Wildfire 37-43
By Melora

Continued from Wildfire Part 36 Part 37

Ares reached out with his mind, looking for his brother.  He was glad when he sensed that Apollo wasn't anywhere near the castle.  He wanted to keep that annoyance far away from Lauren.  She needed peace right now.  It also meant that *he* needed to stay away from her for awhile too.  He could do that.  It afforded him time to go after Apollo and then focus on learning more about the cause of this storm.

Altering his direction from Apollo's temple, he reappeared on a beach.  He figured Apollo would return to his temple to allow his priestesses to *soothe* his "ruffled feathers".  He grimaced in anger when he arrived on the beach and was instantly drenched by the pouring rain.  He went into a cave nearby and saw Apollo perched on a boulder with an "I've been waiting for you" look on his face.  It only served to anger him further.

"I love how you look when wet." Apollo purred.

"I'm not here to play, Apollo." Ares said, drying himself with a thought.

"And I went to all the trouble of finding us a secluded spot and everything."

"I'm here to discuss something important with you."

"Ooh, you know how much I love giving you information."

Ares clenched his fists at his sides and gritted his teeth in anger.  Apollo was playing with him, despite their earlier fight.  He didn't want to play.  He wanted to get the information he came for, then leave.  If Apollo had his way, that wouldn't be the way things would turn out.

"Let me guess," Apollo said, standing up and approaching his brother. "You wish more information on the lovely Lauren, hmm?"

"Yes," Ares said, slapping Apollo's hand away when he attempted to touch him. "And no."

Apollo smiled.  He liked these types of inquiries.  It would give him time to tempt Ares into playing with him.  He was still upset with Ares over the fight they had had over Lauren, but he would rather have some fun with Ares than remain angry with him.  There were just too many things he liked about his brother for him to stay mad at him long.

"Yes and no?" Apollo repeated.

"Yes," Ares said. "I have a question for you concerning her past.  One you didn't answer before."

"Ah."

Apollo traced a finger down Ares' arm, grinning at the angry growl he received.  Ares moved away from him a few feet before turning to face him once more.  He stepped closer to Ares, pausing when a dark look of anger answered his advance.

"You should let me handle teaching Lauren the many ways of pleasing a god," he said. "I can teach her how to use her mental powers as well as her womanly wiles."

"I'll send her to Bacchus before I even *think* of allowing *you* to teach her *anything* concerning that." Ares snarled, barely controlling the urge to yell.

"Ooh, a little antsy about being her first?  I understand.  If I were in your place, I'd feel the exact same way."

"You won't ever be in my place.  Not with her."

Apollo just smiled.

"Lauren is under my protection, Apollo," Ares said. "She accepted it.  You go after her like you did again and I'll take this to Zeus."

"And lose her to dad." Apollo interjected.

Ares growled angrily.  He knew Apollo was right. Seeing how men and gods reacted to her, Zeus was definitely one god he didn't want to be anywhere near Lauren.  It would be far more dangerous for her to be near Zeus than Apollo.  Ares had little to no pull with his father when it came to beautiful women.

"I find it hard to understand how Lauren could remain so pure for so long," Apollo said, abruptly changing the subject. "You'd think some man would have..."

A bolt of lightning to the face ended his sentence. Ares lowered his hand, glaring down at Apollo, who was now lying on the ground.  He watched as the sun god sat up and rubbed his face.

"Never mind." he said, holding up a hand before him.

"Good." Ares said.

"What do you want to know?"

"A lover of yours knew her father.  One of your 'cast-off' lovers, as it was described to me.  Who was she?"

Apollo looked away in thought.  He had had many lovers who he had left when they started to bore him too much.  He remembered one who matched the description Ares had given him.

"I didn't leave her," he corrected, facing Ares once more. "*She* left *me*."

Ares' brow rose.  It was rare for a lover to leave Apollo.  He was usually the one who did the leaving.

"Oh?" he asked curiously.

Apollo grumbled under his breath.  Ares sounded amused at this little tidbit.  He knew exactly why too.  And it annoyed him greatly.

"She didn't want to stay with me because of my habits," he said. "She just one day up and left with no explanation."

"Too many lovers spoiled the relationship, hmm?" Ares asked in amusement.

Apollo just grumbled in anger.  He didn't need to answer Ares.  That was *a* reason she had left.  There were other reasons too.  Ones he didn't want to discuss.  He just hoped Ares wouldn't dredge them up out of him once more.  Living through it once was enough for him.

"Who was she?" Ares asked.

"Her name was Kamala," Apollo said. "And yes, she knew Lauren's father.  But no, she wasn't Lauren's mother. She died before your little gem was even born."

Apollo stood and went to Ares.  He reached out and slipped his hand into the war god's vest, quickly finding a nipple and teasing it.  He smiled when he watched Ares' eyes close.

"Forget about Lauren for now," he purred, pinching Ares' nipple. "And enjoy my attention."

Ares summoned his strength and snarled in anger.  He grabbed Apollo's arm and yanked his hand away.  He threw Apollo hard to the ground.  It took all his restraint not to blast Apollo to the unknown corners of the world.  He wanted to leave here, knowing the tempting and teasing would continue as long as he was here.  But he had to stay in order to get the information for Lauren.  It was the *only* reason that he was still here.

"Then who *is* her mother?" he asked.

"I don't know," Apollo said, flipping up onto his feet. "Ask her."

"She doesn't know.  That's why I'm here."

Apollo grinned.  "You're her messenger boy now?"

"If I am, it's a job I'll happily take.  Seeing her smile is more reward than *anything* you offer me."

"She's turning you into a real sap."

Ares' eyes narrowed in anger.  A muscle twitched in his jaw and he clenched his fists, trying to restrain the urge to blast Apollo again.  He wanted to allow his brother the chance to tell him what he knew before the answer got beat out of him.

"You wanted to take her from the moment you first saw her, didn't you?" Apollo asked.

Ares didn't reply, but Apollo already knew the answer.

"So did I," Apollo continued. "Now, you have the chance I know I won't ever get.  If you and her have anything to say about it."

"Oh, count on it," Ares said menacingly. "You aren't getting anywhere near her."

"Fine, but tell me this.  Why haven't you and her had a roll in the sack yet?  I'll tell you why.  You fear damaging her mind.  Don't worry about it.  She may be strong, but she's safe from harm like that.  She kept me out of her mind before.  She can do the same with you.  Go, have your fun with her.  Or your king may try to do it for you."

"Iphicles knows she's mine," Ares said. "And besides, he would never steal from me."

"That was before he met her.  He's quite attracted to her.  I wouldn't be surprised if he took her himself while you were gone."

Despite knowing how loyal Iphicles was to him, Ares couldn't help thinking about what Apollo had said.  He shook off those thoughts, knowing they were silly to even entertain.  He knew Apollo was just trying to find any excuse to turn Lauren away from him.  If he attacked Iphicles out of anger and jealousy, no matter the reasoning behind it, Lauren would turn against him completely and never forgive him.  She would be lost to him forever.

"Good try, brother," Ares said. "But I know Iphicles better than that.  He won't betray me.  No matter how much he desires her."

"If you say so." Apollo said.

"I do." He then remembered something he wanted to show Apollo. "By the way, I wanted to show you something."

"What?"

Ares held out his hand and the pouch appeared in it. He tossed it to Apollo.  He didn't want to get too near him.  Not with how he was acting around him.

"What do you make of that?" he asked.

"It's a lovely pouch." Apollo teased, caressing the soft velvet.

"The object *in* the pouch, smart aleck."

Apollo grinned at him.  He opened the pouch and poured the contents into his hand.  The smile fell away from his face abruptly when he looked at the phoenix necklace he now held.

"Where did you get this?" he asked, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"I found it," Ares said. "What do you know of it?"

"Only that it shouldn't exist anymore."

Apollo put the necklace back in its pouch and closed it.  He then tossed it back to Ares.  He did it with such haste, Ares could tell the sight of the necklace bothered him.  It made him even more curious to learn what Apollo knew of it.  He tucked the pouch into his vest, turning his full attention back to his brother.

"It was destroyed years ago." Apollo said, turning away from Ares.

"How," Ares asked, not letting the subject be dropped. "And by whom?"

"By fire and not me."

One brow rose when Ares heard that.  That was an odd answer.  The gold the necklace was made from was a metal that wasn't easily melted.  It felt almost as strong as Hephaestus' metal.  Only fires that Apollo could call forth could melt this necklace.

"Then who?" Ares asked.

"The same thing that killed Kamala--a phoenix." Apollo said solemnly, turning back to Ares.

"How did a phoenix kill her?"

"She got too close to it when it was being reborn. She ran right into the flames."

"Why?"

"It wasn't suicide, as you might be thinking.  She was killed when she was trying to get away from me."

"I see."

Apollo looked down at the ground.  He didn't want to look at Ares right now.  Losing Kamala like that had deeply upset him.  It made him uncomfortable speaking of her.  Especially her death.

Ares noticed Apollo's discomfort, but chose to ignore it.  He needed what information he could get.  And besides, the sun god deserved whatever pain could be delivered to him.  It would help pay back what he had done to Lauren.

For some reason, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the name Kamala was familiar to him.  He couldn't think of a reason why.  He hoped Apollo could enlighten him on that subject.  This was a loose end he definitely didn't want to leave hanging.

"You chased Kamala to a phoenix?" he asked.

"Yes," Apollo said, looking up at Ares. "I didn't mean to.  I was trying to apologize for my treatment of her.  She ran away when she saw me.  I saw where she was going and tried to warn her away.  She didn't listen and ran right into the phoenix' birth flames. She died instantly and there was nothing I could do."

Ares sensed something curious from Apollo.  There was the pain of loss and remorse for causing her death, of course.  Something like this would have upset anyone, including a god.  But there was something more.  His eyes widened when he realized what he was sensing.

"You loved her," he said in surprise. "You weren't just attracted to her beauty.  You truly loved her."

"Is it such a shock to learn that I actually loved someone?" Apollo asked, sounding annoyed.

"Yes."

Apollo narrowed his eyes at Ares.

"Are you sure she wasn't pregnant before she died," Ares asked, changing the subject. "And had no children?"

"I only sensed one life force from her," Apollo said. "She wasn't pregnant.  From what I could tell, she had never carried a child in her life.  Are we finished?"

"No."

"What else do you want from me?" Apollo really wanted to leave.  This conversation was bringing up feelings he didn't want to re-experience.

"Who was Kamala?  I can't help thinking her name is familiar to me."

"It should be.  Zeus was her father."

With that said, Apollo left.  He didn't wish to speak to Ares anymore of Kamala.  She had been gone for years, but it still hurt him to think about how he had lost her.

Ares stared at the spot Apollo had just left.  He knew Apollo would avoid his company after this conversation for awhile.  He didn't mind.  Maybe that would keep him away from Lauren.

Thinking back over what Apollo had said before he left, Ares realized Kamala had been his sister.  She had been with Lauren's father, so she might have given the necklace to him as a keepsake or something.  That might have explained how Lauren got it.  But Apollo had said it had been destroyed, which meant that Kamala had been wearing it when she died.  That paradox started giving him a headache as he tried to figure it out.

If Kamala wasn't Lauren's mother, who was?  Lauren hadn't mentioned any other women who had been with her father.  He knew that would be an odd subject for her to discuss with her father since she was still a child when she had been left in Delphi.  Unless she had spied on her father's activities with women, or he had told her about women he'd been with, she wouldn't have known if there had been any others besides Kamala.

Lauren was ignorant of what men and women did with each other to consummate their feelings for the most part.  She probably didn't know of any women her father had been with.  Kamala being with her father had been a rumor she had heard, so it was pretty easy to gather she had been left in the dark about her father's habits with women he might have been with.

Ares rubbed the bridge of his nose.  All these thoughts running around in his head had given him a headache as he tried to make sense of them.  He needed to find out the answer to the questions that he had. Without Apollo, he would have to find a new source for the answers.  Zeus was at the very bottom of likely candidates to ask.  He didn't want his father's attention anywhere near Lauren.  He grumbled in anger.  The storm inquiry would have to wait.  He had a new problem to deal with.

**********

Wanting to avoid the drenching rain, Ares teleported straight into Hades' study.  He felt his uncle might have the answers he needed.  He hoped so.  If Hades didn't have any information for him, he wasn't sure where to turn to get it.

Hades looked up from his scroll as Ares appeared.  He set it down on his desk and stood as his nephew approached.  He could tell by the look on his face that this wasn't a social visit.

"Are you here to inform me of yet another war you're planning to start?" he asked.

"No," Ares said. "And this war you've heard about is being started by Athena, not me."

"Then why are you here?"

"Information."

"An unusual request coming from you."

"Well, maybe so, but it's the truth, uncle."

