3. The Headhunter
A/N: Thanks for feedback so far, keep it coming! - AphroditePersephone - Yes, Ares will show up. As will Hephaestos, in a few chapters so stay tuned!
On the crest of the cliff stood a figure in a hooded, dark-gray cloak, pulling the leather garment tighter around a slender form while regarding the heaving waves beneath which the young goddess had dived. The hooded onlooker had no idea what had occurred between Aphrodite and Ciresia in the mortal's stable, yet it was evident that something of significance had taken place. Both goddesses had been in distress when they left, each in her own direction. Ciresia had taken west, breaking the barrier of sound as she went, scaring the wits out of the mortals who had thought their last day had come. Very irresponsible and unusual for such a normally so held together and reliable goddess. Aphrodite in turn had dived under the waves and was now hiding somewhere beneath the surface, no doubt concealing tears of despair. This was not good, the hooded was worried. If this didn't get straightened out, Aphrodite would never be useful in the intended way. The hooded hated to see carefully laid out designs shattered because of some dumb event in the past. Both goddesses ought to have put such things behind them now...
On the other hand, immortals could hold grudges - for centuries sometimes. The hooded knew all about it. Having seen Zeus and Prometheus, Hera and Io, Oceanus and Japetus... there were dozens of gods who had let something sour come between them and never getting over it. Would that also be the case between Aphrodite and Ciresia? And would it stop Aphrodite from fulfilling her potential? No, the onlooker was not ready to dismiss this girl yet. She had aptitude, so much was true. If only she let go of her past, she could become remarkable! Of that the hooded was certain!
0O0O0O
It had sounded like a good idea at the time, going to Hyperion's court in Coronassa for a spontaneous visit to Ceridion. Aphrodite had thought he would be happy to have her showing up and surprising him. Instead he appeared stressed and slightly - embarrassed. The goddess had hoped for a heartily welcome. For hugs and kisses and a candle lit dinner for two where they would look into each other's eyes and renew their vows to always love the other one. Instead her beloved acted like he didn't know what he would do with her presence.
"It's not really a good time, Aphrodite." Stressed hands tearing through dark locks, titanium bracelets glistening in the mellow, pinkish light of the setting sun shining in through the pillars of the stoa.
"What do you mean?"
"You could have called ahead."
"Why should I - I wanted to surprise you, I don't want to use a magic mirror and blow that."
"Aphrodite, it's not like I'm not delighted to see you, but..."
"But what?"
"I'm kinda busy, dear," he sighed, raised his brows and lashed out with his hands in a gesture of something looking terribly like despair to her. "Had you called I could have let you know that now is not a good time. I must see certain people, dine with certain people, let the night become late with those people while we - well, discuss important things. No matter how much I would've wished, dear Aphrodite, I don't have the time to spend with you."
"But my darling - take me with you!" she urged him but he shook his head, his cheeks almost blushing and she felt her shoulders square in anger.
"What? Are you ashamed of me? Because my mother supported the Titans?"
"No! It's not like that! After all Hyperion himself is related to the Titans. Titans or Modern Gods, that's just a political chasm."
"But Ceridion! What is the problem then?"
"That I am busy, Aphrodite. Besides you wouldn't fancy sitting in on those court dinners, they are stiff and pompous. Boring beyond reason. Nothing like the happy gang you're used to hang with."
Aphrodite could've guessed. Old Hyperion suffered from a kind of Olympos complex and was trying to re-create the court of Zeus and Hera, and failing because he lacked that certain it-factor which had made the mountaintop couple so successful in gathering spectacular and powerful associates. It was no secret that three of Hyperion's own children - Helios, Selene and Eos - the most illustrious ones - had left their father's pantheon to go working for Zeus.
In any case Aphrodite was not giving up that easy, she kept insisting and in the end Ceridion sighed and opened his door for her, stepping to the side to let her in but making her promise she would stay in his apartment until he came back. In return he promised to bring all kinds of goodies - including his willing body. So the goddess had let him go. Then she waited... and waited...
