Love's An Invisible Monster

by windwhisper flickerheart

Young 16-year-old Hercules is cursed to be invisible by the gods, given a pair of wings to fly and a magic bow and arrows that make his victims fall in love. When he accidentally shoots himself with an arrow instead of Meg, he can't help fall in love with her. But Meg must prove she is a true heroine and break Herc's curse. Based on my favorite Greek myth "Cupid & Psyche".

5. Chapter 4 - Aphrodite's Wrath

Chapter 4 - Aphrodite's Wrath

...

"Young men's love then lies

Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."

-Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

...

Feeling downcast and seemingly alone, Meg sat for a moment in the dark palace trying to think things over to herself, when suddenly there was a burst of radiant light and exploding laughter. A Greek goddess in a long pink toga with long hair in heart-shaped buns appeared in the room before her.

"Silly girl, did you think your little trick with the candle would work?"

Meg stared in terror at the luminous figure in the dark room before her.

"Do you know who I am? I'm the goddess you've offended when young Hercules there said - twice now - something about a maiden more beautiful than Aphrodite."

"No, please!" Meg pleaded. "He didn't mean it! It hardly matters to me!"

"I'll teach you a lesson, girly," said Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. "Hercules just flew the coop because you weren't allowed to see his face, or the deal with the gods would be broken. Did you get a glimpse of him? Handsome, wasn't he?" She clasped her hands together and sighed dreamily. "It was love at first sight. I know he only said those words about me because he's in love with you, but I'm going to teach you a lesson anyway."

"I don't know where Hercules went!" Meg beseeched the goddess. "He just flew out the window and disappeared. He told me not to try to get a look at him, but I didn't listen." She hung her head. "Now I've hurt his feelings."

"I'm not sure about that. Maybe he's just shy," said Aphrodite. "But because you saw his face, his deal with the gods is broken. He's not allowed to see you again. And he's stuck being invisible."

"I have to help him!" Meg said. "What can I do? Please tell me! I can break his curse, I know it."

"Well, I could reunite the two of you," said Aphrodite, hands clasped in the air. "And then I could ask the gods to make Herc into a god himself, so he could come and go as he pleases and not have any troubles anymore. If . . . if you complete a series of difficult tasks I have picked out for you," she finished, her face turning sinister.

"I would do anything to set Herc free," Meg said, fists clenched at her sides. "I'll do my best."

"How lovely," Aphrodite said, grinning malevolently at her, hands steepled before her.

"Now what are the tasks? Hit me," Meg cracked.