Old Gods and New

Amor flicked a finger on his hand without it ever raising from next to his thigh, a young woman across the street catching the toe of her flipflop on one of the uneven paving stones and stumbling.

"Oh, I'm sooo sorry," the young woman said when a young man caught her in mid fall.

The woman glanced up at the man while moving her long, dark brown hair out of her face, the man staring down raptly.

Astarte rolled her eyes and gave her head a small shake.

"Would you stop that!" she demanded reprovingly.

"What?" Amor asked, his face one of innocence as he looked up at Astarte.

The difference in height was striking, Astarte standing a little over six feet tall while Amor barely topped three. The difference in coloration between the two was just as striking with Astarte's pale, milky white skin and platinum blond hair that flowed down to her waist set against Amor's dark, Mediterranean complexion and mop of curly black hair and beard.

Astarte snorted and rolled her eyes again.

"You realize I can see all your little threads you so carelessly toss around," Astarte shot back.

"My little threads?" Amor replied in hurt amazement, "You wound me, Astarte!

"Look there!"

Amor gestured a few storefronts down the street towards a man and woman stooped with age, their skin wrinkled and spotted, her hair wispy and gray tied in a loose bun without a single hair on his head to worry with. The woman walked slowly beside the man and held his arm as he used a cane, each step a struggle all the while with their heads together as they smiled and spoke softly to each other.

"Yes, what of them?" Astarte asked, "Do you think I can't see their thread so much brighter and stronger than the one you just cast!"

"My dear Astarte," Amor ginned upward, "I have never crossed paths with that lovely couple until this very moment!"

"And why should I believe you my little imp?" Astarte asked with a smile.

"Astarte, with all the succulent fleshy morsels throughout the world, have you touched each and every one?" Amor asked while looking up at her, "Have you stroked the brow of every child born to beauty with those long, sensuous fingers?"

Astarte glanced away, her eyes traveling from person to person walking the narrow, cobbled street. With the high stone walls and narrow lanes this part of the Old Town was surprisingly cool in the midday Mediterranean heat, the women, and even the men wearing only a few shreds of cloth that passed for clothes in this age.

She smiled when a man caught her eye, his thin UnderArmor shirt molded to his muscular chest with only cargo shorts and sandals for the rest of his attire. His brown eyes gleamed as they gazed into her blue just as she felt a zing of pleasure course through her body that quickly nestled between her thighs and the tips of her breasts. She raised up onto her tiptoes with an involuntary gasp for a moment before glaring down at Amor.

"Imp!" Astarte said repressively while glaring down at Amor who only smiled up at her, "Your bow does nothing to me so you'd do well to keep your arrows in your quiver!"

"Nothing... nothing at all my dear Astarte?" Amor asked with a sly grin.

Astarte continued to glare at Amor before relented with a small shrug.

"You had him smitten at a glance, you know," Amor replied merrily, "No need for any help from me... well, except to perhaps to help quicken your blood at your... advanced age."

Astarte snorted, her eyes following a young woman wearing a slip of cloth and sandals. A brilliant yellow sundress, the cloth flowing against the curve of the woman's hips with every step, the thin fabric tented by her conical nipples.

It was Amor's turn to roll his eyes, Astarte staring into the woman's eyes just as intently as she had the man's, the young woman biting the edge of her lower lip as she passed by.

"And did I smite her, dear Amor?" Astarte asked quietly and then jumped with a glare down at him as she felt the sudden zing of pleasure.

"Must you ask?" Amor said with a smile up at her.

"Imp!" Astarte shot back and then took in a deep breath while smiling down at him, "I have to admit, I do enjoy the fashions of this age, they seem so... familiar."

Amor smiled with a slight nod, his eyes traveling up Astarte's lace up sandals that reached just below her knees, up her long, slender legs to the simple white linen dress she wore. The style was much the same as the sundress the woman who had strolled past had been wearing, the length mid thigh with a plunging neckline that exposed an inviting expanse of skin and the ample swell of her breasts that moved freely without the restraint of a bra that she had never worn, the hem edged in silver and gold thread that caught the sun in brilliant sparkles. Amor leered up, his stature allowing a glimpse of the platinum yellow down nestled between Astarte's thighs as she walked until she rapped her knuckles against his head.

"Are you enjoying the view, imp?" Astarte asked tartly.

