by Marie Medina
“I just focused my power. It’s not hard, but it takes a lot of concentration.”
“Mmmm. You’ll have to teach me.”
He moved up to kiss. “It will be my pleasure.”
She giggled. “It certainly will.”
He stood up and threw her over his shoulder, making her giggle even more. “I think our first lesson should be now, while your desire to learn is still fresh.”
She slapped him on the ass. “What are we waiting for then?”
Chapter Six
Ares wanted Alala to say something. She walked beside him silently, but she didn’t seem angry or upset. She was completely calm, and that made him nervous.
“Do you have anything else to say?” he asked.
She shook her head, but she put her hand on his arm to stop him. She’d been carrying his sword, and now she put it over his head and one shoulder so it hung on his back.
“Alala, say something.”
She took his hand. “I love you for who you are, and this is part of who you are. I shouldn’t try to change that.”
He felt even worse. “You still disapprove though.”
“Yes, but I know you have to do this.”
He didn’t know what to say to her. He knew she really did understand, but that wasn’t enough for him somehow.
“If you tell Zeus you don’t want this, he’ll stop it.”
She shook her head. “I won’t do that.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I want this over.”
Ares was confused. She could stop this, but she wouldn’t. Did that mean she wanted him to stop it? Or did she want him to go through with it to get rid of his own demons?
They stepped into the throne room, which was rarely used anymore. Ares was surprised to find it empty. Zeus and Hera stood with Apollo, Artemis, and Eris off to the side of the dais where Zeus and Hera’s thrones sat. They were talking quietly, and Apollo also carried his sword, which was made completely of clear crystal but was, Ares knew, harder than any steel ever forged.
Ares and Alala walked over to them, and everyone fell silent. Ares remembered the days when a challenge would have filled this room with gods and demigods and every other mystical creature. Now they were alone.
Apollo drew his sword and moved to the center of the room. He turned to Ares. “Come on. Why wait on ceremony?”
Ares was surprised, but he drew his own sword and moved toward Apollo. He hadn’t seen Apollo fight anyone in centuries. Was he planning something?
Apollo lifted his sword to defend himself, and Ares saw it reflect every color of the spectrum, even in the subdued light. He decided to try something.
“Do you want to fight me?” he asked.
“Yes.”
That surprised him too. He had beaten Apollo many times when they were young, when Zeus had wanted Ares to train Apollo in the art of war. Why would he want to fight him? He knew it had to be true, yet he struggled to understand.
He had no other choice, no other way out if Alala would not speak. He lifted his sword and swung at Apollo.
Apollo dropped his sword, and Ares stopped his own blade less than an inch from Apollo’s neck.
Ares heard Alala and his mother gasp. He turned to see that Eris and his father didn’t seem surprised. Artemis looked down at the floor. He had never understood the distant goddess, but he’d also never known the gifted huntress to look away from a fight.
Ares sheathed his sword. “What are you doing?”
“You couldn’t even do it?” Apollo asked bitterly.
“What?”
Zeus clapped his hands, and thunder resounded through the room. “This challenge is over.”
“What?” Ares repeated. He turned back to Apollo. “What are you trying to pull? You want to be dishonored by being a coward instead of letting me withdraw my challenge?”
Apollo glared at him. “I wanted you to kill me.”
Ares shook his head. “Why?”
Apollo turned and left the room. No one stopped him.
Ares turned to Artemis. “What’s wrong with him?”
Artemis shook her head. “He’s not well.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She tried to explain. “He’s been having dreams. He won’t tell anyone about them. He’s asked Hypnos not to let him fall asleep.”
“Has someone put a spell on him? What could be so bad about these dreams?”
“We don’t know,” Hera said. “They began after you woke up.”
“I didn’t do anything to him.”
“We know that, but you know he can’t lie.”
Ares nodded. “He really wanted me to kill him then.” He sighed. “This is a farce. It’s my fault.”
Hera moved toward him and touched his face. “You can’t change who you are, my son.”
He touched her hand, and then looked at Alala. “I intend to try.”
Alala came to his side. “Don’t you dare!”
“You like me as an arrogant bastard who causes trouble?”
“I love it.”
Ares shook his head. “What does this mean? What do I do now?”
Zeus said, “He surrendered. You win.”
“I don’t feel like I won anything.”
“You would have felt the same if you’d actually fought him.” Zeus came to stand by Hera. “Alala didn’t want this. You were your own champion, not hers.”
Ares looked down at her. “I’m sorry.”
Everyone in the room looked at him in surprise, and he rolled his eyes. “I’ve said that before.”
“Maybe when you bumped into someone,” Eris said jokingly.
He met his sister’s gaze. “You’ve been very quiet.”
“I have. Apollo is hardly a friend, but I think something significant is happening, and he may need help.”
Ares felt his anger rise again, for a moment. “I don’t like the way he treated you either.” He’d been furious when he’d heard about Apollo’s seduction attempt.
It was her turn to roll her eyes. “He was an ass, but he didn’t do anything. I began to feel sorry for him then.”
