Ayla's Supernatural Love Dungeon

Chapter 4

Apollo raised an eyebrow at Eros as they stood at the entrance to The Fireside restaurant. Eros continued to smile brightly.

            “What’s the catch?” Apollo asked.

Eros stretched out his arms in a grand gesture. “No catch. I just want to treat you to a meal and make peace.”

Apollo stared on with skepticism. “You’re not still pissed about what happened at Aphrodite?”

Eros’s smile widened, and a subtle hint of maliciousness zoomed over Apollo’s head. “Not at all. As the saying goes, let sleeping dogs lie.”

The two men entered the fancy restaurant with several decorative fireplaces scattered throughout. When they got to the hostess station, Eros frowned and smacked his forehead. “Oh dear, I forgot I was meeting up with a friend.” He turned to face Apollo. “Are you okay if some people join us for dinner?”

Apollo’s stomach growled in hunger. “I don’t mind as long as I get to eat.”

            “Splendid!” Eros turned to look at the hostess. “I have a few guests coming. Under the name Laurel. Please be sure to send them over to the table when they arrive.”

The young hostess nodded and grabbed extra menus from behind her podium. She then led the two men to a table in the center of the restaurant next to a decorative fireplace. A male server dropped off glasses of wine and water before he whizzed off to another table. As Apollo brought the glass of wine to his lips, his eyes fixated on the hostess station. The hostess conversed with an elderly gentleman with fading red hair. Next to him were two younger women. One was dressed in a simple white dress that lightly fit the woman’s curves. Her red hair was braided and tossed over her shoulder. She looked to be in her early twenties. The other woman also had red hair pulled back with a simple headband and a spaghetti strap dress that left little to the imagination. Apollo’s eyes were glued to the woman in the white dress. The hostess pointed to the table Apollo sat at. As the small group walked in his direction, Apollo felt his heart get lodged in his throat and panic set in. His brown eyes shifted from one end of the room to the other and his mind raced to think of something to say for when they arrived at the table.

Eros stood up from his chair and greeted the harlot.

            “Hello, Lauralee. I’m so glad you could make it!” Eros embraced Lauralee in a hug before he turned his attention to the others.

            “Eros, this is my father, Penn,” Lauralee introduced. Eros shook the elderly man’s hand firmly.

            “Nice to meet you, sir,” Eros greeted.

            “Likewise young man.”

Lauralee gestured to the woman in white. “And this is my sister Daphne.”

Eros took Daphne’s hand in his and pressed a light kiss on her knuckles. “A pleasure to meet you lady Daphne,” Eros said.

Sudden anger welled up inside Apollo’s being at the simple act. Before he could cycle through his emotions, Eros gestured his way. “This is my friend, Apollo.”

Apollo hastily stood up, which caused his chair to tumble to the ground behind him. He stammered on what he should do. He reached for his chair, but quickly turned to face the guests to greet them. He switched between the two before a nearby sever fixed the chair. A frustrated and embarrassed blush crept over his face as he turned to the new additions to his party. Apollo humbly bowed, to hide his embarrassment. “I’m sorry for my rudeness. It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”

Lauralee snickered before she leaned over to whisper into Eros’s ear.

            “It’s all right young man. I’m sorry we’re intruding on your meal,” Penn said.

Apollo shook his head no. “You’re not intruding.” Apollo hurried to the opposite side from where his chair was to help Penn into a chair and pulled out a chair for Daphne. At the same time, Eros pulled out a chair next to him for Lauralee.

            “It was a last-minute decision really,” Lauralee explained.

            “Oh?” Apollo inquired.

Lauralee smiled as she gestured to Daphne. “We’re here to celebrate my sister.”

Apollo took his seat on the opposite side of Eros. “What’s the occasion?” Apollo asked. His eyes fixated on Daphne, committing every pore on her face to memory.

            “I got an internship at Huntress Publications,” Daphne mumbled.

Apollo was taken aback. “Huntress Publications? As in the magazine publication owned by Artemis?”

Daphne’s face lit up at the mention of Artemis. “Yes.”

Apollo bit his cheek but congratulated Daphne on her accomplishment.

Throughout dinner, Eros and Lauralee paid close attention to Apollo and Daphne. Daphne talked about her admiration for Artemis while Eros and Apollo did their best not to snicker.

            “What do you think of Daphne?” Eros asked as he leaned closer to Apollo so they could have a private conversation.

Apollo visibly gulped and his body immediately warmed at the mention of Daphne’s name. It also sparked his nether region to twitch to life. Apollo tried to hide his physical attraction from Eros, which failed miserably. Apollo attempted to slightly change the topic. “Artemis has finally agreed to let me open a magazine or several at her publishing firm.”

Eros cocked an eyebrow at the news. “Did she willingly agree to this or did Zeus command her to do it?”

Apollo smirked. “It has its perks being her twin.”

Eros tried to hide his devilish smile behind a kind one. “Maybe you’ll see Daphne at the publication.”

            “Maybe.”