Scorched

by Jendela Tryst

  “You are not to be trusted,” Hermes declared. “Zeus wanted me to take you directly to him. I am not to leave your side until you have been delivered.”

  “Then, let us hurry and get on with it. I know you have more important work to do after this.”

  Hermes did not respond. Then, unable to ignore the piercing tormented look from his old friend, Hermes lowered his eyelids slightly in an almost imperceptible nod.

  Eros waited to be summoned before Zeus in his throne room, his wrists held with invisible bonds before him. The hall to Zeus’s throne room was filling up quickly. There were many gods and demi-gods who had heard the great commotion caused by Eros, the god of love. It was amazing how quickly word got out, but then, information always seemed to travel at top speeds in Mt. Olympus. Many acquaintances tried to approach Eros, but were prevented by the guards. To Eros’s relief, a winged Seraph ordered everyone to keep ten steps away from Eros and the guards. Eros briefly caught a glimpse of Apollo, glaring hatefully at him from across the room. Eros, looked away. He was in a room full of his enemies and he knew each one of them wanted a piece of him.

  All Eros felt was emptiness. It was only a matter of time before the ones who hated him could gorge themselves with vengeance. Still, he didn’t care about their wrath anymore. There was only one person he cared about right now, and she was lost somewhere, alone in a dangerous land.

  A voice from behind filled Eros with dread.

  “My poor, poor boy.”

  Eros turned to see his mother. Behind her was a Seraph, who pretended he did not see the beautiful goddess slip by.

  Despite Aphrodite’s sympathetic expression, Eros’s eyes narrowed.

  Mother and son made a fascinating pair. Two pairs of blue eyes similar in shape and color gazed upon each other, one with unfettered distrust, and the other with exaggerated pity.

  Eros realized that Aphrodite was waiting for him to crawl back to her, begging for forgiveness.

  “How could I have known such a terrible fate would befall you?” the goddess of beauty asked. “Had I known what that hateful creature was capable of with her wiles and her arts, I would never have allowed you to get so close.”

  “She is not a hateful creature, mother. She used no arts. Whatever terrible deeds you think she did to you are all false.”

  Her eyes began to narrow as she tried to scan him mind. “I can see that tart’s powers of persuasion are quite strong. She has completely washed your little mind.”

  “She is not a tart, mother. She is my wife.”

  The deities who did not have the All-Seeing Eye gasped. He knew what the gods were thinking. A mortal, the wife of a god! Utterly unspeakable. But he was not ashamed and he looked back at all of them.

  “Yes, a mortal! Of greater value to me than all of Olympus.”

  A low rumble rippled throughout the mountain.

  “Enough!” Aphrodite intervened. “You are in enough trouble without spewing such ridiculous blasphemy. You cannot claim the legitimacy of such a shameful marriage. I, Goddess of love, was not even there to bless it!”

  “Your presence is not required for a marriage to be valid. The priestess of Hera, goddess of Marriage, recited the marriage blessing.”

  Aphrodite was irked by his tone, and her eyes were starting to match his in the temperature of their gaze. She was starting to realize that they were not on the same team and may never have been. “Well, surely you don’t continue to desire her after such betrayal. Had she not allowed her mad curiosity to get the better of her, you would not have to face this terrible punishment. A more selfish, loathsome creature, I couldn’t have imagined.”

  “She is not selfish. She merely wanted the truth, and she was upset because I lied to her.”

  “Well, of course you lied to her,” Aphrodite threw her hands in the air. “You are a god. How utterly naive and stupid she must be!”

  “She may have been naïve, but what else could she be? How could she even guess the truth?”

  Aphrodite shook her head with disgust. “I can see you are nowhere near ready to see reason. I was going to give you another chance to redeem yourself by punishing her in a way that is fitting the injury she caused you. But it is clear you have not the manhood within you.”

  “Punish her? Punish her further? She is stranded alone on an island of vicious creatures. How much more punishment could she get?”

  “Oh, I can think of a few more.”

  Her ominous words made Eros step forward.

  “How much more, mother?” Eros needed to get information, anything to have some idea of how to protect her.

