Dancing With Dionysus

Chapter Ten

Mount Olympus

It was done, then, Athena thought quietly. How it hurt her to give up Kalliara to Dionysus. Of all her fellow gods and goddesses, she despised none as she despised him. And now he had taken one of her most precious children as his own. It pained her to even think of it.

But it was for the best. Kalliara would live, guarded by Sabiniano and blessed by Aphrodite. Of course, she would eventually wither and die naturally.But that wasSabiniano's problem, not Kalliara's , Athena thought with satisfaction. Ultimately, he, too, would pay a price for hurting her child. He would be alone.

"Hello, Athena," a cool, dark voice spoke behind her.

She turned, startled out of her musings, to find Dionysus there, watching her.

"I expect you've come to gloat over your triumph," she said, keeping her tone neutral. "I didn't expect Kalliara to give in, you know. She has proven to be a less than faithful servant," she added dismissively. Dionysus laughed, but it wasn't the laugh of triumph she had expected. It was bitter and harsh.

"Don't play games with me, pretty virgin," he said tightly. He leaned in her doorway indolently, but every muscle in his body seemed tense and ready for action. Something wasn't right, she realized.

"I know what you've done," he said, pushing himself away from the doorway. He stalked toward her, his gaze filled with an intense emotion she couldn't read.

This wasn't her plan at all…

"How stupid do you think I am, Athena?" he asked coldly. "I see right through your little ploy. You gave her to Sabiniano, probably even roped Aphrodite into making him fall in love with her. And you expect me to believe that I've won? I don't think so."

Athena kept her face carefully blank.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said coldly. "I've lost my priestess' daughter. Isn't that enough for you? Why are you still troubling me?"

"Sabiniano defied me earlier," he said, moving closer. She swallowed nervously. He towered above her, every inch of him hard and male. Their powers might be equally matched, but physically he was much stronger than she. Would he actually dare attack her?

He laughed, as if reading her mind.

"Foolish, Athena," he whispered, leaning in to speak directly in her ear. She felt his hot breath against her neck and shivered. "I'll have her head yet.

But I'm very angry with you right now, and it's no longer about your stupid priestess. It's about my son."

"Sabiniano?" she asked, startled. "I've done nothing to him."

"Oh really?" he asked, leaning back. He strolled back toward the door, every inch of him filled with suppressed energy. He was a giant black cat, poised to pounce at the smallest movement. Ah, but shedespised Dionysus!

"My son defied me earlier," he said, quietly, turning back to face her. "I may have to destroy him tonight. If that happens, I will hold you personally responsible. And youwill pay. I promise you that."

He turned and strode out of the room without another word.

"Dammit!" she cried, slamming her hand down on a table. It crashed to the floor, shattered by the force of her blow. She held her hand up and watched as a tiny trickle of blood ran down her arm.

Things had spiraled out of control.

Sabiniano stared down at Kalliara, sleeping so peacefully in his bed. His heart filled with sorrow. This one day was all he would have with her, and then an eternity of torment.

But it would be worth it.

He would rather suffer for all time at his father's hands than give her over willingly to the Maenads. He would love her today, and then, before the sun set and his father came for them, he would kill her. Quickly and painlessly.

He would carry her spirit to the gates of the underworld, and then he would go face his father.

There was no other way.

But in the meantime he would bring her pleasure unlike anything she'd ever experienced. It would be his final gift of love.

"Oh, this is horrible," Aphrodite said, dropping her face into her hands.

"Are you sure, Athena? Maybe he wasn't serious."

"No, I'm sure," Athena said, unable to meet her fellow goddess' gaze. She stared at her hands, willing the problem to go away. It wouldn't.

"What are we going to do?" Aphrodite said in a quiet voice. "You have to think of some way to appease him, Athena. And how did he guess that I was part of it?"

"I don't know!" Athena said, throwing her hands up in the air. She stood abruptly and paced across the room. "We have to think of a way to save Kalliara."

"What about Sabiniano?" Aphrodite asked quietly. "We have to save him, too."

"I don't care about him at all," Athena said, her voice disgusted. "It's his fault this happened in the first place. He's the one who tried to take her."

"Well, to be fair, it's Dionysus' fault," Aphrodite said tartly. "Sabiniano was under his influence, wasn't he? Those rituals may seem like a perversion to us, but they are his duty as a priest. Not only that, Dionysus possesses his people with a special madness. I don't think we can hold him accountable for that."

"I'll hold him accountable for whatever I choose," Athena snapped. She turned and sighed. "I'm sorry, you're right. But I refuse to feel sorry for him.

Kalliara is my only concern."

"Well, both of them are my concern," Aphrodite said, her voice filled with pain. "He loves her. He's defying his father to protect her. As soon as he did that, he became my child, too. I won't abandon him to Dionysus."

"What do you plan to do?" Athena asked quietly.

"I'm going to go see Dionysus and talk to him," Aphrodite said. "I won't abandon my children without a struggle. And theyboth became my children when they fell in love. She's not your problem any more, Athena."

With that Aphrodite stood and clapped her hands sharply. Several beautiful young priestesses appear out of the shadows to attend her, bowing before the two goddesses.

"Bring me my silver spider-web gown," Aphrodite said. "And prepare my bath. I have an errand to run, and I want to look my best."

"What about me?" Athena asked. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Yes," Aphrodite said. "I want you to go to Zeus and ask a favor. I want him to grant Kalliara immortality. That way, no matter what happens, the two of them will be together. He's willing to give up everything for her. Let's give her the chance to pay him back for that gift."

