CHAPTER XXIII

Warning: Dark, Mature Themes

Author's Note: Whew! It has been a busy July for me. To make up for my absence, enjoy a longer chapter. (I will still try to make weekly, if not bi-weekly uploads, but if it takes a little longer please know that an update soon enough, as this story will continue right till the end.)

Ares ripped through the forest on his steed, Athena's temple at his back and slowly disappearing out of view.

The air on his face, his ears filled with the sound of gallops and his neck wound throbbing as blood rushed through him, he felt alive.

Athena was his.

He whipped the reigns of his horse and it snorted, bursting with greater speed than before.

This is what it was like riding into battle. The Trojans, the Persians – none could withstand the force of his combat prowess on the battlefield. Back then he had so many ways to enjoy the carnage first hand.

Possessing the bodies of lowly soldiers, crafting his own indestructible human form to cleave through the enemy and at the pinnacle of his ecstasy, slashing through the battlefield until he was bathed in blood as red the torrid sun that condemned the soldiers beneath it.

There, witnessing the fragility of mortals, he was king.

Fragility and mortality. It was only a few hours ago that his own immortality was challenged as he lay wrapped in Athena's form quite sure that his heart would cease. Now more than ever did mortality occupy him. With Typhon and Olympus' precarious future on the horizon, it was only natural that it did.

Riding like this, he would arrive at his destination soon and the fire within him would have to be doused. His words would only be heard if they came from demure lips.

How shameful, Ares thought with a bitter grin. The Ares of several months prior would have rebuked him for becoming so tame. But then again, never could that Ares have imagined pursuing the ambitions he did now.

*.*.*

The King's Palace was an architectural feat whose construction was endless.

Filled with hundreds of rooms and counting, the monolith's design was overseen by the Queen herself. If it were up to Zeus, Hera always thought, the palace would be made of nothing but sheer gold and ultimately would be an eyesore upon Olympus.

She introduced marbles, granite, precious stones, crystals and ornate woods to the King's palate and in the end, he entrusted the palace's aesthetics to her. But there was always more to build, design and construct in Hera's eyes. Hence why construction never stopped.

She stood, shielded by a violet parasol, beneath the sun. With hawk-like eyes she looked on as the palace's strongest men worked building the hall of an armoury. It had been a few weeks ago that she had planned for the new room, designing its interior and poring over blueprints amid her other duties. After Hades' hearing, it seemed like there wouldn't be a time more fitting than now to have it installed.

Suddenly, she felt the gentle touch of a broad hand against her back and the parasol plucked from her hand. Startled, she looked up beside her.

'What monstrosity is it that you are building now, mother?' Ares said, scrutinising the frame of what he could tell would be an obscenely large room.

'Goodness, you frightened me,' Hera sighed, her hand on her chest, 'what are you doing here?'

'Is that anyway to speak to your beloved prince? Were you not the one imploring me to visit you more often and now you're asking why I'm here?'

'Oh, please boy,' Hera huffed, 'I saw you but a day ago. And you bring nothing but trouble with you.'

Ares grinned. The sun becoming brutal above them, he made sure Hera was well within the shade of the parasol.

'Where is he?' he asked.

'Where is who?' Hera turned and glared at him. Ares rolled his eyes, knowing how uptight his mother was about titles.

'His majesty. I need to have an audience with him, urgently.'

'He is in deliberation, Ares.'

'Deliberation about what? Hades was acquitted by a judge of his appointing. What more is there to deliberate about?'

'You don't understand, he needs time.'

'We don't have time.'

Hera sighed, returning her gaze to the construction site. What more could she say to a son whose stubbornness mirrored his father's?

'Mother, last night Aphrodite was attacked at her palace.'

Her stomach dropping as she heard the words, Hera whipped around.

'What?' she whispered. Glancing about, she hooked her arm around Ares' and pulled him in the direction of the gardens.

'Come. We mustn't cause an uproar among the servants. They'll begin to speak among one another.'

'They've probably already started,' Ares said, 'Aphrodite's palace is in tatters and the servants who aren't injured are running amuck. It wouldn't surprise me if rumours about the attack are already spreading.'

'Who attacked her?'

'Something similar to the thing that attacked me a few months ago, according to those who were there. We still aren't sure yet, I plan to return and investigate once I'm done here.'

'Investigate? Alone? That creature beat you to an absolute pulp last time and you want to go at it on your own?'

Ares' frowned. Did his mother always have so little faith in him?

'I was caught off guard, I'll have you know. I wasn't even wearing a shirt—that's beside the point. I'll have my finest men with me, if that makes you feel better, but I'll do fine on my own. I haven't heard any reports back from Aphrodite's palace about the beast returning, so if we do find it, we'll stop it before it can target her again.'

