The Ice Behind Bars
Chapter XXXVI: Let It Go
Aphrodite paced inside her room like a maniac. She was worried. No; she was losing her mind! Concern was boiling her inners and it had been hours and she couldn't stop pacing. Her face showed pure horror and she was mumbling stuffs to herself.
"Aphrodite, just calm down. Anna and the others are out there and are going to find her." Brandon tried to calm her down but it clearly didn't work.
Her eyes were wide with worry and her arms were wrapped around herself. Why didn't they come back?! What if she's lost!? What if something bad happened to her?! What if someone hurt her?! What if she's dead!? What if HE found her!? Oh God no! Please no!... Elsa… Please be okay! Please be okay! She only shook her head at Brandon as she kept her wide eyes on the ground, "It's been hours, Brandon! It's been hours! Why didn't they come back with her?! Why didn't they come back with my daughter?! What if she's dead!?" Aphrodite said as she kept pacing and ran her hands through her hair.
Brandon stood off the bed and approached her, "Hey… Don't say that." He gently said and stopped her from pacing by placing his hand on her shoulder, "Look. I know you're worried but I'm sure Anna won't stop until she finds her."
Aphrodite looked at him, a bit surprised, "And what if Anna was found!?" She shouted and pushed his hand away, "Both of my daughters are outside, Brandon! What if my-… What if H-He found them!?" She said as her clenched fists shook from fear and anger. "I have already lost Elsa to him, Bandon… I don't wanna lose Anna too!"
Brandon shook his head sadly at the mother, "You didn't lose Elsa, Aphrodite. She's back to you, remember?"
"Back to me?!... She's barely back to me! Whatever he did to her all these years, it destroyed her completely! And I swear to you, Brandon, I won't let him get away with what he did!" She yelled in rage and poked his shoulder. A moment of silence passed before Aphrodite's face turned shocked and sad, "Do you know what I heard her say?" She asked with a whisper as tears started to form.
Brandon quickly led her to the bed and both sat down. He looked at her sadly, waiting for her to continue.
"She didn't want to hear anything about me… About her mother. She didn't want to talk about me too." She said with a voice so weak and sorrowful and a few tears slid from the corner of her eyes, "I-I don't blame her, Brandon! I-I would never!"
Brandon rubbed her shoulder so he could sooth her but she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
"You s-should have seen the look on her face when I brought the idea of her mother! T-The way she tried to avoid the conversation! The way her entire behavior changed just by the mention of me!" She shook her head to herself, not wanting to believe her own words. "When I asked her… I-It was as if I just slapped her or something!... Oh God! What am I gonna do? She hates me! A-And not just that… But now I lost her f-forever!"
Brandon shook his head at her, "No, no, Aphrodite. She doesn't hate you. She's just… P-Probably a bit confused about it?" He said, starting to feel unsure too, "But it doesn't mean she hates you!"
Aphrodite didn't even listen to him. She just KNEW that her daughter hated her. The way Elsa acted and behaved at her mention, proved everything. She allowed her tears to stream freely.
"She's somewhere out there and I know she's okay. Don't worry about it! Everyone is out there with Anna, looking for her and Zoey." Brandon said and rubbed her back but she kept crying.
She stopped her sobs for a moment when she remembered something. "Her powers…" She mumbled.
"What about them?" Brandon asked.
She turned at him, "Do you know what she was saying?!... Conceal?… And don't feel?!" She said in shock, "I had NEVER taught her that!"
"We both know who did." Brandon replied.
"He taught her Not to feel!?" She asked in disbelief, "To conceal her powers!?... Did he even know what that would do to her?! Her powers are who she is! It's like he's asking her to hold her breath or to kill herself! What was he thinking?!"
"Well Aphrodite, we all know that he isn't quite… The caring father. He's probably doing this on purpose." Brandon clarified.
