Chapter 35

Back to chapter menu     
Chapter 34      Chapter 36

“Mother,” Eros said, appearing beside Aphrodite at the top of her temple.

“Isn’t this a splendid night?” she said. Aphrodite looked glorious in the starlight. 

“The weather is quite pleasant,” Eros said.

She glanced at him.

“I thought you liked weddings,” his mother said, looking back at the scene below.

“I do. What’s not to like?” he said. 

Aphrodite looked at him and narrowed her eyes.

“You seem to be in a strange mood this evening,” she said. “How are things coming with your assignment?”

Eros considered how much of his concerns he should reveal regarding her objective to punish Psyche. She seemed happy at the moment, but that could quickly change if she felt she had to defend her judgment.

“Things are going on well. I found Psyche and have been considering who might serve best as her tormentor. As you know, I might end up unwittingly matching her to someone she’s secretly loved all along. Where would the punishment be in that?” he said.

Aphrodite stood quietly for a moment looking down, deep in thought. 

“You’re right,” she finally said. “I admit I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. This task shouldn’t be rushed. In order to exact the most cutting punishment, it does take more careful observation and planning.

“How much time do you think you’ll need?”

“I’m not sure,” he said carefully. “I have definitely observed the misplaced worship and the blasphemy. Something certainly must be done. But I’m wondering if it needs to be as much for the people’s sake as for Psyche’s. If she is simply made to be miserable, would the people really learn? Would they see their own folly or only mourn the loss of their deity?”

Aphrodite frowned.

“Psyche tries to win the love of the people with her constant movement among them. Their weak minds give her credit for all of our hard work. Humans have a hard time trusting what they can’t see,” she said.

“So you agree they must both be punished?” Eros said.

Aphrodite eyed him. 

“I agree that this is not a simple punishment of one mortal, if that’s what you’re getting at,” she said. “But do not mistake the object of your task, Eros. Psyche must be made to see that she has perverted her love. She shows them too much, and now it has turned into godlike worship. It is therefore fitting that her love be turned against her as her own torment.”

Eros wasn’t sure. 

He inwardly sighed. He wished he could have a better conversation with his mother, but she seemed quite set on punishing the princess. He could see it would be useless to argue the point. 

“Agreed,” Eros said, superficially surrendering. “I will be sure to do the job properly.”

He was about to leave when she stopped him. 

“Take care, Eros,” Aphrodite said. “You may know love and passion, but I know love and beauty. Do not let this Psyche cloud your judgment with her pretty face. She is a mortal and no mortal is worthy of our love.” 

Eros nodded before disappearing. 

Aphrodite lingered a few minutes more, thinking. 

Would Psyche fool her son as well? Fortunately, he was no longer the reckless boy who was easily drawn in by feminine beauty. And Psyche wasn’t quite the master of it that her sisters were.

She was definitely no match for Aphrodite.

Aphrodite held her head high at the thought of this would-be goddess. 

Psyche was weak and puny. 

Still — 

Aphrodite noticed as she observed the crowd below that the princess was pretty enough to turn heads. 

She turned many.

The Goddess scowled.

Well, Psyche had better not turn Eros’s, she thought, glancing back at where Eros had just stood.

Back to chapter menu     
Chapter 34      Chapter 36