Anonymia Eoptenia

δεκατέσσερα Fortune Seemed Compliant

It was always the same dream or, in Abaddon's case, the same vision. The dewy and emerald grass felt alive and the yellow tips of the blades tickled his palms. The dark trees which surrounded the clear pool were always cold, colder than the mirror-esque water itself. Sinister was the word in which he felt was most appropriate for his vision's aura. His usual routine was to downplay his emotions of unease.

After all, this was his mother. She would never hurt him. Like Elpis. A pang of longing for his adopted mother rang at his heart like a bell in a temple. However, along with this came the throes of indifference with thoughts of his foster father and the flames of longing were quickly snuffed out, like a dim candle which had flickered for far too long in the night.

He did not hate Solon. Even now, much to his infernal shame, his first and foremost yearning was to make the man proud. To become his true heir and watch as Simonides was trampled under his feet. His face tinted pink at his boyish desires. He had hoped to move past that dream, only to find that the hooks weren't so easily dislocated from his body. He had spent his entire life looking up from his mother's lap to just catch a glimpse of his father's eyes which were eternally on Simonides and never on him. Never on him.

Abaddon's mouth trembled as Helen, still in the shape of a snow white swan, caressed his arm with her wing. He had to stop thinking about them. Helen wasn't Elpis and Elpis wasn't Helen. She was the past and that was where he needed her to stay.

This is the work of Ares. It was due to him that these thoughts ravaged his mind. He pet his mother's swan form absently. He could not have doubts now. Not when he was so close to his final goal: The restoration of Troy.

Yes, it did not matter if Helen was using him. For he too was using her for his own purposes. If what he had heard over the years through idle adult gossip was true, then he was the one true heir of Sparta along with Troy. Menelaus was not long for the world. Once his soul was in the Underworld, Sparta and its army was his.

He salivated over the power he was soon to have. Power over Simonides and his father. Power over Ares. He would avenge Troy and take down every city state which opposed him. For his true father. For his true homeland. For his true birthright.

No one, not even Hera nor Hades would stop him. He loved the God of the Underworld but, he would rather be thrown into the Phlegethon than allow Hades to get in his way.

"My son let us exchange words. What darkens your mind?"

The swan's voice shook his entire being. I must not allow her to worry. From his lips he replied," Nothing plagues me mother. I only produce melancholy thoughts of finally seeing you after a fortnight."

The swan flapped its wings and rested its head upon his lap. If only the swan's thoughts were as innocent as its appearance. Hera will be delighted in these new developments.

Ares awoke. His body trembled violently and yet, it was not cold. Shaking off the morning's drowsiness, his sandals tiptoed over his comrades as he went to meet the dawn, unaware of who was following at his heels.

From beyond the hill from which he stood, Ares witnessed his fellow god bring in the sun from the star's resting bed. He wished to call upon the name of Helios once more. They had been friends at one point in time on Olympus and now-

"I have no one." He said solemnly.

"No one oh mighty Ares? Am I not your friend?"

The god of war attempted to not show much emotion but knew instantly that he had failed. Ikaros laughed openly at him and instead of anger, Ares experienced a flutter in his bowels. The dark haired youth threw a sword in his direction which he caught flawlessly with ease.

"May we begin those lessons I was promised?" Ikaros asked, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Ares wanted more than anything to dislike the boy, but loneliness and something within him prevented that. Something within him that everyone hath said he lacked. A grin broke out on Ares's face.

"Let us begin your training then. Ready your sword." He demanded.

Ikaros took his stance.

An hour or so later, they both laid on their backs, panting and covered in sweat. The boy was good, no Achilles, but he had the markings and physique of a true warrior.

"Why did you decide to be a merchant? With the way you faced me in combat, you can be much more." Ares asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Vangelis," IKaros expelled a sound from his mouth that sounded much to Ares like a sigh," He is the reason why I do much these days."

"Do you not mean Abaddon?" Ares could not help the jealousy which seeped into his voice.

Ikaros flipped over on his side to face him and his green eyes met Ares's celestial ones. The god, this time, stopped his fluttering heart.

"He will always be Vangelis to me. If only in my thoughts if not told by my lips. He is all I have and I am all he has."

"Not anymore." Ares bit out.

"No, not anymore." Ikaros agreed bitterly.

"I am sorry." Ares said before he could stop himself.

