Aphrodite

As the fury of winter faded to spring, violet petals danced with the frigid snow, waltzing to the melody of the morning birds. To Aphrodite, it sounded like those birds were quarrelling lovers about to meet their doom. After all, no one is safe when their heart is stolen.
“Silence? You dare greet me with silence?” Aphrodite hissed at the world, taking to the sky so quickly that she was nearly strangled by her scarf.
As she adjusted the unruly silks, a voice startled her from the silence.
“What, may I ask, are you hoping to gain by waking the clan at such an early hour,” the stranger asked with a deep, booming voice, watching her with a bemused expression.
“Well, what exactly are you hoping to gain by asking such a question?”
“An answer, of course. That’s what any question wishes to obtain.”
“Wishes? What do you know about wishes?”
“That would certainly be a better question to ask you! Surely a pretty courtesan like you know all about manipulating them.”
“Only if I have the desire to! I dare say I have none to meddle with a creature as disagreeable as you!”
Choking back a laugh, the stranger shook his head, looking at her with an almost pitying expression. A long, uncomfortable silence settled over them as Aphrodite indignantly ignored the stranger, adjusting her silks over her beautiful wings. Losing herself in her work, Aphrodite almost forgot about the stranger’s presence when he spoke again with a practiced hint of sarcasm, carefully avoiding her eyes.
“Well, I must say that I am most grateful that you will not be exercising your craft on me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! How can you possibly be grateful for being beneath my notice?”
The stranger sighed, watching her with that pitying expression once more.
“You must know that not everyone would fall prey to your pursuits just because you want them to. In fact, my heart would not be so easy to steal.”
“Nonsense! I dare say that I could steal your heart I was mute and blind!”
The stranger looked at her incredulously, eying her up and down with an unimpressed expression.
“Prove it!” he dared, making her eyes widen with surprise.
“I shall!” Aphrodite declared.
This time, it was him who gaped at her in surprise. Whatever happens, she knew she was going to destroy that pitying expression on his face once and for all! Soaring by blooming flower trees, the quarrelling birds chirped in agreement, chorusing in the bitter wind.


Aphrodite is a courtesan with an unquestionably strong personality. Let’s just say that those who oppose her will not discover a fortunate fate.