I cannot breath, all turns red
My hate for you has grown strong
Deceit I know what you've said
No more to have and to hold...
hollow-hearted weak soul
You deserve nothing else

No more to have and to hold... - Takida

"Ares, Ares? My little boy, where are you?"

The five-year old Ares giggled as silent as possible. He was hiding behind the sofa in his mother and father's room. It was certain that he was a very very restless boy who was always running, jumping somewhere, and getting into little fights with the others. So he was sure a tiring, but also adorable, and very handsome child.

Unfortunately, he couldn't realise the body who was approaching him slowly. Suddenly, two arms were wrapped around him and he was in his mother's arms.

"There you are!" she said, laughing, making his son grimace at her.

"You found me! I can't hide from you!" he complained, just making his mother laugh harder.

"But I couldn't find you for two couple hours! You really hid from me very well, my darling."

Ares smirked this time. "I know right?" Then he hugged to his mother. "I wanna play more."

"No more play, my dear. You have been playing all day! Now, sleeping time."

"But mommy..." he started to complain again but Hera raised her eyebrow. "No." Ares sighed.

"At least tell me a story before bedtime. Will you?"

"Maybe I can do it for you tonight, what you say?" someone said behind and Ares exclaimed happily. "Daddy!" He ran to his father's arms happily. Zeus laughed as he catched his son and lifted him in his arms.

"Oh my strong son... Are you saddening mommy again?"

"No! I was just playing, daddy."

"Hmm? So, what were you playing?" he said as he walked closer to the bed and winked at Hera.

"Hide and seek!" Zeus looked surprised. "Hide and seek? So, did you win then?"

Ares's face palmed. "No, mommy found me. After 2 hours of hiding."

Zeus laughed. "You were hidden for 2 hours? Man, it's a great deal!"

"I think so!" Ares was energetic in one second again. "Now,are you going to tell me a story? Please?" Hera smiled and kissed his black hair.

"First, brush your teeth. Then maybe your father will."

"Yaay!" he exclaimed again making both his parents smile and ran to the bathroom. Zeus turned to his wife after he went inside. He gathered her to his arms making her smile.

"I missed you." he said as his nose was deep into her hair, smelling her perfect scent. Hera smiled again."I missed you too."

"He's growing up, doesn't he?" Zeus said, still smiling. "I am so proud of him, I am sure that he will be a great warrior in the future."

Hera smiled too. "I am very proud of him too. And also I am sure that he will be a good brother to his future little sister, don't you think so?" She touched her pregnant belly making Zeus smile.

"We will have so many children together, love. We'll be a great and big family." he touched her nose. "And I will love you always. I will love you unconditionally."

"Forever?"

"Forever? Yes."

Remember...

Ares, God of War opened his eyes groaning. It was entirely dark and he was feeling very cold. He tried to gather his blank mind, to remember where he was or what was this intense odd feeling but nothing came. He tried to use his powers to create a light but he was very weak. It was all dark. Dark. Cold. Only these came into his mind. Gods, where was he? Was he ever going to be back? Was he afraid?

A name flashed in his mind before he passed out completely.

"Adheron..."

And darkness surrounded all around his world.

"Here, drink this." Hades held an ambrosia for Hera to drink. "It will make you feel better."

Hera nodded as she reached out for the drink. "Thank you." She said but she was still distracted. Hades frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Just a... strange feeling. Like something bad is going to happen."

"Relax anymore, Hera." Hades caressed her arm. "Leave this dark thoughts. Nothing bad is going to happen. Everything shall be fine now."

Hera nodded absent-mindedly. "I guees."

Suddenly, they heard rushed steps. They turned around to see the running maid of Hera, looking very nervous.

"My Queen, my Lord..." She bowed anxiously. Hera frowned.

"Rose? What is happening? You look so anxious." She said but Rose's face was a mess.

"I'm so sorry Your Majesty but I have to inform you with bad news."

This time, Hades was frowning too.

"Rose tell me what is happening!" Hera said, getting worried.

Rose bowed her head in sorrow.

"The soldiers found Lord Ares in the garden. He was unconsiouncous and heavily wounded."

Apollo was shocked when he transported into the big room. Ares was lying unconscious in the bed, and he seemed like... a total wreck.

"Oh my gods, what happened?" Apollo asked as he turned to Eilithia. "I heard you calling, but I couldnt inagine this much."

Eilithia was in tears. "I-I dont know what happened, no one does but Apollo please, heal him."

Apollo shook his head, slowly stripping off shock. He immediately came near the fighter god and took out his instruments. He flinched when he touched his forehead.

"So much fever..." he murmured. "It is the first time I sensed this kind of fever in a god. Eilithia, help me to take his shirt off. He can have some wounds."