“And now?”
“I think Aphrodite is behind this.”
“What?” Hera asked. “Hasn’t she learned her lesson?”
Zeus tried to calm her. “I think you’re overreacting.”
“Overreacting? That little ditz could have killed my son!”
Ares knew better than to try to change his mother’s mind. He turned to Artemis. “What do you think?”
“We can’t know unless he tells one of us about his dreams.”
He turned to Eris. “Why do you think it’s Aphrodite?”
She thought for a moment. “He’s so sad. A few weeks ago he was arrogant and obnoxious. Now it hurts to look at him. Literally. I feel pain engulfing him.”
“Sounds like Aphrodite,” Hera grumbled. She shook her head and stormed off. Zeus followed her, and everyone could hear them arguing as they left the hall.
Alala put her arms around Ares. “Let’s just go home. It’s over. Okay?”
He looked down into her beautiful eyes. Going home to be in her arms was all he wanted. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Take me home.”
He held her close as they left, pushing away the new storms brewing around them. They could wait for another day.
* * * *
Eris raised her eyebrows as Apollo came striding toward her. It had been over a week since anyone had seen him. What could he want? Was he in trouble? He looked like he hadn’t slept at all since she’d last seen him.
She put her laptop on the ground and stood up. “Apollo, is everything okay?”
He shrugged. “Same as always. I wanted to talk to you and Hermes.”
His dejected manner didn’t surprise her as much as his request to see her soon-to-be husband. They couldn’t stand each other. She called for Hermes mentally and found him with Zeus.
“He’l
l be here in a few minutes. Is something wrong?” The scene around her had been bright and beautiful a moment before. The sunlight that had been playing across the water had faded, and a cold breeze came off the water. It felt more like autumn than spring. Apollo seemed to be sucking in the light and warmth around him instead of giving it off as he usually did. She still thought his depression or whatever it might be had something to do with Daphne. She also still suspected Aphrodite, even though it seemed so unwise for her to do something like this again so quickly after her scheme with Ares almost went awry.
“I want to say something, and I want him here. I’d like to cover my own ass, I suppose.”
She tried to think of the right question to ask, but then Hermes appeared by her side. He looked from her to Apollo and back for a moment, and then asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m here to apologize, and I wanted you to hear this because I want to clear the air.”
Eris felt Hermes stiffen a bit. “And what are you apologizing for?”
Eris couldn’t help feeling a little flattered that Hermes would feel a tinge of jealousy, if only for a moment, and that he would still feel protective of her when she could obviously take care of herself. “We had a couple of fights when I found out about him and Alala.”
“And?” Hermes asked.
Apollo took a deep breath. “I acted like a pig. I dismissed Eris’ concerns and also tried to seduce her.”
Eris was surprised he got right to the point so quickly, but she also wanted to laugh because he’d said the last part so quickly, like a child who knew he was in trouble.
The biggest surprise, however, came when Hermes burst out laughing.
Apollo stared blankly at Hermes for a moment, and then turned to Eris for guidance. “I don’t understand.”
Stop it, Hermes. He’s being sincere.
He eventually stopped and looked at Apollo. “I know what happened, and being an oversexed ass isn’t that much of an offense. I’d say I’d like to teach you some manners, but I think you’re getting there.”
Apollo looked unsure. “You’ve certainly changed in recent months.”
“Amazing what the right girl can do, even with a stiff, boring guy like me.”
Again, Eris felt that Apollo was in pain. She wanted to say or do something, but whatever the Fates had planned, he would have to make the first move. They couldn’t force him to let them help. “Apollo, don’t worry about it. You were already forgiven when I offered to help before. A lapse in manners isn’t as evil as you seem to think.”
“I know, but everyone finding out about this has stirred some things up.”
Eris wondered what could have been stirred up that would cause him this kind of distress. He couldn’t be solely talking about emotional issues. Had someone else known all along? Zeus perhaps? Or one of his brothers? The Furies or some vengeance demon? She shook her head. She might be jumping to wild conclusions. “If you need help, you only have to ask.”
“No one can help.”
“Surely someone can,” Hermes said. “Artemis is worried because you aren’t sleeping. Hypnos won’t withhold sleep from you forever. He can’t. You’ll lose your mind.”
“It may be too late for that.”
Eris rolled her eyes. “I could make a guess at this, but I’d rather you just told us.”
He met her gaze, but he didn’t get a chance to say anything. Hera appeared next to them and went to Hermes quickly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Hera closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking at all three of them. “I have a mission for you. It’s urgent.”
“What?” Eris asked.
“I need you to go to the Underworld. Persephone is gone, and Demeter says she was kidnapped by Hades.”
Eris wanted to laugh. “If that’s true, she’ll be home by dinner. An hour of that chirpy little voice will have him climbing the walls. Why does Demeter think it was Hades?”
“She saw them.”
“Oh. I guess that clinches that.”
“But what happened?” Apollo asked. “Why would he do this?”
Hera arched her eyebrows at him. “Why do you think?”
