Here is the following chapter, I've been writing every opportunity I can, btw classes and everything lol. I am currently taking 6 classes- double major and I work, so bear with me people. Anyways I hope you like this chapter, love you guys : )
-Solarissis
So be it. Ephialtes had said. Final words. Decisions spoken once made.
He had stepped away from me, enough distance to land a brutal blow across my face that sent my head knocking onto the wall at my back. I fell on my hands and knees, but Ephialtes would not permit me to remain fallen. He grabbed my hair, forcing me to rise and turning me from him and towards his brother before releasing me again. I stood between the two brothers, wishing that the earth beneath me would open and consume me.
Voices in my head advised me, that despite what must come to pass this night, Ares must not come; he must steer far and away from the Aloade Giants.
Otus stood ready to join the excitement, his pale eyes gleaming with a look of pure unsaturated madness. His lips were drawn, forming a snarl as he looked at his brother. And for a second I hoped that it was his brother his bloodlust was directed to. But once his eyes fell upon me, and he smiled, the hope was extinguished.
I've seen men and women alike driven to madness through dark times. Soldiers who've seen too many battles could develop insensitivity to taking lives or deep despair as well. A woman who has lost her children could hang herself in the midst of pain and desperation. I've seen eyes of insane humans, but even the most insane still held a flicker of humanity. There was not a single ounce of humanity in Otus.
I turn to look at Ephialtes, who walked around the room, towards a far corner and sat upon a chair where he had complete view of both Otus and I. He sat with his hands relaxed on his parted knees. His eyes held nothing at all, not hesitation nor conflict. The only change that marked his frustration or excitement was the slight blush to his fair skin that made him appear almost human.
A look of understanding passed between the brothers and I understood that I was to be the bait. They intended to get Ares here through me. They did not care for the actions they would have to partake in if the result would bring them Ares.
Ares falls and Olympus would succumb. The thought made itself known in my mind in the voice of Athena.
Fate had set much against me and I feared what more she had in store for me.
Otus came to me, his massive body towering over me. His eyes so pale glowed like crystals under the golden lights of the burning lamp. His long hair delicately shifted on it's own will, as if the excitement in his body released winds.
To say that fear evaded me as he walked towards me in steps as heavy as the beating in my heart, would be to speak falsely.
Otus began circling me, I felt as his breath shifted my hair when he was behind me and as his forearm caressed my stomach as came in front.
His first blow upon my skin was more brutal than his brother's, for he did not rein his strength for me. His closed fist hit my stomach right below my ribs and my body willed to bend, struggling to catch the breath Otus had stolen from me. But he would not allow me so; he held my hair, holding me in place.
It was a long evening even if only perhaps an hour had passed since their appearance. Otus had neither care nor consideration for me. He would approach me like a predator, stalking me, circling me; tasting and prolonging my fear. I lost counts of the many times his fist, his foot or knees connected with my skin.
I tried to fight against him but there was no comparison. How could a human defeat a giant and invincible God. It was like a fish fighting against the ocean. It was like an ant against a lion.
Such a beating could break a warrior. The blows upon my skin I could endure, but there was something terrifying as he played and toyed with me. As he would let me regain some composure and then beat me down like an animal, demonstrating that I was powerless. Such rage grew inside me, such…such overwhelming anger. There is something degrading about being cut down and unable to do a single thing about it. The impotence itself can strip a man of his dignity, of his will.
My attempts to fight appeared to excite him further. Otus loved to feel my fists upon his skin, or my nails as they raked against him. He tore my living quarters asunder as he beat me an inch from my life.
Ephialtes simply sat upon my chair, watching with what appeared to be little interest. I despised him, for Otus I understood, his bloodlust and his madness was easier to decipher than that of his brother's coolness.
One final blow upon my face and I was knocked onto my hands and knees. He placed a kick on my ribs, while I was down and I did not wish to rise again. I lay on my back bruised, bloodied and broken, still clinging to the idea that I should not call Ares. Weak and desperately seeking salvation, questions came forth inside me; why would I not betray Ares? Call him here and watch him fall, the desperate voice whispered against my ears. But I couldn't. I wouldn't. For the flaw in me was that I loved him and though I would surely die this evening, I would not betray the man I love.
