Page 21 of Prometheus' Priestess

“Oh didshe?”

Athena didn’t answer, locking her jaw and staring at Aphrodite defiantly. If she had to take the lashing from Aphrodite, so be it.

“No, she didn’t. How could she? How could a priestess from our world ever know the true span of human emotions? How everything they feel is heightened to the nth degree? Pleasure, pain, grief, regret, shame? You may have breathed life into them, but I’m the one that gifted Prometheus with their emotional intellect, Athena. Or have youforgotten?”

Athena remainedsilent.

“You have damned that girl for eternity. She will never get back what you allowed to bestolen.”

“She willheal.”

“Oh and you know that how, oh virtuous one with your virginity intact? You who knows nothing of the carnal pleasures of sex or the vulnerability of making love? How do you know she will heal from something you knownothingabout?!”

“Where you see ruin in the rubble, I see glory.” Athena said.

Aphrodite snorted. “I think Dionysus has been spiking your victory drinks, sister.”

“You may not see it, but because of this, she will rise. Stronger, smarter, wiser. She will lead them through the fear that chokesthem.”

“Your wisdom isheartless.”

A deep rumbling cough interrupted them.

“If I may,” Ares interjected, “Athena is right in one instance.”

Aphrodite stared at him as if he’d just presented her with a rotten trout. Athena, too, was surprised. She had never known Aresto disagree with his lover in public.

“In the heat of battle, it’s the hardship, the urge not to be defeated that will keep this priestess of yoursgoing.”

Before Aphrodite could rebuke him, Arescontinued.

“But Athena has made one, perhaps critical, mistake.”

Athena scoffed. Ares was not usually one to make any plans, let alone analyse others and point out flaws in them.

“She has forgotten that love,” his eyes stared unblinking at Aphrodite, “is as relentless, remorseless, and ruthless as she is in her pursuit for justice. I fear, Athena, you may have made an enemy in this battle that could cost you thewar.”

Aphrodite smiled savagely.

Chapter X

She may not have her sister’s head for strategy but Aphrodite was no idiot. She sunk back into the bathtub with a sigh. The cream marble with gold trim was embedded into the rock of the room at waist length in the shape of a conch shell. It was deep enough that the base of it was level with the floor, which is why it required three steps to climb in and sink into its depths. Inside the bath, there were seated edges if one preferred not to float.

Aphrodite liked to float. Surrounded as she was with rose petals and myrtles that kissed her skin before floating away allowed her to think better. Her long hair, water clogged, gave the impression that she was haloed should anyone look upon her, while her full breasts and pearl-pink nipples broke the surface of the otherwise crystalline water. Alas, Ares had gone off to do some such task − Aphrodite hadn’t cared to ask what − and she’d headed back to her rooms to draw a scalding hot bath to think. She was well and truly alone with her thoughts and one pressingconundrum.

She knew how to play with powerful immortals. Athena was no exception just because she had the head for war and wisdom. While Aphrodite knew Artemis − given her pride over her own chastity − would be equally as enraged to learn about the priestess’ virginity being stripped from her, they still weren’t on speaking terms. Roping her in to help with this problem was not an option. Ares was far too bullish to help, though he had offered. The others who knew of the plan had been recruited by Athena and paid handsomely for it. All Aphrodite could offer those gods that Athena could not was a night in her bed chambers, and she didn’t feel that whoring herself out in exchange for their cooperation would particularly send the right message. Which left ... Prometheus.

Aphrodite sighed, reaching for the rose oil which she rubbed up and down her legs before resubmerging them in the water. She would have to make amends.

“Hermes.”

Immediately the old god − though ‘old’ was a relative term given that he was one of the youngest of all the Olympians − appeared before her. With walnut-coloured skin, he still had the youthful confidence of a young boy that had just blossomed into a well-endowed young man Aphrodite noted while she blatantly perused her old lover’sbody.

“Aphrodite.” Hermes smiled and it was a warm smile, of summer evenings spent together sipping wine with a god who was comfortable in his skin and sexuality and asked no more of Aphrodite then she was willing to give. Indeed, he had been one of her favourite lovers for his ability to know when to give and when to take. It was, she realised, what made him such a wonderful negotiator.

“I need you to get a message toPrometheus.”

Hermes’ eyebrow quirked into a curve.

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