3.
:: gone ::

Here's the thing, we started out friends
It was cool when it was all pretend
Since you've been gone
And all you'd ever hear me say is how I pictured me with you
That's all you'd ever hear me say--

But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm still moving on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you, now I get, I get what I want!
Since you've been gone

/ Kelly Clarkson – Since You've Been Gone

Eldon's face was the first thing Diana saw after she knocked on the front door of the Court. The second thing she saw was the door, as it swung back to slam in her face. And the third thing was Eldon's look of astonishment as her warrior instincts kicked in and she stepped in front of Jonathan and caught the door just inches from her face. She pushed it back open forcefully, wedging her foot against it to keep it that way.

"Oh no you didn't," Eldon began, his voice low and tense. "You didn't dare to come back here, not after what you did to Rafe!"

"El, I'm not discussing this with you. Now go get him."

Eldon looked enraged. "He doesn't want to see you! Dammit Diana, you can do whatever the hell you want with Ares, that's your business, but when it comes to—"

"Look!" Diana ordered, cutting Eldon off and reaching behind her, she propelled the boy forward and thrust him in front so Eldon could see him. "Look hard and tell me what you see!"

Eldon glared and dropped his gaze to the boy. The transformation that overtook the conman's face was incredible. His jaw dropped, his eyes bulged and his breathing became erratic.

"Holy Rhea, Mother of Zeus!"

Diana looked at him impassively. But Eldon paid her no heed, dropping to his knees and staring at Jonathan incredulously, as if he were a ghost. Which, under the circumstances, was not that far from the truth.

"How—how did you—how—" he sputtered helplessly. Diana cut in again.

"I know Rafe doesn't want to see me. But I think he'll want to see this -- don't you?"

"But you're—you're—d—d—" Eldon kept stuttering. He nervously touched Jonathan's hand and yelped to see it was solid, living flesh. Nothing ghostly or insubstantial about him. Jonathan's blue eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"I'm what?"

"ELDON!" Diana's voice cut through the stuttering like a razor, found the leash of his scattered thoughts and yanked hard. "I know Rafe is angry with me because I turned down his proposal this morning," she emphasized the words, trying to make understand, "but we need to see him now. He will want to see us."

Eldon hesitated, then brushed a slow hand over his eyes as if trying to clear them. He straightened back to his full height, blinked twice and shook his head slowly.

"I uh—I see. Um, I can't believe this," he murmured dazedly. Jonathan slanted a black brow.

"What's so hard to believe? Aunt Di has realized she was just being silly," he shot an accusatory glance at Di, "and she wants to tell Uncle Rafe that's she's reconsidered. She's ready to marry him now."

Eldon's glance was equally accusing as it met Di's. "Oh is she?" he remarked sarcastically, staring the gypsy down. Diana glowered at him back, beat for beat. "How self-sacrificing of her." The conman's gaze slid up and down Jonathan slowly, then met Diana's again. He thinned his lips together in thought.

"But you're right," he concluded. "This is something Rafe will want to see. Wait here. I'll go get him."

As soon as he'd left, Jonathan turned to Diana and inquired, "What did he mean about you and Ares?"

Diana thought quickly. There was no way in Tartarus she was going to confess the truth about that. "Oh you know Eldon," she twirled a finger dismissively. "He always takes Rafe's side of everything. No doubt your Uncle Rafe has been telling him stories again."

They were interrupted by the sound of Rafe and Eldon's firm tread coming back up the hall. Rafe entered first, followed by the other conman. When he saw Diana, his entire face turned red.

"Eldon," he hissed venomously, "I am going to kill you!"

"Wait," Eldon insisted, dodging the fist headed for his face. "Before you do something you'll regret; there is something you need to see. Di, show him!"

"I've seen all that I care to—" Rafe began furiously, but a young, light tenor voice cut in before he could finish.

"Zeus, Uncle Rafe! Just give Aunt Di a chance to explain ok. She's real sorry she hurt your feelings, but she wants to talk to you now."

