A/N: Warning - Ares being rated M and not in a sexy way.
Five great mountains they were…
Ghostly whispers heralded her sleep, lulling her deeper into an awaiting nightmare. Athena saw herself walking amid fire and ash looking up as thunder webbed across the red sky.
And one by one they crumble on their children…
A great lightning raced towards the mountains and in one great flash she witnessed the cracks that broke them. Boulders turned to rocks and rocks turned to stones which became dust at her feet. Fear engulfed her despite the conscious knowledge a dream will not harm her from where she stood. Her heart went on drumming like the music of war.
The Queen rose from her lying place, her skin cold and acrid, her forehead moist with sweat. And what she thought a dream was half true. Someone was reciting Janus' seer sights which eventually stirred her dream.
The shadowed self of Euryale sat by the edge of the Queen's bed. Her very sight and presence rang an undeniable terror within Athena. She was sure the serpent had been locked back in the dungeons guarded by a greater force of magic. And yet she was sharing the same air with her at that dire moment and Athena felt less secured.
"What do you want…?" the Queen asked coldly, calculating her chances of self defense or escape.
Euryale's golden split eyes shone like glass reflected with fire. Tonight it glimmered much more than Athena had ever seen.
"That you listen. And you listen well, Queen…"
"You murdered Hera –" "Olympus will fall."
Athena felt her breath snap.
"The gates will open from the inside and Olympus will fall. A king will rise from water, bled and reborn. These are the last things I see. You do well to heed them, Queen."
Too soon, Athena swallowed, too soon… her mind had raced predicting this had to be a dream but her lips had asked what she should do.
Despite the dark that shrouded them both, she saw the serpent smile with eyes that revealed pity. "Your father made you Queen for this reason." Euryale spoke too calm, "That you can figure it on your own. If Olympus is meant to fall then let it fall but you need not crumble down with it."
"I need you to tell me… please tell me…" the Queen felt as small as her breaking voice. She was fed up with riddles. Her limitations as a goddess had been taunting her to the bone. They were not as powerful as they think they are, after all. Their mortal worshippers must be more than disappointed. "Where is Cronos…?"
A faint chill of wind caressed her, sending outward undulations of numbness. Euryale leaned forward so their faces almost touched and the Queen smelled the venomous breaths as it spilled out her answer.
"He's awakened."
She felt a hollowing on her throat and a will to scream but her heart was beating too fast it made her muscles cringe.
A sudden burst of knocking came through the locked doors of the Queenschamber followed by the panicked voice of the messenger Hermes. "My Queen… My Queen!"
And as if she had reawakened, she sought for Euryale but the space she once filled had become empty. Not a trace of her scales nor the stench of her poison was left. Finally Hermes snuck his head through. "I'm sorry, Athena… you have to come immediately."
The Queen roused herself up, pulling a robe around her shoulders. "What is it?"
"He's… alive."
"What?" Athena froze, answered by the paling of Hermes' face. She almost felt sorry he had been bearing the worst news since.
"Apollo is alive."
The Queen clenched her jaws as fear emanated her senses. He's awakened.
She turned her back at the Messenger to hide a horror stricken face. "Does the King know? Artemis?" "Yes, Your Deity. The King's arrived at the throne room as we speak."
"What is there to fear, Hermes?" she forced a smile as she faced him again, "We should celebrate Apollo's return… even gods can be amazed at miracles, can't they?"
Silence.
"There is one more, Athena… Euryale is dead."
Ares' eye twitched, his feet planted on the floor as he listened to the deep labored breaths. He watched in vehement struggle of disbelief the rising and falling of Apollo's chest. But he was dead… Ares recounted. In his mind the memory slid – Apollo was pierced like a prey to a hunter. He heard how his ribs cracked. He felt the warm blood sprayed across his face. He saw the life that had once been immortal drip out of his blue eyes as his pupils distended. He remembered his own guilt hammering him when Athena broke news the Sun god was gone.
But there he was, color spreading back across his skin like a painter to his own work, vibrance of gold recovering over his head, and he was breathing. He was breathing like nothing had happened.
