CHAPTER V

Aphrodite watched Hephaestus ride off into the night, the looming moon hanging over him.

'Finally,' she said absently to her servant, 'it felt like he would never leave.' She smirked and her servant looked out at the horizon.

Aphrodite's lips twitched, her smirk faltering. Things never used to be the way they were now. He never used to be so brash, so abrupt and impatient. Things were very different.

The speck that was Hephaestus disappeared into the glare of the moon's rays, shielding him from the now, apparently nostalgic look in his wife's eyes, as her servant observed. Aphrodite glanced at her servant and looked away. She turned to her palace and started heading for the marble stairs.

'Would my mistress have me prepare her bath?' the servant asked, humbly at her mistress' side.

'No,' Aphrodite said, her voice firm, 'but prepare my finest white dress.'

'Is there an occasion your grace?'

'I'm going to visit an old friend.'

Ares rode back to his Palace, the moonlight bright on his skin. He wouldn't dare enter the courts of Zeus covered in Cyclops blood as much as he would like to. His mother would have a fit seeing him drip a beats blood on the 'good marble'.

He entered his domain and a group of servants flocked to his steed. He shouldered passed the few that fiddled with his saddle, and they didn't dare touch him, the ones that followed him back into the palace.

Entering through the huge doors he unbuttoned his military jacket and tossed it onto the ground, red – now cold – blood staining the floor.

'Someone do something about that.' He called as he headed to his quarters and he heard the servants rush in a flurry to tend to his jacket.

He climbed the stairs leading to his intimate quarters and let out an acute whistle. A servant came rushing seemingly out of nowhere. Timid but eager, she caught up to him as he walked briskly. Ares tore of his shirt with the same carelessness as he did his jacket and held it out. The servant, palms opened out wide, accepted the shirt like a bloodied gift. She hesitated to look up, only to find herself caught in her master's gaze.

'Go.' He said, and she scurried off, clutching the shirt to her breast, the collar staining her chin.

Ares entered his room and shut the huge door behind him. He pressed his naked back against the cold wood and sighed. He stood for a moment, before peeling his wet back from the door, leaving the door sticky with blood and sweat. He ran his hand through his dark red hair and he paced the room as the fire ebbing in the hearth illuminated his torso. The blood dripping down him glowed golden in the light. Ares entered his bathroom, fiddled with his belt relentlessly before ripping it from his trousers. He filled his tub with water because he knew his servants were too incompetent to do that in time, he boiled the water beyond boiling point, or any point that anyone else could stand really, and entered the water. He sat there, soaking, as the water lapped the blood from his body.

And in the calm of that cold bathroom, Ares slapped his hand against his forehead.

Idiot.

He did it again. He lost control. This is why Zeus was so reluctant to give him want he wanted.

'Idiot.' He muttered to himself, running his hand up his collarbone and to his shoulder. The water plopped quietly with his movements.

And then there was Athena – whom he called a 'self-righteous bitch' and an 'uptight matron'. Athena and Ares had been calling each other names since the day they first met and Ares had called Athena worse, but now really wasn't the time to get on Athena's bad side.

He just lost control. In every way possible. Seeing Athena in the moonlight, the moon bathing her skin in that milky white glow, her scars so bright and red. Ares remembered standing on a mountain nearby, watching her fight the Cyclops. He couldn't help but smile – she wasn't graceful or agile or lithe but she was fierce and ferocious. Cunning…exquisite.

Ares had now sunk so far down into the water only half his head was visible, just above his nose. He closed his eyes, and submerged himself into the water totally, imagining himself capturing Athena's wrists in a vice grip – a near inescapable vice grip – just to give her a little hope that she could run from him – or fight him. But she wouldn't and a wall would suddenly appear and she would be against it, and he would be against her. He would let his face roam her neck, press his chest against hers when she resisted, and then he'd tell her all the things he would do to her. And then tell her how she'd enjoy it.

Then a servant would promptly call at his bathroom door to interrupt him.

'There better be a good reason for you interrupting me,' he said resurfacing, the water now at temperature so hot his servant had to stand outside the door to escape the uncomfortable heat.

'Forgive me my master, but the Great King Zeus has requested an audience with you.'

Hades ears pricked. He listened intently, quite sure that he was not alone in his Palace. His hand instinctively touched the armrest of Persephone's throne.

'I'm sure you weren't expecting me.' Aphrodite said emerging from the darkness. How radiant she looked in that white dressed, her endless curved being hugged by its sleek cut. She approached, almost glowing in the dark court.

