I somehow managed to keep my cringe to myself. Zeus was watching me with an expression I simply couldn't read. And I had to be honest with myself, I simply didn't want to know what it meant for me. Or my sister.
"Dishonest is a strong word."
Heracles chuckled while Achilles managed to hide his smile behind his hand. Zeus remained as still as a statue. His eyes started glowing and I knew that I was truly fucked in that moment. Or, as close to fucked as I could be. His expression reminded me of my own father. He had looked like this, as impassive and emotionless every time I had disappointed him. "I think it's an apt description. Do you not Ares?"
"We are not talking about me," Ares answered in a disinterest voice. I couldn't really ignore the way his arms tightened around me. I wondered what Ares knew that I didn't.
"No, but we are talking about your property." I bit my own tongue to keep it in check. Property. The word alone was enough to make my skin crawl. "You must correct me if I am mistaken child. But I seem to recall that you promised to be honest?" Oh, oh. Wasn't I in for a treat? Zeus might have looked calm and collected, but his voice was much too…nice for that. I knew men, I had spent my whole life in their world. I knew what it meant when men like Zeus spoke with such poise and hidden delight. It meant that they could strike at any given moment.
"I was." I tried to not draw attention to Chrystal as I casually draped my arm over her chairs armrest – but all eyes drew to me immediately. They could all see what I was doing, Zeus even smiled a little. "You would have known if I had lied."
"I think it is time you offer me your hand again."
"You will not have it." I bent into Ares embrace when he leaned forward to stare into his father's eyes. We were silent for a long while. Chrystal kept casting scared glances at me, I couldn't reassure her with words. I settled with putting my hand on her arm. It didn't make her relax, but it seemed to calm her enough to keep her in her seat. "You seem to have forgotten, Father," Ares said after minutes of silence, "that she is mine."
"And that no other man, male or creature is allowed to touch her," Zeus echoed with a saccharine smile, "including me."
"Including you," he agreed. "I let you have your fun with her. It's not my Lysandras fault that you didn't ask her the right questions." Ares face was just beside mine, I took deep breath as his lips stroked my cheek. His father only had eyes for his son, it seemed like they had forgotten about the rest of us.
"And, what kind of questions would that be my son?"
"What she does for a living? Why does she know so many language's? Why has she lived on half of this earth at such a young age?" The hair on my arms were standing. Ares had known, I wasn't sure how, but he knew. I could tell by his smug face and glowing eyes that he had someway always known. "Or, most important, why is she acting so strange now that her sister is here?" Ares made a thoughtful sound at the back of his throat. "Yes, all of that would have been very interesting to find out, wouldn't you agree?"
"Indeed," Zeus agreed.
Ares was smiling at me and it came like a smack in the face. Offer me what you're unwilling to give. The realization behind his words left me in a quiet inward shock. Chrystal finally squeezed my hand and pulled me back into reality, whether I wanted it or not. I had to clench my fists over and over again. I had lost the feeling in my hands, and my mouth felt as dry as a desert.
"Clever girl," Ares whispered against my cheek. My stomach churned at his words and the feel of his lips against me. The table was watching my quiet dismay, especially Ianthe. Which made sense, her being and empath, but she looked concerned while the others looked ready to pounce.
My hand was steady as I took the wine in front of me. I took a big gulp and used the momentum to wet my mouth. "I'll make a new deal with you." My voice shook a little, but I couldn't have cared less.
"Oh?" Ares teased, "what could you offer that I would want?" he said even though he knew perfectly well what I had to offer, and what I wanted in return.
"You know what."
A small laugh rumbled out of his chest. I gave Chrystal one last look before I turned in my seat and met Ares. He was leaning back against the chair, and looked like he didn't have a care in the world. "Name your price." The predator was back, his eyes never left me and he followed the smallest movements. I was aware of the other eyes on me, but didn't pay them any mind. This was between the two of us.
"Let my sister go, right now, and I'll give you what you want."
His next movement was a blur to my eyes. But I managed not to flinch when his hand rested at my neck. His grip was firm, it didn't hurt, it was his way of showing he was in control. He brought me closer with the help of his hand. "And what is it I want?" We were close enough to share breath. And I was once again reminded of his power when I looked into his sparkling eyes. I could feel him roam my mind as he wished, but I had never felt his presence like this before. I once again clenched my hands when I realized that he had always known. He had always watched and listened to my thoughts. He had stolen memories he had no right to.
