by Luc, D. X.
Eros slid his stool back a degree. He probably figured I didn't notice, but I did. I'm good like that as I pick up on even the slightest nuance. It was however, when he removed Psyche from his lap and placed her behind him protectively that I began to wonder what damage he’d caused. “Okay, okay, I'll tell you. Just don't poison my next quivers order. I may have made a bit of a bet that entailed you and your love life.”
Of course, he had. Did I forget to mention that he has his father obsession with gambling? I put my glass down, leaning forward which put an uncomfortable pressure onto my bad leg. I knew my eyes had to be flickering with barely contained power, since both of them refused to look at me directly. Yet, I managed to keep a calm composure. Someone should give me a medal. “Go on.”
“Well, it was family dinner night. Mom was fussing about how Athena always got the credit for being smart when beauty reigned supreme. Ares made a comment about how he'd like to break the Maiden Goddess's back in his bed, which made Mom furious. And then---”
“You're stalling, Eros.”
“Alright, dammit! Anyway, I mentioned something to Psyche about helping you move on and find 'the one'. Well Ares, still pissed at you from the almost fight ten years ago, was all huffing and such. So, he says it's impossible. No one would want you. I got upset about that. So, I told him, I knew for a fact that not only could you get a woman to love you, but a mortal one.”
“They then, both agreed to this bet, even swearing on the River Styx.” Psyche's soft voice echoed just from the right of him, though I could see her disappointment as she peered at his sorrowful face.
“Well, I'm sorry nephew, but you might as well pay up now. You know I'd never approach a mortal woman. Why would you even suggest that?”
“I know uncle and I'm sorry! It's just—I hate how people look at you. I know there's someone. Everyone has a someone. I think the mortal realm is perfect. It's how I found my wife.”
I knew the story. It was one of the few which gave me hope that I could ever be with someone, but it still didn't give him or my jerk brother the right to put me in the middle of one of their stupid games. Part of me wanted to be angry and I had every right, yet as I looked into the ever-changing eyes of the young man before me, I didn't see malicious intent. I merely saw a person who believed so hard in a happily ever after that he would go against his own flesh and blood to see it happen. I sighed, knowing what I would do. “What are the terms?”
Eros gave me a smile so brilliant I felt the warmth into the depths of my cold being.
“It's simple really. You go down onto earth and take on a mortal's role in life. I've set up everything, from your job to your home. Find a woman, one that just makes your heart sing and dance, and then court her. She must say she loves you, that's the only thing, and it cannot be coerced in any way. See? Easy peasy.”
So says the god who didn't have to go down and do all of this. It really didn't matter though, as I stared at the two young hopefuls. I couldn't decline any easier, than I could forget I once loved the cheating bitch that is his mother.
I glanced to my left, spotting Frias, his one eye boring intensely in my direction. Obviously, he too knew about this, which would explain his oracle behavior back at the volcano.
It'll be okay. Do it. He mouthed his encouragement at me.
Inexplicably, I felt like the three of them did, maybe I did stand a chance. Perhaps, some good would come from this. I was due for a much deserved vacation, so what the hell! Raising my hand, I ordered a round of drinks for all of us.
Eros and Psyche moved over to let my Cyclops friend in next to me at the bar, and we all celebrated through the night. There was a new sense of hope that I would finally find love. Yet, as we laughed and plotted, in the back of my mind, I wondered if this plan would eventually come back to bite me in the ass.
Chapter III
Hephaestus
If I could give one word to explain my entry into the mortal realm, it would have to be chaotic. My trip down with Eros hadn't been one of the smoothest, as he had trouble managing my weight during flight. I've fallen from Olympus before, so I wasn't as scared as he was, but I did worry we'd crash into a lake or a village. That would have been bad.
Luckily, we caught a draft that glided us gently the rest of the way and he dumped me hard onto the ground, my knees leaving two impressive craters. Just a few yards in front of me, he landed on his feet, in a cloud of dust and metallic feathers that impaled the earth. From the tremor that passed, I was certain the Earth Mother was not thrilled with the stabbing.
