Love's Arrow

Third Trial

The temperature around me dropped as we entered a cavern, littered with crystals on the walls. I felt a chill going down my spine-it was cold. On the left there was a steep cliff, and as I walked to the edge I could see inky black water moaning among a river, the rippling mirror was reflecting my face, which was plastered with wounds.

"Psyche."

I whipped around and stared at Aphrodite, and her eyes were now a lapis lazuli blue, with tinges of purple sprinkled around her fiery silver pupil. How did people consider me more beautiful goddess? I had no idea.

"Um. What's my task?"

I asked with a shaky voice. Aphrodite then brutally handed me a silver cup damasked with golden leaves, and gemstones complimenting the silver colour.

"Fill the cup with water from the river styx."

She replied, and I furrowed my eyebrows,

"Shouldn't the river styx be in the underworld?"

"I brought the river from Tartarus along with monsters guarding it."

She casually replied, as if Hades won't get pissed for doing something without his permission.

"Oh."

I simply whispered. I felt her aura leave the cavern, and a dagger appeared in my hand. The silver eight inch blade was made out of iron, and it was sharp enough to break skin at the slightest contact. I dropped the cup, and I placed the flat of the blade on my left hand, slowly drawing more blood again. As soon as the blood touched the ground, one of the monsters roared. It was a dragon, flying towards me, and spat out a blue flame. I dodged the attack, and I cried,

"Athena and Ares, help me!"

"we will grant you the skills of a warrior."

Replied a male and female voice, and a shield with a painting of medusa appeared on my left hand. The dragon tried to entwine its metallic claws at me, but I deflected the attack with my shield, and I counterattacked by writhing its claws. The dragon snarled at me, and I was petrified by its flames. It blew fire again, and I grunted, and I fended off the attack once again. I began to gain ground, and I ran towards the monster, but then it used its tail to make a low sweep and I jumped, and I slashed its tail.

It collapsed, and I decapitated its metallic head. The ruby of his lifeless eyes which were surrounded by a dark green ring were still opened, shocked with terror. I panted, and I smiled-a girl just killed a greek monster. I killed the monster. The shield faded away, and I thanked both Ares and Athena. I ripped a layer of my tunic, putting pressure on the wounds that I received while I was in action. I walked back where I dropped the cup, but instead a bald eagle appeared in front of me, beating its feathery brown wings up and down, and one of its talons was clawing the neck of the cup, and its electric blue eyes twinkled,

"Zeus took pity of you, and sent me down here to help you out."

I smiled,

"I would love to get some help please."

The eagle then flew down, and came back with the cup full of the water from the river styx. The eagle then puffed its chest,

"No more suicide attempts, okay? Keep your chin up, kid."

"Thanks again."

I replied. I then grabbed the cup and he flew away.

"Aphrodite! I did it again."

I called out. Then I heard her snap at me,

"You got help again! The next one will be the far most difficult one."