Aphrodite's Flame

45.

Before I'm pulled out of the emptying arena I yank my arm loose and look at Artemis bewildered.

'We have to go,' she demands.

'You cannot expect me to go now! What if something happens to him!'

'I am here because he asked me to. He knew Hera had a trick up her sleeve, he just didn't know what it was. He already figured they would let him fight the beast, but it got out sooner than he thought. He thought he would be chased through the Labyrinth.'

'I need to go back!' I yell at her while people are running and bumping into us, pushing us out as the tide pushes the waves up the shore. Before Artemis can respond I start pushing my way back in when I bump into a massive chest. Ares unapologetically lifts me off the ground and throws me over his shoulder, making his way over to Artemis.

'Let's go!' he shouts while I'm kicking and hitting him, demanding to be let go. When the screams and the panic reside, I calm down. It's not like I accepted my fate but I can't fight both of them. Sorrow overwhelms me and I let my arms hang down Ares' back.

Maybe I am the weak pretty thing I thought they all took me for.

I can still hear the shouting and screaming of mortals as we make our way into the heart of Crete. The screeching of the Minotaur is bone chilling - I know no one in this world will understand how this woman could love a beast, but I know, I know a mother's love. I could forgive her for this.

***

'I know you want revenge,' Artemis tells me in a soothing voice. The four of us - Apollo is sitting inside the large tent behind us - are sitting in the woods. I'm still glaring at Ares, who just whipped me up like a slave, while Artemis tries to reason with me. I hate sitting here around the camp fire like we are supposedly a band of warriors coming home from war. I haven't heard from Hephaestus yet.

'And why wouldn't I?' Why won't we rebel against this ghastly man of a god and overturn him? We can handle him, as long as we do it together. He sent his parents to the grave - why won't we do the same? The old has to die to make room for the new!'

'Don't talk such nonsense,' Ares says. They're harsh words, but he means well. Yet, I glare at him, challenging him to explain.

'What he means to say is that our numbers and our powers aren't enough to take Olympus. Besides, the bunch of us aren't a harmonious whole - when would the fight start over who should take His place? Before or after we win? We can't even handle the discussion over who is prettiest- how can we handle a talk over who should wear the crown?' Briskly I whip my hair over my shoulder.

'It should be Athena,' I say, not avoiding Ares' eyes but defying him. His flame flares up and as it does I scramble to my feet. Ares gets up as well, standing as tall and intimidating as ever. I'm not scared of him. Artemis sighs.

'So, the fighting starts even before we start a rebellion? Great.' Ares grabs my arm and pulls me into the woods behind the tent.

'Force is not beneath your standards anymore, then?' I spit. He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. I'm annoying him?!

'Come here.'

'No.'

'Di...'

'No!' He grabs me by the elbows and pulls me against him, hugging me tight. And only then do I relax and... release. All the tensions in my body disappear and I lean into him while he hugs me close to him. I remember why I loved him in the first place. He would always be there for me when I need him, even if I wouldn't want him there. He would always know what to do.

'He wouldn't want you there right now,' Ares murmurs in my hair. 'You would be a distraction.' A distraction. I wouldn't be of help, I would only distract. Like the pretty little thing I am. I free myself from his embrace and swallow the lump of sadness and calming I felt for a second.

'I have to go.' I take a step back, knowing I took him by surprise and turn around to start running. If I want my husband to be safe I need to talk to the woman who birthed the beast.

***

The abandoned arena looks different from earlier. The crashed gates are lying in the dusty sand. There are pieces of clothes and flowers strewn around, thrown away in a frenzied panic as everyone ran away. A woman is standing at the entrance of the maze. Staring at Daedalus' creation, she does not move.

I knew she'd be here, because I would be here too. I would want to be here too.

'You must think I'm a horrible person for putting that out in the world.'

'Not at all. I'm a mother too. I wouldn't be capable of killing my own children either. However horrible or ugly they turn out.' An almost invisible smile plays on her lips.

'I wanted to, though. But when I looked at him I saw his father.' The queen diverts her eyes in shame. 'I'm sorry, it must sound horribly gross to you.' I smile and say nothing. I guess I've done worse things.

'Did they make it into the labyrinth?' I ask after a short pause. The queen turns to me and studies my face.

'The hero is your loved one, isn't he? Why else would you return to a scene so gruesome?' She smiles absentmindedly as she turns back toward the structure.

'They did,' she tells me. 'Your hero had to lure him in. I guess they didn't fasten the chains correctly. They couldn't contain him. My - The Minotaur followed him in.' Ashamed, she looks at her hands again. 'I'm sorry,' she says again, 'I don't see how he can ever make it out alive.' Her self pity is starting to anger me. Everything she is telling me is a confirmation of what I feared. This whole thing was a set up. I'm balling my fists. Was Ares in on it? Was Artemis?

'Do me a favour,' I say through gritted teeth. 'Next time you cheat on your husband, don't fuck a damn beast. Just --- go with Zeus like every other fucking creature on this planet.' I don't grant her with a look in her direction as I march toward the entrance.

Without hesitation I go in. I need to find Hephaestus.