Ceridion returned early in the morning the next day and he woke up Aphrodite who had fallen asleep among the soft sheets - only to crash in bed himself, hardly saying a word. When Aphrodite sneaked up next to him, he was already under the spell of Morpheus. It was then she felt it - as a faint trace in his aura, something he had tried and failed to hide, because he had no idea how good she was at these things. Ceridion had been with another woman, and fragments of her presence were still notable with him.
So that was the explanation to his strange behaviour earlier in the night, there had been someone else; he had a woman here whom he spent time with, seeking pleasure when Aphrodite was not around.
At that moment her immediate reaction was to grab her things and run - out of Ceridion's life. But that would mean admitting defeat, and if there was something Aphrodite was not, so was it a loser. Therefore she waited a few hours, until she felt he was 'rested' enough and then she woke him up with kisses and cuddles. Using her most tender yet hottest touches to slowly bring him back from the land of dreams. As he little by little returned up again, he became aroused, even while not yet awaken. That was a certain thing happening to men under the right circumstances, something Aphrodite figured would be worth exploiting one day. And now was definitely the right moment.
Pushing away the creamy silk sheets with a soft rustle, she liberated his almost erect member, only to take it in her mouth and give him an exquisite treatment. He snapped awake as he peaked and with an intake of breath he looked down upon her.
"Aphrodite!"
She didn't reply, not in speech at least. It wasn't really that easy with him between her ruby lips, instead she answered him silently, her lips forming words not exactly meant for ears. Ceridion blinked several times, as if trying to figure out whatever he was still dreaming or not. In that moment Aphrodite beheld the strangest blend in his eyes - lust mixed with anguish. Anguish no doubt caused by that other woman he had been spending time with earlier in the night. Did he understand she knew? Well, she sure would let him understand. When she was done with Ceridion, when she had given him all she could give and then some, and when he was beyond pleased, she would confront him with what she knew and not let him off the hook until he had put all the cards on the table. But first she was going to make love to him like nobody had ever loved him before, so he might learn what he would miss if he chose the other one before her. That had been Aphrodite's plan at least.
But they both failed to notice the faint knock on the doorframe, both of them caught in the ecstasy of each other, both of them so totally focused upon their mate that they didn't hear the sound of the door clicking open. It wasn't until the screamed profanities cut through the stillness they became aware of the visitor. Snapping at attention, Ceridion uttered another name in surprise:
"Ciresia!"
"What in the name of all damned realms of chaos is it I see?"
As Aphrodite turned around she couldn't help smirking. She had anticipated this. Thus she had disciplined the rage she was feeling in her belly to make her payback hurt even more.
"My, my! What have we here? Little Ciresia, daughter of Taygete! So you're the one who've been spending time with my Ceridion and making him so split in his loyalties that he doesn't know what to do when I turn up to bestow him a with a nice little surprise."
"Split loyalties? You BITCH! Ceridion proposed to me yesterday!"
0O0O0O
That encounter had been the start of a drama which turned the court of Hyperion in turmoil like never before. Hyperion's chancellor in bed with another woman on the day of his engagement! That sure was a scandal to travel around the world of the gods several times, and with each round it turned a bit more appalling. First neither Aphrodite nor Ciresia backed down but then Ceridion made it clear where his loyalties lied - with Ciresia. Aphrodite was more or less convinced that this had less to do with what his heart desired and more with his proposal to Ciresia in front of almost the complete court of Hyperion. That move had made the vow impossible to back away from and still retain his decency. Apparently the man rather lost the love of his life than his face.