Why did he care for this mortal? It was irrational. He was not like Apollo always looking for a young man to fill with his seed. Ikaros softened his face and drew closer to Ares. Ares found himself doing the same.

"Many thanks to you Ares…" Ikaros said in a breathless whisper that Ares wasn't sure was from their recent training or something else. Loneliness has made me delusional.

"Ikaros I-"

"Ikaros!"

For the umpteenth time, Ares cursed Abaddon and quickly motioned away from Ikaros and dusted off his robes, unaware of the hurt look he was receiving in response. Abaddon was followed instantaneously by Hermes and Hades, each giving him curious looks. He ignored each one.

"What are you doing with him?" Abaddon demanded.

It took every ounce of Ares to not disembowel the boy where he stood. And Hades and Hermes just allowed the boy to disrespect him like hen pecked mothers too fatigued by their naughty children. Ikaros got up, dusting off his robes as well and said," Do not be alarmed Abaddon, I only followed him out of mere curiosity and nothing more."

And like a dog, Ikaros enabled him as well. There was nothing Ares hated more than a submissive dog and now he was surrounded by them.

"I merely wanted to observe the sunrise,"

Ares barked out, "Nothing more. Nothing less."

Abaddon nodded, rather smugly if Ares was to be asked, and hugged Ikaros. Jealousy flared once more in Ares. He only hoped the boy was killed, and quickly, before he was driven mad.

The realm of the Underworld was far too crowded for Eris's liking. Soul upon soul was lined up by the ferry, their ominous voices crying out in agony to be let on the boat.

Coins jiggled in their hands like maracas.

Charon attempted to push them away from his boat as well as he could but, it was obvious to the naked eye that he was failing in his task. The chaos was like a sweet grape on Eris's tongue.

The Underworld needed Hades back, dearly, but he was far too busy chasing a youth destined for death. A pity. You would think that Hades would want him dead but it seems he is too obsessed with keeping the boy alive. The irony was not lost on her. Under the concealed black rock canopy which covered her presence, she waited for Hera. The goddess was late, as per usual these days.

It had reached Eris's ears more than once the trouble her little partner was causing on Mount Olympus for Zeus. She just found it a shame that she was ordered to stay away as opposed to joining in on all the fun. After several more minutes, Hera's form materialized in front of her, more frazzled than the last time she had seen her.

"Hera I must say-"

"It shouldn't be long now. The boy won't live to see his nineteenth year."

Eris's lips thinned down to a white line.

"What is it that you mean?"

"My husband has sent down Apollo to the earth realm to bring back Hermes and Hades. Without them, the boy is powerless." Eris didn't think she had ever heard the goddess so giddy in her life.

"But what of Ares? What about his involvement?"

Hera waved the concern away as though swatting a fly.

"Ares is nothing but a pest. Without war he is useless. Besides," Hera smiled lopsidedly, "Once Hades leaves, he should follow.

Nothing is tying him to the boy but Hades."

Eris grunted but in her mind she had a whirl of thoughts surging. Hera had done all of this, without alerting her. Not even a message was sent, despite the only messenger at the moment being Hephaestus. When Zeus made that decree, Eris realized that he too was losing his mind as much as his wife was.

"Hera, Hades' and Hermes' disappearances will not stop the boy. You do not know what he plans-"

"Silence! What the boy does from now on is none of your concern."

What?

"W-what do you mean my queen? Have I not been useful?" Eris fumbled over her words, her façade dropped and forgotten.

It was no wonder she had been left in the dark. It was no wonder she no longer received messages. She was being thrown away like rubbish. Just as she had always been.

"You wench! You promised me-!"

"I promised nothing. You were always going to be discarded. I had planned this sometime ago, but your failure to kill the boy with that…thing from Kush only cemented my desire to be rid of you."

"I have information on the boy!"

"Information that no longer means anything to me once Hades and Hermes leaves. He will die in the wilderness along with that friend of his."

Eris trembled and yet her face showed none of her weakness. The boy planned on taking the thrones of both Athens and Troy and yet Hera would rather close her ears to it all. It is of no matter to me. Eris paused in her thoughts and a loud laugh erupted from her diaphragm. Hera reared back in alarm. I would much rather watch him succeed than for Hera.

"You are right. Thank you my queen for allowing me to see the light."

