Chapter 20
"Love's Curse"

"Hector, what is that?" The prince felt as though he had been trampled by a stampede of horses or perhaps the entire Greek army. His head throbbed mercilessly despite the pills Lila kept feeding him every few hours, and she insisted he keep downing more and more water since the alcohol had dehydrated him. Hector felt as though he were walking the slender line between sufficiently hydrated and drowning, but his wife insisted on caring for him so he kept gulping it down. It was the least he could do after worrying her last night. Still, the large amount of vodka had taken its toll, and Paris was in no better condition. Both brothers shunned the light and could do barely more than sit on the couch and watch TV. Currently, however, Hector was stripping to take a shower, and his wife was sitting on the bathroom counter with a few medical supplies on hand to clean the wound on his eyebrow.

At her question, Hector looked at his reflection in the mirror and assessed the various bruises riddled across his tan skin from his previous exciting day, but Lila was referring specifically to the bandage over his left pectoral muscle. The prince tilted his head in mute curiosity and gingerly removed the bandage. He didn't remember sustaining an injury on that area of his body, but there were many things he couldn't remember about yesterday. Once removed, he saw that there was something written on his chest in a beautiful black script. It was backward in the mirror, but it didn't take him too long to realize it was his wife's name situated across his heart.

"Is that a tattoo!" Lila cried and immediately slid down from the counter to get a closer look. Hector touched the skin which had scabbed over slightly where the script was located, and Lila quickly slapped away his hand. "Don't touch it too much. It might get infected." She peered closely at it and asked, "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Hector laughed sheepishly and scratched his beard as he stole another look at his haggard reflection. "I forgot about it," he admitted earnestly. However, the memory came flooding back to him at the sight of it. Between the time that they had left the bar and returned to Lila's apartment, Liam had somehow gotten them even more drunk. Then his brother-in-law insisted he needed to have some ink done. Coridon –since he was still the only one anywhere close to sober and also the only one with a means of transportation- drove them to the nearest tattoo parlor, and all three of the men had convinced Hector to get one (mainly through taunting him that he would be a pussy if he refused). Of course at first the prince didn't fully understand the concept that this would mark him permanently, but the tattoo artist had explained it him. Then, when asked what he wanted, he immediately said Lila's name. The tattoo artist was the one who suggested placing it over his heart.

Lila lifted her eyebrows in surprise. She seemed like she was trying to feign anger, but the truth was she was a little flattered. She had never thought a man getting her name tattooed on him would be so lovely to her. "It's actually not that bad," she confessed slowly while eying the swirling script. Granted, he had done it in such a state of intoxication as to forget it until the next day, but it was still sweet in its own way. "Do you regret it?"

"How can I?" Hector smiled gently and shrugged his shoulders. "Now you'll be with me always."

"And I wasn't before?"

"Yes, but now it's literal."

Lila took her husband's large hands in her own, twined their fingers, and placed their joined hands behind her back while pulling herself up against his chest. She released his hands and allowed her palms to slide up his arms as she admired the contours of his muscles. "You make it impossible for me to stay mad at you, did you know that?"

He chuckled in response and suggested, "Shouldn't we make up?"

Lila grinned and nudged him with her elbow. "Oh I see. You think you can get a tattoo, and I'll dish out the make up sex."

"No," he said and released one of his hands to draw his fingers along her skin, gently knocking the strap of her gown from her right shoulder. "I thought it was implied when you invited me to bed last night."

She bit her bottom lip, and her hands finally settled around her husband's neck while she raised herself onto her tiptoes. "Did you?"

He nodded, brushing his nose against hers gently as he lowered his face to her level and cradled her in his arms. "It's the least I can do."

Lila smiled up at him and returned, "You think sex will make up for everything you did yesterday?"

"I got a tattoo for you," he pointed out so quickly it caused her to laugh.

"Which you were too drunk to even remember getting!"

"It still counts," he assured her with a charming grin.

"I have to admit," she continued with her voice dropping a few notches, "seeing you vomit up everything in your stomach last night was such a turn on." Hector had forgotten about that too, and he blanched suddenly at the memory.

Lila cracked up at his reaction and slipped from his arms to stand in front of him. "Don't worry," she said and removed the strap from her other shoulder. The flimsy black satin material fluttered to the ground. "I'll let you make it up to me."

Hector immediately forgot how horrible he felt in the wake of his hangover. Seeing his naked wife standing before him was much more powerful than alcohol: he immediately forgot where he was, what was going on around him, or any other pertinent information. All he saw were her hazel eyes glittering mischievously, and the naughty smile tracing her full lips. Lila constantly spoke of how she found him irresistible, but she must have known that she had a power over him unlike any other. He was brave and strong, but the slender woman currently seducing him could bring him to his knees with a word or even a single touch. Never before had one person held so much sway over the heir to the Trojan throne. Hell, he got a tattoo for her when he so drunk he probably couldn't have even said his own name. She had bewitched him: mind, body, and soul, and he would gladly follow her wherever she led him be it through the sands of time or to the grave. He remembered suddenly something Lila had told him when they first met about his marriage to Andromache: 'Your love for one another is the stuff of legends.' He had scoffed at the idea when she mentioned it because he didn't believe such a thing was possible, but now he dared any man to find the adequate words to describe his love for Lila. He doubted if any could fulfill the task. The name on his heart was a good start.

