"You would ask me that?" he asked in response, "I just found out I'm supposedly a deity, have a wife, not to mention a son, who from what I can gather, holds nothing but contempt for me. And I don't even remember why."
"Don't forget, Gramps. What about lil' ole' me?" Peter interjected and Jasper ignored him.
Char hit her husband over the head and he frowned but shrugged it off a moment later.
"If you want to recall a past life, I know someone who can help." Enyo said and Jasper looked doubtful.
"Who would do that? Why would they do that?"
"The world is about to be setback and we don't know how far. We have had many enemies and without a full Olympian council we are left weaker." Enyo said and Jasper nodded.
"But what if I don't want to be a part of that again? After I remember?" Jasper said and Enyo noticed Peter and Char leave the room.
"You may not want to, but I've never seen Ares turn down a chance for bloodshed."
Jasper frowned and bitter memories sifted through his mind. He could remember his time in the Southern Wars, but he certainly did not wish to. Ares, however, he grew restless whenever those memories came to the surface. He enjoyed it and hungered for a new fight.
"But I am not a God now," he said and Enyo shook her head slightly.
"To a degree, you are. When you remember, when those memories come to the surface, your abilities will no longer be dormant. You will be as you once were, though not unchanged." she said.
"How so?"
She smiled at him with nostalgia in her eyes. "When we live as a mortal for a time we gain new knowledge, new skills, and our frame of mind changes to a degree."she told him softly.
"I personally have only done it a handful of times. Mostly with Enyalius or Eris. Each time I have been changed afterwards. I came out different on varying degrees than previously."
Jasper nodded. "But Ares and I are separate. What will happen then?"
Enyo picked at some of her feathers calmly, "You may become one, I suppose. Either that or the process will just begin to set in."
"Will I have to leave the Cullens? Alice?" He turned away from her and Enyo sighed to herself.
"Not if you don't want to. They may come with you if they so choose. They will, however, have to be kept in the dark about some things-"
He shook his head, "Like what?"
"Council Meetings and information regarding war. Things like that."
"Did Ares tell you any of those things?"
"Only when we were younger and he had just joined the Council. Other than that he only spoke to me about war, but that was due to my minor domain over it." she said, smoothing out her feathers.
"So I wouldn't be able to tell them anything important? Things that might endanger their lives? Doesn't that sound wrong to you? It certainly isn't right."
"It has always been that way, even between our consorts." Enyo said, "I will be able to help you to a certain degree."
"Why can't I tell Alice? She is my wife-"
Enyo's eyes lit in cloaked anger but he didn't notice, "To the gods, we are married. They don't recognize marriages between deities and partial immortals."
"I love Alice." he said and Enyo felt her chest clench but remained calm on the outside. Still, she turned away and chose to look at the plastered wall instead.
Was she doomed to forever be second-best? Even to a manipulative psychic? Aphrodite she could to a degree understand, at least. Beauty, Love, and Sexuality were under her domains.
But Alice? Sure, she was incredibly clever, but she was incredibly manipulative as well. Maybe it was the beauty? Both Aphrodite and Alice were beautiful, Enyo, however, was not traditionally beautiful. She shone best under a full moon and in her domain.
Bloodshed. Maybe it was that. Jasper had seen enough bloodshed for this life, he just didn't want to see more?
Enyo ran a hand through her hair and turned away from him to gather herself. Do not be weak. You are a goddess, show some grace, show some… Maybe just give him the potion and let him decide.
Yes, that's it. If he chooses to remember, you'll have a chance… No, do not falter. Ares needs you, shove it down his throat if you must, just don't let him go.
Enyo tugged at a chain around her neck and the small vial filled with purple liquid appeared in her hand.
She turned to Jasper and touched the vial to the palm of his hand.
"Do you hate yourself so much to keep fighting a battle that will leave you in tremendous pain? If, after you have gone through an adjustment period, you still do not feel like this is your path, then...then, I will seal away your memories properly this time. Your power will be passed down to either myself or Enyalius."
Jasper nodded at her words, taking them in carefully. He held onto the vial and uncorked it, almost in a resolved fashion.
Enyo slid back into her seat beside him, "Just swallow it all in one gulp," she said, "It'll taste worse if you don't."
Jasper downed the purple liquid like a shot and looked like he wanted to cough. But then again, vampires don't really cough.
Enyo smiled at him, "How do you feel?"
