A Double-edged Sword

By K-chan

Sometimes Love was fickle.

His Jupiter to her Juno.

He'd dance and flutter about, blatantly ignoring the Soul, flirting mercilessly with any goddess or god he encountered. It never bothered him if she knew- Love took for granted her enduring faithfulness. This Love could be unbearably unfaithful, as sometimes even as held her his eyes may stray to others. At times, when a strange chord of fancy or a particular whimsical moment where he wished to be the most dangerous of the eligible gods...

This certain god, in fact, used to be feared among all immortals, romantically inclined or no, for the worst Jupiter could do was to rape you; Love could break your heart...

"Things like these are one of the reasons I won't marry," confided Vesta once to her.

Capricious by nature, it mattered little to which gender- shallow, face-value beauty - of which Soul was greatly blessed, or cursed- was what swayed his trivial lusts.

But Love always returned to the Soul.

Sometimes Love was cold.

Like Pluto and Proserpine.

He could be scathingly sarcastic, mocking mortals' follies with love like the Rich One mocked mortals for pouring their lives into trivial things that would fade in his kingdom, unaware- or perhaps, indifferent, to what pain he evoked in her. Love could be strict, but not unfeeling- he had his duty, be that to torment or give irrational, undeniable pleasure.

Like a firm stone in her path that a Soul might cling to should a wind try and sweep her away, and yet at the same time, blocking her path, keeping Life from continuing onward. His moods or whims might change, but Love would never falter in his one area of expertise- he knew this wild thing like the lines on his palm, seemingly unreadable.

The seasons may change and she might flee his touch, or he may push her away... he had said to her once,

"You are like my own Spring, a new beginning to my life- no longer to I point my arrows at gods, nor do I wander as freely! You tie me down, calm me, make me feel like a real man and I truly love that."

Love always said he'd let her go...if she really had to... but Soul knew she'd always come back. What was Love without Soul?

Sometimes... Love was make-believe.

As Vertumnus with Pamona

Shifting constantly, Love enjoyed his fun and games, reenacting the great myths, slipping behind the great roles, bewitching her to actually believe- Only to get called back, like a little boy to his mother's side. At such times, she resented the beauty-goddess, for disrupting her fantasy.

They may play among nymph and faun, running through lush forests, living more fully with each footstep. A Soul might become tired, the weighted effort of keeping this relationship up bearing down upon her. Sensing this, he would simply rededicate himself to her, changing form with a brush of his wings, trying to make amends, only to fail, reveal himself, and restate his claims.

Love always said he would change...

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Most times, Love was simply ...love.

For he was Cupid and she Psyche.

She put up with Love's mood swings, his odd fancies and his unique humor- Soul cherished Love more than she cared for herself... Though she dare never question his feelings for her. The goddess epitomizing Soul feared the answer...

...for Love is always unreliable.