"No." Aphrodite said flatly while shaking her head, "Trust me. If he knew about it, he would have done much worse than what he already did." She buried her head in her hands again, "Why did this had to happen to her!?" She asked miserably, "Why was I destined to marry such a man?" She just had so many questions. "Why wasn't I able to give him his heir and be done with all this? Why was Elsa born different?"
Brandon thought for a moment, "You know… If we keep thinking about our past and why things have happened, we will never be able to heal and move on, and we'll keep regretting things we did." He said sadly and actually knew very much what that meant. He gulped, "We just have to-"
"Let it go." Aphrodite finished his sentence and nodded slowly. She turned to face him with tears staining her cheeks, "But do you know what the difference here is, Brandon?"
He stayed silent and waited for her.
She sighed, "The difference in a life like mine is… That mine and my daughters' past is haunting us." She laughed a weak sarcastic laugh, "And hunting us… I know my husband, Brandon." She said and avoided eye contact, "I know he won't stop until he finds her."
Suddenly, Aphrodite felt something in her heart. A very uncomfortable and uneasy feeling. This feeling that she had been getting ever since Elsa was left alone at the ambush, and she understood very much what it meant. She shot her head up with her wide eyes, "Something isn't right…" She whispered in shock to herself.
"What is?" Brandon asked, confused at her sudden change of behavior.
"No…" She said again to herself, stood off the bed and started breathing fast, "Oh god, no! Brandon she's not okay! I can feel it! Something is wrong!" Her breath quickened more and she clutched her head.
"Aphrodite, calm down! You're just worried that's all!" Brandon tried to comfort her.
"NO! Brandon, something is happening to her! I know it! I can feel it right here, Brandon! Right here!" She said, her hand on her heart. She knew something bad was happening to Elsa, because ever since Elsa was lost to her, she had been feeling this strange uncomfortable sense that something was completely wrong. And that sense only stopped when Anna and the others had arrived from Arendelle, carrying her lost daughter at the edge of life. "I'm going out there to find her myself!" Aphrodite quickly ran to the door but Brandon caught her arm.
"Woah, there! Wait! You can't just go out there in the middle of the night in the woods!" Brandon said with a worried voice.
"Watch me." She said flatly, still looking at the door.
"Aphrodite, please!" Brandon pleaded with a voice really full with concern as he gripped her arm and stopped her. The way he said his honest Please really astonished her. "Just give them one more hour. If none of them comes back, we'll go together to find her." He said while pointing at her and himself.
Aphrodite stared into those chocolate brown and concerned eyes for a moment, then sighed in defeat. "Fine… Half an hour. I won't wait more." She said sternly.
Brandon smiled widely in relief, "Good."
"She's not moving!" Aiden screamed at the woman, after Elsa went completely limp. "What have you done to her!?" He yelled as he was held back by Flynn and Kristoff.
"She's just asleep!" The woman snapped back.
Anna clutched Elsa head closer protectively as she stroked the platinum head, not caring about anyone else but her unknowingly sister. Her sorrowful eyes were still fixated on Elsa's old tears and she wiped them gently away. I'm so sorry… She thought while tears stained her own face.
"Do you think I'm stupid enough to give her poison while I'm tied up between dozens of people who can simply kill me?" She asked with an incredulous and mocking face.
That shut Aiden up.
"I have one question though…" The woman said but Anna cut her off.
"You can ask your questions later. Now… We need to get her back to a safe place." Anna said and nodded for Aiden to come, beckoning him to pick Elsa up.
Aiden quickly rushed to her side.
"Come one… Easy…" Anna whispered worriedly as she helped him pick Elsa up with Rapunzel.
Aiden had an extremely concerned face as he picked up Elsa's light form. He didn't care that she was staining him with blood because of her blood-soaked dress. He only cared about one thing, and that was getting Elsa back to the fort and hoped that she would wake up well and good.
Everyone quickly mounted their horses, and Aiden and Anna mounted in Kristoff's sled.
