Bright sunshine fled into the tall columned palace of Mount Olympus that morning, however, Helios' happily shining rays did not reflect upon all of its heavenly inhabitants. The goddess of love and beauty sat at her vanity, the very picture of radiance and ethereal loveliness, save for the foul look that had set itself upon her face. With her arms folded tightly over her chest her lips pursed in irritation, she bristled as her mortal serving girl, Evadne, brushed her long, luxuriant tresses. A look of fear was etched upon the poor girl's face as her hands shook, knowing that one wrong stroke of the brush could send the goddess into a tirade. Growing frustrated with her servant's efforts, Aphrodite pushed the girl away.

"No more, Evadne! I tire of your presence. You may leave now," the goddess commanded sternly, pointing toward the door. The girl bowed and hurried away, prompting Aphrodite to feel a tinge of remorse. The girl hadn't done anything wrong, but damn it all, she wasn't in the mood to have a mortal around right then. With an exasperated sigh, she flung herself onto her chaise and stared moodily out the window.

"You do paint a very pretty picture, mother, even when you are angry," came a deep voice from the door. Propping her head up on her hand, Aphrodite looked to the source and gave a small smile. Eros stood propped against the door's frame, his arms folded as he watched his mother in amusement.

"Ah, darling. You've gotten my message," she murmured in her sultry tone as she stood, smoothing her silken gown. "I had begun to think that Hermes had forgotten, which wouldn't be entirely unbelievable." Smiling, she sauntered to him and kissed him on both cheeks.

Eros strode across the room, seating himself lazily on one of the overstuffed plush chairs. "No, he didn't forget, mother. Now what was so pressing that you felt the need to summon me from my work? Work that you gave me, need I remind you."

Waving a hand at him in dismissal, Aphrodite paced across the room. "Yes, yes, dear. No need to be so rude to your poor mother. This is a matter of great importance." She stood at the balcony with her back to him, her golden skin shimmering in the light. "Have you heard of a princess named Psyche?" she asked, her eyes boring into the clouds where the earth lay beneath them.

Eros frowned, "No, I don't believe so. Why?" he asked, eyeing her with curiosity. She turned to him, fuming with anger.

"This royal little snit has been garnering quite a reputation among the mortals. It is said she is a great beauty, the most ravishing maid in the land. Do you want to know how beautiful they think she is, my sweet?" she asked, venom in her tone.

Eros' mouth went slack as he stammered, knowing a loaded question when he heard one. However, he was silenced within a moment as the enraged goddess interrupted him. "THEY HAVE PROCLAIMED HER MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ME!" she thundered, the doves roosting on the railing of her balcony taking of in a panicked frenzy. Pacing the room, Aphrodite was a terrible beauty to behold, her fury seething forth from her lovely form. Eros was unsure of how to handle his mother. He'd seen her jealous side before, but nothing compared to this.

"It can't be all that bad, I'm sure this girl doesn't hold a candle to you. It's impossible, you are the goddess of beauty, after all," he said coaxingly, offering her an enticing smile. This seemed to calm the goddess, who smirked in agreement as she smoothed her hair.

"Of course she doesn't," she agreed, " but the audacity of this girl has to be taken into consideration. This is why I've called you, darling," she murmured sweetly, perching herself next to her son. Eros watched her skeptically, one eyebrow quirked.

"What is it you need of me, mother?" he asked with caution. Aphrodite shrugged, a small, knowing smile crossing her face.

"Oh, not much more than to do your usual job. However, this time, I only ask that you set the dear girl up with someone…deserving of her beauty," she said with a malicious twinkle in her eye. "The man must be hideously ugly, simply to offset this girl's loveliness. You see, it just wouldn't be fair if the most handsome man were to marry the most beautiful girl. There wouldn't be any handsome men left for the less fortunate girls. And he might be of low status as well, perhaps a serving boy. Ohh, I can only imagine the devastation of her parents! Such a beautiful girl, wasted on a poor, ugly serving boy!" She giggled with delight at the thought of her plan coming to fruition as Eros frowned, staring at her in confusion. Her eyes alight, Aphrodite came upon another brilliant idea. "Better yet, my darling! Have her fall in love with a monster! Ahhh, how glorious! Imagine the poor lovely thing deluded into thinking she is in love with some beast. It's too perfect!" The goddess sighed as she fell back onto her chaise, laughing merrily to herself.

"Mother… Don't you think this is a bit too much?" he offered, only to be silenced as his mother bristled, her momentary gaiety quickly shifting back to anger.

"You would refuse me, son?" she spat, her sapphire eyes turning to ice as she glared at him. Eros relented, heaving a sigh.

"No, mother, never. I'll get it done as quickly as possible." He averted his gaze to the window to hide his disappointment, knowing that there was no way that his mother would allow him to deny her. Upon hearing her plan would go as she wished, Aphrodite was one again her charming, smiling self.

"Good, then it's settled. I knew that my darling son wouldn't fail me. Do let me know when everything is taken care of. You'll be back this evening, won't you, sweetheart?" she queried, straightening her son's tunic with affection.

"Yes, of course. Now if you will excuse me, I have your business to attend to." Eros replied with a wooden smile, giving his mother a kiss before he turned away. However, in his mind he still wondered whether what he would do would be justified. Surely this poor girl did not deserve the fate she would soon receive…