Rafe froze. Stormy blue eyes met emerald green, his dark with confusion and shock. Diana smiled sadly, knowing the emotions that were crossing his heart right now. She'd just felt them herself upon seeing Jonathan again.

"What—what—?" Rafe gasped, now his turn to stutter. Diana nodded towards Jonathan happily. Rafe slowly sank to his knees and stared open-mouthed at the boy as if he couldn't trust his eyes.

"It's impossible—" he breathed softly. He placed his hands on Jonathan's shoulders, slow and awkward like he was caught in a dream. "By the Gods, Diana! How could this have happened?"

Jonathan continued blithely, believing them all to be on the same subject, that of Diana's refusal to Rafe's proposal. "Because Aunt Di is just stubborn," he insisted, stomping a foot. "But she is ready to see reason Uncle Rafe. This time, she'll marry you. I swear she will!"

Rafe visibly hesitated. He kept running his hands across Jonathan's arms as if he expected the boy to vanish. But quicker on the uptake than Eldon, he transformed his astonished expression into one of thoughtful calm. He reached up and gently cupped the boy's face, staring at him intently.

"Jonathan," he queried softly, "where have you been?"

Jonathan raised a perplexed brow. But he didn't pull away from Rafe's hold and his response was sober.

"I don't know what you mean. I haven't been anywhere. Just playing outside the Temple all morning -- like usual."

Rafe's clear blue gaze flickered up to Diana's. "Would you like to explain what in Tartarus is going on here?" he demanded, tilting his head back to stare at her. Diana didn't reply, but Jonathan did.

"Uncle Rafe, I thought I just explained that. Aunt Di is sorry she turned down this morning, but this time she is ready to marry you. So why don't you two kiss or whatever it is you do to make up and not fight anymore."

Rafe dropped his hand from Jonathan's face and patted him on the shoulder. "I see," he said softly, revealing nothing of what he was thinking. He straightened and smiled down at Jonathan warmly. "I think I understand now. Look, why don't you go talk to Eldon for a bit, ok? Have him make you a snack in the kitchen or something. Your Aunt Di and I need to have a grown up talk. In private."

Jonathan's face broke into a wide grin. He practically danced as he assured them, "Oh yes, absolutely. That's cool. Take your time."

He dashed off as Rafe looked at Di. He arched a blond brow and leaned against the doorjamb, arms akimbo.

"Care to explain this?" he commanded. "How is it that a once dead little boy is now alive again? And where has he been all this time? And why doesn't he remember any of it?"

"I don't know all the answers Rafe. In fact, I know very few of them. But I guess we can start with what I do know."

"Which is?"

"Aren't you going to at least invite me to sit down first before story time starts?"

Rafe narrowed his eyes until they were mere slits. "That wasn't my intention. Especially since you aren't staying long."

Diana resisted the urge to sigh. Did he have to be so antagonistic? Gods above, he looked so handsome though, even angry as he was. He stood framed by the doorway, as if he'd just stepped out of a portrait. The shafts of light from the window played across his body, highlighting facets of his magnificent physique and dipping others teasingly in shadow. It defined him, setting him ablaze with color. The sea green leather of his vest set off the sky blue of his eyes, the golden tints of his hair. He was so tall he made Diana feel dwarfed by comparison, but she never felt dominated by him -- though the strength in his lean, muscular build was perfectly conspicuous. His sleek leather pants fit him snugly, adding unnecessary length to those already long, powerful limbs. Amazing how easy it was to forget how gorgeous he was when she wasn't around him.

But right now savoring the view of her conman was unavoidable and Diana fought her attraction. It was damn hard to concentrate, especially when she was urging so badly to be in his arms. She wanted to twine her arms under his vest stand-up collar and around that strong neck and kiss him with every ounce of feeling in her body. She could already feel it, his warm, firm lips parting her own, seeking a deeper union. His fantastic tongue sweeping inside, marking her, claiming her as his own. . .