Rapunzel and Flynn went to the woman. "If you would excuse us, Ma'am…" Flynn started mockingly as he shoved her up on her feet. "You're gonna have to ride with us home. We can't trust leaving you out to roam freely and send more of your kind to hunt Elsa."
"Well, I might say that I deserve my own explanations please." She said sarcastically and mocked him back.
Flynn rolled his eyes and helped her get up on a horse, her hands still tied. Rapunzel mounted the same horse so that the woman couldn't have a chance to escape.
Flynn went to Maximus.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Asked a worried, high-pitched voice.
Flynn turned to see Zoey with her worried parents. He sighed. I really don't know. "Don't worry… She's gonna be fine."
Unfortunately, everyone heard Flynn's answer. And unusually, they all had the same worried thoughts.
Tyler went to his own horse, but on his way, he stepped on something that caught his eyes. He looked down under his feet to see a blood stained, wrinkled piece of paper. He bent down and picked it up. His eyes slowly widened as he read. It was a bounty announcement. Probably fell from those hunters. At the top of the paper, laid a description of a person, that could only be the bizarre known appearance of the one and only, Snow Queen, Elsa. At the bottom though, was what caught his eyes.
The Snow Queen
Wanted for Murder, Treason and Witchcraft
Dead or Alive
Grand reward given personally by the fair and merciful King Jamie of Arendelle
"Murder…?!" Tyler whispered to himself and quickly shoved the piece of paper in his pocket before anyone could notice it. Well, well, well… Looks like she's not so innocent after all. He quickly mounted his horse and followed the others, a satisfied smirk on his face.
The moment they arrived at the fort, people quickly rounded them, from villagers to guild members. They all had wide and shocked eyes when they saw Elsa.
Anna ignored the murmurs and whispers around her and helped Aiden carry Elsa off the sled.
"ANNA!" Aphrodite's voice came out.
Aphrodite had her heart racing like crazy as she tried to push her way through, Brandon right at her trail. She froze and her blood ran cold when she saw Elsa covered in a great amount of blood and was completely limp. "No!" She screamed and rushed to her daughter, not caring about the weird and confused looks the villagers were giving her. No, no, no, no! Please no! "What happened!?" She yelled as she tried to take a look at Elsa.
Anna quickly stopped her panicking mother by holding her shoulders, "Mum, calm down! She's just asleep." She said, confused at her mother's strange behavior. "She's fine, don't worry. That's… That's not her blood."
Aphrodite looked at her younger daughter in shock. When she understood what Anna meant, she slowly relaxed. She suddenly shook her head though, "No… I want to check on her myself. Bring her to her room." She commanded. She wouldn't feel relaxed with calming words. She would only relax if she checked with her own eyes that Elsa was fine.
"She tried to kidnap a child!" One of the villagers shouted an accusation and the people erupted into loud murmurs and whispers of horror.
"What?!" Anna screamed. "No, wait!" Anna was about to yell at them when someone held her from her shoulder. She turned and saw Zoey's father.
The man gave her a reassuring nod and moved to stand in front of Elsa and the others to shield her from the accusing eyes of the villagers. He held his hands up. "Listen to me!" He shouted and everyone fell silent.
He cleared his throat, "The one you're accusing of a witch and a kidnapper… Saved my daughter's life!" He announced and another wave of skeptical whispers and murmurs was heard.
"That's right!" Zoey exclaimed and ran to her father's side, now all eyes on her, including Aphrodite's.
"W-We were attacked by bad people… One of them tried to hurt me but Elsa didn't let him." She said to everyone and tears started to slide, "A-And then… She told me to run a-and they started hurting her because of me!" Zoey couldn't take it anymore and she quickly turned to her mother and buried her face in her mother's waist and cried.
The tied woman watched the fort in amazement and astonishment. How the hell none had noticed the fort before?! She had no idea. All these people live here?! She thought. Wait… Why does it look familiar… A hooded woman came across her eyes and she was amazed at how much this woman was concerned for The Snow Queen. Everyone wanted her to believe that this was the deceased princess. But heck no! She couldn't believe any of these lunatics. This Snow Queen had probably ruined and frozen their minds.
