I didn't have a single clue on how to be "intimate.", and of course the one person I could've learned about it from is who we're plotting against.
I sat awkwardly in front of Ares as he briefly explained what and how to be intimate. I just sat wide eyed like a puppy, my hands folded neatly in my lap.
"Did you get all of that?" Asked Ares. I simply stared, then shrugged.
He let out an annoyed sigh and stood up. "Here's the deal, I have to take a business trip soon and you can count on me being bloody upon my return. You're going to replace her and be the one who cleans me of my blood. Got it?" Explained Ares.
I slowly nodded, still uncomfortable and dazed. "Got it."
Ares smirked, "There's one more thing we need to go over..."
"L-like what?" I stammered.
His eyes blazed with humor and maybe even lust. "You do know intimacy includes kissing and touching right?"
A deep blush flushed over my cheeks and I quickly looked away, "Well yeah-" I started.
"You're inexperienced. Come here." He said gesturing me towards him.
I slowly pulled myself up from the marble bench I was sitting on and walked up to him, my head held down and eyes remaining on my feet.
I saw his hand slowly brush over my folded ones and clasp around them, he pulled my left hand into his and started running his fingers over the soft skin of my hand. I swallowed hard and finally my eyes met his dark ones. A wicked grin was plastered on his face.
Don't get me wrong, he was handsome with his tousled brown hair and deep brown eyes. His jaw was perfectly chiseled with light stubble and had a straight nose, Although there was a sense of roughness exuding around his fairly youthful looks... But I felt nervous and almost uncomfortable. I was inexperienced... in well... everything.
He must've read my expression because he brushed his thumb over my chin with assurance, "Don't be nervous. It's just touching. It's not like I'm going to fuck you." He cooed. As the curse left his mouth I felt my body immediately tense up. I've heard people refer to it as making love or simply sex. But the way he said made it sound so detached and barbaric.
"R-right." I breathed out, swallowing hard once more in attempt to calm myself.
His smiled turned from wicked to something more sincere, his hand let go of mine and wrapped around my waist. The last person to touch my waist was Hermes and that didn't turn out good...
In a split second his lips met mine with haste.
I gasped against him and started to feel my body freeze up in shock. I knew what this entailed, that I was seconds away from turning everything around me into ice. I mentally concentrated and tried to calm myself, forcing my powers back down. Don't freeze. Keep calm.
I regained control of my body and forced myself to melt into his kiss. He cradled his hand behind my neck and deepened the kiss.
I couldn't understand it. We were so close yet it wasn't uncomfortable. It felt like passion. Is this what intimacy felt like? The desire to be close to someone? Slowly my body adjusted and I no longer felt tense. My heart began to beat rapidly and goose bumps rose all over my skin.
His lips were rough as they moved hungrily against mine. It didn't feel like an act. It felt real. Was this really what had to be done in order to make Aphrodite jealous?
Next thing I knew, he used his spare hand to grope me and I let out a gasp. He tried to force his tongue in my mouth causing me shove him away with a yelp. As I did, a blast of coldness radiated off me causing him to flench against it. "I-I don't feel comfortable doing that." I stammered.
Ares grinned, "Sorry girl, I got a little carried away." He admitted.
I sighed. "Let's just get this over with..."
He shrugged and turned on his heel, walking away from where we once stood. "See ya later then." He waved.
I squeezed my lips into a thin line and plopped down on a nearby rock. I breathed in my surroundings, the cool air flooding my lungs. My heart was still beating rapidly from before, I need to cool off. I didn't notice the pair of golden eyes watching me from a distance.
The sun see's all, even what's hidden within the shadows.
The next few days I spent relaxing. It wasn't until later that I have to execute my plan with Ares. I pondered, wondering if our agreement was worth it anymore. Here I was, chasing my tail and wasting my time trying to keep a promise to Ares and Apollo. Hera was also invested in this, there's no going back now.
I was sitting on a patch of grass watching the sunset, my hands holding my body up and head turned towards the sky. I bathed in the warmth of the sun, calmness and security overwhelming me. I exhaled and squeezed my eyes shut as I took in the clean air. I was in a state of tranquillity.
Whatever calmness I felt fleeted as the ground I sat on shook deeply. I frowned and slowly pulled myself off the ground. The ground kept vibrating, the sky slowly enveloped with dark clouds.
The trembling of the ground grew stronger with each passing second. I yelped as I feel hard against the ground.
Finally the rumblings subsided. I stumbled back onto my feet and quickly made my way to the throne room.
The gods and goddesses were standing in the court room, their voices yelling over each other; not single coherent sentence could be made out. I inched towards them, Zeus's eyes met mine with anger.
The others must have followed his gaze as they all looked back at me in silence. I couldn't mutter a word, not with all their eyes on me.
