CHAPTER VI

Athena's eyes flew open with a rattling gasp. Something was on her chest and she couldn't breathe.

Blood rolled from her cheek into her mouth as she lifted her head, only to find what was left of a giant snakes head lying on her chest. With a heave she pushed it off and it rolled to the side, its slack jaw hanging, dislocated and still spewing acidic venom.

Athena took a deep breath. Her armour was heavy on her and she could feel gusts of hot wind brushing her cheek and face. She turned her head realising she lay only inches away from a giants goats' head, severed, yet still steaming.

She pushed herself up and her armour collapsed off her body ungracefully. It once again formed her obsidian steed, tattered and worn out by the battle, but still shaking its head proudly.

Athena touched her nose just by her nostril. Blood. A lot of blood actually, and coming from many different places. She attempted to wipe the blood from her nose but merely smeared it across her cheek and lip as she looked at the carnage left from the battle.

Another Chimera attack, but this time, on Olympus. This one had to be the biggest of the three that escaped from Tartarus and Athena had single-handedly slain this one.

It was no easy battle of course. She had been there for hours, trying to out manoeuvre the beast, and had everyone not been so consumed by Zeus' little party, she might have been sent some help and she might have killed the beast faster.

Athena sighed, stretching out her back. Someone would need to clean this up. Zeus would be furious knowing there were little bits and pieces of Chimera carcass lying around Olympus' forests.

Right now Athena would have chosen to return to her palace, lie in a hot bath and then after, watch what was left of the sun disappear for the evening, but she couldn't. Zeus had mentioned, rather cryptically, in her invitation that it was imperative that she attend.

Limping over to her steed, she mounted, and made her journey to the palace of the Great King Zeus.

The event was in full swing. The last rays of the sun glinted an amber light off of the gleaming golden cutlery, the royal tapestry ruffled in the wind and the air was filled with the sound of music.

On one side of the room, Dionysus stood with Ares. They spoke in low, covert voices.

'You're sure you know what you're doing Ares?' Dionysus looked around skittishly, scratching at the back of his neck, his wine goblet held tight in his hand. He was clearly unnerved, not just by the scale of the party he had been preparing for – every possible god that was actively worshiped was there – but also the fact that this huge party, for the time being, had no purpose or cause – or at least not one that Dionysus could speak of.

Ares' eyes were fixed on the dark wine in his goblet. He swirled and swished it around, and once satisfied, took a sip. Dionysus watched each gulp roll down Ares' neck as he swabbed at his wet temples anxiously.

'Yes Dionysus,' Ares said finally, lowering the goblet. His eyes fixed on Dionysus' worried face, 'I know what I'm doing. Don't worry so much.'

'The guests are starting to ask questions.' Dionysus said, his face disappearing into his goblet.

'Tell them Zeus is rewarding them. For their hard work.' Ares looked around. He scoped the room. Each god was preoccupied with another. Hermes and Artemis spoke animatedly to each other. Demeter and Hestia laughed and chatted together – probably exchanging some recipe – and not too far from her mother was Persephone, hands clasped timidly around the lyre Apollo was trying to teach her how to play.

Roaming the hall, Ares' eyes accidently caught Aphrodite's. It seemed she had been staring at him for a long time, and when he glanced away he could still feel her black eyes boring through him.

Dionysus scoffed, 'Zeus never rewards anyone.' He sipped on his wine and Ares glanced at him. He could see Aphrodite approaching in her gaudy white dress from the corner of his eye.

'Give me a minute, will you?' Ares said, and Dionysus, noticing Aphrodite, winced and slipped away. Ares turned around and there was Aphrodite right behind him. Her large black eyes fixed on his face before she spoke.

'Have you been avoiding me?' she asked. Transfixed by her stare, Ares sipped his wine.

'Of course I haven't.' he said and Aphrodite eyes dropped to the buttons of his military jack, and she placed her hand on his chest.

'I haven't been seeing enough of you.'

'Where's Hephaestus?' Ares asked, planting a chaste kiss on her cheek. Aphrodite gently pressed her face against his neck as he leaned in.

'Not here,' Ares stood back and Aphrodite promptly planted a not-so-chaste kiss on his lips. When she released him she smiled their faces were only inches away from each other.

'Come back to my palace with me.' She said softly. Ares pulled back and smiled, much to Aphrodite's dismay, sympathetically.

Before another word could be said, the hall went silent as fanfares and drums sounded gloriously from outside the palace.

