When news reached Olympus that Venus – the embodiment of beauty and sexual desires – was to bear the cripple Vulcan a set of twins, gods and daemons alike were flabbergasted at the prospect. All within the region knew of the smithing god’s ingenuity in the art of forging, as well as his connection to the molten earth housed in the bowels of Terra. In addition to being the only child sired by Juno and adopted by Jove, Vulcan was also a sitting member of the Roman Pantheon and served as their primary manufacturer. This prestige, however, offered him little protection behind closed doors.
Unlike his brethren, who were known for their beauty and godly appeal, Vulcan’s appearance was mundane, spotting scars and blemishes all too human since his birth. These humanistic defects were made worse when he was thrown off by Lord Jove, which left him with a limp in one leg and a prosthetic one made of bronze. Deemed unappealing by his fellow gods and unable to fully heal from his disability, Vulcan lived the life of a sheltered pariah loved mostly by humans, whilst his harlot of a wife made merry with numerous deities and mortals, alike.
When it was discovered that Venus was pregnant with Vulcan’s children, rumors began to spread accusing the smith god of manipulation and martial assault, despite his wife's many rebuttals to the contrary. To quell the caterwaul of outcries caused by the masses, Jove ordered a feast be held in honor of the odd pair, much to their annoyance. Though the event went by with ease, with gods’ great and small congratulating the pair on the arrival of their infants, one specific deity did not approve of the arrangement.
Warmonger Mars, first-born son of Queen Juno and King Jupiter, stood a distance away from the partygoers, a malicious glare directed toward his half-brother and former mistress. It seemed inconceivable to the war god that Venus would willfully return to his defected brother, considering the humiliation they both endured while ensnared in his bed, as well as the underhanded manipulation of their late-daughter, Concordia. Mars suspected foul play from his brother, believing him to have deceived her in some manner.
Why else would his woman return to a man she did not love? he thought with disdain.
Multiple times did the Ultor try speaking with the goddess, but every time she would dismiss him as though he were a newborn babe. Lacking any success, the stalwart god decided to wait for the party to end before confronting his former flame. When the festivities reached its apex and many attendees left, Mars took the opportunity to corner Venus, refusing to leave until she answered him. Enraged, Venus stood tall before her ex, pure rage curdling inside her upon seeing him once more.
“Have you truly forgotten,” Venus sneered in disgust. “Do you not recall what happened to me? Surely, you recall that horrid trick your sister pulled on me!”
The mention of one of his sisters brought the war god to a pause. He recalled an event in which he and Venus were attending one of Jove’s many parties. During the festivity, Venus was asked to entertain the guests with one her many exotic dance routines, which the vain deity agreed to. The attendees became engrossed in the Olympian’s graceful flow, unable to look away from the tantalizing figure pulling at their hearts.
One guest, Mars noticed, did not take kindly to the sight before her.
Deviant Discordia, daughter of Jove and Juno and third youngest sister to Mars, looked on in disgust at the goddess’s continuous flaunts. The Olympian prince was suspicious of Discordia’s presence because of her chaotic nature; the Trojan War being a prime example of her insidious ways. He was about to confront the mischievous imp, but she vanished into the crowd as quickly as she arrived.
Venus, unaware of what transpired, was given a cup to quench her thirst. All was well until the wine exploded onto the fair goddess, her once flawless skin melting from her flesh and leaving horrendous scars on her body.
“Do you recall what happened afterwards,” Venus pressed. “I was ostracized by everyone within and out of Rome and Olympus, with neither gods nor men beholding me with lewd stares or shocked expressions. I was made into a pariah – a living joke for all to sneer and belittle with relative ease! Even you, the one I shared a bed with numerous times, was repulsed by my appearance and rejected me all the same. Worse yet –” She points an accusing finger at the god. “—Your scornful mother convinced your father into sparing that witch, and instead have her work as Rhamnusia’s assistant!”
The goddess took this moment to regain her composure before continuing with her explanation. “Vulcan, however, took me back when I was at my lowest. Even when I continued to mock and belittle him along the way, he made no attempt at defending himself and made sure my needs were accommodated first. He sought help from healers across the area until he finally met with the Vejovis family. They presented him with an ointment that could have healed some of his disfigurement, but he gave it to me.”
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Mars was about to counter with a retort of his own but was immediately cut off by Venus once more.
“Your brother could have abandoned me to the hecklers and mockers and use the ointment to make himself somewhat flawless. Instead, he chose to use it on me, even after everything that happened between us. When I confronted him regarding his choice, he told me he was tired of being angry with me and was wanting to start over and better himself. The fool even went as far as apologizing to me for not being given the choice in who I wed. He wanted me to be happy and live my life.”