Aphrodite's heart fluttered with pride, knowing that her daughter tried her best to keep Zoey safe despite her injuries and condition.
Zoey's father started again, "I have made a big mistake and wronged this woman." He said and pointed at the unconscious Elsa. When he saw her again he felt a rush of guilt overwhelm his body and his face turned sad and remorseful, "I've judged her before I could even know her, and I didn't listen to my daughter. And I know that some of you are scared of her, but the only thing we should be scared of now, are those hunters who can harm our home!" He shouted and everyone started to agree since they shouted a 'Yeah!' back. "This woman has defended my one and only daughter from those hunters! Now it's my turn to pay my debt to her! She saved Zoey's life and now I owe her mine!... I shall defend her from whoever will try to harm her!... And I vow on it." He said and raised a hand.
Everyone started throwing shouts of agreement.
"Who's this!?" One of the men shouted and pointed at the tied woman behind Rapunzel.
Uh-oh… The woman thought as her eyes widened when all attention was thrown at her.
Everyone turned to look at the woman.
Aphrodite turned her eyes at this hunter and they shot incredibly wide. Oh hell, you have got to be kiddin' me… She knew exactly who this woman was but she couldn't believe her eyes and she felt a knot in her stomach. "Diana!?" She called before she could stop herself.
Everyone now turned at Aphrodite with confused and surprised looks.
Brandon turned at Aphrodite in shock and he leaned closer and whispered, "You know her?!" He asked.
Aphrodite snapped out of it. "U-Uhh…" She stuttered, lost for words.
The tied woman, Diana, turned at the hooded woman who just called her and gave her a confused look, "May I have the honor to know who you might be, Ma'am?"
Aphrodite looked around nervously to see all eyes on her. She gulped and straightened herself so that she couldn't raise any suspicions. She ignored the looks and turned to Flynn, "Take this woman to the fort dungeons… I have some matters to speak about with her." She calmly said.
"Uhm… Okay?" Flynn said and started leading the woman out of sight and into the dungeons.
On her way, the woman tried to squint her eyes to see the face of the woman but she couldn't see anything. Okay… This was getting weirder and weirder for her. First they told her that The Snow Queen was the supposed-to-be deceased princess herself, then they led her to this huge familiar fort, then this woman knew her? This was one hell of an epic day for her.
Anna placed a hand on her mother's shoulder, "Mum… How do you know her?" She asked suspiciously and raised an eyebrow.
Without meeting her daughter's face, Aphrodite kept staring at Elsa in worry then spoke, "Let's just say that she's… A friend." Or more…
Before Anna could ask anything else, Aphrodite turned to Aiden who had Elsa in his arms, "Aiden, take Elsa to her room. I'll be with you in a few minutes." She turned to Rapunzel, "Rapunzel, call for Waela and tell her to check if Elsa has any injuries, and you," She turned and pointed at finger at Anna. "Have a lot to explain about what happened out there." She turned to the crowd, "We're sorry for interrupting your night, but everything is going to be alright. Brandon, Tyler and I will see to this matter and solve it. Now, if you would please go back to your homes and your children. Everything's under control." Aphrodite said, using her regal and stern voice.
The villagers always had trusted Leanna and they knew very well that she could handle such problems.
"But what about those hunters?!" One from the crowd shouted.
"What if they found us!?" Chaos erupted between the crowds as they spoke and shouted in horror.
"We're doomed!" Cries of fear were heard and Aphrodite was starting to get irritated as she tried to calm them down but they weren't listening.
"ENOUGH!" She yelled in rage and her howl echoed in the valley and shushed everyone. "I want you all to stay… Calm." She said slowly and motioned for them with her hands, "We have one of the hunters in our dungeons and we'll try to extract information from her. Hopefully, we'll be able to stop them before anyone of them can find us."
