by Anna Edwards
Home.
“Vicky?”
The voice prevents me from letting go as I know I should.
“Please, Beauty. Breathe. Just breathe for me and open your eyes. I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t...I didn’t mean to hurt you. Come back...don’t go.”
Mars?
Lips find mine. They quiver over my mouth, and salty with tears, they leave the taste on my tongue.
The plea transmitted through their touch draws me back farther.
Air is forced into my lungs, and a wheeze finds its way up through my abused windpipe.
Pain slams into me along with awareness.
Cracking my eyes open, I find the God of War on his knees before me.
He’s crying. Huge sobs rack his muscled body as he hunches, head buried in his hands, mourning. “What have I done? Vicky.”
Gone is the rage. The thirst for battle and blood.
Before me now is a broken man.
Reaching out, my fingers find his firm thigh to caress gently. I don’t trust my voice. Don’t know the extent of the damage that’s been done, but I know I can’t let him suffer.
Minutes pass before the comfort I’m giving him penetrates.
Lowering his hands slowly, his eyes red and swollen from his tears, he stares at me in disbelief. “You’re alive.”
Scooping me up in a bulging bicep, I find myself in the safe harbor of his arms. Kisses rain down on my cheeks, forehead, and nose. Anywhere he can reach, fast and fevered.
“Please, forgive me. Forgive me,” he chants–rocking me and petting my hair. “I was too far gone, but you brought me back when you sent love out to quell what I’d done. It was you who stopped this. Love conquered War, saving humanity when I was the one who almost ended it. And I murdered you for it. You stopped breathing. Your...heart stopped. I’ll understand if you don’t want me to touch you after this, but for now...I just need to hold you. Know that you’re safe.”
Sliding a hand up the back of his head, I tangle my fingers in his hair. I don’t need words to show him how he makes me feel. Fusing our lips together, I kiss him hungrily. With love and hope. All my lust and desire.
Mars groans, thrusting his tongue into my mouth. Clutching me tighter, his big frame shudders with pent up emotions.
“Mars, put the female down and place your hands behind your head.”
So lost in each other's embrace–the authoritative voice catches both of us off guard.
Lingering over the kiss, the God of War finally looks up.
It’s then I see his brothers, Apollo and Hercules. Weapons drawn and ready for battle, they watch us with a look of coldness.
“We’ve been charged with bringing you to justice for your crimes,” Apollo says, a hollow ring to his tone. “You’re to be contained and imprisoned. You’re far too dangerous to be left out of control.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MARS
I need to rid my mind of the residual darkness that’s left within it. The shouts of war have tempered down to scuffles and skirmishes, but my brother’s orders threaten to reignite the fires.
“No.” Vicky reaches out to me while I get up on my feet and place my hands behind my head. “You can’t do this,” she addresses Apollo and Hercules.
“They have no choice,” I tell her and kneel before them. My clothes are in tatters, and for the first time, I notice the damage that’s been inflicted on my body by the fighting. Jagged edges of rock are embedded in my flesh, and a large wound in my leg from both the scythe’s blade and a knife bleeds out. My back feels like it’s on fire, indicating another opening that will require stitching. I’m filthy, covered in the dust and grime of the Underworld, and I’m pretty certain I’ve got cracked ribs and maybe even a broken arm.
“Please, he’s alright now. He’s stopped the war, listen. Can’t you feel it?” Vicky is on her knees next to me.
“He stabbed Jupiter,” Apollo rasps out with more pain than fury.
I shut my eyes at his words. My father. The memory of the knife entering his body makes me wince with guilt.
“Is he...?” I start but can’t finish.
“Dead. Is that what you are asking, brother?” Hercules steps up to me. He’s always been the shorter tempered of us all, which after what I’ve just done is saying something.
I swallow deeply. “Is he dead?”