In a split second Hades was right before her.

'Of course I wasn't. I don't expect anyone. No one should be here.' He walked towards her and she put on a coy smile. She lifted her hand.

'Have all these years in the dark made you bitter? Maybe uncivilized? How do you treat a lady guest in your court?' she said playfully, and he accepted her hand, his grip firmer than it needed to be and kissed it lightly. His hands were ice cold. His lips were ice cold. Aphrodite didn't know how Persephone did it.

Hades disappeared into the darkness. Aphrodite could see him nowhere in the court but could still feel his presence. A little trick he often enjoyed doing.

'What do you want, Aphrodite?'

'What is wrong with you?' she almost laughed, 'All I wanted was to visit my old friend and here you are, disappearing, not even making me feel at home.' She pouted, encircling herself in her arms.

'This home is for the dead,' his voice came ephemeral from the palace walls. Suddenly he appeared behind Aphrodite, and she turned, expecting to find him there, 'unless you want to be dead too, you would be wise not to come here.'

'Hades,' she grinned, placing her hands on the lapels of his suit, 'you don't have to be so threatening. I don't need to be dead to come to your palace do I? I'm sure you miss Persephone, you know you can call me whenever you want some company.' She gripped the lapels. Hades' eyes grew wide. He could smell her. Smell her scent.

Persephone.

Taking some time to collect his thoughts, he smiled bitterly, looking down at Aphrodite.

'What is your business here Aphrodite?'

'You're awfully tense.'

'Don't play with me.'

'I wouldn't dare.' Aphrodite slipped her hand under his black suit jacket, and looked straight into his eyes. Unashamedly, she explored his torso before encircling his waist with both her arms.

'You're so cold. When was the last time you really felt warm?' she pulled herself towards him and moved in to lay her lips on his. She could feel the warm of his breath – seemingly the only warm – and their lips were just inches from touching before Hades' fingers were wrapped around her throat. She was two feet into air, clawing at his hand and arm when she saw him grin.

'I told you not to play with me Aphrodite. You're right, I am awfully tense, and you've been such a darling to offer your soft neck as a soother.' His grip tightened and Aphrodite winced. She knew he wouldn't do anything to her, but then again – he could change his mind. Hades smiled watching the beautiful goddess squirm in his hand. Her black eyes were glorious against her white skin. He dropped her and disappeared.

Aphrodite doubled over, coughing, rubbing her neck.

'I must admit,' Hades' voice rang from marble walls, 'I love to play a game or two, but I'm not a very fair player. What would be the fun in it if you actually had a chance to beat me? I think just the hope in your eyes that I'll give in to your feminine wiles is enough.'

'I'm surprised at you Hades,' Aphrodite said straightening herself, 'Persephone had told you have such soft hands–'

Aphrodite jerked forward as Hades reappeared to grab her jaw. He pulled her towards him her face in his hand, just a few inches from his.

'They are aren't they? Now, this is the last time I'll ask you. What do you want?' he asked, sardonically. Aphrodite was quite for some time, before speaking again.

'I have a dilemma. I'm weak. As you just saw you overpowered me so easily. I had no defences against you –' she wrapped her hands around his, 'I had no chance. I want a chance.' Hades laughed.

'You don't need a chance. You have gods crawling at your feet to defend you and fight for you.'

'Well I don't want them to. I want to fight for myself. I want to be strong and powerful – like you.' She said, and Hades, if he could see anything in her eyes, saw a hint of desperation. A hint of longing. He released her from his grip and looked at her curiously.

'So what do you want me to do about it?'

'The river Styx, she can give endless power and strength.'

'And?'

'I wish to dip into those waters. To receive that power.' Aphrodite looked at him determinedly. Hades smirked, amused. He disappeared again.

'Good luck then. Styx is most reluctant to allow gods to enter her waters for the sake gaining more power. Often the result of this had been the abuse of the power by the god and Styx does not take to that very kindly. You'll have to consult with her.'

'That's why I came,' Aphrodite looked around, 'Be my liaison Hades. You out of all people have one of the greatest relationships with Styx, you could be my contact.'

A long silence before Aphrodite could hear Hades' voice echoing again.

'Styx and I share a strong bond but that does not mean I can convince her to do what she does not want to do. I, like you, can only make requests and suggestions, the decision she makes is entirely up to her and not at all influenced by me.'

'She would be more kind to you than to me.' Aphrodite said.

'This is true.'

'Will you? For me Hades?' Aphrodite put on her softest voice, making her eyes wider than ever.

