Aphrodite

I had not had that much time to imagine what Hephaestus could look like. But whatever image I had made up in my mind died a slow death as I looked at him for the first time. Or rather his back, as his front was still facing our King.

The god was tall, a height I had only seen on Hades and Poseidon. But his frame was on the leaner side compared to our uncles. But his arms looked no less strong. They looked as if he crushed boulders for fun in his spare time. There was also no indication of his lame leg, because he stood up straight.

Though his legs and feet were covered in a billowy dark material, the likes of which I had never seen before. Perhaps it was something from the distant world of mortals. It was so different than the chiton or peplos that we all wore here on Olympus.

It was indeed, very curious.

And unlike the rest of the gods, Hephaestus was also completely bare skinned on the upper part of his body. Yet, somehow it still did not feel indecent. Not on him.

But while I had taken stock of his apparel or lack thereof, I had not yet started taking measure of him.

There was still so much to see of him, even from behind. Like the countless scars that littered his firm back. The hint of the sun to his skin. Or the dark hair that was tied in a thick bun at his neck.

It was not unusual for males to have long hair. Still it was not as common in the younger generation as much. But those that sported longer hair, left it free. Even the goddesses most of the times let their long hair run loose. But his was tied in the most unusual manner. Especially for a male.

“I wish to live in Olympus.”

Fates, was that the voice he had been blessed with? There was such power in that voice. But not overbearingly so. Nothing like Zeus’s. Hephaestus’s voice had a hypnotic quality to it. A voice that could easily enthral anyone if he wished it.

I had been in such a stupor and excited over this new presence in Olympus, that I only just took notice of the Queen sitting in a chair beside her mysterious new son. Had Zeus not just said something about that?

Clearly, I had not been paying attention.

But I was not sure if it was Hephaestus’s voice or his words that stupefied Zeus now. Because he kept on staring at his wife’s son with a dumbstruck look on his face.

“And why should I allow you, and you're mother’s sordidness to taint my heavens.” Zeus said after a time. Crossing his hands in front of his chest as he stood up, to look down on his wife and her son.

We all knew that Zeus had no choice but to accept Hephaestus into Olympus. But it was no secret that he would not make this easy. Either for Hera or for Hephaestus.

“Because I have no where to go, my King.” It may seem to many that Hepheastus was begging. But there was an edge to his voice that I could not place. An edge, that I could see all of the Olympians had missed. If the smirks and quite laughter on their faces were anything to go by. Zeus himself was mighty pleased, to having seemingly reduced the god to humiliating himself.

“And, son of Hera, how is that my problem?” The King replied, looking down at the pair of mother and son in what could only be described as complete animosity.

You fool. You do not know how right you are when you say, I am Hera’s son. But I am more my father's than I've allowed anyone to know. 

I blinked in shock as those words flitted through me. It took me a long moment to realize that it had been his voice in my head.

Hephaestus’s voice.

Words that he had not said out loud. Words that had just slipped on their own into my own mind.

I could not help but gasp, as my stare burned a hole through him. And as if this moment was suspended in time, he slowly turned to look in my direction. 

I stared at his legs, filing away the fact, that his right foot dragged in an unusual manner. An indication of his ailment. As my eyes moved upwards, I could see why everyone had called this god ugly.

Because he was exactly that.

The scars on his back, had nothing on the scars on his front. 

His body, his face seemed as if it had been ripped into. Over and over. Mangled. Slashed. Beaten. The only thing intact were his intense blue eyes.

The shade of the hottest flame.

His dark blue eyes, that met my own light green ones. Where his face would be impossible to read, his eyes carried a wealth of emotions.

Hate. Anger. Disgust. It burned so obviously in those cold eyes of his. He had the voice of heavens, and the eyes of hell.

So cold. So dangerous. So lifeless. 

Not even the flicker of surprise that passed his eyes made him any warmer.

Were these Olympians truly this foolish? This male had not been born ugly. He exuded a quiet strength of a male borne with power and beauty.

He had been made this way. Tortured into this.

Keep your musings to yourself, dove. If you know what is best for you.

As his cold threatening words washed themselves within me, my hopes shattered into smithereens. And the ugly monster that this new member was, I could tell he found amusement in threatening me.

As if he was even powerful enough to do anything to me. Not anymore. He was crippled…

But do you truly wish to test it, dove?

You…You…Wait! He can hear me!? I thought back at him furiously.

“Aphrodite? What is the meaning of this, goddess?” Zeus demanded, as he walked down towards the middle of the throne room. Between Hephaestus and I.

Aphrodite? You are the infamous goddess of beauty? What a funny joke. I did not know what he meant exactly by his words. It sounded like a foreign language. But I could read the faint mockery for what it was.