Hera stopped on the stone path that led them to the first series of gardens.

'Well…well is she alright? Is she injured?'

'Thankfully no,' Ares shaded her with the parasol, letting the sunlight fall on his neck, 'she came away, for the most part, unscathed. She was chased into the woods by the creature, but somehow managed to evade it.'

'Do you think…this all has to do with…?'

'I can't imagine what else it could be.' Ares watched the colour drain from his mother's face. She averted her eyes for a moment and seemed lost in her thoughts. She likely wouldn't admit it, but Ares could tell that the hearing, regardless of whether she believed Hades words, put her on edge.

'Mother. I won't pretend that I know where this beast comes from, whether it is a spawn of Typhon or just…one more headache that we have to address, but what I do know is exactly what one of His Majesty's deliberations look like. Admit it: he is more floored by being made a fool by Hades than does he believe any of what Hades said. His deliberations will last for as long as his ego is bruised.'

Ares caught his Hera's hand.

'If we stall any longer, with these threats, these enemies at our backs, we will be hardly prepared enough to fend off an attack on our kingdom. Let me speak to him.'

'What will you say?' Hera shook her head, 'My dear, your advice is not…the first he would listen to at a time like this.'

'I'm not offering my advice,' he said, resolute, 'I'm offering something much more valuable.'

She looked into his eyes. The flames of wild, raucous youth no longer burned in them. They darkened, lit only by a faint light that shimmered with conviction.

'Go to the palace foyer and wait there,' she squeezed his hand, 'I will call for you.'

*.*.*

Athena was relieved to feel the sun on her skin after fairing the gloomy Underworld.

The portal at Athens was definitely the fastest way to travel there, but she was surprised that so little was done to regulate the traffic passing through it. Hades was within his right to have the portal guarded, preventing unwanted gods and guests from entering at will – and yet he did not do so.

Athena tugged on the reigns of her obsidian steed, steering it into the woods. Perhaps, in fact, Hades wasn't as bothered by the slew of unannounced visitors as he liked to put on.

Leaves and brittle branches crunching beneath the weight of her steed's hooves, Athena navigated the tricky pathway leading to Artemis' temple.

The goddess lived among nymphs, satyrs, centaurs and creatures of all races that comfortably wandered her grounds and the forest surrounding it. On occasion, Athena had found nymphs picking fruit from Artemis' gardens and centaurs fervently copulating behind bushes on her grounds and yet rarely did Artemis reproach the invaders for their misconduct. She sought to live peacefully with Olympus' forest dwellers and in return, they swore loyalty to her. With the right co-ordinating, this would work greatly to Athena's advantage.

Picking up speed, she disappeared into the thick as her nimble steed zipped through the forest.

Artemis drew on her bowstring firmly. Her eye on the woven target, she metered her breathing until her body was entirely still. Nearby, a servant buzzed with anticipation as he glanced between his lady and the target, waiting for her to strike.

She drew a final breath and held it deep within her belly.

One…Two…Thr—

'Artemis!'

The hairs on Artemis' neck stood on end and she faltered, releasing the arrow. The arrowhead landed half an inch from the bullseye.

'Argh!' she growled, dropping her bow, 'who dares call me—'

Whipping around, she caught a bright-eyed Athena approach with bold steps as an anxious servant scurried behind her.

'Artemis,' she said again, throwing her arms around the goddess. Against her chest, Artemis could feel Athena's drumming heart.

'Uh…Athena? Are you alright? What are you doing here—'

'I've received good news Artemis,' Athena pulled away and clutched her arms, 'I travelled to the Underworld—'

'You travelled to the Underworld?!'

'Yes, listen to me. I travelled to the Underworld to speak to Hades about the beast that attacked Aphrodite.'

'What…I—'

'He said he doesn't know anything about the beast, but he's willing to help us if we can capture it and bring it to him. We might finally get some answers about what this creature is!'

'Wait bu—'

'Think, Artemis,' Athena beamed, 'if we capture this thing and Hades runs his tests and experiments, we could…we could find out this beasts numbers, if it has offspring or if it really is just one lone creature. We could discover a pattern to the way the other beasts spawn, anticipate their attacks and formulate a strategy to—'

'Athena,' Artemis gently grabbed her hands and shook her head, 'what are you…talking about? Why would you trust Hades to help you?'

'What do you mean? He—'

Athena's belly dropped. Yes. That's right.

Artemis did not know. She still believed the rumours about Hades being the perpetrator of the attacks.