"Me," I said and heard my own voice tremble.
He made another thoughtful noise and tilted his head to the side. He was playing games in front of his family. I suddenly understood that, yes, he had always known. But they hadn't suspected a thing, and he wanted them to know it. Ares wanted to show his family just how clever he was, and how foolish they had been. "But I already have you, no?"
I decided to play along with him, I could tell how much he wanted me to. "You have my body."
"But not you?"
"Body and mind are two different things. You should know that more than anyone."
"What is the meaning of this?" Zeus asked in a low voice behind me.
Ares ignored him and kept his grip on my neck. "I will let your sister go, in this moment, if you offer me what you're unwilling to give."
"Let her go," I started, I would not offer him anything before Chrystal was out of this place. "And I will give it to you, willingly." It felt like my heart was going to come out of my chest as I waited for him to answer. Getting Chrystal out had always been my priority. I would rest assure if I knew she was safe. I would give Ares everything after she was gone.
He must have seen it in my mind, for he suddenly smiled. "Done." I had to shield my eyes, Ares eyes glowed, like a flash of blue wildfire. I blinked several times in a row, my eyes were stunned from the sudden light. Like a flash from a camera, only worse, my eyes actually hurt.
Bastard
"You called, brother." My eyes weren't functioning like they were supposed to. I couldn't see the person that spoke. But I recognized Hermes voice.
"Brother," Ares spoke out and fully relaxed his grip on my neck. "You are to return the sister of your kúpia. You will not harm her, you will put her back in their house and leave her there, untouched."
"Naí adelfos," Hermes answered without question and bowed his head.
Ares lifted me from his lap. "Say your goodbyes, this will be the last time you see her."
A lump formed in the back of my throat as I stood up and turned to Chrystal. Flashes of black still covered my vision. But I saw well enough to see Chrystal, still in her chair, with shock written all over her face.
"Chrystal," I said and dragged her up from her chair.
Her eyes were big and uncertain. "Lys," she whined and clenched my hands in hers. She pulled me into a tight embrace as tears started to roll down her cheeks. "Lys!" she cried out when I tried to soothe her.
"Listen to me." She didn't listen at all, she kept on crying. I shook her a little and made sure she met my gaze. "Listen to me," I hissed. It made her stop long enough to really look at me. I think the last piece finally came to place when she truly looked at me.
"I can't leave you here!" she cried.
"Fuck that," I growled as my heart started to beat for another reason. She would not stay. I would bend myself backwards before I let her stay here. "You are going home, and that's fucking final. You hear me?" I wasn't even going to delay her departure. I wanted her gone now.
"I can't!" she cried and I hated that I saw panic in her eyes. Panic that was too deep rooted for me to reach. I knew that she didn't want to stay, that she wanted to take this shot at freedom and never look back. I could also see that she was terrified of doing it and leaving me alone to fend for myself.
"You are going whether you want it or not," I said softly when I saw the truth in her eyes. Her face rested in my hands as more tears kept falling. I brushed them away with my thumbs and spoke soft words to her. Her grip on my forearms was bordering to the point of being painful, I said nothing as her fingers dug into my flesh.
"Lys," she sobbed, "all of this is my fault."
"It's not," I assured and kept on wiping her tears away. "None of this is your fault."
"This would never have happened if Joan and I had listened to you. Joan would still be alive and you – "
"Shhhh," I said and leaned her forehead against mine. "Listen to me carefully now. This was not your doing, or mine, or Joans. This was their doing, don't ever forget that. Arcas, Manes and Ares started this, not us," I said with as much confidence as I could. Because this was not our blame. We hadn't asked any of them to do this. She turned her head from me, and looked straight at Ares and his family instead. "We didn't ask for any of this Chrystal, we didn't decide anything. You wanna blame someone? Blame them!" I hissed and pointed to Ares sitting figure behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know where he was, I could feel his looming gaze at my shoulder blades.
Her lips shook when she looked back at me. "I can't leave you here with them." She sounded broken and utterly filled with despair. She finally understood that she didn't have a choice. We never had, and we never would.
