Chapter 48: Aphrodite, The Goddess of Love
Aphrodite—the goddess of love, beauty, and desire. In Roman mythology, they called her Venus, but here in Olympus, her name conjured up images of eternal youth, grace, and divine allure. She could incite wars with just a glance, her beauty as potent as any weapon. Legends claimed that even the Trojan War had been set into motion by her hand. Naturally, I expected our meeting to take place in a grand, opulent temple, adorned with marble statues and offerings, somewhere fitting for a goddess of her magnitude.
As my taxi slowed to a stop, I stepped out and looked up at the towering skyscraper before me. My first thought was: *Really?*
No temple, no worshippers, just a massive, modern building. This was the heart of Aphrodite’s domain—not the ethereal palace I imagined, but a bustling fashion empire. It was the largest fashion conglomerate in all of Olympus, dealing in cosmetics, haute couture, and anything else that catered to beauty. I had to give it to her, it was on-brand.
I took a breath and pulled my cap lower over my face, adjusting my dark sunglasses. I wasn’t exactly trying to hide, but drawing attention wasn’t in my plans either. Clad in a simple black tracksuit with white stripes and sneakers to match, I figured I’d blend in with the crowd. I just needed to get in, have my conversation, and get out—hopefully without too much drama. Fat chance of that, though.
As I entered the building, the scent of bubblegum hit me like a physical wave. I glanced around, realizing the first few floors were an indoor mall. Shops lined the corridors, selling everything from high-end cosmetics to dazzling jewelry. Lively chatter filled the air as customers perused the latest products from Aphrodite’s empire. It was surreal. Here I was, the god of the underworld, strolling through what felt like an upscale department store.
Approaching the nearest reception desk, I tapped my knuckles on the glass surface. The receptionist, a young woman with pale green skin and oversized star-shaped ears, looked up from her screen.
“I need to see Aphrodite,” I said flatly.
Her eyes widened, and she blinked at me, clearly taken aback by my casual request. Forest nymph, I realized. Their kind were known for their beauty, but this one was way out of her depth.
“Uh… s-sir, I’m afraid that’s not possible,” she stammered, regaining some of her composure. “I’ll have to ask you to—”
I sighed and slipped off my sunglasses, revealing my eyes. The effect was immediate. Her green skin paled, her hands trembling as she grasped the edge of her desk for support. “Call her,” I said calmly. “Tell her her big brother is here.”
The poor nymph was practically shaking now. It wasn’t uncommon for mortals and lesser beings to react this way around me. Hades—the god of the underworld, death incarnate. My presence alone was often enough to make people uneasy. It didn’t help that they believed looking at me too long could bring about their own demise.
She fumbled for the phone, her fingers slipping over the buttons. “I-I apologize for calling you like this, but—wait, listen! It’s important! The god of the underworld is here, and he wants to see the boss. No, I’m not kidding! Check the cameras if you don’t believe me. Just—just tell her.”
She hung up the phone and groaned, rubbing her temples. “She’ll get back to me shortly, my lord. Please, have a seat.”
I stayed standing, tucking my hands into my pockets as I surveyed the room. The building was buzzing with activity, almost all of it female. Models, designers, executives—everywhere I looked, there were women, impeccably dressed and exuding confidence. The only men I saw were security guards, standing stiffly at various points like silent statues. It felt like a world where men were only allowed as window dressing.
After a while, the nymph’s phone rang, and she turned to me. “You can go up. Aphrodite is expecting you,” she said quietly, not meeting my eyes.
Two hulking women in pink uniforms appeared to escort me. They were Amazonian in stature, muscular and towering over me, though their uniforms were… distracting, to say the least. Tight-fitting and short, their skirts barely reached mid-thigh, and their shirts strained against their massive chests. I wasn’t sure if I should feel intimidated or just embarrassed by the whole situation.
We stepped into the elevator, and I leaned against the back wall as it hummed upward. I glanced at my escorts, noticing the way their eyes darted toward me occasionally, though they remained silent. I had a feeling they didn’t like having to guard someone like me.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a long, luxurious hallway. The scent of perfume was almost overpowering here, the air thick with floral notes. Portraits of various gods lined the walls, their divine features captured in painstaking detail. I didn’t care much for the majority of them—Ares with his arrogant smirk, Athena looking regal as always—but one painting caught my attention.
It was Hermes, seated on a golden throne, his playful smile captured perfectly by the artist. A sense of melancholy tugged at my chest. Hermes was gone, and for the first time, the gods were experiencing loss. Real, permanent loss. They had never faced death before—not like mortals did every day. How they were dealing with it was anyone’s guess, though I doubted they were handling it well. A part of me almost relished the idea of the gods in turmoil, but another part of me—an older, more human part—felt the sting of his absence.
“Move it along, death boy,” one of the Amazonian guards muttered under her breath. Her tone was laced with annoyance, but I caught the underlying fear. Even the gods had a habit of forgetting that death comes for everyone eventually.
I smirked and continued down the hall until we reached a large wooden door. The guard standing beside it was impossible to miss—a cyclops, her single large eye staring down at me. She had twin braids of blonde hair, and like the others, her uniform left little to the imagination. Not that I was particularly interested, but really, *this* was what Olympus had become?
“The goddess is waiting for you inside,” she said in a voice that was surprisingly soft for her size.
I reached for the door handle, the smooth wood cool under my palm. As I pushed the door open, I expected to step into a grand office, perhaps filled with the latest fashion designs or walls lined with awards for beauty and creativity. Instead, I was greeted by what could only be described as a private apartment. Plush sofas, a massive flat-screen TV, an indoor bath that shimmered under soft lights, and a small bar filled with an array of colorful bottles. It was indulgent, to say the least.
“Hades…?”
Her voice was like honey, sweet and soothing, but with an undertone of danger. Aphrodite stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, her back to me. She wore a gown that shimmered in the light, the peach fabric embroidered with rainbow-colored petals that moved with her like a breeze through a garden. Her long, pink hair cascaded down her back, touching the floor in soft waves. A silver crown glittered atop her head, catching the light like a constellation of stars.
I felt it then—a strange, almost sickly sweet sensation in my chest. A familiar feeling, one I hadn’t experienced since Eris tried to charm me. But this… this was different. More powerful. Aphrodite wasn’t just charming me; she was bending the air itself, making every breath feel like it was infused with desire. A dull pressure built in my mind, and I had to steady myself.
Was she seriously trying to charm me? Did she forget I was her *brother*? Then again, in Greek mythology, boundaries like that had never been much of a concern.
Aphrodite turned slowly, her sapphire eyes locking onto mine. Her lips curved into a smile, one that was both knowing and teasing. “So, Hades… have you come to find true love?”
“True love?” I scoffed, narrowing my eyes at her. “I’m just here for some peace and quiet.” As if I would fall for such shenanigans.
She laughed—a sound that was both melodic and sharp, like the ringing of delicate bells. “Peace and quiet? Here? In Olympus? You know better than that, brother.”
“Clearly,” I muttered, glancing around at her lavish surroundings.
“But you didn’t invite me here to talk about peace.” She admitted, stepping closer, her gaze never leaving mine. She was close now, too close. The pressure in my chest grew, but I fought it. This was Aphrodite—dangerous, cunning, and impossibly beautiful. But I was Hades, god of the underworld. I wouldn’t fall so easily.
“So what is it you do want, Hades?” Aphrodite asked, her voice low, cutting through the tension in the air.
I smirked light and said, “I came to pick up something.”
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If I revive a magic castle I will mass release 10 chapters
