Forbidden Love

Chapter 15

The three months before Vulcan’s wedding to Venus seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. Before she knew it, Peitho was lying with Vulcan on the eve before his wedding. Her eyes stung with the tears she was trying to hold back as Vulcan lay there silently playing with her hair. Peitho willed herself to say anything to him, but she couldn’t speak. She knew if she did, her voice would crack with emotion. Vulcan promised that they would continue their relationship. While Peitho believed him, she knew things would change as soon as he married Venus. He warned her that they could no longer be with each other until sunset like they were now. Not only that, but once Vulcan was married, she was sure Venus would want children. It made Peitho sick to think of Vulcan lying next to Venus now that Peitho had given herself to him. Vulcan had warned her that this would happen. He’d been fearful that if they made love, it would cause her pain, knowing that soon he’d have to lie with Venus. Peitho had been too proud to admit he was right at the time. But now, all Peitho could think of as she lay there with him was Venus making love to Vulcan on their wedding night.

Vulcan laid there with one arm encircling Peitho, holding her to him so that she could rest her head on his chest. He used his other hand to run his fingers through her hair as he stared up at the ceiling, willing time to stop. He wanted to stay here, frozen at this moment, with Peitho. The upcoming events of tomorrow filled both his head and heart with dread. Vulcan wished it could be Peitho he’d be standing next to tomorrow as he pledged to stay with her forever, but the Gods only knew what would happen to them should they marry. Vulcan shook the wishful thoughts from his head as he turned to the window to see that the sun had begun to set. He gazed down at Peitho and sighed.

“Dolce, I must go,” he whispered, practically choking on the words. Peitho swallowed hard at his words as emotion finally overtook her. Despite herself, she began to sob. Her body shook as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I know,” Peitho squeaked. She quickly untangled herself from his arms to brush away the tears before Vulcan could see them. But it was no use. The tears kept coming no matter how hard she tried to fight them off.

Vulcan stood silently and began dressing slowly. He wanted to stay there for as long as possible, so he was sure to take his time. He watched as Peitho shrugged her gown back on with her back turned to him. He walked toward her, took her long dark hair into his hands, and began braiding it for her.

“So, you are eventually going to look at me, aren’t you?” Vulcan asked when he finished tying her braid for her.

“ If I look at you, it means we’ll have to say goodbye, and that’s the last thing I want to do,” she answered. Her eyes were fixed on the floor as Vulcan turned her around to face him.

“This isn’t goodbye, Dolce. It’s merely goodnight. I’m not giving you up. Not unless you tell me we’re through.” She shook her head at his words.

“No, I don’t want this to end. I just don’t want to see you tied to Venus. It isn’t fair!” Peitho screeched. This may not be goodbye, but we both know it will be a while before we see each other again. The heavens are abuzz with the honeymoon. Venus has planned for the two of you,” Peitho continued.

Vulcan gave her a pained look and cupped her face with his hands as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

“You’re right, Dolce. Venus does have a trip planned for us. I don’t have many details other than it is meant to last a month heavens time. I will yearn for you every second I have to be away from you,” he said softly.

Peitho nodded silently at the sincerity she heard in Vulcan’s voice. Then, she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him deeply. When she stepped back, she turned away from him again.

“Go Vulcan,” she said sternly.

“Peitho, please, you know, I would change this if I could,” he said with a sense of urgency in his voice. Vulcan felt as though Peitho was slipping away from him.

“I know, love, just go. I can’t see you leave,” she said, barely above a whisper.

“I love you, Dolce mia,” whispered Vulcan as he turned to leave. Peitho didn’t make a move until she heard the door click shut behind him.

“I love you too, Vulcan,” she said after he left.

******

Vulcan couldn’t sleep, so he continued working on the bow he’d promised Cupid. The bow and its arrows were made from the strongest steel on Capitoline. The same steel that Vulcan’s helmet was made of. It was practically indestructible. He had just finished placing the string on the bow when there was a knock at his door.

“Enter,” Vulcan shouted. He heard his door open and close. When he finally looked up, he saw Cupid standing there.

“You knock now?” Asked Vulcan with a laugh. Usually, Cupid teleported himself directly into the main room of Vulcan’s temple as though it were his own. Cupid clutched his chest at Vulcan’s joke.

“Are you telling me my spontaneous visits are unwelcome???” Asked Cupid in a surprised voice that Vulcan knew was sarcastic. Vulcan shook his head and gave another laugh.

