"It is generally known

that he who expects much will be often disappointed;

yet disappointment seldom cures us of expectation..."

~Samuel Johnson

Chapter 16

Hidden Eyes

A/N: (Gets hyper and updates at Thursday...)

Silken curtains swept softly in the touch of the breeze, its edges fluttering across the skin which bared her shoulders. Her eyes slowly opened at the trickling sensation from the ghost-like cloth, and for a second she felt her head swimming.

Thanea raised her head lightly whilst grey eyes searching why she ended up sleeping in the guests' chamber of the house. Finally she caught up with her memories, and smiled at the thought of finding Ares behind her. She turned around at the other side of the bed, but saw the crumpled sheets beside her empty. The smile on her lips diminished to find herself alone in the shattered room. Glass shards scattered across the floor, the candles unruly piled in a corner, and a gaping dent decorated the wall. She had begun to wonder if last night was a dream, a dream where she felt the most out of love squeeze her heart, letting her shed virgin blood. She sat alone for a moment and let her hair spread across her shoulders, temporarily covering her breasts. The minute she lowered her lashes then a sight of red attracted her. A blood-red rose lay on the pillow which Ares' head used to occupy.

Her fingers touched the edge of the petals, and ran across its smooth stem before holding it entirely. Leaning her head against the bed board, she finally realized she isn't dreaming at all. She held the flower with lazed fingers and brought the folds of petals below her nose. The scent was heavenly; she felt dazed in an instant at the sweet fragrance and eyed the piece of papyrus which the rose used to lay. Putting the flower atop her concealed thighs, she read the note scribbled across it with a blush. She felt her toes melting and though she tried to hide her smile, it kept on tugging her cheeks until she sighed and let herself fall into the pillows once more with a thrill. There's so much to prepare for tonight.

Ares lazily watched the sun set from his balcony. From Olympus the heavenly bodies are gigantic and majestically formed, as what was expected from a paradise on the clouds. He had been missing these days when he'd slumber anywhere on slothful afternoons, when he was free of any task to do. Even gods tire.

As the sun drowned in a pool of pink and orange skies, he ran a hand through his hair and stood from his slouching place, heart beginning to pound at the excitement and fear of meeting Thanea once more. He walked across his chamber and through his door before proceeding towards the silent halls. His footsteps reverberated past the darkening marble columns, and in the end of the hallway he had to pass the holy fountains to reach the gates. The grass felt soft in his feet. This place was once his spot for solitude. A few willow trees around and benches at the bottom, statues of ancestral lines, and the leaves of the trees beginning to glow in the darkness. At the sight of the crystalline water and its soft gushing he remembered the little girl who gave him a purple orchid which he no longer possessed. He took into consideration ample time to watch the beauty of the fountain whose waters can shoot forth above as thrice as tall as he was. On the top of the swirling paths of the water, a diamond carved angel sparkled, its wings spread across splendidly as she held a jar which the same liquid flows back down into the pool.

He spread a palm and let him cup a parcel of the water, slowly nearing it his lips. Though tasteless, he found himself freshened with every gulp, some droplets crawling from his lips to his chin. He wiped his mouth with the back of his palm and as he opened his eyes, saw a familiar goddess sitting into one of the stone benches below a firefly-studded willow tree. Her back faced him, auburn hair coiled into the back of her head which was pinned with a glittering tiara in the form of braided fibers of dried grain stalks. She wore an apple-green gown, belted below her chest, its hem extended, covering her toes. The moon is beginning to dominate the skies.

Ares breathed in and walked towards the goddess. As he neared her, the sound of her soft motherly humming filled his ears. He sighted something which she was busily doing, and found out she was knitting a spring-colored cloak. His heart sank.

"Oh, Ares…"

Immediately he looked into her bluish eyes, never noticed that she was staring at him with a twisted neck. She smiled, forever young, and moved to the side of the bench to give him some space to sit. Demeter tapped the emptied space and called for him, "Come join me."

Ares felt his fingers tremble and formed them into a fist before slowly sitting beside the mother of Persephone. He never looked away at the colorful cloak which she was hand-knitting. Demeter never lost her smile just by looking at the armor clothed god. She noticed the way he eyed the cloak and looked at it too before raising it before them both.

"I really miss my daughter…" she almost spoke in a whisper, eyes beginning to weave sadness, "I'm giving this when she arrives from the underworld…" she sighed and placed the cloak down. "I hope she's alright…happy and contented."

Ares wet his lips and swallowed, his conscience beginning to bother him.

Demeter sighed relief, though, and continued, "But I'd be seeing her in forty days…I can't wait. I want to give her an embrace and kiss her in the forehead,"

Enough, everyone is hiding the truth from her. Six long months to live without her daughter is such a torture, it would cause her death to learn Persephone may never come back. How his chest heaved was unexplainable, and he began remembering his pact with the god of death. Demeter continued to speak her sentiments and hopes of seeing her goddess of spring but Ares seemed not to hear a word.

