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The Power of Love
By
After about three seconds, the litany
of praise started to bore Aphrodite. Visiting her temples while the priests
were in residence was such a drag. Their droning prayers made her sleepy. She
yawned, flicked her filmy robe back and stretched out her long limbs, knocking
over a bowlful of pears in the process. She shrugged to herself as the priest
scrabbled to pick up the rolling fruit from the marble floor. "I hate pears
anyway. Funny shape."
She sat up from her reclining position and swung her legs around so that her
feet dangled from the altar. A teasing glint caught her eye and she squealed,
scooping up the pretty trinkets left as offerings.
"Pretty!" she cried appreciatively, lifting a pearl and diamond bracelet and
twirling it on the end of her finger. "Now, that's more my style."
The priests' eyes widened as they saw the bracelet twirling in mid-air of its
own volition. They gasped and they sank to their knees in supplication. The
Goddess of Love hadn't bothered to reveal her presence to them. Why should she?
A bubbly peel of laughter caused further prostrations among the cowering priests.
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. The tiresome temple lackeys were not the reason for her visit. She smiled in anticipation, her cheeks dimpling.
No. This was a very special day.
Today, she'd show all the Gods what real power could do.
"Ares can brag all he likes. He's got nothing on me."
The goddess pouted just slightly, allowing her forehead to pucker for an instant.
She was still miffed. So what if she'd interrupted Ares' little chat with Zeus?
The Trojan war could've waited for two minutes. She'd only wanted to know what
daddy thought of her new outfit. Ares shouldn't have been so rude.
"No one calls me an airhead and gets away with it."
Still, her brother's harsh words had wounded, even if she didn't want to admit
it. They all thought war was so important. That's why all the gods bowed and
scraped to Ares. She had lots of responsibilities, too, but no one gave her
any credit. Her brother's complete dismissal of her abilities rankled and was
not to be tolerated.
"I'll show him. He won't see it coming."
Just then, an almighty clatter echoed through the marble halls followed by the
rattle of armor and the chilling clamor of swords clashing. Statues trembled.
The priests lifted their heads and exchanged perplexed and frightened stares.
This was no divine visitation from the delectable daughter of Zeus. This was
something far more fearsome and awe-inspiring. Looters.
From her perch on the altar, Aphrodite clapped her hands in anticipation.
"Goodie! The guest of honor has arrived!"
A tremendous boom shook the temple. Statues teetered on their pedestals and
dust rained down from the ceiling.
"All right, already," Aphrodite murmured, reaching for a bowl of grapes. She
popped a couple in her mouth and turned to get a better view of the heavy bronze
temple doors. At that moment, something collided heavily with the other side,
leaving a solid indentation on the smooth bronze surface. Aphrodite grinned
as she chewed on a grape. "Good. Cut to the action."
A deafening blast and the doors crashed open. Billowing smoke gusted through
the opening, extinguishing the candles on the altar. Darkness blanketed the
temple interior and the dust clouds rendered the air almost opaque. Light streamed
through from the daylight beyond, outlining a solitary figure, tall and dark
and tensed for battle. The priests began to quiver and cower almost as much
as they had for their goddess.
"Little toadies," Aphrodite muttered. "I've got to shop around for better priests."
"Where is it?" asked the figure in the doorway. The voice was husky, feminine
and cold. The priests huddled together, too terrified to find their voices.
"I won't ask again," said the woman, her icy tone revealed this was no idle
threat.
She stepped closer and the priests gasped. They shoved forward one of the younger
acolytes, a boy really, with curly golden hair and a cherubic face.
"Oh, no, not the cute one!" Aphrodite sighed.
"Show her where it is," the older priests hissed. Hands pushed at the small
of the boy's back and he stumbled and fell to his knees. Looking up, the acolyte
regarded the woman with stark fear, his hands shaking as he pushed back golden
curls that had tumbled into his eyes.
The woman stepped into the temple slowly and with terrible purpose. Swirling
dust and smoke concealed her face.
Aphrodite strained to see through the clouds, impatient to get a glimpse of
the much-anticipated guest.
"Oh for Zeus' sake!" A wave of her hand dissipated the haze, giving her a clearer
view of the woman's face. "There, that's better."
A sweeping glance confirmed what she already knew. That was her... the chosen
one.