Hades sighed and led Ares out of his study.  They went into the throne room.  He had wanted a break from his paperwork, but he wasn't sure if this was how he wanted it.  He seated himself on the throne, facing Ares once more.

"What do you want to know?" he asked.

"A young woman, who is now a resident here," Ares said. "I want to know about her."

"Name?"

"Kamala."

"She's here.  She's in the Elysian Fields.  Before you ask, no, you cannot talk with her."

"Why not?"

"Because she doesn't want *any* god near her.  I'm the only one who can get close to her.  Even then, she is uncomfortable."

"What caused such animosity in her against us?"

"Simple: a god killed her.  She doesn't want anything to do with us.  I can't even touch her mind she's so closed to me."

This was a surprise.  Residents of Hades' kingdom could rarely, if ever, close their minds completely from him.  The dead didn't have that type of power here.

"Can you tell me anything about her," Ares asked. "Anything I don't already know?"

"She doesn't really talk about her past to anyone," Hades said. "It's like there's a wall around her that she wants no one to get past to see the real her. Have you spoken with Apollo?"

"Yes."

"Then you know as much as I do about her."

"Can I at least *try* to speak to her?"

Ares was desperate.  Kamala was the only one who could really give him all the answers he wanted.  If he could speak to her, he could learn everything he needed to know.

"I can't allow that," Hades said. "She doesn't react well to the presence of a god and I don't want to upset her."

"I understand," Ares said. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you."

"It's all right.  If you learn anymore about her, let me know."

"Of course."

Ares vanished, allowing Hades to return to his paperwork.  He wouldn't force his uncle to allow him to see Kamala.  There were better ways to get the answers he wanted.  He decided to return to Lauren with what information he had.  She might have an idea for something else to check out.  He knew he had decided to give her some peace, but he wanted to give her this knowledge as soon as possible.  It was more important than giving her peace, in his mind anyway.

**********

When he appeared in Lauren's chambers, Ares instantly noticed she wasn't there.  He grumbled in anger, hating that this happened every time he left her somewhere.  He then felt her presence nearby and teleported there.

The sight that greeted him didn't do much to soothe his anger.  Lauren was in Iphicles' bed with her hair down and wearing an over-sized shirt of his.  She was asleep and Iphicles was in a chair, seated beside her.  He looked worried about her.

"What happened to her?" Ares asked, startling Iphicles.  He raised an eyebrow when the king stood, facing him with his sword drawn.

All that had happened to Iphicles had put him on edge and he hadn't recognized Ares' voice at first.  He put his sword away when he saw who it was and apologized. He then explained to Ares what had happened.  He told him how Lauren had revealed she was an empath and then had sensed the two men.  He also told him about how one of those men had been killed by lightning, possibly by Zeus.

"Where is he?" Ares asked.

"In a storage room no longer used," Iphicles explained. "When the storm lets up some, I'll decide what to do with his body."

"How is Lauren?"

"I had my personal healer look at her.  He said she would be all right.  She's just sleeping.  I had some of my female servants make her more comfortable while she sleeps."

"I'm glad she's all right."

"She's like this because of you, you know?"

"Excuse me?"

"You sent her here so she'd use her powers to protect me, didn't you?"

"It was one reason.  I also sent her for safety."

"'Safety'?!  There's a war coming here.  This is hardly the safest place for her."

"Physically, yes.  Mentally, this is the perfect place for her."

"What do you mean?"

"You're a comforting presence for her.  I knew you would be."

Iphicles looked at him confused.

"My presence was an assault to her mind when I first came to her.  From what I can tell, yours has the opposite effect."

Ares moved to sit by Lauren.  He reached out and touched the side of her face.  He looked to see what the mortal healer might have missed.  He smiled when she curled an arm around his like a cherished toy.

"Let her rest," he said, pulling his arm gently from her. "And wake up on her own."

"Is she all right?" Iphicles asked, wanting to confirm what his healer had told him.  He knew Ares could tell him more than any healer could.

"Yes.  Her mind just couldn't handle the strain of what she was forcing it to do.  To protect itself, and her, it shut everything down.  It will allow her to wake on her own when it believes the danger is gone."

"There still *is* a danger here.  The other assassin is still here, looking for me and who knows who else. Maybe her."

"You'll both be fine."

Lauren muttered in her sleep and turned toward Ares' heat.  Her hand reached out and grabbed his, drawing it closer.  She held it tightly, not wanting it to go away again.

"Seems she doesn't wish to let me go," Ares smiled. "Hmm, I guess I can give her what she wants."

"Giving her your arm," Iphicles teased. "How thoughtful."

"Better than that."

Holding out his free hand, Ares created a duplicate of the doll Discord had of him.  He slipped the doll into Lauren's reach as he pulled his hand away.  He smiled when she took the doll.  He leaned down, brushing a kiss against her forehead before getting up.

"Cute doll." Iphicles said.

"It's a copy of one Discord owns." Ares said.

"Discord has an Ares doll?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Nothing.  I'm just wondering if you give those to just anyone or do we have to earn them."

"Why settle for a doll when you have the real thing?"

Iphicles backed up a step as Ares moved toward him. Ares certainly forgave his earlier threat and outburst quickly.  He stopped when Ares grabbed him by the arm, pulling him closer.

"What about Lauren?" he asked.

"She's fine," Ares said. "I think I have something to make up for, don't you think?"

"Yes, but what if she wakes up and..."

"Sees us?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to go to another room?"

"No, I want to be here when she wakes, but..."

"My poor, poor king.  Such difficult decisions you have to make."

Ares buried his lips in the king's neck, nibbling a teasing path up and down the tender skin.  He let his hand slip down to caress the prominent bulge there. He heard Iphicles moan, then felt the king's hands sliding up his back.  He drew the king away from the bed to a large armchair, making him sit down in it.

"Now, where was I before I left you to fend for yourself?" Ares purred, gazing down at the king.

"I think," Iphicles said, grabbing Ares' hands. "You were right about here."

The king made Ares kneel down before him and pulled his hands to his waist.  He watched a slow, sexy smile cross the war god's lips.  He hoped Lauren wouldn't wake up to see this.  He couldn't bring himself to leave the room while she was like this.  Ares was determined to have his fun so he wouldn't relent until he got his way.

"Ah yes," Ares said, freeing his hands. "I remember now.  Shall I continue where I left off."

"You'd better." Iphicles said.

Ares undid the king's belt and removed it, tossing it aside, hearing the connected sword make a *thunk* when it hit the floor.  He unlaced Iphicles' pants, freeing the aching cock within.  He smiled, seeing how hard and wanting it was.  He could tell Iphicles was just as aroused by the temptress sleeping just a short distance away as he was.

Iphicles moaned when Ares took his cock in his hand, stroking it slowly.  His thumb caressed the leaking tip at each pass, making him shudder in want.  He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.  He blocked out everything but the pleasure Ares was bringing him.  Reaching out, he buried his hand in Ares' thick hair, trying to pull him closer.

"No," Ares said, shaking his head free. "Not yet."

"Now, please." Iphicles whispered.

"Bad king."

Ares spanked the inside of Iphicles' thigh.  Iphicles moaned and his cock jumped in Ares' hand.  He needed the god's mouth on his cock right now.  He needed this release badly.  His cock was ready to explode, but Ares wouldn't allow it just yet.  It was a maddening torture.

"Be a good little king," Ares teased. "And I will give you what you want."

"You're a pain." Iphicles countered.

"Careful, or I'll leave you to your hand once more."

"Suck me now, war god."

"Ooh, a king giving me orders.  You need a good spanking."

"How 'bout a good tongue lashing instead?"

Ares snickered at Iphicles.  He decided to give the king what he wanted, since he *had* literally walked out on him earlier.  He leaned in, taking Iphicles' cock into his mouth.  A hand buried in his hair, holding him in place.  The other teased his silky locks, making him shiver.  He took the cock in deeper, sucking harder.

Iphicles thrust his cock deeper into Ares' hot mouth, clenching his teeth so not to call out his need.  He knew a yell would not only wake up Lauren, but it would make his guards come in.  Lauren, he might be able to handle, but he didn't want his guards to find him with his cock buried in Ares' mouth.

Ares drew Iphicles closer, spreading his legs open further.  He sent the king's clothes away and oiled two fingers with a thought.  He pushed one finger into the king's tight ass, then the other.  He thrust his fingers in and out of Iphicles, occasionally brushing the super sensitive spot inside him, making him gasp and moan in need.

Unable to take this attention anymore, Iphicles groaned deep in his throat, spilling his seed into Ares' mouth.  Ares greedily took in all that Iphicles gave him.  His fingers continued moving in and out as the king drifted back to Earth.  He finally took his fingers and mouth from the king.  He then realized someone was watching him other than Iphicles.  Turning his head, he saw Lauren staring at him with a very shocked look on her face.

"What?" Iphicles asked, seeing Ares had turned away from him.

"Seems we had an audience." Ares said.

Iphicles turned to see Lauren staring at them.  He closed his eyes and groaned, turning away.  He sighed at the new problem.  The look on her face was enough to tell him she wasn't going to react too well to this.

Part 38

The pain in Lauren's head left as she was pulled into sleep.  She felt any fear she had had leave her as she drifted toward the dream world.  Her last waking thought was a wish that Morpheus wouldn't send her any nightmares.  She didn't need anymore stress, fear, or pain to follow her into the realm of dreams.

*******

Lauren looked around, finding herself in a forested area, rather than the field she was often sent to by the dream god.  She could hear the woman's voice singing once more, but it sounded far off.  She followed it, but it seemed to be moving away from her, rather than toward her.

"Are you one of the god," she called, hoping she would get an answer this time. "You sing in their language.  Are you one of them?  Please tell me."

There was no reply.

"Answer me, damn you," Lauren practically screamed. "You have visited me almost every night since my father, Dathon, died.  Why are you torturing me?"

Tears were welling up in her eyes as she desperately tried to get an answer.  Silence fell over the land abruptly, leaving her with only the sound of her breathing.  She stopped and looked around.  Fear crept up her spine.  She didn't like it when this woman, whoever she was, stopped singing.

"I am not torturing you, child." the voice spoke in Greek.

Lauren collapsed to her knees, covering her mouth in her hands as the tears fell down her face.  This was the first time she had ever heard this woman speak directly to her.  She communicated to her through song that taught her the language of the gods.

"Who are you," she asked, lowering her hands. "Are you my mother?"

The voice resumed its gentle, lullaby-like song.  Lauren opened her mouth to speak.  She closed it once more, realizing that was the only answer the singer was going to give her.  She didn't know if this woman was her mother or not, but it would help to explain some things to her if it was.  At least, she thought it might.

"If you're not torturing me," she said, knowing she probably wouldn't get a reply. "Why teach me a language, but not the words?"

The forest melted away suddenly and Lauren found herself swallowed up by darkness.  The sudden darkness felt heavy against her lungs, making her gasp in breaths before her panic faded.  A campfire lit itself a short distance away, startling her.  It provided the only light and gave her a beacon to follow.  Beneath her, she felt something like stone.  Wherever she was, she knew she was no longer in the forest.  The singing was completely gone.  All she could hear now was the crackling of the fire.

Lauren saw a cloaked figure move past the fire, drawing her attention.  The figure added some more wood to the fire, then moved to partly block the fire from her view.  Getting to her feet, she went to see who or what this figure was.  As she got to the figure, she reached out and touched the figure's cloak.

The whole area before her shattered outward, the force of it throwing her backward.  She yelled as she fell for what seemed like forever, the darkness swallowing her once more.  A voice spoke to her in Olympian.  It was a very different voice.  It said something stern, almost harsh to her as she fell.  This wasn't the same voice as before.  She wasn't sure if it was male or female.  Or if it was even human, for that matter.

*******

Lauren's eyes flew before her dream form hit solid ground.  She had never had a dream like that before where her tormentor/teacher was involved.  Not one that scared her like this one had.  Even the one with Ares hadn't given her such a rush of fear.  She soon became aware of odd sensations she was just beginning to pick up on.  It felt curiously like what she had felt at Toreth's camp.  She sat up; releasing the doll Ares had given her.  Her attention fell on it and she grinned, seeing the cute doll of the God of War.  It then moved to the outfit she was wearing.

Her gown had been replaced by a shirt she was certain was a man's.  The shirt she wore was big and comfy and smelled like the king.  Her thoughts came to a sudden halt when she sensed she wasn't alone in this room.  She lifted her head and gaze, coming face to face with a very shocking sight.  The scene before her shocked her so much, it rendered her speechless.

Ares was on his knees before a chair Iphicles was seated in.  Lauren couldn't tell exactly what they were doing, but she knew she didn't want to get closer to investigate.  She could just barely see the king's profile.  One arm was in view as well as one leg and both were bare.  Something told her it wasn't the only thing that was.  She could see that Iphicles' hands were buried in Ares' hair, guiding the god's head in an up and down movement.

