Chapter 38

Back to chapter menu     
Chapter 37      Chapter 39

The days dragged on as the kingdom scrambled to find a husband for Psyche. Eros did his best to put off sealing Psyche’s fate, trying to figure out some other way. 

He was now convinced she didn’t deserve to marry any of these monstrous men who would have pleased his mother. 

He found himself in a bit of a slump. What could he do? He had gotten bored of watching the senseless interactions between Psyche and her disinterested suitors and found himself more often aimlessly wandering the village. 

Time was running out and his mother’s demand for Psyche’s punishment loomed. 

What was this?

There was some commotion among the people that caught his attention. 

Apparently there had been an accident along the cliffs.

Psyche appeared with an entourage where the people had gathered. She hadn’t been among them in a while. It was good to see her in her natural element. 

She looked well. 

Eros invisibly followed as the people created a path and Psyche entered the house. 

As they entered, the press of the crowd made it difficult for him to keep his distance from Psyche. Eros found himself unexpectedly pressed up against her. In all of this time observing her, he’d never been so close.  

To make things easier, Eros transformed himself into a fly and flew around until he landed on the head scarf of a villager. That would provide a good-enough vantage point. 

The village healer approached Psyche. 

“What happened, Lydia?” she asked quietly.

Eros looked at the girls laying on the table. One was already making her way to the Underworld. 

Psyche approached the girl who was still living. 

“Phoebe,” she said gently. “Phoebe, can you hear me?”

Psyche talked to the girl for a moment. Psyche’s words made her cry. Psyche’s words made her feel better. 

After a moment, she turned to the crowd.

“Daphne has already begun her journey to the Underworld,” Psyche said. 

Eros noticed as Psyche spoke, the crowd shifted their feelings from despair to hope to peace. He couldn’t help but marvel at the effect her words had. 

Psyche then comforted certain individuals before gazing at every person. He felt something as her gaze passed over him. 

She radiated light and hope. 

Psyche kissed both girls, lingering a little longer over the living one before leaving.

She gave a similar speech to the crowd outside. Zephyr’s wind added to the mood as the crowd moaned and shivered. 

What a tragedy. 

And Psyche was doing a lot to help the people manage it. 

He marvelled at her skill. How did she know what people needed? How did she know how to connect with them and adjust their feelings?

Psyche was no ordinary mortal. 

Back to chapter menu     
Chapter 37      Chapter 39