"Not bad," observed the goddess, "but she definitely needs a wardrobe adjustment.
And she's a lot younger than I thought she'd be."
She was a girl, no more than nineteen, tall and slender, clad in bright silks
of billowy blue and red, a vest of extravagant mail belted at the waist with
a leather sash, tall boots and a lethal looking sword, the gear of a very successful
pirate. One strong hand clutched a walking stick festooned with scarves and
the other rested on the hilt of her sword. Long, dark tresses streamed out from
underneath a cap studded with coins. Shadows heightened the smooth planes of
the girl's face, making it seem sharper, more angular, but with the promise
of soft curves when she grew older. The lips softened the sharpness somewhat.
They were full and round and would have been sweet had they been smiling instead
of pressed into a severe line. But the eyes, cold and icy blue, were so remote,
so detached, they didn't seem capable of emotion.
"Well," the girl said, quirking an eyebrow at the boy. "I'm waiting."
The boy nodded, still unable to speak, and scrambled to his feet. He looked
pleadingly at the other priests but they shooed him away with frantic gestures.
"Take her to it," the eldest priest whispered. "Our secret has been discovered.
We can't protect the Heart from her. It's in the goddess' hands now."
Aphrodite huffed, deeply offended. "Yep, these guys definitely gotta go."
The boy gulped and managed to utter, "This way," before darting to the deeper
recesses of the temple, not daring to look to see if the woman followed. The
chosen one stayed close to him, limping just slightly. She threw a glance of
intense animosity over her shoulder, addressing the priests.
"Don't try anything or I'll have your guts for garters, got it?"
She didn't bother to listen for their answer, focusing instead on the boy bringing
her closer to the object of her desire, nearly attained, the mystical gem sacred
to the Goddess of Love, the Heart. Steel blue eyes glittered in greedy eagerness.
Ever since the voice in the night had whispered to her of its existence, she
knew she wouldn't sleep until she had it in her possession. It had been almost
laughably easy to find and not nearly as fun as raiding a village or capturing
another ship. But the voice must be obeyed. It hadn't let her down yet and it
had promised so many tantalizing things.
Xena, you are the one. With me by your side, you will rule nations. Every
man, woman and child will bow to your will and tremble before you. Anything
you can imagine, anything, is yours for the taking. Let me rule you and it will
all be yours.
It seemed like a fair bargain. And really, what did she care anyway? Nothing
really mattered anymore. Not since Lyceus. The brief interlude with Caesar had
crushed whatever had remained of her emotions. She didn't allow herself to feel
anything now. It was easier that way. Looking at the boy's golden hair, so like
her brother's, a distant ache tugged at her, but she pushed it down, back inside
that dark place where she could control it. She took an almost imperceptible
calming breath and regained her concentration. No, she was here for the jewel
and she would have it, the mystical Heart, all the power of the Goddess.
The boy approached another altar swathed in heavy draperies. With trembling
hands he drew back the first layer of cloth.
"C'mon. C'mon." Xena said under her breath.
Another layer was brushed aside. The boy reached for the third and last layer
of draperies, but his hand halted before he touched it. He dropped his hand
back down to his side and with a stiffened spine, turned to face the girl behind
him.
"No, I won't do it," he said flatly. Abject terror wrestled with a much nobler
emotion, causing the youth's features to appear stiff and resolute, even while
tears streamed down his cheeks. "I can't give it to you. I won't let you have
the Heart." The boy's lips trembled as he spoke. "It is an object of sacred
purity. It must not be removed from the temple."
Xena's eyes narrowed to slits. "Give it to me or get out of my way, boy," she
said, drawing her sword out of its scabbard just slightly. The metallic ring
of steel against leather made the boy flinch but he stood firm.
"No," he whispered.
With a gentle burst of rosy light, Aphrodite appeared just behind the pair,
though she remained invisible to human eyes. Xena cocked her head slightly,
as if the sound of the goddess' appearance were somehow audible to her. She
lifted an eyebrow, but her penetrating stare never wavered from the boy.
"Enough cat and mouse already," sighed the Goddess impatiently. She put one
hand on her hip and waved the other in the air with a flourish. The last length
of heavy cloth lifted off of the altar.