"Are you going to stare, or are you going to do something, prince?" Lila teased with that tempting smile still tugging at her lips.

Hector returned her smile and eagerly stepped toward his love. He pushed her hair from her face, and she naturally tilted her head back to gaze up at him. Without warning, the light overhead lit up her face, causing the green of her eyes to shimmer and the rosy color of her cheeks to shine through. Every curve, freckle, dimple, and lash was perfect to him. "You are so beautiful."

Lila placed a hand over his, and her eyes darted down shyly at his words. Then she glanced back up at his sincere chestnut eyes and used her humor to settle the uneasiness in her stomach. She wasn't accustomed to such sweet sentiments. "You're already getting laid. No need to pull out the big guns."

Hector ignored her sarcastic remark and recognized the self-consciousness in her eyes. He smiled, kissed her lips gently, and assured her, "You make Aphrodite envious." He bowed and placed his forehead against hers, and she reached up to cup his bearded face in both her hands.

She tenderly stroked his cheek and wet her lips before asking, "Will you promise me something?"

"Anything."

She peered up at him earnestly with an uninterrupted gaze. "Promise you'll never leave me? No matter what?"

Hector tilted his head back and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully before he decided, "Depends. Would you consider sleeping naked more often?" Lila laughed and pulled away to smack him playfully on the arm. When they first met getting him to smile was like pulling teeth, and now here he was making caddish jokes! She loved it. He quickly drew her back to him and asked with his wolfish grin in place, "Isn't that what this is for?" He lifted his hand to show her the gold band on his finger.

She took his hand and kissed the ring on his finger. Her serious tone was gone after his little comedic stunt, and she smiled up at him in amusement. "Yes, but I want to hear you say it."

"Delila Grace Rosenthal." He had never said her full name aloud, and she bit her lip expectantly. "I promise I'll never leave you. No matter what."

"Good," she said finally. "Now, you know what we should do?" The idea had only just come to her.

Hector made a point to look contemplative. "Take a shower and make up? But that's only a suggestion of course."

Lila laughed again. "You're on a roll, aren't you? We need a drum set in here."

He grinned at her evident delight but admitted, "I don't know what that means."

That only made her laugh more, and she rolled her eyes. "Come on, prince." She turned on the shower and gave it a second to heat up before stepping inside. Hector followed her without pause.

"Where are they!" Zeus roared angrily, and the sky rumbled uneasily in response.

Artemis and Apollo were gathered before their enraged father. His impatience had manifested as an advantage to the pair. Zeus was too stubborn to cease his search but too impatient to search for long before calling on the twins. Athena's plan was already in motion.

"Who, father?" Artemis asked innocently.

"Do not act coy or stupid!"

"The mortals?" Apollo continued as if surprised the topic were still up for discussion. "Have you not turned back time?"

Zeus wasn't buying it. "Tell me, you treacherous fool!"

"Unfortunately, I have done nothing with them, father. I realized I was overstepping my boundaries before. Sister, do you know?" Apollo turned to the goddess who merely shook her head.

"No, brother. Perhaps you should ask Hades."

Zeus stilled in suspicion upon hearing his brother's name. Without hesitation, he peered down at them with intense sky blue eyes while he sought out some sign of deceit. However, both had mastered their poker faces, and they played their hand well. "Hades?" Zeus repeated after a moment.

Artemis stepped forward. "Yes." She appeared hesitant as she admitted, "There have been rumors."

"What rumors?" Zeus quickly urged her to continue.

Apollo answered, "I heard that Hades had taken an interest in the pair. Perhaps he hid them from you."

Zeus' anger was momentarily quelled by his suspicions, and he sat back on his throne in mute thought as he stroked his long beard. Long ago, Zeus had tricked his brother Hades into ruling the underworld, and ever since, Hades constantly seemed to find some way or another to usurp power from Zeus or irritate him. Hades was jealous and angry and would do whatever he could to make Zeus' life difficult. Luckily for Artemis and Apollo, Zeus constantly suspected Hades of some treason. "Leave me," the father of the gods commanded. Artemis and Apollo were only too happy to oblige. Once alone, Zeus continued musing the situation over. If Hades had hidden the pair from Zeus, then there was absolutely no chance Zeus could convince Hades to reveal their location. In a sudden rage at his own impotence, he cast a lightening bolt down to the Earth, cursing Hades and his jealousy.

"What troubles you, father?" Zeus turned to see his daughter Athena standing before him with mild concern lacing her green eyes.

Athena was wise, and Zeus had at times sought her council on prior matters. Now, however, he hesitated. The lines between his allies and enemies was growing hazy in the wake of Apollo's treason, and he wondered if only subconsciously whether Athena had been swayed by her brother and sister as well. "Have you heard of Apollo's deed?"

"Of course," Athena answered. "All the gods and goddesses know of Troy's success."

"Tell me your thoughts on the matter."

Athena began pacing slowly before her father as though in deep thought. "I can understand his need to protect Troy, but adjusting fate so carelessly was beyond his reach."

"I imagine you have heard of Hector and the woman's disappearance?"

"Yes," she confessed without a trace of guilt. Her father had no idea she was the culprit he so desperately sought.

