already in decline. Zeus, Hera, Athena, and Ares had departed for places unknown. It was Apollo who now ruled, but he was seldom ever seen, and no one knew where he spent his time. Yet when Sryope came to Olympus, it sometimes happened that Apollo would appear to listen to her enchanted tales. She had a lovely, mesmerizing voice.
104
THE IMMORTAL
Sryope's best friend was Phthia, daughter of Tyche, who was the daughter of Zeus. Phthia often spoke of her relationship to Zeus with pride, although she could not say who her own father was. In that way Sryope and Phthia were the same. Many said they had been born on the same day at the same time, although Thalia, Sryope's mother, said this was not so. In either case Sryope and Phthia grew up together and were best friends. Sryope would tell stories and Phthia would play her flute, which had been a gift to her from Pan, the only immortal who was known to have been killed.
It came to pass that a child was born to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. The child was called Aeneas, and his father was known to have been a mortal, much to Aphrodite's shame. It seemed that Aphrodite was not immune to her own magic girdle, which could cause anyone to fall in love. But Aeneas grew up well and was prized by the gods because of his extreme beauty and exquisite manners.
Phthia was the first female to capture Aeneas's attention as he entered manhood. Aeneas was fond of swimming the rivers that flowed behind the temples of Olympus, and Phthia knew of this habit and made it a point to be in the rivers at the same time, but naked, so that Aeneas would lust for her and make her his wife. Now, Phthia was well known for her many lovers, but she had never wanted a god as much as she wanted Aeneas. This she told to Sryope, who could understand Phthia's infatuation because she, too, found Aeneas attractive. But Sryope didn't speak a
105
CHRISTOPHER PIKE
word of this attraction to Phthia, who was known to have a temper.
Now Aeneas, when he spied Phthia naked in the waters beside him, was consumed with lust, for she was very beautiful. Aeneas was unaware of her reputation as a seducer, and he gave himself over to her, and she to him, after she first made him promise that he would love her, and no other, as long as Olympus stood. This Aeneas readily agreed to because he was dizzy with passion. So Aeneas and Phthia were together for some time.
But it came to pass that Phthia soon tired of loving Aeneas exclusively and began to entertain other suitors. This Aeneas learned from Sryope, who told Aeneas that Phthia had always been this way and always would be. Sryope told Aeneas to leave Phthia and come with her, for by this time Sryope was much in love with Aeneas, having watched from afar as he pleased Phthia with his amorous ways. But Aeneas was heartbroken that Phthia had lied to him about her fidelity. He explained to Sryope that he could not leave Phthia, no matter what she did, because of the vow he had sworn to her. Sryope was not easily put off.
"It is Phthia who made you swear the vow," Sryope said. "It is Phthia who can release you from the vow."
"But she will never do so," Aeneas said. "Her jealousy is well known."
"I know it well myself," Sryope said. "Nevertheless, Phthia must release you from your vow, and I will force her to do so."
THE IMMORTAL
Sryope thought about the matter and eventually came up with a plan that she told to Aeneas, who was by this time eager to be free of Phthia.
At the heart of Sryope's scheme was her knowledge of who Phthia's father was. It had come to Sryope in a vision while she worshiped Apollo. Visions were common with Sryope. Indeed, her greatest stories came from trances she entered while she was in the rapture of worship. It was Sryope's belief that the sun itself, the life-giver of all the realms, human and divine, sometimes spoke through her. But this was a secret she kept from everyone, lest she invoke the wrath of the other gods. For the gods as a
104
THE IMMORTAL
Sryope's best friend was Phthia, daughter of Tyche, who was the daughter of Zeus. Phthia often spoke of her relationship to Zeus with pride, although she could not say who her own father was. In that way Sryope and Phthia were the same. Many said they had been born on the same day at the same time, although Thalia, Sryope's mother, said this was not so. In either case Sryope and Phthia grew up together and were best friends. Sryope would tell stories and Phthia would play her flute, which had been a gift to her from Pan, the only immortal who was known to have been killed.
It came to pass that a child was born to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. The child was called Aeneas, and his father was known to have been a mortal, much to Aphrodite's shame. It seemed that Aphrodite was not immune to her own magic girdle, which could cause anyone to fall in love. But Aeneas grew up well and was prized by the gods because of his extreme beauty and exquisite manners.
Phthia was the first female to capture Aeneas's attention as he entered manhood. Aeneas was fond of swimming the rivers that flowed behind the temples of Olympus, and Phthia knew of this habit and made it a point to be in the rivers at the same time, but naked, so that Aeneas would lust for her and make her his wife. Now, Phthia was well known for her many lovers, but she had never wanted a god as much as she wanted Aeneas. This she told to Sryope, who could understand Phthia's infatuation because she, too, found Aeneas attractive. But Sryope didn't speak a
105
CHRISTOPHER PIKE
word of this attraction to Phthia, who was known to have a temper.
Now Aeneas, when he spied Phthia naked in the waters beside him, was consumed with lust, for she was very beautiful. Aeneas was unaware of her reputation as a seducer, and he gave himself over to her, and she to him, after she first made him promise that he would love her, and no other, as long as Olympus stood. This Aeneas readily agreed to because he was dizzy with passion. So Aeneas and Phthia were together for some time.
But it came to pass that Phthia soon tired of loving Aeneas exclusively and began to entertain other suitors. This Aeneas learned from Sryope, who told Aeneas that Phthia had always been this way and always would be. Sryope told Aeneas to leave Phthia and come with her, for by this time Sryope was much in love with Aeneas, having watched from afar as he pleased Phthia with his amorous ways. But Aeneas was heartbroken that Phthia had lied to him about her fidelity. He explained to Sryope that he could not leave Phthia, no matter what she did, because of the vow he had sworn to her. Sryope was not easily put off.
"It is Phthia who made you swear the vow," Sryope said. "It is Phthia who can release you from the vow."
"But she will never do so," Aeneas said. "Her jealousy is well known."
"I know it well myself," Sryope said. "Nevertheless, Phthia must release you from your vow, and I will force her to do so."
THE IMMORTAL
Sryope thought about the matter and eventually came up with a plan that she told to Aeneas, who was by this time eager to be free of Phthia.
At the heart of Sryope's scheme was her knowledge of who Phthia's father was. It had come to Sryope in a vision while she worshiped Apollo. Visions were common with Sryope. Indeed, her greatest stories came from trances she entered while she was in the rapture of worship. It was Sryope's belief that the sun itself, the life-giver of all the realms, human and divine, sometimes spoke through her. But this was a secret she kept from everyone, lest she invoke the wrath of the other gods. For the gods as a
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