Chapter Four:

Xander held on to Ares to keep from falling when they arrived to wherever the God of War brought them too. He had to keep himself from throwing up what was in his stomach. "Couldn't you have warned me before you did that?"

"Sorry, kid." Ares smirked; he had both arms around his Champion and pulled him closer to his body. "Next time I'll warn you."

"It's good to see you nephew." Hades stepped from the shadows with Strife at his side. "However why hadn't you return Alexander to his friends. My Priest is worried over the boy."

Ares glared at his uncle. "The boy is mine and I'll return him when I see fit."

"Hey!" Xander pulled back from the God of War his face red with anger. "I don't belong to anyone."

"You are mine." Ares was an ass Xander decided then and there. "You are my follower and you have my mark."

Xander sighed running a hand through his hair. "Ares, I want to go home."

"You need to remember nephew that you can't own a person's soul." Will Hades could, but that was different since he was the Lord of the Underworld. "Why are you here, Ares?"

"We need to awaken the others." Ares grabbed the mortal by his arm. Alexander needed to learn his place. "I need your help."

Hades rolled his eyes seeing that his nephew hadn't changed a bit even after sleeping all those years away. "Ares, perhaps you need to calm down your Champion first before you try anything else."

Xander was pulling at his arm trying to get free from the new King of Gods. "Let me go you jerk."

"This is getting on my nerves." Ares growled pulling Xander into his arms. "Stop acting like a child."

"Ares that's enough." Hades snapped coldly. "Let Alexander go."

Ares snarled at his uncle. "You have nerve telling me what to do Hades. You seem to forget I'm the King of Gods."

"And you seem to forget that I am the Ruler of this place." Hades wouldn't stand for Ares to challenge him in his own realm.

"Come on guys." Strife stepped in between the more powerful Gods. "Don't ya think that's enough? You're scaring Xan."

Ares looked at his follower and saw the fear in Alexander's eyes. Fear he was trying to hide. He let go of his arm. "I didn't mean to scare you, Alexander."

"I can understand that you're a God and all, but I won't be owned like some slave." Xander stood face to face with Ares. "I woke you up and like G-man taught me I have to face up with my responsibilities. I help you all I can, but you won't own me. This isn't ancient Greece."

"Listen to him Ares." Hades smiled at the young man. Ripper was right about the young man. The boy was indeed special.

Ares hated to be told what to do however he knew if could lose Alexander if he didn't listen. "I'll learn about this new time as long as you stay at my side. As my Champion not a slave."

Xander smiled, he still didn't trust the God, but was willing to give him a chance. "How about we go to Earth I would like to see my friends."

"Why don't you return to Olympus and rest." Hades broke in quickly. "Allow me to warn Ripper so he my speak to the others."

That was a wise idea. "Alright until tomorrow then uncle." Ares took Alexander back in his arms and disappeared in a flash of black sparks.

Strife turned to look at his great uncle. "Do ya think that was such a good idea? To send Xander with unc knowing the way he is."

"Alexander will be fine, Strife." Hades climbed up the stone stairs up to his throne. He sat down a smile still on his face. "I need you to bring Ripper to me."

"Why won't you go to him?" Now that Olympus wasn't sealed the Lord of the Underworld was allowed to leave at will.

"Do as you're told Strife." Hades waved the God of Mischief away with his hand. Oh, he knew that he was allowed to leave the Underworld, but he didn't want to just yet. For one Hades never was much for the human realm he preferred to stay in his own.

Strife would never understand Hades, he thought as he disappeared in a flash of sparks like Ares done before him.

Giles was relieved when Buffy, Willow, Oz and Angel left the library. He picked up the books that were left on the table and placed them in their rightful place. "So it's done, Strife?"

"Yeah, Ares is awake." Strife was leaning on a table with his arms crossed over his chest. "Hades wants to see you."

Giles nodded, he went up to Strife and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then lets not keep him waiting."