Page 57 of Arrogance
“Yes. I have been meaning to make a visit there soon,” Dionysus stated. “I hope you enjoy yourself. And try to stay out of mischief. Don’t do anything Iwoulddo.” He gave me a playful wink as he stated this.
“I’ll try not to.”
“Oh! Before you go, I do have something I want to gift you,” Dionysus shared.
“Really? What is it?” I was curious to know.
Dionysus went to one of his chests and opened it, rummaging through the various objects in it before retrieving one.
He traipsed over to me and handed me an amethyst goblet, decorated with other bright assorted stones, studded along it.
“A cup?” I inquired. Why was he giving me a jeweled cup?
“It’s not just any cup, it’s a goblet blessed by yours truly. Here, gaze into it,” Dionysus instructed.
And so I did peer into the empty goblet, and within seconds, my eyes widened, surprised that it was slowly filling up from the bottom to the top with a crimson liquid, which I assumed was wine.
“That is amazing!” I exclaimed.
“Yes, and it is yours. Take it with you to Afqa. Anytime the goblet is emptied, just gaze into it and more wine will appear. You will have a never-ending supply for your trip.”
“This is too kind of you. And yes, I will take the goblet with me and enjoy it,” I stated out of appreciation over the magical gift.
“Just don’t go overboard with it. Wouldn’t want to be hiking a mountain after too many drinks,” Dionysus warned.
I could not help but chuckle. “Of course not. I do havesomeself-control, you know.”
We both then laughed at our exchange. “And when are you departing for Afqa?”
“As soon as Aphrodite returns from Athens. She had some affairs to attend to there,” I replied.
Dionysus could not help but shake his head. “I would hate to be involved with any affairs that concern Aphrodite. Those usually don’t end well for those who are on the receiving end of heraffairs.”
All I could do was shrug. I wasn’t entirely sure what Dionysus was insinuating, but I had a hunch that it had to do with Aphrodite’s wrath. Something that I never wanted to see with my own eyes.
Chapter 30
Aphrodite
It would have been nice to travel to Afqa with Adonis for our respite from all of my duties as a goddess, but there was a recent matter brought to me that required my immediate attention before we could do that. I promised Adonis I would need no more than three days to finish what I needed to do in Athens. Then, we would be off to Afqa for much needed relaxation and constant bliss. He did not seem to be bothered by the sudden change of plans, much to my relief.
Here I was in Athens, navigating through a nearby forest, searching for a certain hunter named Hippolytus. According to recent gossip, he has been roaming around my temples in Athens, trying to convert my followers to pray to Artemis. From what I gathered, he is a man who is repulsed by sex and the idea of marriage. Although I was deeply bitter about this opinion of his, I would have easily left him alone, if that was all.
However, him going out of his way to proselytize my own patrons was crossing the line. He needed to be stopped immediately, sooner rather than later. After spending a while scoping the woods, I finally spotted him, drawing his bow and arrow, ready to strike a still rabbit that was nibbling on herbs.
But before the hunter could fire his arrow, the rabbit raised its ears, becoming quickly startled, before scurrying off. Hippolytus growled, miffed that his target escaped.
“Did I scare off your next meal?” I appeared out of the blue, popping out from behind the tall oak tree to make my presence known.
“What do you think?” Hippolytus scoffed. “I should fire my arrow atyoufor disturbing my prey.”
“By all means try,” I threw my hand it the air, making myself fully exposed. “But it comes with a death sentence. Such is the cost for a mortal to strike a goddess.”
Hippolytus’s eyes bulged when I shared this with him. “A goddess!? That beauty… so that must mean you’re…”
I interrupted to finish his sentence for him. “Aphrodite. Yes, the one and only. Now, please tell me why I have to waste my time in coming here to these dry woods to find a common hunter? I have such better things to do with my time.”
“I’m not sure. Have I offended you in some way, Goddess?” he asked me.
