If I Had Words

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Chapter 53      Chapter 55

Eros entered the grounds of his mother’s palace, wondering what she would do once she found out Psyche was back mingling among the mortals. 

News of Psyche’s release back into the world would likely not make his mother too happy, but he doubted she would see her as a threat anymore.

She definitely wouldn’t miss the opportunity to gloat that she had been right.

Psyche had disappointed him.  

He scanned the crowd of people and felt relieved at not immediately seeing his mother. She was likely somewhere deep inside her palace enjoying all of the attention. He did catch sight of his sister, though. She saw him at the same time and they approached each other.

“Harmonia,” he said, smiling.

“How are you doing, Eros?” the Goddess of Harmony said, giving him a hug.

“I’m fine. Just happy to see you,” he said, genuinely feeling better. 

Harmonia could heal any wound. 

“You really are a charmer, aren’t you?” she said. “I see our brothers. Come, let’s say hello to them.”

Say hello to the Gods of Panic and Dread? 

He’d rather not. 

Still, he followed her as she led the way to where their brothers were drinking and laughing with their father. 

“You should have seen the look on their faces,” Deimos was saying. He mimicked their look of terror and everyone laughed. 

“They were falling all over each other as they scrambled to get away and one of them accidentally ran right into the point of a spear,” Phobos said laughing. 

The group slightly quieted their laughter at the sight of Harmonia. 

She smiled and took turns hugging everyone. 

“What’s new, Eros?” Deimos asked, seeing him approach with their sister. 

“Ah, nothing much,” he said.

Eros was not interested in having an in-depth conversation.

“Surely the God of Love and Desire would have a fun story or two to share,” Phobos said. “Who has felt the pleasure of your arrow lately?” 

Eros didn’t want to keep the conversation going, but he knew they wouldn’t rest until he told them something. 

“No one too interesting, though I have a mind to shoot a merchant in much need of humbling,” Eros said. 

“Oh, is that the same merchant you had told me about?” Aphrodite said, joining them. 

Eros noticed his father stiffen at the sight of Aphrodite. 

“Yes, in fact,” Eros said. He might as well let the conversation play out. 

“The merchant sounded so vile,” Aphrodite said to the group. “We almost matched him up with Psyche, poor dear.”

Nothing could take away from her victory over that feeble mortal. 

“Who’s Psyche?” Phobos said, brightening.

“Yeah, she must be quite the beauty. Jealous, Mother?” Deimos said.

Aphrodite tossed her head. These twins of hers could be rather annoying. 

“Psyche dared to compete with the gods,” Aphrodite said.  

“So what did you do, Mother?” Phobos said. “Did you make her really suffer?”

“I told Eros to use an arrow and make her fall in love with the vilest of men,” Aphrodite said. “That merchant would have made a fine candidate.”

“Ah, but that would have tipped the scales and rewarded the merchant for his misdeeds,” Eros said. “How could the lesson be taught and the balance maintained if such a vile mortal should win such a lovely wife?”

Eros was in a strange mood, but he didn’t care. 

“Ho-ho!” Phobos said, happy that the conversation was getting interesting. 

“You can’t deny the mortal needed to be punished, Eros,” Aphrodite said, unconcerned that this debate was coming out into the open. “People were building shrines to her. Mortals were migrating away from the real goddesses and throwing their homage on a dying one.”

“Come on, Eros,” Deimos said. “You can’t say that wouldn’t deserve at least a little punishment.”

“Exactly,” Aphrodite said, with an air of triumph. “And that’s why I summoned Eros to shoot her with an arrow.”

“So what happened, Eros? Did you accidentally shoot yourself?” Phobos said, laughing. 

Eros glared at Phobos. His brother was such an idiot. 

“Eros spent a considerable amount of time among the people of her kingdom,” Aphrodite said, matching the mocking tone of her twins. “He said he was trying to find the right suitor, but he was clearly distracted.

“Well, I taught them all a lesson they won’t soon forget. Psyche has been banished as Eros’s little play thing. We convinced the village she’d been handed over to a monster.”

“Wait, you have Psyche?” Deimos said in disbelief. “The one who made Mother jealous? What were you thinking?”

“It’s pretty genius, if you ask me,” Phobos said. “Keep your friends close, keep your mother’s enemies closer.”

