All was silent in the temple: the flames were extinguished, the dogs and servants kept at bay, and even the insects that sang just outside the entrance had kept to themselves tonight. All save for the moon that peeked through the many holes that were progressively being repaired after an attack that left even the lead priest crippled and bleeding in some hideaway. The only being who dared to step foot had nothing to fear anymore, and it was this lack of emotion and the absolute nothingness of this situation that frightened him the most. To think, him, frightened. It was possible and yet unbelievable that such a feat could occur but after living in a world so chaotic and full of noise only to find oneself in a void was terrifying. Kicking away some rubble and picking up a torn standard, the once smooth texture of the cloth was caressed between calloused fingers. Eyes that could make a grown man buckle and run were soft and pensive, a realization of a weakness he never knew he had.
"Oh stop, this isn't becoming of you."
The calm nature was in an instant turned into a flame as a turn on the heel brought a fireball roaring from his palm and making a direct aim for the owner of the voice. However, she was no longer there and instead had appeared behind him and enveloped him with her thin arms.
"I'll say this again, my dear, stop. This was a necessary step and I explained everything that I would be doing from day one."
"You lying wench." He snarled, teeth exposed as if being possessed by a wolf, "Nothing has gone in my favor. Everything I want is being taken from me and all I see is your plan going ahead and leaving everyone else behind."
"Ares, all is fair in war. You knew the risks and to be quite frank I'm surprised you are letting her get to you like this."
"Get to me? She didn't do anything, she has never done anything to us-"
"She is the reason your brothers and sisters are dead or dying. Gods aren't supposed to die Ares and you know this! I'm trying to stop all of this from happening, I'm trying to get you to understand that without me you would be dead too. And now I'm having to clean up the mess of what you lot couldn't fix yourself." Iva snapped back, he caring demeanor suddenly turning its ugly head. "I asked for your alliance because I knew you have been successful before. I knew you could lead an army and win a war. Don't disappoint me like your sister."
Ares scoffed, tossing the standard aside and watching it fall to the ground. "Did you really expect Aphrodite to become some warrior? She isn't a fighter."
"But her skills could have been useful. And still can. I'll be paying her a visit soon because it won't be long until our kind becomes an endangered species, God. All over the world deities rise and fall whether it is from some lucky bastard or they just can't hold a following anymore. Don't be one of them and if I were you, I'd convince your sister that death doesn't necessary belong in her wardrobe." Iva ran her fingers along a dusty pillar and rubbed them together as if evaluating this place for cleanliness. "You really should get this place fixed."
"I apologize; aesthetics to please you wasn't precisely on my to-do list." Ares growled. "Every temple could fall and I could care less. Let's just finish this and get it over with."
"That's no way to keep your immortality." Iva chuckled, as if this was some sort of joke.
"I don't care anymore Iva. We were a dying race anyways and you know what, I doubt I could ever die even if I wanted to. Humans are such stupid beings, so selfish and aggressive that even if I wanted to rest I can't until they no longer exist. I may not be Ares anymore a thousand years down the road but I will still be around." Sitting down on a blackened boulder that was half sunk into the floor he combed his hair back with his fingers.
"Not if she keeps up her tirade. She will turn the world into chaos. And I doubt you want Gabrielle to suffer through that." A grin had spread on Iva's face but she knew she had struck a chord when he had faltered for just a fraction of a second. "That poor girl, I know you don't love her but you care enough for her. You would do anything to-"
And with that Ares lunged at her but not in a human form. He had quickly turned without anymore hesitation into a wild dog with full intentions of tearing her throat out and lapping up her divine blood. But killing another god isn't so easy, especially when all his fangs were able to latch on to was summer air. Landing with full impact on the cracked tiled ground the head of the canine was thrown this way and that, looking for its intended target with a demonic bark and hungry belly.
"Don't disappoint me Ares. I don't care how hormonal you are, get your job done and done right. She will no longer put me down." It was only a voice but he heard it and howled back, regretting that he wasn't fast enough to crush her skull in.
A short chapter comparatively speaking but I will be posting another one soon to make up for it. More or less to push the story along a little bit further and provide proof that yes, this is alive again haha.