"Achy, my head is starting to hurt. But also really tired…" he trailed off and he looked like he was nodding off.
"Before you fall asleep, let's move you to a bed, shall we?" Enyo teased, but Jasper was just focusing on what he was feeling. He stretched out on the couch and layed his head, almost unconsciously, in her lap.
"I'll do my best to speed this along," she said.
"You'll wake just in time for the Cullens to arrive back." she whispered softly in his ear, running her hand through his hair, which seemed to relax him further.
Jasper fell asleep to the sound of her heartbeat and her soft humming.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Jasper awoke in a field that was in full bloom. A little girl sat beside him. It took him a moment to realize that this was in fact Enyo.
Her features were more rounded and she had a brilliant look of innocence shining in her face. She was constructing a crown of dove feathers, branches, and delicate white roses. Jasper felt protective of her and when she looked him in the eyes he realized that he was her size too.
"Brother?" he small voice asked and Jasper felt a smile break out on his face.
"Yes?" he asked.
"What troubles you so? Has Athena insulted you again? Don't let her get to you, she doesn't know what she talks about sometimes. She likes to think she knows everything though…" Enyo trailed off and Jasper watched her work for a few moments.
"Athena does not trouble me, sister. Only the thought of what Aphrodite will do to you if she finds that you have taken her bird's feathers again." Jasper said.
Speak of the Devil and she shall appear.
A woman appeared before the twin godly children in a flash of golden light.
The woman was beautiful with her golden hair and curves, but had a glare on her face that was pointed at his sister.
Still, Jasper could not look away from her. He wanted her to look at him but she didn't even peek his way.
Instead, she kneeled down and ripped the crown away from Enyo's grasp, ripping away his sister's flesh.
"What have I told you about stealing feathers, brat?" Aphrodite belittled and Enyo looked like she was going to cry for a moment before she glared at the older goddess.
Aphrodite did not approve of her silence and slapped Enyo's face with the back of her hand.
Jasper, who was still under the love goddess' haze, did nothing to defend his twin.
Aphrodite cast one last glare at the young girl before flashing away.
It took a few minutes for Jasper to come out of his tupor but when he did, he noticed that Enyo had tears falling from her eyes.
"Why does she hate me so, Ares?" Enyo asked and Jasper climbed to his feet before gently pulling her up off of the soft grass.
"You do disobey her will," Jasper reminded her and Enyo gave a slight sniffle before rubbing her bleeding hands on her skirts and taking his hand.
"Let's go visit Apollo, sister. He'll heal your hands." Jasper said and even as they walked he noticed that tears continued to stream down her face.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
When Ares next woke, it was to the sound of a woman yelling.
He peeked over the room that lay before him and caught sight of himself in the mirror. He had aged to appear as a late teen and his blonde hair was in disarray.
He heard a sigh to his left and turned to find Enyo to lay beside him.
She had aged as well and her features were more pronounced and less childish than before. Her hair had lengthened and grown darker to a shade of caramel. She was laying underneath the blankets and feathers were peaking out from under her hair and on top of her arms.
She looked up at him and he smiled gently at her. "Are you excited?" he asked her and she beamed at him.
"Of course!" she replied back, sitting up and kissing his lips.
"Do you by any chance know who is screaming?" he asked and she laughed.
"I'm assuming it's Mother. Probably off on another rant about not having any 'good' children." Enyo said, holding the blankets over her bare chest.
She crawled over to lean against him and they sat silently, just listening to the enraged Hera's voice.
After the commotion ended, Enyo stood from the bed and dropped the blankets.
Ares watched her as she donned a peplos and breastplate. She had a delicate body with soft curves and a few scars that only served to enhance her beauty. And Gods, did she have a wonderful smile…
Ares stood as well and after dressing they both left their chamber to the council room.
They followed cobbled stones to the heart of Olympus where they quickly made their way to their mother's temple.
Today was the day when they were to wed.
It had been years in the making and after they had received their domains, it was only solidified.
Aphrodite had left Enyo alone since she had received her domains, but she was watching him carefully, Ares was certain.
He often felt her gaze on his back when he was alone. He never looked back. Or at least he tried not to.
The Love Goddess captivated him, it was true. But then again, she captivated everyone. Well, everyone but his sister. Enyo despised the goddess for more than a few reasons. Many of which, she had not told Ares.
