Aphrodite 

When Ari, and I had arrived to the throne room the day after, I immediately noticed a few peculiar things. 

Now it was not entirely surprising to see the King of Heavens himself missing. After all, he was the kind who liked to make a grand entrance. But usually, when we received these contingent command to present ourselves, the  elder gods and goddesses were always present. Even the Queen herself was never late. 

But all the senior Olympians were absent. But most shocking of all, the Ruler of the Underworld, however, was here. Standing stoic and fearsome beside his young Queen. 

And well, unsurprisingly, all the younger Olympians were giving the couple a wide berth. Not even Kore's radiant and welcoming nature could overcome the cowardice of my brothers and sisters. Not that I myself was brave enough to go greet the dark Queen, with the dark God right beside her. Only Hermes could be so brave.

I was about to comment on the unusualness of it all to Ari, when I felt a slither of annoyance pass through me, as someone took a hold of my hand. I already had an idea as to who would dare to touch me so blatantly. But still Ari and I, turned around to see who had stopped us from making our way to our placements. 

Apollo. 

Of course, it would be no one but him. 

Even Ares, the most popular of all the gods, could not claim a shred of arrogance in comparison to our half-brother. And the smug moron that he was, the sun god dared to smile despite my obvious rritation. 

Ares perhaps was simpler in his interests in me. But he ironically wasn't as brutish as Apollo. Ares usually left me to my own devices. But then again, he was always so busy arguing with his counterpart. But both Ares and Athena were too stubborn to see what was the true nature of the sparks between them. 

"Sweet Aphrodite, why the long face, my love?" He said, loud enough to draw everyone's attention to the three of us. Oh, how I wish I could strangle him for this. Generally, I liked attention. Even thrived off of it. But the kind that my fellow Olympians gave me? I most certainly could do without. Granted, I was quite favoured in Olympus. Just not for the right reasons. 

"I would be quite pleased, if the great Apollo would let go of my hand." The soft laughter that rang through the room made it clear, that no one had missed my subtle insult or rejection of the god in front of me. 

And while Ares was not as arrogant as Apollo, Apollo was never as dense as his younger brother. Apollo had become a bit more mature given the last two events he had been a part of, or rather cause of. Emphasis, on the bit, though. 

Before Orion and Daphne, Apollo would have stalked off in a sulking huff. But after those two disasters, Apollo had become quite discerning. So instead of letting me go because of his hurt pride, as he would have before. He now chose to continue whatever game it was that he was playing. A game I wished no part of.

"Ah beauty, how you wound me. How can you not realize that your euphoria lies with me." He said with utmost of cheek. The saddest part of this was that Apollo truly believed this. That a god or a goddess could only find happiness with each other. A belief that had caused him and his sister, their very mortal loves. 

Ones that had been fated for them. 

It was truly sad, that the twins had not even recognized the priceless gift that they had been presented with.

It was Apollo's prejudice because of which, he had ruined those two beautiful mortals.  And in turn ruined himself, and his sister. Now I was not brave enough to make a comment about Daphne. But the pair of the greatest hunter and huntress instead? Well my mouth ran away with me, before I could even think better of it. 

"Just as how you made Artemis happy two springs ago, brother?" And that, did hit the target on its mark. The tightening of his jaw, and the fury in his eyes was obvious. The end of the low chatter that had been occurring, was another indicator, that perhaps I should have thought through reminding him of his mistakes. But then it was true, and there was nothing that Apollo could do to me. Not in front of everyone. 

Especially not with the dark lord right here. Because no matter how terrifying, King Hades was also fair and kind in his own way to us goddesses. Such a paradox, considering how he had treated the lovely and dear Kore. 

Abduction and force were not conducive to romance. 

As if, Ari agreed with my sense of danger by having reminded everyone of what Apollo had done, she finally chose to intrude between the sun god, and I. "Ah dear Apollo, have you any idea where the rest of your family is?" 

It took him a moment to shake off the anger in his eyes, before he finally let go of my hand, and turned to address my friend, while completely ignoring me. "Are you not also my family sweet Ariadne? You are after all brother Dionysus's wife." 

Ah, Apollo, your disfavour would never bother me. But it did anger me how he had chose to punish my friend, for the embarrassment, I had caused him. Mature enough not to let anger overtake him entirely. But still immature enough to not realize that sometimes it was better to just let go. 

