A / N : Warning – Ares being rated M and not in a sexy way, part II…

Three weeks earlier, down to the present…

"You have to promise," Aphrodite held the King's arm before he abled to enter the Queenschamber, "I will tell you everything, only if you promise – no matter what happens you will keep this child safe."

Ares pulled his arm gently and narrowed suspicious eyes, "You never asked this of me before and I do not recall hurting any child of mine either. Why now?"

"But the Queen…"

"It's not Athena to curse infants. She was even able to raise one." Ares walked in and she subtly pursued.

"I need to hear it. Swear it upon your honor as a King, and upon your immortal life. Protect the child. Whatever happens." Aphrodite looked at him sternly. Plagued by impatience, Ares sighed and placed a hand upon the delicate swell in her belly. The warmth had calmed him down. His palm grazed on the arced surface and a sour memory overwhelmed him, of sweat stained face and bloodied inner thighs.

Athena would have been a regal sight. Ares imagined her – plump, awkward and beautiful, frowning at every given limitation due to a growing belly. A thing made fiction because he was a bloody moron.

"I swear, upon my life, upon my crown eternal blessing and safety of this child… my flesh and blood. Forever." The words were golden, genuine… pure. Ares dropped his hand and Aphrodite was ever relieved with watery eyes, to his wonder. How has the Queen suddenly drilled down so much trepidation to her?

Ares withdrew to have himself a drink, "Now say what you need to say." And fast, he thought, knowing at any time the Queen would arrive from whatever havoc she was dealing with right now. The last thing Athena would want to greet her is him and Aphrodite, in her Queenschamber nonetheless.

Though when Aphrodite began detailing a hellish plot, he was lost in a red cesspool. The only thing that slithered his mind now were the many possibilities to make Poseidon shit himself. He always knew their uncle an ambitious bastard but him to usurp the throne was most entertaining. Oh that sneaky blobfish…

Next thing he knew the doors opened and his wife walked in, fresh from purgatory, now staring at them ready to flay.

"We take the road, King and I, the rest of you could take a ship. Although you have to dock quite the distance blind from peripheral vision."

"I say we strike straight up. And by strike I meant now. Why the wait?"

"I go with the King…"

"It's risky, Ares. And with the time given we're still hoping to sway him off the course. We can't spill innocent blood…"

"And if he gathers an army to outnumber us, then what?"

"I doubt it. An army can't be concealed on an island. Though you may be right of him gathering enough men…"

"I SAY WE PUT HIM ON A STRIP SHOW, get him so drunk and carry his ass home on a mule!"

"Dionysus…"

"But it worked once… not to mention it got Hephaestus laid…"

"We are not turning a temple into a brothel, Dionysus."

"Oh Arty, my love, it could have been us you know. But you broke my heart when you sealed your vagin –" "THAT'S IT!" "OOOH." "Go get him, woman!" "Stop it! STOP IT!" "Name it Artemis! Sword? Axe? Mace?" "Ares! –

"…DIONYSUS JUST – go check on Hephaeustus please," the Queen pinched her temples, foiled with annoyance as she glared at Ares who immediately frowned – "What?"

What? Overturned chairs. A screaming tear on the map before them. Paperweights scattered on the floor. And an exuberant Dionysus playfully slipping through the door before popping his head back and flying Artemis a kiss. The Huntress could only roll her eyes in utter revulsion.

"Can you really not change your mind…?" Aphrodite pulled the robe over her shoulders, satin and milky flesh so ethereal. Her eyes were wandering far beyond the half opened windows letting escape the lustful steam that lingered in her temple. A body stirred the sheets beside her, grunting as he pulled sweaty arms behind his head.

"It's fate, love," Poseidon muttered with an exhale, "My preparations are near complete. I've summoned every living progeny of mine for the great event…" He reached out to graze the back of his fingers down her arm, "Clear your head. The crown won't fit with those worries clouding over."

"What if you fail?"

The deep sniggering filled her ears before his lips found her nape. Aphrodite sighed shakily, melting away with the hands creeping under her garbs, comforting her, tormenting her. Athena had discouraged her to remain in the salacious liaisons, yet desire was a curse that never waned.

He nipped below her jaw like streaks of flame, and she opened her eyes when he placed a cold object in her hand. A brooch, hard-paste porcelain, the prettiest shell she ever saw.

"Keep it," he closed her fingers around the material, "As long as you have that, my promise lives."