"Do you know where they are?"

"No, why would I?" Athena lied well and peered up at her father in pure innocence.

Zeus paused cautiously before asking, "Do you know who has betrayed me?"

"No." A silence fell between them, and Athena gave her father ample time to digest the notions clearly swirling about his head. She didn't want to seem too eager. "If I may?" Zeus lifted his head in interest and waved her on. "Have you considered that this is a matter which could be handled beyond the gods?" Zeus perked up as he caught on to what she was suggesting, and she guided him along gently, "I'm certain the Moirae could grant you the answers you seek."

Zeus grinned broadly and stood from his throne with a new enthusiasm. "Your wisdom never ceases to amaze me."

Athena bowed her head in response and turned on her heel to leave. Zeus never saw the mischievous grin gracing her features. Her plan was continuing along smoothly, and she had no doubt the Moirae would show Zeus how hopeless his quest was. Then, Athena could convince him to return Hector and Lila to Troy without reprimand.

After their wet rendezvous, the pair made their way back to their favorite place: the bed. Once there Lila continued her attempt to reach her brother after their disagreement the night before. "Hey Liam. It's Lila. Again. I know you're probably still pissed at me, but this is like the seventh time I've called-" There was a beep on the line, and Lila quickly pulled away from her cell phone to check if it was Liam returning her call. With a sigh, she realized she didn't recognize the number and ignored it before continuing, "Yea. I'm worried. I know you're mad at me, but could you at least send me a text or something to let me know you got home safe? I'm sorry, Liam." She hung up and gingerly set her phone down in her lap. "Do you think he's ok?"

Hector was lying down on the bed, and he took her hand and gently kissed it. "Liam's strong," he admitted. "I'm sure he's fine. He might be in a stupor after last night and unable to answer the phone, but he's probably home."

Lila smiled unexpectedly and rolled her eyes. "You are such a guy."

"What do you mean?" her husband asked.

Her hazel eyes met his, and she laughed lightly. "You can't stand my brother. Then you go out, get drunk, get in two fights, and get a tattoo, and now suddenly you two are best friends."

Hector smirked and joked, "It's how we men are. We bond over drinks and fighting."

She shook her head and leaned back on her elbows on the bed. "Right… manly things." Suddenly, her phone beeped, and Lila quickly sat up to see if Liam had texted her. Unfortunately he hadn't, but she had a new voicemail. She dialed her voicemail, keyed in her password, and listened with interest: 'Hi Lila. This is Patrick with Phoenix Community Players. We had our first round of callbacks yesterday, and we couldn't help noticing you were missing. Maybe our wires got crossed, but we're making the final decisions tonight at 6 at the theater. We'd really love to have another look at you, and we hope to see you there. Please call me if there's any problems.'

"Oh my God," Lila breathed in shock as she set the phone back down.

"What?" Hector immediately sat up when he noticed her stunned expression.

Her gaze met his, and suddenly her face shifted from shock to happiness. "They want me!" She lay down on the bed and kicked her legs in excitement. "Yes!" She lifted her arm victoriously.

Hector chuckled and asked, "Who wants you, my love?"

Lila grinned at her husband. "I had completely forgotten that I auditioned for this musical before I went to Troy, and they want to bring me back for another audition! I'm so excited! They're making their final castings tonight… Oh my God. What am I going to wear?" It was already late in the afternoon. She swiftly rolled out of bed and ran to her closet to begin sorting through her clothes.

Hector was laughing at her antics, but he couldn't help grinning at how happy she was. It was adorable. "What's a musical?"

Lila poked her head out and replied soberly, "Only the most amazing thing ever created by man." Hector had come to know her exaggeration fairly well, and he lifted his eyebrows doubtfully. Then he winced and touched his injured brow with a frown of annoyance. True it was only the next day, but could the wound heal any slower? "It's like a play, but it has songs!" He smiled at the explanation. If ever a thing were made for his wife, apparently it was a musical.

"What's the plot?" he asked while lying back down on the bed. His head still throbbed incessantly, but he had adjusted to it fairly well. The prince could take a good amount of pain, or perhaps the combination of medicine and mild drowning was helping.

Lila returned with various items of clothing in her arms and spread them out on the bed. She put her hands on her hips while she remembered. "One of the women in the group wrote it surprisingly. It's set at the end of World War II." Then she realized she would have to also explain that, and she calmed slightly under the weight of the topic. "World War II was one of the worst wars in history. Over 60 million people were killed." Hector's brow creased deeply as he struggled to wrap his mind around such a large number. Lila continued before he asked her any specifics about the war. She wasn't exactly in the mood to explain concentration camps. "Anyway, the story follows three different encounters with the war: a family coping with the loss of their son, a soldier returning home from the war, and a wife of a deceased soldier. I'm really, really, really hoping I get to play the part of Evelyn. She's really independent and sassy. When her brother dies in the war, she steps up and takes care of the family. She's ahead of her time."

Hector nodded with interest. He had intimate knowledge of the sacrifices of war and had seen far too many fathers, mothers, siblings, wives, sons, and daughters waiting at the gates of Troy for the fallen soldiers they would never see again. Consequently, the topic of the play peaked his interest, but he wondered whether it could possibly do justice to such a somber subject. "What do you do at the audition?" he wondered aloud.