“You’re just in time. I just finished your bow,” said Vulcan as he passed it to Cupid. Cupid let out a low whistle in appreciation.

“FINALLY! What took you so long?” Asked Cupid sarcastically.

“I’ve been a little busy building a volcano, in case you haven’t noticed,” Vulcan retorted.

“That’s not all you’ve been doing,” responded Cupid with a wink. Vulcan shoved at him playfully.

“What’s the big deal with this bow anyway? Here I am building a mountain for our dear Jupiter, and he’s been breathing down my neck in my spare time to finish this bow for you.”

“Jupiter, Pluto, and the fates managed to cook up a poison that can take down a God. They plan to dip the arrows you’ve made to go with this bow in the poison, and should Jupiter deem it fit, I’m the one who gets to kill the poor bastard who’s been sentenced to death. Lucky me, huh?”

Vulcan nodded solemnly. A sudden knot formed in his stomach. Jupiter now had the power to kill the Gods. Fear swept through him at the thought. Now he knew exactly what would become of them should he and Peitho be found together. Vulcan couldn’t help but wonder if Jupiter knew something he wasn’t saying, and that’s why he created the poison in the first place.

“He doesn’t know,” said Cupid interrupting Vulcan’s thoughts. “I know what you’re thinking. Jupiter has no idea about you two. I’ve been keeping an eye on him to be sure of it.”

Vulcan let out a sigh of relief at the answer to his unspoken question. “Thank you, Fratello, Vulcan replied.

Cupid nodded, “try and get some sleep, V, your wedding is only a few hours away now, and unfortunately, you will have to act like you’re enjoying it. We all know what a joy you are when you get no sleep, so hop to it.” Vulcan huffed in response and shuffled to his bedroom without another word.

******

Once Vulcan had gone to bed, Cupid flashed himself from Vulcan’s temple to the garden just outside of Peitho’s. He could see her through her window from where he stood. She was lying in her bed, her body wracked with sobs. His heart ached for her. Closing his eyes, Cupid teleported himself from the ground below to her balcony and gave the glass door a light tap. Peitho jumped at the sound and was shocked to see Cupid standing outside. She motioned for him to come in as she wiped the tears from her face.

“What are you doing here, Cupid? Is Vulcan okay?” She asked, her heart now suddenly pounding with nervousness.

Cupid held up a hand. “everything is fine, Cara mia, I’m here for you” Peitho gazed at him, perplexed by his answer.

“I can see you’re hurting Peitho. I can’t imagine how painful it must be to know the one you love is about to marry another. I’m here because I want to help. I know you and V have talked about continuing your relationship after he marries Venus, and I’m all for that. All I’ve ever wanted for V is for him to find happiness. But if you think this will be too much for you, I can help. You may not like how, but I can” finished Cupid.

“How?” Asked Peitho. Cupid took a deep breath before responding.

“I don’t know how much you know about your mother’s powers, Peitho, but as Gods of love, we not only have the power to create love. We have the power to cause hate and heartbreak, and then there’s the power we have in which we can take it all away.”

Peitho looked at him confused, unsure of what Cupid was trying to tell her. “What are you saying, Cupid?”

Cupid gave her an exasperated look. “I’m saying that if you decide you can’t handle continuing your relationship knowing V is married, I can take it all away. I have the power to remove him and all the memories you’ve shared from your mind. You won’t remember any of it.” Peitho looked at him, stunned.

“Did Vulcan tell you he wanted this?” She questioned. Cupid could hear the panic in her voice.

“No, no, no, he doesn’t even know I’m here. I saw the pain on your face when I got here, and I hear it in your voice. V wouldn’t want you hurting. He would understand. Should you choose to do this, I will pose the same question to him, but knowing V as I do, he won’t take me up on it. Even if you chose to forget him, he’d want to keep it all. No one has ever loved him as you do, Peitho. You mean more to him than words can express.”

Peitho’s heart swelled at Cupid’s words. She could hear the sincerity in his voice as he said them. While she hated the thought of being without Vulcan, she couldn’t help but consider Cupid’s offer. No one had ever loved her as Vulcan did either, and just the thought of him with Venus made her want to cry.

“I don’t want to imagine my life without him, but I’m not sure I can handle knowing he can never be completely mine. I planned to go tomorrow just to get a glimpse of him,” said Peitho.

Cupid raised an eyebrow at her. Was she crazy? She must be. He couldn’t imagine being able to stand there and watch Layla marry someone else.

“Give me the night to think about it. I’ll tell you my decision tomorrow after the wedding.”