Chapter 12: The Desertion

Psyche was now alone with her thoughts. The solitude tossed in her grief like the waves of the sea. She lost her head and began to banish all her spouse's warnings and her own promises. After all, her sisters had made some solid stabs. It was true that she had never seen her lover's face, and she had no knowledge whatsoever of what her companion was. She merely heard the voice and was constantly warned against seeing what the owner of it looks like, and threatened with great disaster if she showed curiosity. What if her sisters' warning was genuine?

But the only way to know it was to see. And as dusk began to fill the sky, Psyche got up and poured the oil into a well-trimmed wick. Then she concealed it beneath the cover of an enclosing jar. Though her plan was formed and her determination fixed, she still faltered in the uncertainty of purpose. Her heart was torn between many impulses of her unhappy plight.

Then the grief-stricken maiden waited for her love to enter the chamber and climb as usual into the bed with her.

Night fell, and Cupid arrived with high hopes in her breasts. She had been waiting to join her passion with Psyche, and with their combined love, they would create something special and beautiful together.

The goddess found her wife lying on the bed and slipped under the cover beside her, enveloping her from behind.

"Why tonight your back is turned to me?" the goddess whispered. "Did you not have a pleasant time with your sisters?"

Psyche felt her stomach churn with nervousness. Every beat of her heart almost seemed to explode.

"We did have a lovely time, my love," she lied, but her voice quivered.

"Then why am I the only one who wishes to be held?" Cupid asked in concern. "Are you ill, Psyche dear?"

The princess finally turned around. She felt a pair of hands, possessive and strong, wound around her body. And a familiar longing entered her heart again. She did want to be filled with love, and a part of her already questioned her own doubts.

"You took too long to come home," the maiden spoke in a pretend sulky voice. "I have missed you terribly."

"O sweet maiden, I apologize for the wait," Cupid said. "My work had delayed me. It is almost spring, and there are many people to see."

"Many people to see?"

"Yes, love," the goddess said. "They need me. But I shall grant you the most of pleasure and even better our first creation together."

The mortal girl, though enfeebled in both body and mind, was aroused by the notion. Her maternal desire overcame her, and she moved to Cupid with outstretched arms, embracing her beloved. The goddess's soft mane felt silk in her hands.

"Is it true?" Psyche asked. "Then swear it by these locks of yours which flowed all over your shoulders like silken water, by your cheeks as soft and smooth as my own, by your breasts which emit hidden heat."

"I swear it," Cupid said with a kiss on her forehead. Psyche still marveled at how all this could be someone beastly.

It was all the more reason for her to find the truth. Psyche parted her legs and lured her bed companion to come closer. Cupid then crawled over her wife's perfect form and devoured her yielding breasts. As their lips left trails of fire over each other skin, the goddess sought out the most secret caverns and made Psyche gulp for air.

The maiden arched her back with rising desire. She prayed that the gentle hand would find her needs soon. It caused her wet slickness to weep through her silken folds profusely. Overpowered by the most lascivious of urges, Psyche pressed her center against her lover and pursed her lips for a thirsty kiss.

The young golden woman, Cupid, happily complied and touched her with sweet eagerness. She could feel Psyche begin to tremble.

"My dear Psyche desires me so equally and it pleases my heart," the goddess whispered in her ear. "I believe we shall be rewarded with a child this very night."

"Beloved mine, you truly think so?" Psyche asked.

"Of course, my lady," Cupid replied and reclaimed her lips. "I am powerful, no men or gods can defy me because love conquers all, and I could surely make our desired wish come true."

Then she slid herself through those velvety folds, glistened and hot with passion. Delving deeper, Cupid searched for the most delicious spot where a child would be put inside and grow there with her divine energy. That was how goddesses make their children after all.

Psyche cried out in a devastating pleasure. Never in her life had she felt something so much intense and beautiful within her. All her senses were heightened to the highest apex of bliss. She began to feel her body shaking, coming apart like stardust. A delirious scream escaped her lips one after another. The ripples of joy kept growing from swells into waves in the very core of her being. And it did not stop until she was left breathless and glowing in the throes of ecstasy.

The world vanished from her eyes, and Psyche thought she saw a golden light that spread all over her shuddering body. And she knew the intended deed was done.

~*~

After the passionate making of divine love, Cupid grew particularly weary. Her golden ichor had flowed in far more tremendous heat. Creating an heir was not a deed minor gods could succeed. She felt as if her godly power was drained out of her body, but it was worth every moment of it.

The young goddess then stretched down beside her wife. Not before long sleep began to oppress and enfold her. But as soon as she started the steady breathing, slowly descending into a deep sleep, Psyche slipped herself out of the circle of their embrace.

