Page 25 of Hermes
“Thank you! I am grateful for your kindness and generosity.”
Kindness?
Generosity?
Those were words I’ve heard no one describe me as. This was a first, but I had to realize that this was the side of me that Crocus brought out. And dare I say, I liked this new Hermes that he was evoking.
Chapter 14
IleftCrocusbyhimself in Corinth but only for a week. I was efficient and diligent in my godly tasks, which now gave me a few hours to return to him. He met me on the beach and we made love again, while watching the sunset.
“And where are you off to next?” he asked as he drew the strap on his tunic after putting it back over his alluring body.
“Back to the Underworld to guide more souls there,” I stated.
“What’s the Underworld like? Is it as dark and gory as the stories say?” he inquired, sounding very intrigued.
I nodded. “Parts are. But there are surprisingly beautiful spots there too,” I informed him.
“Beautiful spots?” Crocus repeated in disbelief. “In the Underworld?”
“Yes. In the Underworld there is such a place called Elysium. The Elysian plains and fields are surrounded by the most colorful of flowers, beautiful and tranquil skies and weather. There is a sun there that is permanently fixed in a set location on the horizon, locked in place to provide a constant warmness over the lands. Lakes and rivers there are cerulean and crystal blue.”
“That sounds miraculous,” Crocus uttered, mesmerized by my description. “I had no idea such a place existed.”
“Well, now you do,” I stated, with a smile, which he returned to me.
“Even here on the surface, there are so many beautiful places I have yet to visit. I’m sort of stuck here in Corinth, not able to leave my younger siblings alone.” Crocus sounded disheartened as he said this, which tore at my own heart.
“I will take you anywhere you want,” I promised him. “We can bring your brothers and sisters along or I can have a servant attend to and take care of them while we are away.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you, Hermes, for always being so thoughtful.” He planted a kiss on my cheek before folding his arms over his chest.
“Speaking of my brothers and sisters, it is getting rather late, and I promised them I wouldn’t be gone for very long.”
I reached to hold his hands with my own. “Very well. I wouldn’t want you to keep them waiting. It’s probably best if I depart as well. I have a new mission my father has assigned me to. He will grow suspicious if I don’t complete it very soon,” I added.
“When will I see you next?” Crocus rubbed his thumbs over my hands in a soothing manner.
“I’m not sure,” I responded, honestly. “Hopefully in just a few weeks. I’ll try to make haste.”
“I’ll be waiting,” he replied with a wink, before planting a kiss on my lips. “Goodbye, my Hermes. I love you.”
“I love you too, Crocus. Farewell.”
And so, he took off, back into the forest heading towards the town. I let out a heavy sigh as he disappeared from my sight. When he was finally gone, I went to retrieve my items, ready to disembark.
“You know, it’s very ironic…” a feminine, sultry voice called from behind, startling me.
I spun around, knowing very well who the source of it was. Aphrodite seemed to have a pattern of waiting until I was on the beach alone, ready to leave, before she would sneak up on me. I was starting to becoming agitatedly used to it now.
“No, but please, tell me,” I coolly stated, wanting her to think I was unbothered by her presence all of a sudden.
She paced back and forth, deep in thought. “It’s ironic that Smilax just so happens to disappear just months after I told you about the spell we cast on Crocus. I suppose you don’t know what became of her?”
I shrugged, pretending I had no idea where she was going with this and to make her think I was uninvolved. “I have no clue what could have happened to her. Perhaps she ran away? Maybe she was feeling guilty about having deceived Crocus. Who knows? There could be many reasons as to why she has gone missing.”
Aphrodite halted her movement and stood still. Her head lifted to directly gaze into my eyes. “And you are certain you had absolutely nothing to do with it?” She was testing me and I knew it. But I would remain steadfast and unfazed by her tactics.