“Sorry, Gaea!” Eros called out his apologies to the mother, brushing away dirt from his khakis shirt and shaking out his hair.
He reminded me of an overly large bird having a spazz out moment.
Finally, he shrank down until he was a mere speck to my towering god height.
You have to take your mortal form, uncle. Think small. His voice echoed in my mind. I paused, as small and I did not compute, but I couldn't roam around the way I stood at the moment that was for sure. I wasn't certain what helped me decide to listen to the Love God's instructions. Maybe, when I realized I couldn't tell if my foot was about to crush thousands of homes or the how when the jumbo jet that cruised by my head just then, held a shocked young boy, staring at me through the plane's window.
Whichever it was, I knew he was right, so closing my eyes I envisioned myself as a smaller man and felt a tingle start from my head, traveling to my toes. Different, is the only way I could describe it, but in no time a dizzying wind pressed me down until I stumbled into the younger man. Eros grabbed me, and I was amazed at the strength he held me with, considering our mismatched body frames and how hard the flight in had been for him.
“Whoa there, big fella.” Eros laughed as he steadied me. “There, you go. Uh, you can't get any slighter than that, can you? I guess no matter what your shape is you'll always come in gargantuan.”
I peered down at him, feeling out of my element as I shuddered. There was an odor, strongly unpleasant and it seemed to surround us. “Where are we? It smells awful!”
“Welcome to Niceville, Hephaestus. And that lovely aroma, well that would be the mortals. Don't worry though this is what happens when they combine. Each one comes with its own unique fragrance.”
My nose wrinkled as I followed him down a street where all the houses were lined in neat rows. It was night, maybe after one a.m. so all the humans were quiet, sleeping in peace and ignorance. Good thing, the gods walking down their symmetrically squared lawns were none to fear. The houses were identical mostly, with stucco and stone. Some were fancier and bigger, those obviously belonging to the flashy, richer patrons.
My senses were going haywire with the sounds and scents that accosted me. Several of the homes across from us seemed coated in a musky perfume, one that was familiar to me, but I couldn't place a finger on it.
Eros must have felt my curiosity, because he paused and pointed to the largest on the block, one with pink and white flowers. “That's desire and lust coming from those homes, and that one? Well, that's where Himeros goes a lot. I believe he has a lover in that residence.”
“Himi? Your twin? I didn't know he came down here often.” With my heightened sight, the dark street didn't blind me and with clarity finally setting in, I could see Eros's eyes darken until the irises were as black as the sky.
He looked so different as a human, sadder and stressed. The large wings I was used to were tucked away neatly somewhere, but I could hear them ruffling in agitation. His smile dimmed with the heavy burden it meant to bring love to a clearly materialistic species.
I felt a sudden pity for him.
Just then, a shadow of man flew from the open window at the top left of the mansion. He hovered before it, speaking to someone on the inside, then turned to leave as a car pulled into the driveway.
A portly man got out of the car and entered the home.
I was still focused on the silhouette in the upstairs room, when the
dark figure landed in front of us. I nearly jumped out of my skin. He remained a shade, so I couldn't see his face, but from the scent, wings and bow with quiver, I knew it was Himeros.
“Eros, I thought mother was fooling when she said you were planning to hook our uncle up with a human.”
It was apparently my night of surprises, because at my other nephew's snarky comment, Eros let out a curse so vile, I blushed. I knew all about sibling rivalry, but I've never seen him that angry.
“I'd say to have a little faith and believe in love bro, but all you care about is getting women hot under the skirt and grabbing a quick fuck.”
“Hey, where you like to wait for the home cooked meal, I enjoy fast food and Cynthia. She gives me what I want. No harm done really.”
“But she belongs happy and satisfied with her husband!”
It was time for me to stop this before it got out of hand. Eros raising his voice didn't shock me, but his form was morphing into his Roman counterpart, Cupid. No one wanted that. Placing a calming hand on his shoulder, I wedged myself between the two of them. “You're brothers, twins. I know neither of you want to hurt each other. Am I right?” I kept my voice low-key, hoping to stop the fight that would start soon.
