A man without a plan

Jack fiddled with his loose tooth as the two officers stared him down, waiting for an answer to a question he hadn’t even heard.

As the tooth said a final goodbye to his gum, he blinked a few times, fighting a wave of dizziness, the throbbing bump on his scalp making itself known again. He gasped, touching it gingerly.

“Well?”

“I’m sorry, can you repeat the question?” Jack’s sludder was only partially due to the intoxication. A fair bit would have to be blamed on the slight concussion he no doubt suffered from.

“We asked,” the female officer said slowly. “Why would a well adjusted, theoretically stable family man, barge into a stranger's home and start something that would escalate into a fistfight?”

“A fistfight I won,” Jack said, raising his cuffed hands with a finger pointing out. It felt like an all too important detail to be left out.

“Sure, Mr. Temple. But why?”

Jack shrugged. “Had nothing better to do.”

“Mr. Mahoney is of course pressing charges, as is your wife. To-be-former wife, I would gather from the sentiment of the words she used to describe you.” The officer sighed, put down the pencil and closed the notebook. “You should get some sleep, Mr. Temple. We’ll talk more tomorrow.

When Jack later that night laid in the surprisingly cold cell, the events of the past week flashed by in his mind’s eye. So many betrayals. So many failures… His wife cheating, his daughter treating him like dirt, his arrogant, bitch of a boss firing him… and now, here he was. Locked in a cell, bereft of a wife, a career, a home and a tooth.

If he wasn’t the definition of failure, no one was.

“No. This simply won’t do, will it?” A voice, smooth as silk and slightly accented sounded from the corner of the cell. Jack almost fell out of his bed when he saw a woman stand a few feet to his side.

“Who the hell are you?” He made to stand up, hands raised as if to defend himself, when the dizziness **** him to lay still.

“Not hell, sweetie. That’s the domain of lesser gods than me.” As she stepped forward, it was as if the shadows fled the room. Jack actually couldn’t keep himself from gasping as he looked upon the most beautiful woman- no, thing he’d ever seen. Dressed in a thin, fluttering chiton with a golden belt over a perfect set of hips and a crown of vibrant flowers around her lush, sunny hair, she walked on small, bare feet toward his bed. Shiny, golden bracelets embraced the ankles above her deep-red, polished toes. Her face was smooth in a way that seemed to defy time, conveying the experience of lifetimes. Her eyes held a playful spark, yet brimmed with wisdom and knowledge. Every movement of her long, pale legs and exquisite arms were full of grace and sensuality.

Her appearance hit Jack like a punch in the face and he actually felt an urge to bow or even get down on his knees. How could a human being be so beautiful?

“I-I-” he stuttered, fighting the sudden case of acute mutism as the scent of roses overtook his senses.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. It’ll pass,” the wonder of a woman said, putting a hand on his cheek and smiling deviously. She looked around the tiny cell. “But this will simply not do, will it?”

She shook her head, raised one hand and snapped with her fingers.

The world changed and Jack found himself standing on a polished, marble floor in the middle of a large, open hall. The architecture was of obvious Greek origin, with thick pillars of stone and colored sculptures of scantily clad women and men at both sides of the throne standing a few feet in front of him.

Wherever he’d been transported, it was still day and the sudden change of temperature hit him hard, causing him to stumble. Sweat poured as he looked out the giant, glassless windows, revealing a clear blue ocean with gulls flying past the waves.

How hard had he been hit?

The gorgeous woman herself had seated herself on the throne and crossed her legs - revealing a couple of smooth, inviting thighs in the process. Then she tilted her head a bit, a mischievous smile dancing on her perfect, ageless face.

“W-“ Jack had to clear his throat. “Who are you?”

The sun-haired woman sighed. “There was a time when such a question would’ve been considered the height of ignorance. Alas, the world isn’t what it was. Yet, I feel you have an inkling of who you’re speaking to, even if your conscious mind won’t accept the answer.”

Jack looked around the Greek temple, scanned the seashell formed seat of her throne and the roses in her hair. The beauty, the sensuality. The ageless perfection of her frame. The aroused moans and giggles slipping through the windows.

