"A deal?" I repeated. "What kind of deal?"
"One that will benefit us both," Aphrodite shrugged. She interlaced her fingers again, her face growing more serious. "I need you to help me take care of Ares and regain my power."
I stared across the table, more confused than ever. "Didn't you just say you didn't make this deal because you believed in me? And now…you're believing in me?"
"Well, yes, in a sense, you're just my insurance. However, I have a feeling about you. A good one. On the off chance you do succeed, I want you to get Ares to permanently stop his pursuit of me,"
Aphrodite elaborated, and my jaw dropped. "You could do this by securing a vow on the River Styx from him."
"I...okay, before I even get into the logistics of me being able to do that, why in my uncle's name would I do that?" I questioned. "Don't take this the wrong way, but it seems dangerous for me to try to bargain with that lunatic. My best bet would be to avoid him at all costs."
"You're correct," Aphrodite raised an eyebrow, "But, I'd offer you something equally as impossible in return. I would pledge to keep your mother safe for as long as she lives."
"Well, from what?"
"Oh, come on, Percy," Aphrodite scoffed, tapping the side of her head with her index finger. Her white nails slid underneath her hair. "Where's the intelligence you were showing before? If you actually fend off Ares, you'll instantly be put on his list of enemies, a list he takes very seriously. There's no line he wouldn't cross to get his revenge on you. Your mother's death would be among the first things he would orchestrate."
"And risk my father's wrath?" I countered, "Isn't my dad, like, top honcho? Or one of them?"
"You misunderstand your father's position," Aphrodite returned softly. A devious smile formed on her face.
"He could very well be angry at Ares, but ultimately, his hands would be tied. He'd be going back on his own word, the word he'd had to not let himself get involved with mortals and sire a son. Assuming he threw all caution to the wind and attacked Ares, as you said, there's no way another war would be started, over a mortal.
Despite his immense power, your father would be unable to make a move, and you would be forced to take this quest for revenge alone. Not only that, but let's say you somehow gained enough power to exact your revenge on Ares. Becoming a godslayer would paint a gigantic target on your back—it would force you to constantly live your life on the run.
On another note, let's not forget the monsters that would come to challenge you every time you'd go to visit her. You're only growing stronger, Percy. Pretty soon, you'll become a homing beacon for monsters. With my help, you could forget about all of that while you're with your mother."
"You're quite smart," I said, returning her words from earlier. Aphrodite smiled pleasantly at me, as if I'd just given her the best compliment she'd received in a while.
"You'll believe me if I don't trust you implicitly, though. You've shown that you've got your hands in a couple of deals, so I'm not under any false impressions about how helpless you really are. Let's say I agree—how exactly are you going to guarantee that my mom is going to be safe?"
"My power right now is not as vast as it once was, I'll freely admit that. That's why, the second part of my request has to do with you," Aphrodite said. "I need you to form a bond with me."
"A bond?" I repeated, the words feeling alien in my mouth. "What kind of bond? And why?"
Aphrodite sighed softly, "Without getting into the nitty-gritty of things, I gain power from a couple of different sources, a major one being bonds that I form with other people. I don't have many bonds with loving individuals, seeing as my fellow gods tend more to care about themselves than anyone else, and the ones that do care for others, well, I'll just say that they don't care for me as much. You, on the other hand, have a great deal of love for your mother—and an immense capacity to love in general. To top it off, you'll have a beneficial attitude toward me because of the outcome of our deal."
"Boosting the strength of the bond," I finished for her. "Giving you extra power."
"You catch on fast," Aphrodite praised. She winked at me, and my brain felt like it was short-circuiting. "Once we've finalized the bond, I'd be happy to use some of that power to keep your mother from harm."
"You still haven't explained that part," I pointed out, "You're not getting this partnership out of me unless you give me the whole story."
"I would essentially bless your mother and recognize her as my family," Aphrodite explained, "That would keep monsters from attacking her, and it would warn any immortals about crossing her path, at the expense of risking my wrath—not much on its own, but with the added benefit of your father's protection, which she already has, it would be more than enough.
In the event that they choose not to heed my warning, I'd intervene myself. Whether that's engaging the other immortal, simply escaping with your mother and bringing her to you, or showing up with your father—rest assured, she'll be fine. Not a single hair harmed on her head."
"How would you have that much power from one bond?" I leaned back in the chair, my head flipping through the situation. While I'd never say this outright, I was sort of getting the sense that I was going to have to face down Ares, anyway. If I could secure my mother's eternal safety as a consequence, why not? "And this bond? What do I have to do on my end?"
"Nothing. Just be you. As for the power, protecting a mortal is something I can do, even now. Your bond would just make things easier for both of us. My powers are a little...odd, at times, but to put it in perspective. Think of me as a cellphone. I'm at 5% or so, right now. If we made this deal, I'd be drawing on your latent capacity to love, as well as your overpowering love for your family. You'd be like my boost for a while. A portable charger."
"Gods have shown they like to lie," I pointed out. "You could've been lying about all of this, for all I know."
Aphrodite's eyes flashed. "I wouldn't."
"How am I supposed to believe that?"
"An oath," Aphrodite suggested. "Of honesty. Just until the bond is solidified."
"How long would that take?"
"A few years?"
"And you'd be willing to be honest with me for a few years?" I scoffed.
"Given the nature of the bond, you'd likely be able to sense my feelings and thoughts, anyway," Aphrodite shrugged. She tapped her nails against the table. "It isn't ideal by any means, but if it helps assuage your fears, it's not a horrible price for me to pay."
"Fine," I said, running a hand through my hair. "We can make the bond, and I'll kick his ass into next Tuesday. I'd like a proper oath from you, if you'd please."
"Gladly," Aphrodite said softly, raising her right hand.
"I, Aphrodite, pledge on the River Styx to uphold my deal with Perseus Jackson and maintain honesty in our dealings for the next three years."
— - —
Quest Alert!
SIDE QUEST] {Love's Arrow!}
[Quest Prompt]: For centuries, the goddess of love, Aphrodite, has been caught in the crossfire of Olympus's endless rivalries, her heart shackled by divine politics. Embark on a perilous quest to break the ancient binds holding her captive, traversing mythical landscapes, deciphering cryptic prophecies, and standing toe-to-toe with powerful Olympian guardians bent on preserving the status quo.
Only by uniting your courage, wits, and belief in love can you restore Aphrodite's freedom and guide her to the destiny she's been denied for so long.
[Total Possible Rewards]:
[Variable] boost in reputation!
[+][50,000][EXP]!
Please select: [YES/NO]
— - —
"We have a deal, then," I said, her eyes trained on me as I mentally clicked yes. "Partners, then," Aphrodite said in a smooth tone. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. Pink energy flashed around her irises, and a megawatt smile formed on her face.
"The bond has been made. We'll talk soon."
— - —
~ You have slept in a comfortable bed. [HP] and [MP] have been restored to their maximum capacity. All ailments and negative status effects have been cured.
— - —
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