Love's Forge (9 page)

“At the time, she was dead serious about it being a secret. Perhaps she wanted to keep the upper hand. I was born so quickly it was easier to hide me than it would have been to hide Eros. She was only pregnant a few days. The Fates are the ones who told her she was pregnant. She took advantage of that.”

“That sounds like her.”

“I asked her to tell you before. I was married to a mortal for a little while.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “A prince named Cadmus. We weren’t very happy. I told her to tell you and invite you to the wedding. She got pretty angry.”

“I’m sure she did. Why weren’t you two happy?”

Harmonia had to smile. “You might not find this funny. I kind of do now that it’s so far in the past. Do you remember making a necklace that would grant eternal youth and beauty?”

He thought. “A gold necklace? I think I made one for Zeus for one of his mortal lovers. A pretty nasty gift, as I recall.”

She nodded. “It was for Europa. My husband’s sister. She gave it to me.”

“That necklace’s gift came with a price. Zeus gave it to her at the end of their affair, after they’d fought. The longer it was worn the more evil would visit the wearer.” His gaze darkened. “So Aphrodite’s secret made me hurt you.”

She didn’t want him to think about it that way. “You didn’t do one single thing to me. I got rid of that thing as quickly as I could once I’d sensed its power. I lost track of it. I believe Jocasta had it at one time, and I’d say she and her son Oedipus felt its effects.”

“You could say that. I heard it was destroyed in a fire. I hope so.” He sat back. “So that’s the extent of our relationship? I frightened you, and then one of my creations ruined your marriage?”

She shook her head. “That doesn’t count. We can start a relationship now. My marriage would have ended unhappily anyway. That family was very screwed up, and my husband was mortal.”

“Perhaps I should start working on the one I have with your mother instead.”

“My mother is coy, but I’ve always been blunt. Are you sorry I came here?” She wanted to know what he really thought. Based on everything her mother had told her, she thought he would be honest.

“No.” He paused and then half smiled. “You’re the goddess of harmony? Our child represents unity, love, and friendship. I like that. It gives me hope.”

She touched his hand for a moment. “I’m glad. I feel justified in coming if you think that way now.”

He looked at her hand for a second and then placed his other one over it. “I’m not going to tell your mother though. Not yet.” He stood and helped her up.

She squeezed his hand before he let go. “Okay. It might be best that way.”

“If you get married again, I’ll be there.”

She knew he wasn’t comfortable with displays of affection or expressing his feelings, so the simple statement meant a lot to her. He was showing he cared in the best way he could. He was happy he had a daughter.

“Thanks. Perhaps everything will be worked out by then.”

“Perhaps.”

They walked out in silence, and Harmonia didn’t push with more questions.

“Goodbye,” she said.

“Goodbye.”

She walked back out into the bright sunlight. She blinked after the dark interior of the cavern. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “That’s done. The pieces can fall where they may.” She felt as if a great burden had been lifted. She’d always had a father, but for years and years she’d been saying she didn’t. She wanted to go home and tell Apollo, but she knew she couldn’t. Despite that, confidence surged through her. Revealing this secret would be good. She couldn’t explain why she felt that way. Somehow, she just knew it.

* * * *

Aphrodite turned when the bedroom door opened. Hephaestus closed the door behind him and walked over to her. He stood by the bed and gazed down at her.

“I let Ares go,” he said.

She closed her eyes and sighed with relief. “Thank you.”

He sat down next to her, but he didn’t say anything.

“So what happens now that he’s gone?” she asked.

“I want you to stay here as my guest for a few days.”

If he said she would be a guest, he probably meant it. If he actually said she could leave on a certain day, she could be sure he was going to keep his word. “How long would you like for me to stay?”

“Three days. Will you?”

She nodded. “That’s fine. You think three days will make a difference?”

“I hope so. I think we’ll be left alone. I told Ares I would release you if he found proof you two were under a spell. I told him not to come back until then.”

“You believe us now?”

He looked into her eyes and stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t at first. It was so hard after seeing you two together like that.”

Her face burned with shame. “I’m sorry. That’s all I can say.”

“You don’t have to.” He touched her hand. “Your daughter was here.”

“Harmonia?” she asked. What had she said to him? Did she really care what happened between them?

“Yes. She said she had the right to know if you were safe. I assured her you are.”

“Eros hasn’t come?”

Hephaestus looked down at the bed. “No, not yet. I guess you thought it more likely he would come. Right?”

“Yes, but Hera or Zeus might have convinced him to stay away while you still had Ares here.” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

He smiled. “Eros loves you very much. I’m sure it’s something like that.” He crossed his arms. “Harmonia is very beautiful. I can see how she appealed to Apollo.”

