Page 30 of Arrogance
“Yes, he is. But I need him to fall in love with another,” I replied.
“Who should the new target of his affection be?”
“Apollo. I want Orpheus to fall in love with Apollo,” I explained. It was the perfect ploy. Not only would Calliope be indirectly punished, but Apollo would also be afflicted for tugging Adonis away from me. It would cause strife between Apollo and Dionysus. The two gods would likely feud over Orpheus.
“Very well. I will make the necessary arrangements,” Eros confirmed, before flying off and out of my sight.
I sat on my throne, swirling my goblet of wine as I took a sip of it. A wily grin expressed on my face. Sure enough, Orpheus would fall in love with Apollo. He would pay tribute and pray to Apollo while in one of Dionysus’ temples. Dionysus’s patrons would slay Orpheus for such a transgression. Calliope would weep and be miserable, while Apollo and Dionysus would have growing tension and animosity between them for years to come. It was pure justice, and I reveled in it.
It was a long four months that seemed liked forever until Adonis finally returned to me. And it was just in time for the chariot races. Gods, goddesses and mortals from all around gathered to watch the grand event. It was mainly a competition for the farmers and charioteers. Whoever bred, raised, and trained their horses the best was likely to be the winner of the races.
At such competitions, gods and goddesses had their own private booths and would allow only honorary guests to watch the sporting event by their side. Besides Adonis, I had no interest in having anyone else in my box. So, the two of us sat together with our goblets of wine, onlooking the chanting audience and the participants vying for the top spot as the best charioteer.
As we sat and spectated the event, I glanced over to see Adonis’ eyes wandering everywhere around the arena, but the main course where the horses were galloping and racing. I knew he was trying to spot Apollo. He could at least be a little more inconspicuous about it. It irked me that Adonis couldn’t just enjoy the event with me. He just let his mind wander to other sexual desires instead of just appreciating this moment with me and the competitive spirit going on below us.
I needed to excuse myself, to walk away and control my aggression. I proceeded to stand up and head out of the booth.
“Is everything okay?” Adonis asked.
I mustered up the fakest smile I could give and turned my head around to him. “Of course. There’s a matter I need to attend to, but go ahead and enjoy the games. I shouldn’t be too long,” I fibbed.
“Well, I’ll be waiting here,” he replied.
I left the private box. Once I shut the door behind me, I released the muscles in my face so that my authentic expression was showing, which was a deep, vexed glower. But I couldn’t even get a moment to myself, for a patron of mine approached me. “My Goddess! There you are. I just learned of the most disturbing news and thought you should know.”
I rolled my eyes before addressing her. “Please, by all means, tell me.”
“It’s about Glaucus,” the woman stated.
“Glaucus? The man who is currently in the lead, likely to win the chariot races this year?”
She nodded. “Yes. That very same Glaucus. I overheard a conversation taking place between two of his stable boys who sat in the row just behind me.”
“Go on,” I commanded.
“Anyway, they were reciting some of the most gruesome details about how Glaucus handles his horses. He treats them in ways which are uncivilized. In ways that would disgrace your Goddess-ship,” she confessed.
Now I was intrigued by what this woman was referring to. How could Glaucus handle mares in a way that would upset me? “Please, inform me of the details to which you are referring.”
The woman took a rather large gulp before proceeding with her story. “Well, they mentioned that he never allows his mares to breed. It is his belief that a mare who does not breed will be stronger and more vivacious in the chariot races,” she explained.
“So, he disrupts his horses from naturally conceiving?” I asked for clarification.
“Precisely. But not only this, Goddess, there is more. He also kills men and women and feeds their flesh to the mares. He believes this will raise the animals’ spirits and make them prepared for battling the other horses they are in competition with.”
“How barbaric and cruel!” I exclaimed. “And you are certain the details of this conversation his stable boys shared are true?”
“Yes. These have been recurring rumors floating around about Glaucus for a while now, but the fact that it came from his stable boys’ lips who have witnessed these horrid events first-hand. It makes these claims valid.”
Glaucus was a chauvinistic pig. How dare he think he could commit such atrocities and think he could get away with it? Not only was preventing the horses from mating an affront to me, but the added ignominy of him feeding human flesh to his mares was inconceivable. He could not get away with this for his own selfish desires. And now I was prepared more than ever to make him suffer for such depraved behavior.
“I will handle him. You have done well, mortal, in informing me of these wrongdoings. I promise you will be compensated for your veracity,” I affirmed.
She bowed down. “Why thank you Goddess. I am not worthy.”
And with that, I turned away from her and headed back into my private seated sectioning with Adonis.
Once Adonis was aware of my return, he twisted his neck to glance over at me. “Did you take care of everything you needed to?”