"Demeter…" he closed his eyes. The goddess silenced and waited for him to continue. He looked at her expectant blue eyes and it marred him to see that smile. "Demeter she's…she's not com—"

"Papa…"

Ares immediately looked behind when he felt a tug on his cape. Demeter laughed, amused at the sight of little Harmonia. She always loved little children. The girl's big melon-orange eyes blinked at her father, a thumb sucked between her cute pink lips. Without her request Ares scooped the little girl and tucked her between his arms and stroked her thin brunette hair. He kissed her in the forehead and let her lean on his shoulder.

"Will you not sleep yet, sweet heart?" he whispered to the girl who made no response but merely rested her head on him. Ares forgot what he was supposed to say to Demeter, and was thankful he did.

"Fierce at war but loving to your own children…Ares you're such an irony," Demeter chuckled. Ares gave a smile while lulling Harmonia to sleep. Even he himself couldn't fathom why he was too intimate with his own offspring, more intimate than their mothers. He remembered how he angered at the son of Poseidon to ever ravage Alcippe. Even with a punishment in mind, he risked being tagged as a murderer than to leave no justice for his daughter, eventually slaying the rapist. What he found himself hoping, though, was to hold a child in his arms, a child borne from love. A child who looks up to him with gorgeous grey eyes, bearing his name. He secretly wished that the night he spent with Thanea would bear something, something which will miraculously form when his seed seeped through her.

"Apollo, has the sun driven you mad?"

Ares' attention shifted from Harmonia to whom Demeter had greeted. The sun god was coming, probably passing by after his shift in driving the sun's chariot across the sky. He wore no hunter tunics this time, rather, the armors which he used to drive his chariot appareled him. He kissed Demeter's fingers after fixing his bow behind him. He was a distraction in the darkened atmosphere with his light appearance and most especially his golden hair. Demeter stood to bid farewell to the two.

"I have to leave now," she made a curtsy and fixed her gown, "I need some time to rest…"

The gods smiled at her, accepting her farewell and watched her disappear along the hallways. Apollo then looked at Harmonia, now silently still in his father's arms, lids closed. Ares immediately sensed some form of doubt on his half-brother from the look on his skeptic blue eyes. Apollo may hide it, but he cannot conceal it from the god of war.

"So who this…lover of yours?"

Ares's eyes narrowed, lips pursed. Apollo cracked his neck and never again stared at the scarlet eyes.

"Who told you…?"

"Doesn't matter," Apollo looked down, "mortal?"

The war god was still, never released a single word. Apollo was beginning to feel impatient, and met Ares' eyes once more, his face now in apathy.

"I heard she has grey eyes,"

At once Ares was bulleted through. He swallowed and his brows ridged. In his arms the little girl moved to suck her thumb once more. He still couldn't answer. This time it was he who gazed away from the inquirer.

"Does she, Ares?"

Impossible. This is impossible. Ares' mind boggled, sweat beginning to form in his temples. No god can be able to see Thanea's grey eyes as protected by Hades. Curse that god and curse himself. His strength began to drip away and he began feeling his daughter getting heavier from his weakness. Hades is beginning to meddle with his plans, beginning to threaten his secret, beginning to doubt Ares' credibility.

Apollo secretly gripped on his bow, ready to attack and make Ares reveal the truth about Athena's whereabouts. The war god knew how Apollo once sought for Athena's hand, but no one will expect to be with the goddess of wisdom. All's fair in love and war.

"Answer me."

"Of course she doesn't,"

Ares and Apollo looked at the direction of the voice. Hera came into view, walking towards them in her night gown. "I saw her, and grey eyes are missing."

The wedding. Ares looked down, remembering his encounter with his mother at the wedding night before the bandit assault. Hera stroked Harmonia's auburn hair and whispered, "Silly girl. Tsk, the first time she knew how to walk then she walks out of my sight!"

Hera motioned to get Harmonia, and Ares succumbed without another word. The little girl rubbed her eyes and Hera danced with her in a lullabye, "Shhh…". Harmonia continued to sleep in the arms of her grandmother.

Apollo raised his brows and loosened his grip on the bow. He dropped his hand, "Oh, I see…"

"Now you seemed to be going somewhere, son…go ahead, I've got her," Hera talked to Ares, who was still merged in shock and panic. Apollo was carefully watching his emotions. The war god took a glance at Apollo before moving his feet to exit. The sun god still didn't take his eyes off him, and beside Hera who was busy making Harmonia dream, he took note to always watch for the war god.

In an instant he forgot where he was supposed to go. His mind is in a torment of anxiety, unable to believe how Apollo, or the one who told him, identified Thanea's grey eyes. Sweat dripped from rolling in his cheek, and he fiercely wiped his face, his pacing became faster and faster along the familiar columns. He stormed through the doors of his chamber with fast breathing and locked it behind him. He leaned his back at the doors, and brought out a long sigh with closed eyes. Putting his body at ease, he slipped through the door, allowing himself to sit on the floor completely weakened.