"You don't have a choice. Go," I ushered as softly as I could. I let my love for her come out when I spoke. And I think that got to her more than anything else. "I don't have anything left besides you Chrystal. So, go, and live your life."
"Lys," she begged. It's not like she had anything else to say, not really. "He'll kill you. You know that." Her voice was strong and certain, as was her eyes. We both knew this. But it didn't bother me at all. I had known this from the first night Ares took me. I wouldn't live long, and I was OK with that. I was ready for it.
"We all die sometime," I joked. She smiled back, without any humor. "Chrystal," I said and made sure she only had her eyes on me. She needed to hear this, even though she already knew it. "I should have been dead long ago. You know that."
"Don't say that," she cried as she argued and tightened her grip on my arms. But she couldn't really debate it with me.
I shook my head at her. "I shouldn't be alive now and I'm fine with that. Do you hear me?" Her eyes grew big when she finally understood what I was saying.
I'm fine with dying for you.
"No," she argued and shook her head.
"Go, and live. Settle down with some marine. Have a couple of kids and name them after us. And both me and Joan will be in peace."
"Please," she begged in vain.
"I love you Chrystal. I will always love you."
"Don't!" she yelled as I untangled myself from her.
I met Hermes eyes. There was no trace of his humor, no mischief, nothing. He nodded once and made his way over to us. Chrystal backed away from Hermes when she saw him move closer. "Wait," she said and held up her hands, "wait!" she yelled with panic in her voice when he came closer.
I turned to Ares. His face was unreadable. "You said you would take her memories."
"I have decided against it. But she will never be able to tell anyone what happened to you or where you are."
Bastard.
I could have said a whole lot more. But choose to keep quiet, there would be time for that when Chrystal was safe. "Lysandra!" Chrystal howled when Hermes took a grip on her arm. I went to her, and placed my hand on her cheek.
"You know what I will do now. You don't need to worry about me."
"I know," she whispered as her lips trembled.
"Go, and promise me you will live for the three of us."
"I promise," she swore with tears in her eyes. "I love you, you will always be my sister, no matter what."
"I know, go," I said and kissed her forehead for the last time.
She cried as I let her go. But something shifted in her eyes when she saw the Galanis family behind us. It didn't come as a surprise when I saw that it was hate, in its purest form. "You have no idea what you have done," she sneered, "she will destroy you all!" she hissed, and I smiled at her confidence in me. Although it was wrong placed now. I would never get away from him. "And you!" she said to me, her eyes burning with a familiar fire, "you will wait for me at those fucking fields you always talk about."
Yes, I'll see you there.
The Elysian Fields, it seemed fitting for us.
She cried when I nodded. "I'll see you at Elysium."
"I love you."
I smiled at her. This will be the last time I see you in this life. But it is worth it. "I love you too, always." I could see that she was stalling, and Hermes thankfully let her. "This isn't goodbye, I'll see you later."
"At Elysium then," she agreed.
"At Elysium adelfi."
It took a blink of the eye, and just like that.
Chrystal was gone.
I don't know for how long I just stood there. I was happy, beyond happy to know that she was safe. And knowing that it had been so simple the whole time was infuriating.
The others said nothing. They were probably wondering what all the fuss had been about. And I had to laugh to myself, boy was I going to show them. I slowly turned to Ares. His eyes were shining, a smile was on his lips. "Are you sure you want this?" I asked and made my way to him.
He stood up and loomed over me like he usually did. The difference? I wasn't afraid of him. There was nothing he could do to me. Or, nothing I would care about anymore. He had taken of the chains that had bound my hands. He had released me from the cage he had placed me in. "I am," he agreed and reached out his hand to touch me.
I stepped out of reach from his touch. I could see the corner of his lips twitch, and heard the others sound of surprise.
Yes, surprise motherfuckers.
"First things first," I began and watched the humor dance in Ares face. He was enjoying this, but he wouldn't for long. He wanted me? Then I'll fucking give myself to him. Thorns and edges and all. "I offer my true self to you," I said and watched as his smile grew, "do you accept?"
"I accept," his deep voice echoed and sealed me to him once and for all. This was it. I had offered everything to him. But oh, would he regret this! I almost laughed at his confident face. Ares didn't even realize what he'd unleashed.
