4

"I'm okay now, Apollo. You can go back to the council room." I'm back in my chambers, sane and warm. He refuses to leave even after I told him multiple times that I'm okay and he can go back to his duty. He keeps on pacing back and forth, trying to calm his nerves after knowing that his future bride almost killed herself unwillingly.

"Apollo, calm down. I'm okay now." I said sternly to get his attention.

"And that will make me okay too?" he asked. "Do you think that I should calm down after what happened?" I feel warm and fuzzy with his words that I wanted to throw myself to his inviting body and kiss him hard like what he did earlier. I wanted to feel his lips on me again, and I'll make sure to answer it earnestly this time. "It will ruin my plans, Eris." Oh. He is not concern about me. He is concern that his plan will fail even before it started. "If you die then my dreams will die too."

I don't know what to say. My heart broke and fell down from its high after being held up to the pedestal of hope that he truly cares. Is he really this ruthless and selfish? I think Ares is much better than him, and I hate Ares. I decided to lie down and put some blankets on my body, I'm still wearing my night gown and I'm exposed to his uninvited eyes.

"Can you go out now? I need to sleep." I lied. How can I sleep after what happened? I just need him gone so I can cry my heart out for loving a God who only wants me so he can reach his wicked dreams. "Please." I added softly, almost like a whisper but pleading. He looked at me and sighed.

"I will, but please…if you need help, you'll call out for me. Only me, not Ares."

"I don't need anyone's help, Apollo. I can save myself!"

"Oh come on, we're going to argue about this? Stop being stubborn, Eris."

"Oh yes, I remember. I need to be saved so you can reach your fucking dreams!"

"Can you at least try and listen to me just once? If you need someone, call my name!"

"Apollo, I…"

"Stop. Just stop, Eris. You always want to start an argument; some petty argument it is."

He didn't give me a chance to talk. He stormed out of my room and left me frustrated and angry. I wish I can slap his face and curse him but I can't especially I know that Apollo have this power over me that I can't even understand. I've been independent all my life, but right now, Apollo is right, I fucking need help especially Nyx is starting her plan to kill me…to kill his abhorrent daughter.

All I can do right now is stare at the ceiling and cry. When was the last time I cried? As much as possible, even if it's hurting too much, I will make sure that my tears will not fall. But tonight is an exception. I'm still scared. I'm still confused. And I fucking know that tonight, I'm still in love. I didn't notice that Aunt Hestia is already here.

"Oh darling, I'm so sorry darling." She run towards me and hop on my bed to comfort me. "We've decided to have your wedding tomorrow. I know it's rush but…it's the only way to protect you. We cannot waste more time, darling." I don't think I still have a choice right so I didn't say any word at all to counter her statements. I need to sleep. I have a wedding to attend to.

I'll be tied to the God of Sun an hour from now. Everyone in Olympus is busy with the preparations of my wedding and I'm inside my chamber trying to absorb everything. I'm not sure how Hera was able to provide a wedding dress for me but I'm thankful that she considered me by choosing a white chiffon dress ornate with rubies on the end of its sleeves. The dress is beautiful, innocent yet playful.

"You look lovely my dear, come on let me see that sweet smile of yours." I'm not sure if I want to smile or scream, maybe both. My Great Aunt Hestia, the Goddess of Hearth and Serenity is asking me to smile while she put some powder on my face and a little bit of blush coming from the juices of red roses she got from her sister, Demeter. I still can't believe this day would come. I've been enjoying causing chaos for centuries until the chaos turned its back on me. Should I be happy that finally I'll be part of their family? Of Olympus? Should I celebrate this day? I mean, I've been harboring strong affection to this God and now the fates made it possible for the two of us to be together. But why am I not happy? Is it because I know that he doesn't feel the same way?

After putting on some colors on my pale face, Aunt Hestia then curls the end of my hair and asked me to put on the dress that her sister gave moments ago. I can't believe it. I'm really getting married.

"Come on, at least you'll be married to a handsome God."

"Really, Aunt Hestia?"

"But isn't that a good thing? You will need to show him that the Goddess of Chaos can bring fun and excitement to his boring Olympian life." This time it is Persephone who is telling me that this God will need me to bring spice into his life. Will I really bring spice to his life? Or I will just bring him chaos, like what I'm supposed to do as the Goddess of Discord.

