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Austin Lake’s heart pounded out of his chest as he triple checked to make sure all of his siblings were asleep before he snuck out. The analog clock on the wall said it was just past two in the morning as he slipped outside, making sure the door did not creak or slam. In the distance, he could see the harpies circling around the sky like vultures, and that only made his heart pound louder. What was he doing? Sure, he had a reason to sneak out, but was that worth the mutilation? Austin was about to resign to the fact that no it was not, and go back to bed, when he heard a soft cough from his left.
“I’m honored you were going to risk mutilation to see me.”
Austin twisted and found himself looking at a woman. In the light of the Apollo Cabin deck, he should’ve been able to make out her features, but for some reason he couldn’t. It was as though the woman had no distinct look, she just blended into surroundings around her. Despite not being able to see her well, Austin knew exactly who she was by the sound of her voice.
He bowed, immediately self-conscious about the fact that he was dressed in Spider-Man pajamas. “Lady Aphrodite.”
“Aren’t you adorable?” squealed Aphrodite, reaching forward to pinch Austin’s cheeks.
“Thank you?” Austin whispered softly.
“Now,” Aphrodite adjusted her skirt, which Austin thought was a light pink, but wasn’t entirely sure. “Normally I don’t make house calls, but you’ve been sacrificing to me for over a month, and were about to sneak out to make an offering to me in the middle of the night, so here I am.”
“Thank you,” Austin mumbled again. “Um, I have a question for you, if you don’t mind.”
“One my kids can’t answer?” Aphrodite questioned. She pulled out a bottle of perfume and sprayed it on herself with three spritzes.
Austin's nose scrunched up at the sweet smell of it. “No.”
“Well, then, ask away!”
Austin wrung his fingers together, intertwining and untangling them in rapid succession. “Can you make me not aromantic asexual?”
Even though her face was skewed by shadows, Austin could tell her smile faded. “Why?”
Austin glanced at the door to his cabin, imagining his sibling’s sleeping inside. “I’m tired.”
He could feel Aphrodite’s hand on his shoulder, though she did not become any clearer. “Tired of what, sweetheart?”
Tears welled in his eyes, so he shut them, willing them to go away. “Everything, I guess. I just want to be normal. Can you make me normal?”
A thumb softly wiped his tears. “You are normal, darling.”
“Then just make me okay with kissing,” Austin pleaded. “Take away the ick I feel when I’m asked to kiss someone.”
“That’s not something I can do, Austin Lake.”
Austin opened his eyes, tears still streaming down his face. Aphrodite had stopped wiping them, stepping back to see Austin fully. Austin wished he could see her fully.
“You can’t?”
“No, my dear,” Aphrodite said. “That is something no one can take away.”
“Damn it,” Austin cursed, tears thickening. “Damn it.”
“You want to become a star, don’t you?”
Austin hiccupped as he nodded.
“You want to be able to play a main character without pushing your boundaries?”
Another nod. Aphrodite had begun to wipe his tears again, this time with a white handkerchief she had conjured out of nowhere.
“You’re a sweetheart, Austin Lake.”
“You… really can’t help me?” questioned Austin one last time, his statement marred with deep breaths. “Lady Aphrodite.”
“I know someone who can,” Aphrodite stepped back, fanning out her handkerchief.
Austin stopped crying for a moment, a sparkle of hope in his eyes. “Really? Who?”
“You, my dear,” Aphrodite giggled. “Now, I must skedaddle.”
“Wait!” Austin soon realized he was talking to the air, and cursed under his breath.
“Austin?” Austin jumped at the sound of someone’s voice, and turned to the door to see his older brother, Will, standing there, leaning against the doorframe in exhaustion. “What are you doing? Do you want to get eaten by harpies?”
“Just getting some fresh air,” Austin lied. He quickly wiped more of his tears away, hoping Will didn’t see him.
“Come here,” Austin sighed, but allowed Will to give him a hug. “You want peach tea?”
“Yeah, I’ll be inside in a minute.”
Will seemed reluctant to go inside without Austin, so he kept the door propped as he made his way inside, leaving Austin to bend down and pick up Aphrodite’s handkerchief. It was still damp with his tears. Austin was about to put it away when he realized that there was an inscription in the corner. Quickly, he unfolded it, reading the message.
Write your Own Story
Austin grinned through tears, before pocketing the handkerchief and going inside to get his much deserved cup of peach tea.