If I Had Words

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Chapter 63      Chapter 65

“Well, Psyche is off,” Eros said. “Any chance we can cancel this whole thing? Swoop in and save her?” 

He joined Harmonia, Phobos, and Deimos as they waited for Psyche to arrive at their mother’s palace.

He was glad he’d taken Harmonia’s advice and talked to Psyche before the rules of his mother’s challenge had taken effect. 

He hoped it helped Psyche with whatever she faced. 

For his part, it made it a lot harder for him to want to go through with the trial at all. 

It felt so good to be with Psyche; talk with her — even banter. 

He didn’t know how he would survive without her if she failed. 

“Eros, don’t worry,” Phobos said with a chuckle. “This is going to be great!”

“Maybe for you guys,” Eros said dully as Phobos playfully rubbed his shoulders. 

He still wasn’t sure he could trust his brothers with Psyche’s mental wellbeing.

“Don’t worry,” Deimos said, as if reading his fears. “We’re not going to do anything to hurt her. It’s already been agreed between us. Right, Phobos?” 

“Right,” Phobos said, turning serious. “We won’t hurt Psyche, we promise. As awful as we can be on the battlefield or — pretty much anywhere else —  we are still your brothers.”

Eros turned to them and managed a smile. 

This was going to be agony.

“I’m still trying to figure out how you two are going to help,” Eros said

“The Gods of Panic and Dread??” Phobos said, pointing to himself and Deimos. “I can think of a number of ways!” 

“Like?” Eros said.

“Like giving you hope that it’ll be alright,” Deimos said, reaching towards Eros like a phony magician. 

This is going to go really, really badly, Eros thought, his dread starting to rise.

Eros eyed Deimos.

“Okay, so we’re not really used to helping in situations like this,” Deimos said.

“But we’ll think of something,” Phobos said. 

“Trust them, Eros,” Harmonia said. “They mean well, and they certainly can help. They’ve already been quite helpful. It’s largely because of them we were able to convince Mother to accept the idea of the challenge in the first place. And now because of how many of us there are, it will be impossible for Mother to go back on her word.”

Eros grimaced. He knew Harmonia was right but he was already in agony and it hadn’t even started yet. 

“Everything will be as it should be,” Harmonia said to Eros. 

He certainly hoped so. 

“Hey, Psyche’s here!” Phobos announced, sensing a change. 

Deimos disappeared momentarily. 

“Yep, she’s just arrived,” Deimos said, reappearing. “And, wow. Mother must really hate her. Did you see the chariot?” 

At least Deimos could see the message of the chariot, even if Psyche chose to ignore it.

“I know,” Eros said. “It’s so juvenile.”

“Don’t worry,” Harmonia said. “Let Mother be as silly as she wishes, as long as she honors the agreement.”

“I gotta see this,” Phobos said, momentarily disappearing.  

“Forget the chariot. Look at Psyche,” Phobos said, reappearing.”Does she have any sisters?” 

Eros gave a dry laugh.

“She does, actually,” Eros said. “Two of them.”

Phobos and Deimos brightened. 

“No, no, no, no. Trust me,” Eros said. “You want to give those two a wide berth.”

“Why?” Deimos said, discouraged.

“So that Eros can have them all to himself,” Phobos said. 

“They’re not at all like Psyche,” Eros said. 

Eros supposed Aglaura and Cydippe could have changed somewhat. Given their past behavior, however, the idea of them leaving their husbands to marry his brothers was both satisfying and grotesque at the same time. 

Phobos and Deimos considered for a moment. 

“Eh, mortals are weak,” Phobos said. “She’d never be able to keep up with me.”

“Yeah, how did you do it, Eros?” Deimos said. “How do you not break every bone in her weak little body?”

“You can continue the boy-talk later,” Harmonia said. “I just caught a glimpse of Mother and Psyche. We should see what the first task is.”

“Here we go,” Eros said, bracing himself. 

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