OF WAR Anthology Novels 1-3

by Lisa Beth Darling

  Ares turned his eyes to Aphrodite, Mother to four of his Sons and saw all he needed to know reflected in those suddenly sad blue orbs. Even she had to stand by helplessly watching as Demios, Phobos and Anteros went mad. “My Sons built Rome!” Ares countered heatedly.

  “Excuse me,” Zeus placed the palm of his hand over his heart, “that is true. I seem to recall that Romulus killed Remus shortly before the city really took off. He had your ego, so big he even named the city after himself.”

  “Romulus created the Senate and expanded your love of Justice and Law,” Ares reminded Zeus. So he killed his Brother, too; so what? It wasn’t as though Ares never wanted to throttle Apollo.

  “Your Sons are brutes,” Apollo huffed. “Romulus forced the Sabine women into sexual slavery and to bear children for Rome. After that he ran roughshod over the countryside…”

  “And united the lands.” Ares stood up again. “He created the basis of one the greatest Empires the world has ever known. A city that still stands to this day and is still a power in the mortal world. What in the hell did your Sons ever do, Apollo? Lay around getting drunk and fucking all day like you?”

  “At least those in my bed are there willingly.”

  “Ugly as they are,” Ares shot back through gritted teeth.

  “Humph! I am not ugly,” Aphrodite countered as she jiggled in place. “I’m beautiful, even you can see that. You have seen it, many times.”

  “I wasn’t all that impressed.”

  “Why you…”

  “That’s enough,” Zeus sighed. Rotten Father that he was, Ares tended to be proud of his offspring even if he didn’t have anything to do with their upbringing. Romulus and Remus were among his most favored Sons and the Amazons among his most favored Daughters. Needing to go forward and seal the deal but not wanting to concede this point altogether, he offered a small compromise in the name of the Greater Good. “Even insane men can do great things if the stars are properly aligned.”

  Even though Zeus demanded it, Apollo couldn’t let it go. “They do say Genius is so close to Madness.”

  “That’s it!” Ares had enough from his Brother and pushed Zeus aside on his way to confront Apollo with his balled fists. With onyx eyes blazing fire, he rushed to choke Apollo with his bare hands. Halfway across the room with a good head of steam brewing and ready to start throwing haymakers, Ares froze in his tracks and was unable to move forward another inch.

  “I said that’s enough!” Zeus shouted as he held Ares deep in the grip of his powers. “Behave yourself, Ares.”

  “Let me go, Father. I’m going to kill him!”

  Apollo taunted Ares with a cold grin as he grabbed a hold of his crotch and let out a long lustful groan. “She’s a whore, she loved every minute of it no matter what lies she tells you.”

  Struggling with all of his physical and magickal strength against the invisible force keeping him in place but unable to break its hold, a pressure cooker of fury built up in him. “You son of a bitch…you’re a liar, and I’m going to rip out your throat with my teeth.”

  Apollo snickered and then laughed. “You’d have to ask her if you can have your fangs back first along with your balls.”

  “All of you knock it off,” Zeus demanded as he slammed the base of his staff to the floor of the Palace, causing the room to quiver. “We’ve more important things to discuss.”

  “We’re not finished,” Ares hissed at his Brother.

  “We never are. We never will be,” Apollo assured. “Not until one of us is dead.”

  “I can’t wait. Let me go; I promise not kill him today.” The spell dispersed, Ares turned back to his Father. “But, you, huh? You’re a different story. You tell lies and spread rumors about her at your table. You plant visions in her head. You make her think Raven is talking with her. You addled her brain so she can’t speak right and weakened her body, I know it’s you!”

  Several days ago, Hera accused Zeus of planting a vision in Alena’s mind, but Zeus had been just as surprised to hear of Alena’s so-called vision. “If the monster growing in her is talking with her, it isn’t my doing and neither are these visions. Not me, oh no,” Zeus shook his index finger back and forth in the air before Ares’ eyes, “it’s because she is a Dark Fae. If she is fading as you say, that isn’t my doing either, no, that’s all the doing of your greedy monstrous Son.”

