"Who cares." A comment came from the back of the room.
"Sit beside Zeus! I'd much rather keep company with a charming boy." The lady stared meaningfully at Demo.
"Hardly!" Another beauty stood up. "He is certainly mine!"
In moments the room was filled with rancorous voices, angry and loud. Turmoil followed, and the crowd quickly moved to the outer court, accompanied by pummeling and hair pulling.
Demo sat wide-eyed, glaring at Cupid.
The boy smiled. "Well, I must practice my archery."
He strolled away, humming softly.
Was that a smirk I noted, Demo thought. I'm sure not. After all, he is only a child.
I think I'll cut his bow string.
A maiden clothed in white gazed with tear-dimmed eye across an endless plane. Sulfurous fumes rose from boiling liquid ponds dotting that dread surface. Manlike creatures, yet men no more, staggered blindly from place to place. In their ceaseless walk they fell hapless into the open pits and screaming in agony clambered out, only to resume their endless wandering.