Unfortunately, I couldn't see Himeros's face, but Eros had thankfully reverted back to his normal self, though his lips were pursed.
I'd have to live with it and getting a nod of agreement from the other god, I backed off. But I kept my eyes on them just in case.
The sound of a helicopter above distracted us and by the time it passed, we saw that our shadowy friend was gone. It was better that way. I stood with Eros, waiting for him to find his repose and in the blink of an eye he was back to his sunny disposition. He pointed out several more homes of those he knew from bringing the couples together, before we stopped at a cul-de-sac. There were only two homes on this semi-circle, a gray, stucco one with a red slatted roof and a SOLD sign out front.
Then, there was a yellow one, tiny compared to all of the others and it looked pretty plain with a rather unkempt yard. A rebel perhaps? Yet, it seemed to be more alive and natural than the ones down the road. It stood to the right and I found myself being called to knock on the door, but that would have been inappropriate. So, I stood, at the edge of the walkway and inhaled. The scent was so unlike the ones we encountered when we first entered the development. No, this one was comforting and very, very arousing. “Whose home is this, Eros?”
“I'm not sure. The last time I was here, it was vacant. Why?”
“It just smells different.”
“Different how?” he asked.
“Never mind, I think exhaustion is speaking for me right now. From the trip down here, to changing into a mortal man, I'm pretty beat.” It was a lie. I was actually wired, but I didn't want to mess up his plans before they even started.
He narrowed his eyes at me.
I kept my expression blank and my mind unreadable. You never knew when a god might try to read your thoughts and I could feel him pushing at mine.
Eros gave a curt nod and gestured to the home with the sign on the lawn. “This is your place. Let me take you in and give you the tour. Also, I'll stay awhile so we can get down your life story. That's important.”
“Why?”
“Humans like to get into your business, especially women. They want to feel like you have no problems opening up to them.”
Okay, I thought and tagged along to enter my new home. I halted while smacking my head against the doorframe, and let me tell you, it wasn't a slight knock. Oh no, this was a foundation rattling bang, and I knew a welt would soon appear on my forehead. If a human thought that immortality was awesome because we never die, I'm sorry to say, we can still feel pain. “Oipho! Kariola!”
“Now uncle, there is no need for that kind of language.”
I grumbled, rubbing my head while remembering to duck, as I entered the humble home. The ceilings were high, something I was grateful for and the walls were a bland off white. It was furnished, but sparsely. The living area was fixed with a couch, small table and lamp.
Eros led me over to the dining room. Again, simple with a table and two matching chairs, but it was when he took me into the kitchen that my jaw dropped. The counter had digital everything, stuff I'd never used before, or even seen for that matter. Unlike the other gods, I didn't snoop into the lives of humans, so for all I knew, they still lived as they had in the earlier part of the century.
I stood transfixed, while he named each item and how they worked. I couldn't believe it. An oven that cleaned itself and a box, he called a microwave that flash cooked your food in minutes. It was honoring in a way, seeing how I was the God of Inventions. Man had taken my gifts and gone above what I could've ever expected. Yes, man no longer worshiped us, or thanked us for these tokens, but it didn't matter. They still remembered us elder gods, through the work they did.
I turned back, before heading toward the stairs, telling myself I'd be using that equipment often, just to feel satisfied with human progress, and then I jogged up where Eros waited.
By the time we were finished with the tour while he drilled me with information for my new life, my head was spinning. Time had gotten away from us and the sun was beginning to rise. We shook hands, and he shimmered away, just as the rays streamed through my blinds.
The sounds in the neighborhood of car doors slamming and wheels peeling away made it apparent that the men worked, and were rarely home with their wives. I too, was a working man, owner of Fix It Fast. I was a repairman, a job that would be easiest for me. But this day, I would sleep. Afterwards, I would start my new life as a human man and maybe, just maybe, I would find the love of my eternal life.
