Forbidden Love

Chapter 4

In a flash, Peitho went from standing outside Vulcan's temple to the room she kept in Aphrodite's. Having immediately sensed Peitho's return Aphrodite called out to her.

"Is that you kóri mou?" Shouted Aphrodite.

"Yes, Mitèra, it's me," Peitho responded as she made her way to her mother's room. Aphrodite lay sprawled out on her chaise, looking like a teenager ready to gossip. Peitho wanted to roll her eyes at the giddy expression her mother had on her face.

"So, how did it go?" Aphrodite asked, trying to sound casual when really she was dying to know the dirt Peitho had found on Venus.

"Well, you've got more in common with her than you think you do. Much like you, Venus is being forced to marry as a punishment. Also, like you, she will be married to their pantheons god of fire, who until recently, could have given Hephaestus a run for his money as far as most hideous god in the heavens is concerned," Peitho responded.

Aphrodite passed her a confused look "what do you mean up until recently?" She asked.

"Someone helped him. He's not so hideous anymore. He's actually quite handsome. Everyone on Capitoline seems to think so, including Venus, which has infuriated Jupiter and thrilling Juno. It appears the only one now being punished by the marriage is Vulcan. Hephaestus has his work cut out for him. I watched Jupiter explain the competition to Vulcan. When he was alone in his temple, he created one of the brightest flames I've ever seen. When he tossed it into the fireplace, it burned so hotly I could feel the heat on my skin, and I wasn't all that close to his temple for fear of being seen. Then Venus came calling, and they made love."

Peitho felt her cheeks flame when the last sentence left her lips. Since Aphrodite bid she remain chaste, she'd never made love and had certainly never seen anyone else do so either... until today anyway.

Aphrodite screwed her face up in distaste. "Let me get this straight," she grumbled as she began massaging her temples. "Venus, WANTS to marry the man who was supposed to be even more hideous than Hephaestus? And he cleaned himself up so he'd be more appealing to her? AND you say Vulcan had the potential to beat Hephaestus?"

"Yes." Peitho said hesitantly as she watched her mother's eyes darken in anger, "it gets worse, I'm afraid" Aphrodite raised an eyebrow at that.

"Oh? How's that?" She questioned.

"I was seen. I waited until his temple went dark, as you said before turning to leave, but Vulcan must have sensed me at some point because as I was leaving, he appeared at my back." Peitho shrunk back as she finished, unsure of what her mother might do in response. I'm true Aphrodite fashion, she screamed at the top of her lungs. She usually follows this up by throwing something at a wall, but instead, she just put her head in her hands.

With her mouth muffled by her hands, she asked, "did he say anything?"' Peitho nodded her head.

"He told me to give you his regards.

Peitho hesitated again before she continued. "…and that if you have something to say to him, you should get off your ass and tell him yourself rather than send me to do your bidding."

Aphrodite's mouth hung open at that. Her expression turned hard as she stared at her daughter, trying to think of a way to get back at Vulcan for saying such things to Peitho. As much as she hated Hephaestus at that moment, she hated Vulcan so much more right now. She needed to do whatever was necessary to ensure that her husband reign supreme in tomorrow's events.

"Alright, Korí, While I could gut you where you stand for embarrassing me by being seen instead, I'm going to make a plan with you to ensure Hephaestus wins tomorrow." Peitho stood there with a blank expression on her face while she waited for Aphrodite to spell out her plan. "I know for certain that a Greek Goddess's powers will work on a Roman God. I was sneaking around Capitoline before I had any handmaidens to do my bidding, and Jupiter caught me. When he did, I was sure I was done for, but I gave him my best doe-eyed smile, and as I'd hoped, he began to fawn all over me. While I'm sure I could have snaked him from Juno that day, I decided not to press my luck and went on my way because he let me go without issue. Therefore, tomorrow before the competition begins, I want you to approach Vulcan as though you're going to wish him luck and lean in close. When you do, let your power radiate off of you and gently persuade him to throw the competition."

Peitho silently stood there as she took in her mother's words. That was indeed the perfect plan. There was just one problem. Peitho didn't want to follow through with it. She hadn't tried to use her powers on Vulcan tonight. He just gave her a message and let her go. She knew if it had been Hephaestus she'd snuck up on, he'd have punished her one way or another. Vulcan intrigued her because he had shown her mercy at a moment that she would have been livid had it happened to her. If she wasn't mistaken, Peitho could have sworn she caught him giving her a once over before he left her standing there alone. Could that mean he liked her too? She didn't know but wanted to find out for herself. Hephaestus meant nothing to her. Yes, he was her mother's husband, but he wasn't her father and had never done anything of merit for her or her mother.

The more she thought about it, the angrier Peitho became. "Okay, Mitèra, I'll do just that. And so as not to make Hephaestus jealous, I'll be sure and wish him luck as well. I'd hate to upset him by not doing so and have him take it out on you later." She gave her mother a sweet smile after she said it. Aphrodite returned that smile. "Thank you, Korí. Stay here tonight. I'd very much like for us to go to the competition together tomorrow. How does that sound?" Again Peitho smiled at her mother. "Sure, Mitèra, I'd be happy to spend the night here. I am getting tired, so I'll just head to my room for the night if you don't mind." Peitho came forward, kissed her mother's cheek, and headed for the door.