"Diana!"

Diana blinked. Caught in the depths of her mental fantasy, she'd lost all track of the conversation.

"Huh?"

Rafe was staring at her with little concealed irritation. "I assume you are going to explain some time in this century? Or am I supposed to guess the solution first?"

Explain? Explain what?

She didn't realize she'd spoken aloud until Rafe answered her. "Explain what Jonathan is doing here of course? How did our little boy come back to us?"

Our little boy. Just hearing the words gave Diana a thrill.

"Right. Sorry. Um, I made a deal. With the Fates. Or I should say, they made a deal with me. They were the ones who brought him back."

"The Fates? Why would they care whether Jonathan is dead or not?"

Diana chewed on her bottom lip, knowing Rafe wouldn't like the answer. "They said they owed me a favor," she muttered, hoping he'd leave it at that. But of course he didn't. Curiosity was one of the staples of his personality.

"Favor? What favor?"

"The 'opportunity to redeem a single mistake'," Diana parroted. "They said that whatever I asked for, they'd do. So I asked them for Jonathan back. Where he was or how they got him back, I have no idea. I'm just glad they did."

She kept talking, hoping to distract Rafe from the key she hoped he'd overlook. But Rafe was intent of hearing the whole story.

"Why did the Fates owe you a favor, Diana? What did you ever do for them?" His eyes narrowed again. "Or is this some tidbit of that confidential past you so enjoy hiding? Is that why you want to avoid telling me? Because you don't trust me -- yet again?"

Di winced like the blow was physical. She felt horrible about the truth in that statement, but even more so that he felt she didn't trust him. She did trust him -- it was just those recollections were painful for her and she didn't like talking about them. She'd like to brush this incident off as connected to her past, but she wanted Rafe to feel her confidence in him more. So she forced herself to confess the truth.

"Rafe please -- don't be like that. Of course I trust you." She ignored Rafe's earlier remark about not staying and plopped down on a nearby red-velvet upholstered settee. She likewise ignored the puff of dust that arose from oft-neglected furniture --Rafe and Eldon's motto was death before dusting-- and the big white blotch she was sure was decorating her multi-skirted gypsy bottom and stared at Rafe sullenly. By the Gods, if he was going to force her tell him the whole story, she was gonna be comfortable whilst doing it.

"I was delivering a message from Ares to the Fates Temple today and they just unexpectedly appeared to me. They told me that they came because I needed them and that they were giving me the opportunity to redeem a single mistake. They told me that they owed me this because—because—" she hesitated, fumbling with a trinket dangling off her wrist. Tartarus! Here comes the hard part! "—because I spared Ares life after he killed Jonathan."

Rafe's lip curled. His dimples flashed and disappeared, leaving deep groove marks in his lean cheeks respectively. "Indeed." His voice was a coarse, guttural sound. "Kind of an ironic cycle wouldn't you say? They restore to life the boy that Ares killed and would have himself been killed for, but you chose to spare his life so he can kill the same boy again. Explain to me how this is supposed to work to your advantage?"

"What do you take me for?" Diana rose, another cloud of smoggy white in her wake, but she was too enraged to notice. "You heartless bastard! Do you honestly think I'd let Ares kill Jonathan again? Gods on Olympus, Rafe! Believe me, Jonathan will not be harmed. And I will handle Ares!"

"I have no doubt of it," Rafe remarked, thick with sarcasm. Emerald eyes glared promises of a pain-ridden demise back at him.

"That's not what I meant and you know it! Gods-damn-you Rafe! You aren't even trying to be reasonable!"

"Reasonable? You want me to be reasonable? You shattered my heart Diana and you want me to be reasonable?"

"Dammit Rafe, I'm sorry! I already told you I was sorry! What more can I possibly say?"

"Nothing," Rafe replied coldly. "Not a goddamned thing! I just want you to get out."

Diana wrestled back tears. "It was a mistake Rafe. One single, stupid mistake. And I am sorry, so very sorry for it. Why can't you see that?"