  Unable to control himself any longer, a hot ball of fire appeared in Ares’ hand and he heaved it across the room with a great roar. It flew through the narrow space between Apollo and Aphrodite and exploded against the wall behind Zeus’ throne, leaving behind a crater in the highly polished black and gold marble.

  Zeus didn’t so much as flinch. He just sat there silently daring Ares to produce another fireball and hurl at him. Reaching for another grape and popping it into his mouth, Zeus pointed at his Son as his eyes started to sparkle. “I still have time to kill the boy before he draws breath and suffer no consequence. I have centuries to play with Alena if I like. Now be a good Son and do as your Father says.”

  “Why me?” He sneered at Apollo. “What is wrong with you, Brother? What about Eros? He’s young and virile.”

  Very begrudgingly, Zeus offered his Son a compliment. “You have certain traits that are very useful for carrying forward.” Besides, he couldn’t leave the throne to Eros. As much as Zeus liked his Grandson, Eros was incapable of rising to confrontation. Perhaps if it came right down to it and his life was on the line or that of someone he cared for, Eros would fight. Perhaps. In general, Eros was easy to back into corners and steamroll over because he’d rather go to extremes to keep the peace than use his spine for something other than holding his body straight. Ares didn’t have such problems, but his temper was too unpredictable and there was no telling what might become of Olympus if Ares ever sat upon the throne.

  “Do I?” Ares said with a wide smile and then couldn’t hold back the chuckle. “My, my, my. I never thought you would fall back on flattery.”

  “You will give me new Granddaughters and one day Olympus will have its very first Queen to sit upon this throne.”

  Queen? That was a concept that was about as taboo as it could get. The Titans and the Olympians were Patriarchal Clans and the thought of a woman in charge went against everything they’d ever known. Zeus must be desperate if he was willing to put a female on the throne, and a desperate Zeus was a dangerous Zeus. The good humor faded from Ares’ voice as he leaned forward. “Say I agree to this crazy scheme, what woman were you thinking of for Queen Mother?” As though he had to ask.

  Holding his hand out in the air and waiting for Aphrodite to come to him, Zeus smiled at Ares. “That’s where she comes in. She is still fertile and the two of you have so much lustful history.”

  Even though he already knew the answer to his question, Ares balked. “I’d rather put my cock into blistering hot shards of broken glass!” Looking the Goddess of Love up and down he added, “Not that there’s much difference between them.”

  Tossing her blonde hair in the air with a wave of her hand, Aphrodite smiled at her long-ago Lover. “You know you still want me.”

  “Only in my nightmares.” Ares turned away from her and back toward Zeus. “She’s older than I am; what did you do to make her fertile?”

  The creation of the foundations of Life Itself was controllable only by Nature and not within the normal prevue of even the strongest God such as Zeus. It took months of experimentation with potions and magick before Zeus came up with something to provoke the last few eggs in Aphrodite into coming out to do their thing, but he did it. However, he had been utterly unsuccessful with Apollo. “Not your concern. Just do it.”

  “No way in hell.”

  “Then I can’t guarantee that your Son will be safe a day in his life. He’s a disgrace to our lines. Then there’s his vulgar mother to consider. How much are you willing to sacrifice for them, Ares? Am I really asking so much when it’s just a few hours of your time?”

&n
bsp; “As always, Father, what choice do you leave me with? But I have conditions of my own.” Taking the sharp dagger from his vest, he handed it to Zeus. “We make a Blood Vow so that you will not be able to break your word.” Ares leaned forward and took in all three of them at once. “Three days after Raven is born you will accept him as one of us. Raven will receive his proper place at your table, Father. He will not endure any Trials to claim his place. You will do this for every child Alena and I bring into this world.”

  “Done.” It was not an outrageous or unexpected demand. Hera was already giving him trouble on this count and it would help to shut her up as well; two birds, one stone, always a great bargain. Zeus soon realized he’d underestimated Ares’ affection for Alena and the boy. In the future, that little fact would be of great use to him. For as long as Ares’ heart belonged to Alena, Zeus could use her to make Ares dance to any tune he wanted, and that was quite refreshing. “Done. BUT, for every child you give Alena, you will give me another through Aphrodite.”

