Chapter 49: Whispers of Deception
In the dimly lit halls of Apollo's house, Ares slouched in a throne-like chair, his body draped carelessly, clearly drunk from drinking too much nectar. The god of war, usually so powerful and commanding, now looked unusually relaxed. The strong drink had dulled his mind, leaving him blissfully unaware of his surroundings.
Apollo's dislike for Xena boiled over. To him, she was an unworthy match for his brother. Apollo believed Xena should be submissive, bowing at Ares' feet, fulfilling his every desire. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Apollo put together a plan to distract Xena from Ares' mind. He summoned the maiden Ares had shown interest in previously – the one with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Apollo believed her allure could captivate Ares and divert his attention, if only momentarily.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Looks like someone's had a bit too much to drink," she remarked teasingly. Ares grunted in response, his gaze blurry as he reclined on the throne. Apollo seized the opportunity, gesturing for the maiden to approach.
"Come, my dear, let's show Ares a good time. Perhaps we can take his mind off of certain troublesome thoughts," he suggested with a slick smile. The maiden's lips curved into a playful grin as she complied, moving gracefully towards Ares.
"Let's make tonight unforgettable," she whispered, her words carrying a promise of excitement. Apollo watched with satisfaction while Ares let the maiden sit in his lap. He knew this distraction might give Ares the break he needed, even if only for a little while. As for Xena, Apollo schemed in silence, determined to find a way to remove her from his life for good.
As the mortal maiden began her slow lap dance in Ares' lap, her movements were lustful and enticing, captivating him with each sway of her hips. Ares found himself drawn into the seductive dance, his senses clouded by desire.
The maiden leaned closer, her lips brushing against Ares' in a teasing kiss. Her touch was slow and purposeful. Her hands slid up his arms as she guided his hands above his head. Ares, caught in the moment, allowed her to take control.
Just as her kisses grew more intense, she suddenly pulled back, a sly smile playing on her lips. Slowly, she reached behind her back and revealed a pair of handcuffs. Ares' eyes lit up with interest, his smirk deepening as his desire only grew. Before he could say a word, she swiftly snapped the cuffs around his wrists, locking them together above his head. The bold move caught him off guard, but the thrill of her unexpected actions left him even more captivated.
All of a sudden, he felt almost...weak. Ares felt a jolt of panic as he realized he was trapped, his mind foggy from the lingering effects of the nectar. He struggled against the restraints, pulling at the metal cuffs with all his might, but they didn't move
"What did you do to me?" Ares demanded, disbelief clear in his voice. Apollo watched the scene unfold with a smirk. He decided it was time to reveal the truth to his brother.
"You've been handcuffed with Hephaestus' metal," Apollo explained casually.
"You won't be free until I decide to remove the handcuffs." Ares' eyes widened as he realized the seriousness of his situation. Trapped and powerless, he shot a glare at Apollo and the maiden, his anger burning while he silently planned his next move.
~XA~
Xena sat at the dining table with Austin nestled in his highchair beside her. She had ordered dinner for the two of them, hoping that Ares would return before she began to eat. However, as time went by and her baby's kicks grew more insistent, Xena realized she couldn't wait any longer.
With a heavy heart, she started to eat alone. The fact that Ares wasn't there weighed on her mind. She couldn't shake the hurt she felt from how long he had been gone. Though she knew he was upset when he left, she couldn't stop her own anger from rising. It seemed unlike him to disappear for so long, especially during their vacation.
Stubborn as a mule, she thought with a sigh, knowing how difficult he could be. While she slowly ate her meal alone, her phone went off, breaking the silence. Heart racing with anticipation, she quickly checked the message, hoping to see Ares' name, but it wasn't him. It was Hank.
"Hey beautiful, hope you have a great night. I enjoyed our conversation and can't wait to have another with you and little Austin." Xena's heart skipped a beat as she read it. She couldn't deny the flutter of excitement in her chest at the unexpected message. She hesitated for a moment, contemplating her response to Hank's message. With a sigh, she typed out a reply.
"Hey Hank, I could actually use some company right now. I ordered dinner and my husband has decided to not come home, so you are welcome to a plate. My address is 7153 Battling Heights." After sending the message, conflicting emotions stirred inside her. She appreciated Hank's offer of companionship, especially with Ares not around. At the same time, she couldn't ignore the disappointment and frustration she felt over how long Ares had been gone.
While waiting for Hank's response, Xena glanced at Austin, who babbled happily in his highchair. She hoped the company might distract her from the turmoil in her mind, even if just for a little while. Hank's reply came quickly, his eagerness clear even through the screen.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that. But yes, I'm on my way."
True to his word, Hank arrived at Xena's place shortly after. When he stepped inside, he couldn't help but notice how cozy and inviting the surroundings were. Candles flickered gently in various corners of the room—on the coffee table, the windowsill, and even along the mantle—casting soft shadows that danced across the walls.
Xena, dressed in comfortable lounge clothes, greeted him with a warm smile, her natural glow unaffected by the day's events. Nearby, Austin sat happily on his play mat, his cheerful laughter filling the room with a sense of peace and warmth.
Taking in the scene before him, Hank felt peace settle over him. He could envision himself coming home to Xena everyday, the two of them building a life together. He imagined her as his wife, radiant and caring, their child cradled in her arms. Austin, playing happily, bringing boundless joy and laughter into their home. Hank, lost in his thoughts, walked toward Xena with a smile. His heart was filled with hope and possibility he hadn't felt before.