  Aphrodite laughed derisively. “You really think I would tell you now that I know where you stand? I can’t believe I bore such an imbecile. We could have had it all, you and I. I was in the process of making you one of the most powerful gods in Olympus and you wasted it. You wasted it all on a stupid mortal chit who will forget you, as all mortals do.”

  “All mortals die. They have no choice but to forget.”

  “How you keep defending them! Perhaps, you should be converted into one so that you won’t have to suffer the presence of us pathetic gods any longer.”

  A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd that was starting to gather around them. Wings flapped excitedly and tails thumped in agreement.

  “Perhaps, I should.” Eros’s eyes did not waiver. “I would rather die among people who know love than live forever with those who know nothing but love for themselves.”

  Aphrodite’s eyes glittered dangerously. “Very well, then. I see how easily a son forgets the sacrifices of a mother. I do not need you to get what I want. I shall finish the job you failed to do, and I’ll see to it that she is suitably punished.”

  “You will do no such thing. If you so much as touch her—”

  Aphrodite took a step forward, her eyes like glaciers. “Are you threatening me?” she took a second step, but Eros held his ground. “Do you know who I am?”

  “I do. You are my mother. And you are a hateful and vindictive witch!”

  “And my blood runs through you. And you will know hate as strongly as you think you knew love. May you feel the same betrayal I feel, Eros. I shall not ever forget! From this day on, you are no longer my son!”

  Before Eros could reply, Seraphim opened the door to Zeus’s throne room. Once in there, no All-Seeing Eye could penetrate it and everything that took place, including unheard of tortures, could not be seen. Many an immortal had walked into the throne room and never came back out.

  “You are to come in now,” Seraphim ordered, his voice a soft rumbling.

  Eros nodded, and walked through the silver double doors. A few other deities, Apollo, Athena, and Artemis, close advisors of Zeus, also entered, and as Aphrodite made a move to follow them, the Seraphim blocked her way.

  “But, he is my son!” she protested.

  “We all just heard you disown him.” Seraphim asserted. The other deities began to titter. “Zeus does not want you inside.”

  If there was further protest, Eros did not hear it. For, the doors behind him slammed shut.

  Chapter 21

  Hermes was not pleased with the situation at all. After leaving Eros at the mercy of Zeus, he hurried back to the Enchanted Forest to keep his promise to look after Psyche. He did not know why he continued aiding that silly Eros.

  Love. What good did it ever do anyone, man or god? It would be better if it were completely obliterated. Keep Eros in the dungeon and save all of humanity the worst kind of grief. Lust could still remain, for surely the population needed to be continued, but really, what good was love? Neither consistent nor eternal. Making sane men ridiculous and turning otherwise lovely women into complete harpies.

  When Hermes finally found Psyche trudging along a riverbed, he was relieved to see that a dragon had not eaten her. Although, death by dragon would be merciful compared to what Aphrodite had in store for her.

  Psyche was still alive, armed with her bow and a
rrow, and dressed in a youth’s tunic. Hermes also spied the knife he had given Psyche’s mother on her belt. At least she was sensibly prepared. Hermes did not bother to disguise himself. He made his appearance by dropping unceremoniously from a tree, his wings in blatant sight, hoping to startle her into quick obedience.

  Psyche stumbled back when she saw him, then swiftly notched an arrow and aimed it straight at his heart. Hermes scowled. Here he was trying to save her life and this was her response! Mortals never knew when to be grateful.

  “You really think that arrow would do anything to me?” Hermes quipped.

  “I don’t know yet. I took it from my husband’s room. Perhaps, they have powers no ordinary arrows have.”

  True fear crossed Hermes eyes and he scanned Psyche’s mind to see if she was bluffing. He saw only black rage and frightening visions of what Psyche hoped the arrows were capable of doing. Hermes decided to stop mind reading. If it were the arrow of love, he would be as hopeless as poor Eros was for this wretched mortal and may find himself risking everything for her safety as well. Zeus forbid! If it was the arrow of hate well, Hermes would not lift a finger to help her, then Eros would want to seek revenge. Neither fate put Hermes in a good position, so he tried a different approach, squaring his shoulders and crossing his arms.