Athena arrived, still battered and bruised and totally taken aback by trumpets that just sounded at her arrival. They went on for a long time too, which she did not expect. The marble path that led up to the Palace of King Zeus was lined with trumpet players, drummers and bards that played as she dismounted her steed. She patted the horse's neck before making her way down the path, a little bewildered.

At the entrance stood Hera, steely faced as ever. Her purple dress billowed in the wind, wisps of her hair blowing before her face as she stood dead still, eyes narrowed, waiting for Athena.

'You're late,' she said descending from the stairs and meeting Athena on the path.

'Forgive me,' Athena said looking around. What was this all about?

'Look at you!' Hera grabbed Athena's arms and lifted them from her sides. Her dress was torn and bloodied, shards of obsidian sticking out here and there. She was dirty and bloody and dishevelled and this was unacceptable.

'What happened to you?'

'Chimera attack.'

'Another one.' The colour drained from Hera's face as she dropped Athena's hands. Zeus would be furious. She glanced at Athena and the state Athena was in one last time before wordlessly grabbing Athena's arms and whisking her off to one of the many, many rooms dedicated purely to Hera's wardrobe.

They climbed many stairs, pushed many doors and passed many bustling servants before reaching the quiet quarters of Hera's dressing rooms.

'There is no way you will be attending that banquet in the state you are now.' Was all Hera said before disappearing into another room, leaving Athena on her own.

Athena could hear the music and laughter sounding from the hall below her. She wondered what this was for. Perhaps it was for her and Ares and their victory over the Cyclopes. Suddenly her expression darkened, and she turned away as if turning away from her thoughts. She didn't want to think about Ares. At all.

'Here,' Hera said re-entering the room with a group of servants bearing a large bucket of warm water and a sponge. One servant held a magnificent red dress in her hands.

'Oh Hera, you are too kind.' Athena said grinning, and Hera frowned, sticking her nose in the air.

'We need to get rid of this,' Hera said grabbing Athena's dress. With one swift tug the dress tore off and Athena was standing totally nude. Athena tried to mask her body as the servants tugged and pulled at her arms, swabbing at her bloody wounds with warm salt water.

'Is this really necessary?' Athena asked, pushing away a servant that had gotten too close.

'Guests of honour should always be presentable. So yes,' Hera side eyed her, 'it really is necessary.'

'Guests of honour?' Athena repeated looking out into the distance. Hera grabbed a dripping sponge from a servant and pushed her aside.

'Come on, we need to work much faster if we want her to be out before Zeus.' Hera gripped Athena's arm and lifted it above her head, swabbing at the wounds on her side.

'Why am I a guest of honour?' Athena asked, looking at her.

'You'll find out soon enough. We all will.'

'You mean you don't know?' Hera dropped the sponge and snapped her fingers, flicking droplets of water in Athena's face.

'The dress!' she called out and the servant hurried to her, dress in hand.

'No,' Hera said bluntly, 'no I do not.'

Ares had managed to slip away from Aphrodite and now stood in the midst of a conversation taking place between Chiron – the centaur Dionysus invited to join his procession – and Apollo.

He didn't engage much, just a nod, and an 'mm-hm' here and there. His mind was elsewhere and he didn't even seem to notice Artemis' presence.

'Laying low are we?' Ares looked up and finally noticed Artemis standing akimbo before him, a grin on her face. Ares furrowed his brows and Artemis nodded in the direction of Aphrodite, who was preoccupied despite herself.

'Mm,' a quiet laugh emitted from Ares chest.

'She's been staring at you the whole night,' Artemis looked back for a second, 'have you greeted her?'

'Of course, she'd be baying for my blood if I hadn't.'

'Are you avoiding her?'

'I'm just…' he sipped his wine again, 'I plan to keep out of trouble tonight.'

'Is she trouble?' Artemis asked and Ares looked at her. Unlike her brother, her skin was dark and dusty from spending so much time hunting in the sun. Ares realised now why he often avoided Artemis too. She asked far too many questions.

'You ask an awful lot of questions.' He said, and Artemis sighed.

'I'm never updated with what's happening around Olympus.'

'Maybe if you spent less time out in the woods and a little more time in the temple with your brother you wouldn't be so out of date.' Ares grinned and Artemis rolled her eyes. She promptly launched into why she couldn't do that and how controlling her brother could be sometimes.

Artemis suddenly noticed Ares loss of attention as his eyes widened and fixed on something behind her. His lips parted for a moment. Artemis turned around.

Descending from the stairs was Athena, clad in an exquisite red dress – probably not her taste – her hair wild and dark about her shoulders. Hera walked beside her but was totally overshadowed by Athena's sudden elegance.