I closed my eyes, praying that death would come swiftly, that Otus would take some pity upon me and grant me Thanatos. I heard the pounding of my heart against my ears. I heard steps upon the ground. Then I felt a large hand upon my face, smoothing my hair away. I opened my eyes to see Ephialtes kneeling before me.
"Perhaps I was wrong. Mayhaps Ares does not care for you… You are only human after all." His tone soft and almost soothing, as if he had not just watched his brother beat me nearly senseless. "My apologies." He said and gathering my remaining strength I turned my face from him.
"What now?" Otus asked Ephialtes. I could hear his ragged breath as he waited for his brother to speak. I felt Ephialtes rise to his feet.
"She's yours, do what you will. " His words were detached and distant. If I were not past feeling fear I would have wept with it. Even as his words came from his mouth, words as heavy as the death sentence upon he who is trialed.
Otus came over me then, his arms on either side of my head, his knees parting my legs, his large hands lifting my robe. Not a whimper escaped me as he moved my fractured leg. My breath did not increased and I did not hyperventilate as his body became aligned with mine or as I felt his weight upon my bruised ribs. With a detachment only gained from great pain and suffering, I felt how excited his body was. I did not struggle or even care as his large hand held my head perfectly into his palm. I did not care as his lips descended upon my own. I simply lay there as his kisses trailed from my lips to my throat.
The night seemed unnaturally silent, the only sounds that reached my ears was my strangely calm heartbeat and Otus' ragged breathing. But amidst the silence and human sounds, distantly I heard the sound of a door opened by force; I heard hectic footfalls land on the ground.
I heard his voice. Perhaps I had taken to many blows to the head, but I heard the angry rumble of Ares' deep voice.
As if watching a play upon the stage, distant and far away, I saw as Otus was tackled off me. His huge body pushed to the ground, away from me by Ares. Ares was straddling him, his bare fists pummeling into the giant god's face. He wore a look of pure, untamable savagery as he beat against the other god.
My beloved. Ares had come.
He had not changed since my eyes had last beheld him. His long flame-colored hair shone under the light, his skin was beautiful alabaster, like the marble statues of a temple. He did not wear his famous bronze armor, but a simple tunic, and his sword strapped to his shoulder, giving him the appearance of a warrior woken in the middle of the night to defend his home from invaders. His emerald eyes shone in such untamable anger. He was once again the very same god I had fought against, wild and savage, donned in the look of bloodlust. He was the most terrifying, wild creature on earth.
He attacked Otus with such rage that his movements were not controlled, forces of bloodlust simply unleashed. Ready to kill whomever stood in his path. The giant god attempted to fight against Ares, throwing him from him, his giant fist against Ares' flesh. Otus held his own fairly well against Ares' but still he was no match for the demented God of War.
IT was a fight to last not simply hours but days, for Otus' bruises and wounds simply healed. While Ares did not heal nearly as quickly, his rage never lessened. In an instant Ares had Otus on the ground on his stomach. Ares foot was placed on Otus lower back, keeping the giant god down, his fist on his hair, tangled into the dark locks, pulling his head back.
There was a slight flame of hope in me. Hope that mayhaps, Ares could win against Otus, even against Ephialtes as well. But I knew that playing fair was not the Aloade's tactic.
"Ares, Ares," It took various times of calling his name for my voice to rise from a whisper to a more leveled tone. For even my throat felt bruised. There was something about the change in his movements as he fought against Otus that demonstrated that he heard me. Something so small made me realize his change, perhaps it was the slight loosening of his muscles, or how his brow smoothed a tiny bit….those little things made me realize that I knew this man. He had played me falsely as Brennus, with his dimmed looks and different name, but he had indeed given me himself. I understood him as Brennus. I understood him as Ares.
It seemed that I could not make myself to rise past my knees. "You must go, Ares, you should not be here!" My words were urgent, hoping to have him leave before Ephialtes returned.
