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CHAPTER 2
BROKEN HEARTS
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DIONYSUS NEVER HAD CARED much for appearances. It was the reason he used to never visit Olympus at all, the place reeking of traditions and obligations. It was for her that he first visited the mountain regularly, in hopes of catching a glimpse of her.

Later, when he found love in her eyes and promises of more on her lips, he had lost himself in her as he usually did with wine. He had always been easily addicted and this time he was addicted to her.

He had always been told he felt his emotions too heavily. Everything he did was either all in or all out and when he loved someone, he lost himself easily.

For a while though, he thought he was going mad with love, but when she suddenly disappeared one evening, only to never return again, he found out he hadn't known true insanity. It was only when he lost her that he lost his mind too after all.

'How are you?' Hephaistos asked, leaning back in the broad, silver chairs.

Dionysus looked up from his glass of wine, the world around him slightly spinning. It took some effort to get a god drunk, but he always was willing to go the extra mile.

There was nothing more numbing than alcohol after all.

The room they were in was gigantic, the ceiling not even visible as it went on so high, the walls covered with intricate art painted by Apollo himself. Dionysus never would understand the patience the sun god had had, spending hours dedicated to the splashes of colors, but then again, his attention span was close to zero.

'The same,' Dionysus said, swishing the liquid in his golden cup in one hand as he leaned his head on the other,' attractive, irresponsible and a hundred percent a bad influence. How about you?'

The long table they were sitting at was meant for fifteen people, but right now it was only the two of them. When Dionysus had walked in the room, seeking some quiet after the parties he lost himself in day and night, he had been surprised to have found Hephaistos.

Normally the god of fire only resided in his workshop, covered in ash as he forged the greatest weapons known to men and gods alike. Although he wasn't that good with his words, he was a master at working with his hands. Dionysus had to admit he had some respect for that passion of his, although he would never say it out loud.

Hephaistos remained quiet, raising one eyebrow at him as he waited patiently for a real answer.

The fact that he expected Dionysus to give one made the god of wine feel the intense need to do the exact opposite.

'I can see why you and Hades get along,' he said,' you both aren't quite the talkers, are you?'

Hephaistos' his facial expression didn't change. He was used to the fickle mood swings of the Olympians, to the sharp retorts they sometimes gave. Living at Olympus wasn't an easy task to manage, especially if you towered over all of the gods.

Instead of the lean, tall frame most gods had, Hephaistos was gigantic, two metres easily, with muscles formed by years of hard work visible everywhere on his body. Calloused hands, broad shoulders and a crew cut only continued to make him stand out among the gods.

It wasn't like he was unattractive, far from it really, but he was way more masculine than he could ever be beautiful.

'You're dodging the subject,' Hephaistos pointed out.

'What are you even doing here?' Dionysus said,' shouldn't you be making new arrows for Artemis or something by now?'

'I had heard of your arrival,' Hephaistos said,' and I hadn't seen you in quite a while, so I came.'

'What?' Dionysus said,' to see me?'

'You haven't been your usual self for quite some time now,' Hephaistos said, his low voice as serious always.

He didn't have to speak more for them both to know what he meant.

Since Celeste left.

'I am just fine,' Dionysus said, plastering a smile on his face as he covered his feelings as quickly as he downed his wine,' actually, you should really go to a party with me, Hephaistos. Get rid of that uptightness of yours and I'll make you finally get over Aphrodite.'

'I wouldn't be any fun,' Hephaistos replied,' you know I don't know how to use my hands for anything but forging metal, I would be afraid to break anyone I touch.'

Dionysus leaned forward, his glass rolling over as red stained the table, his eyes all but promising broken rules and nights that will last forever.

'Isn't that the fun part?'

'You have a weird definition of fun,' Hephaistos muttered.

'You don't have a definition for fun at all.'

As Hephaistos opened his mouth to reply, Dionysus swiftly turned his head towards the door. His dark locks flew around him as he recognized the hushed voices he heard echo through the hallway easily.

He had heard it countless times in his dreams before.

'Celeste,' he whispered.

And then he saw her.

