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Kingdom of Aphrodite

Camus stopped hesitantly in the front of the entrance, heading straight to the place where Milo was. The whole story he heard from Goddess Athena was still unbelievable for him. Too hard to believe, too hard to understand. The reasoning of the main culprit… just beyond his abilities of understanding.

Milo was… His beloved Milo was kidnapped by Goddess Aphrodite, just for her own content. She took the Scorpio away, erasing the memories of every person that knew Milo.

Why did it happen? Why Milo actually? Just because he was handsome? Because he had muscular body, tanned skin? Blue eyes and many curls? Lady Athena said it was the case. That Aphrodite was a really selfish woman that always had been taking everything she wanted. Is she found a human interesting, she was taking him to her kingdom, keeping alive, in some trance until he would be needed. All of them were only toys for her, only 'things' waiting patiently for her interest and being thrown away the first moment this interest disappeared. It was so cruel, that Camus felt almost pain only at the thought that this fate was going to happen to his Milo.

So when Lady Athena told him about the agreement she made with Aphrodite, he wasn't hesitating. He had to rescue his lover no matter what. Even if it could mean to be cursed for the whole eternity. Even if he would suffer the worst now and after his death. He couldn't let Milo to stay in the hands of anyone treating human's life like nothing.

Beside he couldn't even imagine the world without Milo. Yes, he was some kind of cold man, who always kept his emotions sealed, but… He loved Milo. The Scorpio was making him a better person. He was making him warmer, more compassionate, more open. They were a couple really short time, but since Milo said "I love you" he understood he loved Milo as well from a long time ago. He already missed his beloved one, and the thought about staying alone for the rest of his life…

Beside, how he could consider the situation of not going there? Milo helped him to live; he helped him to see many things. He was beside him for such a long time. Milo loved him… and was loved. So how Camus could not come? He was really happy about having Milo by his side and if he could help he would do that without any hesitation. Even if it could mean to fight with another God. Even if he would have to go to the Underworld again to take Milo away, even if he would have to go to the Olympus and beg to free his lover. He was ready to do everything. To suffer the endless pain, to be Aphrodite's' puppet instead of Milo, everything…

His task seemed to be really simple. He only had to go with Lady Athena and show that his memories about Milo weren't erased. He had to show how much he loved Milo. That was all…

But he felt it would be much more difficult thing to do. He knew that Gods loved to play with humans and there was high possibility that Lady Aphrodite prepared something 'special' for him. To show where his place was. To make him sure his life meant nothing. To keep his pray with her.

"Don't worry, Camus," he heard calm, encouraging voice behind. "I will be with you there."

He looked at the young face of his Goddess. She smiled to him widely, trying to convince him there was still hope. But he knew she couldn't help him too much. If Athena would interfere, the Goddess Aphrodite could refuse to return Milo back. It was more than sure. So, he could rely only on himself. He was the only one capable of bringing Milo to the Sanctuary again. Lady Athena would be there only to watch. Nothing more.

Oh, how much he wished it would be easy. To do only what Lady Athena told him to do. That the beautiful lady wouldn't make him to do something horrible. That Milo would be back soon…

Oh, he was so nervous. He didn't even know what he should think. It was the first situation in his whole life when he felt almost helpless. Like he wasn't able to do anything. Even in the front of Hades he didn't feel like that. But now… If he would fail… the lonely life in the front of him was frightening… And first of all, he felt strange thinking like that. It wasn't like him. It wasn't like the cold Aquarius Saint. He knew it was thanks to Milo and his wonderful soul, but Camus… Camus never imagined he could feel all of these…

"Everything will be all right, Camus. Don't worry. Milo will come back with us," added Lady Athena, still looking at the worried face of Camus, wondering, what she could do to relax him a little.

But the truth was that, she felt nervous as well. One of her reliable, beloved Saints was imprisoned by the Goddess of Beauty and it seemed to be almost impossible to take him back. She could understand why Camus was so nervous and worried. These two seemed to have really strong bond together. She wanted to take him back as well, how the Sanctuary would be without this cheerful warrior, smiling every day and making everyone to feel better only with his presence?

