Chapter Text
Destiny strikes twice
Life with and without you
As the arrow flew past the intended target, Anteros froze instantly.
How did that happen? It couldn’t happen, it never happened before, damn it!
Their target watched them with great interest, a smirk actually forming on the corner of her mouth. She then changed her expression to an almost apologetic look, as if she wanted to tell them that something like this could happen to anybody.
But that was the point! It could happen to anybody but not to them. Not to Love itself!
The young woman then turned around on her heels, leaving them standing in the clearing, dumbfounded.
The incessant pounding in their chest as they watched her leave made panic rise up inside their body.
„Spirits… what’s happening?“ Anteros groaned, steadying their shaking body on a nearby three.
„Oh sweet sibling… that’s a soulbond. You of all beings should know that.“ Eros' deep voice sounded next to their ear, giving them a start.
„That’s impossible. Love cannot fall in love…“
„Sure… and Lust cannot feel lust. Grow up, Anteros! We’re breathing and feeling beings just like every other member of the pantheon.“
„No… no, no, no. It’s just some ill-advised infatuation… it’s…“
„Destiny.“
„Why would the Moirai do that to me?“ Anteros groaned slumping down the tree trunk sitting down on the grass.
„To us, you mean. It’s the same for me when I see Theano .“
„Theano…“ Anteros tried the name out in their mouth… spirits if it wasn’t the most beautiful word they had ever heard!
„But to answer your question, I think it’s jealousy. They are three old withered women, who never in their entire existence were touched by a lover. Something they, just like every other being, are craving…“
This made Anteros groan and roll their eyes at their twin. „Not everything is about sex, Eros!“
Their twin was laughing out. „Thousands of years old and still adorable... I love that about you, sweet sibling. But that’s another matter. The more pressing question here is why were you trying to make her suffer unrequited love? And don’t lie, you know I can sense it when you do.“
Of course they did…. Just like Anteros felt everything their twin felt. Even after thousands of years it was still annoying.
„To protect you.“
This made Eros burst out in laughter. „Protect me? By hurting my soulbond? How should that have worked out?“
Their laughter turned into a menacing growl, as they brought their face only inches away from Anteros’s “If you EVER try something like this again, I’ll make sure you regret the day we were born.” Eros growled , violet flames burning inside their irises.
“You’re obsessed with this mortal. It’s a recipe for disaster, one I’m unwilling to watch boiling over.”
“Then stay clear of her. Forever. Forsake the soulbond you share with her and leave her to me.”
“What?!” Eros straightened them up once more and looked Anteros directly into the eyes.
“You’re right… being bonded to a mortal is a recipe for disaster, but I’m not afraid of getting burned. In fact I think I might be into a little pain.”
This made Anteros jolt up, pushing their twin against the tree, trying to shake some sense into them. “Don’t tell me you’ve already…”
Their eyes were frantically looking over their twin’s face for the answer they needed to have but feared to get. The spark was there, right in their deep violet eyes… an inconspicuous red spark, telling of the blazing fire within their heart.
“… you’re already bonded! Damn you, you love-struck fool!”
Anteros pushed their twin away, trying to find their composure, in vain.
Within their own pounding heart they felt the acrid pang of jealousy’s sting piercing through their immortal flesh. Eros’ normally playful expression changed as they undoubtedly felt the emotions radiating from Anteros.
“You won’t curse her, not in this life and not in any other life.” Eros stated dryly, turning around to walk away.
“And don’t bother finding her again in this life. I’m taking care of her, good care.”
Anteros watched the violet mist, into which their sibling had disappeared into for a long time.
“Fate be damned, this is going to be a disaster.”
***
“Theano…” Anteros heard their twin whisper softly into the lifeless woman’s ears.
Their voice was filled with pain and longing. The same pain, Anteros had felt, the same pain that had driven them to their sibling’s side in their moment of sorrow. Several years had passed since the day Anteros had missed their mark, which had also been the day the twins had last seen each other.
“How?” Anteros asked, his own voice a light whisper.
“Poison… hemlock cup.”
“Mother’s doing…”
“Yes…” Eros replied, clutching Theano’s hand and planting kisses on her pale forehead.
The pain their twin felt was seeping through every cell of their immortal body, gripping their heart tightly, making them choke up. Laying an arm tenderly around Eros’ trembling shoulders, Anteros sighed heavily. “Was it worth it? Was it worth this pain and suffering?” they asked their grieving twin.
“Every bit of it, yes.” Eros replied, sobbing silently into Theano’s soft hair. Anteros let their eyes wander along the woman’s body.