"NO! I WILL NOT GO! THEY 'AVE NO RIGHT TO TOUCH YOU! NONE." Ares could barely contain the violence spilling from him, various times as he spoke, he deliberately smashed Otus' face onto the ground, with enough force that if Otus had been human surely his skull would've been split open. But the giant simply laughed, a maniacal sound that sent shivers down my spine. Ares pulled his sword and placed the edge along Otus' throat.
I knew that Ares' impetuous decisions would be his fall.
The returned of Ephialtes was marked by the commotion it had caused. For when Ephialtes entered the room, Ares' nostrils flared. If my eyes had not been upon his face, I would have never imagined that his anger could increase further. Ares turned to the Aloade whom had just arrived. I shall never forget the look in his eyes, so primal, violent and animalistic. I could never imagine that eyes could hold such untamable rage. In a movement so quick that my human eyes barely registered he launched himself at Ephialtes, but Ephialtes was quicker this time. He was closer to me. He wrapped an arm around my waist, lifting me, aligning my back to his chest. His arm was possessive and painful over my fractured ribs. His other hand came on my neck. I could not help but whimper at the pain he caused me.
A snarl escaped Ares lips.
"You really do love her." Ephialtes whispered.
"I will tear your eyes out with my bare fingers, and feed you your own guts." The twitch in Ares hands told me he wanted to kill.
"Stay where you are, or I shall tear her throat out."
"Let her be, this is not her fight."
"That is of little care to me. Her life for yours. Let Otus chain you, let him subdue you."
"No." I finally spoke "Ares you mustn't." Each word brought pain upon my ribs.
"Bring your chains." Ares said. He stood straight, dropping his bronze sword on the floor.
"No, No! Ares! Listen…to me. I am human, Ares. HUMAN! I will die anyways. Olympus needs you, Ares. You mustn't."
"Try anything, War and I shall kill her."
"Please Ares." My voice released a sob and tears spilled from my eyes. I held his eyes. Perhaps he did love me. "THEY WILL KILL ME ANYWAYS! ARES"
"She is not to be harmed any further," There was such calm in Ares voice, that if he was not right before my eyes, I would not believe those words came from him.
"Agreed." Ephialtes voice vibrated through his chest.
"Swear it."
"I swear it by the sun rise, and moon fall, by the ocean, and the blood in our bodies universal to all flesh beings, I swear that she shall not be harmed further." The oath seemed to satisfy Ares, for he nodded raised his open palm in an universal gesture of surrender.
There was something simply devastating about watching as Otus, a lesser being, chained the God Of War. Otus had summoned gold chains, chains with manacles that went around Ares' wrists and ankles. Ares was presented with so many opportunities to fight against Otus, to not allow his binding. Yet because Ephialtes held me in his grasp he simply stood there, containing rage with immense effort. His eyes were upon my own, and beneath them there was the rage that I came to familiarize with Ares, the longing of bloodshed; the berserker. But there was also something else beneath, something so beautiful and devastating that if you look at it for too long it will burn you whole. But I could not bear to watch as he was chained like an animal because of me. I lowered my face, tears falling onto the floor.
"Liah…" I raised my eyes to look at him; his cuffed hands were raised, and opened. Asking me to place my hands in his.
I struggled against Ephialtes, grunting as the effort hurt my body.
"Grant me this Aloade. You've chained me already. Your branded chains are enough to…to subdue me." Ephialtes released me then and I had to struggle not to fall. I gathered all my strength and walked to Ares, wrapping my arms around his waist.
Not a single thing in the world could compare to feeling Ares' body against my own. To burying my face on his chest, memorizing his scent. I wanted to remain with him forever, just him. No thoughts, no words, just him and I. All I wanted was to lay down in his warm arms forever.
With all my strength I stepped away from him, just enough to look at his face above mine.
Ares raised his cuffed hands to my face. His rough callused fingers caressed my cheeks. I covered his hands with mine, kissed his palms. He covered my mouth with his, his tongue danced against mine, his lips urgent and unyielding. A sob escaped from my body, and tears from my eyes.
"Perhaps we shall meet again." He whispered against my lips.
"You should not have done this." How I wished that I was powerful enough to change my life.
"I would not want immortality if you are dead." My eyes closed and darkness engulfed me.
That's all folks. At least for now : )