Saphora vol.1 Retention

by Jaz Johnson

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  “Worthless!” spat Ares. “You’ve always been weak, you pathetic boy. How is it that you cannot not even manage to defeat a child? Handicapped, at that!” Ares screeched from the communicator in Tebias’ palm. His head lowered, he took the scolding. “You continue to fail me, Tebias.”

  “She is not completely so. Each time I face her, she has regained more control of her power-“

  “Excuses!” she hissed. “You dare give me excuses? Fourteen years you were on that wretched planet! Did you think she would be helpless forever, you fool?” Her pale grey eyes were crisp in their fury. Tebias ground his teeth at the pitch in her voice.

  “Mother, I-“

  “No! You do not have the right to call me such a name. I will not have a son as inadequate as you.”

  “… I am not what I was when arriving to this planet … Time has taken my strength. Hydra now guards the girl. My fire cannot match her water,” he admitted, biting down on his pride. Ares laughed mockingly. The melodic ring echoed through his ears.

  “Yes, time. Time is to blame?” Ares scoffed, shaking her head. Her blood red hair shifting against her shoulders as she did. “You are not to make another movement until Vasuki arrives.” she instructed, ending the transmission and thrusting her communicator from her desk onto the floor in rage. She groaned flinging her arms for a moment before attempting to settle down. From the doorway, Ulric’s voice could be heard.

  “The girl lives, then?” he asked from his leaning position against the doorframe. His arms crossed, as well as his legs.

  “She not only lives, but she grows stronger! Because of this cursed boy.” Ulric chuckled and stepped into the room.

  “Don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh on the boy? She is an ekechi, after all,” he pointed out, coming around the desk Ares sat at and leaning against the windowsill behind her. Ares scowled.

  “Am I to hear excuses from you as well? She was helpless when landing on that planet. Not a clue as to who, or what she was. He is useless,” she insisted, pushing her chair back and standing up to walk around the front of the desk. “And what’s worse, he’s becoming even more so. He’s only going to get weaker until Vasuki joins him. Now I’ve got to go through the trouble of sending her to that worthless planet.”

  “You should be happy, dearest. The two of them will rid you of that girl,” Ulric offered, as he pushed her chair back in under the desk.

  “It should have been done years ago.”

  “Mm, but if he had, you wouldn’t have given birth to our secret weapon,” argued Ulric. And Ares smiled, slowly turning to face him.

  “Ah, yes. My pride and joy.”

  “I wonder how she would fair, going up against the girl.”

  “I do too. But I have no problem never finding out. I would rather her dead,” Ares said with a light shrug, turning back around. “Guard!” she shouted. Almost instantly one of the guards from outside the room came rushing around and through the doorway, bowing to Ares.

  “Yes, my mistress,” he answered gruffly.

  “Bring me Vasuki,” she ordered. The guard nodded.

  “Yes, my mistress,” he succumbed, before rushing off to find the wicked snake. Ares turned back to look at her lover, her shoulders slumping.

  “Why must everything require so much effort?” she asked him with a bit of a whine. He chuckled, stepping forward to lay comforting hands on her bare shoulders.

  “Because it wouldn’t be worth it if not.”

  “I shouldn’t even have to go through this,” she sneered. “The throne should be mine.” Ulric nodded, placing a kiss upon her forehead.

  “And it will be, dearest. I’ll see to it that it is.”

  Ares smiled, tilting her head back to hover her lips just a breath away from his.

  “Mm, with you by my side, yes?”

  “Of course.” Ulric briefly placed his lips against hers. She sighed.

  “How I wish I had found you before the first. Then I would have been spared the birthing of such a useless boy. Perhaps even have had another with you,” Ares moped. Ulric chuckled, shaking his head.

  “Hades was a handful as it were. And don’t even get me started on the girl. We’re still rebuilding the left wing.” Ares giggled, breaking from his embrace.

  “You’re jealous that you couldn’t partake in her making.” Ulric scoffed.

  “Jealous isn’t exactly the word.” Ares smiled.

  “Oh, but just think of the service she will provide for our goal.” Ulric shook his head, smirking questionably at the purely professional tone in which she spoke of her children.

  “A woman of business,” he commented. Ares smirked, gazing at Ulric sensually.

  “And a woman of pleasure.” Ulric laughed.

  “Ha, and which child was which, I wonder?” Ares smiled, shaking her head and coming closer to Ulric.

  “I never think of business when laying with you,” she reassured, trailing her hands up the sleek black material of his leather shirt. The smirk faded from his lips as Vasuki cleared her throat, standing in the doorway with a smirk of her own.

  “Interrupting something, am I? If I’m not mistaken, I was summoned,” she reminded, one hand on her nearly bare hip. Ulric took the step to the side, setting Vasuki in Ares sights.

  “Ah, Vasuki. There you are.”

  “Here I am, mistress. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “It is time for you to reunite with your lesser half,” answered Ares, as she slowly stepped away from Ulric and moved towards her. Vasuki’s brows rose, as she glanced from Ulric to Ares.

  “Tebias,” she stated, almost unsure.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard of Hydra’s arrival on Earth,” said Ulric. Vasuki nodded.

  “Yes. I figured it was only a matter of time before I was sent after him,” she said with a sigh. Ares grumbled. “Well, perhaps he can be a little more useful once his guardian is with him.”

  “I should hope so,” Ares said with a narrowing of her eyes. “If the both of you prove to be useless, the outcome will not be pleasant.” Vasuki nodded in silence, keeping her lead lowered. “Prepare yourself for travel. You leave tomorrow. You will help him recuperate for one day, and then take care of this problem that has festered.” Vasuki nodded again.

  “Yes, my mistress,” she complied before turning around to leave the room.

  “And Vasuki?” Ares called out. Vasuki turned around, waiting for Ares’ next request. “Bring me Enya.” Vasuki nodded, turning back around and leaving the room in search of the phoenix. Ulric’s brow arched curiously as he turned to his wife.

  “Enya? You’re sending Enya as well?” asked Ulric. Ares shook her head.

  “Enya is not for Saphora,” Ares clarified. “There is another problem to be taken care of.”