But I chose to pay no mind to the fool, that I had endeavoured to help. The very one for whom I had stood up for. Against Zeus and Ares, the strongest gods on Olympus.

So I turned to my King, hoping for some sort of reprieve for my previous outburst from the other day, and said, “I can read Hephaestus’s mind.” Zeus simply blinked at me and my declaration. The rest of the gods and goddesses looked at me in surprise as well. When I turned back to Zeus, it was to see that a calculative look had entered his eyes.

I thanked the fates, that Hephaestus did not bother mentioning, that he could read mine too. Undoubtedly, many would bribe him to find my weaknesses. Not that I had anything to hid. 

I doubt that there is anything of importance for anyone, in that frilly mind of yours Aphrodite.

Why was he being so rude!? I thought, and to my shame I could now feel the prick of tears in my eyes. Tears for all my broken hopes..

“That most certainly is interesting my dear child. Would you mind seeing your father sometime in the morning tomorrow.” I looked up at my King in shock. My father, who had never acknowledged our relationship for what it was. I was not foolish enough to not realize what this was truly about.

My King wanted me to spy on his wife’s son. And spy on him, I would. I now knew that the god obviously did not deserve any sympathy from me.

Not only was he ugly on the outside, he was just as ugly on the inside. Just like his mother.

If the murderous look on his face was anything to go by, he had heard me loud and clear. Good. Not that I understood his anger the Queen’s behalf. She had thrown him from Olympus when he was just a babe.

With that, I turned to my King, and said. “Yes father.”

Oh how both Zeus’s pride and Athena’s and possessiveness would be bothered by that. Oh how my other siblings would envy me, for the privilege the King had just (unwillingly but conveniently) bestowed upon me.

But most importantly, it was I who had finally been acknowledged, and Hephaestus who would always remain illegitimate. That would teach him, not to cross me from now on.

Though, I was still quite miffed, that my plans had flopped before I even had, had the chance of trying to see them through.

“Well then. I would like to talk my siblings, and our newest member alone for a bit. The rest of you are dismissed.” Zeus said, as he clapped his hands twice before turning around and walking back to his throne.

“But Father…” Athena tried to argue, but Zeus cut her off by a show of his hand. “I would urge you to listen to me my daughter.”

Athena stared at the King for a long moment, before stiffly walking away. Artemis following behind her without a word. Apollo and Hermes filling right behind them. Ares glared right at me as he walked past.

I guess, I would still be hated for a while yet. I gave Hephaestus a final look, hoping for something that I could not name. But just like his unreadable face, even his eyes had shut down.

Giving up, I looked for Ariadne to leave with, especially as Dionysus was still nowhere to be found. And as I met Ari’s eyes, I also picked up on Zeus’s words.

“Kore, did I not make myself clear Demeter’s dearest?”

Yes Athena was the King’s favourite. But he had always had a soft spot for his Kore. The very same Kore, he had also negotiated into a forced marriage. What an absolute farce.

Atleast we agree on something, dove. 

Don't call me that, you beast. 

“Zeus, I do not remain here as your daughter, but your brother’s wife. Your sister by marriage.”

Only Kore was Zeus’s child who would call him by his given name right to his face. Not even Athena would dare to do so. Zeus gave her an irritated look, but chose not to say anything.

He gazed around the room, and when his eyes landed on the two of us, his irritation grew even more. So I grabbed Ari’s hands and pulled her out of there. Before the King saw it fit to make an example out of us.

“What was the point of calling us here, if he was just going to ask us to leave.” I said in annoyance, once we were clear from being heard.

“Because Zeus is wary of Hephaestus. He does not fit the mold, so to speak.” Ari said quietly, lost in her own thoughts.

“I do not care for this Hephaestus. He truly is a beast Ari.” I muttered forlornly. Ari simply smiled, a smile that did not reach her eyes entirely. “Is it true that you were able to read his mind, Dite?”

I nodded in affirmative, choosing not to comment on it. I still had not wrapped my mind around what had just happened in the throne room. One moment I was busy making my own dreams about a stranger, the very next I was busy trying to put up with the same stranger’s undeserved disrespect.

It took me by surprise to feel Ari’s hand grab my hand in between both of hers. “Dite, do you remember what you told me about bonds and mind links.”

As I registered Ari’s earnest look and words, my mind took me back to a memory from a while back. A conversation in which I had told Ari, how one would know…

No.

It could not be.

Not him.

Not Hephaestus.

I refused to acknowledge the fact, that it was not too long ago, when I had nursed the same hope as what Ari had now just suggested.

That perhaps Hephaestus would be my one. But I no longer wanted him.

I did not.

I will not accept that cruel rude male. 

No matter how ethereal his voice had been.