She took the last look at Shion, who smiled to her, encouraging and alongside with Camus, Lady Athena passed through the special portal to appear soon in the Kingdom of Aphrodite.

He had no enough courage to keep his eyes open. He let the gentle cosmo of Athena lead him through the portal with his eyes tightly closed. He was really afraid. Just in a few seconds he would meet another Goddess of Olympus. And almost all his memories about meting a God were really awful. Maybe it was the influence of the Holy War, of the fight with Hades and dying with the name of Athena on his lips just in the front of the Willing Wall, maybe it was the influence of spending a few years in cold Cocytus, but right now even a simple thought about standing face to face with another heavenly being was filling him with the uneasy.

But Milo was waiting for him, in the hands of selfish Goddess. He couldn't retreat, he couldn't leave Milo alone. Only he was able to rescue his lover. This cheerful man saved him many times, just since the beginning of their strange friendship. So, how could he abandon the Scorpio just because he was frightened of seeing another God?

He took one deep breath, gasped his fists and opened the eyes. He couldn't act like a coward. It was ridiculing him pretty much.

He was sure he and Lady Athena were still passing through the portal, but the first moment Camus opened his eyes, he saw an endless beach, with golden sand under his feet, the slight humming of the clear water and wonderful palace at some distance. He never thought that any God or Goddess could have such a world only for himself. It was like a fairy tale, a beautiful house with the Queen of Fairies inside, waiting for the children's wishes. He fell in love with this land, if he could, he would like to live there with Milo forever, not worrying about the Saint's duties, about their fellows or any God.

But… The whole beach was full of strange sculptures, made with the coral reef and resembling a human's silhouettes too much…

"Yes, Camus. It is exactly what it looks like…" Lady Athena whispered.

The Aquarius Saint looked at her with the surprise.

"They are bodies of all these man she took away. They have been put into the trance until she would need them. And of course Milo is among them as well…"

Camus peeked around, searching for the face of Milo. But all of these strange coral reefs looked exactly the same. How he could find his lover?

"So…" they heard the melodic voice behind them. Camus turned around and saw otherworldly beautiful woman in really ethereal robe in the color of the sky's blue, with golden, long curls and smooth body. It was surely the same woman like in his dream. "So, you are that human, who dared to oppose me?"

Camus gulped, looking into the cold, but wonderful eyes that freeze him with its emotionless. How someone could look like that? She was beautiful and surely really vainglorious, but her face had no human's emotions. She was like a doll. Only her eyes were revealing some strange feelings like boredom, coldness and even some kind of interest in the human that managed to remember.

Now he understood that in the reality he was really compassionate and warm Saint…

"I brought him, just like you wanted," Lady Athena smiled, unaffected by the beauty and emotionless face of her divine fellow.

Lady Aphrodite walked over the French, looking carefully at him. She touched gently his cheek, delicately stroked his eyelids and smiled slightly. If he wouldn't love Milo so much, he would fell at her feet, begging to let him stay here forever. She was a woman every man in the world could endlessly love with all their hearts.

She smiled wider, like she knew very well all his thoughts.

"So, you remember my Milo?"

He gulped.

"Y-yes. Lady Aphrodite. I clearly remember Milo," Camus answered with shaking voice.

"How it could be? My power is infinite; I erased all your memories about him. How could do remember him," she asked almost insistently with imperious voice.

"I don't know how I could remember. And for a first day I had no idea who Milo was, but I managed to remember him."

Lady Aphrodite laughed shortly and coldly. She stopped beside one of the silhouettes, whispered something quietly and the coral reef started to fell off, showing Camus the pale, unconsciousness face of his lover, Milo, with half closed eyes and messed curls on his head.

The French gasped his fists, holding himself to not run over there and try to free the Scorpio with his own bare hands.

