Fruit of Misfortune (4 page)

“No,” I said, trying to look away.

“I swear I’ve met you before,” he told me. “I
never forget a face.”

I felt my heart beating faster as he took a
step forward and closer to me, my hand still in his. Our eyes
locked, and my surroundings fell away. All I could see was him.

“Eros…” David’s voice was a little deeper
than normal.

“Oui?”

“Isis will be my wife someday.”

“I gathered.” Eros released my hand and
turned away from me. “I assume she knows about us—our race?”

“She does.”

“Well…” Eros raised his brows, eyes wide. “To
know that one day you’ll have such a lovely creature as
your
wife is… I’m speechless. My congratulations to you both and good
luck. You’ll need it.”

“Thank you,” David said.

Eros reached into his coat pocket and pulled
out a pair of glasses and a handkerchief. He patted his forehead
with the white piece of cloth.

“The heat is unbearable in Greece this time
of year.” Eros looked me over from head to toe. “You’ll find out
just how hot it can get.”

“She’s used to this type of weather,” David
said as he hooked an arm around my waist.

“The heat doesn’t bother me,” I agreed.

Sitting in the living room, Eros and David
continued with small talk. All the while, Eros stared at me,
insistent on holding my attention. I felt annoyed because no matter
how hard I tried I couldn’t stop staring back.

“Are you okay?” David squeezed my hand.

I peeled my eyes away from Eros. “Why
wouldn’t I be?”

“You seem distracted.”

“Not at all.” I forced a smile. “I’m just
listening to the conversation.”

“I’m sick of
lodging at hotels. There’s nothing like waking up to see the faces
of your family,” Eros said to David as they retrieved Eros’ luggage
from his car.

Watching them from the front door, I tried to
figure out why I felt attracted to Eros. I couldn’t ignore the fact
that he was gorgeous, but I had yet to meet a deity that wasn’t.
Only, his looks weren’t what appealed to me. It was something else
that I couldn’t put my finger on. As I observed him from a
distance, I saw that his style of dressing was the reason he looked
older than David. I wondered about his real age, but then I
remembered that you could never be sure with immortals.

“You say you visited my home in America?”
David asked him, walking through the door.

“Oui, I went to your new village, and there
was nothing there. Why would you even consider investing in real
estate?”

“It’s a town, not a village. And it’s a nice
change.”

“A boring change, if you ask me. At least, I
could never live there.” Eros removed his coat after he set his
luggage down. He carried more suitcases than a southern bell, I
thought. “It would depress me and put a damper on my business.”

“What business are you in?” I asked.

“You haven’t spoken to her of me, mon frère?”
Eros frowned at David.

“Once, but that was the worst decision I’ve
ever made,” David said to him. “No offense.”

“Has he been spreading filthy rumors about
me?” Eros’ eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “Don’t believe a
word.”

“Actually,” I told him, “David’s never
mentioned you.”

“I did tell you about him once. I never
mentioned him by name, but it was the day of the incident—with your
hand.”

“Eros is the friend that you went to visit to
make me fall in love with you?” It all started to make sense. I
started to understand why I felt attracted to Eros. He could make
me feel this way. But why would he do that to me when David was his
closest friend?

“I don’t know what he’s told you, Isis.” Eros
pronounced my name with short I’s. “But I’m the most pleasant
person you’ll ever meet.”

And then, there it was again. There was
something about the way he looked into my eyes that made me want to
fall on my knees—in the most literal of terms. I didn’t understand
that overwhelming sensation. I stood there, immobile, peering back
at him. What the hell was he doing to me?

“If you’re using your charms…” David warned
him. “Don’t you dare.”

Eros hissed. “I’m your friend, and I’m
offended that you would even think it.”

“It’s never stopped you before.” David locked
his hand with mine.

“
That
is a matter I don’t discuss
openly.” Eros’ mouth tightened. “But for your peace of mind, Isis,
I will say this—I’ve never inflicted harm on anyone.”

“That depends on how you look at it,” David
said. “What about Veronica?”

“Low blow, my brother.” Eros’ nose flared.
“There’s no need for this in front of her. Besides, I’ve told you
many times I had no idea that would happen. Everything I know, I
discovered and learned on my own. I had no teacher or parents to
guide me, like you did. But I don’t expect you to understand.”

The room filled with an inaudible scream of
tension. Eros and David held each other’s stare, neither making an
attempt to look away. I decided to step out of the room to let them
settle their disagreement privately. I loosened my hand from
David’s, but he tightened his grip in return.

“I’ll leave,” Eros said, at last, picking up
his coat. “I can see my visit will be a problem.”

“No. It won’t,” David said. “I was out of
line, and I’m sorry. Please stay.”

After a moment, Eros put his coat down again.
“I’ll take my old room, if that’s okay?”

“Have you ever had to ask?” David placed his
hand on Eros’ shoulder. “Welcome home, brother.”

***

David invited Eros to come sightseeing with
us, and I was relieved when Eros declined. He said that he was too
exhausted from traveling. As David drove down the hill, I wondered
about Eros’ past. Why had he looked like David had kicked him in
the groin when he brought it up?

“Can I ask you something?” I asked, and David
nodded. “What happened to the girl named Veronica that you
mentioned?”

David’s lips pressed together in a flat
line.

“You don’t have to tell me. I understand if
it’s a guy pact thing or whatever.”

“Yes, but I think you should know. It’ll help
you understand the reason behind my protective behavior.”

“I’m sure you mean jealous behavior.”