They slowly took his shirt off and gasped at the scene together. There was a huge wound in his chest and blood was sprained everywhere. He was murmuring unclear things and totally away from the consiounsness. Eilithia was trembling with tears.

"Wh-what does it mean?" She asked, very worried. Apollo was looking at his wound from his godly healer eyes. He was starting to get worried.

"I don't know. In either way, I need to do something." Apollo answered back, and suddenly the doors crushed.

"Ares!" Hera screamed when she saw his son's wretched appreance. "Oh Gods..."

Hades was the one after her, he froze too. Hera ran to his son as Apollo stayed back a little bit and bowed.

"My Queen..."

"Wh-wh-what is this, Apollo? Tell me he's okay." Hera said in tears. Apollo sighed.

"I'm afraid I don't know, Lady Hera. I have never seen something like this before. This kind of wounds can kill a mortal in a second. Ares's aura feels very weak right now. I don't understand but... If we can't find a way, his immortality may fade and maybe he will... We can lose him." Apollo said sadly but Hera was out of control now.

"No,no,no! You're lying. You are a liar no!"

Hera was punching Apollo's chest as her tears were flowing uncontrablly. "No,no you will find a way! My son will NOT die do you understand? Do you hear me?! Oh..."

Hera stopped punching, and began to cry. She was right. Her father was right. Her life was a mess. She was such a bad mother. She was losing everything. Even Zeus. Damn him. Everything was his fault. Everything was her fault. Zeus was horrible and she was not different from that either. And now, because of her careless, selfish attitude, her children were suffering. Her loved ones were getting harmed because of her blindness, and there was no way she could fix that. A god couldn't die. She didn't want to accept. They were immortal, death was impossible. But little did she know, that sometimes, just sometimes even immortality was nonsense. She remembered Pan, The Lost God of Satyrs, she remembered his immortality fading because everthing he had protected disappeared forever. And what if Ares too... Hera, granddaughter of Earth Mother Gaea and daughter of Great Mother Rhea, was very very afraid now. For her son. She couldn't lose him..

"Please, do something." Hera said with bloodshot eyes, looking at Apollo. "I know, I've been bad to you and your sister and I know you have no reason to help but please, save him."

Apollo was very puzzled but he nodded absent-mindedly.

"You have no need to find a reason, my lady. It is already my duty." He said quietly. Hera was about to say something when the doors opened again harshly and Zeus, King of the Gods walked in. Hera turned her head, avoiding to look into his magnificent electric blue eyes. It was making her feel sick to her stomach anymore.

"What does it mean?" Zeus's voice boomed across the room as Apollo got back to take care of Ares's wound. "What happened to my son?"

"After all you did to him and his siblings, can you really find the guts to still call him 'son'?" Hades snapped as Zeus turned to him.

"Don't you dare to talk to your king like that when you don't know anything about what happened." He answered angrily but Hades was more furious now.

"Don't you dare to talk to me like that, Zeus! You know I have never listened your king rules. And I will never too."

The powerful kings were looking at each other with fury and hatred. When thunder shook the ground outside, they both stopped with definetly a more rageous voice.

"STOP this mess of yours!" Hera snapped and Zeus finally saw her reddish eyes and tears for the first time he stepped into the room. "My son is about... about to DIE and what do you think you're doing?!" Hera went on, tears flowing uncontrollably from her face, voice shaking when she talked about death. Hades immediately came near her as Zeus stopped by the effect of the words she had just said. Death? His immortal son? He couldn't understand.

"I am so sorry, Hera. You're right. We can fight later." He looked at his brother sternly. His eyes wandered around the room. "Do you need help, Apollo? The servants can call your son Asclepius, if you want."

Apollo shook his head but his eyes never left Ares's body. "Not now. He does not have anything to do with it. But can you call Artemis? I may need her moonlight and I'm sure she will be a good supporter for you, my Queen. Definetly better than you guys." Apollo glanced at both of them sternly. Then he turned to red-eyed Hera. "Your Majesty, you need to rest. If you don't think of yourself, please think of your baby. I'll stay with Ares."

Hera shook her head, still tears on her cheeks. "No. I will stay here, with my son. He needs me."

"Lady Hera..."

"I will stay, Apollo!" she snapped. "How do you expect me to rest when you are talking about his death? I am his mother! And I will stay here, with him. I know, I can feel that he needs me."

Apollo sighed and chose to keep silent this time. He nodded slowly with an understanding look in his eyes.

"Then I will leave for a moment. To look for some medicines. I'll be back soon. Father, Lord Hades, it will be better if you wait outside."

They hesitated for a moment but then Hades sighed. "All right. If you need something, call me. Come on, Zeus." Then he prepared to leave but Zeus wasn't moving. He was looking at his son's destroyed body motionlessly. Someway, he could remember his little hero's, his special son's laughter. When he was trying to play hide and seek with his mother. He also remembered the intense fight between them a day ago. He frowned. It was not what should be. Who had done this to his son? Who could it be? He turned to Hades on the door.