"Don't lie to me! You wanted Ares all along! I was just a diversion you strung along until you got him. I'm sure it was real fun for you, but I'm tired of the games ok." He threw up his hands in frustration. "I'm tired of all the games. It was cool back when it was all pretend. Ten, even five years ago -- wouldn't have cared probably. I was young and not interested in anything serious with anyone. But you were different Di. You were always different. When I first met you, I knew I'd finally found the one—the only one who—" he broke off and ran a hand through his cropped blond curls. "Look, it doesn't matter now. It's over Diana. Accept it and move on with your—your—" he waved a gauntleted arm airily, "—I don't know what you call him. Boyfriend? Lover? Friend with sexual benefits?"

Sharper than a chakram the words knifed into Diana's soul and shredded her to pieces. She shut her eyes, hoping if she pressed the lids tightly enough, the tears wouldn't come. She could feel them stinging against the shades, begging to be let free. But she wouldn't --couldn't-- release them in front of Rafe. She just couldn't allow him to know how badly he hurt her.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I love you. Not him."

"Do you?" Rafe sounded bored. "After you've spent enough time in Ares bed, I'm sure you'll get over it."

He walked away then, leaving Diana alone with her broken heart. She never thought anything could hurt this bad -- not since losing her whole family when she was only a child. And having to live her whole life with the knowledge that she'd contributed to that loss. But this hurt far, far worse. The knowledge that she'd just lost the only man she'd ever truly loved. And that once again, she was the sole reason that loss had happened.

By the gods, I am cursed. I'm poison to everyone around me. I don't deserve to be happy.

She sank to her knees in the gloom, finally allowing the tears to escape. Happy voices just down the hall failed to sink in, not until they were nigh ontop of her. Normally her warrior reflexes were without fault, but at the moment protection, even survival, just didn't seem important.

"Aunt Di? Uncle Rafe says he'd like me to hang out today, if that's ok with you. He says you can't stay with us today -- that you have to get back home right away 'cause Mister Ares has some important things for you to do." A boyish hug, given enthusiastically, but to Diana it was salt rubbed in a burning wound. "He says he doesn't want us to keep you, so he'll look after me while you go do what Mister Ares needs."

Diana didn't dare lift her head. Rafe would see the tears and know why she was crying. "Thank you Jonathan," she concentrated on keeping her voice level. "That's ok with me. Have fun, my darling."

"I'll keep him with me until dinner," that was Rafe now speaking. "I'm sure you have a lot of people to share your news with. People who will need to know lest they be surprised otherwise."

Diana caught the unspoken connotation. Rafe was referring to the fact that Jonathan suddenly rising from the dead was going to shock a lot of people if they didn't know about it first. He was right of course. Diana was already dreading having to explain this to Ali -- her friend Adrianna's daughter. The little girl was five and just catching onto the concept of what death meant. It was going to confuse her that the 'long trip' her playmate Jonathan went on wasn't 'forever' after all and the boy who 'wasn't coming back' just had. Rowan --Jonathan's other friend-- would be able to understand it a little better, since he was Jonathan's age and quite intelligent as well. But it was still going to be difficult to explain why both of the other children had aged nearly a year older in the same time that Jonathan hadn't changed at all. Oh yes. This was going to be so much fun!

"What news?" Jonathan asked, blissfully unaware of the significance. "Is it about you and Aunt Di? Are you two finally getting married now?"

Diana still didn't dare meet Rafe's eyes. She waited, barely breathing, to see how he'd respond.

"Yes," Rafe said finally. Quietly. "Yes, your Aunt Di and I have made a decision about that. You see Jon, we discussed it and decided that I couldn't marry your Aunt Di yet because she is still so busy working for Lord Ares. We both agree that we need to wait until she finishes doing what she needs to for Lord Ares first and then we can marry after that. It's the best plan."