The boy whirled around, mouth open
in amazement. Xena, eyes fastening on her prize, brushed past him, the boy forgotten
as the glow of the jewel captured all of her attention.
Twirling a blonde curl around a finger, the Goddess chewed at her lower lip
and watched as Xena cautiously mounted the raised steps to the altar. At the
top, settled in a cradle of red velvet, the Heart pulsed with shimmering reddish
light. It was the largest ruby Xena had ever seen, easily bigger than her fist.
When she was done with it, it would fetch a staggering price. That would be
a nice bonus. But, even better, she'd get what the voice promised.
Steal the jewel and it will heal you, make you whole.
She allowed herself a little smile. It was too easy. Just two steps and she'd
be good as new again.
"That's right, sweetie," whispered the Goddess. "It's a nice rock. Go ahead
and take it. You're free and clear."
Xena mounted the last step. The boy brought his hands up to cover his open mouth
and then turned his eyes away. He couldn't watch her take it. Aphrodite leaned
forward, gazing fixedly as Xena walked willingly into her trap.
A sudden flash of fiery radiance, a loud pop and the God of War materialized
at the Goddess' side, his brows drawn together and his lips curled in irritation.
Xena, arm extended, about to step forward, tensed and paused. Aphrodite threw
a glance sideways and lifted her chin at him. "Oh, it's you."
"Just what do you think you're doing here, sis?"
"Proving a point. Care to watch as your little Princess caves to the Goddess
of Love?"
Ares' eyebrows lifted and a mocking smile slid across his rugged face as he
chuckled. "You think you can snare Xena with one of your little spells?" He
laughed again, a deep, rumbling sound that caused the girl on the altar to look
all around in bewilderment. She stepped forward again, hand hovering over the
ruby. The God of War regarded the girl appreciatively, his eyes drinking in
the sight of her. "No. She's too smart for that. I trained her myself. She's
got real potential."
"Well, if the big, bad God of War has taken her under his wing, then there shouldn't
be anything silly old me can do to affect her, right? Your girl will make a
nice profit and be on her way. No problemo."
Ares tore his gaze away from Xena, who was still lingering motionless before
the jewel and then leveled a skeptical stare at Aphrodite adorned in all her
filmy pink finery. The dark god sighed. "Let me get this straight, you mean
you're not going to put the love whammy on her and make her fall for a sheep
or something just to get back at me?"
"As if!" The Goddess of Love stamped her foot impatiently. "This is just a little
test of my skills. I'm so totally above all the petty spells. Now, hush, you're
making your girl edgy. Look, I'm giving my pretty ruby away to her. That should
make you happy."
Ares frowned, unconvinced and wary. "Fine," he said, crossing his powerful biceps
across his brawny chest. Aphrodite smiled and the two turned with interest to
watch what Xena would do.
The young warrior was hesitant. She may have looked foolish just standing there,
but she knew something was just not quite right. She glanced from side to side,
listening intently. There didn't seem to be any traps on the altar or above
it, no drafts that would reveal hidden crevices where traps might lie in wait.
There was no protection for the stone at all. It lay, ripe for the plucking,
on its bed of velvet. Flexing her fingers as they hovered above the jewel, she
studied the light reflecting from its many facets. It was beautiful. The girl
sighed and then shook herself in surprise.
What's the matter with me? Just grab the damn thing and go!
The tips of her fingers grazed the hard surface. Suddenly, red waves rose from
the jewel, enveloping the girl in a pink nimbus of refracted light. For the
tiniest moment, she felt the most astonishing lightness, a sense of clean contentment
that she'd almost forgotten existed.
"Hey!" Ares exclaimed.
Aphrodite bent forward. "Pick it up! That's right! Go on!"
Her fingers curled around the edges
of the jewel and an incredible sensation went singing through Xena, shedding
light and warmth into the nethermost recesses of her tarnished soul. She felt
like laughing out loud. She held the Heart in the palm of her hand.
"Yes!" Aphrodite cried. "She scores!"
Xena wanted to weep as a flood of wonderful emotions washed through her. Its
cool stream began to cleanse all the dark and dirty spaces in her heart and
mind, washing over and around walls she had built to fence in the most tender
and cutting memories. In the flotsam of surfacing sensations, she recognized
emotions she'd thought were long dead.
