Arcadian Nights Read online

  Aphrodite glared at Ares. “So am I. I tried to get him away when I saw his, well, condition. Then I got turned on. I thought it would help. He couldn’t just walk around like that. And it did help. He was muddled before and now he can think clearly. I’m sure I absorbed some of the spell’s energy. We’ll have to find out how to break it from her.”

  Ares turned and stormed away. “I’m not listening to any more of this.”

  “Are you kidding me?” she yelled.

  He turned and pointed his finger at her. “You know you wanted to fuck him again. You’re getting tired of me. Your pussy is easily bored.”

  Before she could say anything else, he clapped his hands together. A thunderous boom filled the forest and he was gone.

  “That arrogant prick!” She made a very unbecoming screech and stormed off.

  “Aphrodite, wait!”

  “I’m not mad at you, it’s that thoughtless ass! I’ll come find you when I know more.”

  He let her go, and then got up and fixed his pants. He sighed. He no longer felt overcome by lust, but he still couldn’t shake his thoughts of Eris. All he could see were her flashing eyes, all he could hear was her taunting laugh.

  The one thing he had going for him was the favor of Zeus and Hera. Add Aphrodite’s anger to that and Eris was going to be in big trouble. Ares might cause problems, but perhaps his mother could handle him.

  Hermes sighed again. He hadn’t expected Eros’ wedding to be quite so eventful.

  * * * *

  After taking a walk and a quick dip in the stream, Hermes decided to chance returning to the wedding reception. At least he could say good-bye to his fellow messenger.

  Iris stood watching Eros wipe cake off his jacket. She smiled at Hermes as he approached.

  “Having even the slightest bit of fun yet?” she asked playfully.

  Since the couple seemed oblivious to the commotion, he decided not to say anything. “It’s been the most interesting day in a very long time, I can assure you.”

  Iris narrowed her eyes, but before she could say anything, Hera came bounding up to them.

  “You naughty boy!” She slapped Hermes on the ass.

  He tried to maintain his composure, but didn’t pull it off. “You have something to say, my queen?”

  Hera convulsed with laughter. “I knew you had it in you. Did the nuptial blessings bring it out or what?”

  Eros and Iris stood looking back and forth between the two of them.

  “Did you have sex at my reception? Seriously?” Eros asked, on the verge of joining in with Hera’s laughter. “Can’t say I object, but I thought you came out of social obligation, not to get laid.”

  Hermes sighed. “Who told you and why?”

  “Ares stormed off. He bumped into me and told me I better find a new messenger for Zeus because he was going to have your head on a pike.”

  Iris’ eyes went wide. “You and Aphrodite? So that’s why she hasn’t been bothering us the last twenty minutes!”

  Hermes looked at Hera. “This is serious. Eris put a spell on me.” He showed the three of them his arm.

  They leaned forward and unison. Iris and Hera both said, “Oh.”

  Eros groaned. “That conniving bitch!”

  “So she turned you into a stud or what?” Hera looked him over. “You do look a bit spent.”

  “This isn’t the best place to discuss this.”

  Eros nodded. “You two go on. No one seems to be taking notice of us. I don’t think anyone else saw anything. Just go. You can tell us later.”

  Hermes and Hera glanced around, and then began walking toward the woods.

  “So, tell me what she said to you,” Hera said.

  “She was offended because I was keeping an eye on her. Aphrodite didn’t dare not invite her, so she needed someone to watch her. Eris kept commenting on my lack of emotion and said she wanted to see me riled up. Then she touched me, and from that moment all I wanted to do was—”

  “Shag her silly! Oh my gods! I’m sorry, but you have to admit it’s funny.”

  Hermes sighed. “Nothing really happened, but it did disrupt the wedding. Aphrodite stormed off and left, and Ares is angry with both of us. It’s not a war, but it’s not something to be laughed at.”

  She stopped laughing. “I’m sorry. You have to admit she’s right though. You don’t let anyone get close to you. Don’t you think you’ll tire of being alone someday?”