"Who?" he whispered. Hades took a deep breath.

"We don't know. He was found in that position. No one knows a thing. Apollo said... Said that maybe his immortality can...fade and he may di..."

"Hades SHUT UP!" Hera screamed as he closed his eyes. When he looked again, Zeus was not there.

"Stay strong, Hera. That is what you were born to be." he whispered but there was no answer.

Then he walked away from the room, leaving them alone.

I am Ares. The God of War. Actually, I have never wanted all these things to happen.

"Hera you don't listen!"

"Zeus GET OUT of my room! I have NOTHING to talk to you!

Ares flinched, and tried to hide behind the sofa. His parents were arguing crazily because of a... woman as he heard, and it was not nice. Not at all.

"How could you do it? HOW could you betray to me ONCE again?! After I forgave you the first time, HOW COULD YOU?!" Hera screamed in agony bu Zeus was out of control right now also.

"I just did! It's enough! Hera I am your KING you cannot talk to me like that!"

My life was beautiful. I don't remember when everything changed. All I remember is shouting, crying, horror.

Hera laughed hollowly.

"So, you're my king now? Who am I? Someone you can order?"

"Yes, and I order you to shut up now!"

"You cannot do everything you want, especially not when you're married to me!"

I watched how a great love turned a great hate with my small eyes.

"I can do anything and I'm cheating you! You have nothing to do with it!"

"Zeus I am your wife!"

"And it does not stop me from sleeping with the others!"

I tried to turn off my ears and slowly, I learnt to ignore.

"You are horrible!" Hera shouted again with all the anger inside her.

"And you are not any different."

And he walked away.

I am Ares, the Mighty God of War. And he walked away..

When Zeus entered the room once again, the lights were off. Only a few candles were enlighting the room and Ares was still lying motionless. He sighed at the scene, Hera was still sitting beside him and holding his hand. Slowly, he walked towards them. And Hera blinked at the feeling of a large, warm hand on her shoulder.

She didn't look back. She would recognize this touch eveyrwhere. Instead, she sighed and caressed the hand on her shoulder slowly.

"Find him, Zeus." she said, eyes still on Ares, eyes that filled with anger and hatred, and no more smothering grief. "Find the monster who did this to my son. Bring him to me so I can kill him with my own hands."

Zeus nodded, as he was watching the god of war carefully. The dim light was gleaming in his night-coloured hair which was exactly the same with Hera's. He thought of his eyes, his attactive sky-blue eyes, just like himself. Zeus took a deep breath, he could remember his five-year old warrior son, that blue eyes shining with happiness, his messy dark hair with all of his naughty but still innocent soul. He had never seen this eyes shining again. Not even with anger and hatred. No shining ever again. No real smile. No real happiness. Only hatred. Only anger to everyone. To him.

"I will," Zeus said with such a determination in his voice. "I will find that monster. And I will rip his head off of his shoulders even though he is immortal."

Hera closed her eyes and let her remaining tears go.

It was the time that Zeus realised a tear was running on his own cheek. He quickly tried to slip it off, but somehow his hand was stopped by Hera. Hera was holding his hand so hard, squeezing it with such a fury for everything he had done to her and her children, but not letting him to wipe the last piece of his emotion. Suddenly, Zeus sighed and grabbed her hand back. Hera didn't even care.

And all Zeus wanted at that moment was him to open his eyes now. Shining or not. He still loved those eyes anyways. And he wanted to see them again with all of his heart.

Zeus and Hera were completely unaware that they hands were still locked to each other when they fell asleep just before the twilight.

I AM VERY VERY SORRY FOR THAT LOOOOOOONG DELAY, BUT I WAS VERY VERY BUSY AND HAD TO STUDY VERY DENSE. WELL, I AM BACK :)

THIS CHAPTER WAS A LITTLE BIT LIKE FLASHBACK, BUT YOU'VE SEEN HOW ARES TURNED INTO THIS CRUEL MAN AND HE WAS NOT COMPLETELY WRONG.

THANK YOU FOR YOU LOVELY COMMENTS, AND PLEASE SHARE YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTION ABOUT THE STORY. I WANT TO SHOW THE BITTER LOVE AND THE DARKENED FEELINGS BETWEEN ZEUS AND HERA IN THIS STORY, AND I MIGHT BE ADDING SOME LOVE STORIES AND LOVE TRINGLES IN. SO YOUR IDEAS WILL HELP ME. ZEUS AND HERA PROBABLY HATE EACH OTHER FOR SO LONG, BUT AS I SAY, I WANT TO SHOW THE BITTER LOVE INSIDE THIS HATE.

ANYWAY, HAVE A GOOD DAY! AND GO ON TO READ THE STORY! LOVE YOU XX