Lauren tried to turn away from the sight of this scene.  Some perverse part of her wouldn't allow her to move.  She picked up on what Iphicles was feeling, despite her best efforts to block it out.  She could feel his pleasure as if it were her own.  It almost made her moan as it reached a crescendo, seeming to erupt within him.

A few moments later, Ares pulled back and away from the king, licking his lips.  Lauren was just recovering from whatever it was she had just felt as he did.  He must have been aware of her eyes on him, for he turned to look directly at her.  A smile crossed his lips as he looked at her.

"What?" She heard Iphicles ask in confusion.

"Seems we had an audience." Ares said amused.

Iphicles looked over at Lauren and groaned in embarrassment.  He turned away, falling back out of sight in the chair.  Lauren could tell he hadn't wanted her to bare witness to this.  She could clearly feel his agitation at the war god for causing both.

Ares didn't seem affected by her feelings, or Iphicles'.  He got to his feet, his smile turning into a grin.  He seemed quite pleased with himself about her waking up to witness this.  His eyes flashed with his amusement.

"Lauren, I'm so pleased you're awake," Ares purred. "Come, join us."

He could sense that Iphicles enjoyed that request on some level, though he didn't look it in his expression.  He was quite amused by the king's attempt to hide his desire for that.  He approached Lauren, leaving Iphicles unclothed to keep him from moving from the chair.  When Lauren didn't respond to him, the king, or anything else, he snickered.

"Come back to this plane, sweets," Ares smiled. "You're missing all the fun."

"Huh?" Lauren finally managed.

"There we are.  Come here little one, I want you to join in on this.  I'm sure you'd enjoy it greatly."

"Uh...no, I don't think so."

Though slowly, Lauren's coherent thought was bleeding through her shock.  She had a good idea of what Ares had been doing and knew she didn't want to join in on this.  Especially after how the god had exposed her to it.  And she was certain it was entirely his fault.

~Maybe so, but he helped in my fun.~ Ares purred in her mind.

"Leave me alone, Ares," Lauren said, backing up. "On second thought, I'll leave *you* alone.  I'm going to go find my way back to my own room."

"I wouldn't suggest that," Ares said aloud. "You are quite vulnerable at the moment and there's still the added danger of that assassin still on the loose." He knew the assassin had been captured and imprisoned while Lauren was out, but wouldn't let her know that just yet.

"I'll take my chances."

Lauren grabbed one of the loose sheets and wrapped it around herself as she got up.  She wanted to hide what the long shirt didn't.  It covered her to the mid-thigh, but she didn't want either male in the room staring at her legs.  She let out a squeak-like noise when her feet encountered bare, ice cold marble and leapt back onto the bed, covering her feet to warm them.  She glared at Ares when she felt his amusement.

"I thought you wished to leave," he said.

"I do." she said.

"Then why did you leap back into bed if your desire is so strong?"

"Icy floors make it difficult to leave when one is barefoot."

Iphicles snickered when she said that.  He had a rug on only one side of the bed, where he got up and had left the other side empty since it wasn't used anymore.  The only problem was that Ares was on that side and Lauren didn't want to get near him.

"Well, then I'm afraid you're going nowhere," Ares said with a resigned sigh. "Because there are only cold, uncarpeted floors between this bed and your room."

"I hate you." she frowned, crossing her arms before her.

"Too bad.  You're stuck with me.  Now, you may be cold, but I'm quite warm and I think I need to let more air get to my skin.  Since you hate me so much, I don't need to worry about you desiring me if I need to remove anything."

Lauren groaned and fell face first down onto the bed as Ares turned away from her.  She couldn't take this anymore.  She heard Ares undo his belt and remove it, then drop it on the floor.  She dared a glance upward and noticed he was now watching her once more.  He was making a bit of a show for her with his clothing removal.

Iphicles could tell Lauren was uncomfortable with this.  He could also tell that, despite her protesting, she was attracted to the god.  He leaned forward enough to see what Ares was doing.  He couldn't help but smile when he saw what Ares was up to and that Lauren was now watching him.

Ares pulled his vest off, dropping it on the bed.  He purposely dropped it as close to Lauren as he could safely get it without hitting her with it.  He watched her draw back when she caught his scent on it.

"Well," he said hurt. "I offer you something to keep you warm and you ignore it."

"I don't trust any of your 'offers', war god," she said.

"Hmm, I don't think I'm cool enough yet.  What do you think, Iphicles?"

"I think you're pushing it," the king said.

"I want to be comfortable.  I don't think there's anything wrong with that."

"I do." Lauren said.

"You don't get a say in this, you mean little thing.  If you had accepted my offer of warmth, you might have, but not now."

"I think I'll take my chances with the floor."

"Uh-uh.  Can't let you do that.  It would be just as dangerous as you going out in that storm."

"I'll risk it."

Lauren tried to get off the bed once more, but an unseen force stopped her.  She could get right to the edge of the bed, but an invisible wall pushed her back if she tried to move beyond that.  She turned a glare on Ares, but it faltered when she saw him unlacing the front of his tight pants.  Her eyes fell irresistibly to his hands, watching what they were doing.

"Come here, little one," he said in a voice just above a whisper. "Stop denying your desire for me.  It's such a waste of energy.  And there are far, far better ways to spend it."

As Iphicles listened, he could tell Ares was highly attracted to Lauren.  He didn't blame him for that.  She was very much a beauty.  It worried him a little about just how attracted Ares was to Lauren and what that would make the god do in order to get what he wanted from her.  He knew Ares wouldn't forget about him, no matter how much another lover pleased him.  That rarely bothered him when he learned of another lover of Ares'.  The god had always shown him that he would never forget about him.  His concern was just for Lauren and the danger she might be in if Ares got overanxious for her.

Lauren sensed Iphicles' concern for her and looked over at him.  It didn't go unnoticed by the god before her.  She quickly turned her attention back to Ares; not trusting him to stay put with her attention directed elsewhere.

"You wish the king to join in on our fun," he asked with a mirthful smile. "Of course, he can join us."

"Ares, leave her alone," Iphicles said finally. "I think you've made your point with her."

"Not yet I haven't."

"When then?  When she's screaming and begging for you to leave her alone?"

That made Ares' actions falter.  He didn't like the sound of that.  He shook it off, knowing there was genuine attraction to him coming from Lauren.  He allowed his mind to pick up more from her than just that and could feel fear and a bit of uneasiness from her.  She didn't like having an audience watching her reactions and feared what was going on and what would happen.

~Do you wish me to send Iphicles away?~ he sent to her, not wanting to cause her further discomfort by asking her that aloud.

~I just want to be left alone.~ she thought to him.

~I can't do that.~

~Why not?~

~Because I don't wish to leave you now.  I need you and I know you need me.~

~Just leave me alone.~

Lauren finally turned away from Ares, hoping that would make her point clear.  She tensed when she sensed him reach toward her.  She relaxed a bit when she felt him just pick up his vest to put it back on.  Her tension returned when she felt him climb onto the bed and come toward her.

Very gently, Ares moved her hair aside, then placed a soft kiss on the side of her neck.  He was prepared for her to pull away or turn to attack him.  When neither happened, he was encouraged to go further.  He nibbled at her neck just below her jaw.  He grinned when she shivered.  He knew just where she was sensitive and used that knowledge to his advantage.

~Do you still wish to be alone?~ he whispered in her mind, nibbling at that spot again.

"Stop that." Lauren said aloud.

~Not till you answer me.~

Lauren reached up, trying to push him away.  He grabbed her wrist, pulling it away.  He kept it prisoner, searching her neck with his mouth for another vulnerable spot.  His arm curled around her when she tried to get away.  He teased another sensitive spot near the base of her neck.  He paid close attention to that spot, feeling her resistance melting away.

~I know you want me,~ he thought to her. ~Stop denying it.~

Iphicles watched the two from his chair curiously.  He could tell that whatever Ares was doing, Lauren wasn't happy about it.  He got up and grabbed a nearby robe, pulling it on and tying it.  His attention turned back to the two on his bed, unsure if he should try to stop them or not.

Lauren managed to squirm free of Ares' grip.  The blankets were completely twisted around her and made it impossible to use her legs.  She tried to pull herself away from Ares and barely got a few inches away from him before he grabbed her and pulled her back toward him, trapping her on her stomach against the bed.

"You make such a lovely throw rug." Ares said with a grin.

"Let go of me, you big goon." she growled.

"You like calling me that, don't you?"

"If the name fits..."

Ares chuckled at her.  He reached out and caressed her back.  He then turned his attention to the "knot" of sheets around her lower body and legs.  He smiled; wondering just how she had gotten them so twisted around her like this.

"If you hadn't squirmed so much, you wouldn't have this problem." he said.

"And if you weren't such a barbarian," she countered. "I'd..."

Ares cut her off with a swat across the bottom.  He looked up at Iphicles, who was giving him a dirty look.  He gave the king a grin that told him not to worry about this little scene.  He crooked a finger at him, inviting him to join in on this little game.

"Not you too." Lauren almost whined when she felt Iphicles' interest.

"Lauren, you deny your desires long enough," Ares explained. "The only ones who will want you are old men with hair growing out of their nose and ears."

"Ew!"

"I'm not joining in on your torturing her, Ares." Iphicles said.

"Who said anything about torturing?  I'm just playing with her," Ares explained. "And she's enjoying it.  Just ignore her protesting.  It's a cover."

"I'm not coercing her into something she doesn't want."

"Why don't you follow his example, Ares?" Lauren suggested.

"I'd rather do this."

Iphicles was surprised when Ares vanished with Lauren.  The twisted blanket and the doll were left behind.  He had no idea where Ares was taking her to, but he hoped she would be all right.  He wasn't sure if what Ares had said about Lauren was true or not.  He wanted to believe that it was true and that Ares wasn't kidnapping an unwilling woman, but his concern for her got in the way.

"Ares, if you hurt her, I'll never forgive you." he called, knowing he would be heard by the god, wherever he had taken Lauren.

Ares reappeared with Lauren in a bedroom that was quite different than the one they had just left.  He allowed her to get free and move away from him.  He saw her look around the room and grinned when she went to the door and tried to get out.  He snickered when she let out an angered growl and turned to face him.

"Open the door." she said.

"Even if I did that," Ares explained. "You'd get yourself lost.  You don't know where you are or how to get back to the castle."

"Where am I?"

"Now, why should I tell you that?  You've been nothing but an irritant to me and don't deserve the answers."

"If I'm an irritant, why are you trying to seduce me?"

"Because you're a very lovely irritant.  One I want to see if there's anymore to you than just the irritating exterior."

"Nope, that's all that's to me."

Ares grinned at her. "Let me be the judge of that."

When Lauren tried to move away from the door, Ares vanished and reappeared before her.  He backed her into the door and placed a hand on either side of her, trapping her against the door.  He gazed down into her eyes, watching her reactions.

"My little Lauren, why are you so resistant to pleasure," he asked. "I know you enjoy it.  You shouldn't resist what you enjoy so much."

"I'm afraid," she admitted.

"Of me?  Or of the pleasure?"

"Both."

"Pleasure shouldn't be feared.  Nor should I.  Believe me when I say I don't wish you any harm."

"I just don't want to end up like Semele."

Now Ares understood.  He could now tell what she feared.  She was afraid of dying if she saw the wrong thing when he touched her mind.  He knew that was a possibility due to just how close their minds would be during lovemaking.  Being as strong an empath as she was, she would not only pick up on his feelings, she might pick up images from his mind, no matter how cautious he was.  With other empaths he had been with, he could easily block out their minds enough so they weren't damaged by the full weight of his mind and godhood.

Lauren wouldn't have that protection.  He only knew how to block out her mind right now.  He would only learn how to completely block her out by understanding what she was and just how powerful her own mind was.  And by then it would have been too late to safeguard her against any coming assault.

"I can't promise you that you wouldn't be hurt by anything you encountered," he admitted in a gentle voice. "But I can promise you, you won't end up like Semele.  I won't allow you to die.  I forbid it."

Lauren snickered at his words.  It was strange to hear Ares forbid someone to die.  He was a god who enjoyed death.  It was how his duties worked and how he got his worship.  She could feel he was being truthful in all that he had said.  He wanted her badly, but he wanted to ensure her safety.

"Where am I?" she asked him again.

"The Halls of War," he replied. "It's the only place I can completely guarantee that Apollo, or any other member of my family, won't bother you.  This place, I fully control and can lock it down so no one may enter or leave without my permission."

"Is there anyone else here?"

"No.  Just you and me."