“No,” Hercules spits into my face. “Saturn saved him. He’s weak, very weak. This will take a long time to recover from, both emotionally and physically. Knowing you won’t be able to hurt him, again, will ease his suffering, though.”
“He’s sending me to Tartarus?” I know instantly where I’m to go.
“For now,” Apollo answers and conjures magical handcuffs to bind my wrists.
“Tartarus?” Vicky asks beside me.
“It’s the place gods are sent for punishment. It’s…” Apollo hesitates with his answer as though he’s choosing the words carefully. “It’s a place Mars will be able to think about his actions, for a very long time, because there isn’t much else to do there except avoid the hydra and flaming rivers.”
Vicky gets to her feet and creates a barrier between my brothers and me.
“No, you’re not taking him. He’s fine now, just look at him. This is crazy. It wasn’t his fault. If you want to put someone in this Tartarus place go and find Pluto and put him there.”
“It doesn’t work that way. Pluto doesn’t submit to the law my father creates. Besides, Tartarus would probably seem like heaven compared to the Underworld,” I reply quietly.
She turns to me and rests her hand against my cheek. I feel the love flowing from her body. It washes over my skin, and my wounds start to knit themselves together.
“I’ll not allow this. What happened was not your fault. Pluto raped me and was making Luigi torture me.”
I interrupt, “But I allowed my focus to be drawn into what he was doing to you both. It has damaged the Earth. It very nearly destroyed it. My brothers are right. I can’t be trusted. If something happens to you, again, I’ve shown exactly the lengths I’m willing to go to, in order to get you back. I’m dangerous.”
“No, you’re not. It’s different now.” She spins around to face my brothers. “I have my powers. I came into them. I can temper the need for war inside him. Love and War combined–we can control the emotions. Let us fix the damage we’ve created. Let us do it together. If we can prove to you we can control this, then don’t send him away, please.”
Apollo and Hercules look at each other.
“You know this isn’t our decision to make. It’s father’s. He’s the King of God’s, our ruler.”
“Take us to him. Stay with us. Keep Mars in whatever chains you need to, for now, to ensure he doesn’t start another battle, but let me talk to your father. He owes me that. I’m the one who got him out of there. If I hadn’t have come into my powers because of the love I bear for his son, then he’d be dead right now, probably along with the rest of the world.”
During Vicky’s passionate speech, my body starts to feel strange. My head spins, and the wounds close up and heal over. My clothes repair themselves, and the dirt covering them disappears as if I’ve taken an invisible shower. Apollo sees it happening and watches silently. All Hercules’ attention is focused on the woman blossoming before us. All our heads turn, though, when the walls, which I destroyed in my demonic state, rebuild. Brick upon brick, they layer on top of each other, and the shattered chunks of plaster overlay to leave them looking good as new. No one would know, only a few moments earlier, I’d sent Bellona crashing through them.
Vicky stops speaking and holds her hands out. They’re glowing.
“Beauty,” she asserts before parting her hands and bringing them up in front of her. A blast of blinding light floods from them, and the rest of my house is repaired. Apollo edges toward a window and looks out. “I think you’ll find I’m no longer killing the plants but giving them life. Take us to your father.”
Hercules clicks his tongue against his cheek in thought.
“The minds of the people. Will they remember?”
The next thing I know we’re out in the courtyard of my property.
I remain on my knees, knowing any movement on my part would force my brothers’ hands and damage whatever it is Vicky’s trying to demonstrate. My beautiful goddess strides purposefully across the olive tree lined patio. The trees burst into fruit in her wake. A couple lie in her path. They argue passionately, over what I can’t hear from my position, but as she nears, they falter mid insult and face her with mouths wide open. She places a hand upon each of their foreheads, and the sullen expressions on their faces change. Gone are the frowns and lines of worry to be replaced with affection and eyes that sparkle as brightly as diamonds. It melts the final dredges of war clouding my judgment. I exhale a happy breath when the man falls to his knee and presents the woman with a ring. She immediately accepts, and they embrace, falling into a passionate kiss.
