Edited by luvtaread
Las Vegas, never was there a town where one's luck could change so quickly. It had the power to put you in heaven one minute and drop you into hell the next. It could raise the lowliest beggar and humble the richest tycoon. It was also where Lloyd Frank had called home for the past two years and where he would transform from a lowly worker to the lord of the city
Lloyd was an architect, which of course given his name made for some rather funny jokes. Today though he had had enough, after spending nearly three years working on a new mega casino he had been let go, just weeks before it's unveiling.
He was to receive no credit for his work and was being sued for copying designs. It of course was all ludicrous, but the claim had been made by a nephew of Mr. Draper. As Mr. Draper owned the hotel Lloyd knew he'd never see a dime for his work. It was common knowledge to anyone who had worked on it that Lloyd had designed the building because he often oversaw every detail with loving care.
Lloyd would have loved to fight the injustice but there was simply no way he would be able to fight the powerful casino tycoon for his due. Lloyd neither had family nor friends to turn to for help. What little family he had had died years before and he had been too busy working to find friends. He had received some money upon the untimely death of his parents, but most of that had been used to get him through school and during this project. He had been counting on the paycheck from this building to build his life and now that was gone.
To make matters worse his efforts to catch the eye of his dream girl, Crystal Draper the boss's daughter, had failed. Throughout the project Lloyd had gone out of his way to see the stunning hotel heiress, even personally supervising the design and construction of her room. However despite his efforts she paid him barely any notice. Once the room was finished she like all of her friends treated him like dirt. As final insult to that injury she had announced the previous week that she was marrying an old boyfriend whom she had rekindled a relationship with on her recent trip to the Caribbean.
He had to admit that that had been a major blow. It had almost caused him to lose sight of the project, but Jill one of Mr. Draper's assistants and his main conduit to the boss, who also seemed to be his only friend in Vegas, managed to talk him down and get him back on the project. Since then Lloyd's focus had been absolute on the project. Nothing existed outside of it and now it was gone.
So with nothing left for him Lloyd decided to end it all. Sure no one would miss him and wanting to send a message to both Crystal and her father, Lloyd ended his life in her beautiful suite that he had so lovingly and tirelessly designed for her.
Or so he thought because it is with that act that Lloyd's life truly began…
"Awaken Lloyd, my sweet child." Lloyd heard a soft feminine voice say. It sounded familiar somehow, and yet he had never heard it in his life.
He opened his eyes and found himself in a bright room, at least he thought it was a room. He saw no walls or ceiling just bright light on all sides.
"Is this heaven, am I dead?" Lloyd asked to no one in particular.
"Not quite and only if you want to be." The strange woman's voice answered.
Lloyd was a bit confused by this and asked, "Well then where exactly am I? And who are you?"
"As to your first question does it really matter where you are?"
"I guess not, but still…"
"Ah, of course the logic driven mind of Lloyd Frank master architect. Very well, to answer you Lloyd this is a place in between worlds between life and the great beyond. Here you see only what you want to see. Actually given your chosen vocation this should be fun. Go ahead Lloyd create yourself some surroundings would you?"
Lloyd thought for a moment and as he settled on his choice a modern version of a Greek temple assembled around him. The voice complimented him on it and he smiled, "Thanks it was supposed to be the design for the ground floor of the hotel, but Mr. Draper had it changed because it was bad for business. Something about there not being enough room for gaming."
"Well now that we have the where relatively cleared up I do believe we should discuss who I am and more importantly why you are in my presence. Please take a seat." Once Lloyd was seated the voice began, "I am the Goddess of Love."
"So, you're like Aphrodite or Venus?" Lloyd interrupted.
"Yes, among other names, but please don't interrupt our time is short and we have already wasted enough of it with your questions." She said with a bit of impatience in her voice Lloyd quickly apologized and Aphrodite continued. "As I said, I am the Goddess of Love and I am here to offer you a unique opportunity. Although you were unaware of it I am sure my dear boy, you have constructed a masterpiece of a temple to me. What's more you made a virgin sacrifice at my altar."
Lloyd realized that by altar she had meant Crystal's suite which to be truthful was heavy on the theme of love and its Goddess. He also blushed realizing that he was the sacrifice. Crazy as it was even after college and two years in Las Vegas Lloyd was still a virgin. This was primarily due to his bookworm tendencies in college and his near round the clock hours working on the hotel.
Sensing his embarrassment the love goddess giggled and said, "Do not worry about that my dear, if you had not been pure you would not be truly worthy of my offer. You see Lloyd I, like Mr. Draper, need you to build something for me. However, unlike your former employer I intend to pay up front and believe me dear boy, I pay
very
well."
Lloyd gulped at her words and said, "What exactly do you want me to build?"
"What all gods want silly boy, a following. Granted I have fared better than most of my peers because love never dies. Each day hundreds of thousands of lovesick men and women cry out for my help and it has sustained me. However, I want more, this existence I have is pitiful I can barely stay a spirit anymore, I once was a full woman. I was beautiful, could love, and be loved. So for many years I have waited for one to come along who could give me my following, my empire and restore me to my glory once again. There was once a time when even mighty Zeus feared the power of my beauty. I want that kind of power again and you my dear boy can give it to me."
"Me?" Lloyd asked in shock, "My lady you must be mistaken. How could I build you an empire? I would not know where to start."
She chuckled, "An empire is no different than a building, it needs a strong foundation and careful design. Which, is why I so carefully chose my cornerstone. You with a well chosen support structure shall be all that is needed to restore me to glory."
"And what do I get from this bargain?" Lloyd asked.
The Goddess chuckled and said, "What you desire dear boy fame, fortune, recognition and most importantly the girl."
"You mean Crystal?"
"If she is your desire then yes. Help me build my empire and I shall give you the means to rule her heart."
"How?" Lloyd asked confused.
"Simply my boy, as you increase the love in the world I grow stronger. As I am made of love itself. It feeds and sustains me. It is all I need to survive, that is why I outlasted the other Olympians, I needed no nectar and ambrosia to live, just love. It also feeds my power as the amount of love grows so do our abilities and when they are powerful enough they can cast a spell so deep no man or woman could resist it." She let that thought sink in then said, "However, to business do you accept my offer?"
Lloyd nodded and said, "Yes my lady." Liking the sound of this powerful spell.
"Excellent now please relax, this could sting a bit."
Lloyd felt something warm envelope him then he felt his consciousness expand immediately aware of so much more. To him emotion seemingly became solid. He also felt a need for love, but not for himself strangely. Not the yearning he had felt while alone at night wishing for a woman, but a need to create new love among others.
As promised Lloyd also felt a slight pain as it seemed his body changed physically as well. The alterations to his mind made his head hurt but he also felt his physique change slightly as well. He could tell he was growing slightly taller and filling out most likely to better look the part of a spreader of love.
When the warmth had subsided Lloyd opened his eyes and was amazed at what he saw before him. Standing not a foot away was a strangely shaped cloud of emotion. He knew it somehow to be made of the purest love. The more he looked at the shape the more it began to resemble something. Then he realized it was his goddess before him. Her words coming back to him as he stared at her misty form 'I am made of love' she had said and now that he could see love itself he could see her at last.
Even though she was made of only misty vapor Lloyd knew she was not lying about her beauty. Without much effort he was able to imagine her body back when she still had one and it was clear that the artists that had depicted his goddess over the years had not done her justice. So indescribable was her beauty that he finally understood why Homer had never been quite able to describe Helen.
Seemingly sensing his shock the goddess asked, "What is wrong Lloyd?"
"I can see you my lady, and though I am ashamed for doubting your word, I must say even in your crude form you are truly the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on."