'I'll see what I can do.' He said and Aphrodite smiled, victorious.

'Well then you must come down here and allow me to give you a kiss.' Hades appeared before Aphrodite and she promptly put her arms around his neck.

'Fair warning, Aphrodite,' he said before their lips could meet. He pulled her arms from his neck, 'Styx. She is tolerant, but not merciful. Once you enter her waters she will decide what powers you will acquire and more importantly what you will have to sacrifice in order to keep them. If she sees your heart is not pure with its intention, she will consume and corrupt it and there is no turning back.'

'In other words I am selling my soul here.' Aphrodite said, touching his lapel again.

'Great power comes at a great price. Is your heart pure enough?'

Aphrodite looked over his shoulder absently. She knew what she wanted when she met his eyes.

'As pure as a new-born's tears.'

Zeus was slightly concerned with the absent look in Ares' eyes when he entered the royal court.

'Ares,' Zeus repeated when he was quite sure Ares' focus was elsewhere, 'are you listening to me?'

'Yes, I am.' Ares said promptly.

'As I said, I don't usually plant Cyclopes anywhere in Olympus; you know how much havoc they cause. Did you succeed in your little experiment?'

'Yes, the Cyclops is dead.' Ares folded his arms over his chest. Zeus rolled his eyes.

'Of course it is. I wouldn't expect it not to be. But what about you and Athena, were you able to work together?' Ares thought, choosing his words carefully. He almost laughed, running a hand through his dark and still wet red hair.

'Athena and I will always be…oil and water in a way, but we can get a job done. We would be a force to be reckoned with.'

Zeus narrowed his eyes at Ares sharply.

'I know what you're thinking,' Ares said putting up his hands and shrugging, 'I have Athena's best interests at heart, I really do.'

'From what I've seen between the two of you, you don't get along very well.'

'It's all banter and a bit of play. The two of us,' Ares smiled to himself, 'get a long quite well actually.'

Zeus pulled on his beard and tapped his fingers on the armrest of his throne.

'You are playing a very risky game here Ares.' He looked at Ares and Ares merely smiled to himself again.

'I think we should host a banquet to make the big announcement.' He said shrugging, and Zeus looked at him for a long time.

'Consult Dionysus; have him make the preparations for tomorrow evenings feast.'

Ares, on his way back to his own palace, stopped at the temple of Dionysus to deliver the message himself. He entered the giant marble structure, pushing his way through drunken Maenads and servants, kicking golden goblets and plates out of his path as he made his way to Dionysus' intimate quarters. Of course Dionysus had a party, perhaps for the last few days even.

'Master Ares,' a servant dropped to Ares' feet, with slurred words he continued, 'would you like to request an audience with our leader, Dionysus?'

'Request an audience? You lot barely look like you can put yourselves together.' Ares pushed the servant to the side with the toe of his boot and climbed the stairs. The servant struggled up and hobbled to Ares, trying to match his pace.

'Then would Master Ares have me escort him to our leader Dionysus' quarters?' the servant said, stumbling over every step they climbed. Ares pushed him aside and he landed on the stairs, defeated, and soon, asleep.

Ares expected Dionysus to be lying drunk and half asleep on his bed, drunken Maenads and woman strewn across his room, sprawled out on sheets and carpets with wine goblets still held slack in their hands.

What he did not expect was to find the door opened by Hermes, draped in nothing but a silk sheet, eyes bloodshot and hair messy. Hermes only realised Ares was standing before him, a look of shock on his face, after a few seconds.

Ares looked him up and down.

'Hermes?'

'Ares. It's good to see you.' He laughed nervously, smoothing his hair over.

And awkward silence ensued in which Ares tried to gather his thoughts. He put together the puzzle.

'I see,' he said quietly to himself, eyeing the silk sheet.

'Who's at the door?' said Dionysus rather lovingly, appearing close behind Hermes. He started at the sight of Ares. Hermes cleared his throat.

'I'm going to…um, go.' Hermes clutched the silk sheet and hobbled out of the door frame. Dionysus watched him go, a small smile on his face, and Ares watched Dionysus curiously.

'If you aren't too busy,' Ares said, and Dionysus looked at him. He leaned against the door frame.

'What can I do for you Ares?' he asked, his voice raspy.

'Zeus is hosting a banquet and would like you to make the preparations for it.'

'Do you have a time and a venue?'

'Tomorrow evening. Anywhere but here.' Ares said and Dionysus smirked.

'Is there a special occasion?'

'Let just say,' Ares grinned shrewdly, 'it's a bit of a surprise party.'