  “WHAT?” Ares thought this was a one-shot deal. The idea of bedding Aphrodite more than once was almost too much to stomach. Other men would kill for the opportunity to lie in the bed of the Goddess of Love, but Ares had experience here and he knew better.

  “Well, if it’s that bad you could always just stop fucking the Fae,” Aphrodite giggled but was soon stifled when Ares’ hands curled up into claws that threatened to reach out for her throat.

  “What did I ever do you to, Father, to make you despise me so?”

  Rolling up the flowing sleeve of his regal gray robes, Zeus didn’t look at his Son as he spoke. “You were born. I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

  Ares was the walking, talking, living and breathing personification of Zeus’ own anger, underhandedness, cruelty, desire and greed. History—and Zeus—liked to recall him as always being a benevolent God, one who cared for and even nurtured the human mortals below them. That wasn’t always the case. The old man had quite the temper; after all, he did manage to overthrow the Titans. Zeus had more affairs than Ares, Apollo and Eros had women combined. Not all of Zeus’ affairs were with willing mortal women. No, back in the Days of Yore Zeus was known to just take whatever woman he wanted. Zeus tried to deny these things but, in Ares, they were always staring him in the face, taunting him and mocking him, as they reminded him that he was not so damn civilized.

  “So touching.” The sarcasm dwindled swiftly as he bared his thick forearm for the blade.

  “Do you want them to partake in this as well?” Zeus drew the blade over his loose old skin, opening up his forearm before making a second slice across his palm without wincing. The dagger dripped Ichor onto the white marble floor as he handed it over to Ares, knowing his Son would rather plant it in his heart than make this vow.

  Ares looked past Zeus to Apollo and Aphrodite, only to find the idea of their Ichor forever running through his veins unbearable. “Your word will hold them or you’ll have to kill them, won’t you?”

  “I will.”

  “Then that will do.” Ares followed suit, making one slice across his forearm and another across his palm. The quiet was shattered by the sound of their hands and arms slapping together as each took a step toward the other. Ichor from Father and Son ran over their flesh and fell in droplets to the floor, but more of it mingled together to forever flow in each other’s veins. “Swear it, Father, here and now, swear that you, all of you, will stay the fuck away from my Wife and my Family. No games, no tricks, no visions, no accidents, and none of you will ever speak of this to anyone outside of this room. You will leave us in peace.”

  Zeus drew in a breath and solemnly agreed to uphold his end of the bargain, “I swear. Your turn, for every child you have with Alena you will produce another through Aphrodite. You will start before sundown.”

  “You want to watch?” Ares dared. Sundown? What was he supposed to tell Alena? Goin’ bowlin’ with the boys tonight, honey, don’t wait up. Standing there toe to toe with Zeus, he saw no humor reflected in the old man’s ancient eyes. “I swear,” the weight heavy on his heart and clear in his dark voice.

  II

  Making his way back to the Fortress with a new gauze bandage wrapped around his palm and forearm, Ares had a stop to make before seeing Alena.

  “Father,” Eros said as he opened the door, “this is…unexpected. You never visit me. What’s wrong?” He stepped back to allow Ares into the Tower. Ares took a meaningful step toward Eros, looked his nearly naked winged Son up and down and locked eyes with him. “Are you still potent?”

  “I beg your pardon?” Eros said in shock as his wings ruffled and he took a step back. “What kind of question is that?” It was the Son’s turn to gauge his Father and then tilt his head to the side to stare closely at Ares. “What’s wrong with you, Father?”

  “Answer me.”

  Eros folded his arms across his bronze chest and stood firm.

  “I am your Father, I have asked you a question, and you will answer me. Are you still potent?”

  “I don’t know what you’re on about, Ares, but fine. Yes, as far as I know my sperm work just fine. Are you happy?” His upper lip curled in disgust as wild thoughts went through his mind.

  Ares glared at his Son. “Ever lay with your Mother? Don’t lie.”