"I don't know Persephone. Your marriage was blessed, but this marriage? This is cursed and I'm pretty sure your Dear Aunt Hera is happy in her bed of gold while thinking how much my soon to be husband hates me." I don't want to pretend that this marriage will be good. He is light, and I'm darkness. While I do give him loving eyes ever since I learned what love feels like, I'm pretty sure that he doesn't feel the same way. He is Apollo, The God of Sun, while I am Eris. Just simple, chaotic, Eris.

"We all know that Hera didn't cursed your marriage, Eris. She might hate you but she will not do it. It is Nyx that is causing everything that is happening to you. We are protecting you from her" Aunt Hestia said firmly. I know that she hates Hera but they're still sisters and sisters always got each other's back. "And please, don't assume that this union will be bad. I'm pretty sure that Apollo is a good god. He will not do anything to purposely hurt you." She added. If only they knew what is happening when we're alone, I'm pretty sure they want me to back out on this wedding.

"Ah, there you are. A true beautiful Goddess." She said softly, admiring her dearest niece.

"The dress suits you, Eris. But something is missing." Persephone said. "I think you need this one." She gave me an earring. Oh, what a beautiful earring it is! It's a ruby earring with diamonds circling the precious gem. "That's a gift from me and Hades."

"Oh my, this is so beautiful Sephy. Thank you so much." I put on the earrings and she is right, these earrings compliment my wedding dress. Athena then enters my room saying that the wedding is about to start. I never thought that I'll be nervous like in my entire existence but I am.

"What if I run away then I'll be the runaway bride of the century?" I whispered at Aunt Hestia and she laughed.

"Just to start a chaos?" She asked, still laughing.

"Why not? I'm the Goddess of Chaos, that's what I do." And we both laughed. My laughter faded when we reached Apollo's temple where the wedding will be held. It's magnificent! It looks like Aunt Demeter did her very best to arrange the scene. There are wisteria and white roses to compliment the surroundings. There are golden colored chairs for the Gods and Goddess that are invited to the wedding and there he goes, my handsome groom waiting at the altar wearing his white tunic with gold lining. His curls are perfectly done and I can only imagine how soft it will be while I'm running my hands through it. He is looking at me with awe in his eyes, I wonder what's is running on his mind at this very moment. I'm curious if he is just as nervous as me. Apollo was never tied to anyone before, I'm the very first Goddess he'll be tied to, and he's the very first God that I fell in love with. I think the only one at that. Aunt Hestia said her goodbyes and sat down next to her sisters. I was left in the end of the aisle, holding a bouquet of flowers arranged by Persephone then the music started. That's my cue to walk.

I never thought that this day would come to me. I've always been the uninvited but right now, it's different. I am walking down the aisle and thinking, what if they are right? What if Apollo wakes up and realized that he likes me too? What if he is lying about his wicked dreams of overthrowing our dear father's throne just to make sense on why he decided to choose me as his bride? What if he did…love me too? So many thoughts are running while I'm walking and I decided to remove them one by one in every step that I'm taking. Right now, I will enjoy every moment because after this day, my life will never be the same again.

"Hi, Eris."

"Hi, Apollo."

"You look…good."

"You too…thanks."

Before he can say another word, Zeus started the wedding. Goddess, this is really happening. Our dearest father started to talk about the importance of union between Gods and how infidelity is not encouraged and I can't help but chuckle. Is he really trying to lecture me about infidelity when he cannot keep his hands away from every Goddess and mortals he wanted to fuck? Zeus looked at me with warning and Apollo can't help but grin, after all, I'm the only one who can tease our father without being struck by his lightning.

"You can continue." I said trying to suppress my laugh.

"I'm done. Let's go to the vows now." He answered. "Repeat after me, Apollo."

"I'm enjoying the lectures though." I said to myself and a rumbling thunder was heard outside the temple. Goddess, I am really chaos and I can't help it. I saw Artemis rolling her eyes and it's tempting me to taunt our father just for the sake of it.

"I Apollo, Son of Zeus and Leto, takes you Eris to be my other half. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all of your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with all of my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the Goddess with whom I will spend my eternal life." I don't know what to say, that's a very big and serious vow coming from his lying mouth or is that sincere? Minutes passed and they are all looking at me, I'm still in dazed with Apollo's words that I'm not sure if I would like to repeat his vows or run away just like what I'm planning earlier before the wedding even started.