It was unfair. For Athena to ask Artemis to put herself and the creatures of her beloved forest at risk without being truthful as to why she would request such a thing was wholly unfair. From the beginning, Athena wanted her fellow Olympians to know of the impending threat that Typhon posed upon their kingdom. Yet here she was grappling with whether or not to perpetuate a damaging lie to satisfy the request of her father, or to reveal the truth to someone whose skill and courage could be instrumental to expelling the problem that plagued their kingdom.

Athena searched her face. Artemis' eyes were filled with scepticism. Sighing, she dropped her head.

'I am an idiot,' she muttered, but not softly enough for Artemis to miss it.

'What? Why?'

Athena took a deep breath. It was only right.

'Let's go, just the two of us, to your private quarters,' she said, 'there is something you need to know.'

*.*.*

So, this was the hole in which Zeus chose to "deliberate" alone. Huh.

Ares took in the dark hall – a high-ceiling, windowless space – his eyes finally falling upon the lone throne at the end of the room. Two sole torches burned, faintly illuminating the tall walls.

How theatrical, Ares thought.

Zeus sat looking pensive as ever atop his throne massaging the bridge of his nose, his eyes firmly shut. The little of his face that was illuminated by torchlight looked grim and weathered.

Ares approached the throne, making sure to keep some distance, before bowing.

'Father—'

'State whatever it is you want and then leave.'

The King's voice was low and his words curt. Ares gritted his teeth and fought back the impulse to pass an equally curt remark in response. He knew that Zeus would be in a pretty pissy mood and that to instigate further would be an urge that he'd have to combat with all his might. Hades' hearing – his innocence – was placing Zeus under immense pressure and scrutiny. His foul mood would not disappear any time soon so Ares needed to tackle it as tactfully as he could.

'Then, I'll make it prompt,' he said, deciding to abandon formality, 'I know that you're in the midst of … deliberation, but I must disturb you to report urgent news.'

Zeus set his eyes upon Ares. He said nothing.

'Last night,' Ares took his silence as a cue to continue, 'Aphrodite was attacked at her palace by a creature we believe to be similar to the one that assailed my domain several months ago.'

No reaction. Zeus did not so much as blink.

Behind Ares' steely façade was the image of a god tearing his hair out in tufts. How many times had he been accused of being insolent and here sat the King, sulking like a petulant child because he couldn't get his brother in trouble?

Patiently, Ares awaited an answer.

'And?' Zeus grunted.

Usually, there wasn't a single thing about his father that could surprise Ares. He had remained perfectly predictable for millennia and Ares depended on that greatly to get away with half of the trickery he did in the past. But admittedly, this took him aback. Yes, Zeus was huffy at the moment, but to dismiss such news so carelessly seemed too callous even for him.

For all the things Ares had planned for, this attack was not one of them. It fortified to him that things were truly amiss in Olympus. The fact that he of all people was moved by a sense of urgency, while his father was not seemed almost too ridiculous to believe.

'The beast made waste of her palace, ravaged her servants and assailed her in the forest. I believe the attack is a matter of urgency,' Ares looked up at him meaningfully, 'and quite possibly linked to the…Typhon situation, sir.'

Zeus' eyes flashed dangerously. He inspected Ares with a palpable iciness. Ares gazed into the marble floor absently lest his eyes betray him.

'Do you believe him?'

'…I beg your pardon?'

'Hades, did you believe him?' Zeus said with finality. Ares straightened his back.

'I don't believe I have a reason not to. After all, he was proven innocent by Ma'at's scales,' he looked into Zeus eyes, 'a judge of your appointing.'

He could tell the words stung his father but Ares couldn't resist one little taunt. It wasn't a lie after all.

'Did you know he would come out clean? After all, I sent you to summon him to the hearing. Did he profess his innocence then? Did you know that it would all be a waste of time?' Zeus' gaze was dark but his expression unreadable. Regardless, Ares knew there was a fury bubbling beneath his mask of distant disquiet and chose his words carefully to quell it.

'I was just as taken aback by Hades' admissions as the others,' Ares said, 'and he did not resist when summoned. His guilt would have deterred him from coming to Olympus and yet he did. I think that speaks for itself.'

Zeus eyed him but Ares continued promptly.

'As for the matter regarding Aphrodite—'

'I thought the objective of that Psychí Syndetikó was to make you and Athena a formidable force that could not be contended with. Now, you stand before me and mewl about a creature that has somehow evaded your capture twice. It is your duty – both you and Athena – to destroy the forces that threaten our kingdom – so do it.'

The back of Ares' neck became hot. He wanted nothing more than to thrash against the walls, spitting at his father's throne. But that was the Ares of a time long since passed. An Ares he would not – and could not – return to. He sighed.

