| Part 25a When Ares woke, it was dark, which was fine. But he couldn�t move, which was not. Cold metal bound his ankles and wrists. He tested the chains, pulling at them with all his strength, but they didn�t budge. He growled angrily. Someone had a warped sense of humour and that someone was in big trouble! A torch flared, and he blinked, eyes adjusting to the sudden light. � Aw, can�t the big, bad God of War move?� Ares gritted his teeth, � Psyche.� � Oh, so you remember me? I�m flattered.� Psyche bent over her captive, both hands behind her back, smiling horribly. � What in Hades, do you think you�re doing?� Ares roared. She sighed, � Zeus� dirty work. Not that I won�t enjoy every second!� � What?� She frowned, � I�m not doing this for him, although getting back my immortality and Godhood is ample reward. It�s revenge I want!� � Revenge? What is this?� She smiled again, it was not a pleasant sight. � I�m going to take away everything Cupid cares about, just like he did to me. Of course, Zeus thinks I�m just going to kill you.� She smirked, � He�s decided, he�s had enough of this trial business. I think he�s afraid you might actually pass, as if!� She snorted, � This is supposed to be the final test, but you�re going to die whatever, isn�t that just terrible?� � You can�t kill me, I�m a God,� Ares frowned in confusion. She smirked, and pulled one hand from behind her back, � This is a present from Zeus,� she held a sharp, hooked dagger. � It will hurt you, badly, it will make you bleed,� she chuckled. � And this,� she pulled out her other hand. She was holding the Hind�s blood dagger, � This is to kill you. We already know this works. It was so very satisfying, having Strife killed. It�ll be so much more satisfying to do it myself this time!� she laughed harshly. � You?! You had Strife killed?� Ares began to struggle again, filled with rage, the urge to throttle his son�s ex-wife was overwhelming. Psyche tutted, � Now, now Ares. The chains are Hephaestian metal, don�t waste your breath.� She circled around him. � Once I�ve killed you, I get my Godhood back, and then I can really start hurting �Stupid�. Aphrodite, Bliss, Strife, they�re next. Maybe even Eris, can�t have anyone comforting him now, can we?� � You�d kill your own son?� Ares whispered in horror. � Ha! My son indeed. I carried and gave birth to the brat. Cupid only ever loved Strife, Bliss is more his child than mine.� She bent over Ares, � And when they�re all dead, then I�ll take Cupid�s baby,� she whispered. � No!� Ares roared. He struggled to free himself, pulling at the chains until they bit into his skin. Anger poured from him, in palpable waves. He fought until he was exhausted, while Psyche watched and laughed. � Are you quite finished?� � Zeus will never allow it,� Ares panted. � That old fool won�t know till it�s too late,� Psyche sneered. She ripped open his leather vest. � Feel free to scream.� She grinned and trailed the dagger down his chest, cutting deeply. Pain blazed through Ares, setting light to all his nerve endings. He gritted his teeth in agony, but soon the pain began to overwhelm him. He heard someone screaming and realised to his horror that it was him. Joxer woke to find himself slumped against a wall in pitch blackness. � Ares?� he whispered. There was no reply. He reached for where the lamp should have been and found nothing. He got on to his hands and knees and crawled, reaching out blindly to try and find something familiar. There was nothing. Joxer began to panic, � Ares?� he called out hopefully. Still nothing. He got to his feet and started to walk slowly, hands stretched out in front of him. When he hit a wall, he used it as a guide, following it. He walked for what seemed like hours. He was about to give up, when a terrible scream pierced the blackness. Joxer thought his heart was going to stop, � Ares!� he whispered fearfully. He started to run, unmindful of the total darkness. Every scream pierced his heart with icy-cold shafts of dread and he ran faster, until at last he could see light. He ran towards it and burst into a cave. He stopped in horror. Ares was chained down, his back arched, body stiff as he struggled to free himself. Blood streamed down his sides in gory rivulets. Standing over him, dagger raised above her head, was Psyche. � Time to die,� she sneered. � No!� Joxer screamed. He ran forward and threw himself on top of Ares� body as the dagger descended. It entered his body with a sickening crunch of flesh and bone. Joxer�s eyes met Ares� and he tried to reach out to his lover. The world started to blacken. � I love you,� he whispered. Then his eyes slid closed and his head dropped onto Ares� bloody chest. |