Even in death every goddess they knew paled in comparison to her beauty. Her beauty had been a curse at the end, because the one thing their mother Aphrodite hated more than her offspring consorting with mortals was a mortal, who rivalled her beauty so effortlessly.
“We’ll meet again, little dove.” Eros whispered, letting go of Theano’s hand and embracing Anteros tightly.
“Thank you, sweet sibling, for being here with me.”
“Always.” Anteros replied. I couldn’t stay away even if I tried… they added in their head, wiping away a tear.
One shot left
Devi was rearranging her hairpins in front of the gilded mirror, trying to sort out the mess, which was her long, dark hair.
She needed to get ready for the performance quickly, the maharaja didn’t support tardiness, especially not in his entertainment program. An impatient knock on the door made her drop her brush and turn around quickly.
“Y-yes?” she stuttered, adjusting the silken sari covering her body.
As her caramel eyes met the man’s violet ones, Devi felt her heart rate accelerate instantly. He was wearing a guard’s uniform, but she hadn’t seen him before and she knew she would have remembered him; he was a sight to behold. His honey-blonde hair, his clean-shaved face and those violet eyes, which seemed to sparkle in the dim torch light… everything about him was memorable; that man was beauty incarnate!
All of a sudden Devi realised he had talked to her, but she had been too preoccupied with basking in his timeless beauty.
“I…I beg your pardon… could you repeat that?” she mumbled, trying to gain her composure.
The man looked almost amused as he watched her, smiling softly.
“It appears you have lost your great sense of listening along the way, little dove.” He sighed.
“W-what do you mean, Sir?”
Devi was at a loss, did this stranger know her somehow? Come to think of it he did look somehow familiar. “Sir… so formal and well-mannered...” The beautiful stranger mumbled, his voice dropping an octave. He was now taking several steps towards her, making her back up against the vanity.
“Do I know you?” she asked, eying him suspiciously and readying herself for any… unpleasant surprises on his part.
“You could say that, Devi.” He said a smirk forming on the corner of his mouth.
As Devi looked deeply into the stranger’s eyes she noticed the flickering flames burning behind his violet irises; their colour reminding her of the blue lotuses floating around in the ponds of the palace gardens.
His eyes were warm, so full of lust and love; his look was intoxicating. His body was now only inches away from hers as she backed into the vanity. The man’s hand began to comb through her long hair softly and part of her wanted to ease into his touch, to let him do things to her no man had done before. But there was also another part of her, which wanted to push him away, because he was too good to be true, because touching him would be dangerous, being with him would be lethal. As the man’s hand slowly wandered down her back, Devi pulled out her hidden dagger, pressing it against his delicate neck.
“Stop, right now!” she hissed, glaring at the man furiously.
The look in his eyes changed from bewilderment to amusement in an instant. “My, my, my… someone’s feisty!” he chuckled, but stepped away from her.
“If you came for a quick tumble in the sheets you’re barking up the wrong tree… Sir.” She said, spitting out the last word with malice in his face.
That seemed to wound the man and he appeared to at a loss for words. “I… would never… could never…” he mumbled apologetically.
“Then I’m asking you to leave. Do so, while I’m still asking kindly.” She stated and tucked away her concealed blade.
“I…” the man began, only to be interrupted by a voice, which made her heart flutter once more.
“The young lady said you should leave… brother.”
Devi watched the second man through furrowed brows, her eyes wandering from one to the other. Twins?
How on earth is it possible for this kind of beauty to exist a second time? She thought, trying not to stare at the man that had just entered her room.
His hair was a bit lighter than his sibling’s and his eyes were blue. The blue of the Indian Ocean, calm, deep but still dangerous... Devi thought and swallowed.
“She’s here for the maharaja, not you.” The blue-eyed man told his twin, with a little growl in his voice.
“He’s a possessive man-whore and…”
“He won’t be like that with her.”
There was a little pause as the twins were staring at one another, like two predators, which seemed to be at an impasse.
“You already marked him?” the violet-eyed man asked, his voice barely audible.
“Yes. Don’t make me miss my second mark. Not again.” The blue-eyed beauty nodded, a bow appearing in his hands.
Everything that happened after that was a colourful blur and the only thing Devi remembered from that night were the maharaja’s infatuated eyes soaking up her performance, while she couldn’t take her eyes off him as well.
It was the same night the maharaja made her his woman and later that week his wife. They led a happy and loving life together.