'I won't argue with you there, father,' he bit into the last word, 'but this is an unprecedented force. This creature has never been seen before on earth or in Olympus. It operates in a fashion that contradicts what we know. I worry that this beast could be—'

'Why did you really come here, Ares?' Zeus shifted in his seat, exhausted, 'Surely it could not be to tell me of some mindless creature that could be felled easily with the right focus? Surely, this is not that with which you have chosen to waste my time.'

Ares gritted his teeth until his jaws hurt. He no longer had any patience for this.

'Allow me to go to Tartarus.'

*.*.*

'Typhon?!'

'Shh!' Athena hushed Artemis. They were alone together in Artemis' cluttered private quarters, but one could not be too careful when it came to Olympian servants and their penchant for eavesdropping.

'Artemis you must keep this a secret,' Athena pleaded, grabbing Artemis' hands.

'A secret? Athena, this is serious! When is Zeus planning to reveal this to the rest of the kingdom?'

'It has only been a day,' she said, unconvinced by her words, 'Zeus needs time to…think about our next move.'

'We haven't had a battle like that in millennia. Olympus just barely survived Typhon's attack back then and it took us centuries to refortify the kingdom, nurture the fauna and flora and rebuild our temples and palaces. All of the Olympians should have been present at that hearing, and if even Ma'at's scales—'

'Artemis,' Athena squeezed her hands, 'I am trusting you to not tell a single soul until the time is right. Please.'

Artemis looked into her dark eyes. Light quivered against their glossy surface and she could tell that it meant everything to Athena to keep this profession strictly between them. She sighed.

'Just between us then,' her eyes fell to the floor. Athena looked over her face and saw that its ruddy colour had drained. She pulled Artemis into a tight embrace.

'Thank you, Artemis. I knew I could trust you with this,' she pulled away and looked into Artemis' eyes, 'which is why I need your help. Who better to come to for Olympus' most crucial hunting expedition than the Master Huntress herself?'

Artemis saw the brightness of Athena's expression.

'Hunting expedition?'

*.*.*

For the first time, Ares saw a hint of movement flicker across Zeus' face.

'What?'

'You don't believe Hades,' Ares said, 'you are not convinced by his story and you won't be until you see evidence, with your own eyes, of his claim. But outside of your palace Olympians are seeing all the evidence they need to. Whether it be Typhon or another force, suspicions are growing and you would rather deliberate.'

The air around them became thick enough to swallow.

'If evidence is what you need to act, allow me to retrieve it. I will go to Tartarus, Hades my escort, and see for myself if the claims are true.'

The two stared at one another in silence. Ares felt cold sweat pool at the collar of his military coat. Suddenly, a sound came from Zeus chest. It grew and bubbled until he let out of rumbling laugh.

'And what makes you think that Hades would accompany you, a so-called "Olympian dog", to Tartarus as an escort? A tour guide, if you will.'

'Those estranged from you have grounds common enough to make working alongside one another comfortable.'

Zeus laughter ceased. Ares, a little amused, bore into him.

'Let's not pretend.' He quipped.

'Why exactly then,' Zeus narrowed his eyes, 'should I trust you? How do I know that this is not some elaborate prank of yours? That you and my "estranged" brother will not find some grounds to deceive me? After all, I trusted you once with the Psychí Syndetikó, and yet Olympus is no greater than it was before.'

'I am not doing this for your sake.' Ares retorted. He was sure he saw the faintest twitch in Zeus' eye. This was not an attempt by Ares to antagonise the King – his words were the unadulterated truth.

'I want to see with my own eyes,' Ares gazed into the dark marble, 'what lies ahead for Olympus' future. What precautions I must make to protect what's mine.'

Zeus had not taken his eyes off of Ares once. Ares was sure that the king thought staring into him would somehow bring his truths to the surface of his face, but he was more than willing to do that without prompt.

'Let us be candid. You won't send just any Olympian to Tartarus. A warrior of great mental fortitude is needed for such a task but your strongest, most formidable warrior is also this kingdom's greatest asset and your most cherished daughter. You would not dare send her to such a treacherous realm – so send me. I'm disposable enough, aren't I?'

Ares' words rang in his own ears. Zeus looked upon for a while, faint amusement creeping onto his face.

'Disposable? I wouldn't quite call you that, Ares. Although, I will not pretend that there were not plenty of occasions where I considered whether Tartarus should be made your new home. It wouldn't be the first of your kind,' Ares bit down as he heard the words, 'to be sent there.'

The first of his kind. Deimos and Phobos.