"Perfect." I cast my eyes on the table and smiled. "Then there's the other issue to address. We should get it over with right away, wouldn't you agree?"
He smirked back at me and looked down at my hand. "Pick it up then," he said and motioned to the dagger.
I picked it up, and was staring at Ares body to best determine where to strike. I was twirling the dagger in my hand as I watched. The motion of it in my hand was a glorious weight and reminder of who I used to be. Ares moved from the table, and stood with his arms stretched to his sides. "Wherever you want omorfia." I could tell that the others were watching me play with the dagger, I could almost feel their anticipation dance on my skin.
"Could you place your hands behind your back?"
His laughter was the only thing that sounded, the others were unnaturally quiet. They were waiting and watching with interest, I could tell that much. "Certainly," he said and placed his arms behind his back so his chest stuck out even more. "Any more requests?" he said in a mocking tone.
I stepped up to him, with the dagger in my hand. "One, actually," I said and placed my hand on his shoulder to stabilize the blow. "Can you make sure that none of your blood reaches the dress?"
He laughed once more. "You intend to stab me, and you don't want any blood on your dress?" he asked and sounded incredulous.
"I don't want to ruin it with stains."
"As you wish. None of my blood will stain your pretty little dress."
I ignored his smile and his tone. I only had eyes for his chest. I could already imagine where I would stab him, how I would do it. I'd make sure I did it from beneath, so the dagger went clean under his ribs and into his heart. I felt my way around his chest, to best determine how well guarded his heart was. I had to admit that I knew Ares body on the outside, but I had no idea what he looked like on the inside. He could have been built with double ribcages for all I knew. But I felt nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that indicated that I couldn't reach his heart. I finally pressed my thumb into the beginning of his breastbone and felt exactly where I would strike.
Ares took a deep breath and smiled down at me when I once again placed my hand on his shoulder. I met his eyes and smiled back. He already knew where I would land my blow. He probably already knew the pain and what was to come. But I was more than curious to see what it would do to him.
Maybe he's heartless.
It wasn't impossible.
Fuck it. You'll find out soon enough.
I met some resistance as I stabbed into the most vulnerable part of him. The tissue finally gave way when I heaved with all my strength, using my hand on his shoulder as leverage. Ares eyes bulged, and the sound he made was sweeter than any music I'd ever heard. I could tell that this hurt. And much worse than his heart would have. His flesh was harder than a normal human, that much was true.
Why had I felt my way over a chest I already knew?
Why had I made sure Ares thought I was going for his chest?
Because I fucking went straight for his groin, that's why.
The dagger was angled the same way as it would have been had I stabbed him in the chest. I had already chosen his dick for countless of other reasons. My main had been for it to fall off. I had stabbed him straight through his balls, and hopefully dick too.
I twisted the blade, and made sure that the wound grew worse with the movement. Ares fell to his knees with the motion, and I finally released the grip of the dagger. His breathing sounded…pained to say the least. He took big gulps of air, not that it seemed to matter or help him in any way.
Now, I could have tried to keep the smile off my face. Or at the very least, make sure I didn't laugh at him. I could've tried to make sure none of the people present heard the satisfaction in my laugh, or saw it in my face.
I did neither of course.
The sound Ares made in return was something between a growl and a howl. "What's the matter kýrios?" I asked and kneeled in front of him. The look he gave me would have made my skin crawl, would have. But Chrystal wasn't here anymore, was she? "Are you in pain?" I think Ares was too busy with his pain to really hear what I was saying. But it felt goooooood to fucking say it, to taunt him back.
It felt beyond amazing to let myself be my true self.
I didn't even care how Ares had known that I had…tweaked parts of my personality to better accommodate him. I had hidden these parts of myself from the start. Simply put them to rest. Much like I did when I was on a mission. There had been parts of myself that had been simply me. Ares had spent time with me and my sisters before this, but I liked to think that I was usually one step ahead, which I had been this time. I had changed myself from the get go, not knowing the why of it myself in the beginning, I had only known that something had been off about the brothers. But Ares would have known that I was playing a role if I had changed too much about myself. So, I had adjusted myself in the tiny places where habits and reactions were. Where most people didn't think to change themselves. I had changed myself into someone that wouldn't put up much of a fight. Someone that would ultimately agree that Ares was the powerful one, someone that would eventually bend to his will. And well, it seemed like Ares wanted my fight, my fire as they all called it. I unleashed me, and the parts of me that had slumbered in Ares presence.
