Gray-like feathers drifted in thin air, magically appearing one after another. Unlike the fixed movements of light-weight quill, the feathers paused in the air. Zaps of shocks connected them as a minimal globe formed in a focal point and began to expand in size. Within moments, the globe cracked like an eggshell and fragments pieced to form a floating staircase for the Oracle's arrival.
As the Oracle's feet landed flat against the stone ground, the feathers ashen away into his sleeves. He stepped forward and rotated his body when he distinguished the contrasting difference between the old Tartarus and what stood present in front of him now. "This...Eros invented a whole new dimension, indeed."
"Greetings, Oracle. You've arrived earlier than I've expected. We meet again." Eros' voice echoed through infinite levels of the dungeon. A fresh lavender aroma fell from above, gaining the Oracle's instant attention.
Through the lenses of his eyes, he captured the flamboyant entrance of the new underworld ruler. The apocalyptic flames tainted the elderly man's sight with smoking reds and complicated mixtures of various yellows - both intense yet chaste. Soon, the flames diminished as Eros reached the ground.
"Did our mighty Lord Zeus not come along? That's not his style." Eros mentioned something the Oracle may have forgotten.
"Ah, right. He fell into the wrong portal earlier. Let me transfer him here." With a snap from his finger, the Oracle's demands were granted.
A swirling tornado curled an enormous purple hole and spat Zeus out of it. As if the portal had tasted something unpleasant, it sucked in a breath — distorting its oval shape — and released a huge puddle of water. The soap-like liquid looked like a pool of drool drenching Zeus' entire body.
".Arghh...Oof!" Zeus' face kissed the wet floor as his figure landed flat against the ground. As dust filled his nostrils, his nose hair tickled against the ceiling of his nose; it caused him to sneeze. His limbs supported his body on all fours, preparing itself to stand up. Unfortunately, a heavy amount of saliva squashed him flat like a sandwich against the hard ground.
Zeus' cheek hurt from the violent strength the portal used to coerce him out of the dimension. "Couldn't you have taught the portal to be much gentler to its guest?" He groaned with mumbling complaints as he rubbed his palm over his right cheekbone. A bruise mix of reds, blues and purple painted his skin after he had continuously massaged the area.
"It is your problem for not standing still in the middle of teleporting here. Now that I've arrived, Eros, what conditions do you want to set in exchange to releasing Aphrodite?" The Oracle directed his attention on Eros. Clearly, Eros needed a witness for Justice and fairness. As a highly respected elderly amongst the deity realm, the Oracle naturally knew what to do.
"The Oracle has already known about my wedding ceremony tragedy. From the severe punishments that I've received under Aphrodite's wrath, I demand her to pay twice the price. As a goddess, she ruined the title for every deity out there. As a mother, she was a failure with her overly jealous nature and insecurity over her son's wife. I want her punished. As for what it is, I will leave it up to the Oracle to determine."
Eros eyes scanned across the empty cells until he spotted Aphrodite's disheveled figure with skin as wrinkly as an elephant's trunk. The creases around her eyes and forehead were more than the number of splinters found in a tree. Without the millions of years of power to maintain her youthful look, beauty was an overstatement to describe her physical appearance.
Mini daggers in the form of lightning bolts appeared in front of Zeus' torso, pointing toward Eros' chest. In a moment of rage from seeing Aphrodite's exhausted figure, he raised his arms and gestured the weapons to fly forward. The daggers were his ultimate weapon during war; it has won him many victories.
With a smirk on his face, Eros lifted his palm to face the oncoming daggers and stopped Zeus' attack. An ice flame engulfed each dagger and followed his balled fist gesture. The daggers were shattered to pieces and sprinkled to the ground like sea salt.
"I never knew Zeus was such a gentleman to attack from behind. Aphrodite reaped what she sowed. The stack of debt she owed the resurrected allies of mine could never be cleared up. Her powers were used to give these beings a second chance to live again with the power they ought to have. As for the attack just now, I will only tolerate it once. If you dare attack again, I won't hesitate to send you to Thanatos."
Eros' eyes darkened dangerously as he glared into Zeus' fearless eyes. The murderous chills Eros revealed had suppressed Zeus' arrogance and wild nature. Silence filled the entire realm as the Oracle combed his beard and thought of the perfect punishment. In order to not give the summons court an opportunity to interfere, they must get Aphrodite to stamp an agreement indicating her willingness to accept her punishment.
Holding out his palm, the Oracle chanted a quick spell. In a matter of seconds, golden rays of gleams blinded their eyes. "Have her sign this first. As long as she signs it, what I say will take effect immediately. The court can't do anything about the decisions I make."
Understanding the Oracle's words completely, Eros eliminated the lock on the gates and stepped into the cell. With his straightened back and strict tone, he commanded Aphrodite under immense pressure. "Stamp your thumb, and you'll be able to leave this place. If you don't, then only death and torture would wait for you."
She bit down on her bottom lip and shook her head. "I will never sign this-"
Before she could speak another word, Zeus strode over and whispered something into her ears. Hearing his reassuring words, her response changed a hundred eighty degrees. "Fine, bring me it. I'll sign it for my freedom." Her voice sounded hoarse and dry from dehydration.
Once her thumb was stamped on the official contract, petals surrounded the papers. With a light fingertip touch between the Oracle and the papers, the contract was successfully legalized.
"Now, for your punishment...As a goddess, you should take full responsibility for everything you've ever done that wronged others. Aphrodite has broken the family rule and should receive her punishment. Therefore, I shall place a curse on your skin for an eternity until you figure out where you were wrong. Until the day you figure out what you've done wrong, the creases on your face will remain there. Nobody can help, or the creases on your face will only deepen. The wrinkles will sting your skin as more creases form on your body. Understand?"
Without spending a second of thought, the Oracle stomped his eagle-clawed cane. A pair of wings spread behind the claw as a venomous flower mark engraved onto Aphrodite's ankle. The mark will continue growing as her jealousy increases. Until the day she understands she was wrong, or else, her face will remain the same. At the same time, her power had been drained entirely. Hence, she needed to start training all over again.