Midnight had brought on deeper darkness into the room, filling every nook and cranny. In her bare feet and on tiptoe, the maiden took mincing steps forward and removed the lamp from its cover.

She tiptoed back to where Cupid slept and held the lamp over her. Once the light was brought near, the secret was at last revealed. She beheld the most astonishing sight she'd ever laid her eyes upon. There in the dim wavering light, instead of a man, she saw a young beautiful woman! And not any mortal woman, Psyche saw a goddess sleeping in her very bed!

With a golden maiden lying in a handsome posture, even the lamplight was cheered and brightened on sighting her. Psyche was awe-struck at this wonderful view, and she lost all her thoughts. She swooned and paled with surprise, her knees nearly buckled beneath her. Her mortal heart sang at the sight of the youngest and most beautiful of the goddesses.

Her golden head was framed with her flowing luxuriant hair steeped in ambrosia, her neatly pinned ringlets strayed over her milk-white neck and rosy cheeks, some dangling over her forehead. The surpassing sheen made even the sun flicker in admiration.

On her bed companion's shoulders, she saw dewy wings gleam gold with flashing luster, and the soft and fragile feathers at their tips fluttered in quivering motion. The rest of her svelte body, hairless and rosy, was such that Venus would not have been ashamed to acknowledge her as a daughter. Beside the bed were a beautifully made golden bow, quiver, and arrows with feathered tips.

In giddiness, Psyche gazed at the divine face and the radiant beauty, and she finally realized the goddess was Cupid herself, the handsome archeress and daughter of Venus, Queen of beauty and love!

Psyche gasped and trained her gaze insatiably. She could hardly believe how fortunate she was. Her wedded lover was not a monster or a man, but a divine woman from the heavens. With exulted heart, she leaned over to kiss that brilliant cheek. She ran her trembling fingers over Cupid's sleeping face, tracing over her elegant jawline, her swan-like neck, and her lovely small breasts.

Then the maiden turned to her wife's weapons again. In the course of handling and admiring, she drew out an arrow from the quiver and tested its point on the tip of the thumb. But because her arm was still shaking, she pressed too hard and pricked herself too deeply.

A tiny drop of rose-red blood bedewed the surface of the skin.

Immediately and unknowingly, Psyche fell in love with Cupid with great intensity, being fired more and more with a desire for the goddess of passion. She leaned over and passionately smothered her lover with wanton kisses of her parted lips.

While her wounded heart pounded and her body being aroused by such striking beauty, the lamp disgorged a drop of burning oil from the tip of its flame and fell upon the goddess's right stomach. It was unspeakable and unforgivable to taint a glorious body of a god - a crime punishable by death.

Cupid started with a cry and realized she was burnt and exposed, and that her trust was defiled. She seized the lamp from Psyche's hand and doused its light. Psyche gasped in shock and quickly regretted her action. She tried to reach out for Cupid again, but she felt herself being pushed away.

"Oh, horrible girl!" the goddess's voice cried. "Treacherous, malicious girl!"

"Cupid, love! Forgive me, please, forgive me!" Psyche sobbed and threw herself at her lover again, trying to soothe her with more kisses, but the goddess pulled back from her, spreading her wide wings, and flew out of her reach.

"No!" Cupid cried in anger. "You are not ready to accept love. I trusted you with all my heart, but you did not do the same for me. I disregarded my mother Venus's instruction, demanding that you be yoked in desires to the meanest and ugliest of men. Instead, I swooped down to become your lover and make you my wife, but all you could behold me was a wild beast! How could you betray me while my heart still dotes you!"

"My love, I was tricked by my sisters, please, I beg you to forgive me," Psyche cried. "I have begun to love you before even I saw you, please understand me!"

"Believing is seeing," the goddess said. "You are not ready for me. Love is patience and trust, but you have none. I cannot live where I am not believed. Farewell, Psyche."

"No, please, don't leave me!" Psyche pleaded with her, seizing her right leg with both hands just as she felt the goddess rose above her. Cupid flew back down but only to prey her arms off her then soared aloft with her wings through the open window.

Psyche rose to her feet again, rushing into the courtyard, calling after the winged goddess, "Love! Love! Come back!"

With ceaseless tears streaming down her cheeks, Psyche watched her beloved wife's flight as far as her eyes allowed. She fell to the ground in despair, sobbing.

As the mortal girl beat her breast with grief, she heard a dry cracking sound, and when she looked back the palace was dissolving like a sandcastle made of glittering gold dust, drifting back into the sky. The courtyard, the garden, everything was gone. All the good things that had belonged to her vanished with her love.