Aphrodite went passive, smiling unto herself. She is a lover. But she is also a mother, and that was a stronger resolve.

Then I might as well lose it.

Three round shields weighted Artemis' arms as she carried them towards the pile of armory. A slight bruise adorned her cheek after the brawl with one of Poseidon's guards. It was no massacre, they made sure of it clear as instructed by the Queen.

Earlier they waited below the cliff for Hermes' signal to lay the ambush, her and Orion, Mars and his intriguing calmness, a rarely sober Dionysus who actually made no difference even if he were drunk, Nike, and a dozen of Hephaestus' apprentices led by Cedalion. They climbed the rocky edge with the Wine god's vines, two hundred feet of ascent amid heat and dust.

Artemis and Nike infiltrated the temple as priestesses shrouded in white and face half hooded. The pressing task was to secure the chest Ares and Athena brought in before anyone could discover its secret.

Within the worship hall she saw the chest being unlocked, two guards were bickering over the amount of gold and precious gems. Artemis nodded at Nike, who, in her first exposure was still unused to the tittering of her muscles. The huntress entered the hall and dropped her tray of incense, quickly distracting the guards.

"Apologies," she feigned nervousness, Nike standing behind her. One of the men approached, taking interest in her despite her priestly garbs. He was huge, one of those who took pride in taking women by the bulk of his arms. His rough ugly fingers lifted her chin and snaked another hand above her chest and down her hips. At once Artemis' eyes burned when his hand groped the concealed handle of her hunting knife. The Huntress struck him, finally starting the riot which ended rather quick, to her relief.

And now the only business at hand was to clear the mess that resulted, gather iron fit for forging, round up prisoners towards the ship, put out the incense and cinders as they wait for the King and Queen and whatever they made of Poseidon.

She passed along the colonnade, stepping over scattered spears and swords when voices echoed from the worship hall…

"Bigger, you idiot!"

The chortling only made her blood rise. She knew those wretched voices. Artemis charged within, eyes wide and fuming – "WHAT IN TARTARUS…!"

"Run Run Run RUUUUUN!"

Hermes hustled down the colossal bronze statue of the Sea king, jumping at Dionysus and both scrambling in a tangle of arms and legs out the back exit, their giddy annoying laughter still springing up the air.

Artemis growled, grabbing a torch from the sconce and throwing it towards their direction. The cinders smashed against the door frame and the two escaped without a scratch. She looked at the statue with an exasperated sigh – at the white chalk stain of an enormous penis with an exaggerated pair of hairy testicles sprawled from bronze Poseidon's chest and face.

She wiped her palms across her cheeks in a manner that could have torn her eyes out. The sounds of nearing footsteps came forth.

Mars stood beside her, smelling faintly of blood that seared his arms crossed before his chest. He was grinning at the vandalized image. "That's… huge?"

"Mischievous. Little. Shits." Artemis could not help but snarl, looking around for a wasted cloth and basin for water to wipe off the satirical drawing. Mars offered to help, deftly climbing the statue in high spirits.

She suddenly remembered the fear he inspired during the action that played earlier. How could this smiling, generous creature be the same one she witnessed of him before? He was a hostile storm… but stellar, distinctly gladiatorial in style and resourceful, taking down four of the enemy with a single broken spear until the wood turned to shards. He might have actually taken more than what she and the others have, combined.

The knife dripped with crimson and its scent went putrid in her lungs, igniting a foreign spark of nausea. Athena's fingers trembled. The iron slipped through her hand and it finally dawned on her what had happened. Poseidon let off a few more wails and she turned her back to him, grabbed an upturned chalice and filled it with nectar. The honey white fluid spilled at the edges as she propped it before him. "Drink up," she commanded her uncle, "Quickens your recovery."

Try as she might to ignore the staggering effect of blood oozing from Poseidon's hand, Athena finally broke. She twisted her heels towards the balcony but the boiling acid escaped her throat faster, spilling down the floor and making her vision spin.

Ares' ears pricked at the sounds of her retching, only to be snatched with the crash of the iron doors and Artemis leading in Orion and Mars.

"Athena,"

A hand steadied the Queen as she sniffled. Artemis held her in place, "Are you alright?"

Athena nodded, straightening herself – "A passing sickness," she waved a hand, "Tend to Poseidon. Take him firmly but not harsh. Where is Nike?"

"Leading the prisoners down the ship, along with Cedalion."

