Robbed of my husband, of the life we had begun to build together. Of his strong arms that circled my waist, his soft voice against my ear, his fingers weaving through mine. Then I remembered the way the curse gripped him with such unrelenting horror, and I buried my face in my hands.
The knowledge that I had brought this misfortune upon myself was no comfort; I burned with shame and anger. I hadbroken Cupid’s trust, but he had lied to me. Lied in ways I was still trying to comprehend. The inveracity tickled my unconscious mind, making me invasive in my curiosity. He had told me of a curse, but never in my wildest imaginings had I guessed thatthiswould happen.
Tears made their way down my cheeks, cold in the night air. I shook with sobs, venting my grief into the silent indifference of the darkness.
After a long time, my breathing slowed, and I took command of myself again. I wiped my face on the sheet wrapped around me and told myself sternly that survival was my goal now, and there was no point in dwelling on what had occurred. As the stars wheeled through the sky, I buried the shards of my broken heart and tried to sleep.
A goddess came to me in the depths of the night, when nothing stirred and no wind blew. Looking back, I was never sure whether I was awake or dreaming when I met her.
I lifted my head from the ground to see a figure perched delicately on a nearby outcropping of stone. Her skin glowed slightly in the darkness like a drawn-down version of the moon, illuminated by its own inner radiance. Hair spilled like ink over her shoulders.
‘So this is where he’s been keeping you,’ she said, looking at me like a tigress considering her next meal. ‘I swore I’d destroy whatever he loved most after what he did to Adonis, but it seems you’ve already accomplished that yourself.’ She glanced up at the ruins of the seaside house, sniffing in distaste.
I sat up slowly, meeting the stranger’s gaze. I did not dare make any sudden movements. I had met wildcats and bears in the wilderness and knew not to show fear. I recalled Cupid’swarnings about the monster that hunted me and wondered if it was the same as the figure who stood before me now.
‘Are you speaking of Cupid?’ I asked.
The stranger scoffed. ‘Is that the name he gave you? How like my adopted son to lie about such a vital point. No, his real name is Eros.’
Eros, god of desire. I’d heard the hymns in praise of him: winged, golden-haired, dispensing love to mortals and gods alike. I recalled the glimpse of him I’d seen by lamplight and knew with horrible certainty that she spoke the truth.
I stared at the figure before me. If Eros was her adopted son, then this stranger was none other than Aphrodite.
‘Where is he?’ I demanded.
Aphrodite crossed her smooth arms. ‘Why would I tell you such a thing? Only be sure that he never wants to see you again.’
Her words cut me. In the light of the crescent moon, Aphrodite’s beauty had the deadly perfection of a naked blade. Why would such a sublime creature choose to torment a mortal like me?
Aphrodite inclined her head condescendingly, looking at me as though I was very stupid. ‘He didn’t tell you the truth about the curse, did he? It seems my son has wreathed himself in lies.’
She laughed at my confused expression, a bell-like sound.Laughter-loving, the poets called Aphrodite, but they never considered who or what she might be laughing at.
‘A love curse,’ she said. ‘One intended for you, but it seems he took the weight of it upon himself. An accident, I’m sure. Dear girl, do you really think Eros would have noticed you otherwise? He is a god. You are nothing but a little mortal with skinned knees.’
I could not speak. A lump filled my throat, but I would not weep in front of my enemy.
She rested her chin on her hand. ‘Truly, this is all for the best. You two could not have continued forever, creeping around in darkness. Even if you’d both kept to the terms of the curse – and the fact you’re here is proof that you didn’t – what future would you have? You would have grown old and withered while he remained young. Imagine that: a god visiting a brittle-boned hag in the dead of the night. Who ever heard of such a thing? Better that he left you now.’
‘Why are you here?’ I asked. ‘I have no home, no husband. Will you take my life as well?’
‘Oh, heavens no,’ she exclaimed. ‘We are family now. You carry his child within you.’
My hand flew to my belly.
‘I will not be accused of killing my own grandchild,’ Aphrodite continued. ‘Swear yourself to me as a loyal servant, and I will look after you until the child is born. Perhaps I might even offer you one more glimpse of Eros.’
Hope flickered and died within me. I noticed Aphrodite made no mention of what would happen after the birth, whether I would be allowed to raise the baby or even be permitted to live. No, I was done making deals with gods.
Besides, if Eros did not want me, then I did not want him either.
‘Forgive me, lady,’ I said bitterly. ‘But I must decline your offer. I was born into the world of mortals, and I will find a place for myself there once more.’
Aphrodite tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. ‘Very well. But I do not think you will find a better bargain. Call for me if you change your mind. I will find you wherever you are.’
A promise and a threat. The goddess stood with a rustle of skirts and vanished into the night.
I lay back down on the hard earth, wrapped in the tatteredbedsheet, falling into an uneasy sleep. When I woke, the sky was the pale blue that signalled dawn was near, and I saw a small shape move beside me.
