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Chapter 79 Chapter 81
“Immortality?” Eros said in disbelief.
Attendants had brought in a couch for Psyche. Eros, Harmonia, and Athena found a quiet corner in the council room where they could watch Psyche and plan.
“I know, it was more than I was expecting too, but Athena is quite convinced,” Harmonia said.
Athena paced while the siblings talked.
“What did you tell her?” Eros asked.
“I told her everything I had observed. Athena said that because of Psyche’s ability to connect with people and plants and animals in the way that she does, it demonstrates a level of evolution which reaches the divine. She just needs to receive an immortal body,” Harmonia said.
Eros thought for a moment. Could Psyche be worthy of becoming a goddess herself?
Athena joined their discussion.
“The irony is that your mother’s wrath only pushed Psyche further into proving and accepting her goddesshood. It is because of the punishments, the marriage and the tasks, which proved Psyche worthy,” she said.
Eros caught sight of Phobos and Deimos as an attendant led them into the council room. For the first time in his life, he felt truly happy to see them.
They came over and joined the group.
“What did we miss?” Phobos asked, smiling.
“Psyche’s dead, apparently,” Deimos said, noting Psyche’s body on the couch. “She does make a lovely corpse.”
Phobos looked at Psyche, a touch of sadness on his face.
“That’s only because you’re used to seeing mangled ones on the battlefield,” Phobos said.
He slightly elbowed Deimos.
Deimos picked up on his brother’s signal and reached for Eros’s shoulder.
“Sorry,” he said.
Eros had braced himself for more teasing. He nodded in quiet thanks at their understanding.
His brothers had really changed.
“So what do we do?” Phobos asked.
“Athena has called the council for a trial,” Harmonia said. “She says Mother revealed through her punishments and trails that Psyche is worthy of goddesshood, but it will take a full trial to convince everyone.”
“Psyche’s going to become a goddess?” Deimos asked.
“A goddess of what?” Phobos asked, curious.
“That is still to be determined,” Athena said. “Her nature, if what Harmonia says is true, seems to indicate she connects with the soul of living things. We’ll see if the trial reveals anything else.”
“Mother is not going to like this,” Deimos said.
“Yeah,” Phobos said with a dry smile.”She’s definitely going to put up a fight.”
Just then, Aphrodite appeared in the doorway, robes flowing, hair blowing in a manufactured wind.
Her eyes flashed as they rested on her children.
“Oh, boy, we’re in for it now,” Phobos said, chuckling.
Deimos pretended to hide behind Eros.
“How dare you!” Aphrodite said as she approached them. “Call a council?? For this mortal?”
Aphrodite completely ignored Psyche’s body on the couch.
“Watch yourself, Aphrodite,” Athena said, intercepting Aphrodite’s path to Eros.
“Step aside, Athena. This does not concern you. This is a family matter,” Aphrodite said, trying to go around the Goddess of Wisdom.
“A family matter indeed,” Athena said, “This is more than a simple squabble between mother and son. This affects the entire cosmic family.”
Aphrodite stopped and glared at Athena.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Aphrodite said.
“The treatment and punishment of mortals affect us all,” Athena said.
“You mean like Medusa?” Aphrodite said coldly.
Athena’s eyes grew wide, momentarily caught off guard. She stood silently for a moment, thinking.
“Do you believe what I did was wrong?” Athena said, finally.
“Yes!” Aphrodite said. “You punished a woman for something that was not her fault. She had come to you for protection. And what did you do? You cursed her, punished her, turned her into an ugly gorgon. All of that beauty! Wasted!!
“How could you??”
Aphrodite didn’t hide the hate and anger she had been holding in for so long.
“Aphrodite,” Athena said, calmly, “Imagine if you had simply turned Psyche into a gorgon, as I had done. We wouldn’t be here now on the verge of discovering something truly amazing.”
“There is nothing special about Psyche,” Aphrodite said, still seething. “To have mortals go beyond their creation is a threat to everything we are. We cannot allow it. Mortals are meant to continue their cycle of life and death. Nothing more.”
“That is for the council to decide,” Athena said, moving away.
“But she is no goddess,” Aphrodite said, calling after her. “You are wasting your time.”
“Please be seated,” an attendant announced to everyone in the council room.
Athena turned and faced Aphrodite.
Aphrodite took a step towards her.
“I will prove to you that my judgments are perfect. This mortal is exactly where she is meant to be,” Aphrodite said with an air of authority.
“Indeed?” Athena said.
“I will not let you win this one,” Aphrodite said with firm resolve.
“Then let the battle begin,” Athena said with a smile.
If I Had Words 
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