's one thing knowing my husband can see my true feelings. It's another if a random divinity can.

'Don't do that,' he says, sitting across from me and taking my hands in his. They seem so small in his large hands covered in dirt.

'Do what?'

'Hide it.' He brings my hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles. He opens his mouth to say something when my eye catches something.

'I'm sorry to disturb you,' a lovely sing song voice says. I don't like that Hephaestus lets go of my hand when Aglaea comes in. He turns around to face her and - being the goddess of Love and all - I can't help but notice the softened demeanor toward her. I've never been the jealous type, but it ignites something hideous and dangerous in me.

'What do you want?' I bark, watching him wince only the slightest while she remains unfazed. Smiling she comes closer. I never knew she was familiar with Hephaestus or his forgery, but I guess there's still a lot more I don't know either. The both of us get up.

'I was actually wondering whether you'd want the three of us at the cabin for when Adonis returns, to make everything ready.' I quirk a brow at her impertinence. She was always my favourite of The Three Graces, but I figure even this snake has her own personal agenda. 

'Yes,' Hephaestus answers in my stead, shutting me right up. 'That would be fine, Aglaea. Then I can take Aphrodite with me for a quick getaway.' He turns around to face me. He is faking it. I can see how his flame has dimmed and darkened, I can see his annoyance and sadness, his frustration and the impossible want to please Aglaea and me at the same time, but he doesn't know that. I fake my own smile, knowing full well he can see it, and send Aglaea on her way. 

'Where are you taking me?' I ask him. He doesn't ask me if or why I'm upset because he knows the answer and doesn't want to talk about his own role.

'Lipari. You like it there and I like you there.'

'I'm sorry?' He walks up to me and stands so close to me our foreheads are touching. He searches for my hands and intertwines our fingers before bringing our hands up.

'I like it when you're relaxed,' he murmurs, 'you're always flaring up or dimmed down here. In my kingdom you can be whoever you want to be and I can see it.'

'You don't like me as much here?' I know he can hear the disappointment in my voice, because even I heard it. He drops my hands to cup my face and eyes me with concern.

'You are quite possibly the worst and best thing that ever happened to me. You're both Life and Destruction. There's nothing to like about you, because whatever a creature thinks about you is much, much more extreme. Like is such a bland term, I could never use it with you, but frankly - I do. I do like it when you come here to keep me company, I like it when you tease me with your sexuality and I like it when you want me all for yourself.' Speechless, I stare at his lips, at his eyes and back to his lips.

'Kiss me.' He smiles a crooked smile before leaning in, but I don't have the time for sweet kisses. I want the love, the passion and the need that was hidden in those words. I want to feel and taste and smell everything he just said.