Act 14: Eros
Eros' eyes flew open. He stared right at Psyche, who was standing over him. She backed away as he sat up. "What are you doing?" he demanded. He groped the bed looking for the object that had hit him. In his confusion, he knocked two objects to the floor. Psyche bent to pick them up, but Eros was quicker.
"What's the meaning of this!?" he exclaimed, as he thrust the penlight and knife at Psyche's face.
"I was just—I just wanted—" Psyche stumbling threw her words.
Eros flung the bed covers aside and got out of the bed. "You saw me?" he asked.
Psyche's silence answered his question. Eros sat back down on the bed, dazed.
"Who are you?" Psyche asked with a quiver in her voice.
"Eros," Eros replied. "The God of Love. I pretended to be the monster Aschimos to keep you from harm."
"I don't understand."
"Psyche, Aphrodite hates you. She was furious when she'd found out that people claimed that you were more beautiful than her. She wanted me to shoot you with a golden arrow so you would fall in love with a hideous man. But I'd fallen in love with you myself from the moment I saw you on a magazine cover. I couldn't let that happen to you. I pretended to be Aschimos to keep you from my mother's wrath."
Psyche inched closer to Eros. "Eros," she said. "As Aschimos, were you honest with your feelings toward me all along?"
"Yes," said Eros. "I may have had a different outward appearance, but my love was true."
"I love you too," said Psyche. She put a hand on Eros' face. Eros grabbed her hand, and pushed it away from him. He stood up from the bed again.
"Don't touch me," he said tersely. "You disobeyed me and looked at my face. We can no longer stay married." He moved around Psyche to grab his clothes.
"Why not?" said Psyche.
"I asked you to never look at my face and you betrayed me. You even had a knife! How could I live with a woman who carries a weapon to bed?"
"I'm sorry Eros! I was just—"
"Don't say anything else! This marriage is officially over."
Eros stormed over to the window. Sprouting his wings, he flew through the window, breaking the glass.
How could she do this to me? he thought. I don't understand it. I gave her the world. But she ruined everything!
Suddenly, pain shot through Eros' heart. It was so swift that he almost lost control of his flying. He impulsively grabbed his chest. He tried to fly as quickly as he could to the home he shared with Aphrodite and Anteros.
Eros nearly ran into Anteros as he stepped into the home. Anteros was surprised to see his brother.
"What's wrong?" Anteros asked. "You're early. You normally stay with Psyche a few hours longer. Do you feel okay?"
"She found out," Eros said through his pain. "Psyche found out that I was Aschimos. I told her I couldn't stay married to her anymore, then I left."
"What did you say!?" an angry female voice yelled. Eros and Anteros turned around. Aphrodite was standing behind them, her beautiful face twisted in an ugly scowl.
"Mother," said Eros.
Aphrodite marched over to Eros. In one fluid motion, she slapped him across his face. The force of the slap and the pain in his chest caused Eros to lose his balance. He landed hard on right side.
"Oh!" Aphrodite cried. She dropped to her knees beside Eros. "I didn't mean to hit you so hard that you would fall!"
"He's sick, mother," said Anteros.
"Sick?" Aphrodite repeated. "With what?" Neither Anteros nor Eros wanted to supply an answer. However, Aphrodite was quick to figure it out.
"It's because of that mortal woman isn't it?" asked Aprodite. "She made you like this! I'll punish her good! Where is she?"
"I'm not sure," said Eros.
"Don't lie to me Eros! Where is she?"
"I don't know."
"Very well. I will find this girl myself. Anteros, help your brother to his room."
Anteros helped his brother up once Aphrodite left. "You must be insane!" he said. "Why didn't you tell mother where Psyche is?"
"Because I don't know," said Eros. "I just left her at the mansion."
Anteros helped Eros to his room. "I'm still in shock," said Eros. "My own wife betrayed me. Not only did she look at my face, she had a knife with her! I cared for her so much and she repays me like this. Is this what a broken heart feels like? If this is the case, I'll shoot myself with a lead arrow and never fall in love again."
"Eros you must watch what you say," said Anteros. "You may end up on my list of people to punish for scorned love."
"I just lost my wife," said Eros. "Mother is upset with me. I have a terrible pain in my chest. I think that's punishment enough."
Random Note: I hope Eros doesn't sound overly melodramatic! O.o