  “I’m not alone.”

  “You know what I mean, you stubborn mule. Maybe another romp with Aphrodite was what you needed. Something to loosen you up.”

  “I don’t think that was her intention, though it certainly has her mark to it. I think she just wanted to get to me and see what happened.”

  “Something definitely happened. How was it?”

  Hermes sighed.

  “Come on! I know it was great. Aphrodite always gives marvelous details.”

  “Yes, it was great, but it was very confusing. Are you going to take this seriously and help me or not? I’m sure Zeus is going to think it’s a riot too, but that can’t be helped.”

  She patted his arm. “Once we recover ourselves, I promise we will take it seriously. Don’t worry. I suppose the concern now is keeping you away from her.”

  “I can’t even get her out of my head.”

  “Well, I’m also concerned about you two getting it on. We don’t need a little hell-raiser who can outrun us all.”

  Hermes shook his head. That would be a nightmare.

  Hera went on. “Aphrodite gave birth so quickly, and Eris might be the same. You never know.”

  He stopped, wondering if his queen had just let a secret slip. “Hera, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “Hmmm? Oh goodness, no! Sorry. I meant because she wasn’t born. She and Eris were both created, called into being, whatever. They weren’t born to two parents.” She giggled. “None of you are going to catch me out that easily. Eros keeps trying though.”

  “You love doing that, don’t you?”

  “I didn’t do it on purpose. I was thinking out loud.”

  Hermes never knew whether to believe her or not. Her ramblings often seemed a little too convenient. He’d suspected for some time that she wanted to push him and Aphrodite together, but he couldn’t be sure if she only wanted to make a match or if she didn’t want her son with the love goddess for some reason.

  “If you say so.” Her thinking out loud made him wonder though. “Could Eris want something like that? To have a child? What if sleeping with her is the only way to break this spell?”

  “She could enchant anyone she wanted. She’s slept with Zeus before.”

  “But no child. The Fates hadn’t willed it. Could she be trying to get her way on her own?”

  “Who’s to say? The Fates grow more cryptic with each passing year. How do we even know their powers still affect us?”

  “I’m sure they do. All things have a reason.”

  She smiled. “You’ve always believed that more than any of us. Why?”

  He didn’t know how to answer her question. “I don’t know. Things make more sense that way.”

  “So if the Fates determine everything, they made you walk away from Aphrodite. It was them, not you. They are the ones who decree you should be alone. It’s destiny, not choice.”

  “I never said that. We all exercise free will. I do believe in that as well, though I still think the Fates make plans for us.”

  “Then where do the Fates come in exactly? A plan here, a scheme there for the good of humanity?”

  “We’re talking in circles. Can’t we have both? Destiny and choice?”

  She nodded. “I think we do. I think we all need both. I was only trying to understand you. It’s hard at times.”

  “Help me and maybe I’ll oblige you.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “You know we’ll help you, Hermes. How can you doubt it?”

  “I’m only making sure you
feel the urgency here.”

  She smiled and ran her hand over his chest. “How urgent is it?”

  He stepped away. “Don’t do that. I’m not sure what might get me in that state again.”

  “Fine. Zeus wouldn’t like it anyway.”

  “No, he would not. Crazed hormones or not, I still have that much sense.”

  Hera walked a few feet away, watching the water flow past them. “I don’t think she means real harm, not like the kind she’s caused before, but I don’t want to take the chance. I’m going to go explain things to Zeus. The sooner I do, the sooner he’ll stop laughing.”

  Hermes put his hand on her shoulder. “Thank you.”

  She smiled. “Don’t mention it.” She snapped her fingers and disappeared.

  Hermes walked down the stream, heading for home and hoping he could avoid running into anyone else.

  * * * *

  Eris lay stretched on her couch, petting her black cat, Chaos. His sister Cosmos lay on the arm of the chair, cleaning her gray fur.