When the sun over Olympus was harsher and glowed with greater brilliance, Ares never rode into battle without his sons at his side. The three would slaughter their foe on the battlefield, not taking a single break for weeks at a time until their hair was caked with blood and sweat, their bones broken and their chariots in tatters. Then they would return to Olympus and drink, feast and fornicate for just as many weeks until they could barely walk. Those were the brightest, halcyon days of Ares' existence and they were snatched from him in an instant.

His palms became damp and beads of sweat rolled down his back as he tried to douse the flames raging within him.

When the havoc Deimos and Phobos caused around Olympus and Earth grew beyond Ares' control and Zeus' patience, they were tossed into Tartarus and there was nothing Ares could do to save them. Driving the dagger further into Ares' side, Zeus deceived the Olympians, namely Aphrodite, to believe that the boys had been sent to the Underworld for reform. If Ares were to divulge the truth of their whereabouts, Zeus assured that their 'temporary' sentences would be made permanent.

It had been several millennia since he last rode with them into battle, beneath that brilliant, Olympian sun.

The cool sweat rolling down his skin, Ares' mind suddenly cleared. A small smile played on his lips.

'Sending me to Tartarus will not make your daughter pine for me any less.'

He was sure he heard a distant thunderclap resound across the valleys of Olympus.

'I see not,' Zeus spat, 'what she sees in you. You may stand before me a new man, decorous and tame, but I know well that you have only corrupted her.'

Ares said nothing, his silence neither an admission nor a denial. Zeus, Ares thought, was the last person to speak of corruption after he spent millennia corrupting a league of women right beneath the nose of his wife.

'You really are,' Zeus began, a sudden calm returning to him, 'resolute about this.'

'If this will provide you with the evidence needed to act, then I will do what I must. I have no reason to deceive or "prank" you when the safety of my pride and the kingdom she so loves is under jeopardy. Are you granting me permission,' Ares looked into his eyes, 'or not?'

Zeus was silent for some time. His eyes wandered to the marble floor as he stroked the length of his beard.

'What of Aphrodite? Is she injured?'

Ares refrained from scoffing. Oh, so now it mattered?

'She is safe; mostly unscathed.'

'If this creature is as much of a danger as you so say, I want it destroyed before you make yourself scarce. As well as this, if the Typhon threat is a hoax by Hades, we do not want him to believe that we would jump at any such ridiculous claim coming from his duplicitous lips. You have a week to tend to this mystery beast, then you have my permission to leave.'

A week was still a delay, but undoubtedly a delay much shorter than the one that could have been if Zeus were left to ponder and sulk here until his ego recovered. Regardless, Ares had come and he had not failed.

'I shall pass the message to Athena and my men,' Ares bowed, 'until then.'

He turned, feeling Zeus' gaze upon his back, and strode towards the exit.

*.*.*

Ares,

I hope you haven't gotten up to any trouble since we parted.

I travelled to the Underworld today. I would have told you, but if things had not gone as they did, then it would have been for nought. I sought Hades' advice with regards to the faceless creature – he claimed he knew nothing of it.

Whether I believe him or not is moot, so I will not explore that line of thinking. However, he has agreed to offer his knowledge to us if we can deliver the creature to him, dead or alive.

Upon re-entering Olympus, I rode to Artemis and divulged the truth about the hearing to her. Yes, yes, chastise me for it, but it was necessary and I trust her enough to not do what I have done. We have decided to join forces and form a hunting party. With her tracking skills, as well as her connection to the various creatures of the forest, and my combat prowess, capturing the beast should be effortless.

Well. I can only hope.

How we will divide our time between this venture and flaying the other beasts that have been spawning in ceaselessly will be a feat of its own. But, finding out about this creature, how it moves and behaves, could give us insight into what we can expect in the near future. I trust you will hunt alongside us.

I fear to let these words escape my lips lest I summon your hellish form, fangs, wings and all. So, I will write it here instead. I miss you already, Ares.

Athena

Athena folded up the letter tightly, the oil lamp on her desk flickering in the draft.

An inquisitive hoot echoed from the top of a bookshelf. Two glowing amber eyes peered at her.

'No, not you,' she laughed, 'I think you all spooked him enough.'

The wind passing over Athena's shoulder, she heard a soft coo at the sill of her window. A white dove, ruby eyes glistening and white feathers shuddering, hopped about eagerly.

'Hello,' Athena smiled, walking towards the bird, 'a friend of yours came to me like this just a day ago, you know. I'm sure you'll be just as swift as he was.'

Gently, Athena tied the little letter to the dove's delicate foot. Smoothing over its feathers with the back of her finger, she bid it farewell.

The white dove fluttered off, disappearing into the glittering, black night sky.