Yes, the love goddess infuriated his sister, but the fact that she kept the reason from him made him want to keep things from her as well.
They reached their mother's temple and called out their presence before entering.
Hera sat in the center of the temple with the sun's rays shining on her radiant face. A strong, yet insecure, woman, Hera was almost always radiant in some fashion. Her black hair framed an oval face and atop her head sat a crown symbolizing her stature to other gods.
She was an imposing woman and often looked down her nose at others in disdain. To her, everyone had wronged her in some form or fashion. Heaven helped the mortal who angered her, as they almost always ended up in tremendous pain.
They both bowed before their mother and she smirked. Ares hated her, but he would never say that to her face, lest she toss him off Olympus.
Ares felt pity for his brother, but despite that, had made an alliance with the smith god. He did, after all, create glorious works.
Enyo rose first and approached their mother with care, almost like Hera was an angry beast.
His sister kissed Hera's cheek and stepped back for him to do the same.
"Mother," he said, "We have come to you to be wed."
Hera's face broke out into a pleased smile. Why wouldn't she? She did gain power whenever a pair of immortals married.
"Come," she said, standing from her lounge.
The twins followed her to a dais and kneeled before her.
Hera held out her arms, "Let us begin."
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
Ares began to feel the merging of his personalities at the back of his mind as he awoke. It was a chaotic swirl of blood and war. He was not used to warring so much within himself before this lifetime, but it appeared at least a part of him was entirely masochistic. He and Fuckward have something to bond over now.
Bleh.
He opened his eyes apparently mid-blink as he felt his arms slash out and across the chest of an enemy soldier.
The soldier didn't see him. They never did.
That was the condition of Zeus allowing the war twins to take part in war so outrightly as it was.
The soldier fell to his knees, blood flowing down his chest and he saw Enyo lean down beside the soldier and kiss the young boy's forehead.
"You have done well, boy. May Hades take pity on you." she said softly with a smile playing on her lips.
It was a battle among many and the twins could both spot Eris flying into battle on her chariot.
Enyo appeared back at his side and they fought for hours, never growing lax or tired.
They were both in their domain, after all.
Swords were shining in the last rays of the sun, soldiers were screaming, and they, the gods, were laughing.
It was the most fun they had had in years, perhaps decades!
"Shh," Enyo whispered in his ear, "Wouldn't want the mortals to hear." she said and Ares chuckled at her light tone.
"Why not allow them the belief that the gods aide them?" Ares teased and Enyo smiled.
"You know as well as I, that we fight for no side. Or at least not lately. I do look forward to the vision the Oracle saw, that would be a good fight. And one we could pick sides on!" she said wistfully.
Ares flashed them both back to their temple on Olympus and they rid themselves of their bloodied armor.
"That will not come to pass anytime soon, Sister." he reminded.
"Oh, I have no doubt that Eris will ensure that it will come to pass sooner than you think, Brother."
Ares wrapped his arms around her and leaned his head against hers. "Perhaps." was all he said.
He gently pulled her chiton off and placed a hand over her growing belly.
"And how does that son of mine fair?" he asked and Enyo laughed.
"As well as his father," she said and his vision faded out again.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
The first thing he felt was a woman's arm draped over his chest. It had none of the scars or feathers that his sister had and he realized that instead of being apart of this vision he was a watcher.
He saw his body turn to face the foreign woman and after a moment, realized that the arm belonged to Aphrodite.
She was watching him through hooded eyes and trailed her hand over his chest in sharp circles.
She did not look menacing here, and instead seemed even more alluring than previously.
Her blonde hair was pillowed beneath her head and her long limbs were stretched out with his. He saw his eyes open to greet the welcoming goddess.
"Good morning," he said and she stated the same.
Ares witnessed himself fall into her glorious trap again and again till he felt a pull to outside the window and behind the gates of Aphrodite's temple.
From the shadows of a forest, he saw a young man with fiery eyes and russet hair standing.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that this was his son.
And did he look angry.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
The next memory to play out before him was through Enyalius' eyes.
Enyalius was sitting with Enyo at a table in her temple and he looked up to the doors of the entrance to see a pair of boys creep in from the shadows.
They were both young and had Aphrodite's beauty and his eyes. But their gaze was sinister and filled with chaotic intelligence.
Enyalius glared at the boys, but did not speak.
