The Trials of Aphrodite

♦ Chapter Eight ♦

Vesta's unsettling yellow eyes swept through the legion. "Rise," she commanded.

The campers obeyed and studied the goddess uneasily. Her expression was solemn and apprehensive. 

Me?

I was doing just fine.

The world was spinning. Everything was a blur of color, and Vesta's words echoed back to me: Concerning Venus's symbol of power.

That could only mean one thing. Which also meant that whoever had gotten their hands on it could stir up a lot of trouble in our world.

As I said, just fine.

"Venus's magic girdle has been stolen," Vesta continued. "By whom, we don't know."

"What the heck is a girdle?" Via muttered next to me.

"A belt," I said, my voice shaky. "But this one is much more than your average belt."

"Is it a leather belt?"

I suppressed the urge to slap her. "No," I responded, gritting my teeth. "It has the power to make the wearer adored by all. They would be able to influence a hundred people at once. I—er, Venus—used this to make everyone love her. The girdle fuels Venus's ability to charmspeak. But if worn by another, it can do the same."

"So that isn't good for us?" Via asked.

"Imagine everyone in the world becoming enslaved. Wars being fought for one person. A lot of deaths. Screaming and crying. Destruction."

"Really, really, really not good."

"Yes. That describes it perfectly."

I wanted to fall to my knees, sob, and let out a string of curses in Ancient Greek. This couldn't be happening.

Really, compared to a golden belt, the Master Bolt or Poseidon's trident or Hades's helm were much, much more terrifying. But the other Olympians underestimated this girdle. This girdle had the power to charmspeak hundreds of mortals into doing the Hokey Pokey. It was that frightening.

Vesta looked at me with pity. "Ren Amore, you are a daughter of Venus. This situation begs for a quest. Do you accept?"

I wanted to say no. I wanted to crawl away to some hole and let some demigod fix this problem for me. But I couldn't do that. If I wanted my magic belt back, I'd have to get it back myself.

"I-I accept."

"With a quest must come a prophecy," Vesta said. "And we have one now."

Her eyes seemed to glow brighter as she recited the lines of the prophecy:

"The goddess's symbol, her plans you shall hinder

Daughter of war's misery still lingers.

The thief's betrayal,

The half-blood-slayer.

Many a trials you face,

Under the goddess's gaze.

The truth you must glean

From the Amazon queen.

Things are not as they seem

On a friend you must lean."

{A/N: Whoa. That was deep stuff, and it only took five minutes to create. #Prophecybossindahouse!}

I struggled to commit the lines to memory. They didn't make sense to me at all.

Vesta turned to me. "Beware, Ren. I sense many things that could go askew in this quest. I'll explain more details of the quest to you and Reyna. Hurry, there isn't much time. Our enemy gathers her forces as we speak."

"Why do you want to speak with Ren and me?" Reyna demanded. "I'm not part of this quest."

Vesta shook her head. "You are, I'm afraid. Send your troops to their barracks. You can't hold a Senate meeting. There isn't time."

"We always hold Senate meetings before a quest!" Reyna argued. How she had the gumption to fight a goddess was beyond me. "It's a tradition."

"Traditions will have to be cast aside," Vesta said sadly. "The enemy must be stopped before winter solstice, when the gods are most exposed. She plans on putting us under her control on that day. You must interfere, or she will overthrow Jupiter himself!"

I still can't believe that one little belt had so much power. Why didn't I think of that? Probably because I didn't care about ruling the universe and whatnot. I was content with my hair curlers and shower gel while the other gods threw fits about crossing into other gods' territories or stealing their symbols of power. 

Oh, now I cared. 

"Fine," Reyna growled. "Frank, direct the campers to their bunks. Help the centurions."

Frank saluted and turned to sort out things with the Romans.

When everyone had cleared out, Vesta's eyes locked with mine. She was utterly pleading with me. "Please. Please help us," she whispered. "Whoever wields that much power can slowly influence a god. Olympus is in danger."

"Why did Jupiter close it?" Reyna asked.

"He is taking the necessary precautions. I convinced him of it, actually. We can't allow the enemy to get into Olympus and charmspeak us. We're all . . . frightened for the future."

"Why did he turn me mortal?" I inquired of Vesta.

Her eyes flickered. "That is something you must find out yourself."

That is also something that ticks me off. Don't be so ominous!

"The prophecy . . . " Reyna said, thinking hard. "The truth you must glean from the Amazon queen. My sister, Hylla? What could she be hiding? We tell each other our secrets!"

Vesta sighed. "I cannot answer your questions without meddling with the Fates' plans, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano. You know this."

She flinched. "Don't call me that. And where in Pluto's name do we start? We have no idea where we should go!"

Vesta's form faded. "Seek the Amazons' help. They know quite a lot. Your sister Hylla especially."

The goddess of the hearth vanished, leaving wisps of smoke curling in the air. 

Reyna faced me and wrinkled her nose. "Time to go meet with my sister. I suppose you'll be coming with me."

"Yay," I said.

Oh, Aphrodite and Reyna on a quest together. To search for a magic belt. This is going to be hilarious.

Trivia Question: What's the name of Piper's dagger that shows her visions of the future?