"Eris? It's your turn now." I heard Aunt Hestia called my name. I looked at her, her head nodding, encouraging me to talk and say my vows. I looked at each of the Olympians. Athena is looking at me with questioning eyes, Dionysus is nonchalant, Ares is giving me a small reassuring smile which is actually comforting from the God of War. Aphrodite is looking at her mirror, Hephaestus looks bored, while Hermes is looking at me with sincere yet playful smile. On the other side is Hades with her wife who is looking at me with comforting eyes, next to her is her mother, Demeter and my favorite, Aunt Hestia. Poseidon is sitting next to his wife who looks like she wants to go back in the sea, and with them is Hera and Artemis. I don't quite get if Hera is happy or sad, but Artemis. Oh, Artemis is mad. I can feel it even if she's ten feet away from me. And it's because of her that my eyes went back to the waiting Golden God and said my vows.

"I Eris, takes you Apollo to be my other half. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all of your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with all of my faults and strengths. I will help you when you need help, and I will turn to you when I need help. I choose you as the God with whom I will spend my eternal life."

He releases a sigh of relief because finally, his dream of overthrowing the King of the Gods is almost a reality. A round of applause dominated the whole temple and I pretended to be happy. I give them flashes of sweet smile but truly, it's nerve-wracking to be married to a God like Apollo whose ambitious can kill a mortal, especially a God.

"You can now kiss your bride, Apollo." And he did, sealing his claim on me.

"Let's celebrate this union! My treat!" Dionysus screamed and for the very first time I feel like maybe this marriage is what the Olympians really need. Apollo clutches my hand very tight like he doesn't want to let go, and I let him, at least for now we can pretend that we'll make our vows a reality.

"I don't like you wearing white, Eris." He whispered on my ears, and I grin.

"I don't like me wearing white too." At least with that, we have an agreement.

"I have a dress for you. I hope you'll like it." I looked at him and he smiled. "It's in my room, our room rather. I want you wear it over this white dress that Hera gave. You look like a sacrificial virgin in your chiffon gown." He added. Well, does he know that I am indeed a virgin? I mean, I may look like I love playing around but I'm not a whore. I never shared a bed with anyone, let alone fuck.

"I guess Hera knows that I am indeed a virgin that's why she wants me to wear white." His eyes went wide with my confession because no one in this room thinks that I'm a virgin goddess because it's far from the personality I have. I left him dumbfounded in the middle of his temple to go to our room where my dress is waiting. He can wait, I need to change. When I went inside his temple, his servants immediately tend to my needs and helped me remove the "sacrificial virgin" gown that Hera gave. So this is what it feels like to be the husband of a favored God, I am somehow…lucky.

Apollo is correct when he told me that this dress will compliment my whole being because it is. I love that he asked me to wear this dress because it is dark, it is red. The dress is stopping on my heel, and the slit is ending on my upper thigh which is exposing my white and long legs. The top of the dress is showing some parts of my breast, making me look…ravishing. I wonder what will Apollo feel, seeing me in the dress he gifted. I wish it'll somehow makes his knees weak.

"Thank you." I said to his servants and went to the banquet where everyone is waiting for me.

"Oh my my! What a ravishing sight you are, Eris! May I have this dance?" Dionysus in his flirty drunk voice said that everyone looked in my direction, I shrugged my shoulders and gave him a haughty grin. Dionysus extended his hand and asked me to dance and so we did. Tonight, I'll let myself loosen up. This is the very first time that Olympus celebrated a party for me and I need to enjoy every moment of it.

"I think your husband is getting mad." Dionysus whispered softly and we both laugh.

"Maybe he's mad because her uptight sister is locking him away from everyone." Artemis is sitting beside her brother who is now watching us intently with threatening eyes.

"I should bring you over to the Golden boy or there will be chaos" the God of Wine added that makes me want roll my eyes. He giggled.

"But he married chaos, he should be used to it by now."

Before Dionysus can say another word, Apollo came to us, asking me to have a talk. The God of wine winked at me before leaving me with the Golden God. He grips my hand and guide me to his table, or our table perhaps. I sat down and he followed. I can feel the tension between us so I decided to drink the glass of wine that is waiting for me to sip.

"What are you doing?" he said quietly, full of threats.

"Dancing, obviously."

"No, you're flirting with Dionysus and we just got married."

"I don't think that is flirting, we're just dancing."

"Wanted to argue again? I don't want you to dance with anyone here, you'll stay by my side."

I wanted to answer back but I don't think it'll be worth it. I sneered and pour some wine on my glass again. What a possessive God he is indeed.

"I think giving you that dress is a wrong choice, Eris. Ares is looking at you and I hate it. We should remove that dress, but not here." He said, looking at the God of War and then back at me. "It'll be in our room." He added. "Using my mouth to undress you." Goddess, why does he sound so…hot?