Chapter 33

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Eros set out to find this Psyche who had been foolish enough to invoke the wrath of the Goddess. 

His mother asked him to use his arrows to make Psyche fall in love with the vilest suitor. 

As the God of Desire, it was a common method his mother used to get revenge. 

He didn’t mind. 

These mortals seemed all too happy to fall into each other’s arms in a carnal passion. From the lowest to the highest, his arrow, though powerful, seemed to do little more than release what the subject already wanted. 

True, there were times he helped pierce the fortress of a guarded heart. It was a simple matter, really. For what heart didn’t secretly long for love and connection?

These mortals constantly disappointed him, though. 

If only they were capable of something more. He was growing tired of the fleshy indulgences and shallow promises of love. Mortals, he firmly believed, were incapable of much except what their dying bodies could give them. A few pleasures amid the sorrows. 

Not much consolation, but at least it was something. 

He had to admit it was also rather fun using his gifts to give people their just desserts. He’d used his powers on the gods enough times to teach them a lesson or two. This Psyche was likely a horrible specimen. It would be fun making her fall in love with someone ugly and revolting. 

He smiled. 

Eros landed in a meadow not far from the king and queen’s palace. Shaking off his natural appearance, he covered himself in the disguise of a grey-haired man. His robes dragged in the grass and dirt as he walked towards a nearby couple, talking intently.

“I’m telling you, Damian, I witnessed the miracle myself,” the woman was saying to the man. “She came and he smiled. Theo actually smiled. I imagined he would be on his way to the Underworld by now. But Princess Psyche has blessed our house and I believe he is on the mend. I have just left him to come and get you. You have to come and see for yourself.”

Damian looked intently at the woman. 

“Well, Cora, I may have my doubts. I still do. It doesn’t feel right the way everyone nearly worships Princess Psyche. Putting the princess as high as the gods is just asking for trouble. But–” Damian paused. “But I can’t say I’m not grateful, if what you say is true.”

Damian’s face looked tired and heavy, but the news somehow relaxed the wrinkles on his face. 

“What’s this?” a stranger asked, approaching them as he interrupted their conversation. 

The couple turned to the grey-haired man.

“May we help you?” Damian asked.

“I’ve heard tales of your princess. I have come to pay homage,” the stranger said.

Better get right to it and find out how deep the blasphemy went. 

Damian frowned. Cora came to the rescue. 

“Oh, yes, well we have a shrine where you can place your tokens and offerings,” Cora said, trying to be helpful. 

“But where might I find the princess?” the stranger asked.

“Oh, the princess doesn’t usually address visitors directly,” Cora explained. “Usually worshipers leave the tokens and they receive blessings on their way. If you’re looking for an audience with the princess, you might find difficulty there.”

“I’ve traveled quite far and would like to ensure she receives this,” the stranger said.

He pulled a necklace from his robes and showed it to the pair. 

“Oh, that’s lovely,” Cora gasped. 

Cora looked at Damian, wordlessly asking him what she should do. Damian shrugged and passed the imaginary ball back to her. 

Cora thought for a moment. 

“Well, the princess is going to be in a hurry, being the grand wedding day and all. But, I know she was planning to make one more stop after our house,” Cora said. “The midwife. She’s been working tirelessly lately, what with new pilgrims coming to give birth in our kingdom.”

People were coming to give birth? 

That was ridiculous!

“Best be quick, though. We might already be too late,” Cora said. 

Cora started leading the group through the field and towards one of the outlying houses.

Damian and the stranger easily kept up with Cora’s shorter gait, but it was good Cora quickened her pace for as soon as they reached the house, they saw the princess emerge. 

Cora instinctively and suddenly halted the group at the sight of Psyche. 

“There she is,” she whispered. 

Eros strained to see over Damian’s shoulder. 

Cora then quickly pushed forward to catch Psyche as she moved away from the house.

“Dear princess,” Cora said with a low bow. “This stranger has traveled far to present you with a gift. We hope it pleases you that we have brought him to you.”