Lila slipped on a white peasant top which cinched at the waist and showed off her tan. "Normally you read lines for whoever you're interested in, and they'll give every one a chance. Since this is a musical, you sing a few songs. Did I mention? The thing that I love about this is that it's set in a really sort of classic 'American dream' era, but the music that they're using is modern. So I think it's cool how it juxtaposes the two." Lila also suspected that no one was interested in actually writing songs, so this was their get out of jail free card. She peered at herself in the mirror and considered the top with a scrutinizing gaze. Unsure if it was the look she wanted to project, she grabbed another from the pile.

"Can I come?"

Lila smiled over her shoulder at him as she adjusted the straps on the cobalt blue top. "Do you feel up to it?"

"Yes," he lied. By this evening, he was certain he would feel better.

"Are you sure? It's pretty tedious and boring," she warned honestly as she slipped on yet another top.

"What else is there for me to do?" he rejoined easily.

"Watch Astyanax," she suggested with a smile.

"Helen finds any reason to care for him," Hector pointed out, and Lila had to agree. Without warning, he shifted topics and said, "I think you should talk to her about it."

Lila frowned in slight confusion and tried on the white peasant top once more. This time she decided she liked it. "About Astyanax?"

"About children," he clarified.

Finally, Lila faced her husband who seemed to be beating around the bush, and she sought to get to the bottom of it. "What are you talking about?"

Hector scratched his head as if momentarily reconsidering whether to breach the topic or not. Then he sat up and looked earnestly at his wife. "They have been trying."

"Trying to have children?" Lila put the two together and couldn't mask her surprise. Hector nodded slightly. "And it's not working?" she guessed.

"Paris won't talk to me about it," he explained.

"So you think Helen might tell me." Hector shrugged in response and leaned back against the headboard. "Is it really our business?"

"He's my brother." She caught herself and realized of course that he was worried about his little brother, but still, she wasn't entirely sure she and Helen were close enough for her to be prying about something as personal as difficulty getting pregnant.

"I'll try to ask her about it," she promised at length as she slipped into a pair of jeans. To be honest, Lila had never really considered that Paris and Helen were having any issues. She subconsciously had assumed that since Helen wasn't already pregnant, she wasn't interested in becoming pregnant. Of course Lila had apparently had her blinders on: Helen took every opportunity to babysit or hold Astyanax. She absolutely adored her nephew, and Lila had never taken the time to see the longing in Helen's eyes. Now, she felt guilty for being such an ignorant friend. Furthermore, Lila placed her hands on her growing abdomen and felt guilty for not getting on her knees and thanking God every day for the child within her. She had gotten pregnant by accident –well, if you consider having unprotected sex with the man of dreams three times a day an accident. She might have been asking for it, but she didn't necessarily plan it. How presumptuous of her to assume she deserved the life growing inside her or deserved to be a mother.

Hector seemed to see the thoughts on her face. He often had that keen ability with her: he could read her like a book without even trying. "You'll make a wonderful mother."

They were the same words he had told her so long ago when their love was in its infancy, but the simple words had the same effect now as then. Lila smiled gently at his warm eyes, feeling whole and satisfied in his presence. Without another thought, she switched the subject, "I need to pick a song and look over the script."

The Moirae were three, crooked, old witches who predated even the gods themselves. Consequently, their power was beyond Zeus', and he approached them with respect and as much humility as his arrogant personality would allow. There was no telling the extent of their knowledge, and they held no allegiance. Zeus was certain they could tell him where Hector and the girl were and also who betrayed him.

"You come seeking answers," Atropos began in her silky voice. With one uninterrupted movement, she sliced a silver thread, and Zeus bowed his head at her power. She was the inevitable, the unavoidable: she was death.

"Humbly I request your assistance in a matter that has fallen beyond my reach," the god answered with his gaze on the floor.

Clotho considered him with her milky blue eyes and motioned to Lachesis. "The prince of Troy and his mate."

"Yes," Zeus rejoined, but with a glance up, he realized the weaver of fate had not been addressing him.

Rather, she was calling for her sister Lachesis to retrieve the couple's life threads. Lachesis held the silver threads between her boney fingers and explained, "It is too late." With that, she lifted the threads. At their start, they were separate but further along the way they had become so tangled as to form one strand.

Zeus frowned in confusion. Never before had he seen such a thing. "I do not understand."

"Their souls have joined," Clotho continued as she felt the thread's integrity. "None can separate them now."

Zeus scoffed in disbelief. How could two mortals have such power? "Surely you must be upset. They have changed the fate of Troy and affected numerous men's lives."

Atropos' blade shone in the dim light as the witch thumbed it in mild irritation. "They cannot be separated."

"There is a way," Lachesis spoke up. Her infinite foresight allowed her to measure the length of a man's life, and she examined the joined threads as she mulled the situation over. "None can separate them, but if they part willingly, you may turn time without consequence."

Zeus brightened at the realization that his quest was not in vain. "What could cause them to part?"

"You have received your answer. Leave." The three sisters turned from him to continue their business of weaving the intricate web of fate.

