"Mom?"

She doesn't answer and silently helps me up keeping a firm grip around my waist.

I stare back at the green eyes with brown freckles I knew byheart but even as she smiles with the same gentleness I find her unfamiliar and the lack of onslaught by questions for my tears keeps me cautious.

I break free from her hold and lean onto the wall. "Who are you?" I ask and then almost putting an end to my days with fright she jumps clapping her hands while squealing.

"I was waiting for you to figure it out on your own." Her voice was the softest of velvet and mischief built her grins.

Simply staring for a while I decide to make my grand escape but Mother Dearest extends her hand for me to shake. "I am Aphrodite."

Unintentionally my grip tightens "You...are the goddess of love."

She seems delighted by my insight and quickly adds on. "The goddess of beauty too."

Seeing her face lighten up in a jolly mood and still jumping around in my mother's work clothes got me close to feeling nauseous.

"I am..."

"Elizabeth Rain Airlea, I know. You are Lord Hades' doctor, I have heard so much about you!"

It hits me again then, that I was still talking to a goddess and it surprised me more than my meeting witn Zeus since maybe I had enough of the majority male population.

"Are you really that capable in black magic though?"

This broke off my smile in weird angels. "I don't understand what you mean by that?"

She shrugs telling me matter of factly of the rumours circulating around Olympus. "Its been going around that you are highly skilled in medicine and dark voodoo."

"What makes people think that? Are you teasing me right now?" I ask with a glimmer of hope for my tained reputation.

"Nope." She deadpans. "You made Lord Hades smile and even got away with assaulting him, and that could only mean you.."

"ASSAULT him?!?!?"

Her sword shaped brows raise in an arc. "You did not strangle him by the neck then?"

"....."

I took a slow wobbly step, away from Mother Dearest who seemed to be confused and slowly losing trust in her source.

If she was the Goddess of love, the a package complete with heartbreak, pain, jealousy, uncertain happiness and depression would naturally accompany the title.

And surely where there is love there is war.

"Wait don't leave Elizabeth I am supposed to take you to the meeting Hall." She still panics though I barely took three slow steps.

"Why should I believe you? And if you think you can win my trust with the disguise of my mother it does you no good." I slowly turn due to the pain but it lets me appear disinterested while perfectly hiding away my curiosity.

"That women used to hid veggies in my meat sandwich." I grumble and she laughs heartily in a merry tune and from the start to the end I stare in awe.

"I don't know how to make you less leery of me but, I am friends with William."

"You guys are friends?" I fail to seem guarded as before, but quickly discourage her smile in triumph asking. "How can I be so sure?"

She thinks for a moment before telling me in a whisper.

"In his sword' hilt, at the very centre there is a pearl which belonged to his mother's elder sister."

The woman who had raised him after his birth mother's death, I remembered.

"I can't seem to be able to walk." I confessed and she smiles genuinely happy on passing the test.

"I can help with that."

"Wait, wait. Don't pick me up. I am HEAVY!" My protest goes unheard as she picks me up like I weighed nothing.

"Love makes you stronger." She jokes noticing how I stared at her slim hands.

"Can't you just make a fluffy cloud for me to float on?" I ask embarrassed on being carried so easily by someone of a comparable size.

"Sorry, that's my Sons signature style and I seriously don't want him filing a lawsuit for violating copyright rights. "

"You have another son?" I couldn't stop myself from asking though in the key moment remember that she isn't my mother.

"Yeah, he is the god of Love quite a lot of competion in the area after his birth."

"I am sure."

And then within a breaths time she lets me down in another location explaining quickly why she suddenly teleported. "The time I was allotted to bring you here kinnda ran out."

"Its fine."

"Now listen, don't let them scare you and look out for Mermaid chan he gets pissy around strangers." She patronize soothing down my messy hair.

"Can I hug you?" I ask her out of the blue soon realizing that it was creepy request. "Sorry, I just really..."

She smiles, softly pulling me to her. "You miss your mother." She finishes for me and I nod against her shoulder breathing in the same calming scent.

"Actually I am very happy that you suggested this. It actually makes it a lot easier for me to suck the love out of your soul and yours is refreshingly tasty." She tells me twirling around a strand of my hair.

I pull back slightly giving her a You are just kidding. Right? look.

She remains silent long enough for me to feel chilly under the green eyes I began to imagine as monstrous.

Her teeth soon emerge in a grin and I sigh in relief.

"The answers you seek are behind this door." She surprisingly pulls off a near perfect google GPS lady voice.

I laugh and ask in between. "Will you not be coming with me?"

She shakes her head. "Not now, a little later after I finish my tasks, there are some heart' that needs breaking. "

"...."

I wave after her disappearing figure and then push at the door that open wide enough for me to pass without much effort.

And inside stood grand pillars standing tall on each side forming a pathway to a stunning hall atop a hill.

Seeing how long of a walk it was, I simply lay back on the grass.

Barely a minute had passed before a face casts a shadown over mine.

"And here I thought I would get to see you call for help than see you cuddling with the grass."

"Will!" I get up nearly banging our noses together before he encase me in a hug.

"I missed you so much." He stole the words right off my tongue and when I don't reply he backs away finding tears leaving moist spots on his shirt.