'Thank you for the dress,' Athena said to Hera, 'I wouldn't have been able to pick anything better myself. How do you think I look?'

Hera thought Athena looked absolutely beautiful, which annoyed her a bit considering the dress belonged to her, not Athena. The red lacy number was cut out at the sides, exposing Athena's dipping waist, and the long sleeves only elongated her already sleek form.

'You look decent.' Hera stuck her nose in the air again. Athena smiled. She knew Hera liked it on her.

'Athena!' Artemis broke away from her conversation with Ares and ran to Athena, throwing herself in Athena's arms. They squeezed each other tightly.

'Save me from this senseless party,' Athena whispered in Artemis ear and Artemis giggled. They separated.

'So far it hasn't been as bad as I expected.' Artemis said, catching Hera's cold eye for a moment.

Apollo and Chiron approached Athena, happy to see her. Apollo kissed her on the cheek and commented on how exquisite she looked in the dress.

The moment Ares stepped forward, Athena's face darkened. Everything from her posture to her eyes shifted, yelling hostility. But Ares simply ignored it, a small smile playing on his lips. He extended his hand to her.

'It's good to see you,' he said. His eyes gleamed with the intimacy of the secrets held between them.

Athena, despite herself, knew what was expected of her and extended her hand to him rigidly. He took it gently, and bowed kissing it, his own fingers pressing hers. For a long time did this kiss linger, long enough for that heat to rise through Ares again, merciless, controlled and decadent.

Ares released her hand, and Artemis' eyes jotted from Athena's face to Ares' face non-stop.

'You look magnificent; I don't think I've seen you in this dress before. What a lovely surprise.' Ares grinned diplomatically. The only person who seemed to smile back was Hera.

'The dress is Hera's.' Athena said, looking down at the dress for a moment; her icy disposition remained, 'gorgeous, isn't it?'

'Indeed.' Ares said his eyes on her face. He knew she was upset with him but he would fix that quickly.

'Be ready to take your seats soon. I'll check if Zeus is ready.' Hera said, and suddenly she disappeared up the steps into the Palace.

Apollo glanced between Athena and Ares and smiled to himself placidly. Sensing the mounting tension, he nodded at his sister.

'Come Artemis, why don't we see if the Muses can play something for us?' he moved – gracefully as he usually did – towards Artemis and put his arm around her, pulling her away.

'Chiron, I heard you're rather handy with the harp!' Apollo said, walking away with Artemis still glancing curiously at Ares and Athena. Chiron laughed heartily and trotted behind the two.

'Listen Ares,' Athena said before turning her back to him, 'I'd prefer to be left alone tonight, if you would be so kind.' She began to walk away, and heard a gentle 'Of course,' emit from Ares. Bizarre. He was never one to give up a fight so quickly. Or maybe Athena wasn't a fight anymore.

Athena turned back to look at him, but he had disappeared into the crowd behind her. Dodging the awkward conversations, nodding and grinning at the compliments of her in her dress, and side stepping the offers of drinks, Athena made her way to one of the staircases leading to the rest of the palace.

The hallway she entered was dark and quieter than the festive room downstairs. Only the light of the moon illuminated the empty hall as it cast its silver light onto the cold marble, through the arches.

'Athena?' Athena tensed. She stopped dead in her tracks as a slight unexplained chill ran up her neck.

The silhouette that was Aphrodite emerged from the darkness. She was in another white dress, this one fancier, and not so simple (and easy to slip off) as the one she wore visiting Hades. Glowing like the moon itself, Aphrodite approached Athena as she turned around. Athena smiled, and Aphrodite did too – an off smile – as her eyes fixed on Athena's dress.

'Where are you off to?' Aphrodite kissed both of Athena's cheeks innocently.

'Well, I was really just looking for Zeus,' Athena said, and for a long time Aphrodite stared at the dress, and Athena tried her hardest to meet those black eyes, but they would not move, 'I was just wondering…' Athena sighed; she didn't know what she was wondering really. Aphrodite's focus was elsewhere though, even though she moved with her usual grace and elegance there was something so unusual about her eyes. So dark.

Aphrodite absently pushed away Athena's hair from her shoulders, revealing her chest and throat.

'You must leave him. He is the host after all; he will come when he wants to. He may not come at all.' Aphrodite's eyes scanned Athena, and then just stayed on her – unmoving, not so much as a blink. In that moment Athena felt another chill crawl up her all the way from her spine now. It almost seemed as if Aphrodite's soul escaped her for a moment, leaving only its beautiful frame standing before Athena.

'Aphrodite,' Athena began, growing concerned, 'is something…wrong?'