The crowd relaxed a bit, nodded in agreement and started going back to their homes.
Anna was pretty amazed at her mother's ability to… Lead the people in here and maintain this fort's safety. "You never fail to amaze me, you know that?" Anna asked with a smirk.
Aphrodite turned to her with a smirk, "I'm your mother. That's my job." She teased and playfully pinched Anna's cheek.
Anna slapped her hand away and tried not to laugh, "And I'm glad that you are." She said and wrapped her arms around her mum in a hug. "And don't worry about Elsa. I know she's fine."
Aphrodite sighed a bit and hugged back, "Be sure that she's okay, alright Sunshine?"
Anna nodded and broke the hug.
Aphrodite smiled at her younger daughter fondly and cupped the redhead's cheek, "I'm so proud of you." She tapped Anna's nose, "Never forget that you are brave and strong."
Anna giggled a bit. "I know… I AM your daughter." She said with a smirk and made her mother giggle.
"Well… Let's just hope you don't put yourself in trouble and burn this fort down." Aphrodite teased.
"Oh stop it…" Anna said and waved her hand at her mother dismissingly.
Anna then turned to the sleeping Elsa and smiled sadly at her. I hope you're alright, Elsa… Please be okay! I don't know what I'll do without you.
Aphrodite gave Aiden and Kristoff a farewell nod before she went to follow Flynn to the dungeons with Brandon on her side.
Kristoff placed a reassuring hand on Anna's shoulder, "I'm sure she's fine. She's strong, remember?" He reminded softly and smiled at her.
Anna placed her hand above the one he had on her shoulder. She smiled thankfully and fondly at him, then nodded.
Anna, Aiden and Kristoff then went to take Elsa to her room.
On their way to the room, Aiden stared down at Elsa's tired and unconscious figure. He felt a knife pierce through his heart and a big lump in his throat. The way he heard her scream, the amount of Fear she was experiencing and the fact that hunters were after her as if she was a wild beast or a grand trophy, boiled worries inside his heart. It killed him to know how many people hated and wanted Elsa dead.
It's always the innocents who suffer the most.
Bulda once told him. And she was damn right. What would have happened to him if they were minutes late to reach Elsa? What would have happened if she died?
A single tear slid down his cheek and dripped on Elsa's cheek. He quickly and nervously hurried to wipe it off before anyone could see it. Shit… He thought angrily at himself. Since he had lost his sister when he was a five year old boy, he had NEVER cried.
Luckily for him, no one saw that single significant tear. He tried as much as he could not look at Elsa's face. Because he knew that if he did, he WOULD cry. But somehow his eyes kept sneaking quick peeks towards her and with every peek, it sent stabs through his heart.
Anna opened the door for him and they all entered the room.
They gently and with the most delicate touch, placed Elsa on the bed. When he let go of Elsa, he realized his hands were shaking and he quickly hid them by crossing his arms.
"I really hope she's alright." Anna said sorrowfully as she felt that she was about to break at any second. She sat next to her unknowingly sister and like always, started stroking Elsa's hair off her face. "W-Why…?" Anna's voice was so weak and it quivered with the desperation because of the sorrows she was holding inside. Her tears started to shed, "Why did she have to face all this?" She sobbed and buried her face in her hands.
Kristoff sat next to her and gently wrapped his arms around and her and tried to shush her. "It's alright, Anna…" He soothed and she actually felt comforted with his kindness.
Anna looked at Elsa's tired face and she felt another lump form in her throat. "What would have happened if this woman didn't give us the potion, Kristoff?... Do you imagine what w-would have… Happened? N-Not just that… But what if this potion is fake?! W-What if she won't recognize any of us when she wakes up?!" IF she wakes up. She thought and didn't dare say it out loud.
"I know, I know…" Kristoff said and rubbed her back, "But it's all over now. Everything's fine and she's safe now. I don't think the woman was lying. IF in any case something happens again, we'll sure be there to stop it."