She hadn't changed a bit. Her brown hair was like silk, falling around her tan skin, and her eyes caught the sun's rays like glass, clear and oh so beautiful.

She always had had that hint of sadness in her eyes, the broken pieces of someone who had known the feeling of loss all too well. It had almost disappeared when they had been together, but now it was more prominent than ever.

It seemed like she was crying without any tears.

Before he knew it, he had pushed his chair backwards, the silver clanging on the floor as he rushed towards her, pulling her into a tight hug.

'You're real,' he whispered as he closed his eyes, letting himself be engulfed by pure euphoria.

'I am,' she said, her voice as fragile as she seemed right now.

'I can't believe you're real,' he repeated, his hands tangling in her hair,' I'm never letting you go again.'

'Hello to you too, Dionysus,' a sweet voice behind them cooed,' it's lovely to see this open display of love so early in the day, but could you please let me pass?'

'Go away Aphrodite,' he murmured without looking up, his grip on the girl in front of him still tight.

He was afraid the wind would carry her away if he let her go, still not able to comprehend the thought of her being here, of being real.

'Dion,' Celeste said gently,' you can let me go. I won't leave, I promise.'

'No,' he said stubbornly, only tightening his grip.

'Dionysus,' Aphrodite said,' if you don't let her go, you can't let her speak, now can you?'

This made Dionysus slowly disentangle himself from her, because no matter how much he had missed her touch, he had gone almost insane from missing her mind, her words, the kind way she viewed the world around her.

He gently tugged on her wrist, his grip there still strong, and led her to the table, pushing up the chair he himself had dropped with a foot. As soon as she was seated, he sat down next to her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Aphrodite sat down on her seat on the opposite side, a few open places between her and Hephaistos where Apollo and Artemis usually sat. It was the empty space on her right where she cast a lingering look, the war god's chair having remained vacant for quite some time now.

Dionysus didn't dare to speak, drinking in her face with his eyes as he memorized each feature, each line again.

She was truly back.

'Where have you been?' Hephaistos asked, breaking the silence.

Celeste opened and closed her mouth, before finally deciding to speak.

'Artemis' forest,' she said.

Hephaistos nodded, understanding her choice. No man could enter Artemis' sacred forest and the soil was blessed by the goddess of the hunt. It was the perfect hiding place, among the nymphs who had taken refuge in the holy ground, one no god could ever enter easily.

'I'm going to kill her,' Dionysus spat, standing up in fury as his chair clattered on the ground again,' how dare she hide you from me. Where is she-'

'Calm down, Dion,' Celeste shushed, resting a pacifying hand on his arm,' I asked her for a favor, she granted it. If someone deserves your anger, it's me.'

Dionysus sat on his knees in front of her, cradling her face in his hands, his eyes gleaming with love and something that could only be described as madness.

'I would never be angry with you,' he said,' I love you.'

'Well,' Aphrodite said, sugar dripping from her lips,' if you could convince Ares of your definition of love, I will definitely give you two my blessing.'

A troubled expression flashed across Hephaistos' his face before he turned his head away from the goddess of beauty, seeming to be at a loss for words.

'Like anyone could talk about anything but war with him,' Dionysus said, amusement coloring his voice.

'You're his best friend,' Aphrodite countered,' if anyone could, it's you.'

'False,' Dionysus said, standing up and pulling his chair up again,' I'm pretty sure that's his sword. But yeah, we're close friends though.'

'I'll talk with him,' Celeste offered,' maybe he'll listen out of shock after seeing me for the first time in decades.'

'No,' Dionysus said hastily,' you can't talk with that war nut. What if he touches you?'

'I'm pretty sure I'm not his type,' Celeste said, waving a hand at Aphrodite to strengthen her point.

'Still,' he said,' you're mine. I don't want anyone else to even look at you.'

'That's not healthy,' Aphrodite said amusedly.

'Well fuck that,' Dionysus said,' when have I ever been sane?'

It was at that moment all of their heads shot upright, already knowing the arrival of the god on Olympus before it was announced.

'Zeus is coming.'