Tartarus take you, Rafe! Diana gritted her teeth against the urge to curse him. So clever. So diabolically simple. He managed to squeeze out of the situation with a brilliantly twisted half-truth and picked the one thing that he knew Diana wouldn't do. Couldn't do. Breaking her oath to Ares service was impossible and he knew it. He'd trapped her good without hope of escape and Jonathan would never know the difference. He was beaming at his uncle in unadulterated hero worship and it was enough to make Diana sick.

That lying, devious, son of a Bacchae—

"Don't let us keep you Di. I know you have a lot to do this afternoon. Just as we do -- right buddy?" This was directed towards Jonathan, who beamed.

"Right!"

"Right."

Rafe hoisted Jonathan up onto his shoulders and Jonathan shrieked with joy. Diana watched the idyllic scene sadly, feeling her heart crumble. The one thing she wanted in life --a family-- and yet she could never have it. She had to watch her dream walk away from her, one on two legs, the other on piggy-back and pretend not to care. Last time she lost a family, it destroyed her life but she survived it. This time she wondered if she could recover from the pain.

"Don't you ever knock?"

This was snapped waspishly at the God of War because he'd beamed himself into her room without invitation. Diana sat, cross-legged on her bed, staring out aimlessly the window. It hadn't been a good afternoon. After her painful conversation with Rafe, she'd spent the better part of it spreading the news about Jonathan's 'risen from the dead' state. Everyone was happy, but confused and grilled Diana with more questions than she had answers to. Now she felt upset and puzzled and in no mood for another confrontation with Ares. She hadn't even bothered to look and see which god it was who'd appeared. None of the others had reason to bother her -- nor would they enter her room so rudely. Except Ares.

Ares looked amused. "Why should I? It's not like I haven't seen all you have to offer before," his eyes swept down her body lazily. "Not that I am complaining mind you. It's a damn nice view."

Diana yanked her skirt down, cutting the sight of lithe thigh off from his line of vision and coldly replied, "Not interested."

She didn't have to look at him. She could feel his smirk radiating behind her like nuclear heat. "Diana, don't be coy. You needn't prevaricate. I know you are happy to see me -- just as happy as I am to see you." He came around and placed his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging them. His thumbs drew idle circles on the small of her back, easing the tension. "Just in case you were wondering," he purred in her ear, "Yes that is a weapon in my pocket -- and you are so welcome to use it against me."

Diana stiffened. "Piss off Ares."

Ares arched a brow. "Such language, my pet," he tsked. "And here I thought you were a lady."

"Not since you took that characteristic away from me. Now get lost."

"Now-now then my sweet; bitchiness isn't becoming. Besides, I have no idea why you are in such a churlish temper. Isn't having that brat back what you wanted to make you happy?"

Finally Ares achieved what he'd been working for since he entered the room -- he gained Diana's full and riveted attention. She whirled in a blur of motion and stared at Ares suspiciously. "How did you know about that?"

Ares smirked. "My dear, just because I don't like my family very much doesn't mean they don't have their uses. I've known about your little deal with the Fates since early this afternoon. I must say I'm surprised to find you here. I thought you'd be out with the brat, 'discovering your inner child' or some other morose crap like that."

Diana was on her feet and in his face in a heartbeat. "Listen to me, you sick son of a bitch! If you dare, dare to so much as breathe the same air as my son, I will personally cut out your heart and feed it to Gragus myself! Are we clear?"

"Ah yes. There is the warrior gypsy I know so well. For a moment, you had me worried."

"I said, are we clear Ares!"

"Crystal, my sweet. Now stop teasing me with your delicious talk of carnage."

Diana didn't blink. "I want your word you won't do anything to harm him Ares. You are a soulless bastard, but you do keep your promises. For what its worth, if you swear to it, I know you won't go back on it."

Ares looked wounded. He placed a palm against his chest and gave her the biggest pair of doe eyes possible. "Diana, would I do that to you?"

"Save it for someone who believes that load of hydra shit. You don't want to push me Ares. This time, I will not forgive and forget!"