The Queen sighed in relief. For the past weeks Nike had been asking for practice, in fact begging to. Athena was incredulous but it was no use keeping the girl in her chambers with a pile of dusty scrolls and a midnight lamp if this was what she was passionate about. And Artemis… she would have to be dealt later. The only consolation was not waking up with news of Apollo and his suspicious mischiefs.

"So what happens to me now, hm? Locked with the dogs? Chained in the labyrinths?" Even at a downright fall Poseidon still managed a tone adulterated with sneering. Orion halted binding him as attention was drawn.

"Be a Vestal virgin," Ares snorted, "After you pull out Hades from whatever hiding place he snuggles in. Damned sons of Cronos. You brothers are different kinds of pain the ass."

"Hades? You think I know where he is?" Poseidon scoffed, "The truth is… we betrayed you. And he betrayed me… by keeping the Lightning bolt to himself."

Athena's jaw dropped, heat within her starting to spill, "No. Zeus was clear no one is to inherit his bolt. I had it sealed along with his – "

Her uncle's gibe cut through – "Oh my dear, dear Athena. There are many things your beloved father hasn't told you… especially YOU…"

"What," she balled her fists, "It's the weapon isn't it? The promised godslayer? Buried beneath us all this time?"

For a moment his face showed confusion, before it broke in a haunting smile, "Godslayer is no inanimate weapon, Athena." He leaned over, color of life spreading back his skin, "It's a living… breathing… walking puppet."

In time a sudden gush of terror coiled within Artemis, making her knees tremble and sweat frame her palms. She turned to the Queen already staring at her. Ares walked near Athena to draw back her senses. "He's playing mind tricks on us," he spoke low, "Bring him home and let's get this done with."

"You really think this is victory?" Poseidon laughed, "I AM THE GOD OF SEAS. I dominate a vast empire farther and wider than your puny imaginations. News of me locked away without a chance of redemption will reach sea deities and monsters by the legions who will not think twice to avenge me by ruining you all. You would risk a civil war in the midst of a greater destruction coming?"

When all fell silent, Poseidon knew he stirred them by the leash. If it were Zeus he would not give it a bone. The previous King was as crass and careless, impatient, arrogant. Whereas Athena was miles more insightful than her father… of course she'd listen. And with his idea in mind it would be irresistible for her husband to reject.

"What do you want?" she spoke in gritted teeth.

Good girl. They couldn't risk one-eyed giants tearing down their gates after all. "That I fight for my freedom," Poseidon smirked, "I challenge the King to single combat."

Athena held a breath, knowing well how the news would come flirting down on Ares. It was another chance to fuck with the only mistress she could not destroy – Death. To the War god it felt like a cock deep down its throat, ramming hard and sore with euphoric pleasure, quick to rain hell before Death clamps its sharp teeth and gobble him whole.

And true enough he could barely resist the perverse grin. "On what terms?"

"Ares – "

Poseidon drowned the Queen's useless plea, "If I win, I will be freed and I swear not to cause any more trouble. I won't even be Lord of the Seas anymore if it please you."

Ares contemplated the situation – the enemy bleeding, now probably a fourth amount his strength has ebbed, enclosed room, a balcony to the open. Outside was only a wider, more open space for a higher chance of escape. A few men. Fewer casualty… and Athena's cold eyes.

"Daggers. Any misuse and the chains are on you," warned Ares considering practicality of the narrow space. Poseidon pressed his lips and nodded, "Deal."

The King motioned to Mars who narrowed cynical golden eyes. The Roman unlaced the dagger's scabbard from his own belt and hurled it over. Stepping close, Athena murmured to her husband brazenly – "We did not come here for a bloodbath."

"He asked for it." Ares tore his cape.

"He's our uncle," the Queen's voice quivered angrily. And he's a god! Who cares if they only danced with daggers? A god's anatomy is ridiculously complex; each muscle is thick fiber, every bone hard as steel automated for self healing; for an unguided mortal to bruise pure blooded deity meant an excruciating death in this life or the next.

"You still don't get it do you?" Ares raised the blade on the side of her neck, all in halcyon fury and breath hot against her cheek, "Uncle or not, everyone around us is either dying or turning their backs only to shit on our faces. When everything falls apart, I am the ONLY one who could stand between you and a hoard of traitors."

Her jaws tightened. Albeit vulgarity, he was an illustrious warrior – her warrior, her hero. Athena conceded and drew the flat of his dagger to her lips. She looked at him in bitter fealty as she kissed the cold surface and nodded: "My King."

