Dane waited until the voices in the room faded away before popping open the lid and sucking in a lungful of clean air. Could Dionysus have been any rougher on his wares? He rubbed a lump on his head with misery before clambering out of the keg. Who knew there would be a storehouse in the middle of Mount Olympus?
Unbolting the door, he shyly peeked out and gasped delightedly. The storage room couldn't compare with the rest of the castle. It was surrounded with great columns encircled by wisps of clouds. Rainbows had been fished in and hung neatly on the ceiling, next to the glittering snowflakes.
What really caught his attention though were the gods and goddesses. Ladies had their gold hair wound into tight curls and pinned with the long tails of dark green dragonflies, magically alive and fluttering. The men's skin was slicked with oil pressed from the petals of a rose, gleaming in the sunlight.
Dane's heart dropped. How would such an intimidating throng receive the rough sack on his back and the thistles stuck in his hair? He had half a mind to walk right back into that storehouse and nap in his keg.
However, the tables of nectar and ambrosia lured him. The sweet scent made his stomach rumble pitifully.
Feeling that the trip shouldn't be an entire waste, he crept over and dipped his hands into a bowl of nectar, slurping it up. If he weren't starving, he'd dump it right back in. It tasted like water steeped in goldenrods for too long. Just as he turned around to see if a steak might have been set accidentally on the table, he spotted her.
The maiden had her back toward him, so that all he saw was her tumbling hair reaching the small of her back. Transfixed, he watched her turn around, and the beauty of her face struck him so terribly that he was afraid to move. Her features were clean cut and marble-like, and there was a hint of ice in her face. Surely this was the goddess Aphrodite, beautiful beyond recall.
Her glassy eyes suddenly fastened onto his, and she smiled. Dane shivered. It was not an innocent smile, but she was already gliding toward him, and he was too stupefied to even wipe his gaping mouth.
She held his chin with one hand, and he could smell persias. Scented flowers with poison in their stamens.
"What have we here?" she asked, her voice cold and lilting, like a snowdrift on a faraway mountain. "A little farmer boy? Or is it another spawn of Zeus?"
Dane managed to find his voice. Her nails were digging into his skin. "Neither. I am a god too."
She threw her head up and laughed. "A little one like you? What are you god of? Insects? Or just dirtiness?"
"I am not little," he said, rather hurt. Aphrodite was more aloof than he expected, especially her being the goddess of love. "I just look younger for my age." An inspiration. "I'm Dionysus's son," he declared.
She released his chin and stared at him. "I never knew Dionysus had any offspring," she said dangerously.
He wasn't daunted. "Well, he does. See?" He lifted a foot up for her to inspect. "I've just helped him crush the grapes for your party."
She laughed. "No god before has brought their foot up to my face and lived."
"Until I came." He finally remembered to wipe his mouth.
She tilted her head. "What makes you think I won't destroy you?"
"You wouldn't," he said confidently. She looked startled at his audacity. He plunged on, "You're the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Killing me would be something Dionysus would do if he finds out I'm here."
"When have I said I was Aphrodite?" she asked.
Feeling daring, he took her slim hand and played with each slender finger. "Who else would be the goddess of beauty if not you?"
Her face softened, and she kept her hand in his grasp. "Wouldn't Dionysus let his own son attend the party?"
Dane gulped. His words had slipped. "He wanted to keep me home to mind the grapevines," he amended. "He said someone like me might be hurt by Queen Hera."
Her hand tightened on his, and she said icily, "Yes, Hera just may hurt you."
"I don't believe so," said Dane, trying to loosen her fingers from his. "She is a mother. She'd be too busy caring for her child."
She laughed again, "You are a strange boy." A thoughtful look passed her face, and just as she was about to speak, trumpets rang out.
A god Dane could only guess was Zeus strode up majestically to his throne and opened his arms in welcome. He was handsome and strong, his eyes crinkled with mirth and the span of his arms wide. He called out in a loud voice to the rest of the gods, who fell silent, "Welcome to the celebration of my child! I name him Aristedes, whose name means 'descended from the best!'" Everyone laughed appreciatively.
She did not laugh. Instead, she gazed on stonily. Dane gave the goddess's hand a gently squeeze.
He continued, "We are not sure of his powers just yet, but I daresay it will be impressive. Like his father!" He lifted the infant in the air with distinct pride. Then, looking as if he just remembered something, he added, "Hera, my queen, come up to receive our child!" It was the first time in his speech he had used the word 'our.'
The gods and goddesses murmured politely, and Dane spun around looking for the feared and loathsome queen, but none was to be seen.
Silently, she slipped her hand from his. Pretending not to see Dane's questioning gaze, she strode up to the thrones. Zeus passed the babe to her and planted a light kiss on her marble cheek. "Hera and I ask you all to revel with us in this bundle of good news!"
Dane felt the same way he did when he had first drunk wine. He sputtered for air and leaned against a column for support. His beautiful Aphrodite was none other than Hera, the wife of Zeus. And like the wine, he could not shake off the dizziness of lust.
Ahhh, the beginning of a dangerous relationship. I like how this is going so far, but I'd much rather hear your opinion! Please review!