Apollo lifted his head, his widened eyes prominent with shock at his own state. When their gazes met there was the pause that still detained the functions of their bodies, until Apollo struggled despite himself, falling at the edge of the platform he had been lying on peacefully for three days. At knee-jerk motion, Ares ran to his aid, taking him under the arm and preventing the crash of his whole body. Apollo's breaths were far from calm, his heart was pained at the stiffness which suddenly beckoned – beating faster and faster until he could not catch up to the pace.
The King ripped his own cape, quickly wrapping it around Apollo's body. He flinched at contact with skin. He was warm. Truly warm. There was nothing to deny – Apollo is alive.
"Easy… easy…" the King held Apollo firmly. At once the Sun god steadied himself, his visions coming to clear and his body getting used to the usual kinetics.
Ares couldn't stop himself inspecting Apollo head to foot and back again. This was exactly the way he last held him. "What… are you…?"
"I – I… I don't…"
Damn he can even speak! The King was ready to punch him square in the eye to test if this creature could still feel pain, which Apollo could be grateful that his sister's urgent call snatched attention.
Artemis was ecstatic. Her face puffed with tears, hair mussed from the bed, and she was squealing his name running quicker than lightning to squeeze him between her arms. Ares watched them wrestle on the floor, a tangle of arms and legs rolling over as they had perhaps been when they were born. The mixture of laughter and sobbing filled in as one by one the other gods paraded the throne room to witness the return of the dead, each making their own exclamations.
The gods demanded a celebration in honor of Apollo's return to life, given consent that the Olympians be gathered for a meeting right after. The great hall was once again filled with lights and laughter and music. Athena could not bring herself to presence, keeping close behind the bead curtains she watched the joy taking place.
When she found the golden head pressed among a small crowd all eager to talk to him, tears sprang the rim of her eyes and she suppressed a sigh of relief.
"What are you doing here?" Artemis broke into her seclusion, red-cheeked and grinning pleasantly. She tugged on the Queen's arm to revel in her own happiness. "Come out of there, silly…"
Athena chuckled. This was the happiest she'd seen of the Huntress, prancing like a newly wed bride in a tight fitting gown clipped across the right shoulder. If only Apollo knew how grim she had been during his absence.
Moving closer she caught sight of her Uncle Poseidon, tall and gallant, handsome as her father had been in the viewpoint of their generation. The Queen bid Artemis a delay to join with her and her twin and she went on to corner the God of seas.
"Uncle," Athena greeted with a kiss in his cheek. Poseidon received her in his arms with a peck on her forehead.
"If you hadn't come presenting yourself I'd always be wondering from a distance who this beauty might be…" the Sea god smiled, "How are you?"
"Better, I can guess…" Athena sighed. "Apollo's return is one happy mystery… but nonetheless I'm as glad he has come back."
"Yes, with whatever sorcery," a hint of worry in his voice, gazing at where Apollo is, making conversation with the juveniles. "Remember… this will come with a price. Nothing good ever happens without an exchange."
Athena lost the bliss her face held. "Euryale is dead. Whether she happens to be connected with Apollo's resurrection I have yet to find out… but for sure she knew. She told me…"
"She told you Apollo will live?"
"She told me he's awakened. And I was asking about Cronos." Athena looked at Apollo's direction, who was already staring back at her whilst talking indistinctly with Eros. She offered a faint smile but looked away to Poseidon before Apollo could respond.
Poseidon's eyes were filled with wonder. "And… what do you…" "There's another, Uncle," the Queen lowered her voice, "She said of a king who arises from water…"
The god took a long sip from his chalice. Contemplating the words thoroughly. "She said that…?"
Athena meekly nodded. "I cannot bring myself to share this in the council… much more to Ares. The thought of his kingship at stake could make matters worse. I… I would ask this a favor that you keep it between us in the meantime. And… since you preside over the seas, kindly watch over anything that stirs strangely in the waters."
Hearing no immediate response from Poseidon, she nudged his arm softly. "Uncle?"
The Sea god stared at her long before he nodded and raised the chalice close to her face. Seeing Apollo leave towards the balcony, the Queen bid farewell to Poseidon.