Eris didn’t know what to think. “That’s such a great risk though. Hades could have anyone he wanted. He certainly doesn’t need to use force.”
“But because of Demeter’s attitude and rules, Persephone is one girl he couldn’t have.”
“She’s not his type though. I can’t believe he even looked at her twice. She’s so annoying.”
Hera smiled. “Maybe he’s tired of his type. Maybe the challenge was what he wanted. Besides, she’s very sweet.”
Eris folded her arms over her chest. Hera had always liked Persephone, but now wasn’t the time to try to figure out why. “So this is what he needs to get off now? The danger of kidnapping someone who’s off limits? Seducing a girl he’d never look at twice if she weren’t considered such a prize?”
Hera sighed. “Look, Demeter won’t rest until we do something. Zeus wants Hermes to go talk to Hades.”
“Do I bring her back if she is there against her will?”
Hera thought for a moment, and then nodded. “Yes. I’d rather deal with Hades than Demeter.”
“And if she’s there because she wants to be there?”
“Come back and tell Zeus.”
Hermes nodded and disappeared. Hera looked at Apollo and Eris. “I hope I didn’t interrupt something important.”
Apollo shook his head. “I was apologizing for acting like an ass.”
“Just recently? Or since the dawn of time?” Hera quipped.
Apollo looked genuinely miserable.
Hera put her hands on her hips. “What is wrong with you? Do you know your sister won’t leave your father alone? She agrees with Eris. She thinks Aphrodite has done something to you.”
“I’m fine. Leave me alone.” He started to walk away.
Hera stopped him. “That has been your response to every serious question for a long time.”
“Will you leave me alone if I tell you?”
“We want to help, Apollo,” Eris said.
“After I healed her, Aphrodite offered to undo the spells on me and Daphne.”
Hera considered this. “Daphne would have to say yes though.”
“She said Zeus would do it for her. She cast them out of vengeance. They can be broken if he completely negates it.”
“What?” Eris asked. She suddenly remembered why she rarely used spells. Her inborn powers never had these kinds of complications or far-reaching consequences.
“Zeus can completely negate the spell,” Hera said. “Everyone will forget it. Things will be like they were before the spell. Daphne would be alive again, really alive. Perhaps you should consider it, Apollo. It seems sadistic to want to stay as you are.”
Eris felt his anger flair up and roll off him in a wave of heat. “Does it?” he asked.
“Yes. To choose to love someone who would rather be a plant than give you a chance? For all we know this could one day drive you both insane.”
“I’d still love her without the spell.”
“You don’t know that. You’ve been under the spell so long. Any feelings you’ve developed since will probably go away once the spell is gone.”
“Let me make my own decision, please?” He looked from Hera to Eris. “Please?”
Hera backed down. “We will. You know what I think though.”
Eris thought of something. “Has anyone talked to Daphne recently? Anyone at all? Maybe she’s changed her mind.”
“She doesn’t talk to anyone.”
Eris knew she had to ask. “How do you know?”
He glared at her. “Because I try all the time. And I’ve asked. I sit near her for hours, waiting. She sings, sometimes, but she won’t talk to anyone.”
Eris looked down. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to help.”
“I will be fine. I’ve always been fine. Please leav
e me alone.” He disappeared.
“Hmmm,” Hera said. “That was fun.”
“I’m going to keep an eye on him.”
“You sure?”
She nodded. “I won’t interfere. Don’t worry.” She sighed heavily. “So you really think Persephone was kidnapped?”
“I don’t.”
“Really?”
Hera smiled. “I think the giggly little girl everyone finds so annoying has more spunk than any of you think.”
“Little miss sunshine is gonna go goth? Interesting.”
“Look, I’m not worried. Hades isn’t stupid.”
“Demeter’s a bit crazy though.”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
Eris had to agree. All they could do was wait for Hermes to return. At least their lives weren’t going to get dull any time soon.
* * * *
“Alala, why don’t you sit down?” Ares said.
“I’m just worried.” She had just found out Persephone was missing. According to Demeter, Hades had taken her to the Underworld. Hellraiser. If only Arion and I had said something.
“You know,” Ares began. “You did have a few things going on in your own life. And it was just a hunch. This isn’t your fault.”
“I can’t help feeling bad. If I’d reacted differently, maybe she would have confided in me. She’s so naïve, Ares.”
“Oh I know that.”
She scowled at him. “Naïve. Not stupid. She doesn’t understand she might have to stay with Hades forever. The Underworld is different.”
“How do you know she doesn’t know that? How long has this been going on? You don’t know anything for sure yet.”
“Would he love her? Or would she be one of many?”
“Stop thinking like that.”
“She’s my friend. I don’t want her hurt.”
“And I want you to calm down.”
Alala moved into his arms. “I know. Just hold me.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Is that all you want? You just want me to hold you?”
She snuggled closer. “Unless you can think of a better way of taking my mind off things.”
He tilted her head up for a kiss. “I can think of dozens.”
She smiled and kissed him back. “Good. We may need all of them.”