Zeus did not dare speak up against them though he was undeniably annoyed by his new task. Yes, they had given him some sense of solace by admitting there was a way to separate the two, but now he was faced with an even greater task: convincing them to part of their own free will. Their desire to be together had intertwined their fate. How could Zeus unravel such a thing?

It was slightly before 7 PM when Lila walked into the theater with her hand in Hector's. She probably should have arrived a little bit earlier to prepare fully, but she got distracted with Astyanax at home. After their conversation that afternoon, she had unintentionally gone into super mommy mode to show how grateful she was for their son. She wouldn't have traded that time for anything, but now she couldn't deny there were butterflies fluttering around her stomach. Though they had called her and requested her specifically, she still felt self-conscious. Of course it could have been because her husband would be watching her from the audience, and she had never performed this way for him. A group of people were gathered either on the stage or in the seats at the front of the theater and doing a variety of things: talking, warming up their voices, running lines, etc. You would have thought they were auditioning for Broadway the way some of them behaved so seriously. Sure, Lila wanted the part, but if she didn't make it in community theater, it wouldn't be the end of her life as she knew it.

"Lila!" The redhead was shocked to see Piper maneuver her way through the group and up the aisle to meet them. "Hector," she said with a devilish smile when she noticed the tall, handsome man. "Where were you last night?"

"Hector was sick," she answered truthfully.

"Oh no," Piper cooed with far too much sweetness. "You poor thing. Are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine," Hector said shortly. Her continued advances were clearing wearing on his patience.

"Who are you auditioning for again?" Lila asked. After all, for her it had been almost a year since she had first tried out, and she was lucky she still remembered the plot.

"Rosie, the widow," Piper said dramatically, and Lila laughed. How fitting. "You're hoping to get Evelyn, right?"

"Yea. Fingers crossed," she said with a smile, and Hector squeezed her hand encouragingly.

At that moment, a rotund balding man with glasses entered with a clipboard under his arm. Once her eyes fell on him, she recognized him as Patrick, the man who had called her. He was the director of the play. Similarly, when he saw her, his pace increased slightly. "Lila, I'm glad you could make it."

"I'm so sorry about last night," Lila lied though she was earnest. "My husband was sick, and I couldn't find your phone number anywhere to call."

Patrick glanced up at the tall muscular man through his beady eyes, withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket, and dabbed at the sweat on his brow. "I see," he said. "Well you'll have to make up for it today. We don't have much time, so you'll have to do double the work, ok?" Lila nodded in understanding, and Patrick continued his journey toward the stage where he ascended the narrow staircase and stood before them. Lila and Hector took a seat on one of the middle aisles, and Piper crawled across merely so she could sit beside Hector. 'Get your own husband. Oh that's right you already have one,' Lila thought in annoyance. "Hello, everyone. Good to see you all again," Patrick said from the stage. "You've all been wonderful, but we only have so many spots to fill. We'll be following a similar format as last night: you'll each have to present a monologue or dialogue for the character you're interested in. You'll also have to sing a solo or a duet. We'll be switching out who you're working with each time to assess the best fit. Any questions?" No one raised their hand or spoke up, so Patrick carefully descended the stairs and slipped into a middle row where two women were seated. Lila recognized the blonde woman as the writer of the play. Patrick consulted his clipboard and companions before calling out, "Lila Rosenthal and Jason Temple please take the stage."

"Are you kidding me?" Lila mumbled under her breath. She hated going first.

"Break a leg," Piper whispered, and Hector frowned in confusion at such a morbid phrase.

"Thanks," she said half-heartedly as she grabbed a script and ascended the stairs where a handsome, tan man with blonde hair and intense pale green eyes was waiting for her. He wore blue doctor's scrubs and had hint of a 5 o'clock shadow on his jaw. He was irresistibly attractive, and Lila was sure Piper was cursing her right now for getting paired with him first. Lila, however, merely glanced out into the audience and smiled at her husband where he was attentively watching.

"Ok," Patrick decided, "we're going to be looking at page 34. Lila you'll read Rosie, and Jason you'll read Daniel."

Lila couldn't stop the frown, and she repeated, "Rosie?"

"Yes, page 34 please," Patrick repeated. "From 'I knew your husband.'" Lila wondered briefly if they had gotten her confused with someone else. She wasn't interested in playing the role of Rosie, but then again, she remembered how Patrick had said they needed to switch partners often. Maybe it was merely a formality to grant her a chance at other characters. She bit back any further complaints and turned to Jason who granted her a charming smile. Instinctively, she smiled kindly back and looked down at her script as he began the scene.

"I knew your husband," he said somberly. "We fought together in the war."

"Why are you here?" Lila rejoined. It was sort of the middle of the scene, and she had to guess at the emotions. She hadn't really paid attention to Rosie's parts when she was skimming the script earlier.

"He talked about you." Lila lifted her eyes to see Jason's uninterrupted gaze directed down at her. Apparently he had already memorized these lines. Daniel must have been the role he wanted. "Every day he had something new to say about you." The sincerity in his eyes was disarming.

Lila quickly glanced down at her script and continued weakly, "My husband is dead." She felt embarrassed like she was floundering next to this guy. He was really convincing in his acting, and it made Lila feel uncertain of her own abilities.

"I know you have a daughter," Jason said and let the statement hang in the air for a few moments. "How are you handling things… alone?"