Vicky turns to face my brothers and me.
“Alright, we’ll take you.”
We jump location again, this time, to an ornately decorated bedroom I know to be my father’s. Gold leaf adorns vine leaf plaster patterns around the ceiling, and a masterpiece worthy of the Sistine chapel, and painted by the same man, stares back at me when I look up. It’s better than looking toward the bed because I know who will be in it. My father. I tried to kill him. The memory of my actions flood back into my head. Shame, guilt, and disgust allowed Pluto to lead me down a path, which saw the man I have only respect for almost die.
“Look at me son.” Jupiter’s voice booms from the bed. “Now.”
I lift my head up. I feel like the small boy of my childhood. Neither my brothers nor I were angels as children. We often came up with hair-brained schemes, which got us into trouble. My father was strict. He had to be when our little bodies contained as much power as they did. We could have created chaos just by sneezing, but we always respected his authority and submitted to his punishments.
My father sits in his opulent gigantic bed. The richly colored covers are pulled tightly to his bare chest. I can see the white bandage wrapped around where I’d plunged the knife. I swallow deeply and lift my gaze toward his face. He looks tired, worn out, and I fear it’s not as a result of recovering from the assault. It’s from the knowledge I caused it.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out and fall down to the floor. My head rests against the marble, the cold of it chilling my bones. My father must pull back the covers and leave the bed for I hear his bare feet patter until they stop in front of me. I don’t look up.
“He’s supposed to be in Tartarus.”
Apollo coughs to clear his throat.
“There’s something you should see first–someone you should hear from.”
Vicky comes close to me. I feel her, and all the hairs on my body stand to attention. She’s my salvation. Her presence compels me to bring my body upright. She wraps an arm around my shoulders and draws me closer to her body.
“You aren’t judge, jury, and executioner. As a lawyer, you should know that. You may be the King of Gods, but we all deserve the right to a trial. You will hear me out.” Her words are clearly spoken and full of determination. “You brought me into this. You’ve made me what I am today.” She places her hand on his chest, and everyone in the room, including my mother, watches as the bandages fall away and my father’s chest heals. “You’ll give me Mars.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
VICKY
Jupiter’s gaze holds mine. “He needs to be punished for wreaking havoc even if Humankind won’t remember it. I can’t have my sons losing control. If I don’t discipline him, how do I keep the others in line?”
With all the strength and confidence, I now feel, anxiety still coils in my stomach. I won’t lose Mars. Not after everything we’ve been through.
“It won’t happen again. Now I know I’m Venus and have my powers, I can stop the war singing in his veins when it becomes too much,” I rush out.
“I can’t show favoritism.”
“If you send him to Tartarus, then you send me too.”
Mars’ hand finds mine, his fingers tightening until it hurts. “No, Vicky. I won’t allow it.”
Rounding on him, I shake his grip free. “Don’t think you can tell me what to do! If I have to sit outside your cell for the rest of eternity until I can convince your family to set you free, I will.”
A small silence follows at my outburst.
Sighing, Jupiter rubs the bridge of his nose. “We can’t afford to lose both Love and War. Not with Pluto scheming and my wounds still healing. It could give him an advantage.”
“Then, give Mars to me. I’ll keep him in line, and if he ever over steps it again, I will take the punishment for not holding up my end of the bargain,” I persist.
“Beauty, will you…”
Lifting a hand, I press it over the God of War’s mouth before he can continue. “Zip it. This is my decision, not yours. You’re already in enough trouble.”
Apollo sniggers beside us. “She’s sure gotten feisty since finding her powers.”
“I think our brother is finally going to be led around by his balls,” Hercules jokes.
Nodding, Jupiter’s lips tilt up in a smile. “I think you’re right, there.”
“So, what’s it to be?” Turning back to them, I do my best to hide my nerves. “Do I get your son, or are we taking a trip to Tartarus?”