She held her hands together to steady them. “Yes, but she’s also very intelligent and witty. Most men are intrigued after only one conversation.”

“She certainly is lovely. I can see how any man would be intrigued.”

Aphrodite took a deep breath. Was he making small talk or trying to make her jealous? Did he just want an excuse to keep talking to her? “She’s wonderful. I hope she and Apollo are happy.”

“You think he’s good enough for her?”

She nodded. “Yes.” She shrugged again, wanting to leave the subject. “Why does it matter?”

“I love you. I care what happens to your children, even though neither of them are mine. I’d do anything to help either of them if you needed me to.” He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I wish we’d had a child together. We certainly made love enough.”

Aphrodite started to speak, but his lips stopped her. He kissed her sweetly, and she gave in. She didn’t want to keep talking about Harmonia or children. She remembered the day she’d found out she was pregnant with Harmonia. Lachesis had come to tell her that her daughter would be a great blessing to them all and to prepare her for what was to come. Immortal births happened quickly, and they had more to do with the work of the Fates than with how often any of them had sex. Pregnancy itself had proven to be intense, and Aphrodite had soon seen why Hera had always waved the subject of her own pregnancies and her sons’ births away. Three days later, she’d gone to the mortal world, where Harmonia had been born. When Eros was born, nothing significant had happened. The Fates hadn’t taken much notice, as if he didn’t have the same significance at all. She’d been frightened during pregnancy with each of them. With Harmonia, she’d been afraid Hephaestus would find out and become possessive of them both, and thus the swiftness of her birth had been a great relief. With Eros, she’d been pregnant much longer and had spent weeks afraid Hephaestus would kill them all, including Ares. He hadn’t. Once he’d sent her away pregnant and scared, he’d done nothing.

She pulled away. She found it very hard to breath.

“Aphrodite? Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t stop trembling. “I’m fine.”

Genuine concern spread over his face. “If you want Eros here, I’ll go get him.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s fine. I’m confused. Can’t you see that?”

“Yes, I see that.” He drew her close again. “Tell me what to do.”

His arms felt so strong, but who was holding her? The man she was sometimes afraid of? The man who claimed to love her with such passion? The close friend who patiently did everything he could to help her and make her happy?

“Kiss me again,” she said.

He cradled her face in his hand. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She brought her lips up to his and opened up to him.

He gave in right away and kissed her deeply. He felt good. His arms tightened around her, and she sighed in his embrace. He kissed her face, his hands frantically moving over her body. “You and I have always had a connection. Why don’t you feel it?”

She grew still in his arms. Didn’t she feel it at times? Wasn’t it as real as he said it was? That would mean she could love someone without destroying him, and that was what she struggled with.

“I do, at times.”

“Is that the best you can do?” he whispered.

“For now.”

He put some distance between them. “All right.” He took her hand and kissed it. “May I sleep here tonight? Just sleep?”

“I suppose. I won’t stop you.” She was amazed he’d stopped when she’d been the one to make the first move.

“And we’ll spend today together?”

“Yes.”

He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted, Aphrodite. The spell someone cast on you and Ares simply delayed this. You’d already promised me another chance.”

“Will you still keep your promise?” she asked. She had to know, and she saw no reason not to ask.

“Yes. I won’t make love to you until you tell me you want me to.” He gazed deep into her eyes.

She wanted to look away, but she found she couldn’t. How could he do that? No other man had ever affected her this way before. Why did it confuse her so much? It should have assured her they were meant to be together, but instead it frightened her.

“I think you’ve enjoyed your stay.”

She decided to be blunt. “Maybe I have. We were always good in bed. You’re a considerate lover, and you focus on my pleasure. I like you touching me. I never said I didn’t desire you. I said I wasn’t in love with you.”

“You think you can’t be in love.”

“It’s my opinion.”

“Does my touch affect that at all?”

She sighed. “We’ve been over this. It confuses me.”

“I still have no idea what that means.” He stood. “I’ll let you get dressed. I’d like to take you out. To the mortal world, of course. I don’t want to be disturbed.” He walked over to a wardrobe. “Many of your clothes are here. Something casual. Jeans maybe.”

She snapped her fingers, and her favorite pair of jeans and a blue cotton shirt appeared on the bed with a pair of brown sandals. “Will these do?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She was almost disappointed as he left. His mention of Harmonia had sent her anxiety through the roof and his kiss had made her horny. How did he do that? How could he manage to be manipulative without even trying? Obviously, he was constantly trying to excite her desire, but based on what he’d said, Harmonia had not done or said anything to make him suspicious. It had been so long she wasn’t sure why she still worried about it, but Harmonia had many times reminded her of Hephaestus with her behavior. She knew that meant it would be unwise to underestimate her sweet but distant daughter.