In a close proximity Ares saw his wife wade across the hall. Since the ceremony started he had been secretly reaching out every direction for the Queen. At last she appeared, her muddy brown locks tucked and swerved around golden metallic bands which then fell as a large braid down to her bare back. He could smell her – cypress and grapefruit dubbed on her nape and wrists, and it churned a thirst he was unaccustomed with.
The King abandoned whoever he was talking to, flagon of wine in hand, and coursed towards the balcony. His steps quickened, his head spinning with excitement, all which vanished when he entered the open space only to attest Athena throw her arms around Apollo.
Ares watched on, feeling the warmth that radiated from them sear his skin and laugh at his own pride. Apollo was dear to me… he recalled her words clear as daylight, making him suck a breath at the incoming realization how extent those words actually meant.
And it stung… oh hell it burned.
"I still can't believe you're real…" Athena was full of emotions in glassy eyes, tapping at Apollo's shoulders and arms, speaking between tears and smiles. The Sun god laughed, "You're shocked? Just imagine what I feel."
"How is this possible?"
"I have no idea," Apollo wheezed.
The Queen pursed her lips and brushed off the question with another embrace. She gave a playful punch at his chest. "That's still you in there, is it?"
She saw the sudden doubt in the way he slowly travelled his gaze far, closed and opened his fists before hiding them behind, and offered a somber reply. "Of course."
Silence fell before the Queen bit her lip and followed Apollo's gaze. "Just… if you feel any different… if you've figured out what happened to you. Tell me. Tell us. I'm asking this not as your Queen, but your friend."
"I'm fine, Athena… but you're right. I may need some time." Apollo faced her, smiling to put the Queen at ease. "I'm still getting used to this instant celebrity feelings."
They shared a short laughter before Apollo cleared his throat. "I missed you. I mean, all of you… I need to retreat awhile, might not be able to stay longer. Besides," he briefly looked past her, at a revolting force by the entrance to the hall. "I don't think someone's very happy seeing us together."
The Queen looked behind her only to see a shadow retreat back to the crowd within. A soft breeze kissed her skin and as she turned back to Apollo she suddenly came face to face with no one.
"What is that bloody Hades taking too long? Where is my brother?" Poseidon's voice rang across the long table, irritation taking its toll. The gods that remained proceeded to their places as the food was taken away and only wine had been left on sparkling canisters.
The Queen sighed at such admonition. Much more her face unveiled discomfort at someone's touch on her braided hair. She turned to find Ares sniff at the beautiful locks before withdrawing at his seat stationed for the King perpendicular to hers. He looked at her in one of those moods she detested – smug and drunk the way he had been during their wedding feast.
Ares turned to Hermes practically caught unaware of his incoming statement. "She smells good. You, my friend, should marry one as that," The King whispered too loud as if she was invisible, grinning at the Messenger who but only froze awkwardly, drifting his eyes from the King to his wife and back again. "Aaas you say so, your Deity," Hermes forced a smile that unparalleled his actual feelings.
She took to glaring at him the way he chewed on his thumb and winked at her carelessly, partly smirking donned in the face of the maniac he was.
Again Poseidon growled at the inquiry of his remaining brother, butting his trident on the floor that the metal could have broken the tiles. At this Ares rolled his eyes and slacked back in his chair, "He is not here because he's not coming, Uncle."
Silence pulled all eyes at the sluggish way he broke the news, as if it did not bother him at all.
"What?"
"Has the water clouded your ears? I said he won't be coming. He's abandoned us. In fact if pretty Apollo was here he'd eventually say your brother Hades… killed him."
"Are you saying my brother has taken sides with Cronos?" Poseidon stood, his eyes darkening and fists clenching at the sides. Athena's eyes widened as she listened close. The news of treachery made her palms cold.
Ares leaned forward with a glint of interest. "Why not?" he poured himself a flagon, "That's typically what you get from rounding up on him, you bastards. You take him for a fool? I would not. You take me for a fool as well and let's see where that goes." Athena could not miss the quick rough glance Ares had given her.
"He was rather wise to avenge himself, thanks to you and Zeus I have to fight your damn wars. You belittled him and this is the chance he'd come running to Daddy at news of his reappearance. Now we've lost an ally and I would have to get my hands dirty with his blood."
Nothing filled the hall but bland sighs. The Olympians could only rely on each other for the right words to mutter as the King drank away.