Also, he should not forget, that Ariadne was the goddess of poison. Both literally and figuratively. She was one of those who gave as good as she received. 

Admittedly, Apollo was not as foolish as Ares and Hermes. But in the grand scheme of things, he was just another foolish male. If Apollo did not vex me so with his unending and unwanted attentions, I could have understood him. Helped him even. 

"Ah Apollo, my darling flame," my friend positively purred at him while pushing her chest in his face. And as if he could not control himself, his eyes became distracted by the bounty in front of him. At the same time, Ariadne motioned for me to leave. As much as I felt guilty for having dragged her into this, I was glad to have be free of him. "I meant your Olympian brethren Apollo." 

It was truly amazing how Ariadne did not hate her husband, as much as she hated my other brothers. I was also aware that Ariadne was disingenuous for getting out of troubling situations. She could handle herself far better, then I could with any of these gods. So I left her to it. 

It was ironic really, how she was more adept and capable in the art of flirtation than I was. But then again, I wished to be amorous with no one, but the one. Wherever he or she might be. 

So I finally settled on my cathedra, still keeping my ears open to the conversation between Ari and Apollo. I did not have to go too far away from them, considering that I was placed last down Queen Hera's line, and right across from Ariadne. Both a curse and blessing in itself. Because I was close to a goddess who was my closest friend and then a goddess who would prefer if I were to die. 

"And pray tell how you, do not belong in Olympus, sweet princess? When you also reside here." Apollo asked Ariadne, as his hand took her own, placing a kiss on the front of her hand. 

Taking liberties as always were you not, Apollo? I thought with a hint of both envy and disgust. Though I knew how my disgust was perhaps a bit hypocritical. I wish I could be as brazen as Apollo was sometimes. 

"Well my dearest sun, an intelligent god such as you cannot be that clueless as to how I wish for my freedom from my monstrous fate? Perhaps you will be my kind saviour?" She fluttered up her eyelashes at him, while he preened down at her in appreciation and obvious pride. 

Fluffing up his ego are we Ariadne? I scowled, keeping to my own one sided dialogue. It was a spectacle that everyone was pretending not to watch, but all were secretly paying attention to. 

"Anything for you lovely Ariadne." 

What a liar you are, sun god. If you could not even do the slightest for your own Daphne, what could you possibly do for a former mortal to whom you had no ties. 

I sighed, looking away from them, to glance at the rest of the deities who were already here. 

Of course, like always the sworn virgin goddesses were together. But unlike normal, instead of talking animatedly with Athena, the moon goddess's attention was on her brother. An inexplicable expression in her eyes. I could not place whether the look in her eyes was anger or disappointment. 

And Athena held on to her as if to show some sort of support. Not that the war goddess was remotely capable of understanding matters of the heart. Especially, with how she was so adept at ignoring her own heart.

Regardless, even if the virgin goddesses may not be talking today, but they were still thick as thieves. Usually those two were the very reason behind any delays to the usual court procession. 

It was a known fact that the goddess of wisdom was Zeus's favourite child. But could he not have placed Athena with the rest of his children, rather than right beside him? But again, the thunder god had no care for us anyway. So why expect anything from him? It would only lead to further disillusionment. 

Ares like me was already seated in his middle placement, looking extremely tired. He was usually the most energetic one out of us all. But for the past few weeks, he seemed extremely lethargic. Subdued somehow. Almost lost.  

He had even been ignoring his favourite sisters. Hebe and Eris, who sat right beside him. But I quickly chose to look away from him. Because with Ares? You never knew what to expect. Hot-headed one moment, almost kind another. Even if he had never been angry towards me, but it was better to stay safe. 

So I decided to pay attention to the messenger god who had finally made his arrival. Hermes's seat was positioned between the war god, and I. But being the only Olympian brave enough to face King Hades, he had sidled up right beside the dark god. Inadvertently, glancing between Apollo and the Underworld rulers. 

Wait. 

Or rather between the Underworld Queen, and her daughter-in-law? 

Oh Gaea! How could I have not realized?

Ariadne was the wife of Queen Persephone's son! As sweet as Kore was, Queen Persephone was far more unforgiving than even Queen Hera. I looked right across from me, glad to see that Dionysus was still missing. 

But this was far more worse than even Dionysus witnessing Ariadne dallying with another god. 

Oh Gaea, help us all. This could easily end up in a travesty. 

I prayed to the earth goddess to not let this end in a disaster.