"Child, do you have any explanation for what just happened?!" Asked Zeus, his voice heavy with caution and a tinge of anger. His eyes dug deep in mine pulling for the truth.
I shook my head. "I-I don't know. It wasn't from me."
He didn't say anything and kept staring at me pondering if I spoke the truth. He finally gave in and sighed as he leaned further into his golden throne. "Somethings dreadfully wrong... we need to investigate these rumblings." Said Zeus.
I felt relief wash over me as I was no longer the target. I slowly sat down on a nearby step and listened.
"Apollo, have your oracles spoken of anymore prophecies of lately?" Asked Zeus.
Apollo shook his head, "No father, nor have I seen any visions."
"How do you suppose we investigate? Send a few spy's down? Perhaps some of us can disguise ourselves and-" started Athena.
Zeus groaned and shook his head, "Let me think..."
My eyes trailed to Apollo who lounged in his very own throne, his bright eyes watching his father with boredom. He must've caught my gaze because his eye's landed on mine. His expression was blank and unreadable. If he wasn't smiling then something was wrong...
I cleared my throat and avoided his gaze, pretending to listen to Zeus.
I looked over towards Ares who dug under his nails in disinterest. Anything that didn't involve bloodshed disinterested him. As for aphrodite, she remained watching Zeus as if we weren't plotting against her.
The next day we executed our supposed plan. I waited innocently in the throne room will Hera sat in her throne knitting something, it was just us in the darkened court room. The only light was nearby torches on each marble column, orange flames illuminating the grand room reaching the golden celling.
The deep groan of the heavy doors leading into throne room signaled me of Ares arrival. I continued to pay no attention not wanting to appear obvious. His footsteps came closer and closer until he was standing before me bloodied. He wore a modernized army outfit, dessert camouflage printed on it. It was covered in dust and blood. With a snap of his fingers his attire changed from that to his Greek armor. The blood was still on him and seemed to even grow on his armor like it was symbolic.
I looked up at him appearing confused, a grin was tugging at his lips. As I looked passed him I saw her, Aphrodite, leaning against a faraway wall. Her glittering eyes filled with curiosity.
"Y-Yes?" I asked, my eyes looking in Ares innocently.
"You've grown Shiva, you're not the same brat who ran rampant around Olympus... yet you're no woman yet." He spoke softly his eyes fiery with lust.
"But I am no child? What constitutes as being a woman?" I asked, playing along with him.
Before I could open my mouth loud laughter sounded from the other end of the room, Aphrodite's laughter. She burst into tears of amusement and held her stomach against the gasps. Ares looked behind him, anger behind his eyes.
I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. This was a bad idea... Hera must have been embarrassed for me because she hide behind her knitting.
"H-how CLICHE!" Hollered Aphrodite. She strode over to us, a big grin plastered on her perfect face. "You fools, I am the god of love. I know every tactic, hell, I invented most of them."
"I don't know what you're talking about-?" Scoffed Ares But was hushed by Aphrodite.
"Let me guess! You were going to ask her to clean you of your blood, to bathe you like I always had? You wanted to make me jealous in hops I'd leap back in your arms? You fool!" She said with humor, she then turned towards me. "And you, I don't believe you know what you're getting into girl. You're far too naive to get dragged into Ares antics."
I expected her to rip my eye balls out but she was far too intoxicated with amusement to hurt a fly. "Well... well you stopped showing me affection! You no longer awaited my return from war! I can't stand the idea of you with anyone else-" Ares started with pure rage.
"Ah, So when I'm not at your side it must mean I'm in somebody else's bed then?" She retorted. "Does it ever occur to you that maybe I had matters to attend to? That I wasn't sleeping around? Who do you think I am?!" Her voice growing with anger.
"Tch! You cheated on Hephaestus with me! I know what you're capable of Aphrodite!" Spat Ares.
Her composed expression fell and her cheeks were blushing with anger. She stomped up towards him and pointed her finger at him accusingly. "I was forced into that damned marriage, I didn't have a choice. I didn't love him! I loved you! You know this! Yet you dare accuse me of infidelity because of what I symbolize and my past?!"
Ares squeezed his lips shut preventing anymore hurtful words from hurling towards his love. Aphrodite scoffed and turned on her heal, she left us standing alone in the throne room.
I hadn't spoken a word and stood behind him shocked. As we were left alone in the room I felt fear rise to my throat. This went horribly wrong and Ares was seconds from throwing a tantrum. I didn't waste a second and scurried towards Hera, behind her throne as she looked just as shocked as I was.
Ares eyes landed on his mother, he stared at her and groaned. He stormed out without a word.
I let out a deep sigh of relief and appeared from behind her. "That went horribly wrong." Commented Hera.
"This was a bad idea... I shouldn't have gotten involved, I wasn't prepared-" I started but was hushed by Hera.
