| Part 25b Ares stared blankly at the body of his love. � Damn it!� exclaimed Psyche in disgust. Then she shrugged, � Oh well, I was thinking about killing him anyway.� She pulled the dagger from Joxer�s body and unceremoniously pushed him to the ground. Ares� head dropped back, � NOOOOOOOOOOO!� His heartbroken scream resounded round the cave, spreading outwards as it echoed throughout Olympus and Greece. All around Olympus, Gods and Goddesses stopped in shock as they recognised Ares� voice. In Greece, men and women cringed in fear and children cried. Sheer and overwhelming pain penetrated every living soul for one brief second. In the cave, Psyche glared at her captive, � Are you trying to deafen me?� she snapped. � I mean, please! It was only Joxer.� Ares snarled, his eyes red with rage, even as tears poured down his face. He pulled hard at the chains round his wrists, almost laughing as they began to stretch. Psyche�s eyes widened in fear, and she quickly grasped the dagger, ready to plunge it into his body. There was an explosion and she backed away fearfully as three globes of light suddenly appeared, hovering over Ares� body, connected to him by thin strands of silvery light. He felt like his energy had been sucked out of him. � Subject?� a voice boomed, echoing around the cave. Ares stared, his head dropping back in shock. � Psyche,� another voice answered. � Mind?� the first voice asked. � Madness and hatred,� said the second voice. � Soul?� � Irredeemable,� said a third. � Judgement?� asked the second and third voices together. � She shall suffer Ares� wrath,� pronounced the first. The chains fell away and Ares leapt to his feet with a roar. Psyche turned and started to run. Ares smiled viciously and transported himself into her path. In desperation, she lunged at him with the dagger, only to find she no longer had it. � Oh dear,� Ares sneered, and his arm snaked out, lightning fast, to grasp her throat. � Time to die,� he whispered. � No, please,� she whimpered. His grip tightened and he lifted her bodily from the ground. He carried her over to the table and snapped his fingers. The chains coiled around her, holding her tightly. She struggled helplessly. Ares snapped his fingers again, and a dagger appeared in his hand. He ripped off her dress and leaned over her. � Feel free to scream.� And she did, endlessly, as he carved Joxer�s name into every inch of her body. When there was no flesh left to mark, he stepped back and watched, unblinkingly, unmercifully as she bled to death. When her torn eyes finally closed for the last time, he dropped the dagger. All his strength and anger had gone, leaving only pain and despair. He turned round, resting one hand on the table as the contents of his stomach emptied themselves, in painful, throat-burning retches. He stared up at the globes for a moment, then wiped the blood from his chest and walked unsteadily over to Joxer�s body. He dropped to his knees, gathering his lover into his arms. He buried his head in Joxer�s neck and howled, giving into terrible, heart-rending sobs. � Subject?� came the strange voice again. � Joxer,� the second replied. Ares looked up at the globes of light in shock. � Mind?� � Love and peace,� answered the second voice again. � Soul?� � Pure and noble,� the third replied. � Judgement?� asked the second and third voices. � Life and immortality. Live� Father,� the first voice whispered. The globes penetrated Ares� body, knocking the air out of him. He stared down at his stomach uncomprehendingly, until Joxer coughed and struggled in his arms. � Joxer?� Ares whispered in awe. � Ares?� Joxer groaned, � What happened?� Ares couldn�t speak, he tightened his grip on Joxer and buried his face in his neck again, laughing and crying. Joxer blinked in confusion and held his hysterical lover close, rocking him gently, as Ares clutched at him. He looked round the cave, shuddering when he saw Psyche�s bloody remains. Or what he assumed was Psyche anyway, the body was unrecognisable. � Ares? Oh Gods, you�re bleeding!� Joxer suddenly realised that he was covered with the blood from the large gashes on Ares� chest. Gashes that weren�t healing like they should. � I�m fine,� Ares whispered, even though he knew he wasn�t. He refused to let go of Joxer. Several flashes lit up the cave, and Ares leapt to his feet, pulling Joxer with him and standing in front of him protectively. He relaxed when he saw the concerned faces of his loved ones. � Dad! Oh Gods, what happened?� Cupid rushed forward, then stopped suddenly when he saw the body. He walked slowly over to the table and stared down at his ex-wife. He stumbled backwards and Strife stepped forward to catch him before he fell. � Cupe? What is it?� Strife asked in concern. � Psyche,� Cupid whispered, gesturing at the body. Strife looked at the table and blanched. He pulled Cupid away. � Son?� Hera approached Ares cautiously, he was still on his guard. � What happened?� Ares stared at his mother for a moment, then he dropped to his knees. � Ares?!� Joxer knelt down and caught his lover as he collapsed. He stared up at Hera fearfully. � Help me,� he pleaded. |