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    Aphrodite's Curse: A Short Story
    Aphrodite's Curse: A Short Story
    Aphrodite's Curse: A Short Story
    Ebook47 pages33 minutes

    Aphrodite's Curse: A Short Story

    By Luciana Cavallaro

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    About this ebook

    Aphrodite’s Curse is about a dynasty’s fall from grace, unrequited love and retribution.

    A powerful family is brought to ruin, the consequences unforeseen and irreparable. The trouble begins with King Minos who asks the gods for a bull to be sacrificed so that he may become ruler of Kretos and surrounding lands. Poseidon sends him a gift of a white bull and instead of sacrificing it, King Minos keeps it. Poseidon is angry by his supplicant’s actions and as punishment glamour’s the king’s wife, Pasiphae to lust after the bull.

    The story is told by Phaedra, Theseus’ wife, who witnesses first-hand, the rise and fall of her family. She grows up in a privileged environment, a princess and daughter of King Minos. From a very early age she knows the power her father wields, but is also aware his actions may have precipitated the misfortunes that followed.

    She reflects on the different and disturbing events from a detached perspective. Her tone can sometimes be one of a spoilt child, then at other times resigned and on occasion shows an uncanny insight. This retrospective musing comes from her sighting of Hippolytos, her husband’s son from a previous marriage. She falls in love with him and finds it difficult to contain this secret and eventually tells her nurse.

    Phaedra asks for Aphrodite’s help, even builds a temple, however Hippolytos spurns her advances. Shamed by her actions and by his revulsion, she poisons herself, leaving a letter to her husband writing that Hippolytos had raped her.
    The story ends with her death.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLuciana Cavallaro
    Release dateAug 26, 2012
    ISBN9781476183398
    Aphrodite's Curse: A Short Story
    Author

    Luciana Cavallaro

    •Award-winning author of The Labyrinthine Journey•Nominated for book awards in the Action/Adventure and Historical Fiction genres•Drove her first car at the age of threeLuciana Cavallaro’s alter ego is a high school teacher where she plugs away educating teenagers the merits of reading and ancient history. She often looks for a brick wall to bang her head when faced with disinterested looks from her students. She’s also a historical fantasy and thriller/suspense author, who creates fast-paced, action-packed series for her readers.Born and raised in Western Australia, residing in Perth, Luciana loves to travel and since getting her passport at the ripe old age of twenty-four has visited Europe multiple times, a legacy of her Italian heritage. She enjoys being active, going out with friends, reading and tries to grow her own vegetables. She dreams of travelling again and visiting the ancient sites that inspired her stories, that is when she’s not spending time being an unofficial stunt person and knocking herself out in the process. Visit her website at https://lucianacavallaro.me/

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      Book preview

      Aphrodite's Curse - Luciana Cavallaro

      Aphrodite’s Curse

      Aphrodite’s Curse

      Luciana Cavallaro

      Mythos Publications

      Text copyright © 2012 Luciana Cavallaro

      All Rights Reserved

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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      Search for the Golden Serpent

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      Contents

      Prologue

      1. Land of the Labyrinth

      2. The Athenian Tribute

      3. The Child Beast

      4. Treachery

      5. The Demise

      6. The Alliance

      7. The Curse

      8. The Proposal

      Dear Reader

      Your free download

      About the Author

      Also by Luciana Cavallaro

      ‘I am powerful and not without a name among mortals

      And within the heavens. I am called the goddess Cypris

      Of those who dwell within Pontus

      And the boundaries of Atlas and see the light of the sun,

      I treat well those who revere my power,

      But I trip up those who are proud towards me.’

      Aphrodite’s opening first lines in Euripides’ play Hippolytos

      Prologue

      Hello.

      Yes, I am talking to you. Did you not discover my letter? This epistle was intended for my husband Theseus but my nurse-maid suggested I should hide the writings in a secure location until someone, such as you, could read the truth of my fate. You see I have been condemned in this life by circumstance: the first, because of my family and the second, by the Goddess of Love.

      I was not aware at the time that this forbidden love, such excruciating yearnings I had for a beautiful youth, would be the cause of my death. This youth not only scorned my offerings of pleasure, but hurt me with words of loathing. I had no other option but to wreak vengeance in the only way I knew how. Life is such a tenuous thing, but even more so when the gods set in motion a series of events, which may culminate into tragedy. This has been the fate of my family. My father was once a powerful king, who ruled the islands of the Aegean and, in a moment of greed, failed to

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