Yes, this is me, I thought as I took a deep breath. And that breath felt like the first one in a long time. Like being awakened after hibernating. I rolled my shoulders and neck, still holding the breath in. Both parts of me creaked, like they too hadn't been used in a while. I exhaled when I felt the tension leave my back and neck, there was nothing left but to smile.
I wasn't a nice person. Not really. I was nice enough to my sisters, and I was polite enough when I needed to be. I had been raised right, I knew my manners. But I as a person wasn't very pleasant when I had a scorn to settle.
I disliked most people, because I had seen the most vicious parts of human beings.
I disliked most men, because I had seen the dark corners that lurked inside of them.
I simply disliked the fucking world, because I had first handedly seen that it was a cruel and cold place.
Did I think of myself as a mean person? Of course not. But I thought of myself as a predator. This world was filled with prey and predator, victors and victims. And I had never been prey or victim. And being Ares hadn't stopped be from thinking that I wasn't prey. Ares was the ultimate predator, I was very aware of what he was. But I wasn't his to prey on, even though I had let him for the time being. The best thing? I no longer had to let him.
It took a special kind of person to be in my line of work, to be perfectly honest.
It took a very special kind of fucking person.
I could be out on a mission and kill, dismember, torture, you fucking name it, I could fucking do it. And I could switch it off just as easily, I could go home to my sisters and sleep like a babe. I could live as a normal 22 years old. I could go out and party, go shopping and fix my nails and everything in between the day after murdering someone in cold blood. It meant very little to me.
That didn't mean that I didn't have a conscious, I did. Mine was just…limited. My conscious was restricted to my family and Kevin. I had never felt bad for anything I had ever done. And yes, I was well aware that that simply wasn't normal. But it had never stopped me. My lack of conscious and my charming persona had given me much more than I ever could have hoped for. I had more money in the bank than I cared to count. I had more experience than most people in my age. I had traveled the world. I had lived across countries. I had a good life, a happy life. I had been content with my life most of the time. I simply didn't look back at what I did, and I had always been fine with that.
"Tell me Ares, do you regret accepting me?" I said and tilted my head to the side as I watched him grit his teeth in pain. "Strangely, I don't think you do," I said and grabbed a hold of the hilt once more. Ares hand was quick to stop me, but he didn't stop me as I pulled the dagger from his groin, he did screech in pain and it was a lovely sound. A pleasant sound. "You see, I want this back. This was a lovely gift that came to use a bit earlier than I thought." I was inspecting the dagger, there was blood all over it. Ares had kept his promise, his blood only flecked the floor and his pants, nothing had reached me. Ares was watching me; his eyes were glowing as usual.
By all means, come in and see. Hear the real me.
His upper lip lifted in a silent snarl when I licked some of the blood from the dagger. The taste of his blood made my neck twitch. He still tasted delicious. I could still feel his strength and power in that small taste. Yes, he tasted divine. "You taste so sweet," I provoked and stood up. I wasn't sure if Ares was in shock or what was happening, but he stayed silent and seemed to be unmovable. I couldn't really fault him for that.
I waved to the waiter and called out loud. "Would you be so kind and get a bottle of Patrone and a glass?" I made sure that my smile was big and brilliant, the waiter nodded and quickly ran away.
Ares was still in the floor, with his head bent down. I went back to the table and sat where Ares and I had been sitting all night, the dagger resting on the table. His father and brothers said nothing. They all seemed to wait for me to break the silence. Not that I had anything to say to any of them. The only one I had words for was gone.
It didn't take long for the waiter to come back, with the bottle and a shot glass in his hands. I quickly thanked him, and he once more disappeared into the shadows and waited for us to call on him.