Still, something was stirring in her subconsciousness, whenever she visited the sea and whenever she watched the blue lotuses floating lazily in her garden pond; it was a warm and pleasant feeling but also bittersweet.
Vessel of our souls
It was pitch-black outside and bitterly cold on this winter night.
Eros was sitting by the tavern’s cackling fire, when Anteros made their way towards them through the busy room. Their twin was clad in full armour and let themselves drop into the chair next to Eros with a loud thud.
“Mortals and their bloody wars…” Anteros cursed under their breath, gesturing towards the tavern wench for a pint of ale.
“It’s always the same with them, aren’t you used to it by now?” Eros asked, taking a sip of the bitter beverage.
“I miss ambrosia…” they grunted and grimaced at the unpleasant aftertaste.
“Why don’t you just head back to Elysium? I can manage on my own.” Anteros told them, downing their pint in one go.
Eyeing their sibling over the rim of their mug, Eros scoffed.
“You damned well know that I won’t be doing that. Not while she’s close, not while she’s in danger.”
Anteros rolled their blue eyes at them, groaning: “She’s always in danger around us. The closer we are, the worse it gets.”
“So you’re saying you’ll just mark her like every other lifetime and be done with it?” Eros felt rage burning up inside him at the sheer thought of their little dove mated to yet another man… another man who wasn’t them.
“I love her too and I want her to be happy… to be able to lead a long and happy life… and she can’t have that with either of us, you should know that best.” Anteros sighed.
Their sibling’s words were worse than her blade at their throat several lifetimes ago.
“Don’t… don’t you dare talk about that and don’t you dare talk about love! You’re not allowed to talk about something you never experienced yourself, Anteros!” Eros noticed that they had raised their voice so much that maybe some mortal could hear them, but they didn’t care.
They loved their twin, like only a twin could love them, but spirits be damned there were times they truly wanted to hit them, hard.
“Lower your voice… brother…” Anteros implored them, nodding their head towards the mortals, who had gained interest in their conversation.
Eros grunted in response and downed their drink, grimacing at the bitter taste once more.
“We might not even find her this time, ever thought about that?” they remarked.
The silence that followed was one second to long. They snapped their head around to look at their twin, who was staring vacantly into the flames.
“Outside. Now!” Eros commanded and stomped through the tavern and into the brisk nighttime air.
They drew in several lungs of fresh air to calm their nerves; maybe this would keep them from smashing their twin’s skull in. As soon as Anteros exited the tavern however, rage flared up inside them. With two quick strides, they closed the gap between them, pushing their twin against the tavern wall by force.
“Where is she?” they growled impatiently.
“Safe… for now.” Anteros groaned.
No, this couldn’t be… why didn’t Eros feel that their twin had already found their soulbond? Did Anteros manage to hide it that well?
“Did you mark her already?”
“No… I couldn’t…” Anteros tried to avoid their gaze, but it was useless.
Now that their bodies touched, Eros could feel it. The same feeling they got when laying eyes on each of her incarnations. The same feeling they got when memories of her flooded their mind involuntarily, drowning away all fears and insecurities leaving only longing behind.
“Bring me to her.”
“What? No! It’s too dangerous…”
“Please… I just want to see her, I’m begging you. Her last incarnation has been over a century ago. I… I’m begging you, Anteros.” Eros implored, dropping to their knees in front of their brother.
Never in their entire existence had they ever done something like this. The look Anteros gave them was full of love and understanding.
“If I let you see her, from afar, will you let me do my duty and find her another mate?” their twin asked.
Eros couldn’t help but notice that they avoided using the word soulmate. Because they damned well know that we are her soulmates, not some other mortal. Eros thought, but nodded. “I will.”
With a sigh, Anteros nodded. “Her encampment is not far from here. Let’s go get the horses.”
“What’s her name in this life?” Eros asked.
“Vigdis …”
“Of course…”
The goddess of war… how fitting.Eros thought as they rode through the battle-scared landscape in silence.
The encampment, as Anteros had named it, was in fact a heavily guarded fortress sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the North Sea. The two armed guardsmen at the gate let them pass, after a quick look at Anteros, who simply nodded at them.
Once inside, they got off their horses and Anteros led them through the courtyard. Even though it was still night it was the mortals were seeing about their business, which was mainly crafting weapons and honing their fighting skills. The sounds of metal clashing against metal and the grunts and hisses of the battling humans were reminding Eros of all the wars they had to witness during their countless existence. This is something that will never change… they thought, letting out a heavy sigh.