"I really hope so, Kristoff…" She broke the hug and smiled weakly at him, then they both turned to look at Elsa with sad eyes. Anna leaned down and grabbed Elsa's cold gloved hand in hers, "I really hope so."
Aiden watched from the other side of the room and was having his own conflict. Will Elsa ever trust any of them again? Will she be the same person she was when she wakes up? Why had no one used the potion in years?... Why was Elsa so beautiful? WHY was he falling for her?! He never felt so interested in a woman before. Maybe because Elsa was unique? Or maybe because she respected everything in life?... Including ants!
Well… He would never forget the lesson that his sister had taught him. The lesson he failed to listen to.
Treat the people in the way you want them to treat you.
Since the day his sister died, he had forgotten this lesson, and only Elsa had reminded him of it. So… Was his answer that Elsa reminded him of his sister?
He felt something wet on his cheek. His eyes widened and he quickly wiped his tears away. What the heck is happening to me?! He thought and quickly turned his back so that Anna and Kristoff wouldn't see his tears.
Anna noticed Aiden's distress. "Aiden?" She called in concern and luckily to him, before she could continue, Rapunzel burst inside the room with Waela at her side.
"Hey! I'm here! I got Waela." Rapunzel said as she approached the bed.
Waela winced when she saw Elsa's blood-soaked dress and hoped for the best. She turned to the boys, "You should probably leave, please." She asked politely.
Kristoff nodded and stood up to leave. "I'll be at the stables. I need to check on Sven. If anything happens, call for me." He said and received a grateful nod from Anna.
"Thank you, Kristoff." Anna said and smiled warmly at him.
He returned the smile and moved to leave, after patting Aiden on the back.
Aiden quickly straightened and tried to hide his unease. "I uh… I-I'll just stay outside. J-Just tell me if she's okay when you're done." He quickly said and practically ran his way out of the room.
Anna and Waela were too busy with Elsa and didn't notice him.
Rapunzel on the other hand saw and realized everything, so she quickly followed him. "Anna, I have something to do. I'll be right back." She said and received a nod from Anna who still had her eyes on Elsa.
Aiden went out of the room and was now in the empty dim hallway. Luckily to him, everyone went back to their shacks and rooms and were definitely asleep.
He walked slowly in the empty hallways, having nothing but Elsa's pained and fearful face in his mind. He reached his room and stood in front of the door in silence. Just staring at it.
Instead of entering his bedroom. He turned his back, slid down the door and sat on the ground. He rested his elbows on his knees and clutched his head between his arms. To his own surprise, he felt so woeful but also relieved. He wanted to do something but he knew he couldn't. He wanted to be alone but also wanted company. He wanted to keep the harm away from Elsa but he knew that he would fail. He wanted her to be okay but wasn't sure that she was. He wanted to know WHY people kept hurting her but he knew that they wouldn't stop not until they were done… He wanted to be happy, but he started to cry.
He started to sob as heavy tears streamed down his cheeks. That!… Was more than a shock to him. But he didn't care at all. He just wanted to cry and he thought that he didn't know why… But he knew better.
He heard light footsteps coming near him but he didn't care less about them.
The next thing he knew, someone sat next to him without a word and wrapped her arms around him.
The shock to Rapunzel was that Aiden started sobbing harder when she hugged him. His shoulders shook as he cried and she made circles on his back to try to sooth him. She had never saw Aiden cry. Not in her entire life with him. EVER. He never even showed such emotions towards a woman.
He was always like a big brother to her and seeing him like this had led her to shed her own tears. "It's alright, Aiden…" She tried to comfort him and patted his back.
Strangely, he didn't feel embarrassed at all. Even though it was weird since he was huge comparing to Rapunzel form. Instead he only cried more and wanted to spill his bottled up tears.
Rapunzel smiled at him as she placed her chin on his shoulder. "Can you deny your admiration for Elsa, now?" She teased and he actually chuckled weakly. "I'll take that as a 'No, Rapunzel! I can't deny it. You were right!'" She said with a giggle and allowed him to sob on her shoulder. "Told you I know everything... I know Love when I see it. And you my friend… Are in love."