"I appreciate your concern, but it's none of your business." There was an undeniable hint of stubbornness to her voice.

Jason paused before answering carefully, "Your husband was a good soldier. He saved my neck a few too many times." Lila didn't have a line, so she peered up at him curiously when he paused yet again. He was undoubtedly leading the scene. As his eyes met hers, he said, "It must be hard without a man in the house."

"I make do." She delivered it to his face this time. It came out simultaneously defiant and uncertain. Someone throw her a lifesaver please.

"I want to help." Jason took a breath and said, "If you ever need anything, I want you to call me."

"It was kind of you to stop by and check on the widow of your friend, but I don't need your pity." Lila's eyes had unintentionally lit up with the annoyance at her own poor performance.

"That's enough," Patrick called, and Jason and Lila turned to him in surprise. They had barely taken up five minutes. "Ok… Adam would you mind taking Jason's place, and we'll read through the scene again. Lila you'll still read the part of Rosie." Adam was in college and awkward where Jason had been confident. 'When do I get to read Evelyn?' Lila mused with a hint of irritation, but she swallowed it down and read through the scene with Adam. It was fairly obvious Jason was the better choice. Adam couldn't land the proper emotions within the words. It came off too fake -probably because he was too young to understand the complexities of the character. Lila was finally relieved after they finished, and she went to sit by her husband and Piper for a short break. She retrieved her bottle of water from her purse and quenched her parched throat.

Hector smiled and placed a hand on her knee. "You were good," he assured her.

"You're a bad liar," she rejoined with a half-smile. He only squeezed her knee and continued watching the auditions with a vague interest.

Piper, however, leaned over and whispered, "I think they want you for Rosie."

Lila shook her head. "They know I want Evelyn. They're just trying to be fair since I wasn't here yesterday." At that moment, a girl took the stage. She had tan skin, large brown eyes, and a short black bob. Patrick had her read for Evelyn, and Lila suddenly frowned in suspicion. That didn't seem fair. Why wouldn't they ask her to read Evelyn while she was up there? Hector excused himself to find the bathroom quietly with a murmur to his wife about the gallons of water he had engulfed, and he managed to make her smile. After he left, Piper and Lila sat in silence for awhile as they watched the girl. She was really good to Lila's dismay and had certain kick as she delivered each line. It was pungent without being overbearing. After her, Patrick called Adam back up to the stage to read for the soldier who returns home, and Lila checked her phone to see if Liam had called or texted. Apparently her brother was planning on holding out as long as possible for maximum guilt tripping. Hector returned and after a few more people had their turn, Lila was called back up to the stage.

"Were you able to prepare one of the songs?" Patrick asked, and Lila nodded. "Which one have you chosen?"

"The 'Bohemian Rhapsody' excerpt," she responded with a grin. Her acting could certainly be improved upon, but she was hoping her voice would be her saving grace. It was a song that forced her to push herself beyond her comfort zone, but she thought of it as a good thing to show her range rather than a hindrance. Not to mention none of the girls had thought to pick it, and Lila knew she would stand out. Patrick smiled in pleasant surprise and waited for the man at the piano to find the proper sheet of music. Then the melody floated through the theater, and Lila tried to ignore the way her heart was beating in her throat and the many pairs of eyes on her by focusing in on her husband. "Momma. Just killed a man. Put a gun against his head. Pulled my trigger. Now he's dead. Momma. Life had just begun, but now I've gone and thrown it all away…" Her nerves faded away when she thought of him and pretended he was the only one watching her.

When she finished, the group applauded, and Patrick removed his glasses as he considered what to say. Finally he admitted, "I didn't know such a big voice could come out of someone so tiny."

Lila put her hands on her hips and asked, "Is that a good thing?"

Some of the others laughed, and Patrick assured her, "Yes. Thank you. Would you mind stepping into the wings for now? I'm going to call on you shortly." Lila stepped back behind the black velvet wings and waited patiently while Jason and Piper were called on stage. They quickly read through a scene between Rosie and Daniel, and Lila had to admit Piper played the role well though it would be undeniably better without the underlying layer of seduction she constantly carried with her. That was Piper. She joined Lila in the wings afterward while Jason prepared for his solo.

"Oh baby, you are in so much trouble." Lila frowned and looked up from inspecting her nails at Piper only to see she was gazing forward. Lila followed her eyes to the attractive blonde man who was staring openly at her. Instead of being embarrassed when she caught him, Jason smiled and lifted his hand in greeting. Lila didn't return the gesture. She was uncertain whether he was simply being friendly or was plain creepy. He was cute and seemed harmless enough, so Lila hoped it was the first rather than the latter.

"He's a little weird," she admitted to Piper.

"Weird? He's sexy as hell."

Lila couldn't stop herself before she said, "You think anyone with a penis is sexy."

Piper gasped as though offended, and then decided, "You're right, but he is particularly delectable."

Lila laughed. "Do you seriously say things like 'delectable'?"

Piper grinned. "When I'm referring to a man like him… Oh yes."

The auditions continued for another hour and ended when everyone was called on stage so Patrick could give them a long winded speech about how they had all performed well and should be proud of themselves even if they didn't get the roles they wanted.