"No!" Ares yelled, his hand flicking forward, sending a jet of white light at
the girl. It struck Xena in the back, sending her sprawling forward. She gasped
as the jewel shot out of her hand, arcing through the air and then shattering
into a thousand pieces as it clattered against the marble floor.
Xena braced herself on the dais, gasping for breath as those amazing sensations
suddenly evacuated, leaving her bereft and hollow. The war god rushed to her,
still invisible to the girl's eyes, but concerned that his chosen had been harmed.
He looked back at Aphrodite, who stood watching the two with a curious expression.
"I swear, if you've done anything to her..."
Xena took several deep breaths, chest still heaving, and then straightened,
automatically shifting into a fighting stance. She pushed away from the altar,
and bent down to pick up the stick that lay discarded on the floor next to her.
She stood again. Ares peered into her face and then sighed, relieved. When the
young warrior turned, her expression was hardened into a fierce scowl, her eyes
inscrutable.
Ares grinned. "That's my girl."
Xena's flinty gaze flickered down to where the boy sat huddled and shivering
on the bottom step. "You! Come here," she commanded.
The boy started, drawing his limbs in closer, instinctively trying to make himself
a smaller target. He turned frightened eyes on Xena, silently imploring her.
"I. Said. Come. Here!" Xena said through gritted teeth, each word punctuated
by a sharp thump of the stick as she descended the steps. She reached down and
yanked the boy up by the back of his robes. His head lolled back and forth like
a rag doll as she shook him.
"I want answers," the warrior growled, drawing her lips back over her teeth
like a wild animal snarling at its prey. "What just happened? The stone was
supposed to heal me! But look!" Xena lifted the silken fabric up over her boot
to reveal her knees. They were an odd mass of misshapen humps where the bones
had shattered under the skin. "I'm still deformed. Your stupid Heart did nothing!"
The boy whimpered, tears streaming down his tender cheeks. "I... I don't know
what you're asking," he sobbed, shaking his head back and forth. "I saw it working..."
A flash of fury lit the depths of her icy blue eyes. In one quicksilver move,
she let go of the boy and drew her sword. The tip was poised at the boy's throat
before he could even blink.
"I've had enough!"
The boy gulped, his watery eyes staring up at her in utter helplessness.
"Do it," whispered Ares. Aphrodite frowned.
Xena blinked as she stared back at the boy. She pressed the blade a fraction
more into the tender flesh. The boy's lower lip trembled, but he did not cry
out, or beg for his life. Xena stared a moment longer, tumultuous thoughts ravaging
her composure. She let out a ragged sigh and shoved the boy aside.
"This was a waste of my time," she said gruffly, limping past him. The boy,
sensing the danger had passed, began to weep in earnest thankfulness, prayers
to his goddess and protector pouring from his lips.
"Ahhh, isn't that sweet," Aphrodite cooed. She went to him and leaned down to
place a gentle kiss on the boy's forehead. The boy quieted, his eyelids becoming
instantly heavy, and he slipped into a dreamless sleep. "There you go, sweetie,"
she said, patting him on his head.
Ares watched as Xena thumped out of the temple, so deeply engrossed in her own
thoughts, she forgot to threaten the priests one last time.
He waited until the smoke and dust outside had swallowed her up before he turned
to Aphrodite, a proud smile on his face. "See, I told you all that lovey-dovey
nonsense wouldn't have an affect on my girl." The war god winked then chucked
the Goddess under chin. "Too bad. Sorry sis, you lose." In the next instant,
he vanished.
Aphrodite gave a little humph and shook out her long curls. "I don't think so."
She tapped her foot for a few seconds as she surveyed the shards of jewel strewn
across the floor. With a nod of her head, the pieces reassembled and the jewel
sat on its bed of velvet, completely whole except for a tiny shard, the size
of a needle, chipped away from its gleaming surface.
"There, that's better," she said. In all, it hadn't been the stunning success
that she had planned, but it had all turned out to her satisfaction. She went
to inspect her ruby, stroking it lightly. "This little beauty doesn't cure knees.
It cures hearts. And your girl got a good dose of it, Ares. A tiny, tiny little
dose that's now a permanent part of her. She'll come around eventually." The
Goddess grinned, wrinkling up her nose excitedly. "Sorry, bro, you lose."
The End.