"Where do I start? You're really a -."

"Goddess? Yes." Antheia replied, her hands folded before her. "Yet only a minor one."

"A minor..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "This is all just. How? God, I must be crazy to even thing this is real.  You look like any other woman. I mean - that is to say - you are a very beautiful woman but you don't -."

"I don't look like a goddess?"  She shrugged her shoulders. "Is there a look that a goddess should have?"

"I meant to say that you look ... human." Owain said, rubbing at the back of his neck. A blush bloomed on his skin as he added. "A very beautiful human."

She dipped her head at the compliment, a warmth forming in her stomach. "You are too kind. I am pleased that you find my mortal form appealing. To answer your question, though I am of the divine, I am only a minor goddess. I am touched by divinity but I also have a touch of mortality in my veins. Like many, I am but a product of Zeus's wandering gaze."

Owain nodded his head. "I am sorry."

"Why are you sorry? My father, for all of his faults, cared deeply about me and my mother. Much to his wife's dismay." Antheia shrugged her shoulders.

"Being the child of an affair is a tough burden to carry, no matter your origin." His eyes met hers, the weight of his gaze heavy.

Antheia sucked in a breath. The compassion burning in the depths of his stare was enough to cause her eyes to burn. She dragged her gaze away and swiped at her eyes before tears could fall. It had been hard. Harder than she had let herself admit. 

What could she possibly have had to complain about? She was fortunate even if it she had been followed by whispers wherever she went. She was lucky to live in such a privileged world even if she had had to avoid several attempts on her life by Zeus's beloved.

"Wait a moment. Does that mean that they are all real? Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, and the others." Owain asked, his brow furrowing as he fought to remember the few classes he had sat through as a child.

Glad for the reprieve, Antheia smiled, "Of course, stories don't just come from nothing. There is always a grain of truth."

He nodded his absently before stilling. "Does this mean I'm going to have more gods and goddesses knocking on my door? I'm not sure I could make small talk with Zeus."

Antheia's lips turned up into a sad smile. "You need not worry. I will not draw a parade of immortals to your door. Most are - ." She paused, unable to say the word. A warm hand covered her own. "Most are lost to me."

"I'm sorry, Antheia."

"It is the curse of a long life. We live on while those we watch over live, age, and die. I just never expected the Olympians to be lost too." Antheia pulled back her shoulders and plastered on a bright smile. "Besides, all is not lost. My former mistress, Aphrodite, still lives."

Owain froze.

"Aphrodite? THE Aphrodite."

"You say that as if I should know what that means."

"Sorry, this is all a lot to take in. I should be calling you crazy. I feel like I should be calling myself crazy for believing in you." He muttered with a shake of his head before he gave her hand another squeeze. "I can't though. Somehow, I know that you're telling the truth. At least, the truth as you see it."

"Well, if you can't go on blind faith, you can see for yourself. She wants to meet you."

"Who?"

Antheia raised a single brow.

"What? Why would she want to meet me? What reason could Aphrodite have for wanting to speak with me."

"Well, she actually wants to meet Ellie."

Owain straightened in his chair. Antheia saw the instant that curiosity turned into something different.

"Ellie. What does she want with my daughter?"

"You need not fear. I don't know what stories survived but Aphrodite is a good mistress. She does not harm children."

"That still doesn't answer my question."

"It is actually my fault." Antheia folded her arms across her chest and continued. "Your daughter saved my life - in more ways than she will ever know. I was - trapped for a long time. I thought I would remain that way forever, existing but not living. When Ellie set me free, her voice saving me from the horrors of my own mind, I knew there was nothing I could do or say to repay her actions. So, I did the only thing I knew to do. Your daughter has been granted my favour. She is my priestess."

"Priestess? Your act of repayment was to make my daughter your servant?" Owain asked, his voice tight. "I think it's best that you leave."

He pushed back his chair and made to stand. Antheia raised her hands before her, her eyes wide at the abrupt change to his mood.