Unexpectedly, Jason walked over to Lila and said, "Hi. Lila, right?" She nodded and glanced toward the aisle where Hector was waiting for her. "I'm Jason Temple." He offered his hand, and Lila shook it. "You really surprised me today." Lila still didn't say a word but creased her brow in silent question. "You were really good."

"Surprisingly," she returned dryly as if he had insulted her.

"Yea." He laughed sheepishly, and his pale green eyes shone with a mixture of amusement and self-consciousness. What happened to the confident man reading for Daniel? "I'm sorry," he admitted. "You're really beautiful, and I'm sure I seem like such an idiot for coming up to you like this. Would you like to go out some time?"

"You're a little late," she said while easing off her irritation a little. She never got pleasure out of turning men down, so she always tried to be nice about it. She raised her left hand to show the gold band on her ring finger.

"Oh," he snorted and scratched his head. "I just made a total jackass out of myself."

"Only slightly," Lila joked to lighten the awkward situation. She turned her head and saw Hector approaching up the aisle, and she immediately lit up and waved him over.

"Is that him?" Jason guessed.

"Yes."

"Wow." He chuckled and said, "Maybe you shouldn't mention this to him. He might turn green and rip me in two."

Lila laughed unexpectedly. Jason was the second person to make a Hulk reference about her husband. She placed a comforting hand on his arm and assured him, "My lips are sealed."

Hector had tried to wait patiently in the aisle for his wife, but he couldn't keep from frowning when he saw her talking with the blonde man. The man said something, and Lila cracked up laughing. She put her hand on his arm, and he grinned broadly at her. The way the man looked down at his wife made the hair on the back of Hector's neck stand up, and he strode quickly toward her. Hector ascended the small staircase in two strides and met his wife who was beaming up at him. He loved the way she happily greeted him, but he was still a little suspicious from the scene he had witnessed only moments earlier.

"Jason," she said as she pulled him over to the blonde man. "This is my husband Hector." She turned to Hector and introduced him, "This is Jason Temple."

The blonde man smiled and offered his hand. "Your wife was just talking about you."

Hector took his extended hand and gripped a little too firmly. In his dark eyes was a warning: stay away from my wife. On the outside, he smirked and said, "Really?"

Jason winced slightly under Hector's crushing grip, and he retracted his hand with a confused smile. "Yea."

"Jason!" someone called from behind them.

"Ah… the fans await me," he joked, and Lila giggled lightly to Hector's annoyance. "Hector, it was great meeting you. Lila, I'll see you at rehearsal hopefully." With that, he turned and walked toward the old man beckoning him.

"I don't like the way he looks at you," Hector said bluntly after Jason walked away.

Lila frowned and glanced over at the blonde man's back. "He's just a friend," she assured her jealous husband.

"Are you sure he knows that?" Still, he didn't meet Lila's questioning eyes. She didn't see when Jason turned and looked over his shoulder. He met Hector's dark gaze and grinned, but there something about him that set Hector on edge. It wasn't jealously. He couldn't place his finger on it, but he didn't like the man.

"What's going on with you?" she asked gently, and Hector finally pried his eyes from the man's retreating form to look at his wife.

The concern and confusion in her eyes brought him from his suspicious thoughts, and he conceded, "You're right. I'm sure it isn't anything to be concerned about." It was lie, but he saw no need to worry his wife over a simple gut instinct. He decided, however, that he would keep his eye on Jason Temple.

Aphrodite was the most beautiful of all the gods and goddesses -in fact of any person, mortal or otherwise, anywhere. As the goddess of love, beauty, and sexuality, she was infinitely desirable, and Zeus had in fact been forced to marry her to Hephaestus for fear of the heavens being torn apart from the gods battling over her. Of course it was well known that Aphrodite enjoyed various lovers, among them the god of war Ares, but as with each god, she had her own human tendencies -namely vanity and jealousy. For this reason, Zeus approached her with the hope of turning her beautiful rage down upon the lovers.

"Aphrodite," he said in greeting from behind her, and the goddess peered over her shoulder to grant him a dazzling smile. "Your beauty grows each day," he remarked gently.

Aphrodite beamed. She adored receiving praises for her looks. "Have you come to admire me, or is there a greater purpose to your visit?"

Zeus smiled then as he knelt beside her. "I wondered if you had seen Prince Hector's lover?"

Aphrodite couldn't have seemed less interested once the subject was shifted from herself to a mortal woman. "No."

"Oh," Zeus murmured and allowed his question to linger in the air. Aphrodite's curiosity no doubt would take over soon.

As he had anticipated, the blonde ran her fingers through her hair and mused aloud only moments later, "Why do you ask?"

"It is of no importance."

When he evaded her question, the goddess sat up completely and faced him. "Tell me." Her smile entranced him.

Zeus turned from her gaze to regain his wits. "I only wondered if the rumors were true."

With great skill, the god was effectively increasing Aphrodite's curiosity. "What rumors are you referencing?"

"They say she is as fair as Aphrodite."

Aphrodite's pure blue eyes narrowed under her furrowed brow. Even in such a state, her beauty was overwhelming. "Who has said this?"

"The mortals," he answered with a slight sigh. "They can forget so easily the magnitude of the gods. Hector claims her beauty surpasses even your own. I thought you might have seen her and could tell me if their murmurings were founded or not."