'You look beautiful.' Aphrodite said, finally coming back to life. She smiled bitterly, raising her hand and tenderly touching the long scar running along Athena's cheek.

'You are beautiful, in fact,' Aphrodite smirked, 'I guess I just never noticed.' She turned and walked passed Athena, circling her.

'And this dress,' Athena heard Aphrodite's voice; ephemeral from the darkness, 'who does it belong to?' Athena laughed quietly, trying to rid the air of the sudden tension.

'What makes you think it isn't mine?'

'You hardly have taste for this sort of thing.'

'I beg your pardon?' Athena narrowed her eyes at Aphrodite.

'Have I offended you? Forgive me.'

Athena sighed, rubbing her eyes. She was exhausted, and still slightly in pain from the battle.

'Maybe…maybe we should just go downstairs and enjoy the night. Even fill ourselves with a little wine?' Athena rubbed her neck awkwardly. Suddenly, Aphrodite appeared right before Athena's face. She was only inches away, and Athena could feel Aphrodite's hot breath on her face.

'I was once told,' Aphrodite only inched closer as Athena backed away, 'That I have a timeless beauty. I didn't think much of it at first, but now I think of it quite often. Maybe even too often. What do you think…of my beauty?' her voice was quiet, passing Athena's ear like the wind.

'It is timeless indeed,' Athena said after a short while, 'wise words.'

'Yes,' Aphrodite laughed her tinkling laugh, 'One wouldn't expect them from Ares, of all people.' Athena froze, she wasn't sure if it was Aphrodite's warm, shallow breaths that made her face warm, or something else.

'You see, one should not dwell on such vanities. But vanity is all I have,' Aphrodite's hands suddenly grabbed Athena's sides, the tips of her fingers slipping under the material of her dress. Athena winced. In the battle she was sure she had seriously damaged a few ribs, and now she could confirm that.

'Do you understand? If you only had your wisdom to uphold, you too would be protective of it. But you have your wars and your wisdom, your cryptic and incomprehensible beauty, your strength.'

'Aphrodite,' Athena said, her voice caught in her throat, 'you are perfection.'

'Yes,' Aphrodite said, just above a whisper, 'I know. But perfection is out of fashion don't you think? Imperfection is the new perfection. There is something so appealing,' Aphrodite was so close now, their noses brushed every few seconds, 'about someone, so unappealing. I obsess over these things now.'

'Why?' Athena could barely breathe with Aphrodite so close to her. She gasped as she felt Aphrodite's suddenly quite sharp nails dig into her bruised skin.

'Once one of my servants spilled a potion onto my shoulder and it burnt my skin. The scar was very small, only the size of a petal, but I was furious. I felt defaced, marred – disfigured. My beauty was compromised. My perfection was compromised. And as I yelled and kicked and cried, Ares came to me and kissed me. Kissed my scar. He said he thought scars were…beautiful, because each scar was different and they showed when someone felt pain. So I wonder,' Aphrodite's face darkened, her voice low and her nails deep in Athena's skin, 'with your marred and battered body, how does he feel when he sees you?'

'Aphrodite, Athena,' Athena suddenly heard from behind Aphrodite. Aphrodite's eyes softened and widened, 'what are you two doing up here?'

Aphrodite released Athena and turned around, innocently folding her hands before her.

'Just chatting, about that lovely dress mostly,' Aphrodite looked over at the dress as Athena touched her side. Wet. Aphrodite's nails had gone too deep. Athena cleared her throat.

'What are you doing up here?' She asked. Ares glanced from her to Aphrodite.

'Well actually I came looking for Aphrodite. The muses are about to play that song you love. Should be rather entertaining, Poseidon's drunk enough to join in.' Ares could feel the tension in the air, but ignored it like it was never there.

'Excellent,' Aphrodite beamed, and Ares put his arm around her waist. There stood Aphrodite and Ares together and Athena isolated on the other side of the hall.

'Don't you think she looks just beautiful Ares?' Aphrodite asked and Athena's neck hairs stood on end. She swallowed, giving Ares a meaningful look.

'Of course,' Ares smiled blankly, 'but then again we hardly ever see each other off the battle field. I'm only used to seeing Athena bruised and bloodied really. It's nice seeing you dressed up for a change.' Ares let his eyes linger on her for only a moment before curling his arm around Aphrodite's shoulder and escorting her to the staircase.

'Come, we don't want to miss the show, do we?' Ares turned to kiss Aphrodite's hair, giving Athena only a glance.

The two disappeared down the stairs, music sounding off the walls, as Athena stood alone in the sliver moonlight.

To be continued…