"As his owner, I have the access to all his memories," she said melodically, stroking gently the blue curls of Milo, delicately clinging to him. "Prove me that you remember him by your own, and this is not one of Athena's tricks. Tell me something that only you would know about him."

Something he would know about Milo…? What could it be? He had to choose wisely, so Lady Aphrodite couldn't doubt him. Should he say something concerning their relationship? But… In the presence of Lady Athena? It was a little strange for him. To talk about his love, about their intimate life having his Goddess beside, listening to him carefully.

"Don't hesitate, Camus," whispered Lady Athena, smiling to him warmly. She really wanted to encourage him, so Milo could return to the Sanctuary.

The aquamarine haired Saint looked into her clear eyes. That was right – he couldn't hesitate. The life of Milo was on his hands, their love and happiness as well. He couldn't waste this chance just because he felt strange in the presence of Lady Athena. She was the Goddess of Wisdom, and she would surely understand his feelings towards Milo.

"Aurora Borealis," he said shortly. "The first time he saw Aurora Borealis was on Siberia… The same day when… when Milo said he loves me. And when we kissed for the first time. He went outside my hut and was looking at the Aurora Borealis with shining eyes, as if he was looking at the most beautiful thing in the whole universe."

The silence fell on the beach. Lady Aphrodite was looking at him with cold eyes, still stroking Milo's curls. Was she searching in his memories this event? Could she lie about it? Could she say that something like that never happened? And if she would, then what he could do next? Would everything be lost completely?

But Lady Aphrodite smiled widely but coldly.

"Well, I have no idea how, but it seems my power was ineffective in your case, young man," she murmured with spurious voice. "I'm really surprised. Maybe I was careless that night…?" she added quietly, delicately kissing Milo's cheek, and looking at Camus' reaction.

Both of them Camus and his Goddess sighed with the relief. Did it mean Milo could go back?

"You proved you remember him. Fine. But if you want him back," Lady Aphrodite started, "you have to show me your love. Yours and Milo's. Then, if you succeed, I will consider returning him to you, young man."

Lady Athena looked at her surprised.

"But… You said…"

"I said you will have to show me that love you were talking about, Athena. Don't tell me you thought only some crap about Aurora Borealis would be enough," the Goddess of beauty laughed shortly and then looked at Camus. "You really want him back, right? Then why you won't stay here, with him? You see, I already really like Milo and I don't want to depart with him," she kissed his lips gently. "And you are good looking yourself, young Saint. You could live here forever…" she smiled.

Camus gasped his fists. How could she offer something like that? He would have to betray Lady Athena and willingly surrender to that selfish Goddess. Just to stay here as her puppet, probably never seeing Milo again, living only for her content.

"I think I will refuse. My place and Milo's place is not here, but at the side of Lady Athena."

Aphrodite gasped from the surprise, hearing such words without any respect. She was really irritated for his stupidity and refusal of eternal life here, in her kingdom. It was the first time in her whole life when human refused her. Why? Was it really something called 'pure love'? A feeling that can overwhelm everything else? Could it be enough to be unaffected by her beauty and words?

"Fine. But freeing Milo from here won't be as easy as saying a few words, young man," she growled quietly, making the coral to fell off Milo's body.

Camus gulped, watching the pieces of coral falling off. He had no idea what did it mean. Firstly Lady Aphrodite didn't want to let Milo go, but right now she was releasing him by her own will.

"Milo…" he murmured when the legs of the Scorpio were free finally. Camus walked a few steps towards his lover and then he froze, when bright eyes of Milo looked at him.

It wasn't his Milo. It was a beast with the hatred inside his eyes, beast wanting to shed some blood, no matter which one's blood. Camus could see this yearning of the battle, of fighting, of giving the painful death.

Lady Aphrodite laughed.

"Look. This is the love your Milo has for you."

Camus blinked a few times, still looking at the wild eyes of his lover, where was no humanity at all.

The red flash hit the place just a few millimeters from Camus' foot the same time when the lips of Milo smiled rapaciously.