Lauren slipped out from between Ares' arms, moving away from him.  She looked around the room, seeing it had a very Ares decor to it, including weapons of all sorts on the walls.  She saw a pair of crossed swords over the bed and wondered if Ares ever worried about them falling off onto him.

"Not really," he said behind her. "Those are quite firmly anchored to the wall.  It would take an earthquake that would destroy the wall to knock them down." He moved up behind her as she looked around at the weapons on the walls. "Do you know what the significance of the crossed swords is?"

"It's the symbol of war, isn't it?" she asked.

"That's right.  Did you learn that at Apollo's temple?"

Lauren turned to face him. "No.  It was something my father once told me about when I happened to see a medallion he had with that symbol on it and asked him about it.  He got it from someone who had stolen it from someone else.  One of your warriors, I guess."

"Ah, your father stole it from a thief.  What happened to this thief?"

"He's somewhere at the bottom of Poseidon's kingdom.  He was killed by Toreth when he tried to attack my father from behind."

"Toreth seems to have been smarter in his past life with your father."

"What did you do with him?"

"I let him live.  He's in a cell where he can't bother you anymore."

Reaching out, Ares took her hand and tugged her forward as he moved backward.  He smiled when she followed him.  He was happy she had found the courage to at least give him that.  He hoped he could help her find the strength and courage to allow him all he wanted to give her.

"Come here, my sweet," he purred. "Let me please you."

Lauren didn't speak, she just allowed Ares to lead her to the bed.  She decided to allow him some leeway with her.  She was uncertain if she wanted to go through with everything, but she was curious about the pleasure he had given her and knew she wanted more.  Though she was still afraid, she wanted to try and give into her own desires.

"That's it," he encouraged her. "Come with me.  I want to give you all the pleasure you wish."

Once at the bed, he climbed on and moved backwards on it, drawing her to it.  When she was right at the bedside, he released her hand and sat back on his haunches.  Now it was up to her to decide whether she wanted to join him or leave.  If she wanted to leave now, he would allow it.  Even if it tore him apart, he would allow her to leave.

Lauren reached out and took Ares' sword medallion in her hand, looking at it.  She tugged on it, forcing him to move forward so not to lose the medallion to her.  He wondered, momentarily, if she'd run off with it if she took it from him.

"Practicing your thievery skills?" he asked.

"Well, I got your dagger, didn't I," Lauren teased. "I need a sword to go with it."

"Isn't that one a little small to be useful to you?"

"I like this one."

"You never did tell me how you figured out where my dagger was."

"You never asked." Ares gave her an annoyed glare. "It was the only place left to look after I checked everywhere else." she added.

"Ah."

Lauren made Ares come almost to the edge of the bed with little tugs on his medallion.  She took care not to break it as she coaxed him forward.  She let it fall back against him, watching his dark eyes.  Reaching out, she touched the side of his face, caressing his cheek.

Ares closed his eyes, leaning into her hand.  He forced his hands to remain at his sides, letting her do as she wished.  He shivered when she reached up with her free hand, letting it slide up the other side of his face into his hair.  He adored it when she played with his hair.  She knew just how to touch him there to give him the most delicious shivers.  It was something he loved about empaths.  They could sense just what their lovers want and do just that.  When she heard him start purring, Lauren grinned at  him.  She slowly let her hands slide down his face and finally come away from him.  His dark eyes opened and gazed back up at her.  He smiled wickedly.

"Do continue," Ares purred. "You have such a *stimulating* touch."

Lauren reached out and pinched his nose, grinning as his eyes crossed to look at her fingers.  Ares grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away.  He nipped at the tender inside of her wrist, seeming to punish and tease it at the same time.  He pulled her closer when she tried to get away.

"You dare to pinch the God of War?" he asked in mock anger.

"It's better than getting bit." she smiled.

He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him and onto the bed under him. "Bad girl."

Lauren noticed some of his hair had fallen down into his face from his movements.  Unable to resist the urge, she reached up and brushed the irate lock back behind his ear.  She quickly pulled her hand away when he tried to bite her wrist again.  She tried to get free of him, but he pressed his body against hers, trapping her under him further.

"No one pinches me and gets away with it." he informed her.

"And how many have pinched you?" she countered.

"I'll never tell."

Leaning in, he kissed her deeply and hungrily, feeling her hands on his shoulders.  He took her hands in his pulling them above her, pinning them to the bed.  He wasn't about to let her stop him again when he knew just what she wanted.  He rubbed his hips against her, letting her feel his leather-covered cock pressing against her.  He felt her arms tense under him but wouldn't release her.  He transferred both wrists into one hand and reached down, parting her legs a bit more.  She moaned under him when he pressed right into her center.

Lifting her leg, he rocked against her again, putting more pressure on her most sensitive region.  His fingertips caressed the back of her thigh, giving her goosebumps.  He broke the kiss, gazing down at her.

"Do you wish me to continue?" he asked.

Unable to speak, Lauren nodded to him.  She wanted to get her hands free of his, but she wanted his attention even more.  He was touching her in just the right way, causing ripples of pleasure to rush through her.  She watched a sexy smile cross his lips.

"As you wish." he purred.

Ares released her leg and raised up, smiling down at her.  He cupped her breast, caressing it through her shirt.  He watched her eyes close in pleasure.  He pinched her hardening nipple, drawing a moan from her.  He tugged at the hardened peak, making her whimper in want.

"Now, shall I continue to tease this spot," he grinned. "Or give it what it wants?"

"No tease..." she managed, barely able to think.

The pleasure he was causing was travelling from right beneath his fingers down to right between her legs, knotting itself tighter and tighter.  She started to protest when he took his hand away before she saw him begin to work on the laces of her shirt with his one, free hand.  She looked up at him, watching that gorgeous face.

"Calm yourself, my sweet," Ares said, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "I must do this in order to continue."

"Are you going to release my arms?" she asked.

"Not yet, sweets.  Not just yet."

Ares bound her wrists to the bed with a small bit of his power, freeing both his hands.  He unlaced the ties of her shirt, pushing the material aside.  He allowed one of his fingers to dip into the valley between her breasts, touching her soft flesh.  His hand was irresistibly drawn into her shirt and quickly found the breast he had just teased.  He licked his lips, feeling her hard nipple pressing into his palm.  It made him wonder how it would feel in his mouth.

Lauren whimpered under his touch, wanting more but unsure how to ask.  This was all new to her and she didn't fully understand the sensations he was awakening within her.  A cry of loss escaped her when his hand left her breast.  It became a moan when he gave her other breast the same attention as the first.  She wanted to grab at him to make him continue, but she couldn't get her hands free of whatever spell that held them.

"Please..." she whispered.

"Yes, I will please you." Ares purred.

Taking his hand from her, he pulled the shirt aside to uncover one breast.  He liked going one at a time, enjoying teasing and torturing her at the same time.  He leaned in, making her panic a little.  His thumb flicked over her hard nipple, soothing that panic.  Dipping his head, he replaced his thumb with the tip of his tongue.

Lauren flinched at the touch of his tongue on her.  It felt like liquid flame on her skin.  She tugged at her invisible bonds again, growling when she couldn't get her hands free.  Her annoyed growl became a moan when he captured her nipple between his lips, sucking it deep into his mouth.  She turned her head to the side as he gently bit at her nipple.

Ares smiled against her breast when he felt her squirming under him.  He knew she wanted to get free of his little capture spell on her wrists, but he didn't yet want to release her.  He was having too much fun torturing her when she was at his mercy with so many vulnerable spots to tease.  He traced his mouth down the side of her breast, gripping the material in his teeth and moving it aside.

A gasp escaped Lauren when the soft/coarse hair of his beard grazed her nipple.  She watched a wicked grin cross the god's lips and closed her eyes.  Her own body was betraying her to this god.  Even though she was savoring the pleasure he was giving her; some part of her was telling her to resist this.  It was very hard to listen to that voice when the opposing argument came from such a talented mouth.

"You like that, don't you?" he asked needlessly.

Lauren closed her eyes, letting out a tortured moan as Ares rubbed his beard against both of her nipples.  She became aware of a growing wetness between her legs as this torture continued and something in her knew it was being caused by what this beast was doing to her.  Her thoughts came to a screeching halt when he took her other nipple in his mouth, sucking and biting it as he did the first.

"Ares, please..." she whispered.

"What is it, my sweet Lauren?" he asked, leaning up to look at her.

"Let me go."

"Oh yes, I almost forgot about that."

Reaching up, he brushed his fingertips against her wrists, releasing the spell that had been imprisoning them.  He ran both his hands down her arms, sending away any pain the strain of her fight had caused her muscles.  He allowed her to lower her arms as he raised up into a seated position.  He let her pull out from beneath him.  His eyes watched her as she sat up, sliding back from him.  He wondered if she was going to run away from him now.  He waited to see what she would do.

Part 39

Lauren reached up and pulled the front of her shirt closed, covering her exposed breasts.  The cool air of the room chilled her wet nipples.  When she did that, she sensed disappointment and sadness from the god before her.  She looked up, seeing both emotions reflected in his liquid brown eyes.  She knew she hurt him each time she denied him his desires, but she couldn't help the fear that had continually plagued her.

Ares decided to cooperate with her and not try anything without her permission.  He needed her trust in him to continue any further.  He had gone far enough with taking advantage of her when he tasted her breasts.  As much as both had enjoyed it, he knew he would be pushing it with her if he continued in that way.  He would be living up to the image she had had of him before she got to know him.

Shock showed in Lauren's eyes momentarily when she felt the change in him.  She sensed his desire to cooperate with her wishes.  She knew it took great strength for him to do this.  He was a god who enjoyed pleasure - both through violence and sexual gratification - and didn't like giving up his control over a situation.  She could sense the inner struggle within him between submission and dominance.  It meant a lot to her to have Ares allow her some control over what happened here.

"Do gods often act around someone like me like you are?" she asked.

Ares raised an eyebrow.  That was a curious question.

"There is a woman I know of that attracted many men and several gods," he said. "Just as you do."

"Oh?" Lauren asked curiously.

"Her name is Psyche and she is very beautiful.  She attracted men left and right, including my son, Cupid.  It got so bad, she had to do like you and hide herself from view of every man she came across."

"What happened to her?"

"She was made immortal and married Cupid.  They have a child together."

"That story sounds familiar to me.  Before she was immortal, what was she?"

"A normal mortal, just a beautiful one.  Your ability to attract is much stronger than hers ever was when she was on Earth.  You attract all men and all gods."

"Gee, just what I need - half the population and pantheon chasing me."

Ares chuckled at her.  He reached out, cupping the side of her face.  He leaned closer, as if to kiss her.  He reversed directions and brought his lips near her ear.

"Ah, sweet child," he purred. "I won't let them have you.  I can be very greedy." He then pressed a soft kiss to her cheek before moving back to where he had just been.

"You're crazy," she said.

"A little insanity never stopped anyone from having fun.  Ask my nephew."

"No thanks."

"Shame on you for insulting him."

"He kidnapped me.  What do you expect?"

Ares reached out and pinched her nose.  He grinned when she shook free of his playful fingers.  He smiled when she moved closer and put her hands against his chest.

"Hey!" he yelled when she gave him a hard shove, knocking him back and down.

As he fell, he grabbed her, pulling her with him.  She let out her own yell as she fell with him.  He grunted when she landed hard against his body, colliding with his hard cock.  He growled as the pain simmered with the pleasure growing there.  He straightened out his legs, getting into a more comfortable position.  He blew stray several strands of her hair out of his face.  He remained still as she sat up, but stopped her before she got away from him.

"Your cooperation seems to be waning a bit," she said.

"I'll cooperate with you," he said. "But only under the condition that you don't leave unless it's what you truly desire."

Lauren stared down at him, relaxing in his grip a little.  She didn't want to leave, despite her instincts whispering to her to run from him.  She saw the corners of his mouth twitch in the beginnings of a smile.

"One smirk and I'm gone," she warned him.

Ares tried to hold in his amusement, but failed miserably.  He burst out laughing at her threat.  His hands fell away from her as he leaned his head back, laughing out loud.  As he finally recovered, he let his hands lay against his chest.

"Are you finished?" she asked, knowing it might set him off again as it had her.

"Mm-hmm." he smiled.

"Good.  Good-bye."

Ares grabbed her hips before she could move off him. He held her captive there, not wanting her to leave. He smiled up at her as she glared down at him.

"Scoot back a bit." he said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I want you to be comfy."

Ares gently pushed her back so she was seated right on his hips.  He closed his eyes, groaning softly as her weight and heat were placed back on his leather-encased cock.  He left his hands on her thighs, wanting to keep her there.

"Stay there," he said softly. "And do please, feel free to touch anything."

He would only submit so far with her.  He knew he couldn't turn full control over to her because she didn't really know anything about pleasuring.  She was guided only by what she sensed that someone wanted. He had to teach her this game, but would allow her to do what she wished, within reason.

