Icarus and the Eclipse

“Where am I?”

“You didn’t heed your father’s warning, Icarus,” said the woman.

“I. . . I don’t know what you mean. Where’s my father? The last thing I remember was- "

Icarus stopped. It was all coming back to him. The last thing he remember was escaping with his father and flying across the sea to freedom.

“Don’t fly too close to the Sun or water,” his father’s voice echoed through his mind.

“I flew too close to the Sun,” Icarus stated. Totally shocked.

“You did. And fell right into the sea. You drowned, too,” the woman chuckled to herself as she looked out to the sea.

“If I drowned then what am I doing here? And who are you, again?” Icarus asked.

A woman turned around. She was the most beautiful person Icarus has ever seen. She looked like a mixture of honey and chocolate. She shined bright, even in the brightness of the day. Icarus felt warm in her presence. Not the usual warm he feels on a summer’s day. The warmth of a hug, or a laugh, or when you win something.

“I’m Aphrodite, Child,” she said. Smiling as if she’s letting him in on a big secret.

“Wow. I’m dead,” Icarus stated.

“You aren’t dead!” stated Aphrodite. “You’re talking to a God. I can do anything.”

As Icarus went to stand, he felt a weight on his back. He reached across his back and felt a giant wing. With the opposite hand, he felt another.

“Wings?” He asked, shocked.

“Yes, Child. And with them, you’ll fly to your father. After doing me a favor,” stated Aphrodite.

“Yes, yes! Anything!” he replied.

“I want you to get me the Sun. Only for a few moments,” she stated, coyly.

“But that’s Apollo’s thing! Doesn’t he have protections against someone stealing it?”

“Not exactly,” she replied. “Protections against a God. . . But not a human. With wings!”

She played with his feathers and kissed his cheek.

“It’ll only be for a few moments. You’ll put the Moon in its place, and I’ll have you put everything right back where it was when I’m done having fun,” Aphrodite said. “We’ll even give your little task a cute name.”

Icarus raised an eyebrow.

Aphrodite smiled. “We’ll call it an ‘Eclipse.’”