Chapter 14:
“Well, ladies, this has been nice, but I’m afraid I should head back. You know how Poseidon acts when I am not there to stop him from making any unorthodox laws,” Amphitrite laughed with a roll of her eyes while rising out of the chair she was seated in.
“Yes, it seems I should head back down to the Underworld, it has been pretty busy lately, and it is time that I dive back in and help with my portion,” Persephone contributed. “It was very nice meeting you, Helia, and I look forward to seeing you again soon,” Persephone added.
“Same, I hope that your manners and politeness will rub off on my troublemaking son Triton,” joked Amphitrite with a teasing smirk.
“It was nice meeting your Majesties as well. I hope you have safe travels back to your respective realms.”
“Oh, Hera, are you sure you don’t want to trade her for my son?”
“Sorry, Amphitrite, but I have grown quite attached to this little one already and couldn’t imagine being without her,” Hera laughed while hugging Helia closer to her to punctuate her words with the gesture.
“Fine, but if you find that you have changed your mind, you know where to find me,” Amphitrite said before she flashed out in a wave of blue water, leaving behind the scent of fresh ocean water and the beach.
“Well, I will see you two later, but before I go, Hera, do you mind if I tend to the flowers in your garden?”
“Oh, not at all, Persephone, I don’t mind. Would you like us to stay behind or…”
“Oh no, you don’t have to do that. I am sure you and Helia have other things to do.”
“Of course, if you need me, we will be in the library for Helia’s next lesson.”
“Thank you, see you two later.”
“Bye, Queen Persephone, see you on Saturday,” Helia said before she and Hera walked out of the garden towards the library for her history lesson with Athena.
Persephone was working on the roses in the garden, standing to move to the next portion, humming a tune to herself, lost in the work she had at hand and her own thoughts when she felt strong arms encase her frame.
“Hmm, I love holding you like this.”
“Oh,” yelled a shocked Persephone. She turned to smack the person who dared grabbed her in such a way but calmed when she saw just who her attacker was.
“Ares! What are you doing? You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry, my little violet.”
“You should be. You know we can’t be seen together in such compromising positions. I am still married, and YOU have a girlfriend.” Persephone remembered the conversation she was having earlier with Amphitrite about Aphrodite’s new lover. She was fine gossiping about the love goddess and some random mortal, but she became increasingly upset when Amphitrite went into details about Aphrodite and Ares.
“Kore, can we not argue about my relationship with Aphrodite right now?”
“So, you admit you are in a relationship with her?”
“What? Kore, no, just listen, okay? Aphrodite and I are not in a relationship in the way that you think. She and I just fool around from time to time.”
“Yea, okay, you two seem to be more than friends with benefits from what Amphitrite has told me.”
“Oh, my Gods Persephone, chill, alright. Aphrodite and I just fuck and have an occasional outing as friends, okay? I do not have romantic feelings for her like I do with you, and why are you confronting me about what Aphrodite and I have going on? You are the one married, not me!” he yelled.
“Shush! Will you please keep your voice down? I’m sorry, okay? I guess I was just jealous about hearing how you two seem like a couple, and you’re right. I am married and have no reason to be upset with you,” she apologized.
“It’s fine; besides, I couldn’t stay mad at you,” replied Ares with a bright smile.
“I am glad that I have that effect over you,” Persephone said as she continued to tend to the garden.
“I bet you are,” chided Ares. “What are you doing here on Olympus?”
“I came by earlier; Amphitrite and I thought we could catch up with Hera and meet the little goddess Helia and plan some future playdates for the children.”
“Ah, I see you have gotten the chance to meet her. What do you think of her?”
“She is the sweetest little godling I have ever met. She is an absolute joy to be around.”
“Yea, she has that effect on people.”
“What do you think about her? I mean, after all, she is like a new member of the family.”
“It’s weird. It seems as though we have a connection even though we just met. It’s like a part of me feels the need to protect Helia like a big brother would; I mean, she is quick-witted, funny, smart, and so much more, but she seems intimidated and shy at certain times, and it’s like I don’t want anyone to take advantage of that. Is that crazy?”
“Not at all. It makes sense, actually. Hera has taken her under her wing to raise her as her own, so it would only be natural that you would feel like she is your baby sister.”
“Connection feels so much stronger than a feeling, though. It feels like we are actual siblings, and we have only met yesterday and haven’t had any real interaction except for our training earlier, but I know that’s not possible, but either way, I will treat her as such.”
“My, my Ares, I would say the big bad God of War has a soft spot for this godling,” Persephone joked.
“Oh, will you hush?” Ares said as a blush rose to his cheeks. Wanting to change the subject, he asked, “How are things going between you and my uncle?”
“Same, as usual,” Persephone replied with a sigh of disinterest.
“Why don’t you leave him? We could be together.”
“We have a daughter Ares, I have to do what’s best for her.”
“But you don’t love him. You love me.”
“I know,” she sighed, “and I wish that we could be together, but right now, it isn’t possible. Maybe one day the Fates would be kind enough to grant us this wish,” she said to Ares, as she turned to look him directly in the eyes.
“Maybe, but until then, we will just have to continue to meet in secrecy and deny our love in the faces of others,” he sadly replied.
“I should get going,” she wanted to leave before her emotions got the better of her, for it hurt her to see Ares in such a state when it concerned their relationship.
“Wait,” he caught her by the wrist before she could flash out, “may I at least get a goodbye kiss?”
“Ares, you know that we shouldn’t...”
“Please, my little violet, just one kiss, nothing more. This is all I ask.”
Persephone hesitated, unsure of what to do. If she was honest with herself, she wanted to feel his lips against hers; with that thought in mind, she indulged in his request and kissed him tenderly on his soft lips.
Before Ares could deepen the kiss, though, she broke it and took a step back and flashed out in a wave of flowers, leaving behind on the ground in front of him a violet. Ares bent down to pick it up and whispered into the air, “I love you, my little Violet.”