Thanea dipped the ladle on the boiling broth and brought it near her mouth before blowing the steam off. Confident that it was cool enough, she then took a tasteful. She was satisfied like no other, and she knew Ares liked her cooking as well. Taking a thick fold of cloth with both hands she carried the small pot aside and carefully poured cool water into the fire which she used. All set for the dinner, her next task was to clean herself out of the dirt she acquired from pulling turnips and picking wild fruit.

She took a bath after contemplating if she'd have warm or cold water, and slipped herself into a blue-and-white tunic. She knew this was a god whom she will be dealing with, and was excited to ask a lot of questions. She would look into his beautiful green eyes once more, for she did not quite desire seeing his scarlet ones. She'd request him to be as the Zeno she knew rather than his god-like form, and most especially give him a little bit of scolding for hiding it all along who he really was. She blushed at the thought of asking about what happened last night, but she would really want to know why that happens. If it only happened to them. If it happens to anyone else. She felt so stupid and naïve, and decided to keep the questions for herself.

The last candle in the house was lit, and Thanea was pleased to have done all the work herself. It was all for him, though, and she would be happy to do it. She trusted his note to come this night, and the rose was dipped in a water-filled glass flask beside her mirror. She sat awhile by the door, staring at it, expecting his shadow to emerge. She even practiced the way she had to greet a god. A god. How it chilled her to have a god inside her home, but nonetheless she wanted him to be with her.

In a sequence of blinks, she stood to amuse herself. Her mind began to question about where Zeno would be. She climbed up to her chamber and peered through her curtains in hopes of seeing him coming from a distance Of course she was careful not to let him catch her peeping from the window. She wanted that he'd come to startle her, and she knew it was a little childish and all that but she couldn't help it.

Her bed went warm at the hour she laid still, and woke herself up from nearing slumber. Zeno wouldn't like finding her asleep, and she went downstairs to cover the food she settled. They were beginning to cool down, and she panicked at this, immediately reheating them, serving them with much carefulness. At the smell of the food her hungriness began to take over and she gulped, wanting a taste of her own delicacy. She had to wait for him no matter what. A candle was beginning to flicker and die because the wax had melted.

She wondered where he could be. Outdoors, the light from each house began to cease, indicating everyone has fallen asleep. She can hear drizzle coming forth, and it soaked her in a pool of worry if something must've happened to him; but she trusts him. He'll keep his word. She began to reminisce with drowsy eyes, sitting in front of the fire with her head leaning on her hand. It was cold as the rain began to pour, and she covered herself with a warm fur blanket.

Alright. What's your name?

Athena! And you're Ares, right? They tell me you're a savage…

A purple orchid came across her mind. She couldn't see the people talking, but their voices echoed in her head. One was a mature male, and the other, a girl.

Ares…you think I can be good leader someday…? I mean, I want to have my own state…but I quite doubt it.

This time she saw the female but her visions were distorted with a blur. She was with a man, someone she can identify as a soldier, and they sat by the river on a cool afternoon.

"Thanea?"

Thanea's brows ridged and her eyes began to open, looking around. She found herself napping, and there was a knock on the door. Her heart jumped and she immediately stood to fix herself. The knocking continued. She walked to and fro, practicing her smile, talking to herself. Finally she stood in front of the door and swallowed as she opened a fraction of it before completely welcoming her guest.

Her smile disappeared, and she stared at a familiar man in front of her. He had dark hair and a friendly smile. He wore a cloak to at least protect him from the rain. He beamed at her.

"Greetings…!" he raised his voice. She smiled but her eyes grieved, "Ethan, h-how are you…?" she didn't know anything else to say.

Ethan looked inside the house before meeting his eyes with hers, "I'm doing fine, do you have guests?"

"Guests?" she looked behind, and faced him again, "Um, no. Not really. Why?"

"I was wondering why you're still up at this moment. Seeing how your house is still lit up at this hour is quite confusing. So, I decided to come and see you in case you're doing fine." Ethan explained before raising a small basket of fruits in his hands, "and here, in case you're hungry…"

She stared at the basket, and sighed. She knew he was still talking, but it seemed like her ears closed with severe disappointment. She didn't know if she would cry on the spot or just save the tears later.

"If you can see that small balcony of that house beside the Acacia, that's where I am so…" Ethan paused when Thanea looked at him pleadingly. He wondered what bothered her, and his face glowed the moment she smiled though her face was pale.

"Ethan," Thanea started and moved aside to let him in, "I didn't eat yet…would you please join me?"

To be cont'd on chapter 17: Torn

~In front of her lay the rose he left, wilted and dried. Her smile made him realize how long he had been gone.

A/N: (Still hyper. Lol) Please review :) Thanks for the continuous support!

AthenAres