"Sleep well, my sweet girl," Aphrodite called as Peitho left the room.

As Peitho made her way down the hall to her room, she smiled to herself. Her mother had come up with the perfect way to ensure a winner in the competition. But something just wasn't sitting well with her. For some reason, she hated the idea of using her power to hurt Vulcan. She had no idea why, though. They'd never had any interaction before tonight, and while yes, his transformation was remarkable, it wasn't enough of a reason for her to feel guilty about standing in his way. All Peitho knew was that it wasn't Hephaestus she'd be rooting for tomorrow. As she crawled into bed and closed her eyes, that last thing that came to mind before she drifted off to sleep was Vulcan and the glint in his golden honey eyes when he'd caught her watching him.

******

After his confrontation with Peitho, Vulcan flashed himself back to his bedroom. Venus still lay sleeping on her side. He listened to her soft breathing as he tried to fall asleep, but the more he tried to, the more he tossed and turned. Once he deemed it useless, he decided to venture out to the courtyard behind his temple. He kept a large pyre back there and some targets that he would use for just one occasion. This isn't the first time he's had to prove his was the better flame. Like him, Hephaestus is a forger. Their powers were of pivotal importance to their work both for mortals and gods alike. While Vulcan generally used his powers for good, Vulcan found that the fires he created tended to be more fierce when he was angry. The flames he tossed into his fireplace earlier burned hotter than he meant them to. He supposed it was a good thing since the idea was to beat out The Greeks, but in truth, he found this whole thing ridiculous. It made no difference to Vulcan, who built the stupid Volcano though if it were him, it would mean less time on Capitoline and having to deal with Venus making wedding plans.

"Gods, I'm getting married to Venus," he thought to himself. He should be happy about this. He's wanted to marry her since he was young, but that was before. Before he saw her for what she really was. She had always been kind to him as children, but when they grew up, and he asked for her hand, she spat in his face—saying that she would never marry someone as hideous as he is. My how the tables have turned here he is his childhood dream coming true, and he wanted to run away from her screaming now. Once again, his eyes began to blaze red as his childhood memories replayed in his head. Throwing his head back, he screamed out in anger outstretching his hands as he did so, letting the fire building inside of him flow through his fingertips and onto the pyre that stood in front of him.

"Alright, Fratello?" Vulcan started at the sound of the Voice behind him. It was Cupid, who'd been bugging him nonstop about the new bow Vulcan was working on for him. Vulcan sighed at his approach. "If you're here about your bow, it's not finished yet. I've got a few more pressing matters on my mind at the moment." Cupid rolled his eyes.

"I'm not here for that. I heard your scream and saw your pyre lit. I thought someone had better check on you before you wake all of Capitoline. You know how Jupiter is when he doesn't get his beauty rest." Cupid said with a laugh. Vulcan laughed too.

"Yeah, I know, sorry. There's just a lot happening in my head. Cupid clapped him on the back. "You're going to do us proud tomorrow. I know you will. And don't worry about Venus. I'll do my best to keep her out of your hair now that the spring season is here. We've got lots of mortals to help find love." Cupid said sarcastically.

"Good luck with that," Vulcan said, returning Cupid's sarcasm as he casually tossed another flame at one of his targets in the yard. Cupid raised an eyebrow when he saw the flame hit the target's bullseye without Vulcan even having to look at it.

"Yeah, I don't think you'll have any trouble whatsoever tomorrow V. Get some sleep take your aggression out of Hephaestus. Only make sure you don't set him on fire this time, kay?"

Vulcan laughed again. The last time there had been a competition between them, Vulcan lost and subsequently decided turning his flame on Hephaestus would be an act of perfect revenge. Jupiter kept him chained to a chair in his temple for a week. The chains were made of unbreakable steel and covered Vulcan's hands completely to stop him from using his powers. The worst part? Vulcan had created the chains HIMSELF. One night for no particular reason whatsoever, Jupiter convinced Venus to get Vulcan drunk on both her and honeysuckle wine. It was a drink that was only for the gods. So potent it could make a mess out of Jupiter himself. Like all fine wines, it gets better with age, and Jupiter, bastard that he is, supplied Venus with one of his finest bottles. At the same time, Venus pretended to get drunk on her own bottle. She watched as Vulcan downed his in record time.

Once she had him good and drunk, Venus put on her charm and had him "show her" how he forges chains. Vulcan was flattered by her interest in him. He showed her all his materials, and before he knew it, she was pressing up against him and cooing in his ear. While she did this, she told him exactly what she wanted the chains to look like and what she wanted them made of. Vulcan, entirely out of it at the time, followed her instructions to the letter. He woke up the next day with no memory of what he had done. Again Vulcan cringed as his memories played in his head.

"I think I'll turn in Cupid. See you tomorrow."

Without waiting for a response, Vulcan turned on his heel and went inside.