When Enyo turned to the boys, a look of fear came over their small faces. Her eyes narrowed, but her features were not unwelcome.
She signaled the boys over with a wave of her hand and they stepped forward out of the shadows cautiously.
"What are your names, Children?" she asked and they gulped before speaking quietly.
"Speak up." she commanded and the eldest stepped forward.
"I am Phobos, and this is Deimos. My brother." he supplemented and Enyo smiled at them.
"Fear and Dread. One day you will grow into your names, I am sure." she said kindly and the boys were emboldened.
"Tell me, children. Do you spend time with your Mother?" Enyo asked and Enyalius turned his gaze to his mother.
"Mother-" he said and Enyo hushed him.
The boys looked at each other for a moment, "Mother does not like us very much," Deimos said sadly.
"Father… He barely acknowledges us." Phobos said and Enyalius' gaze softened toward the children.
"Sounds like him," Enyalius remarked.
"Is he your father too?" Deimos asked, looking to be excited at the prospect of a new brother.
Enyalius' eyes narrowed, but he said little. To him, the boys were an unknown variable, and he didn't like that too much.
But still, he nodded. "Worthless, he is." he muttered under his breath and Ares felt his own confusion waft in the air as he watched.
When had he wronged his son? Why did he? And what could make him do it? He had been so excited for his son (if his former vision was to be believed)...
Ares shook himself and tuned back into their conversation.
Enyo appeared calm and not very angry if at all. Enyalius was clearly irritated, but did not mock or insult his younger brothers.
The younger boys were a flurry of excitement and a twinge of nervousness. Phobos had a beaming smile on his face, as did Deimos, and they were both jumping from foot to foot with their eagerness to please.
Enyalius and his mother made eye contact for a moment, but Enyo just smiled.
"Are you staying anywhere, children?" she asked and Enyalius' eyes narrowed, like he knew what was going to happen, and did not necessarily agree.
Still, he didn't argue when Enyo invited the boys to stay in their home.
The boys were nodding enthusiastically and Enyo smiled at them.
She then stood and took the boys away, politely telling them the rules they had to abide by.
Enyalius remained until she re-entered the room sans children.
"Mother, are you sure you want to do this? They are products of Ares' indiscretion." Enyalius said but Enyo waved him off.
"Even so, they are your brothers and technically my nephews. Would it not be better to have them on our side? Allies are welcome, regardless of age, or blood ties." Enyo said, sitting back into her chair and carving into it's wood the shape of a double bladed dagger.
Enyalius sighed at his mother's words and leaned back into his own chair.
"I don't know what will come of this, but at least it'll be interesting." he conceded.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
The next time Ares awoke, he was back in Aphrodite's bed and had just taken off his shirt. In the distance he heard a boom, but was distracted by Aphrodite.
She began to strip as she spoke. "Ready for some fun?" she beckoned and he swiftly joined her on the bed.
Just as he made to touch her, the doors crashed open and a spear (which had been thrown like a javelin) flew his way.
Ares dodged quickly and made to pull it out of the headboard before seeing who had thrown it.
Enyo.
It stuck Ares then that she had been the noise he had heard but disregarded.
"How dare you enter my palace uninvited?" Aphrodite screeched and after a moment, Ares realized that her features were slightly different. He looked over to Enyo and her's differred as well.
What?
You are Mars here. His mind notified him and if he could've he would have growled with his confusion.
"Excuse me, did anyone ask for you, no? Then shut your trap, whore." Enyo, no, Bellona said, ignoring the love goddess.
"What do you want, wife?" Mars asked, and Ares would've slapped himself if he could've. You never took that tone with a woman. Or at least not if you wanted to see another day.
"I came to speak to you."
"What are you waiting for? Speak." he heard himself command. Ares noticed anger in her narrowing eyes.
"I will, when your whore so graciously leaves the room."
"Very well, Venus, will you give us some time alone?"
She pouted but left the room. "There," he said, "She's gone. What do you want?"
"I am due to give birth soon and I would like it if you would avoid your…" she trailed off, looking for a word besides 'whore' to label Venus as.
"...Mistress till the child is born."
"No." Ares heard his voice say as his head shook.
The anger was back in her eyes in a brilliant flash.
"And why the hell not?" Bellona growled.
"Why should I? Everyone knows of Venus and I regardless." Mars said flippantly and Ares couldn't grasp why he was being so callous to the woman he had grown up with when they had had no one else.