Then, finally Aphrodite yielded. With her cheeks burning with the shame of being cast aside, had she returned to her mother's place in Dodona, where she licked her wounds like an injured animal. Dione and Aphrodite's younger sisters had tried to cheer her up, but the goddess was not in the mood. Not long after was she declaring that she was sick of all the immortal drama and needed some distance to it all. Some soul searching. Originally her plan was to go east to those exotic gods who dwelled there, but in the end was she too much of a coward, fearing that the juicy gossip had travelled ahead of her even to these faraway places. She sure didn't want to go anywhere where she was 'Aphrodite the sleazy', the one who was good for nothing but stealing men from other women.
The only place where she didn't carry that reputation was in the realm of the mortals. There, where nobody knew who she was and the gods were something strange, distant and scary, could she hide away and start anew. In the mortal world was she just Aphrodite, the match maker and the medic. The sole lady with a history hidden in veils, but who took care of those around her and helped. The kind one who looked young and sweet but carried wisdom beyond her ages. Finally was she able to receive love and respect. So she stayed, happy most of the time and lastly feeling that she was doing something right in her life.
Or at least that had been the case until the past caught up with her and changed all that.
She might have hoped for a longer respite, but there was no use pushing it forward anymore. She had to go out there and face the music. And to convince herself that she knew how to dance to it as well.
0O0O0O
"Ceridion!" Aphrodite called out where she stood outside the rotunda, seeing shadows and light moving about on the inside of the large, colourful silk curtains which were bellowing in the mild wind of the evening. Soft windcimes were tingling and the fragrance of roses fermented the air. Ciresia was not there with him now, that was all Aphrodite needed to know. Taygete's little brat didn't need to listen to this discussion Aphrodite was going to have with her former lover.
Having to call him twice more annoyed her, but eventually Ceridion managed to gather courage enough to come out to her. After a while were one of those curtains pushed aside and there he was, looking oddly astounded as if he hadn't understood that this day would eventually come.
"Aphrodite! What brings you here?"
"Talk," she responded curtly.
"What about, after all those years?"
"Ciresia came to see me today. And let's just say it wasn't a happy encounter."
When Ceridion failed to reply, Aphrodite went on:
"So what did you really tell that little wife of yours? That I crashed through your door that faithful night and raped you?"
"Come on, Aphrodite, you know I didn't say such a thing."
"I'm not sure what I 'know' about you these days!"
"I admit it was wrong of me to not be honest with you about seeing Ciresia. And I have apologized for that, I don't know what else you expect from me..."
"To be as honest with Ciresia if possibly. How much did you tell her about your relationship with me? For fate's sake, man, I don't even know if you were seeing her already when you started dating me or if it was the other way around really."
"Aphrodite, it's a bit more complicated than that."
"Then tell me! And then go right ahead and tell Ciresia too!"
"Why should I?"
"Because she also deserves honesty."
"And since when did you start worrying about me being honest to her? Or have you forgotten that it was you who pulled us all in this mess?"
"Oh, so it was?" Aphrodite put her hands to her sides. "I clearly remember you not telling me anything about that little fiancée of yours when I came to see you in Coronassa. Besides I care about you being honest with her for purely selfish reasons; I want the bitch off my back. Now come on, give me that way overdo explanation why you entertained two girls at a time!"
Ceridion sighed and gazed down at his knuckles, Aphrodite could tell he was bracing himself. Then he straightened up his shoulders and head and seemed to actually grow two inch by doing so.
"Aphrodite, it's really not that simple. I was in love with you. Madly in love. But when I came to the court of Hyperion I became drawn into those plays for power. I was hungry, I longed for the chance to be someone of importance, to wield real power. As did Ciresia. We were on the same level with that, and we reasoned that if we fought together we would be able to acquire a lot. We became partners in politics - no, more than that - we became inseparable. So one thing lead to another since we found that an alliance on the personal plane would give us even more allies, among our own two families for instance! It all went so fast. Meanwhile I knew that I had to be frank with you about the turn my life had taken - one day. I definitely didn't expect you to turn up on my doorstep that very day when I had proposed to Ciresia."
"Then why didn't you tell me immediately? I could've handled it. Rather than being set up like that."