"No. No, that is not what it means at all. I give you my oath." She shook her head, her hand reaching out towards him only to halt when he flinched away from her. "What rumours have the mortals being spreading about us? A priestess is the most revered position a mortal can hold. It is a position of honour. My gifts, my very existence, it depends on belief. Without that ..."

Antheia shivered, her face turning ashen. "I never cared to be adored by all, unlike my father and the other Olympians. I was content with a simple life, working alongside my devotees. I never realised it would leave me vulnerable. Exposed. When my temple was ransacked by invaders, all of my followers were killed alongside my priestess. As the city burned, I too became lost. Lost until your daughter and her friends saved me."

"That still doesn't answer my question. What do you want from Ellie? She's just a child."

"I know. A priestess's relationship with the divine is symbiotic. I need her just as much as she needs me. She doesn't have to do anything. There is no servitude in the form you are thinking. Ellie just needs to keep being who she is - the incredible little girl who would go to war for her friends. In return, she has my protection. No matter where. No matter when, she has my protection. I will do everything in my power to ensure she remains safe."

Owain stared at her, his lips pressed together. Antheia could almost see him churning over the problem. His eyes lifted briefly to the ceiling above where his daughter was continuing to crash and bang around.

"You promise you will keep her safe."

"I give you my word."

"Should I be worried about Aphrodite?"

"I -." Antheia had been all set to give her reassurances but something made her pause. "Aphrodite can be fickle. She adores being adored. You are a handsome mortal. While Aphrodite has typically preferred warriors, she may offer her - favour - to you."

"Favour as in..."

Antheia cleared her throat, her hands clenching into fists as the thought drifted through her mind. She shifted on her seat. Owain and Aphrodite together. She couldn't stomach the thought.

"Yes, she may offer to lay with you." Antheia replied before clearing her throat loudly. She lifted her gaze, her head tilting to the side as she watched the man she had come to respect. His eyes were wide, his body frozen. "It is considered a great honour. Aphrodite has does not bestow her - favour - lightly."

"What if I don't want it?"

Antheia tilted her head to the side. "Don't want what? I assure you that Aphrodite is the most beautiful of goddesses. Men have written great songs and poems about her appearance."

Owain sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He muttered a few words under his breath before he dropped his hand down on to the table. "Is that what you would want? Would you want me to accept her offer?"

Antheia choked at his question. No. She didn't want him to accept. She felt it within the very fibre of her being. And yet, all she replied was. "It is not my decision to make. It would not be ethical to stand in the way of you receiving the favour of a goddess. If that is what you want."

"Maybe she's not the goddess I want the favour of ." He said quietly, so quietly Antheia was sure she was not supposed to hear.

She cleared her throat and focused her attention on the wall behind him. Surely she misheard? Still, she couldn't ignore the fluttering in her stomach that his whispered words evoked.

"Aphrodite is hosting an event two nights from now. I would be grateful if you and Ellie could attend."

"Will this party be child friendly? I am not taking my daughter to an orgy."

Antheia blinked.

"I assure you, Ellie will be quite safe. My former mistress enjoys the pleasures of the flesh but, the one thing she loves more, is being the centre of attention."

"You're not selling this to me."

"I am not trying to sell you anything." Antheia replied with a frown, "I would however be grateful if you could support me on this."

"Are you trying to guilt trip me into this? I won't be manipulated."

Antheia shook her head, an immediate denial on her lips. "I would never... guilt trip? I just -."

"You just?"

"While not as close as you and your daughter, Aphrodite is the only family I have left. I want her to meet you both. You and Ellie have become important to me. I don't want to be presumptuous but it feels like were are friends?."

Owain released a long sigh. "Fine. Your guilt trip worked.."

"Fine?"

"I will go to this party." He said but held up a hand to stop her from responding. "But, if there is any sign of trouble, any at all, we are leaving. I refuse to put my daughter in danger for any one. Including you."

Antheia's lips pulled up into a wide grin, even as a knot of unease formed in her stomach. She pushed the irrational twinge as far down as she could. Instead, she held her hand out towards him. "You have a deal."