I took another deep breath and thought a moment.
"I changed my mind. I'd rather relive something than see people coping."
Ares raged. "You called upon Athena to grant you both and NOW you decide not to?! You not only wasted her time, but you have also wasted mine!"
I shrugged. "Hey, I'm old. Dead, in fact. I'm stubborn. I can change my mind."
Ares growled. He flexed his arm muscles and I could see the burning desire inside him just waiting. He wanted to grasp my neck firmly in his hands and twist until it snapped.
Not that it would do much more.
"I'd rather not waste your time anymore, Ares. So, let's just get the reliving thing done, okay?"
"Fine. I grow tired of you. What do you want to relive?"
"Seville, Spain. The entire time."
"Can you be a little bit more specific?" he asked, exasperated.
"Not really. It was the only time I was ever in Seville. Should be easy enough, what for a god like you."
Ares flexed his arm muscles. He was growing tense and agitated; that was easy enough to tell. It was easy to push him over the edge. I knew that all too well. Too clearly. It had happened at our first meeting, in fact.
I tried to remember it. Tried. I was what, 15 at the time? Forty-eight years is a long time to remember back, even for something that could possibly have changed my life so greatly as that meeting probably had.
But, try as I might, I couldn't remember. I just couldn't.
I had always been able to recall bits and pieces of it before and piece it back together.
'Now there is a difference, however,' I realized bitterly. 'I'm dead now.'
"Yes; you are dead. I can clearly vouch for that bit of truth," Ares snapped at me.
Had I spoken aloud? I hadn't thought so. Didn't believe so, anyway.
What was going on? Why couldn't I remember? Was Ares reading my thoughts?
What was happening to me?
Ares glared at me. "Are you ready to see Seville once again?" he asked.
I nodded, still perplexed about my sanity. "I am ready."
"I changed my mind. I'd rather relive something than see people coping."
Ares raged. "You called upon Athena to grant you both and NOW you decide not to?! You not only wasted her time, but you have also wasted mine!"
I shrugged. "Hey, I'm old. Dead, in fact. I'm stubborn. I can change my mind."
Ares growled. He flexed his arm muscles and I could see the burning desire inside him just waiting. He wanted to grasp my neck firmly in his hands and twist until it snapped.
Not that it would do much more.
"I'd rather not waste your time anymore, Ares. So, let's just get the reliving thing done, okay?"
"Fine. I grow tired of you. What do you want to relive?"
"Seville, Spain. The entire time."
"Can you be a little bit more specific?" he asked, exasperated.
"Not really. It was the only time I was ever in Seville. Should be easy enough, what for a god like you."
Ares flexed his arm muscles. He was growing tense and agitated; that was easy enough to tell. It was easy to push him over the edge. I knew that all too well. Too clearly. It had happened at our first meeting, in fact.
I tried to remember it. Tried. I was what, 15 at the time? Forty-eight years is a long time to remember back, even for something that could possibly have changed my life so greatly as that meeting probably had.
But, try as I might, I couldn't remember. I just couldn't.
I had always been able to recall bits and pieces of it before and piece it back together.
'Now there is a difference, however,' I realized bitterly. 'I'm dead now.'
"Yes; you are dead. I can clearly vouch for that bit of truth," Ares snapped at me.
Had I spoken aloud? I hadn't thought so. Didn't believe so, anyway.
What was going on? Why couldn't I remember? Was Ares reading my thoughts?
What was happening to me?
Ares glared at me. "Are you ready to see Seville once again?" he asked.
I nodded, still perplexed about my sanity. "I am ready."