Psyche turned and gave a regal bow to the group.

Cora gave an overly-grand gesture towards the stranger and he stared at Psyche for a moment before stepping forward to present her the necklace. 

As he took in her overall appearance, he couldn’t blame Cora for the excessive reverence she gave the princess. 

Though dressed rather simply, she was breathtaking.

For a mortal, of course. 

As Eros stepped forward, Psyche gave him an extra nod. Having her gaze directed at him caught him off guard slightly. There was something powerful about how she made him feel. 

He placed the necklace into her hand. Psyche looked down at the necklace as it sparkled. 

“A most exquisite gift. I must — thank you,” Psyche said, pausing slightly.  

Why did she hesitate? Eros found himself inwardly frowning. Was she uncomfortable with his gift? He tried to read her face, but he couldn’t quite tell what she was thinking. 

And anyway, as he looked at her, he found himself getting distracted. What was it that made her so captivating? She didn’t seem all that special otherwise. 

Psyche bowed again as she put the necklace into the folds of her robes. 

“I must apologize for my haste,” she said with a kind smile. “I really wish I could spend more time with you all, but I must be going.” 

“Yes, of course,” Cora said, watching as Psyche moved towards the palace by way of the town. 

Damian turned to the stranger.

“Best wishes to you on your travels back home or wherever else the road may lead you,” he said. “We must be off as well.” 

Eros broke his gaze from the retreating Psyche as Damian then turned to Cora.

“We’d best be getting home,” Damian said. He seemed eager for something. Likely he wanted to check on the “Theo” Cora had mentioned. 

“My humble thanks for your help,” the stranger said, making a stiff bow. 

With that, the small group dispersed. 

Eros followed after Psyche wondering why she had been hesitant to receive his gift. It had been harmless enough, barely something his sister would wear. 

And Harmonia did love necklaces. 

As he walked he smiled to himself. 

Obviously his mother was jealous of Psyche.  Aside from the outward beauty, there was something about the princess that made him feel — it was hard to describe. It wasn’t the usual feelings he felt as the God of Desire. That was there too, of course. He had mastered his powers eons ago so that now it was almost impossible to get him to fall into just any woman’s bed.  

That didn’t stop him from making fools of everyone else, though. They toppled into all kinds of beds with the help of his arrows. 

He really did enjoy his job.  

As for this suitor business, he thought, he decided he would need more time. Psyche was not at all what he had expected.

Turning invisible, he approached the town square and noticed Psyche sitting on a bench next to a young-ish man. 

What was she up to now? Hadn’t she been in a hurry just moments ago?

“How much did you lose?” he heard Psyche ask.

“Everything,” the man said, bowing his head. “I’ve lost everything…”

What was this guy groaning about? Head down, unable to make eye contact. Clearly, it was his own fault he was in such a situation. And that made him quite undeserving of Psyche’s attention. 

“She deserves better,” the man said quietly to himself.

Eros rolled his eyes. 

“Chloe loves you,” Psyche said, putting her hand on the man’s shoulder. 

She seemed to care a great deal for this mortal. 

Interesting.

“What is the amount of your debt?” she asked.

“Too much,” the man groaned, turning away slightly. 

“Adonis, look at me,” Psyche said. 

Here it comes, Eros thought.

“Go to Chloe and talk this over with her,” Psyche said. “Let her help you. Work together. Figure out a way to make it work so that you don’t have to turn to such methods again. It never works. Trust each other. Help each other. Everything will be alright.

“And use this to settle your debts.”

Psyche slipped something into Adonis’s hand and got up from the bench.

What was this? 

Eros got close enough to see the necklace he had just given her laying in the man’s palm.

Fascinating.

The necklace, he knew, held no personal value to her, but why give it to this man? He wouldn’t know its value and would likely waste it. 

What did Psyche have to gain?

Eros watched Psyche continue on her way back to the palace. 

She was proving to be quite a puzzle. 

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