Forbidden Love

Chapter 5

Peitho woke the following day with knots in her stomach. She had made up her mind last night. There was no way she would allow Hephaestus to win this contest. Yes, that would mean her Pantheon would fail, but unlike Hephaestus, Vulcan was worthy of such an honor. Someone willing to make changes in a situation like his to make a punishment more bearable is deserving. Peitho was sure that if Aphrodite discovered her plan, she’d have her head on a platter. She quickly dressed in a gold dress with a cape attached and matching gold sandals. Her brown hair was half up with curls framing her face. She gave herself a once over in the mirror and straightened her necklace, a pink shell that hung on a gold chain low enough that the shell landed in the center of her chest.

After deciding she was ready, Peitho left her room to find her mother. 

“Mitéra, are you ready to go?”

“Yes, Agapi Mu let’s go.” Peitho nodded and silently followed her mother out of her temple. Zeus had his own arena set up on Olympus for occasions such as this. It appeared to Peitho that she and her mother were some of the last to arrive. When Peitho caught Zeus’s eye, he glowered at her. She could tell he was already annoyed with Aphrodite. It reflected poorly on Olympus that the wife of the God competing showed up late to an event. Peitho smiled sweetly and Zeus and gave him a little wave. Despite his anger, his face softened, and he winked in her direction. While she’d never stoop to inviting Zeus to her bed, she used her charms on him now and again. Luckily Hephaestus was not Peitho’s father, so her delay wasn’t as big of an upset as her mother’s.

Aphrodite flitted from God to God, greeting them with the hint of seduction she always used. When she was trying to get out of whatever trouble she found herself in that day. As they made their way through the crowd, Peitho saw the Roman Gods and Goddesses on the opposite end of the arena. Once again, Peitho’s cheeks flamed when she saw Vulcan. The knot in her stomach tightened when she realized that Venus had her arms wrapped around his neck. 

“What are you waiting for? Go, now!” Aphrodite whispered in her ear, forcing Peitho to break her concentration. She shook her head slightly as if in an attempt to erase the thoughts of Vulcan from her mind. Again she heard Aphrodite whisper harshly in her ear. 

“Peitho, where on Olympus is your head right now? Go over there and wish that waste of space Vulcan luck. Lean in close enough to drive Venus insane with jealousy and persuade him to lose the competition even if it means promising yourself to him as a bribe.” Peitho turned to gape at her mother.

“Don’t look at me that way. I’d never actually let him, have you. Just let him think her can if he givers you what you ask for.”Peitho rolled her eyes before she sauntered off in Vulcan’s direction. 

“Excuse me, Signore,” Peitho said as she got closer. Vulcan looked up and raised an eyebrow when he noticed who spoke.

“ Ah, if it isn’t Aphrodite’s spawn. How can I help you?” He sneered. 

“Are you lost?” Venus asked before she could respond to him. 

“I only came to wish you well in the competition,” said Peitho. Vulcan nodded to her in thanks. Rather than continue talking, Peitho decided she’d try to communicate with him through telepathy. She’d only done so with her Pantheon, so she wasn’t sure it would work, but it couldn’t hurt to try. 

“My mother sent me here to use my powers on you.” She said as she absentmindedly examined her nails so as not to make their silent conversation obvious.

Vulcan stared at her in surprise when he heard Peitho’s voice in his head. Why on earth would Aphrodite want to send her daughter over here? What could she possibly gain from it? And then it dawned on him. Not only would sending her his way infuriate Venus, but it was his understanding that Peitho was the Goddess of seduction and persuasion. That’s got to be it. Yet again, Aphrodite had sent her daughter in to do her dirty work. She obviously intended to have Peitho use her abilities to sway the competition in favor of the Greeks.

“What does she want with me?” He asked, even though he already knew the answer. 

“You’re no fool Vulcan. You know what she wants me to do, but I won’t do it. I won’t even try,” said Peitho earnestly. She watched as he raised another eyebrow at her. 

“Why not? What are you after?”

“I’m not my mother, Vulcan. I don’t want anything from you. Hephaestus means nothing to me, and he makes my Mitéra miserable. Knowing that does not make me want to help him no matter what it means for my Pantheon. So, instead of using my abilities on you, I’m going to use them on him. You showed me mercy when you caught me outside your temple. Consider this a thank you. However, I do have to make it appear as though I’m using my abilities, so I’ll have to approach you and act like it.”

Vulcan could see the fear in her eyes when the sound of her voice subsided in his head. He gave her a slight nod that went unnoticed by everyone but her. He then stepped toward her and spoke aloud for everyone to hear. “What was it you said you wanted spawn?” He sneered as he stalked toward her as though she was his prey. 

“Only to wish you luck, Signore.” She took a step toward him, showing no fear, and watched as Venus began to pull at Vulcan’s arm in an attempt to stop him from walking toward Peitho. He shook her off and kept walking. Soon he and Peitho stood toe to toe. She leaned in, pressing herself against him slightly as she whispered in his ear.

“Good luck Vulcan, I truly hope you win.” She kissed his cheek before she pulled away from him with a smile.

Vulcan hummed in appreciation when Peitho pressed herself against him, and he breathed in the sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon. His body inadvertently reacted to her touch. He cursed himself silently when he realized it. If Peitho noticed, she gave no sign of it. She surprised him when she placed a kiss on his cheek. Hers were the softest lips he’d ever felt. Vulcan wanted to whimper when Peitho pulled away from him. There was something about her. He could tell that her sweetness was genuine, unlike her mother and Venus. All he could think as he watched her walk away was that he had to see her again. 

“What on Capitoline was that about Vulcan?” Venus asked with venom in her voice.

“Relax, Amore. She merely came to wish me luck. I believe in hopes of using her abilities to sway me to throw the competition, but I didn’t fall for it. I only have eyes for my bride.” Venus purred in appreciation and took a step forward to kiss him deeply. 

Peitho could feel Vulcan’s eyes on her as she walked up to Hephaestus. Wrapping him in a hug, she whispered in his ear just as she had done to Vulcan. “Good luck, Patéras,” she said using the Greek word for father. While he wasn’t her father, he enjoyed when she referred to him as such and knew her abilities were more likely to work if she flattered him first. 

‘You know you did win the last time you went up against Vulcan, and you don’t seem to have any real interest in building this new Volcano, so why don’t you let Vulcan have the competition this time around.” Hephaestus gave Peitho a questioning look but didn’t comment. She reached up and kissed his cheek one more time before walking back to where Aphrodite was sitting.

“Is it done?” Aphrodite asked when Peitho took her seat next to her. 

“Yes, Mitéra, it’s done.” Peitho crossed her fingers, hoping that Vulcan would claim victory.