Ares sighed. "Diana honestly, you wound me. I swear, on Olympian honor, that I will not hurt your boy."

"Olympian honor?" Diana snorted. "Try again."

"Whatever makes you think I would?"

"You have before. And frankly Ares, when you get jealous, you are too unpredictable for me to rely on anything else but prior confirmation."

Ares' mouth twisted. "Would you like it in writing?" he asked coldly. Diana looked him straight in the eyes.

"Nice of you to offer, but unnecessary. Your word will do. And I will hold you to that word, Ares. Make no mistake about that!"

"I don't doubt it." Ares crossed past her and sat on the edge of her bed. He looked up at her --for a change-- a curious gleam in his black eyes. "Diana, I wish I could explain to you the actions of my past. They were unconscionable. I was jealous and I thought by taking away the distractions in your life, it'd sharpen your focus and bring you closer to me. Instead, it had the opposite effect. It broke your spirit and drove you further away. I cannot undo the past, but I can help you look to the future. You don't have to fear a threat from me. I will not touch your son."

Sharp probing eyes studied him. Diana felt confused and yet suspicious. Possibly he was telling the truth. He certainly sounded convincing. But Diana knew him too well to take anything he said at face value. Ares was as skilled a liar as they came. A born master of manipulation, he knew how to say exactly what Di wanted to hear. But it was when Di let her guard down that he did something completely bastardly and -- how did he put it? Oh yes. . . 'unconscionable'. Sure. Right. Like that made it all better? Ares had pulled way too many nasty tricks in the past for her to trust him again.

Still, he had given her his word. And what Diana said was true. She'd never seen him go back on a promise. And he knew her dark temper well enough to know her talk of vengeance was no idle threat. She would just have to trust that what honor he possessed would keep his aggression at bay, lack of a better guarantee presenting itself. And if he got out of hand, she would handle it!

"Alright. I accept your word, Ares." Extending a hand, she clasped Ares' wrist right at the center of his gauntlet and increased the pressure until she felt his pulse beneath her fingertips. A clasp of a warrior. For those who lived and breathed battle, it sealed a bargain as effectively as a signature in blood. "We've reached an accord."

Ares, never one to let an advantage slide by, used the moment to grasp her own wrist, his fingers deftly navigating through mounds of charms and bracelets 'til he reached soft skin. He gripped hard and yanked her to him, causing her to lose her balance and fall into his lap. "Let's seal it with a kiss," he suggested and leaned in to follow intent with action. Diana tried to object, but wasn't fast enough.

His lips closed over hers, strong and demanding. His kiss crushed and conquered and imprisoned, breaking Diana's will like trainers broke a wild horse. He tasted of whiskey and musk and all the hot, masculine virility that Diana found so appealing. She had to admit, even furious and hateful as she felt towards him now, there was still something wickedly irresistible about him that called out to her. Fortunately, anger gave her the strength to resist the feral call.

She didn't mince words or protest, not that it would've done any good. Instead she spoke the one language Ares understood: violence. She sank both teeth into that luscious lower lip of his, ripping flesh, seeking blood. Meanwhile her hand, searching for a piece of the action, unsheathed her sword and shoved it deeply into his gut. Ares gasped in surprise and broke the kiss. He pulled back, more shocked than injured, but Diana remedied that by adding a vicious twist, deliberately designed to inflict pain.

"Do you mind?" Ares roared. He reared back further, the sword blade emerging from his hard stomach as the wound vanished faster than thought. He shoved Diana off his lap so she landed unceremoniously on the floor. "You're psychotic, woman! What in Tartarus was that for?"

Diana glowered at him from a pool of jewel colored skirts, her sword clattering as it hit the floor beside her. Strands of ebony flipped and cascaded over her forehead, curling across and amidst and obstructing the heat of her glare. "Maybe you deciphered that message. Don't screw with me Ares. I'm not going to take any more of your crap. Maybe now you'll leave me alone!"