"I'd rather she stay mortal," Athena said tightly. "Then she can go to the underworld and exist in peace, no matter what happens.”

"Well, she's not your child any more, Athena," Aphrodite said coldly. "She wouldn't have gotten into this situation if you hadn't held her to your impossible standards, denying her a family and husband. She's mine now, and she's in love. I want her to be able to stay with her man no matter what happens."

"Why should I go to Zeus?" Athena asked, disgusted.

"Because I'm the only thing that stands between you and all-out war with Dionysus," Aphrodite replied coldly. "So right now, you'd better focus your attentions on keeping me happy. Understand?"

"Yes," Athena replied softly. "I understand perfectly.”

"Dionysus, may I speak with you?" Aphrodite said softly. She walked into his private room, careful to roll her hips as she walked, but no too much. She didn't want to appear too obvious…

He turned to her, his face expressionless.

"My attendants told me you were coming to see me," he said coolly. "Any particular reason you chose today? Usually you seem to avoid my company."

She pouted her lips, and he laughed.

"You never change, do you?"

"Would you really want me to?" she purred, lifting one arm sensuously. The silky fabric she wore was nearly transparent; she could feel it pulling tight against her nipples.

"No, not at all," he said softly. He glided across the room, and lifted one of her slender hands to his lips. "I would never want you to change a bit, Aphrodite."

Then he dropped her hand, and his expression grew mocking.

"I suppose it's entirely coincidental that you've come to see me so soon after my discussion with your bitch sister."

She laughed throatily.

"I've heard you accused of many things, Dionysus, but stupidity has never been one of them," she replied, allowing a soft smile to play across her lips.

"I'm here about Sabiniano and Kalliara, of course."

"They're really none of your concern," he said, turning away from her. He walked across the room to a window overlooking the hills, and she followed.

Calculatingly, she allowed herself to stand so close behind him that her nipples grazed his back; his muscles tightened in response.

"But theyare my concern, Dionysus," she sad softly. "They're in love, and all lovers are under my protection. What will it take for you to let them go?

There are other ways for you to fight with Athena."

"That's true," he said, turning to face her. He lifted one finger and gently ran it along her face. "But this is about more than Athena. It's about my son betraying me."

"He can't help his betrayal," Aphrodite whispered. "Love is more powerful than any of us. I couldn't give him back to you if I wanted to."

"Why did you have to take him in the first place?" he asked, and for one moment she glimpsed pain in his heart. It startled her; she'd never known Dionysus to care about anyone but himself.

"I didn't have to take him," she said, willing him to believe her. "I don't create love; I merely encourage what's already there. For some reason, Sabiniano and Kalliara were meant to be together. You need to let him go."

"But I don't want to let him go," Dionysus said mockingly. All traces of emotion were gone; once again, his cool, uncaring façade took over. "I want my son back, and I want Athena's bitch human dead."

She stepped back from him, allowing her seductive mask to slip off.

"Is there anything I can do to convince you to take your fight with Athena elsewhere? She's already lost, you know. Her priestess is mine now. Kalliara will never be able to go back to her service. Isn't that enough?"

"It would be enough if I hadn't lost my son, too," Dionysus said harshly, turning to face her. "He's chosen her over me. That I cannot accept."

"What if I offered to compensate you?" Aphrodite asked, taking a deep breath.

"What kind of compensation?" he asked, his face cold.

"Me," Aphrodite said quietly. "I'm offering you me. Or rather, use of my body for the day."

"What makes you think I want you that badly?" he replied, his voice expressionless.

"Oh, you want me," she replied, pressing closer to him. She ran one hand up his chest lightly, drifting across the hard nipples beneath his tunic. He was motionless beneath her touch. Laughing throatily, she rubbed her body against his. His erection jutted against her; she purred in response.

"All men want me, Dionysus," she said. Standing on her toes, she breathed light kisses against his neck. "I'm Love incarnate, and every creature secretly wishes to have me for their own. Whether they admit it or not. I've seen the way you watch me."

"I want to fuck you, I'll admit that," he said coldly. "But I'm hardly interested in love. My realm is physical pleasure. That's all I want, and all I'll ever need."

"You can call it whatever you want," she replied, laughing. "It still comes down to the same thing. Me and you. Naked. Together. Whatever you want, for one day only."

"Let's make it more interesting," he replied smoothly. "I'll make you a bet.

You claim that you—love—is more powerful than lust—me. But I'll bet you that I can make you beg for me before I'm done. If I win, I keep Sabiniano and the human. If I lose, I'll give them to you and take my fight with Athena elsewhere. Do we have a deal?"

"All I have to do is make you beg?"

"Easier than that," he replied with a dark smile. "All you have to do is hold out on me. You don't beg, you keep Sabiniano and the human."

"One night only," she said, searching his face for signs he was telling the truth. As usual, she had no idea what he was thinking.

"Yes."

"Then we have a deal," she replied.

He laughed, the sound deep and mocking. What had she done? she wondered. He didn't even seem worried that he'd lose the bet. He must have tricked her in some way…

Before she could challenge him, he thrust his hand into the carefully arranged mass of blond curls on her head, twisting it and pulling her mouth up to his.

His lips crushed against hers, and his other hand dropped to her butt, pulling her against his erect cock. His tongue invaded her mouth, and she moaned.

This bet might not be the sure thing she'd thought it was…