"Hey, you figured it out rather soon, didn't you? Yet you seduced me when I was half awake. What's that if not a set-up?"
"It was an act of desperation from a girl who saw her love slipping through her fingers and without any reasonable idea about what to do about it. If you really did care for me, Ceridion, you could at least have offered me that little human touch."
Ceridion's shoulders slumped again and he buried his face in his hands and sighed, shoulders heaving and the rings on his fingers gleaning against his tanned skin.
"I'm sorry, Aphrodite. I guess I also was desperate. But not for love but for power. And I messed up. It was stupid and it took me years to repair..."
"Yes, and my life is still not repaired."
"I can't help you with that."
"I didn't expect you to either."
"Then why did you come here?"
"To ask you to get Ciresia out of my life. What you and I had is history and she should also be out of my life. Or else I will not be able to go on either. If you respect me just the tiniest bit you have given me that chance."
"Aphrodite?"
"Yes..."
"I'm sorry."
With those words Ceridion came up and held out his hand:
"I'll talk to Ciresia. I promise. There's only one thing."
"What?" More or less reluctantly did Aphrodite take her former lover's hand. It felt familiar even after all these years, and she hated herself for the emotions the touch stirred.
"I've hurt her since. I guess I never got over you. And there has been another woman. I envision Ciresia thought it was you."
"Then it is really time for you to be honest. Tell Ciresia everything, both about me and about... whoever it is, and then let's forget all this."
"...she's a daughter of Zeus who..."
"Please!" Aphrodite held up a hand. "I don't want to know who that woman is. I don't need the past to come back to haunt me anymore. Just explain to Ciresia, and tell her to get off my back."
With those words Aphrodite let go of Ceridion's hand and he said something about 'I promise' before she turned her back to him and took off in the sky. In her chest the strangest sensation of emptiness. She didn't feel a thing for Ceridion anymore. She had missed him for so long, dreamt that he one day would realize that he missed her too and come back to her. Desires she hardly dared to admit. Thoughts she really wanted to send back to some dusty, forgotten part of the brain and never consider again. Until tonight when she realized that he felt as interesting as a pile of driftwood.
0O0O0O
"I'm Eumonia," the stranger goddess said while sitting down next to Aphrodite on the marble bench. The latter tore her eyes from the view of a storm-raged ocean with crashing, white-foamed waves to glance over at the woman who had joined her.
"Hi, I'm Aphrodite," the young goddess responded conversionally. She had really wanted to be alone for a while, trying to figure out what she felt after her conversation with Ceridion.
"You have time for a little conversation?" Eumonia asked and Aphrodite regarded the other goddess silently, not really knowing what to expect. Eumonia pulled back the hood of her grey cloak, revealing a squarey face which was just the slightest bit too masculine to be comely and surrounded by raven black curls. Her intelligent, dark brown eyes were regarding Aphrodite like she already knew everything about her. It made Aphrodite feel a bit apprehensive and uncomfortable, something she tried her very best to not show since she had absolutely no idea what to make out of this woman and this situation. Yes, she HAD been gone a long time from the world of the immortals; she hardly knew how to treat another one of her own kind anymore!
"Yes, well... yes," she finally answered. "It's not exactly like I'm going anywhere right now. Not in a hurry I mean."
"And why is that?" Eumonia prompted and Aphrodite pulled back her shoulders, feeling a bit uneasy.
"I did something I had to do - finally. It feels refreshing and finalized since it now means that I'm not burdened by my past anymore."
"That's good to hear. That means you can start taking care of your future instead, Aphrodite."
"Yeah, I guess I can," the goddess tried to not shrug or show any similar body language.
"So do you have any plans?" The way Eumonia asked it, sounded so very much like she was already certain Aphrodite had none. It made the blonde goddess feel exposed and she had to fight the urge to just stand and walk away. She really detested when people was prodding her like this, especially now, when she was in such a raw and vulnerable status.
