The Wrath of Aphrodite - Book 2

Queen

The blonde man smiles widely and graciously accepts my offer without knowing the destination. It is only after a few moments or flirtatious glances at each other that he bothers to ask. 

"Where are we going?" 

"To Olympus. I'm finding myself a cute little home there for me and my boy. I think you might make great company and a decent bodyguard on the way." I wink at him playfully while he mindlessly agrees. I doubt he could actually protect me from anything, but I know he appreciates the compliment or the idea that he could or is in any way more powerful than I am.

"I think I would enjoy the adventure if the master allowed me to leave for the day." He says, rethinking his mindless agreement to accompany me. "I just started here. I would hate to have the master disapprove of me so early in my stay here." 

"I will tell him I made you come with me. He has no reason to doubt that I forced you. He knows I haven't seen anyone this cute around here in a long time." I giggle, nearly annoyingly. "He understands. Why do you think the staff is flooded with adorable little nymphs who are no more qualified than you to sweep these floors? I'm frankly flabberghasted you gained employment here at all without luscious long hair and batting eyelashes." 

Nerites shrugs shyly and leans his broom against the corridor wall. "Perhaps Poseidon doesn't only enjoy gazing upon the women, my lady." He says shyly with a scarlet blush sprinkling his cheeks. 

I laugh in surprise. I am quite charmed by his innocence and reach out my right hand towards him. He accepts and kisses it affectionately. "I am Aphrodite, Nerites," I tell him happily. "And I am the Goddess of Love Beauty...and all things sexual in a way." 

"It's an absolute pleasure to meet you." Nerites is starstruck as he inspects every detail of my face. 

I waited a moment with a plastered smile on my face for him to continue...but he doesn't. That was the extent of his conversational skills. It is an obvious downside to his company, but I suppose I do love to be the leader of most activities, may as well be conversation as well. "Very well, follow me." 

He does follow me until we reach where Poseidon's chariots are stored. I climb aboard and have Nerites hook up the horses before our departure. He does so willingly and happily as if he were a trained puppy dog. 

"Do you know where to go?" I ask him as I hand him the reins. 

"No, unfortunately, I do not, my lady." 

"Then I'll show you. I'll show you everything you need to know." I smile mischievously up at his blond head. 

And so I will. 

*         *          *          *          *

Nerites is gloriously entertaining. The sun is already high and in the middle of the sky before we even find the time to start searching for my new home.

Other matters came first, followed by senseless wandering and giggling and parading him on the streets with the odd God or Goddess here or there to gawk at the sight of my second return with another man at my side. 

I don't care. Let them gossip. It will happen eventually anyhow. 

Besides, now that I am not openly attached to any particular God, I can do what I wish...and, honestly, I am not entirely opposed to the attention. Let them all gossip. Let them all point and ridicule. 

I can do as I wish. 

"Where is the best place to find a cottage for you to live in?" Nerite's voice catches my attention in the background as I gaze upon the open land in front of me. 

"These fields are lovely," I whisper to myself with a hint of satisfaction. "This area may do wonderfully, don't you think?" 

In the distance, I spot another cottage, oddly striking me as familiar and obviously occupied. "Probably should spread some distance and put up a cottage just out of sight of this one," I conclude, turning away. 

Just as I do, Nerites pulls me back by my elbow and instant irritation fills me. "What?" My voice echoes throughout the meadow, my anger startling birds into flight all around us. Nerites recoils and I feel a sting of embarrassment...I don't know where my reaction came from so suddenly.

"I just wanted to point her out. Maybe you know her." Nerites explains quietly, his index finger showing me the way to a familiar Goddess standing outside of the cottage, her arms sternly crossed in front of her. 

"Oh no." I start moving forward against my will. "Stay here, Nerites, this doesn't concern you." 

She waits for me to approach, waiting patiently, but I can feel the slight uneasiness that she feels. 

"What are you doing here?" Demeter grumbles as soon as I am close enough to have a proper conversation. 

"I am a Goddess. I belong in Olympus, so I am finding a place to call home. Permanently." I stand before her, my own arms crossed. 

"Does Zeus know about this?" Demeter makes an obvious attempt to look over me while clearly trying to make me uncomfortable, her eyes grazing from head to toe.

"If you're meaning to flirt with me, be upfront and say it instead of gawking at me like a speechless, mortal man." I scoff at her and the continue without missing a beat. "And also, I will be welcomed to the neighbourhood. I have the right to my own place here, and things are going to get wild. This time, I am an unmarried woman, and the same chaos that Zeus was terrified of when I first appeared at Olympus will ensue as the men flock to my feet and bypass your little cottage without a glance." 

Demeter frowns in disgust but doesn't attempt to speak, her brain likely scrambling for a response. 

"I will live in my own little cottage, as I please, and you should know first hand that Zeus wouldn't care to stop me," I inform her happily. 

"I haven't a clue what you mean-" She rolls her eyes but stops talking after processing my words fully. 

"You aren't seducing Zeus, are you?" Demeter accuses. 

"Not specifically. Though, you and I both know that he is easily persuaded by most Goddesses and even mortals as long as they are pretty enough. Persephone is proof that you've had a little fun with persuading him yourself." I can't help but bring up the obvious. "Who's the adulterer now?" 

Demeter's face appears more white than usual while she avoids my gaze and looks past me towards the ground. 

"I am not any more guilty than you. Yet I wear the crown on behalf of all the adulterers, don't I?" I lean close to her as the hot boiling anger continues to build inside me. "Well, if that's the crown I'm given...then I shall wear it. I'll wear it more proudly like any Queen before."