Bloodied Desire.In the land between Olympus and Egypt, a battle began. One that none had seen coming, except for Calli-ulia herself. The forbidden goddess of blood and temptation, daughter of Themis, the Titaness of divine justice, and Horus, the falcon-headed god of the Egyptian skies, walked from the crimson veil where she had hidden, waiting for him. Her skin was onyx, dark and adorned with veins of red on her body. Her hair floated around her head like a halo, thick strands of blood. Her true form, one she had not unleashed in many, many moons. In one hand, she held a khopesh, made from the ichor of the previous gods that had fallen thanks to her. The blade hungered for more, for the crimson essence of those who had wronged her.
Only a few feet away stood Eros. God of love and desire, son of the whore goddess Aphrodite. At least that’s what Calli-ulia liked to call her. He stood in the darkness, proud, shining in his radiant aura. However, his vision kept changing, taking the appearance of Calli’s past lovers. Each face was familiar, each one a painful reminder that she was fated to remain alone and unloved. A single silken sash decorated his figure as he drew an arrow into his bow of heartstrings, the tip of the arrow dipped in the promise of love and passion. “Why do you challenge me, adomination?” He taunted with the familiar nickname Zeus had given her and her twin. “Even I cannot force love onto a creature as wicked as you. It’s simply your own fault, not mine.
A broken laugh slipped from Calli’s lips, letting it echo into the abyss. “Love is only a temporary gift, Eros. Do you know what’s not? Blood. Blood is forever. It’s the very thing that keeps you and everything else alive. Too bad you won’t have yours for long.” She licked her lips to seal the promise, as if she could already feel herself absorbing his powers into her crimson-coated web. Without a second thought and a flick of her wrist, she summoned a burst of blood from the very lands themselves. Rivers of crimson erupted, coiling into serpentine whips that lashed towards him furiously. Eros moved aside with ease. His wings of shimmering feathers unfurled as he shot his first arrow. Letting it fly through the air, a strike of pure longing hit her heart, and for a moment, Calli staggered. The visions of tender embraces, soft-spoken whispers, and promises filled her mind. Tears stung her eyes as the feeling engulfed her for but a moment. Her blood boiled with anger, but the god's powers tugged at her mind, weakening the fury that trembled through her. However, Calli was anything but a weak-willed goddess who could be easily swayed. Using the heartbreak and rage that fueled her, she gripped the arrow's shaft and yanked it free with a hiss of pain. She stood for a moment, allowing the wound to heal with a hiss of steaming blood. “Love like yours is a weakness, Eros. I don’t want it. Not now, not ever.” She snarled.
Blood separated from her body, and from it shot hardened daggers of ichor, slicing through the air. Eros twisted mid-flight, but one grazed his wing, singeing feathers and drawing a hiss of pain. Golden liquid trickled from the wound, the first wound on his perfect form. His own attack came instantly, a storm of arrows flying towards her. One of lust, one of jealousy, and one of adoration. Calli-ulia raised a shield of hardened blood, a barrier that absorbed the impacts. Each arrow dissolved into the blood, their essences mingling with her own power, fueling her rage. She countered by hurling her khopesh, the blade spinning like a blood moon, forcing Eros to dive. As he tried to rise, she closed the distance in a blur, her nails extended, claws formed from the talons of her father's power that lingered within her.
The two divine beings collided in a fury of passion and rage. Eros’s hands glowed with his power, attempting to seduce Calli and flood her mind with the overwhelming feeling of love. It radiated through her body like a welcoming warmth. One she so desperately wanted to fall into it. “Join me,” Eros whispered, his words seducing her mind. His touch sent waves of pleasure through her, but before she allowed them to rein her in further, she broke free. Her blood surged to counter his spell. She raked her claws across his chest, golden lines of blood mixed with her own essence. “Your arrows hurt the heart, but mine devours it!” She snarled.
Eros stood weakened, but not ready to give up just yet. He summoned his final grand act. A radiant aura of the purest form of love, letting it grow bigger and bigger, ready to consume Calli. It promised sweet bliss, love, and an end to the pain that fueled her every day. She staggered, her body trembling as the feeling invaded her veins. Memories assaulted her mind. Past lovers entwined with her, their hearts beating as one. It was almost too much, a past life that she was desperate to go back to, but she knew she could not. “I don’t want your false promises!” With a scream, she shattered the painful illusion and the aura. Her blood exploded outward in a blast that hurled Eros backwards, breaking his bow from the force of the blast. Quickly, she crawled on top of the god. Her hips kept his weakened body pinned down. “Impossible… love cannot be broken!” The god shook, trying to get free from her tightened grasp on him.
A smirk spread across Calli’s lips as she leaned down. Her lips softly brushed his. “Maybe love cannot be broken, but it can be consumed.” She plunged her hand into his chest, grasping at the beating organ inside. In one quick movement, she ripped his heart from his chest. His screams of pain died in an instant. Golden ichor stained her skin as her crimson eyes gazed upon the beating heart of love. Bringing it to her lips, she devoured the heart. Savouring each bite she took. She could feel his essence flow into her. Waves of desire, passion and affection merging with her powers. It gave her an euphoric high. His powers seared through her veins like a drug, addicting and leaving her wanting more.
Slowly, Calli stood, licking her lips. Her eyes had shifted, holding a seductive fury, and her blood pulsed with the ability to give the gift of love, or twist it into a toxic obsession. She was a goddess reborn of bloodied desire. Love and vengeance entwined eternally. Her body trembled, and a small whimper of pain left her lips as black wings sprouted from her back, unfurling wide behind her. “A gift? You shouldn’t have.” Her crimson hues gazed down at the lifeless body of the former god of love. She picked the god up and allowed her wings to beat for a few moments before they started to carry her towards Olypmus, where she would put Eros up for display for his mother and the remaining Olympian gods to see. One of many gifts that would continue to come.
