Page 47 of Becoming Monsterous

I can feel her pulse race faster.

I wonder if I'm distracting her from the task at hand.

And find that I don't care if I am.

There are few answers in the histories. A few tell tales of someone being loving and kind towards another, like a beggar or a slave, but in each case the recipient of love turns out to be deserving in the end. None tell of a human ascending to godhood because of their love.

It's unfair, I reflect, that the humans were so often picked to be the receivers of passed-on godhood. Other than Medusa, I can think of few ofourkind who were picked for such abilities. Maybe the gods think we're too powerful already, or maybe they're fickle immortals who play favorites.

Considering that, I turn to a book written by one of the First Children of the Gods who lived off the power of love. A succubus and temptress who went by the name Helena, this particular monster lived much of her life in fifteenth century Italy. She climbed the social ranks with the power of love alone, and may know more about it than any others.

Especially given how few of the men and women she bedded were actuallydeservingof her time and attention.

"This is frustrating," Ellie complains halfway through the day, throwing shut a big book full of love spells and potions. "How am I supposed to love someone who doesn't deserve it? It makes sense to try loving Aphrodite, since that's the best answer, but I don't know how."

Looking into her eyes, I realize we've been trying things the wrong way.

This whole time, I've forgotten that she isn't just a human anymore, or just a monster.

She's a goddess now, with the powers of vengeance on her side. There are avenues open to her that the rest of us can't access.

"Let me show you something," I tell her, shutting my own book as well. "If the answer is to love Aphrodite, I may be able to help with that. Certainly more than learning about love potions will help."

I stand up and hold out my hand. Ellie quickly takes it, sliding her soft fingers into mine. As she steps up next to me, the small snake in her hair slithers out to nudge my shoulder.

Cornelia. I briefly stole her from Ellie while I was under Aphrodite's spell. I'm glad that there doesn't seem to be any lasting resentment on her part. I still feel ashamed of what I did, even though it was out of my control.

Reaching over with my free hand, I pet the top of the snake's soft, smooth skull. And she flicks her tongue out at me, almost like a pet.

Ellie smiles softly. "She likes you. That's good."

"I'm glad I get her approval, since it'd be trouble for me if I didn't," I joke. "I might not be able to do this, after all."

Leaning in, I kiss her on the lips.

She presses her mouth to mine harder than I expected. With more hunger and desire.

So I respond—for a few seconds. Then slowly, delicately, pull back and remind her, "Let's just finish this up first."

Ellie blushes, just as I'd hoped and expected. I enjoy the smell of her desire and the sight of her flushed skin. Teasing her is going to be the best part of being with her.

We walk down the hallway towards a back room in the research wing. It would usually be forbidden to mortals, but Ellie is a goddess now. The guards looks at me for a long moment, reluctantly let us both through.

"What's in here?" Ellie asks as I push the doors open. "Something that you think will help?"

"If it doesn't, then possibly nothing will." I see anxiety in her eyes and immediately regret my bluntness. "But I'm sure that it'll help. It's... special, you see. Special enough that very few are let in here. You're only allowed in now that you're a goddess."

The room we walk into is completely dark, save for a single central light that points directly downward. The light is soft and ephemeral, the edges of its beams fading away into the darkness, dust motes dancing in its warmth.

Beneath the light, a mirror sits alone, draped in thick black velvet. It's a standing mirror, with a frame that lets it swivel to face the viewer. A small rug sits in front of it, inviting anyone who enters the room to stand for a while.

There is no chair, no light switch, no sign offering an explanation. The mirror doesn't even have a name that I know. All I know is that it shows people their dreams and their memories. Itespeciallylikes to show them things that they've hidden inside themselves. The more cunning it can be, the better.

It may show Ellie the dreams and memories of the goddess inside her. Especially those that Aphrodite hid from herself, or hid from Ellie.

"What will it do?" Ellie asks me.

"Show you things... memories, mostly. Ones that I hope will help. I can't promise that it'll be a pleasant experience, though. Or even that it'll show you Aphrodite's memories."

---