Ganymede

Apagorevetal

Hera and Ganymede stood before majestically giant doors, embroidered with bronze sculpting along with gold leaf details. Ganymede took a deep breath, behind these doors lay his destiny. Hera made gestures with hand in the air, her viridian green shining obsidian shade of black robe fell back on her arms revealing her porcelain white skin. Ganymede drew his eyes away. With the gestures of Hera’s hand, the giant doors cracked open.

The doors revealed a new definition of heaven. The harps played melodies in C Sharp in the background. The light inside glowed golden. Amidst the cloudy pathway lay dainty pearls. “Walk.” Grunted Hera. Ganymede started moving. At some distance he saw a waterfall pouring bronze liquid in several streams meandering on a huge rock. ‘What kind of intoxicating concoction this might be?’ wondered Ganymede to himself. “The Hebe’s Elixir. This is what we call ‘Katarraktis aionias neotitas’ and you, Ganymede, thou shall follow the stream going around the cloud path towards left. Thou shalt find Aphrodite near the pool. Do not follow any other path.”  Ganymede then noticed that the streams were flowing into several different directions below the rock. “Otherwise, you will end up being lost in between realms.”  Hera walked away as she exchanged her departing words with Ganymede.

Ganymede sincerely followed the left path flowing through the cloud path wondering as he walked ‘So Hebe’s Elixir is it. I ponder if one single drop of this bronze liquid were to touch my lips, would it resurrect my age?’ Ganymede squatted near the narrow stream trying to observe the texture of the elixir. He dipped his index into the stream. A glittery liquid stuck to his finger, shining in unprecedented patterns with the golden light reflecting on its surface. ‘It is like honey.’ Ganymede thought and licked his finger to see if it tasted like honey too. ‘It tastes.. bitter sweet’ Ganymede disliked it.

He begun on his journey when suddenly his body started glowing with white light. ‘What have I done, my fuselage, its burning.’ Ganymede fell on his knees. ‘Hebe will be outraged! And H-Hera is having me for supper for sure.’ Ganymede regretted his deeds.

In a moment his body burnt brighter and stopped glowing in a fraction of second. Ganymede looked at his arms, palms and feet. ‘Nothing changed at all. Although I must not take such rebellious decisions further.’ Ganymede swore to himself.

Little did he know.

He finally reached his allotted destination, The Pool of Youth. It was all steamy and foggy around. He took a step forward and discovered a silhouette of a young lady. Spectacular figurine, Curved at right places. Perfectly sculpted, not too weak, not too buff. She looked like the work of Hephaestus himself. It couldn't have been a lady, she was a goddess. The goddess of beauty herself, Aphrodite. As Ganymede perceived.

Ganymede felt enchanted, as if he was on the verge of committing sin.

The silhouette bent down to gather some elixir in her palms and pour it down her shoulders. Ganymede gulped hard. Ganymede cleared his throat as to know if all the show was in display with acknowledgment of his presence.

“Oh Ganymede, I did not realize you were audience.” The voice giggled seductively. “Anyway, do you not want to take a look closer huh Ganymede? I bet thou shall not see another beauty as such in entirety of Olympus.” Ganymede started walking involuntarily. He was out of his head.

Ganymede got down in the pool and disappeared amidst the steam as well. Blindly he found some skin. He ran his palm about the skin and brought his nose closer to drink the scent of her body. Ganymede ran his fingertips southwards slowly when someone screamed from their behind.

“Scandalous!! What an affair. What an affair!” the shouts broke the enchantment on Ganymede. He shook his head to regain his consciousness and looked around. He saw a goddess was naked in front of him, he immediately looked away, not able to recall as to what he was doing few moments ago. “You heinous beast. Scandal! What is the use of hiding faces in shame? A man hast evaded the Court of Goddesses!! What an affair!” “Respected Eris. Kindly ear my voice. It is not- ‘’ “What can thou explain to this? Every Greek living is aware of the one and only public rule of the great Avli Ton Theons! No man is allowed! This is monstrously violation of the rule!” Eris was outraged. Ganymede turned back to look at his assassin. It was Peitho. “Of course. It could have none but thee! Peitho. The goddess of persuasion and seduction. Of Course!” Ganymede looked defeated. “Could not be helped darling.” Peitho winked at him. Ganymede turned his head away from her compulsively.

“You beast, you must be presented before the Graces. At this instant!” “Yes, as thou must.”

Eris led Ganymede through a Narrower corridor than the entrance. Eris banged open the door at the end of the corridor. The door almost came off its hinge. Eris grabbed Ganymede by his cloth dramatically and threw him on the floor in the middle of a circular mandala sculpted near the thrones.

Ganymede’s forearm was injured. He picked himself up and dusted himself. Everyone gasped around. Kotys who was enjoying herself a little too much came to hault and tried to look what had happened to cause such disruptions to her celebrations. She squinted her eyes to look at the distant thrones of the Graces from her location.

Ganymede looked straight to see three immaculate thrones placed in a triangular arrangement. One on a platform higher than the other two. Long drapes of white, golden and blue, each throne bearing one color each were hanging off the three thrones till the floor’s length.

The goddess sitting on the highest throne Stood up, her eyes were glaring white. “What is the meaning of this Eris?” she said in a deep voice. Surprisingly Eris stuttered who not long ago was walking wild through the corridor.” Justice. This beast was found lusting over Peitho in the Hebe’s pool of youth, rather wildly.” The ground trembled a little. “Who let him in Hera?”  the Graces asked Calmly. Hera took a moment to frame what she should speak. “Well Graces thou must not sweat this. Zeus had- “” Oh, Zeus. I see. But Hera, Zeus has nothing to do with any transcriptions to the proceedings of this great court. Explain yourself. Did you let him in by any chance Hera?”

Hera's throat went dry.