“Oh, you’ll have him.” Motioning to his wife, Jupiter wraps his arm around her shoulder when she draws near. “You’ve always wanted a wedding in the family, my dear. You can plan it for Vicky and Mars in three days’ time.”
Marriage?
Dizziness makes me sway. They want me to marry Mars. I’m going to be Mrs. War.
The goddess’ expression turns to pure delight. “That’s not much time. I’ll need to contact the caterers. Find her a dress, arrange a venue...”
Her excited voice becomes muffled as I peek a look at my husband to be.
Happiness swells out in my chest with hope before it dims. I love him. Said the words to his face, but he’s never once said them back.
Shock. It’s etched on his handsome face. “You’re going to bind us together?”
“It’s the only way to be sure,” his father tells him firmly. “You’ll share each others’ fates. If you succumb to the darkness again, I won’t be lenient. As mates, you’ll be able to sense when the other is stumbling and bring them back from tipping into the abyss.”
“Father, you’re giving us no choice. Something like this should not be forced...”
“Vicky made it for both of you. Your days of spreading your wild oats are done. No more consorts. You’ll content yourself with one woman from now on.”
Mars’ attention shifts to mine. His brown eyes hold worry and something else I can’t define. Pain?
This is his punishment. To be shackled to me for the rest of time.
He doesn’t love me. There’s affection and great sex, but what I really want isn’t there. I’m condemning myself to a loveless marriage to save him. The fucking irony. Goddess of Love, but I won’t be loved.
“Vicky, I…” Reaching for me, he doesn’t get the chance to finish what he wants to say.
“Apollo, Hercules, escort your brother to his apartment and stay with him. For the next three days, I don’t want any contact between bride and groom,” Jupiter instructs. “Keep a close eye on him.”
Grabbing both of his arms, the three brothers vanish in a flash.
My feeling of happiness deflates. Everything is happening too fast.
“You’re very brave, taking on my son.” Jupiter winces, releasing a pained breath. “He’s always been a handful, but I think you’re what he needs to temper his hot blood.”
With the help of his wife, he makes his way back to the comfort of the massive bed.
It’s only then I realize how much the confronta
tion has cost him. He’s not as strong as he outwardly portrayed.
“Thank you for being merciful,” I reply, my mind still on my man. What is he thinking? Feeling? Have I done the right thing?
“I’m selfish.” Easing himself down onto the pillows, Jupiter watches fondly as his wife fusses over him. “He’s already given me one grandchild out of wedlock. The second won’t be the case. Mars is old enough to be settled down by now. It’ll be a good example for the others.”
Children? I haven’t even given them a thought. Half brothers and sisters for Luigi. Little ones I can adore and spoil. Teach how to paint and draw. They’d ease the heartache.
Mars would love them. I’ve witnessed how good a father he can be. His bond with his son is undeniable. He’d cherish ours just as much. Of that, I’m certain.
“I want this one born in the sanctity of marriage, and you have nine months left to go.”
I freeze at the King of the God’s statement. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
Looking up, his wife beams at me with a happy smile. “The baby you already have in your womb.”
“I’m not pregnant.”
The pair share an indulgent look. “True, you only conceived recently. A day or so ago, but we can foresee you won’t have any problems. You’ll have a healthy pregnancy.”
Mars hasn’t used any form of protection. Each time we’ve fucked, I thought for some insane reason I was safe. All the times we had sex at his villa. The days in bed leading up until the day I was taken.
A chill crawls up my spine at a sudden thought.
Pluto’s rape.
He hadn’t wrapped up. He’d taken me across his desk and come inside me.
The sound of voices seesaw through my ears. Everything around me becomes narrow and surreal.
What if the baby isn’t Mars’? Would he still be able to love it even if it was his enemy’s? His uncle’s? It would be nothing but an innocent. Yet a constant reminder of the damage the God of the Underworld has caused.