Read Online Aphrodite the Beauty (Goddess Girls) by Joan Holub - Free Book Online

goddessgirl worthy of him!
    Later that evening Aphrodite returned to Athena's room to help her with a Beauty-ology project. Using ground almonds, oats, yogurt, and crushed, dry lavender, they concocted a refreshing facial scrub. The two girls had just applied the resulting paste to their faces and throats when Artemis and Persephone came by.
    "Godness!" Persephone shrieked, her pale face turning even paler than usual when Athena opened her door. "What's happened to you?"
    When Aphrodite appeared in the doorway too, Artemis laughed. "Maybe I should get a doctor.
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    Whatever Athena's got, it seems to be contagious."
    "It's a facial mask. Want to try it?" Athena asked. "It feels great."
    Soon all four girls had goop on their faces. "Good thing my dogs are in my room," said Artemis. "This stuff smells so good, they'd go crazy trying to lick if off." After rubbing the paste in with soft cloths, they waited twenty minutes, then trooped down to the hall bathroom to rinse off.
    When they returned to Athena's room, Aphrodite told Persephone and Artemis about Hippomenes too. "It would be great if you'd all come with me to the race tomorrow," she said. "It's early enough that we should have time to get back before our classes start."
    Athena looked up from her desk, where she'd been scribbling down the facial scrub recipe while Aphrodite
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    recounted her story again. "I'll come," she said.
    "Me too," echoed Persephone.
    "Wouldn't miss it for the world," said Artemis. "I'll bring my dogs too."
    Hippomenes's eyes widened when he saw all four goddesses approaching the deserted sandy racecourse at dawn the next morning. Aphrodite introduced him to her friends. "Down, boys!" shouted Artemis when her hounds leaped up on him.
    "That's okay," said Hippomenes, rubbing Amby under the chin. "We've met once before, so that makes us old friends."
    From the bag she'd brought, Aphrodite pulled out the three golden apples Hephaestus had made. She'd asked him to come too, but he'd stayed up late to make
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    the apples and had a paper he needed to finish before his first-period class.
    The apples were perfectly round and polished to a high golden shine. Hephaestus had used all his skills as a metalsmith to craft them. Just like the bracelet, they were so irresistible that Aphrodite wished she could keep them herself. But after a moment's hesitation, she dropped the apples into Hippomenes's cupped hands.
    "What do I do with these?" he asked.
    "Keep them with you during the race," she told him. "You'll figure out how to use them when the time is right." More than that she would not tell him. He needed to be wise enough to puzzle some things out for himself.
    "Thank you, O Wonderful and Beautiful Goddess," said Hippomenes, bowing. "I hope to prove worthy of your help."
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    As a throng of people began gathering to watch the race, Aphrodite and her friends melted into the crowd. Minutes later, golden-haired Atalanta appeared, accompanied by her father, King Schoeneus.
    After a few moments she left the king and joined Hippomenes at the starting line. Glancing at him with tender eyes filled with sadness, Atalanta crouched beside him, waiting for the signal to begin the race. Seconds later, the trumpets sounded, and they were off.
    "Go, Hippomenes!" shouted the four goddessgirls.
    At first he held his own, managing to race side by side with Atalanta, but after a while she began pulling ahead. Swift as a chariot, she sped farther and farther away.
    "Faster, Hippomenes!" yelled the goddessgirls. Their voices blended together with those of the crowd, which
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    was also urging the youth on. Squeezing her hands together Aphrodite willed him to think of the apples. At that moment Atalanta glanced over her shoulder to check on Hippomenes's speed. The action caused her to slow a little, and in that instant Hippomenes's face lit up as if an idea had struck him. Drawing the first apple from his sash, he tossed it into the air so that it rolled onto the track