Here's mine:
Aphrodite shivered as she swam into the dark cave. The water here was colder, as it was untouched by the sun above. She turned a corner and nearly bumped into the woman who was waiting for her. She had white hair tinged with black, thick dark eyebrows, and pale skin.
“Greetings, Aphrodite,” the woman said.
Aphrodite was too frightened to speak.
“I know you are seeking me. I am Styx, the enchantress, prophetess, seer, and magician.”
“Um… yes. I need your help.”
Styx turned and began slowly swimming even further into the dark cave, which was dimly lit by small lanterns. “You want to impersonate your sister Juno because King Ares is sending you to the surface to become the bride of Prince Nathaniel.”
“How do you know that?”
“You forget who I am.” Styx stopped at a round table covered with kelp and bottles made of stone and coral. “I know more than people give me credit for. Now, go. I will not help you.”
“What!” Aphrodite exclaimed. “Why not? Look, this is important to me and my family. If I don’t go to the surface, then my family will be sent to the debtors’ prison and will lose its title.”
“You’ve already lost your wealth, both financial and moral,” Styx answered. “Your father’s parents were both good people of excellent caliber. Your family’s line has fallen far.”
“Spare me the moral lesson,” Aphrodite snapped. “Will you help me? Please?”
“And why should I? Ares is a scheming pig, and I refused to aid his political schemes. Which is why I am here and not in the palace.”
Aphrodite pulled out a kelp bag and jiggled it. “The king will pay you this if you help me.”
Styx laughed. “That is from your family’s personal finances, not the king’s. You are horrendous at bluffing, Aphrodite.”
“Please,” Aphrodite begged. “If you don’t help me, I’ll tell the king you hurt me, and I’ll have him arrest you forever.”
Styx slowly blinked her black eyes. “Very well,” she said. “I will make you a bargain, Aphrodite, since you are so persistent.” She picked up a bottle from the table and handed it to her. “Drink this right before you go to the surface. You’ll be a perfect replica of your sister.”
“This will make me ugly?” Aphrodite shrieked.
Styx’s mouth twitched. “The human prince could not see your sister clearly when she saved him. You will have your sister’s voice, nothing more. Though I suggest that if you truly want to imitate your sister, you better learn to be more selfless and unworldly than she.”
Aphrodite scoffed and snatched the bottle away from Styx. “Thank you.”
“I was not finished,” Styx said. “You have one month from your arrival to the surface.”
“One month?”
“To make Nathaniel fall in love with you as he has fallen for your younger sister.”
“Easy,” Aphrodite answered. “I’ll have him around my finger in a week.”
“And if you fail, then you belong to me.”
“Belong to you?”
“Yes, Aphrodite. That potion is hard to make, and I am still not interested in helping you or Ares. Make Nathaniel fall for you, and you will stay with him forever. But, if not, then you will be my slave until the day you die.”
“Sounds simple enough,” Aphrodite replied. “Well, I must be on my way. I’ve got a royal party to attend tonight. Wish me luck, Witch.”
As soon as Aphrodite was out of sight, a slow smile crept onto Styx’s face. “Not luck,” she said. “I wish you utter failure.”
A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people- Thomas Mann
My writing blog: [
aspiringpen.blogspot.com]