Ares looked incensed. He reached down and jerked the disheveled woman to her feet, not giving her a chance to collect herself first. "Don't think so, gypsy! I am Ares, God of War and I will not be ordered about by one of my own goddamned priestesses! Look Diana, I've been more than tolerant with you -- but you are my property woman and by My Name you are going to realize that!" He cut off her argument with a terse shake. "Quiet!" he thundered. "I haven't given you permission to speak! Now -- if you defy me like that once more, I will show you just how vengeful of a god I can be. Don't push me either, Diana. You won't like what happens."

He took a step back and seemed to let his anger subside. His gaze turned sensual again and he pursed his lips, undressing her slowly with his thoughts alone. "However, you are welcome to screw with me anytime you please," he purred. "So long as you do so respectfully, passionately and as bare-nakedly as possible."

"Only if you want to awaken missing vital parts of your anatomy. That you can even think I'd consider being with you again proves just how sick you are."

Ares folded thickly muscled arms across his bare chest and laughed at her. Diana had no idea what she'd said to amuse him, but he was treading on thin ice by laughing at her. She already felt homicidal enough without further aggravation.

"My sweet, stubborn gypsy," he said softly. "How you amuse me. Infuriate me, but amuse me nonetheless. Maybe that's why I keep you, impossible little hellion that you are." He wiped the tears streaming from his eyes, chuckling still then strode across the room, half-turning to look over his shoulder at her.

"You can sit there and have your self-righteous little pity party if you like, but you are only denying what we both already know to be true. You don't love the conman -- you used him, just as surely as you accuse me of doing the same. Deep down you and I are exactly alike. It's why we drive each other crazy – but it's also why we match so perfectly. We are both strong, ambitious and will do anything to get what we want. You are held back by some obscure form of morals, human ethics—" he snorted disparagingly. "Really Diana -- when will you realize that these so-called morals don't apply to people like us? You aren't a mortal; you aren't governed by their rules. You can make the world your destiny; you can shape it to be anything you want. Stop trying to be a human and be what you were meant to be. Be mine. Be my warrior queen and together we will take what's rightfully ours."

"What is this?" Diana hissed. She pushed the hair off her face and backed away, still glowering at Ares like something stuck to the bottom of her shoe. "Xena's finally dead, so I become 'next candidate by default'? I'm not interested in being your warrior queen, princess, consort, lover or bitch! And I'm not interested in ruling the world, not if that means I have to be with you!"

"Careful. You come dangerously close to hurting my feelings."

"Would that you had any feelings to hurt! I'm nothing like you Ares. I don't expect you to understand, but the difference between you and I is that what you did to Rafe hurt me. That's what makes me human and you not."

"The conman again." Ares rolled his eyes. "Really Diana. Your obsession with him grows tiresome. Such an insignificant, ordinary mortal. You could kill him with a flick of your wrist my sweet, and yet he continually possesses you. Tell me, how can you even stand to be around that pathetic weakling?"

"He's not weak. In many ways Ares, he's already the man you can never become."

"A mortal? Please. He'll live an insipid, unsung life and die a death just as trite. Whereas I am destined for greatness. And you have a chance to be part of that legacy. Don't throw it away for infatuation."

Diana arched a brow. Her emerald eyes sparkled wickedly, a dangerous omen. "Believe it or not Ares, you are beginning to make sense to me. And I have to admit you are right. I do have a destiny ahead of me. It's high time I faced up to it instead of running from it."

"That's my girl," the God of War purred. He moved to take Diana in his arms triumphantly, but to his astonishment she sidestepped the move and faced him directly, hands braced on hips. She felt light-headed, dizzy, but strangely happy. She felt, for the first time in a long time, like she could breathe again.

"I have a destiny," she repeated. "And it's not here. A life for a life or ten years service; that was the deal we struck. And I've fully repaid that debt -- several times over if you count all the stable duty I've done for you."

Ares grew cold sober. "What are you saying?"

"You already know. Thanks to you, I am going to get what I want. I'm leaving the temple Ares. For good."