THE SCOURGE
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters
Hercules strode through the crowd looking for Iolaus. All around him were men sharpening swords, fastening armour and saddling horses. Never a man of war, Hercules wasn't looking forward to battle but he would stand by these men. The Scourge had come for Thebes. All Greece knew of Ares' vassal: clad all in black, wearing a mask with goat horns. It was said that the Scourge combined raw power with speed and a precision that made him unmatched on the battlefield. It was even whispered that the Scourge was part demon. Hercules had a feeling that he and the Scourge would cross swords today.
Hercules mostly ignored his half-brother's shenanigans but this was his home-town. Ares needed straightening out and so did this Scourge. Just then, Hercules sighted Iolaus and went to him. The two discussed strategy with the men, then rode out with the front line. Might as well get it over with.
She put on her clothes, then her armour, methodically but thoughtlessly as she had countless times before. She tied her hair up, then slipped on her mask. She fastened her gloves then stepped confidently out of her tent. The surprisingly sunny day was felt by her all the more because of her black clothing. She directed her men then made for the stable to get her horse. How many times before had she done exactly this? Almost 100 by now, she thought. She had been commanding Ares' forces for a while. She was the jewel in his crown. So successful were her campaigns that her notoriety had bred her a nickname: The Scourge. People from the towns she had conquered for Ares still trembled at the sound of it. She didn't know why. She wasn't as bad as most warlords. She tried to do things peacefully before attacking a village. She sent emissaries explaining that a temple was to be built to Ares, that he was to be given tribute and that food, drink and lodging were to be given to her men and any others flying Ares' banner. If they agreed, her army usually stayed just long enough to make sure the terms were implemented and then left, sans bloodshed. But more often than she liked, the people chose to fight and her army decimated them. She never commissioned murder of women, children or prisoners of war, the latter of which were usually sent back to their homes. Today was a fighting day. She knew that most of the defenders would die, her army would win and Ares would be glorified. It was just another day.
From as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be loved. Just knowing that someone cared about me always gave me this warm feeling in the pit of my stomach and the thought would keep me smiling for hours. Needless to say, for a warrior, this was very disadvantageous. On a battlefield, the difference between life or death is determined by your focus and if my focus is on someone else... you complete the thought. Even knowing that, I have always been driven by my emotions. That was actually one of the things Ares tried to drive out of me. Ironic that the thing he hated about me, was the thing that kept me binded to him. Although I can't blame him because it was also the thing that led me away from him.
I grew up in a temple. Ares' temple. He told me that someone just left me on his altar when I was a baby and, try as they might, the priests couldn't find my parents. They took it as a sign that I was meant to be dedicated to the god of war so they fed, clothed and educated me throughout my childhood. They were a bit cold but it wasn't so bad. I played with children from the village and I had friends so I was happy. My education was a bit biased. I was taught every thing a child my age should know plus Ares, God of War 101. My reverence for Ares was superceded only by that of the priests themselves. I was dangerously close to fanatic; Ares was, to me, the greatest god, the only one worth worshipping. Even so, my life was somewhat boring. But... life got really interesting when i turned eleven. That was the first time i saw him.
I was playing alone by the lake outside of the temple. I was laughing at how funny my reflection looked when the lake surface was rippled when suddenly, there were two reflections instead of one in the pool. I looked back and saw him there. Dressed all in black, with that serious look on his face, part of me wanted to run away. The other part, however, wanted to stay longer and study this strange, new man in more detail. He was at least six feet tall and every inch was forboding to me. I must've looked so strange just staring up at him but he just stood there and stared right back. Eventually he said, "After all these years in my temple, I thought u would have the decency to at least bow in my presence." I was a precocious pre-teen who was seriously pissed at having her sanctuary invaded, even if the stranger was incredibly intimidating. I screamed, "How dare you insult the great god! Pretending to be Ares when a puny human like you really could never compare! Ares will not forgive this insult. His vengeance will be terrible and complete. Be warned. Now go." Yeah yeah, I was pious AND melodramatic at 11. I turned to walk back towards the temple but didn't even take one step before an invisible force picked me up off the ground, tuned me around and brought me eye-level with the man. As those dark, angry, unfathomable eyes looked at me, into me, I sinkingly realised that the man actually was Ares. Only he could wield such power. My horrible shame and fear must have showed on my face because he released me and i dropped to the ground. Hard. I could hear him chuckling above me. I put myself in a supplicatory position, kneeling, face down.
I could hear the amusement in his voice when he said, "Oh so now you believe that I actually am Ares?"
I was still too ashamed to speak and it would have been impudent of me to look at him so i stayed perfectly still. He chuckled again. "You certainly have spirit. And conviction. Those things will serve you well." I heard a rustling of paper above my head and then I felt a slight disturbance in the grass by my hands. "Take this to the priests."
I don't know how long I stayed in my position before I dared to look around. There was no one else there. I hadn't heard or felt anything when he left. There was a scroll by my hands, tied with a black ribbon. I hesitantly picked it up. After all, I had just insulted the God of War and he wasn't known for his forgiveness. That scroll could have made me implode for all I knew. Fortunately it was harmless and when I realised I was still whole, I ran back to the temple and shoved it into the hands of the first priest I saw.
That scroll had to have been the most exciting thing to happen in that temple in my entire life there. Every single priest pored over that thing, even the High Priest who rarely left the sanctuary. They seemed in awe of it, and a bit confused. I pieced together that they all wanted to touch the scroll that had been touched by the Great God himself, but the message inked onto the papyrus was what confused them. I never read that scroll, nor was I ever told what it said.
After all the priests had looked at and prayed and chanted over the scroll to make sure it really was from Ares, my things were packed and I was told to take them to the sanctuary and wait there. I was beyond surprised. The sanctuary was the most holy place in the temple, only the High Priest ever went in there. It was said that Ares struck the unworthy down "For how long?" I asked. They didn't answer me. I did as i was told with much internal trepidation. I didn't have to wait long though. As soon as the doors shut, a vicious wind whipped up around me. I knew it was supernatural because the sanctuary was completely sealed; no windows and only one door, which was shut. As strong as the wind was, my things and I were right in the middle of it and we weren't moved. In fact, it seemed to be keeping us in one place. The wind whirled around me and got faster with every passing second. I don't know if I was in the middle of that whirlwind for a minute or a month but at some point it became too fast for my eyes to follow and I slipped into black space.