"I'd like to touch the doorknob, turn it, and hear it open." Lauren said.

"We're back to that, are we," he asked amused. "You enjoy being difficult, don't you?"

"It's in my nature to be difficult."

"And you do an excellent job of it.  Tell me this, do you find me attractive?  Desirable?  Sexy?"

"Nope."

Ares growled angrily under his breath.  Even in a tease, that hurt him.  He rocked his hips up against her, pressing his cock firmly against her.  He grabbed her arms when she nearly fell forward from the pleasure he caused her.  She moaned as he did it again.  He relaxed back against the bed, grinning up at her.  He caught a face-full of her hair as she leaned forward.

"Answer those questions again." he said, moving her hair out of his face once more.

She said something, but it came out unintelligible.

"What was that, sweets?" he smiled.

"What are you doing to me?" she whispered, barely able to speak.

"Giving you pleasure.  Do you like it?"

"Yes."

Ares smiled at her, glad to hear her admitting that. He released her wrists, reaching down to touch her thighs once more.  He let them drift to the backs of them, sensing she was quite vulnerable to pleasure right there.  His fingers caressed the soft flesh and he grinned when she tried to wriggle free of his grip.

"Stop that." she finally managed.

"Why?" Ares asked, making his light touch even gentler.

"I don't like that."

"Liar."

Lauren reached down and grabbed his wrists, pulling his hands away.  She gasped in alarm when he used her grip to pull her down onto him.  She then found herself turned onto her back beneath him once more.

"If you don't want my touch on those lovely thighs of yours, where do you want my touch," he purred. "And I forbid you to say anything along the lines of you leaving me.  I know for a fact that you wish to stay with me and that you want my attention.  Anymore lies and I will be forced to give you a much needed spanking."

"Uh..." Lauren said, unable to speak.

Faced with such a request and threat, she wasn't sure how to respond.  She watched a smile cross the god's lips.  She whimpered softly as she tried and failed to think of something to say.  His dark eyes, all that she was feeling from him and what she was feeling herself were driving all the thoughts in her mind away from her.

"It's all right, my sweet Lauren," he said, brushing a kiss against her forehead. "You don't have to tell me.  Just allow me to show you what I know you'll enjoy."

Unable to speak, Lauren simply nodded to him.  There were feelings waking in her that she didn't understand and they were all telling her to let Ares show her more.  She may not have understood what Ares was doing to her, but she couldn't deny that she was enjoying this and wanted to listen to the desires that were now speaking to her louder than her instincts.

"Good girl." Ares whispered, giving her a soft kiss on the lips.

He slid his lips down her skin, pausing every now and then to give her a little nip.  He felt her shiver under the touch of his lips and beard sliding down her skin.  He gently moved the material of her shirt away from her breasts.  Pushing them together, he took both nipples into his mouth, drawing a kittenish moan from her.

~Touch me, my kitten,~ his voice purred in her mind. ~Touch me.~

Lauren reached up; burying her hands his thick hair. She leaned her head back, almost crying out as he relentlessly teased her nipples.  She was left gasping as he finally pulled away from her.  Her eyes slowly opened, gazing up at him.

"I have to remove your shirt now if you wish more of my attention." he informed her.

He felt that it was a silly thing to say to her, but he didn't want to have her panic on him when he took one of her only protections away.  He pushed the soft material up her slowly, leaning in to kiss his way up the newly bared flesh.  The scent of roses was all over her, teasing his senses.  It was going to be difficult for him to look at those flowers again without thinking of her.

"Lean up." he said softly, pausing just below her breasts.

Lauren sat up, raising her arms to allow him to remove her shirt completely.  She watched it fall to the floor as Ares tossed it aside.  She almost squeaked in alarm when Ares buried his lips in her neck, nipping at a sensitive spot.  She shoved him away, watching him fall into a sprawl across the bed.  A wicked grin was on his face, made her back away from him.

Ares turned onto all fours, crawling sensuously toward Lauren, who backed away from him, trying to stay out of his reach.  He growled deep in his throat, sensing her heart jump at the sound.  He smiled when she paused in her retreat as her desire warred with her instincts.

"I'm going to enjoy spanking you for daring to shove me so many times." he said.

"You were asking for it," she said.

Ares lunged forward, grabbing her around the waist. He pinned her to the bed beneath him, growling very animal-like above her.  She went still beneath him, staring at him wide-eyed with alarm.

"And you were 'asking' for that, my luscious prey." he purred.

"What are you planning on doing," she asked. "Eating me?"

"Mm-hmm.  I bet you're as sweet as you are beautiful."

He moved down her body, keeping his eyes on hers. There was only one last spot on her to uncover and he was aching to see it.  This was a spot that had been hidden when he first came across her and he wanted to complete the gorgeous picture she made.  He closed his eyes with a growling purr when he caught her inviting scent as he drew closer to that spot.

"Now, sweet child, I'm going to remove these so that I may taste you." he purred in his most sexy voice.

Ares grabbed the top of the lacy panties in his teeth, tugging them down her slim legs.  He kept his face down and his eyes closed, wanting to prolong the mystery of how she looked completely naked.  Raising up, he tossed the panties away, then turned to look down at her.  He nearly groaned when he caught sight of her sex.  A triangle of copper fur shone in the light at the apex of her thighs, guarding her most treasured possession.

Slowly, the slid his hands up her inner thighs, watching her eyes close in pleasure.  He caressed her sensitive inner thighs, coaxing them apart.  His hand then moved to her softness, letting his finger dip inside.  He licked his lips at the feel of how hot she was.

Wanting to enhance her pleasure, he coated his finger with very slippery oil with a thought.  His finger sought out her clit, causing a gasp to escape her when he brushed his fingertip against it.  He smiled and stroked the sensitive, little bud in little circles. He batted her hands away when she tried to pull his hand from her.

"No, sweet Lauren," he said. "I like to play with my food before I eat it."

Lauren tried to say something, but it came out in a moan.  She couldn't believe the pleasure such a simple touch could cause her.  She pushed her legs together, but the god wouldn't allow her that and pushed them back apart.  Her eyes opened to see that gorgeous face above her, watching her pleasure.  She grabbed him by the hair, pulling him in for a kiss.

Ares' finger moved from the spot that it had found slipping inside her as his thumb took over its task. She flinched when she felt his finger inside her.  It hurt a little at the intrusion, but the pleasure his thumb was giving her was making it melt away.  She dragged her nails against his scalp, making him groan as he increased her pleasure.

Pulling away, Ares added a second finger, sliding them in and out of her.  He savored how tight she was around his fingers.  He licked his lips, feeling how wet she was becoming.  It made his cock grow longer and harder as he thought about how it would feel when he was inside her.

Lauren let out a desperate cry, turning her head away from Ares.  She couldn't believe how good this felt. She felt Ares' lips on her neck and whimpered as he nipped at her skin.  She squirmed when he nuzzled her there.  She gasped when her squirming drove his fingers in deeper.

Ares felt his mind brush the edge of hers as her mental shields tried to weaken.  He pulled his mind back, blocking her out.  He wanted to hold off on touching her mind directly like that till he had no choice in it.  Sensing her climax approaching, he moved his lips up her skin, pressing them to her ear.

"Call my name," he whispered. "Scream it to the heavens."

Lauren screamed Ares' name as she was swallowed in pure pleasure.  She felt as if her very soul was leaving her.  She blacked out from the overwhelming sensations.

Ares took his fingers from her when she passed out. He licked his fingers clean, closing his eyes at her sweet taste.  He covered her in one of the blankets, allowing her to rest.  He kissed her temple, feeling her drifting back to him.

*********

Lauren came to and saw a smiling God of War beside her.  She turned to face him, wincing at the twinge of pain between her legs.  She closed her eyes as Ares reached out and caressed her cheek.

"It will pass, little one," he said. "Now, about that promised meal..."

"Huh?" she asked, suddenly confused.

Ares just grinned at her.  He pulled the covers off of her, slipping between her legs.  He soothed her with gentle words when he felt a rush of fear from her. Her inadvertent squirming had driven his fingers in deep enough and hard enough to do a little damage to her maidenhead.  He had refrained from healing it, knowing he would be undoing that healing sometime soon.  He regretted harming her, but he was about to make up for it right now.

Lauren tried to get away from him.  There was a part of her that wanted this, but she another still fought him.  She tried to pull away as he leaned down toward her.  She felt his grip tighten on her legs, silently telling her to be still.  The only thing that kept her from fighting him flat out was the fact that she could sense his reassurance that he wouldn't harm her.

"You will enjoy this," he said, soothing her further. "Trust me."

Ares licked his lips as her scent welcomed him.  One part of her definitely didn't need to be soothed.  It wanted him and it wanted him now.  He dipped his head and kissed the silken hair of her mound, dipping his tongue between the soft folds of skin, making her whimper once more.  He was enjoying hearing the sounds he was eliciting in her.  His tongue slid back inside, seeking out her clit.  He paused when he heard her gasp.

Feeling that she wouldn't fight him now, he draped her legs over his shoulders, moving closer to her.  He traced her clit slowly with his tongue, making her moan and arch her back.  He moved his mouth down, thrusting his tongue into her.  A sharp gasp escaped her, sending a tingle down his spine.

Lauren grabbed the pillow beneath her head, holding it tight enough her knuckles were white.  With her legs, she pulled him closer.  Ares captured her clit in his lips, making her moan loudly as he sucked it and laved it with his tongue.  She wriggled against him, unable to stay still.  Her wiggling caused his tongue to lash her clit everywhere.  She was left gasping for air as he abruptly pulled away.

"Sweet as you are." Ares purred.  He moved up her body, leaning in to kiss her.

Lauren tasted herself on his lips and tongue.  That combined with his own inviting taste, it nearly made her swoon.  She felt his hands pull hers away from the pillow, placing them on him as he sent his clothes away.  She reached up, caressing his face and hair. Her hands moved down his neck and back, feeling the muscles ripple beneath them.  She then felt something hard touching her entrance.  His lips moved to her ear.

"Let me show you more." he whispered.

"No, you...hurt...mind..." she struggled.

Ares knew the risks.  He could very well kill her with this one act.  Or render her insane for the rest of her life.  He hoped he could prevent any damage from being done to her mind by using what power he could to reinforce his mind against hers then slowly let her feel his mind to adjust to it.

"You will be all right," he said, hoping he was right.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, feeling her hands on his chest.  He closed his eyes, knowing she was going to allow him this.  He used his powers once more to slicken his cock with the same oil he had used earlier, wanting to lessen the pain she would feel at his entrance.  Taking his cock in his hand, he guided it to her entrance and slipped into her.  He groaned at the tightness that greeted him.

A hiss of pain escaped him when her nails dug painfully into his shoulders as he slipped further into her.  He was almost too big for her, stretching her wide to accommodate him.  He reached out with his mind, using his powers to protect her from any rips his size threatened to cause her.

"Gods, no more!" she cried, trying to push him away.

"I can't stop," Ares said. "Not now."

Lauren gripped him tighter as he moved in deeper.  His blood ran down her fingers now from the wounds that she had given him.  She couldn't take this anymore. She knew he would kill her if he continued.  He paused suddenly, surprising her.  She looked up at him, unsure of his intentions.

"Brace yourself, my dear," he said. "This will hurt, but I will make sure it's over swiftly."

Closing her eyes, she tried to relax, knowing tension would make the pain worse.  She cried out as he thrust forward, breaking through the barrier of her innocence.  Ares went completely still on top of her, caressing her body, wherever he could reach to soothe her.  She felt a tear roll down her cheek, before he wiped it away.

"It's all over now, sweets," he said soothingly. "Nothing but pleasure now."

Ares could feel her mind struggling to keep him out. They weren't as strong as he thought they were before.  There was no way he could guarantee her safety, but even with his great strength, there was no way he could stop this now.  He kissed the top of her head, sending a silent message to Hades to leave this one alone, telling him that he would not allow her to die no matter what argument was offered.

Moving slowly, Ares caressed her torn flesh from the inside.  He flinched when he felt a crack form in the shields of her mind.  He heard her gasp at the same instant her shields started breaking down.

Lauren grabbed him tightly as he moved in and out of her.  He was so big; he caressed every part of her inside.  The pain of his strength breaking her mental guards and the pleasure of his thrusting cock were both trying to drive her completely mad.  She gasped as another crack sliced through her mind.  She could feel more from Ares than she ever thought she would; despite whatever cautions he had made.  She could feel what he was and could actually feel how it felt for him sliding in and out of her.

Ares groaned as she tightened around him.  He felt her mental shields wobble then finally collapse under the pleasure the sensations he was causing her.  He tried to block her out, but couldn't anymore.  His eyes closed when he felt her mouth on his chest, her tongue snaking out to taste him.