"You did well my dear, it was my son who was obvious." Suggested Hera.
"How...?"
"My dear, if you want to make that woman jealous you need to truly make him fall in love with. Love isn't planned. Now that he's out of the plan you can seduce him, his anger will subside soon and-"
"I can't. I won't..." I interrupted her.
Her eyes flared with a anger but she remained composed. "Why is that...?" She genuinely wanted her son to fall for me, anything to release him from Aphrodite's clutches.
"M-maybe because I want true love." I mumbled.
Hera leaned in. "What was that...?"
Before she could ask what I said, Zeus's booming voice called for her: "WIFE!"
She rolled her eyes. "We'll talk about this later then."
She disappeared in thin air, like she was never there in the first place.
I sighed. I need to walk and clear my mind.
I left the courtroom and started wondering through the silent halls, I kept my head down and thought to myself. I thought of how foolish I had been. How awful that went. I don't believe I could endure anymore stress today...
I saw a large pair of glittering steps leading into a darkened room. Something gleamed at me from within the room drawing me closer. I slowly walked up the shimmering steps and into the pitch black room. The item that drew me in flashed at me, I walked towards it and reached out. Before I could wrap my hand around it light enveloped the room. One by one the torches on the walls light up filling the room with golden light. I gasped and stepped back from the object, my back hitting something hard. I turned towards it and my eyes widened.
Apollo stood before me, his muscular arms folded across his chest and eyes melting into mine with unknown emotion.
"Apollo... you scared me." I sighed. With shaky hands, I eased myself on to the floor to sit and calm myself.
"You're a fool." Said Apollo, not an ounce of context anywhere in his words. His voice was sharp and insulting.
I felt my cheeks heat up, "I-i know." I admitted.
"You didn't make her jealous. Everything went terribly wrong Shiva-"
"I know." I repeated.
Apollo sighed, "The only one who ended up getting jealous was me." He spat, turning away from me.
My eyes widened in shock and confusion. "W-what?"
"You heard me. All this foolish plan did was hurt everyone involved..."
I stood up, "Does that mean we're... enemies...?" My voice broke.
Apollo looked over his shoulder, his eyes stared into mine with judgement, a tinge anger, and consideration. He didn't respond and I think I knew his answer.
I felt something strange grow within me. I felt angry, what happened was unfair! For the first time I felt pure anger. Coolness surged within me threatening to burst.
"This isn't fair! I never asked to be involved in this mess! How is it my fault!" I spat.
Apollo's eyes flamed, for once I could read behind the emotion behind them. They were filled with rage. Rage that matched Zeus's. A rage that could shake Olympus. "You knew exactly what you were getting involved in you ignorant girl!"
"You've got to kidding me! I was ready to drop all this until you manipulated me!" I responded with coldness and distaste.
I hadn't noticed my skin grew even whiter, not a tinge of pink flesh in sight like I had been dead. The wind grew stronger and colder as my anger rose. Coldness rose up my chest, almost enveloping. I don't know what would happen if I got even more angry...
Apollo laughed at my response, "I manipulated you?"
"You know you did..." I said through gritted teeth. "I don't know what you want from me! You constantly do this, you play with my feelings to get what you want and then you have the audacity to make all of this about you! Why me? Why tell me I made you jealous? How the hell did I make YOU jealous?"
"How did you make me jealous? Use your head fool!" Challenged Apollo.
He inched closer towards me, I could feel his hot breath fanning against me.
"What, are you implying you had feelings for me?! That's a lie, you hate me! You've always hated me."
His anger finally boiled over and he gripped my arm tightly, I squirmed against his melting grasp. "You know nothing of how I feel. Don't cross me! I warned you I'm capable of more." He said through gritted teeth.
I'm tired. Tired of feeling weak. Letting them walk all over me and treat me like a dangerous outcast. All I've ever wanted was a family, a family who didn't just take me in because of their obligations; that I might be a danger to existence and needed to be contained. That I might help bring back the Titans, the reckoning. I've shown compassion and immense patience with these gods. They should know better than to disrespect me, I'm perfectly capable of awakening Kronos once more. But due to my compassion and patience I haven't, from the goodness of my heart. After being repeatedly beaten down emotionally and at times physically, I refuse to appear weak. I'll show them that I am a serious threat, that I am not to be talked down upon. I am not a burden. I am a powerful being with a lot to offer. I'm more than the prophecy told of my coming. I am more than just a foolish girl.
My eyes glowed pure white and my anger fleeted like it was never there. My entire body was cold, like everything inside me was frozen. I felt nothing. I felt cold. But I also felt powerful; like if I were to snap my fingers I could cover the world with ice. I was unstoppable and this God of The Sun who stands before me, gripping my chilled arm won't stop me.
"As am I."