Around the city of Athens lived a young villager. She was the daughter of a warrior, a man who fought for his great Nation. He was a hero to others, yet a monster to his wife. Found dead the day his spouse gave birth. Villagers believed that he was killed because of envious rivalry, others thought that his wife had a hand in it, since she vanished right after his murder. But, the truth was never unveiled until years later, Vivienne; Aurelius’ wife will have no choice but to uncover it.
Venus, named after the goddess of love, sex and beauty. She had strawberry blonde hair, freckles, and a beaming face. The sun makes her eyes glisten, like it does to the blue ocean. Her vocals inspire birds to sing along in beautiful tunes. She had the power to bring butterflies and Christmas beetles to the bone-dry desert. Her smile kindles life to flowers and gentle beings. She’s dreamy, and her charm puts warriors under her wings.
Growing up with one parent and no sibling, Venus only had friends, and neighbours she considered family. She was loved by most locals, and lived a normal childhood up to the day she turned 18, when her life took an unexpected turn in a glimpse of an eye.
Venus comes back to her mother after fetching some bread, and water for dinner. When she enters the house, she finds Vivienne on the verge of tears, looking at her in woe, and despair.
Venus asks: “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Vivienne answers in a quavering voice:
“My time has come, to keep my promise. I have been hiding secrets from you my child, secrets that could destroy us and the world. I have sinned and I hope that the Gods would forgive me”
Venus responds in worry:” Mother, you angst me. Please, tell me what’s dreading you?”
Vivienne hesitates, but proceeds :
“When me and Aurelius lived in a village, time was more complicated and freedom was just a privilege for the strong at the weak’s expanse. I was forced into marriage at a young age, and vowed to commit and serve my husband until the day I take my last breath. He was a hero to people, an idol. But he was also a drunk, a man whose heart is stone cold enough to take his wife on the cold floor every night, and justify the bruises left on my pale skin with liquor.
He died the day you were born, and for that I know you blame yourself. I know, it hurts you and I hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me. Now, before I unload this burden, before the truth destroys us. I wish to know if you love me.?
Venus looks at her confused, not knowing what she’s about to unveil, so she doesn’t ask further questions and calmly replies:
“Yes, mother I love you.”
Vivienne took a deep breath and began:
“Two nights before my marriage, I saw a lightning spark and the sky was split into two, from it came out an eagle flying towards me. I was scared, and frightened for my life that I couldn’t even yell, or plead. When that eagle reached the grounds of earth, it shapeshifted into an immortal. That immortal was Zeus, and you are the daughter of Zeus. When the man you thought was your father learned about it, he crammed slaughter into his head and wanted to kill us both. But Zeus saved us, and brought us here to protect us.
I apologize my child, and I know that that’s just a word, but it was necessary to protect you and it was Zeus’ wish for you to know until you turn 18. He hid us here, and kept us near his kingdom right under his eyes. But, what you have to understand my child, is that if the gods and goddesses were to find out about it, we are doomed and blood will be spilt.
Venus in shock, she felt her brain stuttering for a moment, and her eyes took in more lights than she expected, every part of her body stopped while her thoughts catch up. She, without any further words runs to the woods for fresh air.
The truth had broken Venus, and put her mind and soul in a void with racing thoughts. In a matter of minutes she became a stranger to herself, and hoped that this is nothing but a terrible nightmare.
Laying on the grass, she contemplates the sky and thinks of her fate, her foes, and the future. In deep meditation, a single tear falls down her eyes, and in that furnace of pain a piece of her hair was gently brushed from her face. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself in the arms of a woman. A woman, that reminds you of obsidian. Fierce like a tigress, and her eyes were the ideal shade of winter grey. Her hair was unruly, ashy and white like the cold virgin, but it perfectly framed her face.
Venus looks up in delight, and takes her time to admire her charm. She hadn’t realized then, that that was Hera. The most feared goddess of them all, and the queen of the underworld.
Hera asks Venus:” What agony brought you to the wilderness?”
Venus replies: “Lies, love, and loss”
Hera: “Loss teaches you how to love, and love is pain. Lies are just words.”
Venus replies: “and words matter.”
Hera smirks and asks Venus if she knows who she is, then Venus responds: “ I would say you’re a nymph but no nymph has your beauty. I would assume you’re Athenian, but no sane Athenian would hold a stranger in the woods. So, this enigma is yours to solve.”
Hera answers: “ I am Hera”
Venus’ skin went pale, her lips turned blue, and her mind was swirling again until she fell.
Hera then, took her to a hidden castle in the mountains, impatiently waiting for her to wake up. She looks out from her terrace, and thinks of a way to approach Venus without terrifying her. She cared for her the minute she saw her, and that almost led her to madness. She knew that it would weaken her and for love, she’d destroy the world and bathe in the blood of those in her way. But, it was too late for Hera to pull back, the tension and bond she felt with Venus was unique, and exclusive.
Hera didn’t know that Venus was the daughter of Zeus, that she’s a demigod. All she thought about was the conflict that would rise if the gods were to find out she’s with a mortal.
In the midst of her introspection, Venus wakes up with a dull memory, and a blurry vision. Before gaining her full consciousness she starts asking Hera: “ What fate do I expect in your hand? Are you killing, or enslaving me?” Hera walked away in silence, opened the door of her chamber and said: “ I am not holding you prisoner, nor killing you. You have free will, but I wish for you to stay.”
Venus muddled with Hera’s words but she keeps quiet until Hera elaborates:” If there is someone that should be in fright, it is me. Are you a witch? Or a trickery I can’t break? It took you minutes to make me weak and I am the queen of gods, no one makes me feel weak. Are you one of Hades’ spawns dressed up as divinity? Because if you are, then I will turn this earth upside down.
Venus had realized then that Hera did not know about her secret. It gave her peace but also uncertainty, because she reciprocated her feelings. There was a certain force beyond comprehension attracting them to each other. That even when there was silence they were speaking, it was a bond that was impossible to deny. So, with instinctual trust she chose to stay and know more.
At the same time, none of them knew that word had already reached the kingdom of heavens, and Zeus saw, and heard everything. He was angry, frustrated, and ashamed. He swore to do everything in his force to separate them.
He summoned Venus, and Hera right from their bed, and to the skies. Venus was impressed with the beauty of the kingdom, she was the first mortal to see it.
Zeus argues: “ Hera I am aware of your doings with this mortal, and I compel you to stop this madness right now.”
Hera did not show any fear, or respect for Zeus. She was committed to her emotions, and if she had to cause chaos for love, she wouldn’t hesitate.“ I will not obey any of your commends, I am the queen and not any typical queen, so if I wish to be with a mortal than my wish is my right” she shouted.
Zeus sparks lighting and his eyes become crystal blue. Hera’s eyes turned red, and fireballs were in her hands ready to attack. But, Venus interferes:” How could you separate us after what you have done to me, and my mother, you have left us in hunger, father.”
Hera never been crashed in her life, her skin tingled and the world was turning around. The feeling of pain, nausea and shame were all crippling her chest, and mind. She looked at her father, then Venus and revealed:” You are my sister?”. Venus’ eye were welling up with tears, she was halting, disoriented and in disbelief.
Hera had gone insane, she couldn’t bare the shame so she put a dagger in her heart, and burned herself in flames.
Venus jumped from the sky to earth, shattered into pieces all over the world.
And Zeus numbed by the guilt of the slaughter he caused. He condemned himself to eternity of loneliness in planet mars, and promised to leave Humans in peace.
The end.