"Yessss...." he hissed.

Lauren winced as his mind lanced through her.  She tried to ignore it as she felt the double pleasure of her own and what he was feeling.  She lowered her mouth to capture one of his nipples, wanting to tease him as he had her.  She gasped when he altered the pace and path of his thrusts, rubbing against an even more sensitive spot inside her.

Her mind was drawn deeper into his, letting her feel exactly what he was.  She could feel his godhood as if it were a part of her.  It was something like what she had felt earlier, only magnified by about a thousand times or more.  She bit the nipple in her mouth, making Ares groan above her.  Her head fell back as the sensations tried to drown her.

Ares moved faster within her, savoring the feelings he was getting from her.  Like her, he could feel what she was feeling as well as his own pleasure.  He reached down and lifted her legs up to his sides, pushing into her deeper and deeper.  If she was to die because of this, he wanted the last thing that she ever felt was absolute pleasure.

Lauren leaned her head back, moaning constantly under the erupting pleasure inside her.  She could now see something forming in the back of her mind.  It was fuzzy at first, but it was quickly becoming quite clear.  She was starting to see war in all its shapes and forms.  Violences unimaginable mixing with every form of pleasure that existed or ever would.  They swirled around her becoming one, then separating over and over in an erotic dance circling back in on itself becoming a whirlwind of pure power and pleasure.  It was overwhelmingly repulsive and breathtakingly beautiful her mind couldn't comprehend what she was seeing anymore.

Ares was startled when she let out an inhuman scream at what she was seeing.  The sound was enough to push him over the edge and he groaned as his seed spilled into her.  He grunted at each spurt filling her, collapsing against her to rest.  His eyes opened suddenly when he couldn't feel anything from her.

Pulling back, he gazed down at her, fearing the worst.  He looked around the room for Thanatos or Celesta. He would fight either of them himself if they dared to take her away from him.  His attention snapped back to her when he felt a brief spark of life in her.  She was just barely clinging to life.  She had seen his true form and it had nearly taken her life away.  He moved back from her, not wanting to cause her further harm by touching her or trying to heal her.  Even a healing touch could steal the last ember of her life away.

Something dawned on him abruptly that he hadn't felt till just now.  He could feel her bloodline now and why she had lived.  He dressed himself with a thought, then covered her unconscious form with the sheets, wanting to keep her warm.  There was something he had to do and he had to leave her in order to do it.  He knew that she would be safe here.  What he didn't know was how she would be once she came to, if she ever did.

Backing away from the bed, Ares watched her, hoping she would surprise him and wake up before he left.  He feared he had pushed her beyond the point of where she could ever recover.  He waited till the last moment as he vanished before taking his presence from the room. It was now up to Lauren to decide if she would come back or not.

Part 40

Sirus extinguished his torch, setting it aside. This cave had had supplies for making several of them; it just lacked ways to go. He had gone searching through the caves, looking for a way to get to Corinth, without getting soaked. He had discovered numerous branches in the cave leading off in various directions. Some had had cave-ins; others had ended abruptly, while still others had gone a ridiculously long way before stopping abruptly as well.  It was enough to make him question if Hephaestus had really helped him or was working with Ares to keep him busy while the God of War did who knows what to Lauren.

With an angered roar, he grabbed a good-sized rock and hurled it at the wall.  The rock shattered with a satisfying crunch against the solid surface, leaving a large crack behind.  This fruitless search had just about tested his patience to the breaking point.

Sirus went to the mouth of the cave, looking out to see how the rain was.  He moved back when the cold wind and rain slapped him in the face.  He could tell the rain hadn't let up since he had arrived.  At this rate, he was never going to get to Corinth without freezing halfway there.

"Can I interest you in an umbrella?" a voice called from behind.

Turning, Sirus faced a man with longish, curly blond hair and blue eyes.  He frowned in annoyance and turned back to watch the rain.  He knew right away who was behind him.  His studies of the Norse and Greek gods had informed him about many of them and how they appeared.  This one was definitely one he didn't want bothering him.

"How rude." Apollo commented.

"Shouldn't you be off chasing young girls?" Sirus muttered.

Apollo just snickered at him.  He moved up behind the Viking, tracing a finger down the exposed, muscular arm.  He licked his lips when he felt how soft Sirus' skin was, imagining how it tasted and would feel against him.  He chuckled when Sirus angrily jerked his arm away and moved out of his reach.

"Nice cave you have here." he smiled, looking around.

"Is there a reason why you're pestering me?" Sirus grumbled.

"Someone needs to."

Sirus debated whether to go through with facing the rain or not.  If it meant this annoyance would leave him alone, the outlook was looking more and more appealing.  He bristled when Apollo moved to stand behind him.  He didn't like this god's outright attraction to him.  He growled when he heard the sun god's rich chuckle at his rejection.

"If you're planning on going to see her," Apollo said. "You'll have to wait in line.  She already has two suitors and you'd just be in the way."

The sun god stumbled back when Sirus suddenly turned and punched him hard across the face.  He restrained the impulse to return the favor.  Striking a Viking was the last thing one should do, no matter how they felt about them.  Especially when that Viking was mad at them.

"Quite a punch you got there, Sirus." Apollo said, rubbing his jaw.

"Don't you dare speak of Lauren like that." Sirus hissed.

"Is it my fault that she's attracted to my brother?"

Wanting to cheer himself up, Apollo decided to torment Sirus.  This Viking could help him get Lauren away from Ares and keep the war god so busy that he could swing in and get Lauren back.  He played on the two strongest things within Sirus, hoping to get him somewhat on his side.  Sirus' anger with Ares and his protectiveness of Lauren were two advantages Apollo had over the Viking and he was going to exploit them for all they were worth.

"Did you know he kidnapped the poor dear and forced her to go to Corinth so he'd have a place he could make sure she didn't runaway from so he could seduce her more easily," Apollo said. "It seems to have worked.  She desires Ares as if Cupid made her fall for him."

Sirus' eyes narrowed.  He didn't want to believe Apollo, but that sounded like something a god like Ares would do.  He turned away from the sun god, facing the rain once more.  He was trying to convince himself that Apollo was handing him a bunch of lies. It was just difficult to deny the ring of truth his words carried.

"You don't believe me," Apollo asked. "Would you care to see what they've been doing?"

"No," Sirus said, facing the sun god once more. "I don't trust you to show me the truth."

Apollo glared at Sirus.  This Viking was proving to be more of a challenge than he first thought he would have been.  He would have to change tactics if he were going to get what he wanted from him.

"So, you're planning on just running into Iphicles' castle, getting by all his guards, get the girl, then run back out in one piece?" he asked.

"That's pretty much it, yes." Sirus said.

Apollo burst out laughing.  He held his stomach as he doubled over laughing.  He grinned deeply at straightened up, recovering from his laughter.

"How amusing," he said, amusement still in his tone. "Are all of you Vikings so confident that you can face impossible odds and live?"

"You'd be surprised what you can find out about us." Sirus countered.

"If Iphicles' guards don't kill you, my brother definitely will.  Neither Ares nor Iphicles like giving up their conquests so easily.  They only share with each other and kill those who challenge anyone else who tries to take their playthings away.  You'll probably get your chance with that lovely little thing when they tire of her.  Of course, by then, she won't be worth much to anyone, except maybe...."

Something snapped inside Sirus and he yelled in rage as he dove at Apollo, cutting him off in mid-sentence.  He took the sun god by surprise and grabbed him by the throat, slamming him into the wall.  He glared at Apollo, rage burning in his eyes.

Apollo realized he had pushed this Viking a little bit too far and that he had just endangered himself as well as his brother and Iphicles.  He hit Sirus with a blast of power, throwing him away.  He rubbed his throat as the Viking landed hard on the ground.  This one seemed to be getting stronger as his anger rose. It was quite intriguing and annoying at the same time.

"I must have struck beserker." Apollo muttered to himself.

Sirus charged at Apollo again, wanting to tear him apart with his bare hands.  He let out a yell of rage when the god vanished from view.  He heard Apollo reappear behind him and whirled to face him, drawing his sword.  He swung at Apollo, making him leap back out of reach.

"Uh-uh," Apollo said, waving a scolding finger at Sirus. "I'm not the one you should be mad at, it's Ares and Iphicles you should be saving this rage for. Go after them, not me."

"I think I should kill you as well," Sirus hissed in a voice very much unlike his own. "To keep you away from Lauren."

Apollo leapt back again when Sirus tried to stab him. He decided he had gotten Sirus right where he needed him for his plan to work.  He vanished in a blaze of fire, making his attacker back off some.  He knew the sword Hephaestus had given Sirus wouldn't kill him, but it could do a lot of damage to him.  The wounds would heal, of course, but the pain they caused would linger long past the time they healed.

Sirus looked around, expecting Apollo to reappear again to taunt him further.  When the god didn't reappear, he growled in anger.  He hated how his target could vanish and deny him the satisfaction of killing it.  He turned his attention to the first cause of his rage.  He sheathed his sword and raced out of the cave, ignoring the freezing rain pelting him and the icy winds clawing at him.  Nothing mattered now, other than getting to Corinth and satisfying his burning rage.

******

Strife was back in his perch in the trees, having forgotten all about Ares' warning and the fear that the storm had caused him.  The erupting storm had fascinated him with the incredible lightning and coaxed him back into the trees.  He watched the storm and the land, watching to see if any mortal was foolish enough to come out in this storm.

"What the...?" he asked, seeing a dark shape furiously racing through the storm.

Raising up on his toes, he tried to see what this was.  He caught a brief glimpse of blond before lightning momentarily blinded him with its brightness.  He rubbed his eyes to clear them, stepping back away from the cause and stepped right off the branch he was on. He yelled in panic, grabbing at anything in reach to keep from hitting the ground.  His hands seized a good-sized branch and he wrapped his arms and legs around it, hugging it tightly.

"You're a good branch." he told it.

Strife down to see how far to the ground he was.  He saw that he could easily drop down without hurting himself and swung his legs down from his "savior branch" and dropped to the ground.  He then remembered what he had seen and vanished in a flash of light.

When Strife reappeared he let out a panicked yell as the figure he had seen crashed into him.  Both fell to the ground, sliding and rolling across the slick grass.  The two looked at each other once they came to a stop.  Strife was surprised to see a very enraged Viking glaring at him.

"Another one, huh?" Sirus asked in an almost inhuman voice.

"Oops." Strife said, getting to his feet and backing away as Sirus stood and came toward him.

"I'll spare you your life and any pain this blade will cause you if you do something very important for me."

Sirus grabbed the godling before he could vanish, bringing the blade of his sword to Strife's pale throat.  He wasn't about to let this one leave without paying for his "attack".  He watched, almost fascinated, as Strife's pale skin grew even paler with his fear.

"Wh-what do you w-want?" Strife stuttered.

"I want you to take me to Corinth now." Sirus hissed.

His tone was enough to tell Strife that the threat issued by this one was a very real one.  The godling gulped, trying to will away his fear and failing.  His fear had made him forget that he could easily free himself from Sirus' grasp.

"I don't think I should do that," he said. "Uncle Ares would...."

"Would it be worse than what I could do with you?" Sirus countered, anger rising in his tone.

Strife had to think about that.  He could be facing death on both sides.  At least with Sirus his death might be quick and not as painful as Ares would make it.  Then again, both could make him just wish he was dead by whatever torture either could come up with. It was a hard choice either way he looked at it.  He looked into the Viking's angry eyes and swallowed hard.

"I don't think I can," he said in a low voice.

"Why not?" Sirus asked.

"Unc might have that entire kingdom blocked off from you.  He's got a lot of pull there."

"Take me as close as you can then.  I don't care if your 'Unc' senses my presence there or not.  I'll be getting his attention sooner or later."

"I'll try."

"Good."

Strife tried to push his fear of Sirus, Ares, and whatever punishment he would be facing away and concentrated on what he had been asked to do.  He vanished with Sirus and reappeared with him just short of the gates of the kingdom.  They were just out of earshot of the guards at the gate, keeping them from being heard.  The rain and trees helped keep them out of sight.

Though he had sensed that Ares hadn't blocked off the kingdom from Sirus, Strife didn't want to let on.  He hoped his captor wouldn't ask him anything about it. The way he was feeling right now about this dangerous mortal, he would probably spill his guts about everything he ever knew.

"Can I go now?" he asked.

"Not yet." Sirus said, not releasing the godling.

"Why not?"

"I need something that will help me get past the gates."

"A catapult?"

Sirus glared at Strife, growling a warning at him. The godling cringed and closed his eyes, dreading the first slice the sword would give him.  What would he lose first and would the Hephaestian metal allow him to grow it back?  When the attack didn't come, he dared a look at the Viking, not moving anything but his eyes.