Without waiting for an answer, Eris escaped from the underworld with the screams of the dead and Hera at her back. She had to talk to Ares and quickly before it was too late.

As the days began to pass, Hermes couldn't help but notice the hostility mounting between Ares and Abaddon. Zeus how that cursed name makes me shudder. The God of War was harsher with his training, more severe than usual and Abaddon was defiant, deflecting Ares guidance at every turn. It was a powder keg, one that Hermes, with all his mischief, did not want to see explode in their faces.

He attempted his usual color of humor only to be rebuffed by the two in question. Even Hades, it seemed, had lost his power over the boy and was rejected more often than not for Ikaros; who tried to keep the peace between Ares and his friend. It looked as though Abaddon no longer trusted the gods.

And why should he, Hermes thought grimly, when so many want his head on a platter? Hermes shook his head and upon a tree branch he gazed at the starry heavens. In only three days they were to reach Sparta and Zeus only knew what would happen then.

His heart ached for the boy Abaddon had once been. The blond was asleep, tucked within the protective embrace of Hades. He looked as innocent as he had been the day Hermes first met him. He was now tained, not in body, but in spirit and mind.

Eris's doing no doubt but there was nothing any of them could do. Only the goddess herself or Hecate could undo the enchantment. And Eris is working for Hera. This journey was cursed the moment we started, Hermes sighed deeply.

"Why do you look so grim brother?"

Hermes falter on his tree branch in shock. Apollo stood below him on the ground. He was looking straight at him with a dark glint in his eyes.

"A-Apollo?"

The God of Light smirked and did a little bow.

"In the flesh Hermes. Now, tell me, what is it that ails you?"

The others, now awoken from Hermes's shout, surrounded Apollo. Ares had his sword in hand and looked upon the his brother with hatred.

"Leave you insect. I do not know what you came for but I will run you through with my sword."

Apollo blatantly ignored him and addressed Hades who seemed to be less angry and more apprehensive.

"Zeus has sent you. Has he not?"

"Hades, Hades, Hades, you have always been a wise one and once more I stand in awe of your mental prowess. If only I could say the same of Ares."

Ikaros held Ares back from cutting him, although he felt the urge to do so himself. Hades, aware of the hostility in the air gestured for Apollo to continue.

"Well to make an epic short and painless, Zeus needs you and Hermes to return to your realms." Apollo finished, his grin a permanent feature upon his handsome face.

Hades nodded stiffly. He knew that this day would come. He just didn't know that it would come so soon. And at a tense time. Then again, Apollo didn't really play by anyone else's rules except his own unless it suited him, Hades grumbled silently to himself.

Hermes didn't want to return but, if Zeus was sending Apollo then he would send much more to capture him against his will. Ares finally managed to escape Ikaros's grasp and looked upon Apollo with so much uncertainty that Apollo almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

"And what of me? Did father not mention me?"

"Without Hades and Hermes in their places is chaos. Without you in yours, there is peace. To use Zeus's own words here,'Ares can burn for all that I care.'"

Ikaros swore that for a brief moment, tears gathered in Ares's eyes until they gave way to cold indifference as he slid his sword back into its scabbard. Ikaros had never seen the god so weak.

Abaddon felt strangely aloof, as if this was happening to somebody else and he was a mere spectator in a rowdy crowd. Hades couldn't be leaving him. I can not lose him. I cannot.

"Let me say my goodbyes," the blood was suddenly rushing to Abaddon's ears. Hades was saying these so clinically, so coldly. Di-did Hades no longer care for him?

"That can be arranged. Just say good bye to your precious lover so that we can leave." Apollo rolled his eyes, but his tone betrayed him. He was having way too much fun. Much more than he had the right to.

"I request to do it in private." Hades continued and something in Abaddon snapped.

"I have nothing to say to you. If you wish to rid of me then leave already." Abaddon replied seething.

His eyes shifted to Apollo who met his gaze unflinchingly with a smile and a question in his eyes. Abaddon swallowed hard and looked away nodding.

"Are we entirely done with the melodrama ladies?" Apollo asked.

No one could answer him. Feeling delighted, he clapped his hands with an overly dramatic flair. Apollo grabbed Hades's hand, who glanced at him with contempt. The god could not help but think that Abaddon was lost to him. Like a fading candle put out by two fingers. Apollo also reached for Hermes who jerked away at the last moment.