"And my lovely wife... always doubtful of me…" Ares placed his hand on her jaw, ever ambivalent with the scorn in her eyes. She held a stony gaze as his thumb traced her mouth, subtly sliding it behind her lower lip and down the chin before wrapping his fingers around her neck. "You worry I would lose?"

"I worry you might kill him," Athena muttered. He half smiled, chaos beneath wild eyes. Pulling her close he roughly pressed his lips against hers, stealing off her breath before a decadent whisper that made her skin crawl –

"You should."

He turned from her to an already charging Poseidon who flung a ceramic at him. The vessel turned into shards against Ares' crossed arms and Poseidon's blade quickly swung across an unprotected abdomen. The tough leather gaped under the King's ribs, exposing his first wound now seeping red.

"You flaunt your strength on being called god of war…!" Poseidon slashed with every raging word, "But you weren't there WHEN – WE – BATTLED – AGAINST – THE – TITANS!"

"ENORMOUS – SCUMS!" He gave synchronous kicks and swings, "MUCH – BIGGER – MUCH – STRONGER THAN YOU!"

The King gained multiple incisions on the arms and an elbow which burst his temple. A little more, he concentrated whilst carrying on the role of a cornered prey and Poseidon never paused. What became of the hall was a worse mess than the rest of the monolith. Without his weapon of choice, Poseidon was a reckless fighter, primitive, disorganized. He threw and struck relentlessly when the first wave of exhaustion began to numb his biceps.

Sensing this, Ares dodged a misaligned swing and seized Poseidon's arm... only to drive it against a knee and the crunch of broken bone made the fine hairs on the back of Athena's neck rise.

The King shoved Poseidon on the floor, crimson eyes drunk with hate. He circled the writhing god with breaths hastening and lips curling over girded teeth, "If you aren't just too chatty. Could've saved more stamina." He kicked the fallen dagger towards the Sea god with a seething command, "Get up."

"Is this a good idea?" Mars looked over his shoulder with a dubious look. Athena could not stop the lump forming on her throat and the springing of fearful tears in her eyes.

Poseidon scowled, his wrath forcing adrenaline to make his bone brace faster than the normal. Still healing he grabbed the dagger and rushed to pummel it from above. Ares blocked, but sooner he roared when another blade dug through his side… cleaved by Poseidon's other hand. The Sea god snickered – "There weren't a rule on how many daggers though is it?"

Ares absorbed the trauma. He swallowed the pain like his own ambrosia. All he saw was a red starburst when he slammed his forehead in the cartilage of his opponent's nose. The Sea god staggered backwards arching his spine. Ares crudely pulled the blade from his flesh as if it were a petty thorn. The Queen's head swam at the sputter of blood and even more when her husband flung the wretched iron, quick as an arrow piercing Poseidon's shoulder and spraying more crimson in the air.

It had not taken a second of Poseidon sprawled on the floor when Ares fisted on his collar and flung him on the marble platform. The decorations clattered and broke – all cutlery, chalices, baskets and shred runners. Ares straddled him and the crash of fist on face resonated… again and again and again… Every drop of knuckles opened a cut on Poseidon's face, getting viscous by the sabotage as blood spread quick.

Athena's face crumpled with every hammer. She felt the brewing sourness hiking her throat and she covered her mouth. Mars crowded beside to brace her shoulders, asking something she could not decipher. Far across the room Orion's eye twitched.

How the beast enjoyed it.

How he growled in ecstasy. He could feel the bones of his hands crack and splinter but nothing ruins the cathartic pleasure of pushing another god on the brink of mortal death. Tearing monsters to threads and cutting heads in a battlefield had always been his guilty desire, but gods were not always granted a chance to strike down gods… much less an Olympian to pummel another Olympian to a pulp. Poseidon's head swiped side to side with his every batter, his blood masking the once immortal skin. Ares could hear the depleting skull and gods he was not getting enough…

A little more…

Another crash…

And another…

And –

His fist hung in the air, dripping with red. Haywired breaths. Blood-splattered face. Infernal gaze. Ares' eyes widened at the Queen's despoiled beauty. His heart prattled against his ribs and pain washed over him, finally regaining his senses. He sagged his shoulders. To everyone's relief he climbed off the table leaving their uncle limp and wheezing.