  Eros tried to hide the smirk that broke out on his face and failed. Waving a hand in the air and shaking his golden head in disbelief he said, “That really isn’t any of your business. You’re not married to her and you never were.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Ares sneered. So, if Eros was still potent and he had no qualms about sleeping with his Mother, what the hell did Zeus want with him? He could get his suitable heir through Eros and Aphrodite without upsetting anyone.

  “Are you drunk, Father? Been nipping at the Nectar a little too hard today?” Ares behavior was often erratic and unpredictable and sometimes downright maddening, but this was out of character even for the God of War.

  “No.”

  “Maggie? This got something to do with her? The vision everyone’s talking about?” Ares was really on about something, Eros just couldn’t tell what it was but caught the whiff of deep dark trouble brewing on the horizon. Dropping his gaze, Eros looked down and saw the bandage on Ares’ hand. “What’s that?”

  Ares was wasting his time here; Eros had no idea what was going on with Zeus and the others, but if he stayed much longer that would change. “Sorry I bothered you.” Taking a step to the right and then two forward, Ares made his way to the door. Eros grabbed him by the forearm suddenly and Ares let out a groan.

  “Oh my, Father, what have you done?” Eros whispered, once again taking the bandage around Ares hand and now understanding there was another around his forearm. Eros stepped in front of him, blocking the path to put his hand on Ares’ shoulder. “What horrible promise have you made and to whom? “

  With an indignant shrug, Ares shook Eros’ hand away from him. “Get out of my way and while you’re at it, stay away from my Wife.” Opening the door the frigid wind blew inside, biting Ares’ hardened face.

  While Eros was still in love with Alena, he’d done nothing to act upon it. He didn’t intend to until or unless the marriage fell apart on its own. “All I want is for her to be happy and loved,” Eros returned. “All that I have done, what little you have allowed, is to show concern and caring for my new stepmother and my Brother.”

  Ares let out a loud grunt and then walked out into the snow without looking back.

  “I told you before, Father, if you’re not careful you will find a way to destroy this,” Eros called after him.

  III

  After a quick stop at Athena’s Temple and finding only Athena at home with no knowledge of Hera’s whereabouts, Ares went back to his Fortress. Though the wound was still open, his palm stopped bleeding and Ares discarded the used bandage before walking in his door. He summoned up his favorite pair of fingerless gloves to cover the mark from
Alena’s eyes. Taking in a deep breath as he prepared to face to Wife, Ares walked through the secret wall and found Alena and Onya right where he left them. They were huddled on the dusty old bed playing Backgammon. “How are you feeling?”

  Alena looked up at the sound of his voice and smiled with relief. “O-k, better maybe.” Even though her surroundings were dark, Alena’s head felt a little lighter, a little less foggy than usual. She’d been playing the game with some level of skill before he appeared in the room.

  “This place is horrible,” Onya complained. It was chilly, even with the fire; it was dank, dusty, and it smelled like old socks. “If she’s going to have to stay here you have to clean it up; she can’t give birth in this dump.”

  “Another country heard from,” Ares moaned and then waved a hand in the air. The bunker morphed from dank and dark to bright, cheerful and clean. The bed beneath Alena was no longer the ancient mattress but the bed from her old room on his island. It was soft and warm. There was fresh food on the shelves and no trace of dust on them or hanging in the air. “Better?”

  “Getting there,” Onya mused. The weapons were still there but they were clean. “Definitely on the right track.”

  The sun was well past its midpoint in the sky when Ares came back to the Fortress, and he didn’t have much time to spend with his Wife before going off to Aphrodite’s bed. “Why don’t you go make us some stew, hummm?” he said to Onya and then, moving his fingers in the air, the wall opened. “Go on.”

  Onya didn’t hesitate; she just walked through the open wall and then watched it close behind her before finding her way to the kitchen.

  “What happened?” Alena asked as Ares settled on the bed next to her and she cuddled up to him. “Who?”

  “Zeus,” Ares said flatly, “but you’re safe here, you don’t have to worry about him. Soon Raven will arrive and this will be over.”

  Alena never understood why Zeus hated her so much. “Wants to kill me?” She caressed her big belly and felt the baby move. “Us? Why?”