"B-But she's hurt!" Aiden cried through his sobs. Right, now. He wasn't the big and intimidating Oaf whom no one would dare cross or fight. No; He was with Rapunzel and he was crying, letting his emotions flow and showing his sentimental side after all these years. So that meant that he was simply being… Aiden.
"There, there, Oafy." She said playfully and patted the back of his head, "Don't worry about Elsa. Just let it out… Let it go."
Aphrodite entered the dungeons with Brandon to be met with Flynn who was standing in front of the cellar that Diana was in.
Diana saw this same hooded woman again and she frowned. "Care to explain why you wanted to talk to me so eagerly?" She asked as she gripped the bars of her cellar.
Aphrodite ignored her. "Thank you, Flynn. You may go."
Flynn nodded and left the dungeons.
Aphrodite turned to Diana. "I'm sorry for bringing you here to the dungeons. I only had to so that I don't raise any suspicions."
Diana scoffed, "Suspicions for what?"
Aphrodite smiled, "That we know each other very well."
Diana smirked, "Oh is that so…" She said sarcastically.
Aphrodite nodded then turned to Brandon, "Brandon, would you do the honor to open the cell to Diana here? We don't keep our guests locked up."
"Oh so I'm a guest now?" Diana asked mockingly.
Brandon gave Aphrodite a confused look, but he moved to unlock the dungeon door anyway.
"Like I said. I apologize for this. Come… Let us talk in a more proper place." Aphrodite said and folded her hands neatly in front of her.
Diana raised a skeptical eyebrow at her and nodded. She then followed Brandon and the hooded woman.
As they walked with each other, Brandon leaned closer and whispered in Aphrodite's ear. "What are you doing?! Who is this woman and how do you even know each other?!"
"Oh you'll see." Aphrodite's simple reply was.
Aphrodite led Diana and Brandon to her room at the infirmary. "There… That's a better private place." The Queen said as she opened the door for them.
The three entered and Diana crossed her arms in annoyance. "I think I deserve an explanation." She said.
Aphrodite chuckled, "Don't worry… I know you do." She said with a smirk and moved to prepare some tea. "You may sit."
Diana exchanged confused looks with Brandon before she sat down on the chair.
Brandon leaned to the wall and watched the two. He was as eager as Diana to know what was up with Aphrodite.
"I hope you like Tea." Aphrodite said.
Diana ignored her and couldn't help but ask, "You know my name… May I at least know yours?"
"You'll know… I won't be in need to tell you too." Aphrodite replied and placed the cups on a tray. "Are you married Diana?" She vaguely asked.
Diana raised an eyebrow at her, "And who are you to ask that?... But anyway. Yes I am. But my husband died and I have learned to let it go. The only family I have left is my son. And the sooner I can get out of here, the sooner I go back to him."
At that Aphrodite's hand froze for a moment. A son?! She thought in shock before she regained her attention. "My condolences." She said calmly and tried to act normal. He never told me!
"Thank you." Diana said, more sarcastically.
Aphrodite approached with the tray and placed it on the table. "Here's your Tea."
Diana took the cup of tea with a thankful nod. "May I now know who you are and how you even know me?" She said and started to sip her tea.
Aphrodite gave Brandon a sly smile.
Brandon only got confused more and more. What the hell are you up to?
"You can say we have something in common." Aphrodite said and sat down on her own chair, then sipped her tea.
"If you would please stop your vague answers, it would be preferable… I don't have time for games." Diana replied with annoyance.
Well… You've always been grumpy. "Very well…" Aphrodite said and calmly placed her cup on the table. She then slowly let her hood down to reveal her smirk. "It's been a long time."
When Aphrodite's hood was down. Diana's eyes shot wide and she spat the tea from her mouth as her face turned red and she shrieked in rage at her.
"YOU!"