"Oh, absolutely," Amor replied with a unrepentant grin and then gave a slight nod, "It is... refreshing to see the old ways return... even if everyone believes that they are completely new, untried and unprecedented."

"I never understood the need to wrap oneself from head to toe in wool in such glorious weather," Astarte continued, her face tilted up to the Mediterranean sun while Amor chanced another glimpse beneath her linen dress, "Nor the denial of the pleasures of the flesh.

"It's better that the old ways are returning."

Amor continued walking, the narrow, twisting cobbled street leading them on until the exterior wall of the Old Town was on their left, the ancient battlement looming up over their head.

"There's more to return, Astarte," Amor said quietly with a troubled frown.

"War and strife," Astarte replied casually, "As much a part of their nature as love and pleasure.

"The sands of a thousand years slip through their fingers, repression eroding away to sensuality, peace shattered by red, red war, until they are themselves are replaced once more."

"Yes..." Amor replied, his face still troubled, "But the cost..."

"We grow stronger Amor," Astarte replied and reached out a hand to stroke a finger over his beard, "For so long we have only existed in the shadows of their knowledge, that knowledge growing to eclipse us until I feared we'd slip from this world entirely."

"Which would argue that now their ignorance grows," Amor shot back.

"With the coming strife, the magic of the world shall return," Astarte replied.

"Magic," Amor said softly, his fingertip giving a slight flick, a woman's hand reaching out to accidentally touch the top of another woman's hand as they browsed a selection of oranges, their eyes glancing up to meet each other.

Astarte smiled as she watched the couple, the taller of the two holding out a shaking hand palm up, the shorter woman lightly tracing a finger over the taller woman's lifeline.

"Ahh, the fun I could have with your tiny darts," Astarte said while smiling down at Amor, "Imagine the leaders of any of these petty nations, at odds and at arms until the moment of their meeting, their images cast out over the air with this modern magic, more eyes upon them than even existed when the world was young..."

Amor snorted in amusement knowing where Astarte was going already.

"Only to be struck by your tiny dart when they clasp hands to vie for dominance!" Astarte said with a laugh.

"There's armor even my arrows my not best, Astarte," Amor replied with a shake of his head.

"Don't... how do they say... rain on my parade?" Astarte replied with a smile.

The two strolled on enjoying the myriad of people passing by, Amor leering up occasionally to catch a glimpse between Astarte's thighs, Astarte glaring down indulgently but never making any effort to conceal.

"It's not that I do not enjoy your company, Astarte..." Amor said after a half hour of companionable silence.

"Nor I, yours," Astarte replied with a smile down at him, "But... to the heart of the matter...

"I have a boon ask."

"Ahhh," Amor replied quietly with a glance upward past the treasure beneath her linen skirt to her troubled face.

Astarte walked on in silence for another minute before giving Amor a troubled glance.

"All lands, all peoples will sone be bedeviled by the troubles just beyond the horizon," Astarte said, Amor only nodding in agreement, "I have a daughter of this age, her beauty, her heart closer to mine like no other in a hundred hundred years."

Amor remained silent as he walked next to Astarte.

"I... fear for her," Astarte confessed, "I would have you tie her to Joshua."

Amor looked up sadly at Astarte for a moment before giving his head a slight shake.

"Astarte, you know as well as I that we may not tug at the threads the Fates have woven," Amor said quietly, "We can not change what is to come for Joshua.

"And tying your daughter to him, that is no guarantee of her safety, only a way to ensure she is at the very of the heart of the furnace!"

"I don't ask you to change Joshua's fate, only to tie Elana's heart to his!" Astarte replied sharply, "His fate is to lead the fallen world after the troubles, let Elana walk by his side!

"She lives here, on this island, in this very city, only a few streets away!"

"Maybe it could be possible," Amor protested, "Perhaps a thread could snare their hearts, but remember fair Icarus!

"Those closest to Joshua receive no favor from the Fates."

"I see your eyes, Amor," Astarte replied while staring down at him, "Your glances.

"What favor would you ask of me that I would freely give for this boon?"

Amor jerked in surprise, his eyes flickering beneath Astarte's linen skirt for a moment and then back to her intent face looking down at him.

"Would you taste of that font, dear Amor?" Astarte asked softly, "Elana is but a few streets away."