Deimos and Phobos both laughed.  

“I married her,” Eros said. “And only mother has made her an enemy. Psyche wouldn’t see anyone that way.” 

“Are you having fun, Eros?” Deimos said. “What’s it like? Being married to a mortal?” 

“Yeah, Eros,” Phobos said. “Can she keep up with you?” 

Eros frowned. 

“What is she like? This Psyche?” Harmonia asked, trying to help. 

Eros eyed his father, more fully understanding what it must be like for him. Ares was looking at Aphrodite, trying to hide the pain and longing Eros could so clearly see. 

“No, she couldn’t keep up,” Eros said. “I’ve sent her back to her village.” 

He hoped that would at least keep his brothers quiet for a moment. 

He looked at his mother. 

“I’m so sorry, Eros,” Aphrodite said, trying to mask her delight. “I told you. I knew she would disappoint you. The fear of the dark would be too much for her.”

“What do you mean, Mother?” Deimos said, perking up at the word ‘fear’.

“Eros and I agreed he could have the girl as long as Psyche remained in the dark, unaware of Eros’s identity.” Aphrodite said. “She needed to be removed from the people, but she couldn’t see her situation as a reward. We told the village she had married a monster. You should have seen their faces at the news. I couldn’t have imagined a better arrangement. But I really have to give Eros the credit. It was his idea.

“And just as I predicted, Psyche couldn’t resist the temptation to light a lamp. We agreed that even if she lit the smallest candle to see him, it would be over.” 

“So Psyche looked at you?” Harmonia asked softly.

“Maybe she was finally sick of him,” Deimos said, nudging Phobos. “Your powers are weakening, brother.”

“Yeah, Eros,” Phobos said. “No woman would really want you without your good looks.” 

Eros wanted to punch the Cosmos out of his brothers. They knew just how to poke at him. 

But they didn’t know Psyche like he did. 

“Psyche,” Eros said, deciding for the first time ever to ignore his brothers, ”missed her world. She wanted to go back to helping people.”

“Helping people?” Harmonia said.

“Yes,” Eros said. “She only wanted to help people. She never wished for worship.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Harmonia said. “Are you sure she deserved to be punished, Mother?” 

“Of course!” Aphrodite said, bristling at Harmonia’s question. “Psyche was only helping people to win their love. She had people putting more trust in her than in the gods!” 

“Psyche was making up for your lack, Mother,” Eros said, before anyone else could cut in. “The merchant and countless others have been corrupting your power, yet you let them roam free. Someone genuinely good comes and you seek to punish her because of your jealousy.

“What is this party really for, Mother? To gloat? To celebrate? Surely not a victory over evil. No. This is a celebration for squashing an enemy.”

“Here! Here!” Ares said, raising his glass in an attempt to be helpful. 

Aphrodite glared at Ares and Ares awkwardly lowered his arm. 

“Psyche is not your enemy, Mother. She willingly accepted her fate and submitted to your will,” Eros said.

Aphrodite momentarily faltered before regaining composure. 

“You’re just upset because Psyche couldn’t do it,” Aphrodite said with a haughty air. “She couldn’t bear the isolation. She’s weak and frail.”

“She is not weak,” Eros said. “She is meant for more, Mother.”

Everyone looked at him.

“What more are mortals meant for?” Phobos asked. 

“Just more,” Eros said, feeling frustrated. They didn’t understand.

“You really love her, don’t you?” Harmonia said, touching his arm. 

Eros didn’t answer. 

“I told you,” Aphrodite said, triumph in her voice. “I told you to be careful, Eros. I knew Psyche would hurt you, but you didn’t listen.”

Eros shook his head.

“You wanted to punish Psyche for the misuse of her love and beauty, Mother, ” Eros said. “You say she’s prideful. You claimed she needed to have her love turned against her, that she needed to be brought low to remind her of her unworthiness of god-like worship. 

“Time to consider yourself, Mother.”

Eros eyed his father, then before his mother could open her mouth to respond, Eros turned invisible and flew away from the crowd. 

As he flew up, he noticed his mother trying to laugh away his words.

But he could feel that he had clearly embarrassed her.

He didn’t care. 

He was done doing her dirty work. 

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