"Because it matters to me, and that should be enough!" Bellona yelled in frustration.
Ares cringed inside at the sight of her eyes. All fight went out of her in the span of a single moment and she seemed like a woman that had in truth, given up centuries before for a faithful marriage.
This must have been what Mother looked like. Before she had turned bitter.
Mars stepped closer and cradled her face in his hand. "You know she means nothing to me, if she did, I would simply divorce you and marry her. But I always go back to you because I love you."
"Then why do you always go back to her?" she asked quietly.
"This has never bothered you before, so why does it now?" Mars sighed and Ares growled.
Why did the love goddess even appeal to him at all? She was clever, yes, but not the smartest. Enyo was a fighter and actually gave a shit about her children (and his). What hold did Aphrodite hold over him?
"Because I'm pregnant, dammit! And it should matter!" Bellona yelled out exasperated.
After a moment or two of silence she sighed. "But I guess it doesn't… I think I'm trying to convince myself more than you."
Mars pulled her into his, their, arms and held her close, "I love you, Bellona. Never forget that."
~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~
The only sight that awaited him after that was the sight of a blank ceiling.
Jasper/Ares had awoken this time, except for this time, he was actually awake and not held hostage in a memory.
His head was cocked back up to the ceiling while he sat in his chair. The book sat perched on top of his armrest and the scent of Peter and Charlotte was old and departing.
The windows were open and a fresh breeze was flowing throughout the house. He could smell Enyo in the kitchen and it dawned on him that she shared Bella's scent.
Was she back as Bella or was that just her scent and he hadn't noticed?
He stood and for the first time in almost two centuries, felt creaky. That was one thing he hadn't missed about being human. Though apparently gods didn't get creaky either.
Jasper, after deciding to go by his most recent name, followed her scent down and into the kitchen. He spotted a mass of chocolate brown hair and everything was back in place except for a single grey feather that stuck to the back of her head.
He appeared next to her and he heard her heartbeat pick up ever-so-slightly. She turned around to face him as he gently pulled the feather from her hair.
She caught his wrist in her hand and he looked down at her. Even in the body of a human, she had the most expressive eyes he had ever seen. They shone with warmth and her ability to care, even when she was taking down an army.
"How do you feel?" she asked him and he laughed.
"A little overwhelmed, to say the least."
She smiled, "It'll get better," was all she said as she turned back to the stove and grilled the leftover meat.
Jasper wagered they'd have a lot of that meat leftover for a while.
"They're on their way back," she said and he perked up a bit. He needed time to process what he had seen before he told them.
"Do you want to tell them?" She asked him and he saw her relief when he shook his head.
"Not yet."
"Ok." was all she said and they gave one another space to roam till the Cullens came back.
~O~O~O~O~O~O~
As soon as Enyo put the last of her clean dishes away, she heard the wheels of the family cars rolling up the drive. Jasper was back in his study, reading or at the very least trying to.
She stepped back into the living room just as the door opened and Edward appeared at her side.
He smiled at her and she gave him a smile back.
Don't get her wrong, she likes Edward, she really does, but broody isn't her type. He was sweet, but he had a set of such outdated beliefs that it was certainly not a wonder why he only decided to date her. Enyo was a forward thinking woman, but she had lived long enough and through enough to not let his edwardian values get to her.
Personally, she doubted they would last much longer. But she doubted he would let go easy.
That would be entertaining, she was sure.
"How was your weekend, love?" he asked and Enyo struggled not to let her distaste show. 'love' was an endearment she wasn't too fond of to say the least.
"Goo-" she began before a large blur picked her up and tossed her on the couch.
"Emmett, don't toss her around like that." Edward scolded but Emmett just laughed it off.
The hulk of a vampire smiled at her and held up an xbox controller. "Want to play a game?"
"What game?" she asked and Emmett turned on his 'sinister' face. Which resembled a maniacal child, to be honest.
"Saint's Ro-"
"No, Emmett." Edward said and Enyo frowned but said nothing.
Emmett's face dropped, but not completely. "FIne," he said, "Mario."
Edward left the room after that and Enyo played the game with Emmett. They played through various courses till it was time for her to go to bed.
Before she went to sleep, a feeling of familiarity swept over her and she looked out the window before Edward entered the room.
Someone was going to arrive soon. Someone she hadn't seen in several centuries.
Honos.