The Queen sniffled; she badly wanted to hurt herself. Deep in the pits of her gut she knew the plan would eventually end in this kind of diabolic fiasco. He asked her; he took her assurance, and by giving it, she'd given him access to bloodbath. If anyone was to blame for Poseidon's near infinite disability, she knew it would have to be her.

Ares hissed as he clutched the puncture on his side. The wound in his abdomen was near to healing but it weren't for the rest of his body. He had just tested immortality with a god and the aftermath could be anything he had not felt before. He leaned against the nearest pillar, vision blurred with the image of a woman in front of him.

Two grey eyes studied his face and it sank on his mind who she was, dead silent while she uncoiled a cloth band from her dark hair. Thick curls fell loose around Athena's shoulders as she pulled the frost white silk and took his hand. He flinched at the touch and she tensed seeing the bits of shred skin around his knuckles.

Slowly she placed the cloth over his palm and wrapped it over and around – quick but gentle. And there were many other things she wanted to do; she wanted to condemn him… be furious and despicable, anything except soothe his injured hand, or suffer his ego and the rest of his bullshit.

Athena pulled the edges from the knot.

"Athena, I…"

She shook her head and whispered – "Let's go home…"

Just like that; she walked away. He stared at the binding. The cloth was slowly getting drenched, once intricate floral design now a plain red fabric. Beneath the stench of wounds the smell of her hair lingered, a miasma of citrus and sandalwood wafting through his nose like opium.

"Uncle,"

An eye weakly opened above the bloody face, landing on the Queen's hand holding his. Her touch was warm, swamped with tenderness. Athena sniffled, caressing the back of Poseidon's bruised flesh with the faintest smile, "Surrender, Uncle… come back to Olympus… and we could put this all behind us."

Behind her, Mars was unhinged. He loosened his grip on the handle of his sword, maimed with his respect for her. This woman was born to be Queen.

Yet not all could recognize that. In the conflate of torrential pain and jaws near to ripping, Poseidon's head wobbled with determination Athena was blind to. When he exhaled, blood gurgled in his aching throat. He stared at her… calculating her motive amid the pounding anguish over his mortal wounds. All he saw was the face of the victor Athens chose over him, and his pride regained its swelling…

No. His blood heated… he'd waited patiently for the crown he could not win from his brother and certainly would not lose from Zeus' children… both hypocrites, both offending.

And time had suddenly slowed down.

Athena felt the sting of Poseidon's hand which struck her face. Hostility shot up the air as the Sea god, in all mutilated glory, rushed towards Ares.

In the distant wall, a three-pronged spear glimmered. Her eyes widened and Aphrodite's voice rolled in her head – never let him engage the trident.

No. No…

"ARES DON'T!"

Too late. The King had taken the bait.

He swung his leg uncontrollably before hearing Athena's desperate cry, kick heavily landing across Poseidon's torso, hurtling him towards… his divine Trident.

Every soul felt the tinge of power that swept across once Poseidon's hands took hold of the shaft. Even Ares cursed and all had frozen in tension when the god of seas revealed a bloodied devious smirk – "I did warn you."

With a swing, Poseidon struck his trident against the floor, leaving a shallow web of cracks and a force that groaned underneath them. Athena's heart raced… an immense evil was definitely on its wings upon them like the ringing in her ears, nearer… nearer and louder…

An eerie darkness devoured the sky. Black clouds wheeled above them flecked with sporadic claps of electricity, driving a cold blanket of screaming wind and a gathering rainstorm. Poseidon's eyes flashed with furious delight as his laughter rung about the whipping air.

In the far distance the sea's dark edges rose in scattered walls. It thrashed and howled mercilessly before sucking black waters and creating an impenetrable whirlpool. The hurricane fell upon them, hammering the island in a salvo of ice bullets. Chips of rocks fell unto the burning abysmal sea. And the most horrifying sight – from the core of the vortex ascended six ravenous heads of monstrous serpents, each neck tethered to a singular body pelted with snapping hounds.

Unarmed, undefended, unprepared… the gods held on to a sturdy fix, doused in rain and minds reeling with shock at a swift turn of events. Athena's heart was as petrified. She rubbed her eyes clear from rainwater to register the view –

Scylla.

Charybdis.

…and one of the hideous heads coming down upon them, yawning its freakish mouth fenced with three rows of sharklike teeth.

A / N : Hi. How is everyone? Certainly hope all's still well. My responses on the review section still.

I'm suffering from insomnia and it's driving me insane. Aaaa. Anyway, hope you liked this.

xx