"What would we do now?" Hestia meekly asked to break tension. Ares frowned, leaned back and piled his foot on top of the other at the table. The Queen looked away in eminent irritation.
"What would he do?" Ares flung the goblet, its metallic clattering swept through as he raised a brow at Poseidon whose jaws were becoming taut.
The Sea god bent to sit. "Let me look for him; try to talk him down,"
"'Talk him d –' YOU FOOLS SHOULD CROSS THAT OFF THE OPTIONS!" Ares thundered in his place. His roaring was enough to rival waves crashing against a mountain, banging on the table as he went on. "We are gods! We possess powers beyond mortal capacity AND YET all you could do is TALK! If I were Hades I would rip out your neck like a fish off its gills before you'd even open your mouth!"
Enraged, Poseidon stood once more with trident in hand and ready to fling the King off his seat when Athena was even quicker to speak between them. "I have something in mind."
The gods were holding on to their edges, eyes all endangered if not for Athena who, a little later than she acted, might have allowed a massive ruin at the hall. Poseidon was all in position to strike but the Queen's stern look and his deep regard of her quelled his fit of rage. Ares was left smirking, sticking out his tongue like a child who cheated punishment.
Athena took a sharp breath, her eyes were daggers at Ares' direction before she faced the council. "Uncle, you are allowed your diplomatic arrangement with Hades. He is, after all, your brother. Ares, Hades is still one of us. He could even enlighten the truth of Apollo's resurrection. Give it a chance. "
The King groaned in mocking disgrace. But he was not ready for the next.
"If it fails and it be true we lost Hades as an ally, there is a Pantheon next to us… equaled to us in skills and specialty… we could welcome an alliance. Rome is a growing power and so is its deities."
She could perceive the strange, yet welcome, admiration from the divinities.
Only one had his blood curdling in his head.
"Alliance with Rome!" Ares spat, disgust burning in his eyes. The Queen was striding before him, fast as she could, suppressing her own anger while the King freely spoke of his own. He was hissing behind her and she was but doing her best to keep their distance. They owned the hallway as none dared to meet them elsewise they'd lose a limb from his fury.
"You think me incompetent too much that you need an alliance with a puny nation!" Ares sounded like a rabid dog.
Athena never looked back, her eyes glued affront not wanting to stir another reckless fight. "We are losing allies, Ares. Father, Hera… if Hades goes our chances are as doomed. You know we need him, his army of dead."
"I could fight! I'm not as impotent you think I am…!"
"Impotent? Oh no," Athena finally met his coldly raging eyes. "Imbecile, yes. Of course. No doubt." She was about to make her way when she turned back, forking Ares' tongue behind before he could even say a single word. "When you meant your apologies to Artemis for the death of her brother, you know I thought you actually had it in you – a heart, a real one. I would have told generations your capacity for sympathy but once again you've proved me wrong. And yet you think Apollo's return was an absolution that gave you confidence you've done nothing stupid at all when in fact I was stupid to put faith in you. You can never change. Sometimes I even get to think having you for a King is a greater misfortune than Cronos' revenge."
Within a bat of an eyelid, Athena moved finally entering the Queenschamber.
Nike, her young ward, timidly stood by a pillar. Her blue eyes reflected sheer terror at the sound of their arguments getting louder towards the room. Now she watched them like a child unable to move when fire catches.
The doors crashed open and in came the King's irate fuming. "So I displease you huh? I could never live up to your demands is it!?"
Nike gasped as Ares grabbed the Queen by the arm and shoved her against the closest wall. Athena squirmed violently as harsh fingers tore through the laces of her robe. She did not want to look at him, at the glimmer of sadistic joy plastered across his red orbs.
"Then let me make up for it with one of the things I could only be good at!" Ares growled, turning his wife face front the wall as his body hotly pressed against hers, his hands spurning disgust from her the way one skittered under her garbs while the other clenched on her hair. "You see me as the warmongering, sex-depraved bastard then I'd prove it!"
Athena breathed between teeth, glaring down over a shoulder. She could not fight the shivering at the feel of savage kisses below her ear. "Violate me tonight and I promise, Ares, I promise you'd have your cock be served your breakfast tomorrow!"
