It had been over a sentry since Venus had last returned to her beloved palace. After the ordeal she had just gone through, she was anything but happy about her return. Her beautiful oasis was just as she had left it. Pearly walls adorn with tiny pink buds, the trickle of water fountains and the chriping tweets of the birds singing her favorite songs. Everything was perfect. Except. Her mood.

"How dare he banish me!" She knocked a painted vase off its pedestal, shattering it into a million pieces on the floor.

'It was supposed to be one of my sons.' She shrieked out violently, the power in her voice shook her home and cracked the foundation.

She huffed violently as she marched towards a statue of her husband and knocked it to the floor, stopping on the head and breaking it off. She stared at the broken statue for a moment as her breathing settled, an idea then came to her.

Venus turned on her heels and stalked off towards the stairs at the end of the hall. The spiraling staircase leading her into the basement below. Her shadow danced in the flicking light of the many candle flames as she walked down the hall towards the door where she kept her little secret. With a flick of her wrist a golden key appeared in her palm.

Venus's eyes searched the luxurious room, passing over silk sheets and tables of delicious foods until her eyes landed on a shadowy figure off in one corner.

"I was wondering when you were going to visit me, I knew you couldn't resist my temptation for long." the golden-haired immortal came out of the shadows.

She flipped a few pale strands of hair over her shoulder as she strut her way towards Venus.

Venus's hands balled into firsts at her sides, enraged with the blond bimbo who once held her title.

"Be grateful I visit you at all, Aphrodite." Venus spat.

Aphrodite plopped down onto one of smaller sofas, with her legs extended into the air slightly, she rubbed her toes along the creamy white skin of her left calf before her eyes fell on Venus.

"You'd only come here with a purpose, I know you, Venus. Your as sleazy as they come. What do you want?"

Venus made a pitcher of wine appeaer in one hand and a goblet in the other.

"Care for a drink?" She filled the goblet and held it out to Aphrodite.

"What do you want?" Aphrodite repeated her question before she took the goblet.

"I need your help. I am willing to make a deal with you."

Aphrodite rose an eyebrow. "What makes you think I'll help you?"

"If you help me, I'll give you back your freedom." Venus knew Aphrodite was stubborn but she wouldn't dare pass up a deal like this one.

"I'm listening."

A malevolent smile graced Venus's lips as she summoned another goblet; since Aphrodite was unwilling to share.

"I need you to help me kill Mars."

Aphrodite was quiet for a moment. Her eyes were fixed on the water fountain in the center of the room. Venus watched as a smile spread across her face. The wicked look in her eye, had Venus curious as to what she was thinking.

"Mars, could easily kill both of us even if we attacked him together. I don't like being your prisoner but I would rather keep my head. If you were to release me, I could help you release him from Tartrus. Someone like him would be more suitable for killing Mars, don't you think?"

Venus paused for a moment before she smirked. She loved this plan.

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around." Venus snapped her fingers and Aphrodite's cuffs fell to the floor.