Aurae's POV
Apollo's soft hands caress my cheek as my soul becomes absorbed in his golden gaze. His left hand surrounds my waist as a moan escapes me. My lips tingled in expectation and were parted as invitation – yet as his lips reached mine the firs thought upon my head was that of Eros' name and image. As I continued the kiss, curious and enthralled a cracking boom broke the silence created by our kiss and as shards of diamonds and glass fell around us, Apollo's wings covered me before my lips on impulse created a scream. As soon as I realized my screaming I stopped and huddled underneath his wings we waited for the deadly rain to stop. Once it did, he looked up wondering what had happened and yet again I got lost in his serenity. Eventually he met my gaze and smiled, with a breathless tone and husky voice he said
"It seems my heart exploded when your lips grazed mine and even diamonds were crushed by its force"
Before he had finished his sentence I had already begun to blush and looked down, confused and dazed but content over all.
"Let us go eat, I find my appetite severely increased: I haven't felt so much in eons and it is positively ravishing"
I nodded, realizing my silence was better than the stuttering that would come out had I tried to speak. Yet as we walked with his left hand enveloping mine I noticed his bewildered look as he touched his breast above his heart and smiled.
Apollo's POV
She was so feeble and weak, yet her weakness seemed to fuel her strength and my weakness. I felt the urge to be near her, to touch her, to adore her: such an odd feeling – it left me trembling and without breathe. I led her to my house; surprised she would let herself be led yet incredibly relieved she would. I hoped my hand that held hers would not tremble as much as I suspect it was for touching her felt like touching the delicate rays of the morning sun and I dare not break it.
She seemed to enjoy my house and I felt glad – suddenly my entire world had shifted towards ensuring her approval, happiness and serenity. I needed her in a way I had never experienced before. After a forever long yet incredibly short time we found ourselves under one of the crystal and diamond domes held up by crystal walls and as the sun hit her face I felt an arrow pierce my heart. Although I knew logically this was a disaster I had never wanted anything more than this mortal in my arms and her lips on mine.
I held her close to me and when her voice and lips formed a half hidden moan I knew I was lost. Without shame or prudence I held her close and closed the immense gap between our parted lips aching for their counterparts. As I kissed her lips, before closing my eyes the image of a crazed Eros presented itself peripherally and his scream shattered the furthest wall of the octagonal dome. On instinct I pulled her close and with my wings covered her from the danger. My mind raced as I saw a couple indigo feathers fall and the aching of the shards buried within my wings. I straightened both of us out and as I looked where I had seen Eros I felt a piercing gaze. As I looked down upon my love, worries seemed to disintegrate. Her brown eyes consumed me.
Ahtena's POV
I had not been able to rest since meeting the young mortal Aurae Psyche and now with Eros near year meditating stunt on Delos Island, where Apollo was born - place of solitude I was uneasy. I knew her story and it never ended well. Although self-absorbed and ignorant of any needs past his own, Eros had become as my younger brother, someone that entertained me and learned from me when his pride allowed it. Yet I knew this time his pleasures and wants were misplaced and I had to set them straight. I decided to read and hopefully take my mind off of such trivial yet dangerous matters. I sat on the floor with my legs underneath me and started to lose myself in the preachings of men. As I turned page 3,456 I heard Eros' approach. Although stealthy as he had learned from me, I had felt him and his intentions to come before he had taken a single step towards my house. I was enraged at him for leaving without telling me - I always know everything which relies on people telling me everything which they all do or I will in the future withhold wisdom they seek, as he arrived through my window landing quite softly, before he spoke I asked
"Dear Eros, what help is it that you seek after not coming to me for near a year?"
I was unable to keep my anger hidden and his grimace was proof of that. I didn't care if he left, solitude was something we both could appreciate and need yet his lack of respect towards me infuriated me.
He stayed quiet, which fueled my anger, although speaking would only have hurt him I needed to ensure he realized how much his unannounced departure had harmed me. I stopped for a second though and in that second realized just how much his trip had changed him… He looked defeated, hurt and so immensely sad that I nearly didn't recognize him. I calmed down somewhat and decided to decrease his explaining letting him know all that I now knew.
"Your mouth has no control but at least have the common decency to make me privy of your destination or proof of your existence. I hate not knowing – even more so; I hate the pleasure others take in realizing that I do not know something. It is unacceptable and although humbling, I would rather keep the fault of perfectionistic knowledge of all things – which by default includes you. Understand? If ever again you betray me – I will not help you when you come groveling back confused, dazed and so obviously in love."