Zeus had his eyes on me while I poured a shot to myself. And no. I wasn't going to share. This was my birthday, and I was going to celebrate it with shots. On my own. I didn't need them to raise their glasses for me. I simply didn't want them to toast. They were nothing more than my captors, all of them. None of them had ever tried to tell Ares to let me go. None of them had ever asked what was really going on. And most important, neither of them had told me what the fuck was going on. They could deny it all, but I knew that they knew why Ares kept me. I wasn't stupid enough to buy the whole 'plaything' bullshit. He was treating me like something else, something more, like someone with power and control. A plaything simply wouldn't be given that kind of power. I still kept my mouth shut about it. The lesser they thought of me the better. They would tell me eventually, I was sure of that.
I didn't think of myself as a genius. But I did think that I was intelligent. I knew that reading people's body language and voices were a specialty of mine. I didn't need to have Ianthes empath abilities to know what they were feeling. And I didn't need Ares mindreading to know what they were thinking at the moment. I could tell by their stiff body language and their loss of words that they didn't know what to say. And not because they were shocked.
Nope.
They had seen this sort of behavior many times before this night.
But they had never seen it from me. They were trying to read me all over again. Trying to see me in this new light and learn what to expect from me. Yes, they wanted to see who this new person was. They reminded me of animals that were encountering something they didn't know. They wanted to observe and smell before they came near to poke and dared see what was in front of them. And I was quite alright with that. I didn't feel like talking to them either.
I gulped the alcohol down, and loved the way it burned, how it felt. I had always liked alcohol. The stronger the better. The sting of it would drown any conscious of mine. That's why I liked alcohol as much as I did. It made me more vicious than usual, more cruel and nasty. And I had every intention of being all three tonight. I rarely drank enough to get me drunk, I just drank enough to get a buzz, to feel it burn away my humanity. Drunk me had little control and I relished being in control. Tipsy me was the person I wanted to be.
They still said nothing, although Achilles raised his brow by the time I was pouring my third shot. Ares was still blissfully silent, well not completely silent. I still heard his labored breathing.
Yes, breathe through it darling. That will make it bearable.
I took another one, just to spite them. My alcohol tolerance had always been sky-high, something I had my mother to thank for. My father had always told me that she drank more than a sailor. And that she still felt like partying while my father was puking his guts out.
And another one.
"You seem thirsty," Heracles remarked when I poured myself a sixth glass.
"Very observant," I mused and held the glass to my lips. Heracles smile was full of hidden delight. Achilles was watching me with a mix between adoration, pride and horror. Zeus wasn't watching me at all, he was looking at his fallen son. "Don't worry Zeus," I began while I smiled like a fiend, "your golden boy will be fine soon enough."
His gaze whipped and settled on me. His eyes were two blue pits of fury, I could see the flames dance in his eyes. "I would be careful if I were you."
My smile was still plastered on my face. Careful? Now wasn't that cute. I hadn't lied to Ares when I told him that I had met more dangerous men than him. And not because Ares wasn't dangerous, he was in his own way, I was sure of that. I had seen it. Ares and his family were somewhat stable, it was the unstable bastards you had to worry about, they were truly dangerous. The full psychopath's that could truly injure you were always the worst.
Like my scars.
I had lied about those.
"See Ares? I can lie. Quite good too."
I ignored his growl, it sounded halfhearted and weak. Pathetic even. I had a scar, from my time with the military, that part was true. Joan and Chrystal had been the ones who took care of me after my little accident with that particular knife. But that scar was mostly hidden, the wound had been just below my armpit, right in my ribs. Arcas must have felt something from that scar the day he showed me his ability, because I had felt my ribs getting re-broken when my hand had been in his. That injury had actually hurt a lot more than my other scars. I had made sure never to think about it in Ares presence, I had fabricated the so-called memory I had shown him where Kevin had come in and saved the day. Well, Kevin did save the day, but not even close to what I had shown Ares.
And Kevin…good Lord Ares was a fucking idiot if he thought that I didn't love him. Or maybe I didn't, I wasn't actually sure of what love was, but I was positive that I felt a resemblance of the sort. I had been grateful for everything that man had done to me. He'd built me up after my tango with the psychopath, he'd stayed with me when I had needed it, and given me space when I had needed that. That man had been a God given gift that I hadn't deserved. Why did I feel guilty? Because I had made Kevins life a real fucking living hell when I'd found out he was getting deployed again. I had tried to bully him into staying. I had tried to bribe him. I even went so far as to tie him up the day he was supposed to go away. And lastly…I had told him, seconds after that last picture of us had been taken, that I was going to break off the engagement if he left. That's why I kept staring at that picture, because our smiling faces were nothing but a lie. We had argued for a month and tried to postpone his coming departure. But threatening him with the engagement had been unacceptable of me, but I remembered the feeling in my chest that day. I had known from the start that Kevin wouldn't come back to me. Ares could think what he wanted, but there was only one name carved into my heart, and it certainly wasn't Ares.