"How about a nice traveler's cloak," he suggested. "It would disguise you and your gear."

"That will suffice." Sirus said, putting his sword away, while keeping a tight grip on his captive.

The cloak appeared in Strife's hands.  He hoped Sirus would let him go after this.  He wanted to go hide from Ares, knowing the God of War would not be happy when he learned of this.  He held the cloak out to the Viking in a shaky hand.  He jumped in alarm when Sirus roughly snatched it from his grasp.

"Now, be gone," Sirus hissed, throwing Strife away from him. "And don't show up like you did again.  Or I'll test out this sword on you and see what damage I can do to a god."

"Gotcha."

Strife vanished, relieved to be away from Sirus. Never had he feared a mortal like he did that Viking. He had heard about Vikings going berserk in the heat of battle, but had never before seen one in the throes of it and would be ecstatic if he never encountered another one like him again.  One deadly, blood-crazed Viking was enough for one eon.

Sirus snuck forward hiding behind tree after tree to stay out of sight.  He kept glancing at the castle just ahead to see what he would be facing at the gates to Corinth.  He didn't care that Strife hadn't taken him directly to the castle.  Nor did he care if Ares had sealed the kingdom off to him or not.  He didn't believe for a second that Ares had done that.  The God of War enjoyed a challenge, from what Sirus knew of him.  And he was about to present a very big challenge to the war god.

Seeing that there were only three guards at the gate, Sirus decided on a plan.  The run, rain, and encounter with Strife had helped him burn off a great deal of his uncontrolled rage, allowing him to think clearly. He thought of a plan for getting past the gates and guards.  There were two options available to him - one that would turn the entire Corinthian army against him and one that would get him to the castle without angering the whole army.

The only problem was that he didn't like what he would have to do in order to use the less dangerous of the two, but he didn't have much of a choice.  He had to get into the castle before Ares found him and kept him away from his goal.  Grumbling to himself, he threw on the now-drenched cloak, tying it at the neck and covering his head with the hood.

*************

The guards standing at the gate tried to stay out of the falling rain, wondering why the gods had decided now was the perfect time for a freezing rainstorm. They all had decided it was a better trade off than facing Athena's army.  At least they had better odds of surviving the storm in tact than facing a lethal army.  Still, it didn't stop them complaining about the aggravating rainstorm and how cold it was.

A waterlogged traveler came into view, approaching the gates.  It quickly drew the guards' attention and raised their suspicion.  Two of the guards held their pikes tight, ready for anything.  The head guard went out to meet the newcomer.

All of the guards inside and outside of the castle were ready for any trick Athena might try to pull on them.  They were constantly waiting for the goddess to try anything, knowing it could happen at anytime.  It was best to hope for the best, but expect the worst when it came to a war that may or may not be coming. It helped keep them on their toes.

"No one is permitted into the city today, traveler." the guard said.

"I must speak with your king." Sirus said, trying to keep his tone calm, despite the rage still burning inside him.

"King Iphicles is receiving no visitors today.  Now, be on your way."

"This is very important.  I must see him."

"No exceptions.  Leave or you will be arrested."

"Then arrest me."

"Be gone, you crazy drunk."

The guard waved him away, disgusted with having to deal with someone like this.  Sirus snarled in anger and punched the man square in the chest.  The man was thrown to the ground hard on his back in the mud.  He coughed out an order to arrest his attacker.  The other guards quickly attacked and subdued Sirus, who had to mentally fight himself to keep from killing these guards.

This was the hardest thing Sirus had ever had to do in his life.  He had to resist every instinct racing through his mind and body in order to allow the soldiers to arrest him.  He wanted to attack them and knew he could easily kill all three of them if he wanted to.  The only thing that kept him from following through with that desire was the fact that he was so close to his goal now.  He would soon be able to see Lauren again and make sure she was all right.

Sirus' wrists were bound behind him and he was disarmed.  That earned the guards a very vicious snarl that chilled their blood more than the storm.  He was led inside once the guards were certain he couldn't get free of his bonds.  Another pair of soldiers took charge of him and led him toward the castle after learning what he had done.  The Viking said nothing as he was taken to the castle.  He used every ounce of strength he had to keep his anger in check.  The storm above seemed to echo his anger as thunder boomed angrily above them.

Once inside the castle, Sirus' whole demeanor changed.  He easily snapped his bonds and fought his captors like a lion.  He knocked out the guards, rather than end the lives of any of them.  He kicked off his boots, not wanting to lose his balance on the marble floor.  They were too wet to be reliable for much of anything.  He tore the cloak off, throwing it away. He snatched quickly up the weapons of one of the unconscious soldiers and put them away as he heard men coming his way.  He picked a direction and went rushing down the corridor, not caring about anything except finding Lauren and making her captors pay for everything they had done to her.

Sirus slammed his arm into a soldier in passing, throwing him into a wall.  The second dodged his attack, while the first fell to the ground out cold. The soldier tackled Sirus to the ground, sending both of them sprawling.  He yelled loudly when Sirus grabbed his arm, twisting his arm till it snapped. Sirus roared in anger, throwing the soldier away.  He kicked the man in the face hard enough that he was killed instantly.

He grumbled something in Norse under his breath when he saw more guards coming, having heard the dead man's scream.  He turned and took off running once more, knowing he would be outnumbered now.  A crossbow bolt barely missed him as he raced out onto a landing.  He paused when he saw that he had run into a dead end.

"Surrender now," the soldier said, approaching him. "And we'll go easy on you."

"Tempting, but no." Sirus said.

"You have nowhere else to go.  Surrender."

"I never surrender."

Sirus jumped onto the railing, glancing over the open room below, seeing the adjacent railing a good distance away.  He took a deep breath and dove for it.  He managed to catch the bottom of the railing before he fell into the room below. He choked when his body slammed into the wall, knocking the wind out of him. He pulled himself up and fell onto the floor on the other side, catching his breath.  His attention returned to the adjacent landing, seeing a very shocked Corinthian soldier staring at him.  Getting up, he took off running again.

"I don't believe he just did that," the soldier said. Heading back the way he had just come, he gathered the other guards and raced to the other said of the landing and rushed after the intruder.

********

Iphicles was just coming out of his room after getting dressed, when he heard soldiers racing down the corridor.  His personal guards reacted to the sound by drawing their weapons and preparing to battle whoever came their way.  They relaxed; putting their weapons away, when they saw it was two of the king's soldiers.

"What is it?" Iphicles asked, once the soldiers had come to a halt.

"Intruder...." one gasped, out-of-breath.

"He's highly dangerous, sire." the other said, just as breathless.

"Catch your breath, then tell me about this intruder." Iphicles said.

The two soldiers caught their breath, then went onto explain about Sirus and his attacks and the incredible leap he had performed before them.  This news drew Iphicles' concern quickly, as well as his personal guards.  The landing they spoke of was far too wide for anyone to have jumped it as easily as Sirus had. It made them believe that Athena had sent an assassin that a half-god.  Or, at least, had the power and abilities of one.  This didn't bode well for the king.  Or anyone in the castle, for that matter.

Iphicles knew how good a fighter Hercules was and what all his godly strength helped him do.  He didn't like the thought of someone with those abilities coming after him.  He wasn't sure any of his men could stop this assassin before he was already dead.

"Stop him if you can," Iphicles said. "Even if it means killing him.  But only as a last resort."

"Yes, sire." the soldiers said.

"And be careful.  I don't want to lose anymore men to Athena's schemes."

The soldiers nodded to him.  They turned and rushed off to deliver the king's orders to the other men. Iphicles moved off away from his bedchamber, deciding to go about his duties, despite the intruder.  His guards followed him closely, keeping a close eye on the area around.  He stopped abruptly when he felt as if someone were watching him other than his guards. Turning his head, he caught the briefest glimpse of a face, before a body leapt at him.

Sirus had found his way to where he believed the king was.  He had hidden when he heard Ares' voice.  He peeked around the corner, seeing a figure that looked almost exactly like Ares speaking to some soldiers. He grew curious when he saw that  "Ares" wore the clothes of a king.  This must have been Iphicles, not Ares.  He hid once more when two soldiers left, leaving the other two with the king.  When Iphicles paused before his hiding place, he could tell this man had a warrior's senses.  Before any of the three could react, he dove at Iphicles, throwing him to the ground beneath him.

The Viking held his dagger to Iphicles throat, while the guards trained their weapons on him.  They knew he could kill the king before either could kill him and Iphicles couldn't move himself without killing himself on the dagger at his throat.  They were at a stalemate.

"Where is Lauren?" Sirus hissed.

"She's not here." Iphicles said.

"Liar."

"I'm not lying.  Ares took her.  I don't know where."

"You're lying.  You will take me to where she is right now."

"You aren't really in any position to make demands or threats...."

"Neither are you, king."

"So it would seem."

Sirus growled in anger.  He knew he couldn't move without getting himself killed.  He didn't want to have to kill Iphicles unless he was forced to.  But he couldn't remove the dagger from the king's throat without facing the possibility that the king's men would kill him.  Threatening the king's life seemed to be the only thing keeping him alive at the moment.

Part 41

Hades looked at the soul resting in his bed.  Since the time this one had arrived, it had remained unconscious.  He had caught this drifting soul before it had been lost forever to any realm.  This soul was of a young female and drew his curiosity completely. He was certain this one shouldn't have been here, especially since none of his messengers had brought her here.  His attention was also drawn to her in another way.  She was quite an attractive young thing and challenged his ability to resist joining her in his bed.  He was quite certain that this was the one who had Ares so enthralled.

What drew his curiosity was the fact that she hadn't died, but still her soul was detached from her body. As he had carried her to his room, he had felt the golden thread that bound her soul and body together re-form itself.  It let him know that she had died, but something much stronger had drawn her back abruptly.  He wasn't sure if it was the woman's own decision or something on his part--something that he didn't know about.  That bothered him.  He didn't like being in the dark about matters like this.

Remaining with her, Hades kept anyone from coming near her.  He didn't want her to accidentally cause herself to remain with him if she didn't have to.  Although her staying with him did appeal to him on one level. He growled in anger, turning partly away from her, leaning against the doorframe.  If he was going to figure this out, he had to be able to think straight and looking at her wasn't helping him any.  What really distracted him was the fact that she had arrived naked and he had seen a great deal of her very lovely nude form before he clothes her in a sleeping gown.

Hades had a pretty good idea of how she had come into his grasp.  He figured she must have been with Ares and accidentally seen his nephew's true form.  It didn't make sense though.  Semele had had that happen and she had been brought to the Underworld by one of his messengers.  He decided that this one must have had immortal blood in her veins in order to withstand seeing a god's true form.  He resisted the urge to reach into her mind to see if that was true, knowing that would only harm her further than she already was.  Being unconscious and out of full contact with her body, she would be unprepared for a god's touch on her mind.

One of the only things he had sensed from her when he brought her to his chambers was that she was an empath.  He was glad he had.  It allowed him to throw up a protection spell around her mind to suppress as much of her empathic powers that he could.  He knew she couldn't yet withstand what she would sense from all those souls around her.  He was use to the sensations around him from all the realms of the Underworld.  She, on the other hand, wasn't and it would have driven her mad at the first touch.

A groan escaped her, drawing his attention back to her.  Hades moved away from the doorway, slipping into the shadows as she started coming around.  He knew of the stories told about him in the living world and didn't want to startle her.  He knew her empathic powers would still pick him up, despite the limited power she had right now.  He wasn't sure how she would react to him, but knew he was the last god she would wish to see right now.  Seeing the god who ruled the realm of the dead was an inspiring sight to a living person.  Especially when they probably believed they had just died.

"Where am I?" Lauren moaned, struggling up into a sitting position.

"You're safe." Hades said gently.

"Who are you?"

"A friend."

Lauren looked around, trying to focus on the presence she felt in the room with her.  There was a fog surrounding her empathic powers, limiting what she could pick up from the world around her.  She saw the shape of a human form in a shadowy area and was instantly curious about who this was.

"If you're a friend, why are you hiding?" she asked.

"I don't wish to frighten you." Hades replied.

"Right now, I'm not sure anything could frighten me."

Hades could understand that.  She had just barely survived seeing Ares' true form.  Experiencing a god's true form combined with sensing his godhood could truly terrify person.  Lauren would be lucky if she survived the ordeal completely in tact.

"Let me see you." she said.

"Very well." he said.

Knowing she would come to him if he didn't, he stepped out into view.  Lauren drew back a little when she saw him.  He could tell that while she didn't know who he was, she could sense more about him than he would want her to.  He paused and remained where he was, wanting to avoid frightening her further.

"Who are you?" she asked.

Lauren could feel a great darkness surrounding him. It made her uneasy.  She had a good idea who this was and feared his answer.  If he was who she believed he was, she wasn't sure if she could handle it.