  “You do realize I am a god, don’t you? Are you not afraid of me?”

  The arrow left her hand and flew straight towards him. Hermes only barely avoided it, his surprise was so great. As soon as he looked back at her, Psyche had already notched another arrow. Hermes had seen few soldiers notch arrows so well, and her arm showed no sign of tiring. Anger truly did make mortals invincible!

  “Why should I be afraid?” Psyche’s voice was sharp. “I have nothing more to lose at the mercy of you gods! I have never cursed any of you until this moment, and still I was unjustly punished. First, it was Aphrodite. Now, it’s all you wretched minions. I believe I have the right to earn my punishments thus far.”

  Hermes bristled with offense. “Wretched minions, you say? I am no minion. I am the god of —”

  “I don’t care who you are. You need to get out of my way so I can get out of this infernal island!”

  “Perhaps, you don’t care who I am, but do you even know who it is you have spent these many months with?”

  “He could be the god of riffraff for all I care. You are all the same! Wretched, philandering, good for nothings sent to destroy me!” Another arrow sliced harmlessly through the air but Hermes was more ready for that one. “I wish all of you would just let me be!”

  “I shall let you be, you shrew! But first, hear me out, for I’ve made a promise. Though I wish to Zeus now that I hadn’t. Who is the one who is unjust who will not listen to the defense of the one who loved you? Who loves you still?”

  The arrow paused at the quiver and Hermes knew he had struck a nerve. “What could his defense be, except to trifle with a hapless maid?”

  “Show me a hapless maid, for I see none near me. What I see is a woman who has turned mighty Olympus upside down. You, my dear, were destined for a fate worse than death. You enraged Aphrodite, and you were to be punished. She sent her most trusted ally to do the job, her very own son who would do anything for his mother. Anything, except destroy you.”

  Hermes finally saw the bow quiver a bit. “Her son... Eros. God of love.”

  “The very one,” Hermes felt more that a little satisfied that her confidence was shaken. “Eros fell madly and hopelessly in love with you, a mortal, and his mother’s nemesis. Now, put those damned arrows down! You do not know what powers you trifle with!”

  The bow was lowered but it was still notched.

  “Erik was...”

  “Eros in disguise trying to protect you. He created a lie to spend more time with you. But he was in constant fear that his mother would discover his treachery and you both would have to suffer.”

  Hermes could see Psyche putting the pieces together in her mind. “So he made like he didn’t want me anymore.”

  “All the while he was scheming up this plan to have you near him again. In the safest way possible. He kept it all a secret. Even I didn’t now anything about it until I met you that one day.”

  “I still don’t understand. Why didn’t he just tell me?”

  Hermes tried to remain patient. “The gods are aware when one of us shows themselves to a mortal. The emotions that mortals feel are so strong, we can sense it from far distances. And when a mortal sees a god in his true form, there is no hiding your overwhelming… feelings. If he told you, or showed himself to you, Aphrodite would know and she would not have rested until you were destroyed as originally planned.”

  “But why did he not simply disguise himself again?”

  “You would have recognized Erik in almost any disguise. He can change clothing, reduce the illumination of his skin and make his wings disappear, but that’s it. Very few gods are capable of shape shifting. But more than that, Eros was trying to discover if you could truly love him. Not because he is an awe-inspiring god, not because you feared him and so cannot reject him. He told me he wanted you to love his soul, whatever that might mean for a god. Eros claimed it was the only kind of love that was pure. Balderdash like that. He intended to show himself to you eventually, but alas, you could not contain yourself.”

  “How could I? I was ready to see him. I knew I was. I was convinced I would love him no matter what I saw.”

  “Typical mortal hubris. This was not true, was it?”

  Psyche’s face fell, realizing the truth in Hermes’s word. “I... I just didn’t expect it. That face. The same as in the dream. I reacted. I didn’t even give him a chance to explain...” The bow fell from her hand and her head dropped. The anguish in her eyes stirred something in Hermes.

  Psyche picked up the weapon on the ground. “I must go back. I must tell Eros I’m not angry anymore.”

  Hermes stopped her. “I’m afraid that is too late.”