  “They’ll never learn, will they, babies? It’s about time they were all taught some manners.”

  Eris hadn’t had the slightest desire to attend Eros’ wedding, but she’d felt she had no choice when Aphrodite sent her a handwritten invitation. Ares had shrugged it off and told her to do whatever she wanted to do. He never thought of the consequences of his actions. She wondered if he’d ever learn to. Hera bailed him out so often he didn’t know what it was like to be punished.

  She did though. She had never wanted the favor of Olympus, though being Zeus’ lover had definitely had its advantages. She regretted nothing. She had her purpose in the cosmos, and she had more intimate knowledge of the working of the Fates than any other god or goddess. Perfect order meant death to all things just as perfect chaos did. The world needed her, and she wanted to show them all the equilibrium of the cosmos depended on her. Without both her and Harmonia, balance could not be maintained.

  Eris wondered what had become of the white-haired, whimpering goddess. She hadn’t seen her in a century or two. That went unnoticed by the Olympians, but if she disappeared for more than a few weeks, someone came looking for her, as if she was hiding somewhere and secretly plotting to destroy the world.

  Eris had gone to Eros’ wedding determined to be nice and sociable. However, she hadn’t had the chance. No one had even tried to talk to her. They’d all stared, but no one had come near her. She’d felt Hermes watching her the whole time. She’d always found him interesting, especially given his fling with Aphrodite. The love goddess simply wasn’t his type. He was too serious for her, she too frivolous for him. Was that why he had chosen her? No chance of falling for her or keeping her? Aphrodite had never made a secret of how impressed she was by him as a lover. That interested her too. Though he was well-built and handsome with lustrous black hair and smoldering brown eyes, it was hard to look at his stern countenance and imagine him as a passionate lover.

  She smiled as she thought of the lust she’d felt rolling off him. Everyone at the wedding had been sure she was up to something, but only he had dared to show his suspicions without apology. She had plans for him. Fucking her would cast suspicion on him, no matter how well behaved and mild-mannered. Then he’d see what it was like. She could have demanded an apology, and he probably would have given her one. That wasn’t what she wanted though. She wanted him to understand. Everyone trusted him, so his influence was limitless. When they all raised their eyebrows at learning of his affair with her, however brief it might end up being, he would understand why she felt the way she did. She didn’t want to get lovey-dovey with the other gods or start having tea and shopping trips with Hera and Aphrodite. She wanted the respect she deserved. Once everyone had concluded that he hadn’t been hopelessly tainted by her, perhaps they would begin to view her in a different light.

  She thought of Hermes again. She couldn’t read his mind, but she could feel his confusion and turmoil. She’d used the spell before on a mortal she’d found particularly interesting. By now, she knew Hermes would be in quite a state. Even though Aphrodite had grabbed him for a quickie in the woods, Eris knew she had never left his thoughts. His cock would be aching for her, and he would be thinking of nothing else but how to possess her.

  She hadn’t had sex—good sex—in a long time. A few weeks of pleasure with the handsome god might be just what she needed. The thought of his supposed sexual prowess combined with the power of her spell made her shiver as she imagined lusty, pleasure-filled nights. She had yet to meet her match in the bedroom, but he seemed strong-willed enough to be a possibility. She preferred to dominate, but she secretly longed to be made to yield. She’d thought she might find such a partner with Zeus, but he was so under Hera’s thrall he’d long ago forgotten how to seduce and subdue a woman.

  She sighed and closed her eyes to picture Hermes, and her pussy grew wet as she thought of him. She sat up and moved Chaos to a nearby chair.

  “Damon?”

  The beautiful auburn-haired boy appeared wearing only black leather pants. He smiled at her. “What do you desire, mistress?”

  She stood and slid her skirt off, and then pulled her panties off and tossed them aside. She’d been growing tired of the mortal, but he made her come quickly, so he’d do well enough for a while longer. “Come over here and eat my pussy. Make me come quickly and you can fuck me.”

