Chapter 2

For two days and nights the unhappy girl sat in the vault, cold, frightened and hungry. Then, quite by chance, while she was wishing to go home, she happened to rub the bracelet, that Callisto had given her, against the wall. At once she appeared in her mother's kitchen. Gabrielle told her mother of her strange adventure and they thanked the Gods for Gabrielle's safe return.

The next morning, Gabrielle decided to use her new frying pan. She set the pan on the fire to get hot and began to prepare the fish for cooking. When she turned around, blue smoke was rising from the pan. Before she could do anything, a tall, darkly handsome man appeared in front of her.

"What are you doing?! I AM ARES GOD OF WAR!! Who are you to summon me?"

Terrified, Gabrielle began to cry, gigantic tears rolling down her cheeks. Ares sighed heavily, stepped forward, and wrapped his arms around her. 'Oh great,' he said to himself, 'Zeus knows that I can't bear to see a girl cry. What kind of War God am I anyway?'

Aloud, Ares said, "Hush now, little one. I'm not here to harm you. I'm just... I'm just a bit grumpy. I'm sorry I frightened you."

Gabrielle quieted and smiled nervously up at the tall dark-eyed god. Ares smiled down at her and asked, "Okay now, little one?" She nodded and asked if he would like to sit down. Keeping her arm in his, Ares guided her to a bench facing the fire. Biting her lip, Gabrielle started to tell Ares what had happened before he had arrived. Ares assured Gabrielle that he did not blame her for anything. He explained that the frying pan had been made by Hephestus as a joke on Ares. It was meant for Zeus, so that Ares would come whenever Zeus heated the pan. Ares explained that the frying pan had lost its power over him now, because it had been used by a mortal. He told Gabrielle that she could keep it for cooking with.

"Gabrielle," said Ares. "Zeus made the vault to keep things safe from thieves. Only Zeus could enter the cavern. The power in the light of the candle kept other Gods out. The vial contains hind's blood.... not medicine."

Gabrielle's eyes opened wide. "But Ares... What will I do with the hind's blood?! I don't want to hurt the Gods."

Ares smiled at her. "I know. You have a pure heart and a giving soul. That is why Callisto used you to obtain the hind's blood. She wanted the power to control the other Gods." Ares stood up and reached out his hand to Gabrielle and said, "Come with me Gabrielle."

Gabrielle was puzzled, and said, "I don't understand.... Where are we going?"

"I need to take you to Zeus. He will take care of the vial and he will want to thank you in person for saving the hind's blood from Callisto."

"But what about my mother? I shouldn't leave without saying something."

"Then, let's go tell her. Oh, she won't be alone, you know."

"She won't?"

"Nope." Ares said with a grin. "I have a surprise for you. Your father is coming home from the wars."

"Oh! Thank you!" squealed Gabrielle. She threw her arms around Ares' neck and kissed his cheek.

"I think that I could get used to this," laughed Ares, looking into Gabrielle's emerald green eyes.

"Oops," said Gabrielle, her face turning pink, "I shouldn't hug and kiss strange men."

Ares pretended to frown. "So you think I'm strange, do you?"

Noticing the twinkle in his dark eyes, Gabrielle decided to tease him a little. "Yes, I do," she said, trying to keep a straight face. At once, Ares grabbed and held her off the floor, holding her tightly in his arms. "Oh really... So...do you like strange men?" Gabrielle started to giggle and said, "You're the only one that I like." Ares laughed, and asked, "Will you go on a trip to Olympus with the strange man that likes you?"

Happily, Gabrielle agreed that she would go with him. They informed the very surprised mother of the trip to Olympus and the father's homecoming, and off they went in a flash of blue light.

- TBC -