His eyes don't hide his concern but still takes the opportunity to tease. "You missed me that much huh?" He nudges me by the elbow and I cheer up enough to retort.

"There is no way I would miss you."

Seeming more worried he wipes away the salty liquid he makes an observation. "You look ugly."

I smile and make no comeback.

"So how do we do this, the hard way or the easy way? Personally I prefer the easy way because I don't want the die today and especially not by your hands." He rambles off.

_________________________________________

"I think you broke my back." Will stretches his limbs being overdramtic over giving me a piggyback when TELEPORTING.

When the drama queen was done whining, he swipes a card against the marble door, the piece of technology contrasting with the ancient architecture.

In the elegant hall we enter twelve chairs were arranged in a circle which I realise belonged to each of the twelve main greek gods and the stands at the side lets me know this was the council hall.

Will holds me steady as I gaze up and my eyes remain glued for minutes tracing the numerous constellation clustered together on the domed roof, their light allegedly like stars plucked down from the skies.

Zeus suddenly appears on the chair sporting a thunderbolt at it's head. "Hello pumkin." He bolts up from his seat rushing forward as if for a hug.

But before he could do so a globe of water hits him and what seemed entirely harmless pushes back Zeus by a feet. "You are the King of Olympus, so act accordingly. "

I follow the sound to its source finding a well groomed man in his early twenties in a light blue suit holding a staff.

"That's so mean Poseidon." Zeus pouts striking me by lightening.

Poseidon? The God of the mighty sea? The wielder of the powerful trident? The father of the awesome, the savvy, the great PERCY JACKSON???

I was moments away from interviewing him before the last of the three main Gods appear making us realise of his presence only when he wanted us to.

The King of the Underworld sits at his chair crowned in secrets and sophistication and as he nods in greeting to William spares me not a single glance leaving me saddened.

It was when someone waves their hand before my face that I suppress down the turmoils of my geart and look up to see Zeus smug and shiny.

"Seems like you are having a lovers quarrel." Zeus reveals his true evil self leaving me brain dead.

Recovering quickly I almost scream. "What??"

But I was unable defend since he cuts in laughing to his hearts consent. "Already in denial I see."

As the bafoon laughs off I sneak a glance at Hades finding him cool as a cucumber making it seem unnecessary for me to freak out and I calm myself before addressing Zeus again.

"You have got it wrong..." I stop short as in my peripheral view black robes flutter in the wind and I fully turn to meet grey eyes searching for mine and only linger for a fraction of a second before he sits down on his chair appearing out of thing air.

Izumi nods in acknowledgement at the rest except Zeus who he greets with a glare. When they brake away, his eyes find mine again he offers me a small wave that I return wary of his restlessness.

Looking rather disgusted at our exchange Posiedon speaks. "Shall we move along."

Zeus smiles showing his pearly whites and motions for me to come over and I sense Will tense, remembering the memories of our last meeting.

"She is my people and she shall sit beside me." Hades declares, his face void of emotions as it rests on his hand and nobody rebukes this immortal king.

Never expecting such a scenario I was struck dumb from putting out my take on the matter and a involuntary yelp is drawn out from my lips as an invincible force whisks me off my feet and away from Will' hold.

And in a seconds time find myself hovering over ground beside him like Aladdin on his magic extravagant cushion.

He never looked over evidently oblivious to my stares and in such an apathetic stace makes me wonder if it really was him who formerly spoke.

Suddenly melodious laughter floats to our ears evoking a sense of serenity for all, but one.

"Come out." Poseidon orders and a laid back figure slowly strolls in giving him a cheeky smile as she does.

Aphrodite still frighteningly in the guise of my mother strides with purpose towards William. "I missed you!" She declares squeezing the light out of those blue eyes.

Manoeuvring some marital arts for all I know he throws her off ten feet scaring me pale before she agily lands of her feet in grace.

Will takes this short window to scurry over to Hades, nonchalantly hiding behind him and daring not to face my mockery.

Sulking silently Aphrodite takes her place, her seat quite not what I expected of the goddess of beauty and love, with no diamonds and flashy jewels, only simple, comfortable and soft giving an air of laziness.

My eyes are drawn away from my mother's smiling face as Zeus' voice thunders in undeniable command. "Now that everyone is here."

But I should have known nothing serious would sprout from his mouth.

"Let's watch Netflix."

My mouth hangs open as a large projector screen appears at one end already loading the first episode of a well known series making Poseidon the god of the seas breath fire.

Aphrodite seemed to be in full support of Zeus while Izumi and Will share the same look of scorn.

"Brother chill, I only thought the mood ought to be celebratory since its such a rare occasion to have the family all together." Zeus defends already putting up a defensive field in case any one of the entitled gods flipped the table.

Hades was the only one who did not seem to have any opinion in the moment, almost as if he had predicted such an outcome in a meetings held by his youngest brother.

Poseidon calms down to a hiss. "Why are we even here?

It was then that Izumi stands up, walking with his back straight and steps in a slow pace. He comes to a stop at the centre facing Hades as if for permission.

And with his light nod I glup down the building bile of bad thoughts as Izumi turns to me.

"I am Thanatos, the God of death." He introduces himself like all those years back, only all the words were different and now even our world's differed.

Hello! Hope you loved the chapter and let me know of your thoughts about Aphrodite.