“No, I mean protective.”

“Sure,” I said, unconvinced. “So what
happened to her?”

“You see, Eros fell in love when he was
rather young. In human years, he must’ve been about fourteen. He
was a very mischievous boy, always going against the laws, but
finding ways to evade punishment because of his young age. The
Council saw him as a victim of circumstance because of the absence
of his parents, and pardoned him time after time—until the incident
with Veronica.”

“That bad?”

“You decide after I tell you the story.”
David glanced at me, and then turned back to look at the road. “A
very long time ago, during an age that man has no knowledge of,
Eros met Veronica in the country known today as Spain. She was
human and of the first civilizations to live on Earth, called
Aetherius
.”

“Cavemen?”

“No.” David smirked. “I’m sure that even then
Eros had better taste than that. The caveman came much later in
time. The
Aetherius
were a very modern civilization.”

“That makes Eros a lot older than you.”

“He is.” David nodded.

“So what happened when Eros met
Veronica?”

“Eros tried to flatter Veronica with
gifts—flowers, precious gems. But being sixteen and older than
Eros, she refused the gifts and refused him, as well. Eros was
furious that she, being human, would deny him—the god of love and
lust and who no girl could resist. But she was different, and this
is what drew Eros to her.

“Not knowing how his gift affected people,
Eros used it to woo her. What Eros didn’t know was that if love
wasn’t meant to be, there was no way to make anyone love another by
force.

“Day after day, he visited her, using his
gifts, pouring his charms in her heart. Until one day, the side
effects of Eros’ invisible potion changed Veronica.

“She began to despise Eros and love him all
at once. She was in an emotional limbo that later grew into an
emotional void. She sat and stared into nothingness for months.
Eros was devastated, but he didn’t dare pray for her health. He was
afraid that Deus would punish him for misusing his power.

“Every afternoon, Eros would visit Veronica
under the willow tree where her parents set her chair—wheelchair.
Eros’ power was the cause of her vegetative state.

“One day, as Eros approached the tree, he saw
that her chair was empty, and Veronica was nowhere in sight. He sat
under the tree and waited, assuming her parents were late in
bringing her to meet him. As he sat there, he rested his head
against the bark of the enormous tree. Eros noticed an object
swinging in the branches above him—Veronica’s limp body hung from a
twisted rope tied around her neck.”

“She killed herself?” I gasped.

“Yes. Unable to love, to laugh, to cry, or to
fear, she felt she had no reason to live.”

“So he really didn’t know what he was
doing?”

David shook his head. “And she wasn’t the
only one that suffered that fate. For a moment I thought he was
doing the same to you.”

“You’re his friend. Why would he do
that?”

“The nature of his gift makes women downright
senseless. Of course, he loves the attention. He
really
loves the attention. But then what do you expect? He’s the
embodiment of lust and love.” David parked the car. “Eros isn’t a
bad person. It’s just all beyond his control.”

I wasn’t convinced about that last statement.
Eros had lived too long, too much, to not understand the power he
possessed. To me, it sounded like Eros was a coldblooded killer.
David’s attempt to justify his friend upset me.

“Surely, he must have
some
control
over it by now,” I said. “He’s had too long a life not to have
mastered his gifts. And the fact that he’s Cupid-in-the-flesh
doesn’t excuse him, either. I mean, there are morals and principals
that a person lives by. He should be setting the example.”

“In his defense, he’s changed. But old habits
die hard.” David faced me as he turned off the engine. “Which leads
to the next subject. You
will not
go near him if I’m not
present. Do you understand?”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t go near him.”

“Because you don’t trust me?”

“I do. It’s Eros’ charms I don’t trust, and
for that reason, I want you to keep your distance from him. You’re
not immune to his gifts.”

“What do you mean?” I knew very well what he
was referring to.

“I saw the way you looked at him.”

“David, I didn’t—”

“Yes, you did, Isis,” David said. “You find
him attractive, and that’s something out of your control. His
presence is overpowering to any female, and that includes you.
That’s the way he was born.”

I was aware of the intense energy that
ignited my attraction when Eros looked at me for the first time,
but it didn’t mean I would act on what I felt.

“You know, it takes two to join into an
agreement of any kind, including a relationship. I’m not interested
in Eros. I’m sorry you don’t think better of me.”

“Please don’t
make this a trust issue.”

“Whatever,” I said. “I find it hurtful that
you would forbid me from speaking to another guy because you think
I’ll jump him as soon as you turn your head.”

“That’s not what I was trying to say. You’re
misinterpreting my words. I’m asking that you refrain from speaking
to him when I’m not there, that’s all.”

I glowered at him. “Only him, or all
guys?”

“I’m not trying to be controlling.” His
knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. “I’m trying
to protect you. You’re overanalyzing everything that I’m
saying.”

“And
you
are overreacting. I’ve never
told you to stop talking to any girl. But you…”

“Isis!” He hit the steering wheel.

I jumped.

“Why do you have to be so difficult? All I’m
asking is that you…” He breathed in sharply and dropped his head
back. “Do whatever you like.”

David pushed open the car door and slammed
it, using such force that both the car and I shuddered. I noticed
the lopsided steering wheel as he walked around the car to my door
and opened it. If he thought this was over, he had another thing
coming.

“I’m your girlfriend. You should have a
little more faith in me,” I said, stepping out of the car.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,”
he said.

“Could you tell me if there’s anything else
I’m not allowed to do without your permission?”

“Isis, please…” David closed his eyes.