They followed their twin in silence through large wooden doors, which led inside the main building. For a moment there they almost forgot why they were here in the first place, but then they saw her. Her fair hair was braided, curly strands loosely hanging out of the braid and framing her face. A face adorned by a scar, running down her left cheek, which did nothing to sully her beauty. She was standing in front of a war map, pushing and shoving different wooden figures over the paper while being surrounded by several heavily armed men, who were listening to her every word with serious looks on their faces. Once the door closed behind Anteros and Eros with a thud, her eyes darted up from the map directly meeting their gaze. For a split second they thought there was something like recognition in her look, until she turned to face Anteros.
“You’re late.” She simply stated, with a voice which might have cut through steel.
“My apologies, Milady.” Anteros said, bowing their head.
“If everything’s clear so far, you may rest for today, men.” She nodded towards the men surrounding her.
After the last one had excited the room, she gestured for Anteros and them to come closer. Her whole aura, her demeanour… damn it would be hard to stay away from her this time. Eros could feel their heart race in their chest as her caramel eyes rested on them.
“So Theo… this is your twin? What’s your name, boy?” she asked, fixing them with her gaze.
“Boy…?” Eros asked and suppressed a chuckle. “I’m certainly no “boy” milady.”
Next to them, they could feel their twin tense up. Not a good idea… They heard Anteros’ voice inside their mind.
Before they could react, Vigdis closed the distance between them, glaring up at them.
“If you think you’re a man you have yet to prove it to me… boy.” She hissed, actually hissed at him.
Oh he couldn’t resist now, not if his own existence depended on it.
“I’m willing to prove it to you, Milady, if you’re willing to give me a chance.” They answered, their voice a lot huskier than usual.
She watched them for a moment, until she chuckled in amusement. “Your brother’s got balls, I’ll give him that much.” She told Anteros, who smiled back weakly. “However…” she said and grabbed Eros by their collar, pulling them down to her height. “… I’d keep it in my pants if I were you, at least until after the battle. I’d hate to lose a potential soldier beforehand.” She growled and pushed them away again, heading back to the war map.
“Or are you not able to swing a sword anyway?” she asked, looking them straight in the eyes.
Spirits…! Eros cursed in their mind. How was this soul getting more and more irresistible with every reincarnation? They looked at their twin, who was giving them a look, which could be roughly translated into: “I told you it was a bad idea…”
“I can use a sword, milady. And I’m willing to pledge it to you.” They replied.
A smirk appeared on her face, an expression which turned their knees into butter. “Show me… boy.” She smirked, leading the both of them out of the war room and through the fortress’ halls into what appeared to be the training yard.
“I have a name, you know.”
“Oh… do tell!” she replied sarcastically, equipping a practice sword from the wall.
“Mikael.”
“Fine, Mikael… somehow I like you, which means you can use your own sword sparring with me.”
“What? No! It’s not fair against a practice sword, Milady… if something happened to you…” they began.
“Draw your weapon, Mikael.” She commanded, drawing closer to them.
“Do as she says.” Anteros said and took several steps back.
It’s for your own good, brother-dear. Their voice told them inside their head.
As Eros was sprawled on their back on the earthen ground, panting and sweating like Dionysus after full-course meal, they understood why they were allowed to use their sword. Their sword… which was now in her hand, along with her practice sword, and pointing at their throat.
“Had enough, boy?” she asked, smirking down on them.
Well… no… they thought and with a quick sweep of their feet, Eros made her loose her footing and drop down on top of them, swords dropping out of her hands. Grabbing their arms, she pinned them down underneath her as she straddled them.
“You don’t know when to quit, do you?” she asked, a slight growl in her voice.
“No…never.” They replied smirking up at her.
For a brief moment they thought about having her here and there, but then they remembered Anteros watching from the side-lines and decided to postpone their urges.
“Fine… I like your perseverance. You may join my forces, Mika.” She said and pushed herself away from them.
“Mika…?” they asked through furrowed brows.
“Well, you have yet to prove you’re a man, boy. Mika fits you better, for now.” She stated and turned around to Anteros.
“Tomorrow we’ll look into your archery training once more. Right now, I need a bath.” She stated and left the training yard with a nod at each of them.
“As if I needed to picture her taking a bath… that woman will be the death of me.” Eros groaned, watching the door shutting behind her.
Then it dawned on them. “Archery training? What in Zeus’ name is this about?” they asked their twin.
Anteros was avoiding their glance skilfully. Were they blushing?
“Oh sweet sibling… she’ll definitely will be the death of us both.” Eros groaned letting himself drop back to the earthen ground.