"Wait I have something to say." he addressed to Abaddon.

"Oh for Olympus's sake-go ahead. And be quick about it." Apollo made a hurrying motion with his hands.

"Vangelis-"

"My name is Abaddon," the boy said cuttingly.

You don't have to be the name your mother gave you Abaddon. Your worth is far much more. Hermes thought back to those sweet days of when Vangelis was a young child and almost wept.

"I will make this up to you," Hermes continued staring at Abaddon as if staring into his soul. The boy's lips trembled. "I promise you this."

"It is already too late Hermes." said Abaddon sadly.

Before Hermes could reply, Abaddon disappeared from his eyes and the golden gates of Olympus greeted him. They mocked him with their splendor.

"Welcome back home fellows. I do home the sudden teleportation was not too sudden."

The messenger wanted to punch Apollo in the throat and Hades was not too far behind him.

"And why is it that you stay? You have no place here."

Within Abaddon's eyes and words, Ares saw his father, his family, and his own foolishness. The boy was right, there was no more need for him to be in the humans'' presence. He had fulfilled his duty and the boy, despite his insistent grumblings, was a quick learner and competent swordsman. The only thing keeping him here was, Ares glanced quickly at Ikaros, his own selfishness.

The war with Troy was over and so was his journey. Where he was to go next he did not know. He loathed his vulnerability, his weakness, but, most importantly, himself.

"You're right. I shall remove myself." Ares couldn't drum up any emotion left. No matter how he tried.

I guess this is why Zeus chose Apollo. The bastard always had a way of cutting you down to the quick.

"Ares wait!"

The God of War paused in his steps and turned his body towards Ikaros who grabbed the god's hand tightly. The hammering in Ares's chest began again and, for once since his tryst with Aphrodite, he allowed himself to be selfish and gripped Ikaros's hand just as tightly in his own hand. Abaddon didn't know how much more of this he could take.

"Do you betray me as well Ikaros?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Without Ares we are lost!" Ikaros pleaded.

"I have no more need for gods and their games or powers."

"Abaddon please…"

"You are either with me or with him!" several droplets of spittle were released from the blond's mouth in fury.

Ikaros could no longer see any remainder of the boy he had once saved from Simonides.

"I-I am with Ares."

Abaddon could only watch wordlessly as his one and only true friend walked out of his life.

That early morning the skittish birds heard the sharp sounds of metal. Abaddon's sword sliced into fragile tree bark. His muscles screamed at the excursion and his sweat had his chiton cling tightly to his body. Everyone had abandoned him. Everyone.

Tears began to cloud his vision and he threw his sword to the ground. If Ares had been there, he would have yelled at him for attempting to ruin a good blade. But Ares is no longer here so I will do as I please.

"Oh you poor, poor child." Apollo said mockingly as Abaddon quickly wiped away at his moist eyes and nose. "Am I interrupting something? I'm sorry I'm a bit late. Olympus was a bit busy following Hades and Hermes's returns."

This was how gods got their power. By manipulating humans when they were the most vulnerable.

"You have taken everything from me. Yo-you monster-!"

"What is it with you humans and your obsession with over exaggeration? It was not I who wanted your little lover gods back, as a matter of fact it was rather peaceful without them there, no it was Zeus."

Apollo paced about like an Athenian senator and Abaddon swallowed a smile. This did not go unnoticed by the god as he secretly grinned himself.

"But enough about me, whatever happened to that other human and my barbarian brother Ares?"

"They left as well," Abaddon said blandly. "I have no need for them."

Apollo examined the boy sharply. The boy was mentally weak to corruption and was quick to anger. His one positive attribute was his beauty which outshone even his own mother. Apollo was going to have fun with this one.

"I have a proposal for you then, allow me to help you then in their stead." said Apollo.

Abaddon glared accusatory at Apollo. The blond god looked undeterred.

"Why do you wish to assist me? Are you not the God of Light?"

"Is your cause not just? Was your family and homeland not ripped from your fingers?"

Abaddon did not trust him but, allowed Apollo to get closer until their chests were touching. He almost couldn't breathe.

"Let me help you Abaddon, and all you yearn for will be yours."

The boy took one look into the god's eyes and he was lost. He nodded subtly, with no saliva to soothe his dry throat.

The deal was sealed with a kiss and Abaddon could not help but think he had sold his soul.