She felt him halt. God the seconds of him pausing felt like resurrection itself – an incomparable relief. She could hear her breaths and how rash they had become while hot tears surfaced her eyes. Until now the nightmares of being forced upon made her shrink like a little girl no matter a fearsome warrior she was. Finally she sucked breaths as his hands freed her and she fell on the floor but before she'd give him a moment to relish her defeat she gathered herself quickly, able to hide the trembling on her knees.
"Fine." Ares backed away. It was supposed to make Athena calm as he consented but on the contrary, her heart had suddenly stopped. Stopped at the way Ares' mouth twisted in a malicious grin, stopped at the manner he pounced towards the sweet Nike and the way she squealed in fright as Ares held her by the jaw, forcing her to look at the glint of twisted excitement in his eyes.
"Your Queen has just denied me. I respect that – but you would not deny me, would you?" the gravel on Ares' voice was too rough Athena could have heard her ears burst. She stared in horror, blood draining from her veins as Nike sobbed softly. The young goddess was so small and frail with no chance to ever escape from that one-hand grip on her brittle jaws. She was but a little thing and now he was to vent in her an unspeakable rage in a manner she would want to gladly kill herself in the morrow.
Nike feebly shook her head in defeat as an answer and Athena turned cold. At that Ares darted a look at her direction, invisibly counting as to when the Queen herself would break or was she willing to sacrifice another in his mercy.
"Take off your clothes and get on the bed," he commanded as he let go of Nike. The young goddess hitched her breaths imploring silent help from her Queen the way her eyes pleaded.
"Now goddammit! Or I'll gladly do it for you!" Ares barked, making Nike's shoulders jump and she could only turn. The Queen bit her tongue hard until she tasted blood, watching the way Nike sobbed louder as her fingers fumbled on the ribbons of her own dress.
She is a Queen. She is a protector. She is a shield that must guard pure souls and keep them from harm. Who was she now? … oh Nike... not her… not her…
"STOP!" Athena screeched, cheeks already wet and red from a breaking pressure which only curled the grin on Ares' face. It was all a game to him. A psychotic one at such – to see who would first snap, who would first break. A game of morality was of course his edge, being known to contain none he didn't have time to lose. Athena swung her arm as she spun away hysterically at Nike, "Get out! GET OUT!"
The young goddess found herself scrambling towards the door and as it locked the King and Queen in, came Ares' sinister laughing…
"Oh gods the way she froze…!" Ares was poorly holding back the snigger when Athena pounced on him, rage apparent on her face with eyes that spilled unstoppable tears. She clawed on his hands as they covered his face. She struggled against him in a manner of a deranged woman fighting a beast, scratching and pounding and her skin reddening for all she cared. When will he ever stop causing these… there was no word she could ever describe what he does. Trouble? Plague? None that it matters. All she knew was he had caused her an unimaginable distress that began to spread pain across her stomach.
"CURSE YOU! She's just a child, Ares! A child!" Athena slapped on his crossed arms again and again, pushing him away yet pulling him in the hair. It was not as if she was causing him pain, but he retaliated all the same as he gripped her arms and shook her cruelly before screaming at her face. "Then you should know better than insult me, you insolent bitch!" and with one hard push, the Queen sorely dropped on the cold floor.
Ares was still fuming in equal to the screams that came from his wife. He watched in alert as she strained against the floor to prop herself in case she was stupid enough to take him in a weaponless combat. But there was a certain tone in the way she screamed that sent a chill under his skin. He watched her bend in frustrated anger and pain that spoke volumes of the fury she held for him. Her temples began to accumulate beads of sweat and her lips were turning white.
His face slowly calmed and replaced by one that actually hinted something was wrong. He smelled the stench of thick melted iron; he could practically taste it. Ares strode towards her, lowering himself he lifted the thin layers of tunic around her legs, revealing thighs drenched in blood reflected as color of his eyes. His mouth gaped.
Shit.
A/N: Hello and hoping for your safety as this reaches out to you. Tbh I was reading the reviews for the previous chapter and having this already pre-written, I thought 'I am so gonna disappoint a lot' (face down keyboard). And still, I hope you won't give up hoping they get better along. Love lots! Stay safe.