CHAPTER II

Zeus rubbed his eyes tiredly. He pinched the skin at the bridge of his nose and sighed.

'Is this not the second Chimera that has escaped the underworld and terrorized the humans on earth?' he asked, knowing the answer already.

Hermes, who had been standing with his arms folded across his chest, nodded solemnly.

'It is.'

'Twice now,' Zeus boomed, his piercing blue eyes shone a golden light as they roamed about the room, seemingly searching for an answer, 'this has happened. Why? And how exactly?' He slammed his fist on the arm rest of his thrown. Olympus shook with the blow.

'The beasts of the underworld belong in the underworld and nowhere else. Nothing leaves that realm without Hades' permission, so unless he has completely lost his mind, these beasts should be nowhere near earth.' Zeus breathed. Hermes stood, waiting patiently. After a long, seemingly endless pause, Hermes cleared his throat.

'Is there anything you'd like me to do for you father?'

'The Underworld,' Zeus looked at him, 'go there. Pay Hades a visit and confront him about these two incidents. I want to know why the Chimeras keep escaping, and regardless of his reasons, I want to know what he plans to do to prevent something like this from happening again.'

'Is that all?' Hermes queried and Zeus pulled at his silver beard thoughtfully. He nodded. Hermes bowed and like a flash of lightning he was gone.

Zeus dropped his head into his giant hand and rubbed at his eyes again. He felt a hand tenderly grip his wrist.

'Another Chimera attack?' Zeus looked up to see Hera standing beside him. Dressed in her fine purple robes, she had just come back from the palace gardens. Zeus tucked his hand beneath her hair and stroked her neck gently.

'Another.'

'Where this time?'

'On Crete.' Zeus spoke almost absently, inspecting the fine lines of Hera's jaw and neck.

'Hm.' Hera expressed, almost curiously. Her attention now wandered from Zeus onto something else.

'What's on your mind?' Zeus asked, noticing her thoughtful look.

'Nothing,' she caressed his arm, 'what do you think could be causing the attacks.'

'I'm not sure my love,' suddenly his face turned hard, 'but whatever it is, it ends now, starting with Hades.'

'Athena!' Athena caught Aphrodite as she flung herself carelessly into Athena's arms. Aphrodite squeezed, planting a kiss on Athena's cheek. Athena's stood entranced by Aphrodite's scent.

Perhaps one of Aphrodite's most favourable traits, second to her unmatchable beauty, was the fact that her scent was the most enrapturing thing, in that, she smelt of all the things that one loved.

Of course, this scent was relative to whoever was close enough to smell her, so not everyone would smell the same thing, but that perhaps was one of the reasons that anyone – and really anyone – could fall in love with Aphrodite in an instant.

And so Athena found herself locked tight in the embrace – her face buried in Aphrodite's soft neck. The scent of freshly cut grass, armour being forged in the heart of fire, the hot sweat, thin and lingering on a man fresh from battle filled her lungs with each breath and before reaching the climax of their encounter, Aphrodite pulled Athena from her.

Athena stood almost curious about what had happened. Aphrodite, close to her, smiled and said softly, 'This is what happens when you deprive your body of what it wants.' Athena glanced away momentarily.

Aphrodite twirled locks of Athena's hair about her slender fingers, inspecting her friends expression.

'You hardly ever visit me,' Aphrodite frowned and Athena almost laughed.

'Why does everyone keep saying that?' Athena wrapped her hands around Aphrodite's wrists and gently pulled her hands away.

'What can I do for you?' Aphrodite asked.

'Well it's less for me and more for Persephone, she said she leant you a few ingredients for your perfumes and potions and what not. I offered to come pick them up for her when she said she was still weak from her underworld-to-olympus trip.'

'Oh yes! It's spring, I completely forgot she'd be back so soon. Come with me.' Aphrodite grabbed Athena's hand and led her through the palace.

Finally once the two reached Aphrodite's intimidate quarters, Aphrodite searched the room for the ingredients.

'Where did I…ah yes!' she said hurrying over to cupboard. She opened it and retrieved a box covered with a fine, silk cloth. Setting down the box on a table close to where Athena stood, she beckoned Athena to her and lifted the cloth delicately.

In the box were little vials and bottles filled with all sorts of things Athena didn't know. Vials glowed and bottles shook, each little vessel with a tag or a label. Athena picked up one and inspected it. I was filled with a translucent, violet liquid. On it was a label.

'Hydra tears,' Athena read out loud. Aphrodite smiled and nodded.

'The only part of the Hydra of Lerna that isn't completely poisonous. The vial was given to Persephone by Hercules when he ventured to the Underworld to capture Cerberus. He found Persephone weeping alone and gave it to her as a gift. Apparently just after Hercules slayed the ninth head of the Hydra, the head shed one lone glistening tear. The tears have excellent restorative powers.'

'Wow. I didn't know.' Athena said inspecting the bottle.

'You could use some.' Aphrodite said bluntly and Athena looked at her. Aphrodite blushed.

'Only for those terrible war scars you have.'

'I'd prefer not to put the excretion of any beast on my face, thank you.' Athena put the vial back in the box, 'I bet this box is very valuable.'

'It is and that's why I keep it hidden. That and the Graces have a tendency to dip into to my good ingredients.' She rolled her eyes.

'I'll keep it safe,' Athena smiled, covering the box with the cloth. Aphrodite led Athena back out the palace.

'You must stay longer next time.' Aphrodite held Athena's hands in hers Athena smiled.

'I'll try.' With another kiss on the cheek and a brief hug, Aphrodite bid Athena goodbye. She watched Athena mount her horse, the box stowed away carefully.

As she watched Athena make her way from the Palace at a gallop, a Grace came to her, offering a bubbling potion in a vial. She bowed her head.

'The first of the batch, Sweet Mistress.'

Aphrodite did not draw her attention from the small dot Athena was as she galloped away. She grabbed the vial and looked on, moments passing.

The Grace squealed, reeling back as the vial exploded with Aphrodite's grip. The rose coloured potion splashed onto her hand and the Grace's dress. Shards of glass tore through Aphrodite's palm as she balled her fist. Blood trickled down her wrist and through her fingers. The Grace watched her mistress' chest heave with large eyes.

'She has been with him.' Aphrodite said, her voice rising as she looked on, 'She has been with him and I can smell him on her.'