"It's so cozy here," he remarked, his gaze lingering on Xena's serene expression. "Thank you for inviting me. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it."
~XA~
Ares growled in frustration, his muscles flexing as he strained against the unyielding metal restraints. The cuffs dug into his wrists, fueling his anger as he pulled harder, testing their strength. His eyes burned with fury, and his breaths came faster, each one filled with the raw determination to break free.
"Apollo, I need to check on Xena. She's in a new city alone with our son and she's pregnant again, if you have forgotten." Apollo laughed dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah, you got her popping them out left and right," he replied flippantly.
"She can handle herself, Ares. She doesn't need you."
"And as for you," Apollo continued, a mischievous grin forming on his lips, "you don't need her either." Ares' eyes flashed with anger as he glared at his brother.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on her, Apollo," he warned through gritted teeth.
"I swear, if you so much as touch her, I will kill you and then I will visit you in Tartarus and haunt you for eternity." Apollo laughed at Ares' threat, unfazed by his brother's rage.
"Oh, Ares, always so protective of your precious mortal," he taunted, enjoying the opportunity to get under Ares' skin.
"But mark my words, brother, Xena doesn't need you. And perhaps, you don't need her either." Apollo laughed as he disappeared. With a final jerk at the handcuffs, Ares roared in frustration, his anger boiling over as he struggled against the handcuffs. Deep down, though, he couldn't shake the worry gnawing at his heart for Xena's safety.
~XA~
As Hank and Xena ate dinner together at the table, Xena couldn't help but to notice how charming Hank was. And to top it off, he seemed to be in control of his temper, something Ares had yet to tame, even after thousands of years. She quickly dismissed Ares from her thoughts. The last thing she wanted to do was become upset. She figured he was probably sitting somewhere on his throne, waiting for her to beg for him so they could talk. But no, he was going to have to come to her this time. Hank took note of Xena's far away look.
"Hey, are you okay?" he softly asked, taking her hand into his. He could tell by the look in her eyes that something was troubling her. He assumed it was probably her husband. He decided to dig a little deeper.
"What would make a man not come home to someone like you?" he asked softly, his voice filled with genuine curiosity and disbelief. Xena let out a snort of laughter.
"Stubbornness," she replied, shaking her head. Hank shook his head in response.
"No, that's no reason to leave your beautiful pregnant wife and son in a strange city alone," he countered. Xena nodded in agreement, her gaze drifting away as she thought about Hank's words. She felt a pang of sadness wash over her. Sensing her distress, Hank reached out to comfort her, his voice gentle as he spoke.
"If you were my wife..." he began, but Xena cut him off bluntly.
"But I'm not your wife, Hank," she said annoyed, slightly raising her voice. Hank's eyes widened in shock at her response. Xena saw the hurt reflected in his eyes and immediately regretted her words. She didn't want to lash out at Hank; it was Ares who had caused her pain, and she didn't want to take it out on someone who had shown her kindness and understanding.
Xena's apology lingered in the air as she stood from the table. She walked to her bedroom, closing the door behind her with a quiet click. Her emotions were spiraling, her hormones pushing her to the edge as tears began to fall. She didn't want Hank to see her like this or feel burdened by her pain.
Once Austin saw Xena leave him in the room with Hank, his cries pierced through the silence. Without hesitation, Hank rose from his seat and hurried to the baby's side, his instinct to comfort kicking in. He scooped Austin into his arms, whispering soothing words as he rocked him gently back and forth.
Unseen by either Xena or Hank, Apollo stood in the aether, observing the scene unfolding before him with high interest. He watched as Hank comforted Austin, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. It was a moment of validation for Apollo, confirmation that Xena was indeed moving on from Ares, with or without his help.
"Excellent," Apollo thought to himself, a smirk forming on his lips. He had assumed that Xena would eventually erase Ares from her life, but seeing it happen before his eyes was something different. As far as Apollo was concerned, Xena was taking the necessary steps to free herself from Ares' hold, and he was more than content to let her do so.
Apollo reappeared beside Ares as he proudly opened a portal for Ares to look into. Through the shimmering gateway, Ares watched the scene unfolding within their vacation house: Hank gently bouncing Austin in his arms, a tender expression on his face as he soothed the crying child.
"Ares, do tell me," Apollo began, his tone carrying a hint of mockery, "is this your son this man is bouncing?" Ares seethed with rage. Apollo's words only stoked the flames, igniting a fierce fury within him.
"Don't tell me," Apollo continued with a big smile on his face, "this is the man that Xena met by the pool?" he laughed heartily. Ares turned to Apollo, his gaze piercing and intense, his eyes darkened with anger.
"Let me go now," he uttered in a low, deadly tone that sent shivers down Apollo's spine. The sheer intensity of Ares' voice made the hair on Apollo's arms stand. Apollo felt the weight of Ares' anger pressing down on him and began to question the consequences of setting him free. He thought about the potential aftermath, wondering whether dealing with Ares' relentless anger was worth the trouble over mere mortals.
Apollo disappeared once again, leaving Ares to roar his name in frustration. Moments later, he materialized in Xena's room, his presence sudden and unexpected. Just as Xena reached for the doorknob, Apollo intercepted, his hand landing on the knob just before she could turn it.
"What do you want, Apollo?" Xena asked, her tone cautious as she regarded him warily. Apollo looked at her with a stern gaze, taking in her every detail. He leaned in close to her ear, his breath sending shivers down her spine as he inhaled her scent. With a wicked smile playing on his lips, he whispered softly,
"I know where Ares is."