Page 26 of Achille's Earth Angel
“I wasn’t particularly avoiding your kiss, I just wanted to continue our conversation,” she gasped. “You have a way of making me forget what I was going to say.”
Achilles laughed. “That’s a good thing then. Knowing how to silence a woman is golden.” Then his eyes went serious. “Just so you know, I don’t need the year, I already know I’m in love with you.”
“But I do,” she replied adamantly. “Consider it a long engagement or whatever you wish it to be, but I don’t want you to give up your immortality just like that. It’s a very serious decision—like a death sentence.” She shuddered. “I don’t want to be the one to condemn you to that.”
He paused a moment and then leaned forward to gently kiss her forehead. “If that is what you wish to make you feel better, then I cannot deny you. I’ll agree to one year, but that is all.” He reached out and ran the back of his hand lightly down her cheek. “Dying with you is not a death sentence, Angel, it’s a gift.”
Ange nodded, but she was unconvinced. She was sure Achilles didn’t realize what he was giving up, and she didn’t think she could face his regret once he finally realized it too late. She also couldn’t release him and let him go. Her foolish heart was falling in love in spite of her sensible head.
***
“SHE DID WHAT?” ZEUSroared the question at Hercules.
Hercules winced. Incurring the wrath of his father wasn’t his favorite thing to do. “She told Achilles he has to wait a year before they can marry, just to make sure he really wants to give up immortality.”
“That is unacceptable,” Zeus roared again. “All of Mount Olympus is now aware that Achilles is on earth and courting an earth woman, thanks to Poseidon and my nephew, Epaphras. I cannot allow this to go on!”
He heaved a thunderbolt at the ceiling, putting all his mighty force into it in an effort to relieve his temper and stress. The wall exploded, then began to put itself back together. He began to pace back and forth.
“He seems determined to stand by Angel’s wishes,” Hercules replied mildly, staying just out of reach. He could hear his father muttering something about eternal damnation to Shai, the God of Destiny, but what he had to do with the whole matter was lost on Hercules. He settled for being glad he wasn’t directly in his dad’s line of fire when it came to blaming someone for Achilles’ defection.
“Insolent pup!” Zeus shouted in frustration and fury. “I offer him a way to have his earth woman and this is how he repays me? He puts her wishes before mine? I cannot allow him to spend a year on earth and enjoy ambrosia at the same time. The entire population of Olympus would be at my throat!” He shot another thunderbolt at the ceiling, his long beard flying around as he whirled his arm.
Hercules nodded and ducked pieces of ceiling tile painted with cherubs, well able to see his father’s point. Turning a blind eye here and there wasn’t the same situation that this debacle was turning into. If Zeus allowed this to happen it would set a precedent that would re-open the people of earth to the machinations of the gods once more. Games such as the one that had set Helen of Troy as a prize to a man who wasn’t her husband would abound again. Cruel games of war, jealousies, greed, and death would open a new era.
“Don’t make any hasty decisions, father,” Hercules replied, trying to mitigate a peaceful outcome. He was worried for Achilles. Zeus would have no choice but to put the needs of the many before the romantic wishes of one man. Even if he were like a son to him. He would never allow earth to be used as a playground for the gods again, but he also couldn’t allow his mandates to be ignored by Achilles.
“He must be punished,” Zeus finally spat out, his temper cooling somewhat. “I have to make an example of him so that no one else dares to attempt the same thing.”
“What do you have in mind?” Hercules asked guardedly.
Zeus stroked his beard, a flash of pain in his eyes. “He must die, my son. There is no other way.”
“What do you mean?” sputtered Hercules. “You can’t kill him, he’s a son to you. And besides, he’s my friend and brother.”
“Would you rather I imprison him in the Cave of Sorrows for eternity? Or deliver him to Hades for eternal torment?”
“No! That would be a fate worse than death.” It was Hercules’ turn to pace.
“Then I must do what I have to do,” Zeus replied sadly. “In three days’ time, I shall stand before the people and strip Achilles of his immortality immediately. He doesn’t get to play on earth for a year. He will begin to age right away and then die when his sojourn on earth is finished. Once I’ve decreed it, all the complaints will fade into nothing and it will be peaceful once again. Most importantly, earth will be safe.”
“I thought that was already the plan,” Hercules replied, looking confused. “Isn’t that what you told him?”
Zeus nodded. “Yes, that is what I told him. However, I intended to bring him back to me if he and Angel could not conceive. I cannot do that now, his presence there has been too visible and caused too much of an uproar. A sacrifice must be made. Achilles will be forever banned from Olympus and he will die, I will decree it. I just hope his Angel is worth it,” he added somberly, his heart heavy.
“And what of Epaphras?” asked Hercules with a scowl. This is all his fault to begin with. Achilles just couldn’t ignore a woman in distress.”
“My nephew will be married within the week to a sea nymph of my choice,” thundered Zeus. “He will not get away with the havoc he has wrought.”
Hercules was silent. It was a fitting punishment for the sea brat. Common nymphs were not known for their patience or kindness, and most of them were not beautiful. Knowing his father, Zeus would pick the ugliest one he could find, with the harshest reputation. She would keep a very tight rein on a son of Poseidon and he would hate it. Poseidon had many sons and Epaphras was not his favorite. He would agree to it and be glad someone else was going to rule his wayward son with an iron hand and keep him out of trouble.
“I think it will be worth it to Achilles,” Hercules replied slowly. “He fell hard for Angel, right from the beginning. “Plus, he’s been restless for a long time now. He doesn’t want to be alone forever and he’s lost hope of finding someone among the gods to marry.”
“Sort of like you?” his father asked with a rare intuitive glance. “It’s been centuries since you’ve remarried as well.”
“Perhaps. You know, father, it’s difficult to find a woman among the gods who has the grace, kindness and beauty of earth’s women. There is a humility and acceptance of limitations, and even a thankfulness for blessings given that is missing here.”
Zeus nodded. “You are right, of course. I’m sure it’s because the goddesses are all privileged, with every desire and wish granted immediately.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Maybe I should do something to change that—among the young ladies and the young men alike.”