He was perplexed. I knew that was going to be his reaction to my rant for rarely do I ever speak as much or let anyone else see my faults yet the laughter that followed caught me completely off guard. Taking on a coy tone he responded
"So my dear Athena – is that a chip in your armor I see?"
As the goddess of war and wisdom I could not be seen in anything weak therefore quickly and with panic I hadn't felt in ages I responded as I tried to find the devious chip
"Where? Tell me for I must go to Hephaestus – I cannot allow anyone to see me in shambles!"
After his laughter increased to the point of immobilization I realized he had been word -playing. People never speak to me in this manner; they are always overly respectful knowing the full extent of my fury and power within wisdom. Eros is the only one, besides Father Zeus that had ever dared talk to me as such and I respected him for it. Yet making me look like a fool could not go unpunished therefore I proceeded to tackle him to the floor and - as we did in our younger years - we wrestled. As I pinned him down I realized how much I had missed him, eventually as he always did, he tapped out and we both sat panting. As my lugs gathered air I tried to speak, their struggle breaking my words
"So.. has… the island… proved itself… worthy of 11… months of your… time?"
After a time he responded what I already half knew and suspected
"Clarity…. Serenity…. Perspective…. But no plan…. Not a full plan anyways…."
Trying to hide my knowledge but failing miserably as he knew me best I responded
"So tell me… what has the god of love come up with?"
The happiness in his face faded to the dark anguish of a creature in love but powerless, and he responded
"As you know, as you always do, I think I feel for this girl… she annoys me greatly… well… her mortality does and I do not like to be manipulated and I fear she may have that power over me… which consequently brings her into more danger by my mother and her maternal instinct… I do not want her to die… or live without me but as I have learned I do not want to see her sad… it is quite perplexing seeing how all the possible venues I would habitually take have been clogged up by feelings…"
He paused and for the first time in our combined experience I felt sad for him… my heart ached and reached out trying to help him in form of my hand on his
"I will continue to be her master… she my servant… I will take care of her in all ways necessary for a human… including finding her a husband… that will include someone of strong character, and obviously a god… that way after I bless their union they can petition Zeus to make her a goddess and she shall live forever… and although at a distance… I will longingly glance her way as lovers do the nighttime heavens when apart… To keep me occupied I will henceforth begin to search for a wife… as per my mother's recommendation and also, specially, to throw her off doubting or even thinking about… about… Aurae…. For my mother is the greatest danger humans can ever inflict upon themselves – Hades is absolutely no match for Aphrodite when in her spiteful mood. She… Aurae may care for me as other humans fall in love when seeing me but her infatuation will wane and as she frees herself I shall aid her with the correct distractions and tools…. So… with your wisdom and eyes-that-see-it-all… what do you think of my decision already taken?"
I had noticed the dulcet tones that escaped him as he said her name and pensively I let go of his hand and looked on the clouds outside… I already knew what he had to do and I knew he could not know everything. He had to learn things on his own and as I looked upon his sad face my lips spoke as much as I could without my words reverberating on the future.
"You underestimate her and her will… you may have grown in strength but so have your feelings and temptation will present itself. It is a solid plan of action and unusually self-less for a god… which, along with your heart's tempo, leads me to believe your feelings have, exponentially grown for the girl… I bless you and hope for the best but I beg you to take heed; not all is as it seems – the lineage can break it all. "
He glared at me, as he did when we were children and I presented an enigma in front of him. He was one of the more literal gods and hidden meanings unless sexual, would often escape him. He would not understand until after becoming aware of it all. Oh, Poor god, poor girl, poor fate. Ignorantly he responded
"I know my mother can hurt her but no one else in my lineage would mind… Hades would bed her if given the chance… But I will take care to ensure the husband's lineage is clear and accepting enough for her as mortal"
Unable to stop myself I responded hoping he wouldn't hear as he had taken to the heavens via my window
"Indeed as a mortal… but as an immortal all would be solved."
I smiled sadly knowing the pain they would have to endure but hopefully feeling pain may put happiness into perspective… Let us hope.
I grabbed the book that had fallen off of my lap with the beatings of Eros' wings and proceeded to read again. Impressive really, the philosophies man can come up with when they put their faults aside.
Here you go! 2,040 words of hopefully decent writing!
Please review and hopefully enjoy,
Persiannissimo