Amor licked his lips, his eyes darting beneath Astarte's skirt again to the platinum blond down between her thighs and the darker crease visible nestled within.

"You have desired me since the day I stepped forth from the crashing surf of the sea," Astarte said softly, "Has the day come for you to finally have me?"

Amor hesitated and then gave a jerky nod, Astarte smiling at him and reaching down to stroke her fingers through his beard before leading him on. A few more streets and a few more turns Astarte reached a narrow alley with step stairs climbing up and a few colorful doors scattered along the stone wall. She glanced down at Amor and then lifted her eyes to look at a woman walking down the stairs towards them. Amor glanced up and then stared, the woman much alike to Astarte with platinum blond hair, milky skin and piercing blue eyes, her dress a simple sundress of a deep blue almost of identical cut to Astarte's white linen. Elena had the handle of a wicker basket over her arm, the basket filled with fresh greens and a loaf of bread.

"Cast your darts, Amor," Astarte whispered.

Amor closed his eyes and flicked a finger of his hand, the golden thread leaping out to entangle around Elena who gave a slight jump of surprise. Amor had to concentrate a little more for the next step, Joshua's Fate creating a gleam of brilliant light in the distance. Amor cast his thread, the light threatening to burn the golden thread to ash for a moment until the ends met, Elena's eyes opening wide in surprised shock as she glanced unerringly in the direction that Joshua was in.

"It is done," Amor gasped and stumbled back to almost fall until Astarte reached down to steady him, "They will find each other this very day, the thread draws them together.

"But tying her to him..." Amor said with a shake of his head.

"What is done is done," Astarte replied with a sad, lingering glance at Elena who had dropped her wicker basket and stumbled back up the stairs before turning a corner and disappearing, "And I believe I have a favor to grant."

Amor glanced up sharply at Astarte, the bargain that they had struck suddenly returning to his mind. Astarte led the way over to a brightly painted yellow door with potted plants on either side to reach out a hand and push it open.

"Come," Astarte said with a smile, "Elena will have no need of her bed for a few days and... we have need of a bed much sooner."

Amor quickly followed Astarte in, barely glancing around with his eyes focused on Astarte who from one step to the next was suddenly barefoot, and with the very next step strode naked, tall and proud through the living room. She stopped and turned, her breasts firm and high with pink areolas, nipples hard and already erect as she held out her hand to Amor.

"How long has it been?" Astarte asked as she laced her fingers through Amor's before turning back to lead him down the hall to the awaiting bedroom, "A hundred years?

"A thousand?"

"More," Amor replied huskily, "Since the day I was entrapped by a snare made of my own threads, my heart tied to yours."

Astarte smiled down at him and pushed open the bedroom door before walking over to stand next to the queen size bed, a quilted red and black blanket covering it.

"A favor I have promised, Amor, and a favor I give," Astarte whispered while looking down at him with her arms at her sides, palms up.

Amor licked his lips and then began to hastily tear at the buttons to his leather vest, his shirt being tossed aside to join the vest on the floor soon after. It took another moment for him to kick out of his boots while hopping comically on one leg before Astarte took pity while grinning at him and got down onto he knees.

"Come here, dear Amor," Astarte said, Amor quickly padding over for her to unfasten his belt.

She pushed his jeans down and then glanced down at his cock as it sprang free, happy to see that his size and girth was so much greater than his stature may have hinted. Astarte smiled while gazing down, for an average man Amor's size would have been... nice... but for Amor it was a cock of tremendous proportion.

"This... could be..." Astarte said with a smile, her eyes level with Amor's with her already on her knees.

"Perhaps... I could get on the bed?" Amor suggested with his own smile after recognizing Astarte's difficulty.

"Perhaps that might help... arrange things more appropriately," Astarte replied with a grin.

She quickly finished helping Amor shed his jeans before he moved around her and then jumped up onto the bed, his legs dangling over the edge while he spread them apart.

"There will be... consequences," Amor sighed as Astarte leaned forward to grip his shaft and lean forward, her hand guiding him as she stroked his glans over her cheeks, nose and lips.

"So many mortals born of the god," Astarte whispered, her eyes gazing up into Amor's as she ran his glans over her lips, "Jupiter's by blows from a thousand loins, this world will soon be in need of hero's so why not ours?"