“You’re shitting me?” The words burst out before he could stop them, but she only laughed. It was a musical sound, like a harp played with care and passion.

“I may be devoted to decadence, but even I have limits. So no, I’m not shitting you, Jack Temple.”

“You’re actually her? The her?”

“Please say my name. I so love this moment of realization.”

“You’re Aphrodite.”

“Bingo, as you would say.” Her glowing smile hurt his eyes. “I hope I live up to the hype.”

“I d-don’t understand…”

“That’s a common occurrence among men and mortals. Even more so among mortal men.”

“I’m sorry, I just don’t… is this a dream? I’m having a concussion, aren’t I?”

“Do I feel like a fiction of your imagination?”

She really didn’t. She felt like the realest thing he’d ever laid eyes on. “No.”

“Then we must assume I am in fact real, and here in the flesh with you, Jack Temple. Please continue your inquiry.”

“Okay… so… I guess the next question should be… why? Why have you brought me here?”

“That’s a more fair question.” She dangled her bare foot in the air, thigh over knee, in a mesmerizing pattern. “We’re, and by we I mean me and my brethren, are returning. A long time ago we chose to quit our games and machinations with our mortal little playthings, retiring to our own realms and giving you humans a well-earned breather. But as your human civilizations have risen and fallen, and you have squabbled, changed, progressed, regressed, progressed again, and so on…” she sighed, pouting slightly with her full, red lips. “Things have… changed. And we’ve come to the realization that we can’t remain abide by our retirement any longer.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t… eh… follow…?”

“We’re back. The mortal and the divine are getting back together. And to prepare for our return, we need our chosen mortal champions to get ready and pave the wave for us.”

Jack massaged his brow, feeling as if his head might split any second. “Hang on now, because this is what I don’t get. The Greek pantheon of gods are returning to Earth-“

“I never said only Greek, sweetie,” Aphrodite said.

“…so a whole lot of ancient gods are returning, and you’re picking champions to prepare the world for your descent?”

“Correct, sweetie.”

“Okay. So… why the fuck would you chose me?”

Her smile grew, as if she’d known where this was headed. “You’re being harsh on yourself, but I can understand where this current lack of self-esteem is coming from. And to be honest, there’s a few conditions that need to be met in our choice of Champions. One,” she held up a finger. “They need to know we exist and have a decent understanding of our nature. Two, they need to have a bloodline that can be traced to a god or being from a higher realm. And…”

“Hang on, I’m related to a god?”

“Distantly, yes.”

“Who?”

“My dear and somewhat hotheaded lover Ares, it seems.”

“The god of war? Huh.”

“Don’t let it go to your head, sweetie. The number of spawn my impulsive paramour produced would put Genghis Khan to shame. And third,” the goddess continued. “They need to inhibit the virtues or vices their patron gods are dedicated to.”

“And… hang on there, aren’t you the goddess of lust?”

“Among other things, yes. It is my favorite, though,” she said with an innocent spark in her eyes.

“And I inhibit the vice of lust? Enough to become a champion of Aphrodite?” For some reason, Jack found that really hard to believe.

“Well… that’s the thing, isn’t it? You see, me and my brethren are drawn to the virtues and practices inside our chosen domains. You could say we feed on it. In my case, oh yes, I’m drawn to lust. And decadence. All of the deepest passions of the flesh.” She closed her eyes and inhaled, as if savoring something delicious. “And I’m drawn to those brave enough to leave their shell and the suffocating shackles of virtuous moderation. Those who look at the golden road of balance, and decide it just isn’t enough for them. And you, my dear, sweet Jack, used to be one of my most distinguished followers. Maybe not in mind, but certainly in spirit.” She swept with her hand through the air, and a pink fog appeared in between them. Through the fog, Jack could see himself. Younger, more fit, but still him. A stream of livid pictures flew through the fog, showing the immoral escapades of his youth. Losing his virginity way too early, forcing his first real girlfriend over his knees and spanking her for acting up… going home with women from clubs and bars, and teaching them the sweet pleasure of pain and submission. Training them as his servants, his toys of flesh, often several at a time. Often several together, competing to be his favorite toy. And then… he joined the army. Saw action. Joined the Green Berets, and saw a lot more action. Lost friends. Joined Delta. Lost that spark. Got home, met Samantha, a single mother struggling to make ends meet for her and her toddler Hayley, and… married her, settled in.