Chapter IV
Vanessa
We were at our favorite spot, Cafe Sticky Licks. I could smell the sinful scent of chocolate pizza, something that every visitor to San Francisco should try.
Calvin was sitting adjacent to my chair, eying the area for potential boyfriends. Though how you could call a man you're with for only two to three weeks a boyfriend was beyond me.
I sat, twirling the straw in my water, and wished I had the same confidence that my friend seemed to exude with every breath. Why didn't it wash onto me? Then again, just looking at him, I could see why he didn't have an ounce of doubt for his ability to attract both male and female attention.
Dressed casually this day, Calvin's black slacks seemed to hug him, loving him just as his partners did. Even his monogrammed, tan work shirt with the name Fantasy Free Elementary imprinted in cursive over his heart, seemed to sexy him up.
I wore the same shirt, but I might as well have been in a burlap sack.
Honestly, it was hard to explain which parts of Calvin were the most delicious. Was it his chocolate brown eyes that matched his smooth skin, maybe? Or, could it be his full lips, always turned up at the corners like he kept a secret funny joke in his mind?
Unlike my dashing friend, I didn't keep up my physique at the gym, so he was chiseled, another attribute that stood out through his fitted top. As great as it was to have him in my life, I often felt like a ragamuffin while in his presence.
My dismal sigh took him from his perusal and I knew he was staring me down.“Nessa? Vanessa what's wrong?”
“What is it that only brings the geeks and freaks my way, while the hip and hot go yours?”
“Ugh! Nessa, we've gone through this before. There’s nothing wrong with you, other than you thinking you're not good enough for better.”
“Am I, though? I mean, seriously?”
“If you're asking me if I'd bend you over and give you a good ride, hon? Then sure, I would, but you're missing a pogo stick which means I'd have to fake it. And we don't want that do we?”
“Pogo stick, eh? I have battery operated ones. Does that count?”
He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. “You know what I mean, girl. Look, he's out there. You just have to have some patience and stop finding tho
se weirdoes. Ah, here comes Willa with our chocolate pizzas and milk!”
Let me stop here to tell you a little something about Willa. She's—well, eccentric or what some would say Bohemian. I love her, she's my little sister, but she and I are complete opposites. While according to both she and Calvin, I take life too seriously. She’s all about art and wild clothes, like her neon green leggings and practically transparent, aqua painter's blouse. Her mind often wandered and she'd switch topics as fast as Friday night traffic lights. We didn't look much alike, with the exception of our hazel eyes. While I had the figure of a woman who enjoyed the nightly eating of ice-cream-in-the-tub, she was small, but curvy in a way that caused men to salivate.
Her reddish-brown hair cascaded down her back, the hue accentuating her freckled nose and rosy lips. “Here you go. Calvin, I talked chef into adding an extra serving for free.”
“You are a darling. Thanks, Willa.”
“Hey sis, Mom said someone finally moved in next to you. You seen 'em yet?”
“No, I think it's a man though. There's a truck out in the driveway. A contractor maybe.”
My sister was about to say more, when she froze and turned to stare at a man with his back to us. He wore a black trench coat and red skull cap. Odd attire considering it was in the eighties. He was drinking a coffee, while reading the day's paper. I glanced back up at my sister, noting how pale her face had become, and a protective surge came over me. Wrapping my hand around her wrist, I brought her attention back to me. “Do you know him, Willa? Did he mess with you or something?”
Her eyes were wild as she shook her head vigorously and knelt at my side, speaking so low I had to lean just to hear her. “He’s here almost all the time. He feels like—funny.”
“Funny how?”
“Don't you feel it, Vanessa? He radiates power. I—he's not human.”
Together, we looked back over to the man, only this time he was staring back. And I'll be truthful when I say I almost felt the same, in regards to his humanity, but I needed to be the rational one. His face was perfect, yet mysterious. But that wasn't what made him stand out from the others. It was his eyes, which shifted colors so fast I had to blink a few times. Then, they were gray, so I probably imagined what I saw before. Although, part of me really didn’t believe that.