She got dressed quickly and hoped Hephaestus would want to talk about mundane subjects for the rest of the day.

* * * *

Eris threw another petal into the lake. Now that Ares was free, she ought to have stopped feeling concerned. Once they discovered who had cast the spell, everything would be settled. She had no reason to worry with her brother safe and back in Alala’s arms.

Still, she wanted to do something. She threw the rest of the flower she’d been picking at into the lake and strode back up the hill with a purpose. She didn’t get that far though. Lachesis appeared in front of her as she reached the top, startling her enough to make her struggle to catch her balance.

“I sensed you were on your way. We haven’t talked for a while,” Lachesis said.

“No, we haven’t. I guess I’ve been focused on Hermes.”

Lachesis smiled. “That’s as it should be. Let’s walk together.”

Eris knew she and Hermes were the best servants the Fates had. No one else had as much faith in them. She shouldn’t have been so hesitant to ask for a favor, but she didn’t know how to begin.

“I’m glad your brother is safe,” Lachesis said.

“I am too. I wasn’t that worried, but I didn’t like it at all.” She looked down at the ground as they walked. “I have a favor to ask. You may not grant it, but I would like to try.”

“What?”

“You know who cast this spell?”

“Yes.”

“Would you be willing to tell me?”

“No.”

Eris wanted to push the issue. She really did. “So this was meant to happen?”

“Everything will work out.”

“But my brother’s wedding. This whole incident is going to overshadow it. That’s not fair. They were so happy, and these events are going to taint their day, hanging over them like a damned cloud.”

“Destinies aren’t always easy. All of Olympus shunned you for so long after Peleus and Thetis’ wedding and the Trojan War. Are you angry with us still?”

“No. I was never really angry. I thought it was unfair.”

“Isn’t it enough of a blessing Alala still wants to marry him?”

“I suppose.” She knew it was a good thing, but she still felt terrible because somehow she knew the wedding wouldn’t be as joyous as it might have been if it had happened a week earlier. “I simply hate doing nothing. I wouldn’t take action against whoever did it. I want them to confess so Hephaestus will release Aphrodite.”

“Why do you care?”

“How will they ever work out their problems like this?”

“They are alone together. That seems like the perfect situation to me.”

Eris stopped walking, and after a moment Lachesis halted. “I’m afraid to ask.”

“Afraid to ask what?”

“Did you plan this? Like the Trojan War? Like the twisted way Hermes and I came together?”

“You aren’t happy we brought you and Hermes together?”

“No, I’m very happy, but it could have been easier.”

“I think you two had fun. The struggle made it worth it.”

Eris didn’t want to argue about that. The bumpy road she’d traveled had ended in her and Hermes falling in love, and it had been worth it, but part of her still resented knowing the Fates had willed it and manipulated some events to make the outcome more certain. “Who was your lackey? Who did you get? You knew I wouldn’t risk my brother, so you didn’t ask me to help. Who’d you get?”

“No one. We didn’t make anyone cast that spell.”

“But you didn’t stop them. You obviously wanted it to happen.”

Lachesis gazed into her eyes and took a deep breath. She let it out slowly before she said, “Eris, I did it.”

“What?” She knew what she’d heard. She knew Lachesis wouldn’t lie. The Fates could be manipulative and illusive, but they never told lies. “You cast a spell on my brother? You made him fuck her? That was your plan?”

“You think it was a bad one?”

“Well, what are you? A fifteen-year-old boy? Gods,
you
did this?”

Lachesis furrowed her brow. “Eris, why are you so upset?”

Eris grabbed her by the throat. “I wish you’d all just go away.”

Lachesis didn’t struggle. “A moment ago you wanted my help. Now that you know the truth you want me to stop using my powers.”

“What is the purpose of this? To cause havoc? To make life here more interesting? More like the ‘old days’ you loved so? The days when you were worshipped in temples and at oracles? When every young lover prayed to you? Every parent petitioned you?”

“Hephaestus and Aphrodite are meant to be together.” She pulled herself out of Eris’ grasp. “Haven’t you seen how unhappy Aphrodite is? Do you know that’s something that can kill even an immortal?”

“Being unhappy?”

“Yes. I’ve answered enough of your questions. Whether you liked my plan or not, soon Aphrodite will love Hephaestus as much as he loves her. They’ll be happy.”

Lachesis disappeared.

Eris balled her hands into fists. “Gods, what a fucking bitch!” Immature or not, shouting that had felt good. She ran her hands over her face and thought. Should she go to her brother? She decided she owed him this knowledge. She didn’t know how he’d react, but no matter what he did, she’d support him. She’d learned the hard way who was on her side and who wasn’t. The Fates had gone too far this time. If Zeus wouldn’t act, she would.