Page 62 of Arrogance
“Precisely. All gods possess it. It’s something I’ve learned to accept. But it is what makes us gods. For without arrogance, we would no longer be the feared and fierce creatures that we are. It is because of our arrogance that mortals are so drawn to us. Have you not noticed this pattern, Adonis? The more arrogant the god, the more powerful they truly are, and the more followers and deities they obtain.”
“I never really thought of it like that. But what you say makes complete sense,” I concurred.
“But enough about such philosophies. We did not come all this way to Afqa to sit around and be sappy,” she tried to diffuse the conversation with.
I stood up, brushing myself off. “I am a little hungry, actually. I should probably find food before we can no longer see to hunt.”
“That would be wonderful. I too have found an appetite,” Aphrodite added, smiling as she glanced up at me.
“Very well. Let me just grab my bow and arrow and I should be back soon,” I replied.
“Okay. Just be careful,” she stated with worry behind her voice.
And I should have listened to that very thing she said. For even I should know to always trust the intuition of a goddess.
The woods were tranquil. Not even the insects were stirring. The only noise heard was the bristling of the leaves on the branches of the trees when a calm breeze passed through. My defenses remain unheightened as a result of this lingering peace. I continued my hike through this sage wilderness before me.
I was hoping to stumble upon some innocent doe or even a nibbling rabbit at this point. The sun would soon fully set and if I did not find an animal or a beast as prey in the next several minutes, I knew Aphrodite and I would just have to scavenge for some wild berries, fruits, and nuts to sustain our appetites until the morning. However, I was more determined than ever to find some meat to cook over a fire.
But alas, my continued search proved not to be as promising as I had hoped. I gave a deep sigh of disappointment before turning around to make my trek back to Aphrodite.
The second I turned around, I felt a heavy force to my chest, propelling me backwards. Losing track of my footing, I fell to the ground on my back, pain rising to my chest from the hard, abrupt impact of whatever had just struck me.
As I opened my eyes, a wild boar was pummeling me. Muddy granules covered its coarse tan hair. The smell of its breath ran putrid. The foul beast’s stench was enough to make me want to gag, but I couldn’t even bring my sore muscles to do that, with the wind having been knocked out of me.
Its hooves crushed my ribs as it pounced on me. Its razor-sharp tusks digging into my flesh as it bit into my skin. I screamed for help. My voice likely inaudible. I wasn’t even sure if actual words were coming out. Just shrill screeches.
My vision was obscured. Nothing but scarlet red. The excruciating pain caused me to nearly faint from the deep bites. I continued to bleed profusely. The boar finally left me be and ran off.
Coughing and heaving up more blood, I slowly crawled my way over to a nearby boulder. Every subtle movement struck me with agony. It was unbearable. But I needed to prop myself up on this rock. It was the only way I could get a full view of my surroundings, in case the wild beast attacked me again.
Although I’m not sure how much of a fight I could possibly even put up if it were to charge at me. I lifted my hand close to my face. Blurriness still in my line of vision. But I could see my hands were drenched in my own blood. I was devoured all over. My flesh torn up from nearly every surface of my skin, it seemed.
I could barely inhale and exhale. The rising and falling of my chest adding another layer of pain to my body. I was fading, and I was fading fast. My eyes became dreary, and I found myself on the verge of falling asleep. Asleep into that never-ending slumber I never wanted to experience. But I could tell it was coming on.
I only had moments left to live. There was still so much for me to do. So much for me to see. I had one whirlwind of an adventure in this life, but I still wanted more. I had so much to say to Aphrodite, Persephone, and even Apollo still. But as I collapsed against the boulder, the last scene on this world I would see was a figure approaching me from the wilderness, with a hand on her hips.
It was then I realized that it was this very person that had this wild animal attack me. It was Artemis, likely coming to gloat about herself or rather express her disdain for me. But I would never give her that satisfaction. I refused to give in to her ego, only to damage my own. My arrogance would triumph, and thus I gave up my will to fight on and live. Death was inevitable, and I’d rather die with dignity than hear Artemis’s words as the very last I would ever hear on this Earth.
Closing my eyes, I soon drifted off and out of this world, not allowing Artemis’s own arrogance to supersede mine. A smile crept up on my face as I blacked out, knowing that I was stubborn until the very end.
Chapter 34
Aphrodite
Reclining in the soft luscious green grass, I continued to eat the apples Adonis, and I had picked earlier. I wondered what type of animal we would dine over once Adonis returned from the hunt. Whatever it would be, I would be pleased either way. Even if he came back with nothing, I still would not let it affect my mood. I was in rather high-spirits now that that Hippolytus disaster was behind me.
I could now focus on the beauty of nature before us, as well as Adonis’ beauty, too. I had so many plans in store for us for the next several days. Adonis had yet to experience the crystal blue waterfalls here in Afqa. I was looking forward to showing him how wondrous they were. And it would be tomorrow when I would actually hike with him there.
But my pleasing thoughts were instantly disturbed by a loud scream coming from the forest. I rose to my feet with great alarm, knowing the person behind those yells all too well. It was Adonis. I sprinted through the woods, gliding around each and every tree, skipping over every root and limb as I darted towards where I heard his voice coming from.
Thorns from white roses scratched at my sides and my arms. My feet were scraped and bruised on the bottoms. When blood did fall from me, the flowers changed from white to increasingly more vivid red with every drop of blood that fell from me.
I told him to be careful!
As I reached my target destination, I placed both of my hands over my mouth. “Adonis!” I screamed, rushing over to his still body, lying against a rock. His tunic was covered in blood. Lacerations and terrible wounds inflicted him all over, ruining his once flawless, smooth, silky skin.
I wrapped my arms around his bloody corpse, tears streaming down my face. “Adonis, wake up! Please be okay! You can’t die on me yet! Wake up, Adonis!”