"My name is Hades," he admitted finally.

Lauren couldn't stop the gasp that escaped her.  She had heard so many stories about this god; she wasn't sure what to believe about him.  All she knew was that she feared him.

"Don't," he said, sensing her fear. "I don't wish to harm you."

"Am I dead?" she asked.

"No."

"Where am I?"

"My chambers."

"You mean in the Underworld?"

"Yes."

"If I'm not dead, why am I here?"

"You were dead for a fraction of a minute.  It allowed your soul to pass into the Underworld, but not by Celesta or Thanatos.  That is why you can return to the aboveworld if you wish."

Hades knew what he had told her could push her further into her fear, but he also knew she needed to know the truth.  He watched her closely, hoping she wouldn't try to run from him.  She would endanger herself greatly if she left his presence.  With her separated from her body as she was, everyone but him would sense her as just a shade and therefore subject to this realm's rules.

"You aren't the Hades I always heard about," she said. "You're too kind...and handsome."

Hades surprised her by smiling. "Mortals tend to twist my legends quite often," he said. "Those pirates just wanted to scare you by telling you those stories about me."

"They succeeded.  I had a dream once where you were chasing me throwing pitchforks at me."

Hades surprised her further by chuckling.  He was quite amused by her dream.

"I don't usually throw things at people I like." he said with a smile.

"That's good to know," she said.

Lauren gestured for Hades to come closer, feeling much more comfortable around him.  While she felt such despair from him, she could feel a gentle soul in him.  It was his dark eyes that intrigued her so.  She could see such sadness in them.  Centuries of ruling this realm had left its mark on him there.

Hades seated himself on the bedside.  He was relieved that her fear of him had diminished.  He could now sense great curiosity from her.  It wasn't often that he was met with such curiosity from anyone.  Usually those who came to his kingdom wanted to avoid him. And he was often happy to grant their request.  This time, he was uncertain how to respond.

"Your Messengers of Death are the only ones who can kill with a touch, right?" she asked.

"Correct." he said.

Lauren inched closer to him.  She tentatively reached out and touched his cheek.  She had always heard he was as cold as his kingdom.  Her fingertips were met by warm flesh.  She cupped the side of his face, watching his eyes close.  She gasped softly when she picked sensed his power.

Hades grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away from him before she sensed too much.  If she picked up too much from him, the despair he was use to could deeply affect her.  He knew she faced the possible danger of insanity from exposure to Ares' godhood and didn't want to add the despair of the Underworld to it.

"Sorry." she said.

"It's all right," Hades said. "I suppressed your empathic powers as far as possible, but you can still sense too much from me by touch.  I don't wish to expose you to what I have lived through."

"Does ruling this kingdom get to you?"

"Not as much as it did once."

Reluctantly, Hades released her hand.  He liked her touch, but didn't want to endanger her anymore than Ares did.  He was finding it difficult to think straight being this close to her now.  When she had touched him, he had wanted to feel it all over.

"Are you in there?" she asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

"Oh, I apologize," he said. "I was distracted."

"Well, I see that you aren't immune to me either."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be.  I'll take it as a compliment that I can attract the God of the Underworld and make him smile."

Hades gave her a gentle smile.  He patted her hand, then got to his feet.  He decided to put a bit of distance between them.  His desire for her was quite distracting.  He needed to get her back to her own body before something damaged the delicate line between her soul and body, dooming her to die before her time.

"You need to go back," he said.

"You can do that?" she asked.

"I am the God of the Underworld.  I can send souls to the living world and back to their bodies if they have been prematurely sent here."

"That's good."

Hades gave her a sour look.

"I enjoy your company," she said. "I just think I have a few more things to do in life before I stay here."

The Underworld ruler smiled and nodded to her.  He offered his hand to her, drawing her off the bed and too her feet.  He held his hand before her, about to send her back.

"Wait." she said, stopping him.

"What is it?" he asked, lowering his hand.

Lauren stepped closer, raising up on her toes.  She gave him a kiss on the lips in gratitude for all he had done for her.  Hades surprised her by encircling her waist with his arm and returned the kiss with such passion, it surprised her.  She felt a rush of energy run through her as he sent her away from the Underworld.  She felt the pull of her body, drawing her to it, just as Hades released his mental hold on her.

********

Strife appeared in Ares' temple, glad to be out of the wind and rain.  He dried himself off as he looked around.  He wondered where Ares was, having been unable to sense his presence in Corinth.  He wasn't sure himself why he wanted to find Ares.  His uncle would probably want to kill him after learning what he had done.

"Why are you here?" Ares growled as he appeared.

"I...I wanted to get away from the storm." Strife said, facing the war god.

Ares simply gave him a curt nod and stalked past him on his way to his throne.  He sat down heavily, reaching up to stroke his beard.

"What else have you learned about Athena's plans?" he asked.

"Uh, well..." Strife started.

Why did Ares have to ask him that?  He hadn't been paying attention.  He jumped back when Ares stood and walked over to him, anger burning in his eyes.  He choked when Ares grabbed him by the throat and slammed him down against the altar behind him.

"You've neglected your duty to me?" he hissed.

"Athena's probably still figuring how to get through this storm," Strife said, hoping Ares would relax. "I'm sorry, Uncle.  This storm has kept me distracted.  I've never seen anything like it...."

"Strife, you're babbling.  Tell me what happened."

Ares took his hand from Strife's throat, watching his nephew let himself slide to the floor.  Stepping back, he stared down the godling.

"Sirus is in Corinth," Strife said, cringing under his uncle's fierce gaze. "He made me take him there.  I'm sorry, Uncle.  Please don't kill me."

"Don't worry about it, Strife.  I'm not going to kill you." Ares said, almost gently.

Strife stared at Ares in confusion.  Getting to his feet, he looked at the god questionably.

"All right, who are you and what have you done with my uncle?" he asked suspiciously.

Ares just smiled at him.  He slapped Strife across the chest with his forearm, tossing the godling over the altar to the other side.  He heard a groan as Strife hit the floor hard.

"Hello, Uncle." Strife groaned.

"Strife, it doesn't matter that Sirus is in Corinth," Ares said, looking at his nephew as he stood back up. "What he wants isn't there anymore."

"It isn't?"

"No, I took her to another place where she's a whole lot safer.  I can't trust Apollo to stay away from her."

"How is she?"

Ares looked at Strife curiously.  He wasn't expecting Strife to ask such a question.

"She's fine," he said.

"Unc, Sirus is almost suicidal in how angry he is. You sure you want him in Corinth with how he probably feels about you?  Heph gave him weapons that can do serious damage to any god that he sees as a threat."

"And he might attack Iphicles thinking he was me. Strife, I will deal with you later about this.  If he harms the king...."

"I understand.  You want me to go check on the king?"

"No, I want you to go find Apollo and bring him to me."

"Apollo; why?"

"I feel like having a brotherly chat with him."

"Ah, I see.  I'll go find him for ya."

"Good."

Strife vanished, leaving the God of War alone.  Ares laid his hands against his altar, letting his head drop forward.  He had told Strife that Lauren was fine, but he wasn't sure that she was.  When he had left her, it felt like she was barely clinging to life.  He had a fear that Atropos had already cut her lifeline and that she was already somewhere in the Underworld by now.

Ares knew he needed to stay away from Lauren right now if she was still alive.  His very presence could have been dangerous for her now.  She was so weak when he had left, he wasn't sure she could survive.  He wanted to go back to her and help her, but he wasn't sure how at the moment.  Knowing what she was now, he had a good feeling that she would survive, but he couldn't deny the bad feelings he was getting.

***********

A bright flash of light drew Ares' attention.  He looked up to see Strife holding Apollo's arm.  He nearly smiled when his nephew shoved the sun god forward.

"Strife, go to Corinth and keep an eye on things." Ares said in a deceptively calm voice.

"Right away." Strife said.  He vanished quickly; knowing Ares was a very dangerous god to be near now.

"Hey bro, how are ya?" Apollo asked, smiling brightly.

Ares dove over his altar and charged at Apollo.  He grabbed the sun god by his vest and slammed him into a pillar.  He let out a roar and yanked Apollo away from it, then threw him away.  He heard the god hit the far wall and turned to face him.

"I see you're just as happy as always." Apollo coughed, getting up.

"You lied to me." Ares hissed, stalking toward his brother.

"How so?"

Apollo tried to leave, knowing Ares was lethally mad now.  He watched an evil smile cross his brother's lips when he couldn't.  Something kept him from leaving the temple.  He glared at his brother, wondering how he had trapped him here.

"Leaving so soon?" Ares asked.

"Never crossed my mind," Apollo said, moving away from Ares. "You're such a great conversationalist."

Ares threw a blast of power at Apollo, catching him square in the chest.  Apollo flew away from his brother, landing hard on the throne.  A band of metal locked around the sun god's waist and wrists, holding him in place.

"What'd I lie about?" Apollo asked.

"Lauren's mother." Ares growled, approaching the bound god.

"But...."

"She has Olympian blood!"

Apollo stared at Ares in shock.  He never knew this. Though he hadn't been able to sense much of anything from Lauren anyway.  He pressed back in Ares' throne when the point of the god's sword touched his throat.

"'Olympian blood'," he asked confused. "How is that possible?"

"Her mother was Olympian, you dolt." Ares hissed.

"But who...."

"I think you know."

Apollo stared at Ares, contemplating what he had been told.  There was only one explanation, but it didn't make sense.

"Impossible." he said.

"Really," Ares asked. "Think of how our sister, Athena, was born and then tell me how many impossible these things can be."

"I meant that even if it were, she would have died anyway.  Nothing can survive the fire of a phoenix dying.  It burns almost as hot as Olympian fire."

"Maybe so, but something came out of that fire other than a baby phoenix."

"Hey!"

Apollo tried to grab Ares when he started to leave. The restraints held him securely.

"Something else you wish to tell me?" Ares said, putting his sword away.

"Yeah," Apollo said. "Let me go?"

"I think I'll leave you like this.  That look is definitely you."

Apollo yelled in anger when Ares vanished.  He tried to teleport out of the metal restraints, but they wouldn't let him go.  He sighed, knowing Hephaestus had made them and that only he or Ares could release them.

*******

Ares reappeared in the Underworld, hoping he wouldn't find Lauren as a resident here.  Sensing Olympian blood in her veins, he was certain she had indeed avoided the one-way trip here that Semele had earned when she saw Zeus' true form.  He didn't think his uncle would allow him to take Lauren's soul back to the living world as Bacchus had done with Semele.  He made his way into Hades' castle and to the throne room.

Hades had just entered the room and sat down on his throne.  Ares was certain that Hades looked quite uncomfortable right now.  This drew his curiosity.  He drew closer, drawing his uncle's attention.

"What is it now, Ares?" Hades asked, sounding annoyed.

"I demand to see Kamala." Ares said.

"I cannot allow that.  She...."

"I know that, but this is very important, uncle.  She may hold a valuable piece of information that I can't get anywhere else."

"She has been through enough in her life.  All she wants is to have all gods leave her alone.  I assured her that I would be the only one who ever bothered her.  I don't want to disrupt her life here."

"Uncle, please.  If there were any other way to do this, I would.  She's the only one who can help me now."

Hades sighed, leaning back in his throne.  He had rarely heard such an impassioned plea from his nephew.  After meeting with Lauren himself, he could see why Ares felt so strongly about her.  He rubbed his eyes, knowing that either way he was going to cause great harm to one person on either side of this.

"Go ahead," he said finally in a low voice. "But make your visit brief.  I don't want to cause her more stress than she's already suffered in life."

"I give you my word," Ares said. "I will only stay long enough to learn what I need to, then I will leave her in peace."

Hades waved a hand and a portal opened near Ares.  He watched the war god enter the Elysian Fields, then fell back in his throne, deep in thought.  He couldn't help feeling the way Ares did.  He would have done the same thing in his nephew's place for Lauren.  It was hard to deny her anything because of her beauty and her charming personality.  He knew that if she had died from seeing Ares' true form, he would have had a hard time denying her request to be returned to her body.  He was having a difficult enough time trying to not go after her to get a taste of her passion.

********

Ares looked around the Elysian Fields, watching the inhabitants wandering around in blissful peace.  He reached out with his mind, trying to locate the soul of Kamala.  His search faltered when a hand slid down his arm.  He turned to see a young woman standing beside him, smiling happily.

"You're a handsome one." she purred.

"And you're a very smart one." he smiled, cupping the side of her face.

"Would you like to come visit with me?"

"As much as I'd enjoy that, little one, I must go see someone.  I have only a brief time to visit here."

"Maybe later then, handsome."

The young woman wandered away, glancing back to look at Ares every so often.  Ar