I hadn't gotten the scars by my uterus and ovaries while I was with the marine. No sir. I had gotten them on a mission, a solo mission where my cover had been blown. Kevin had been the one to save me, after hours of torture that had left me into something I'd rather not think about. I hadn't been with any squad, there had been no one to watch my back. But there was a perk to being the general's daughter. My father had sent out a Navy Seal unit to save me. And that right there had been my problem with Kevin in the beginning, I had had things under some sort of control before they all came fucking barging in. I hadn't wanted him to save me and show everyone that I was daddy's little girl in need of saving. It had pissed me off to the point where I had attacked the seals that were trying to free me. That mission had cost me more than my fertility, which had been a blow I still hadn't recovered from. No, that mission had cost me my pride, and it had taught me that pride was my greatest vice. The torture would have made me into something I wasn't. Someone not capable of human emotions and suffering had it not been for Kevin. He had saved me when everything else had been so dark. I must admit though that I did lose a part of my humanity that day. I became much more ruthless and vicious after that. But the fact remained that Kevin and my sisters had saved me from myself.
Not that that mattered now, that was neither here nor there. The point was that neither of the males before me could ever scare me. I had already been scared to the point of breaking once before, and neither of them were evil enough to reach that level. Neither of them even came close to the psychopath that had maimed me forevermore.
"But you're not me Zeus, are you?" He kept staring at me and waited for me to back down, for me to be the first to avert my eyes. I refused. I decided to infuriate him even more. "Does your limbs grow back if you lose them?" My smile was sugarcoated, my voice was gentle as a breeze.
"Yes," Heracles answered while watching his brother.
"Pity," I said and meant it. My life would have been much simpler had Ares just lost his dick without it ever growing back. I guess the fates were truly cruel.
"I should kill you for this," Zeus simply stated while waiting for my reaction. He seemed disappointed when he didn't catch the whiff of fear from me.
"Férte ti skýla." He growled now, that was for sure. I hadn't expected any less. I had challenged him and said something close to 'bring it bitch'. No, Zeus was not pleased, but I was. "What is it patéras?" He growled once more when I called him father, but it only seemed right. "Have I displeased you?" I purred and leaned forward in the chair.
He huffed a sound that sounded more like a growl than a laugh. "No kóri," he answered with a smile that seemed out of place. I didn't so much as flinch when he called me daughter, it only broadened my smile. "You have no idea how much it pleases us to finally see the fire you insisted on keeping caged within."
"Oh?" I sang.
"We never expected you to be so…docile." Achilles eyes were warm when he spoke, and his small smile showed me the tips of his sharp teeth. "I must say that I didn't expect you to be as untamed either. But I prefer you this way."
"That warms my heart," I lied, "however, I think you'll regret saying that."
He inclined his head in answer. "I do not doubt that I will. You should try to see it from my eyes then adelfi," he said and I felt his eyes try to bore into my soul, the brilliant blue in them told me that he was using an ability I didn't know of. "I have felt that there was something missing, that you were hiding something. I have seen the times when you have smothered your wrath. And I have also seen that that little spark was nothing compared to what you kept hidden from us. Although we all must admit that this was more than we expected, I think we will get along much better now."
A deep laugh escaped me. Get along better? He must've been joking. Get along? I laughed to myself again. That was the last fucking thing I was going to do. "Have you all lost your minds?" I said and looked to the males in turn. I kept Ianthe out of this. I had sworn never to harm her again, and I would keep that promise. Neither of them answered, they were all waiting for me to elaborate. Which I had no problem doing. It seemed like they needed a healthy dose of reality. "Do you honestly think I am going to play house with you?" I saw a tic in Achilles jaw. Yes, I could tell that he didn't like this at all. His whole demeanor became stiff when he heard the sting in my voice. He even went so far as to look away in shame. Heracles jaw was clenched, it seemed like he did it to keep himself quiet. Zeus on the other hand showed nothing. "It seems that there is only one way to make you understand what I am saying."