  She sat on the couch and spread her legs. He got on his knees and began sucking her clit vigorously. She moaned and closed her eyes, picturing herself leaning over a bed with Hermes behind her pounding his cock into her again and again. She imagined him entranced by her, determined to make her come. He wanted nothing more than to please her.

  She moaned again as Damon swirled his tongue over her clit and worked his skilled fingers inside her. As always, she came hard and fast. He moved his hand and buried his face in her pussy as she convulsed. His tongue on her sensitive skin was maddening.

  She pulled his face away. “Do you want to fuck me?”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  She stood and leaned over a table. “Then do it.”

  “This is what you want, mistress?” His eyes shone with lust. She almost never let him dominate, and he craved it all the more.

  “Yes. Fuck me as hard as you want. I’ll make sure you last.”

  He grabbed her hips, rubbing her ass possessively before sliding into her. He began fucking her, hard and fast, sending waves of pleasure all over her body. She loved how eager he was. She’d make sure she found the perfect woman for him when she sent him away. She kept thinking of Hermes, picturing him on top of her, holding her down and grinding her into the bed. She imagined how strong he might be, what sorts of games she might be able to interest him in.

  She smiled as she came. She couldn’t wait for the night Hermes would be the one making her tremble.

  * * * *

  Hermes collapsed on the floor. He’d been sure a vigorous exercise routine would help him keep his errant desires in check. It wasn’t working. Instead of sating his lust for Eris, the strenuous activities only made him long for her hands to massage his aching muscles, among other things. Doing a hundred sit-ups would kill any other man’s sex drive, but apparently the normal laws of nature no longer applied to him.

  He got up and toweled off, then put his shirt back on. Though going to see Aphrodite might not be the best plan ever, he had no one else to turn to. In a moment he was at her front door, but before he could knock she’d flung it open.

  “Come in, come in! I was just thinking of dinner.”

  He allowed himself to be ushered in. “Will it do any good to tell you this isn’t a social call?”

  “Nope. You want to talk, you have to eat.” She snapped her fingers and a pizza appeared on the table along with two plates and two glasses of wine.

  Hermes laughed. “Very classy.”

  She smiled and sat down. “It’s Thai chicken and you’ll love it. And I’m sure you could use the
wine. You look tense.” She picked up a piece of pizza and began eating.

  He sat down. “I came to see what you’ve discovered.”

  She sighed and put her pizza down. “Nothing. Spells are tricky. I did have an idea though.”

  “What?” Her ideas typically backfired, but sometimes they were perfect, so he thought it best to give her the chance.

  “I can make her fall in love with you. Then she’ll release you!”

  He shook his head immediately. “No. No love spells.”

  “But it would be easy!”

  “Number one, I don’t want to do that to anyone, ever. Number two, I don’t want her of all people in love with me. And number three, what would we do if it backfired? She might leave the spell on so she could have me. If she wanted to do this to me when she hates me, what would happen if she loved me? And then there’s the issue of what her revenge can be like. I wouldn’t want her to stay in love with me, and she’d be pissed as hell afterwards. At both of us. She might even be pissed the whole time she’s chasing me. She’s a complicated woman.”

  Aphrodite sipped her wine slowly, but Hermes could tell she was angry he’d rambled off so many objections to her plan.

  “Don’t you see all that?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I don’t see you bringing ideas to the table though. Just compliments.”

  “Compliments?”

  “You called her a complicated woman.”

  Hermes waited for her to continue, but she just stared at him. “That’s it? That isn’t a compliment.”

  “Yes, it is. Men only say that about women they’re interested in.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “How would you know anything about her? You’ve obviously been thinking about her a lot.”

  Hermes tried to keep his voice even. “Because she put a spell on me to make me think about her all the time. Or have you forgotten?”

  Aphrodite smiled. “I love it when you just barely have control of that temper.”

  “I’ll let it loose if you don’t take this seriously.”