Psyche Visits Her Sisters

Psyche had not gone very far before she felt a gentle wind. She smiled asFavonius picked her up.

"Are you taking me to Cupid?" she asked hopefully.

"No," Favonius responded. "I have some unfinished business with your sisters, and I need your help."

"I will be more than happy to help you," Psyche said firmly.

Favonius told her everything he had heard Thomasina and Calla say. Then he told her what he wanted her to do, and she agreed.

West Wind carried her into the kingdom adjacent to the one over which her parents ruled. There he set her down outside the dark doors of a small mansion.

When the door opened in response to Psyche's knock, there stood her sister Thomasina.

"Psyche?" Thomasina asked in disbelief.

"Oh, Sister!" Psyche exclaimed and threw herself into her sister's arms.

"I thought—" Thomasina stopped herself.

Psyche looked at her through narrowed eyes. "Thought what? That I was dead?"

"No, no." She laughed nervously. "I ... I ... well, I did not think you, my baby sister, would have the courage to kill a monster."

"Ah, Sister. My husband is no monster."

"Then who is he?"

"He is the god Cupid."

"Cupid!" Thomasina exclaimed. "Of course. Who else could live in a palace filled with such riches? Oh, Psyche! You silly girl! You should have figured that out immediately."

"Alas, dear sister. Not only did I not, but the god awoke and saw me standing over him with a knife. He glared at me and said, 'I divorce you. I will marry your oldest sister instead. She will know how to appreciate me.' And with those words, he flew away and out of my life. Oh, Sister! My heart is broken."

Thomasina could not believe what she was hearing. Cupid wanted her to be his wife? She would be the owner of all those jewels, that palace, and invisible servants to do whatever she wanted.

She ran to her husband. "My lord, I have sad news. My sister has arrived to tell me that our parents are dead. I must go home at once."
Her husband agreed, of course.

Thomasina hurried away and ran past Psyche, who was still standing in the doorway. "Thank you, Sister, for being so dumb," Thomasina said, as she stepped outside.

Immediately Favonius swept Thomasina up and carried her to the mountaintop. But this time, he left her there.

A sharp and cold wind arose. It was Aquilo, North Wind, who had come at the bidding of Favonius. Aquilo blew with all the malice he had learned from the lord of the underworld, and before Thomasina knew what was happening to her, Aquilo swept her off the mountaintop and she fell down the steep mountainside. The sharp rocks and crags cut and slashed her body. She was dead before she reached the bottom.

Then Favonius carried Psyche to the mansion where her sister Calla lived. Psyche told the same story to her. Calla had the same thoughts and said the same words Thomasina had. Favonius carried Calla to the mountaintop and she met the same fate as her sister.

Favonius thanked Psyche for her help; she thanked him for his. Then she continued on her way.

Chapter end