  “What? Why?”

  “He’s been taken back to Olympus. It is against Olympian law for gods to show themselves to any mortal without Zeus’s permission. And as for marriage to a mortal... well, that is absolutely forbidden. And now Aphrodite will want to see justice served.”

  “But… he is her son. Surely, she would show mercy!”

  Hermes did not bother to comfort her with false hope. He laughed humorlessly. “You do not know Aphrodite. He betrayed her trust and she does not take betrayal lightly. None of us do.”

  “I must do something! This is all my fault.”

  Hermes hesitated a bit too long. There was conflict in his eyes. One glimpse of her thoughts and he knew her pain was true. Another glimpse made him realize the depths of her love for Eros. It was so deep, in fact, that it shook him. He did not truly believe that mortals were capable of such love. She was not just willing to die for him; she was willing to die painfully and slowly for him. If her resolve was true, she may just be Eros’s only hope. “Many people are to blame for the events that have transpired. I could have done more as well, but we cannot turn back the clock. Even the gods do not have that ability. But we have to keep doing our part and make no wrong moves from here on out. The situation is very delicate but you must trust me.”

  “I do. I must. You are his friend, aren’t you? You are on our side?”

  Hermes grit his teeth. Something about the statement bothered him. “I belong to no side. I merely want to make sure all parties get their chance to be heard.”

  “Hermes,” she murmured. “You are he, no? The ever neutral god of diplomacy and the messenger of Zeus.”

  He smiled, knowing that he had never given her his name but she had guessed it nonetheless. She was clever. “So, you understand my point of view,”

  “I had hoped to have you as my unwavering ally, but I’ll take what you can give since I don’t have many options right now. Please, tell me what I must do.”

  Hermes took a breath. “You must go to Aphrodite’s
temple and you must plead with her. Appeal to her womanly sensibilities. Let her understand the sincerity of your sorrow and passion. Perhaps then, she will show some mercy.”

  Hermes instantly felt the fear that penetrated Psyche’s heart. He understood it. He was sending her to her death. But it was Eros’s only hope. If Aphrodite could take all her rage out on Psyche, then perhaps she could forgive her son and aid him when the time came. As a favorite daughter of Zeus, she would have such influence. But without Aphrodite on Eros’s side, he was doomed. And giving Psyche to her could save him.

  “Demeter,” she suggested, her eyes hopeful. “Perhaps, Demeter, goddess of nature, could help me.”

  Hermes smiled in sorrowful amusement. She was mortal after all. Of course she would try to think of a way out. Hermes thought of Demeter and her suspicion with Eros having something to do with her daughter Persephone’s abduction. He shook his head. “That would be a very bad idea.”

  “Hera, then?” Psyche tried again. Her voice shook. “Surely she would appreciate our marriage vows...”

  Again, Hermes shook his head.

  Psyche knew there was no way of avoiding the inevitable. Hermes was impressed with the way her chin lifted with brave determination. A stony strength settled in her eyes. These mortals are always surprising him. When she responded, her voice barely trembled. “Then, Aphrodite’s temple it is.”

  Chapter 22

  The old Eros would have withered at his grandfather’s stabbing gaze. But there was no escape. The chains that held his wrists together rendered him useless, but what could he really have done even if he had his hands? There was nowhere to run from Olympus. The Eyes watched everything, knew everything, and now that he had come to all their attention, nothing he did would ever be missed again.

  Still, there were worse things, like losing Psyche.

  Despite Eros's fear of his grandfather’s all-powerful wrath, he was not sorry for his actions. The only true fear he felt was for Psyche who might be lying dead somewhere, poisoned by a snake or ravished and killed by a satyr, devoured by a mauling lion, or worse, at the hands of his vengeful mother. The list went on. Eros knew he could not trust Hermes to protect her. An imperceptible nod was hardly assurance. And Hermes was never really on his side. Was it not Hermes who pulled him away from meeting her that night as Erik, when they had planned to run off together? How could he trust that rogue to protect her? Yet, what choice did he have? Eros had nothing. He was useless. A puny, nothing god, a guppy caught in the wave of a tsunami.