The males hissed when I sliced my palm with the dagger. I loathed seeing my blood flow. I didn't have any problem with blood at all. I just didn't like seeing my blood getting spilled. The metallic scent of my blood reached Ares, he snarled low and dangerous. "Fuck you." My blood was dripping on the table and made a small little puddle before I stared into their eyes. "I swear that I will make your life a living hell. From this day, until the day I die. You won't even realize what I am doing until it's too late. And then I am going to destroy you all, one way or another." They didn't seem frightened. And, why should they? I was only human after all. It would be tough to harm them physically, I wasn't even sure if I was going to try that. "Your family will never be the same after I am gone. I will leave my mark on each and every one of you. I will make you pay for what you did to my sisters, or for what you failed to do to my sisters. I swear, on my life, that I will make you hurt."
They met my words with big eyes and a whole lot of silence. I was sure that they could see the brutal honesty in my eyes, that they could smell it in my blood, and feel it in the very air we breathed.
I watched the small slice on my hand heal on its own, all thanks to Ares blood. I smiled as I watched it happen. Extraordinary. I then turned my eyes to the box with the necklace. The jewelry in its self was enough to catch my gaze, but it was the small hum that made me put it around my neck.
"Now that that's over with. I am going out, I feel like dancing. I will see you some other night. I hope you enjoy yourselves, and that you had fun. I certainly had." I stood up from my chair and tried to listen to what the necklace was trying to tell me. The males kept watching me in silence as I took three steps and stopped. "Are you sure it still works?" I asked Achilles while I held the necklace in my hand and watched it instead of him.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
I met his gaze now, it was full of questions and trepidation. "Because it is quiet, it's not telling me anything."
"Then your heart doesn't desire anything at the moment."
I nodded once and made my way to the elevator. I smiled to myself when no one stopped me. Ares voice boomed before I reached the steps that lead out to the elevator. "Lysandra I will rip out your tongue if you take another step."
"Get over yourself." I didn't look over my shoulder when I answered him. I was sure that Ares wouldn't be able to move much for the coming day. Maybe days even. "Ianthe," I called before I stepped out for the night.
"Yes?" Her answer came immediate. Wonderful.
"Would you care to join me tonight?"
Shock was written all over her face as she smiled. "It would be my honor kúpia." I could've kissed her, she didn't even wait a full second before she answered me. Perfect, just perfect.
"Ianthe," Heracles called, his distress was clear as day.
"Don't worry Heracles," I began and waited for Ianthe to reach me. I linked her arm in mine when she came and stood beside me. Her cold skin felt amazing on my own, because it wasn't a bone cold temperature like the others had. This was just perfect, I never wanted to let her arm go. "Ianthe is the only one I have promised not to harm. I will never touch her again, you have my word." I simply couldn't torture Heracles like that. The woman besides me wasn't just his bride. She was the meaning of his life, his partner and the single most important thing to him. See? Even I had boundaries. Even I could be nice.
"Thank you kúpia."
"Let's go," I said to Ianthe. She eagerly nodded and stepped into the elevator before I had to say anything. We both laughed when the door closed. The only thing I could think of was just how good it had felt to stab Ares.
"I think you will make my life very interesting," Ianthe finally said with a warm smile.
I laughed in agreement. "You won't have a dull moment with me around."
She laughed too, and stared at me with eyes that were too old for her immortal beautiful face. "I know that we will get along very well. This will be good. Very good," she said and nodded to herself.
I agreed wholeheartedly. Ianthe was my new partner in crime, whether she wanted it or not. I could feel her hand closing in on mine, but it stopped before it could reach me. "Hear hear," I said and clasped her hand in mine. She pressed back in a reassuring way, she must have felt my feelings. I only hoped that she would back me up for my coming days.
They were after all going to be my last.
Now, let's go on an adventure. Let's make sure Ares regrets ever touching me. Let's make sure the whole Galanis family demands my head on a platter. Let's make sure I sign my own execution.
I'm ready for it.