After years of service, seeing things he would never be able to shake, doing things he would never forgive himself for, all he’d wanted was safety and normalcy. A family, a wife, a child, it had looked so good on paper.

And maybe it would’ve been… if he hadn’t been a broken man pretending to be whole.

And now, here he was, 46 years old, his six pack long replaced by a comfortable dad-bod, stinking of beer and whiskey, jobless with a cheating wife about to divorce him.

He still couldn’t figure out why the goddess of love and lust would look at him for a champion.

“That Jack still exists. I can feel him lurking, deep inside that pathetic surface you wear.”

“Ouch,” Jack said.

She winked, the simple movement of her face making his heart flutter. “And besides all this…“ she gestured vaguely at his whole being. “Your past experiences fulfill other criteria useful for a prospective champion. You’re trained in the arts of combat, and have honed your training through the trials of battle. You’re also not burdened by too many commitments, considering what transpired these last few weeks. A free agent, if you will. Wounded, broken, weak, despite your advanced skill set . A fine piece of clay, as I see it.”

“Ah.” Was she also the goddess of being frank? Because… damn.

“So this champion gig, what would it entail… goddess Aphrodite?”

“‘My Goddess’ is quite enough, sweetie. And as the title suggests, you would be my spear and foremost warrior in this new world. You’ll be leading the charge to free the mortals from the shackles that bind them. You’ll recruit and assemble my forces, fight my enemies, and most important… spread my influence.” A loud, euphoric moan sounded from outside, as if to underline the hidden meaning. Her full lips made it hard to think, especially when keeping that devious smile of hers.

“Would you maybe… explain in more detail what spreading your influence means, eh… my Goddess?”

“Lust and pleasure. Spread it, unleash it. Every moan, whine or sob dedicated to my cause will make me stronger. And as I grow in power, so will you. Make good use of my gifts, and the road forward will be clear.”

Jack didn’t miss what was left unsaid. This wouldn’t be about being a Casanova blessed by a god, seducing women with charm and charisma. His brain had caught up with his penis, coming to the realization that her almost paralyzing beauty and erotic sensuality couldn’t only be explained by her aesthetic appearance. He was being influenced somehow, like a **** or pheromone clouding his system. Or, considering the new set of variables he was facing, controlled through supernatural means. Mind control. He didn’t doubt that she only let a sliver of her true power reach him, but yet he could feel it. She wasn’t looking for a congregation of horny people fucking each other. She wanted him to corrupt them. To trap them, break them and mentally and/or physically enslave them in her name.

No, he certainly wouldn’t be a good guy. Wouldn’t be a savior. He would be an enslaver for the Goddess of Lust, creating an army of horny, living batteries to fuel her powers.

Maybe the deity felt his hesitation. “Don’t worry, Jack. You don’t have to decide just yet. In fact, I don’t want you to. I’m going to give you a trial period for you to feel it out, as well as letting me see if you’re fit for the role. I’ll place you where this current debacle started, a week back in time and place. Three women betrayed you during this past week. Make them pay for it. And then, once they’re broken and the debt has been settled, free them from their shackles by giving them the honor of becoming my followers.

“Going back a week? In time? Y-you can do that?”

“I’m Aphrodite.”

That would… change everything. His life wouldn’t be ruined anymore. He would get a second chance. He would still have to act as the sex-slaver of the Goddess of Lust, but…

But. Jack was fucking tired of being a pushover. It wasn’t him. It wasn’t his natural state. Being good, being kind, being patient. It had only gotten him abused and walked on. If that was what the moral world wanted from him, then fuck it.

“I accept. I’ll be your champion, my Goddess.”