Astarte's eyes never left Amor's as she took him into her mouth, her tongue caressing his hard ridge as she suckled his head. Amor reached out, his fingers trailing through Astarte's platinum blond locks, his eyes still gazing into hers. Astarte pulled him from her mouth with an adible pop while smiling up at him.

"Get up onto the bed, imp," Astarte demanded and stood up, Amor scrambling backwards on his hands and knees, "Do you suppose our hero will take flight on tiny wings, bow and arrows in hand?"

Amor snorted and glared up at Astarte as she climbed up onto the bed after him.

"You've no idea how much I've hated that iconography," Amor confessed, his eyes traveling up and down Astarte's torso as she walked over towards him on her knees, "A half man, half goat, a drunken lout swilling wine, a winged Adonis with abs and pecs to make Michelangelo swoon, all are fine.

"But some fat infant flitting about through the air! Baah!"

"Ummmm," Astarte nodded and reached down to take Amor's cock in her hand and guide him while she climbed on top before slowly easing herself down, "I am more than content with my imp... my Amor!"

Amor groaned while staring up at Astarte, her full weight pressing him deep inside of her while she smiled down at him. She began to slowly rock her hips, forcing his length to move within her as she began to pant.

"Weren't I promised a taste of your font?" Amor asked while smiling up at Astarte.

"Ahhh, imp!" Astarte moaned, but stopped rocking her hips and then lifted up, Amor's length slipping from her body.

Astarte quickly climbed up Amor's torso until she could look down on his bearded, smiling face between her legs and then sank down once more, her fingers reaching between her thighs to spread herself open before spearing herself onto Amor's tongue. Astarte closed her eyes, her lips pursed while she stared unseeing at the ceiling, her hips rocking at the pleasure of Amor's tongue exploring her wet folds and delving deep into her sheath. Astarte gasped at the feel of Amor's beard prickling her inner lips, his enthusiasm glazing his cheeks with her nectar flowing steadily from her body. She gasped again as his facial hair pricked at her clit, her body jerking at the electric shock of pleasure and pain before lifting up off his face.

"As much enjoyment as you are so obviously having, imp, I prefer your sword placed firmly within my sheath!" Astarte said with a glare down at Amor's smiling visage, his beard matted with her milky cream.

Astarte quickly and smoothly moved down Amor's body until she could reach down to guide him back inside of her. She felt his head press against her opening and then stretch her open, his length gliding effortlessly back inside of her wet heat. Astarte leaned over, her hands pressed onto the bedspread as she used her weight to press Amor deep into her, her hips grinding against him to feel her clit pressed against the hard bone of his pelvis. She still had to look down to see his face, her platinum blond hair hanging down around her face but only barely touching the top of his head.

"I see you looking," Amor teased as he gazed up into Astarte's eyes, "After kissing the beaded petals of a thousand women are you so shy as to taste your own honey on my lips?"

"Imp!" Astarte panted, her hips beginning to rock faster, "I'll never tire of the taste of my honey or any other woman's, but I'm rather terrified of the crumbs of last weeks meal hiding in that nest on your face!"

Amor laughed and flicked his fingertips, Astarte gasping at the sudden intense flare of pleasure, of a lover's teeth working her nipples, fingernails pinching and twisting, the electric burst of pleasure in her clit that radiated outward to make her fingers and toes tingle.

"Imp!" Astarte cried out, her weight forcing him deep within her as she rocked her hips, "Again!"

Amor bit his lip while staring up at Astarte and gave another flick of his fingertip, the pleasure coursing through Astarte who only rode him harder and faster.

"Again!" Astarte demanded, her eyes never leaving Amor as he used his magic that had such a different affect on mortals as it did on such as they, "Again!

"Again! Again! Again!" Astarte demanded, her hips picking up speed while she never once glanced away from Amor's eyes, "Ahhhhhhhhh, againnnnn!"

Astarte's back arched, Amor grunting as he spilled his seed into her, her hips never slowing, her clit pressed hard against his pelvic bone just above his shaft. Astarte cried out, her hair haloing around her head as static electricity caused the fine strands to stand on end, Amor reaching upward to cup her large, full breasts in the palms of his hands and squeeze.

After another moment Astarte seemed to relax, her hair cascading down her shoulders and chest while she panted and closed her eyes.

"It will be a boy child," Astarte finally said, Amor's length still embedded inside of her.