With her peace made Venus made her way back to her husband, who was engrossed in a conversation with both his biological and stepchildren. Mars, however, remained stationed where he was, watching the woman he lusted after wrapping her arms around his crippled brother. To say he was livid was an understatement, considering the history they both shared. The idea of this shallow Babylonian submitting to a lame god due to a few acts of kindness infuriated him like no other. The embodiment of ruination would not take this disrespectful act lying down. If his former flame thought she could crawl back to his brother and not expect retribution, then she was sorely mistaken.
The arm-bearer glared at the couple, thoughts of vengeance swirling in his mind as he vowed to make the pair suffer for dishonoring him.
The day arrived for Venus to bear Vulcan’s children, much to everyone’s delight; even Juno, who had a general disdain for the pair (mostly Venus) expressed delight in bearing witness to her grandchildren’s birth. The grandiose day, however, turned to horror with the arrival of Vulcan’s twin children, lifeless and cold to the touch. All who were present were shocked at the sight before them, but none were as badly damaged as the two parents. Vulcan, crestfallen with grief, cradled his lifeless children, while a distraught Venus wept bitter tears at what she bore. Onlookers believed the two stillborn as Venus’s punishment for her previous conquests, while others thought Vulcan was capable of producing only defected children, ignoring those that became part of the Gratiae.
Out of respect or fear, all remained silent for the grieving pair.
By Fortuna’s grace, a miracle came in the form of two uninvited goddesses: the Jealous Discordia and her older sister, the Dreary Angelia, who was the first-born daughter of Jove and Juno before her forced emancipation from her family. Knowing of the chaotic goddess’s tendency to violence, most of the attendees assumed her to be the cause to the newborn’s death. Discordia paid them little mind and remained silent as her eldest sister spoke on their behalf. Angelia explained that she was instructed by the three Sisters to have Vulcan travel to Mt. Etna, where Thalia, his daughter, resides; it was there that she would show him the method needed to revive his children. Fueled by his sister’s hopeful statement, Vulcan wasted no time in preparing for his journey, which allowed Discordia a moment to speak with Venus.
“Make no mistake, prostitute goddess!” Discordia spoke venomously. “I have not forgiven you or the other gods for mistreating my brother. The reason I am assisting you in your time of grief is out of love for Vulcan and to forewarn you that what befell your children was no accident.”
Venus appeared shock at the statement but listened to the goddess’s warning. “Someone with foreign knowledge cursed your children, most likely to get to you and my brother. I will continue to pursue the agitator behind this attack but be forewarned: this will more than likely happen later in your future.”
No more words befell the two and the goddess left as soon as she arrived, leaving the beautiful Olympian relieved at her babies’ possible survival, but also terrified of what was to come for her family.
Meanwhile at the top of Mt. Etna, Vulcan, who was accompanied by Discordia and Angelia, made haste to Thalia’s location, who had with her two strong ropes already made.
“Wrap these around the two corpses and lower them into the volcano,” she explained. “Before the heat reaches your hands, pull them up and give them to my father to take into the sea.”
The two deities lowered the bodies into the fiery lake and waited until the time was right to pull them out. The first mistake came when Discordia’s rope became too hot and she dropped it into the lava, along with one of the children. Despite wanting to save the first-born child, Thalia reminded the three older gods that the other child’s life was still in danger of being lost. Begrudgingly, Vulcan took hold of the now burning corpse and made his way to the sea while the others conscripted a way to save the other stillborn.
Once in the water Vulcan released the burning lump of flesh, causing the waves to converge around it until a water-like cocoon had formed. Vulcan watched in awe as the pod before him grew and expand before collapsing inwardly. When the water came to a still, a healthy boy covered in sea foam floated to the smith god. The boy had fair skin and a radiant glow that rivaled his mother, and eyes that burned with a fire befitting a crafter. The fire god was overcome with a sensation he had not felt in years as he caressed his child, happy to see him alive. He was so engrossed in this joyous moment that he almost forgot the other child still burning in Mt. Etna. Before the god could react, a fissure sprung up on the mainland causing magma to boil over and spread. What emerged from the crater was a baby girl of untold beauty and radiance, who looked three years of age. Her skin was black as coal and her curly, untamed hair was as red as magma. Her eyes blazed with a ferocity that reminded Vulcan of his youth, along with a beauty that surpassed even Venus.
The following day, both parents and attendees celebrated the revival of the twins thought to have perished. The daughter was named Cyprus in honor of her mother’s place of birth, and the son was named Aphros, for he rose from the sea like his mother had done long ago. They would go on to follow in their father’s footsteps and create remarkable tools, with Aphos designing every layout and Cyprus creating them with ease. As time went on, the pair would become known as the Smithing Siblings, for their skills in forging would revolutionize metalworking techniques on Olympus and inspire many future smiths and craftsman in the mortal realm.