"Not really," she reluctantly admitted after a few silent moments.
"What would you say about going somewhere? To embark upon the adventure of your life?"
Naturally the young goddess felt quite taken aback by that odd offer and she had to fight an urge to giggle while she put her right hand across her torso.
"I am not exactly the most adventurous person there is, but do tell what you had in mind!"
"An open position in a pantheon not far from here."
"Uhm... and what exactly do they want me to do?"
"Love."
"Love?"
"I'm not going to make it any secret that I've seen you working with match making among mortals. And I'm impressed by what I've seen; you appear to have an eye for it."
"Well, that was a while back. In Mycenae, when I was living there. Where I live now, it's such a small place. No need for animating any pairings really. Most people seem to find each other in spite. And when they don't - well, then they might come to me. So what's this pantheon deal? Some - divine matchmaking?"
"Yes, that's part of the work description. But most important will be the work among the mortals. Meaning not just on a small level like what you have been doing so far. Here we're talking dynasty building. Large scale match making. Finding couples among certain available groups and also planning ahead for their children."
"That sounds like - heavy."
"It is."
"But I'm not sure I can do it. I'm not..."
"You'll be educated, Aphrodite. You will learn about the buildup of the mortal world and the politics of nobilities. My... employer, he has this idea about creating large and strong mortal societies with the help of long lasting and powerful royal houses ruled by wise and cunning individuals. Clever leaders for the mortals. Dynasties that can last for centuries and provide safety and continuity. To acquire that he'll need to build durable pairings, parental guides for coming leaders to show them the righteousness of ruling. He also dreams about peace between rivalling nations, on the basis of love between key members of certain royal and noble houses. And perhaps, most important, he wants to see happy mortals living good lives. He believes true love is the lock picker to many of these things. I hope to show him that you can help with that. At least after receiving a few reasonable years of preparations."
"Huh - He thinks?" Aphrodite hesitated. "What makes this god think so? That I should be able to work on such scales...? Do I know this pantheon and your employer?"
"No, I don't think you do. But I'm quite certain you know ABOUT him!"
"Then don't be so secretive, Eumonia! Who is he?"
"He's Zeus."
"Say again!" Aphrodite felt almost like she was going to fall backwards, off the bench. "You mean THE Zeus? The Olympian, the elected King of the Gods? He wants to hire me?"
"Yes on all those questions. Actually, I pass on the last one since I'm not sure how you two would hit off. Not before you have met. But what I do for Zeus is called headhunting, which means I find able gods and goddesses who can fill in holes in Zeus' pantheon, taking care of the things he and the others believe are in need to be done. Ever since the early days have we lacked a really talented Goddess of Love. Both Zeus' wife Hera and the agricultural goddess Demeter gave it a try, but no one really had the knack on things. So I was asked to find a love goddess. "
"And you thought of me, why?" Aphrodite felt like she had to pinch herself, it was so unreal. "Because it can't be the things I did in Mycenae, right?"
"Yes, partly because of them. What you did there made me see you and realize that you have other potentials too. Now, don't argue that 'they were just mortals'! What makes Olympos different is that we consider the broader perspectives. Something which includes the mortals to a very large extent. What happens to them, what they do and feel is important. Because their well-being affects us all. Consequently, when I saw your skills in use, I understood that you could be the one I had been looking for. To be true, my first candidate was your mother, but your traits are stronger than hers and could easily be honed to fit in with what you'll need to do. On top of that you're such a passionate woman, and that is something a Goddess of Love has to be!"
"That passion - has only given me trouble," Aphrodite looked down at her hands with cheeks burning.
"That's because you're still young! You're just past 70..."
"81!"
"So you have quite a few things to learn about controlling your emotions and using them to your benefit instead of the other way around. What you might have done in your youth is of little consequence. We've all been there done that, and hopefully did we learn something from it. Now, Aphrodite, are you interested in my proposition?"
"How could I not be? I mean Olympos - Zeus! Wow!"