"Of course they're false!" she hissed in sudden jealousy.

Zeus bowed his head and agreed, "Certainly." He waited a moment while withholding a grin before he continued, "Still, I would like to see her."

"Where is she?"

"I'm not sure. Hades might know." At that, Zeus stood and left the goddess to her thoughts.

Aphrodite watched his exit through fiery eyes. How dare anyone even suggest a mortal's beauty could compare to hers! Her jealously and vanity combined in a wretched torrent of malicious thoughts, and she knew she needed to see this woman with her own eyes. Without hesitation, she flew down to the underworld and sought out the ruler of the dead. Persephone was not with her dark husband this portion of the year, and Aphrodite planned to use her feminine wiles to her full advantage on the lonely god. Hades sat upon his horrible throne and perked up when he saw Aphrodite approach. He had been beautiful once, but Zeus' treachery had exiled him to the underworld. Now, his skin was pale from his time hidden from the sunlight, and his eyes were two black bottomless pits which could devour a soul with one glance. As he peered at Aphrodite, she resisted the urge to shudder, and his thin lips parted in a crooked grin.

"Hades," she breathed with a lovely smile and made a point to sway her hips with every step toward him.

The god stood from his throne. He was slender, nearly emaciated, and his voice sounded like cries of pain as he whispered, "Aphrodite. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

She paused beside a column and drummed her nails lightly on the stone as she peered up at him through her lashes. It was enough to take any man's breath away: even a god of the underworld. "I need a favor."

"How can I be of service?" The god descended the stairs of his pedestal to approach the beautiful goddess.

"I need to know where the prince of Troy and his lover are."

Hades paused, and his black eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Has Zeus sent you?"

"No," she assured him with another dazzling smile. "I am the goddess of love. I merely wish to witness the two mortals who have so valiantly fought fate."

Her smile easily disarmed him, and he began moving forward as if pulled by gravity toward her form. "I can locate them," he answered, "for a price."

Aphrodite bit back a frown and tossed her hair across her shoulder. "What do you want?" she asked suggestively.

By now, the god had descended the stairs completely and stood before her. Aphrodite had not been able to notice before how his milky skin contrasted severely with his blood red lips and the red lacing his lids. There was something simultaneously revolting, alluring, and terrifying about his onyx eyes. His proximity made Aphrodite uneasy, but she hid it well. "Without my wife, my solitude has consumed me." His tongue darted out to wet his lips. "I would like your company for the night."

The proposal made Aphrodite slightly sick, but she giggled softly to cover her disgust. "My nights are spent beside my husband," she lied sweetly.

"I am not so naive as to believe that," he responded without pause.

She took a deep breath and skirted around him. "Perhaps we can reach a compromise?" Hades' silence convinced her to continue. "I will grant you my company -away from your bed."

It was an insult, but the god rarely received visitors. He was also lonely without his wife, and he mulled the option over in his head briefly. "Very well." He offered his boney hand. "Come with me."

Reluctantly, Aphrodite placed her hand in his, and they were transported through time and space. He found them easily enough. The god of the underworld had that ability. Reborn souls had a certain pull for him, causing him to gravitate toward them, and he could see they were slightly brighter than most souls. With age, their allure and luminosity increased like beacons calling Hades to them. Perhaps they were asking for a reprieve from their constant return to humanity, or perhaps they were taunting him with their growing strength. Needless to say, he found them within a minute's time. Aphrodite couldn't restrain a grin as she peered down at the man and woman sleeping before them. Their bodies were pressed together as though even subconsciously they couldn't release one another.

"Does this satisfy you?" Hades asked.

Aphrodite restrained a groan when she realized the god of the underworld would not be leaving her side. There went her plan for evading him. "Do you find her beautiful?"

He stared down at the woman through his bottomless black eyes and moved soundlessly to her side. In sleep, her face was relaxed in complete serenity, and he admired her flawless skin, full rosy lips, and long auburn hair. Instinctively at his proximity, she frowned in her sleep, grumbled something, and retreated even further into her lover's arms. "Yes," he decided in one venomous breath.

His answer further angered the already jealous goddess, but her gaze was on Hector, the handsome Trojan prince. His strong arms were wrapped around the woman, pulling her tightly to his chest, and his face was nuzzled into her hair. Aphrodite smiled with malevolence creeping into the corners of her mouth, and she approached him. How could she punish him properly for daring to call this mere mortal woman more beautiful than herself? Normally, the goddess would simply curse the woman and remove her beauty, but now Aphrodite had a hunger for something much more entertaining. Her long fingers gently caressed Hector's bearded cheek and brushed a curl from his face. His grip tightened on his wife, and Aphrodite trailed her fingers over his temple as she whispered, "You will receive no pleasure until you lie with another."

Author's Note: The song Lila auditions with is "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen from their album A Night at the Opera (1975). Thank you to mythwriter for the review! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well :) For those who are curious, I see Jason looking like Scott Speedman. I apologize for the delayed update. I was having the complete opposite of writer's block haha I literally wrote at least 5 different versions of this chapter because I was being incredibly indecisive! I just recently read through Ovid's Metamorphoses once more, so I was kinda inspired to play on how the gods are constantly meddling and tricking each other. Hopefully you guys liked it xoxo