14. The Beast

Many years ago,

"Ares, no!" Aphrodite stood in front of Adonis, shielding him from her immortal lover. Snarling, Ares grabbed Aphrodite by her arm and pulled her against him.

"Why can't I be here? Why can't I meet your mortal lover?" He spat. Aphrodite felt like a weak twig in his grip. Knowing she'd never win the fight - she placed a placating hand on his chest.

"Leave him be, Ares. He is young and mortal. His life should not trouble the universes greatest warrior." Her sweet words mollified the war god, as she'd known they would.

He kissed her demandingly and she submitted to his dominance, yielding against his lips. But the storm wasn't yet over. Ares pulled back from their embrace, his golden eyes glowing.

"Do you love him?"

Her hesitation was the wrong answer.

Ares pushed her away from him, letting her fall to the ground at his feet.

"It's my nature to love," she retorted.

"And it's mine to kill."

Aphrodite flinched, startled by the threat. A silvery tear slipped down her ethereal face.

"I can not give him up, Ares."

Ares took a step back – appalled.

"What about us?"His voice was raw, the question burning him as he uttered it. Was she really choosing a frail mortal over him? Adonis was just a boy with no powers or importance. Why him?

"I won't give up you either, my love."

Ares bellowed in frustration. He was tired of Aphrodite's games.

"Tell your boy goodbye and return to me."

Aphrodite gazed up at him through her thick lashes, an unknown emotion flashing across her indigo eyes – too quick for Ares to read.

"Is that an order, your highness?"

Ares moved fast and seized her by her slender throat. Aphrodite whimpered, truly scared. She hadn't meant to waken the beast that resided in Ares' soul. She trembled - aware that no rescue coming. Ares was war. War could change a man - could strip him of his being and make him monstrous. Ares had a beast inside of him -  a beast that Aphrodite had never been able to tame.

Ares brought her face close to hers and lowered his magical shields – allowing her to see his true form. Let her see the beast, he decided. Let her understand fear.

"I will be forgiving," he purred coldly, "if you leave him now."

Present day,

"Ares? What is it? What does it mean?" Sage tugged on Ares' sleeve, trying to drag him from his thoughts. She frowned at the graffiti.

Remember Adonis.

Why was Ares reacting so strangely to two simple words?

Ares pulled Sage against him and hugged her close. Sage's eyes widened, her face smooshed against his hard torso, and Ares savoured the feel of her pounding heart – beating against his own.

"I won't let anyone hurt you."

"Who wants to hurt me?"

Ares didn't reply.

"Ares?" She pressed.

"It's getting late."

Sage cocked a brow, why avoid the question? She racked her brain – Adonis... wasn't he the most attractive human being or something. Sage couldn't quite remember the legend.

Ares kept hold of Sage's hand and led the way back down the stairs. They passed the elevator – moving on down the corridor instead of calling for it.

"I thought it was getting late?" Didn't he want to take her home?

"Stay here tonight." He led her to the penthouse.

"Ares, I'm not going to sleep with you."

"I know."

Sage bit her lip, worried. He hadn't even argued... For Ares to not seize an opportunity to persuade her into bed – something must be seriously bothering him.

Sophia looked up at the sound of the front door opening. She was on the phone, dressed in silky pyjamas with a glass of wine in hand.

"I have to go," she spoke quickly to her phone contact. "Text me any progress you make." She ended the call before smiling brightly at Ares.

"Who's this?" She asked, nodding towards Sage.

"Sage meet Sophia, Sophia – Sage. Sage will be staying with us."

Sophia's gaze narrowed suspiciously, but she didn't argue.

"Fine."

"Hi," Sage greeted awkwardly but Sophia had already turned her back.

"Sophia," Ares barked. Sophia immediately spun around. "Be polite to my woman."

Sage watched as Sophia's expression became blank. Sophia faced Sage. "I'm sorry," she intoned – her voice strangely vacant of any feeling. "Can I get you a drink?"

Sage shook her head, too stunned to immediately speak.

Ares patted Sophia's head as he passed her, as if she were a dog, leaving her to stand docilly in the hall. Sage followed Ares to the living room – her gut churning. Windows lined one wall, offering an unobstructed view of the city. Ares stood in front of the window and scowled out at the twilight sky.

"You'll be safe here. I've fortified the building, it's impenetrable."

"What did you do to her?" Sage hissed, she glanced behind her, but Sophia hadn't followed them. "Was that mind control?"

Ares was thrown by Sage's tone. He shrugged casually.

"She's my servant."

Sage stormed over to him and raised her hand to give him a stinging slap. But Ares caught her wrist, stopping her. "Careful, you'll hurt yourself." He hadn't forgotten her attempt to punch him. Though Sage clearly had. She was shaking she was so angry.

"How dare you! You fucking bastard!" Sage yelled.

"Sage?"

"You're controlling her mind! She's a person, she doesn't exist to be your slave."

Ares frowned, truly puzzled.

"She's my slave if I want her to be," he countered. "Why are you angry? I didn't create slavery. You humans did that. We only admired the idea."

Sage gawped at him, horrified.

"Slavery's wrong."

Ares shrugged.

"Right or wrong change over time."

"Free her!"

Ares guided Sage backwards, until her back was against the high window. He was still holding her wrist and he adjusted his grip so that he could pin her in place.

"Careful, my love." He murmured softly. "Mortals don't give orders to the gods." And he was already too worked up by Aphrodite's threat. His control over the beast was slipping.

"How many people's minds have you controlled – no, invaded ?! Have you done that to me?"

"No."

"Why should I believe you?"

"If I could control your mind, we'd be having this conversation naked."

Sage scowled. He leant in close and Sage moved her head, refusing his advance. Ares sighed.

"I can't control your mind. Or the minds of other mortals – not the way I can control Sophia"

"Why only her?"

"She comes from a long line of servants to the gods. And enjoys many rewards for those generations of service." He gestured around to the expensive living room they were standing in.

"She came to the cake ship with you – the first time we met. It looked like you two were on a date." Sage's eyes narrowed.  "Have you ever forced her to be with you?"

"I wouldn't have to force her."

Sage spat, hocking up as much phlegm as she could and shooting it directly at his face.

"You're disgusting!" She was breathing heavily, her heart pounding. Her spit glistened on Ares' cheek, sliding down past his mouth.

Ares froze, horrified. Internally he fought a battle – and lost. It was the battle for control.

The beast won.

Ares' face changed, a dark shadow sweeping over it. His breathing morphed into a snarl and he bared his teeth – his incisors elongating to feral fangs. His grip tightened on Sage's wrists and he held her hands above her head.

"Beg my forgiveness," he breathed – his voice low and dangerous.

"You... you promised you wouldn't hurt me." He was trying desperately not to - Sage had no idea idea how hard– but the beast was breaking free from its shackles. Beads of sweat rolled down Ares' neck. Don't  hurt her, he pleaded with his dark side.

Sage screamed as the window shattered around her. The cold night air nipped at them both and glass rained down the side of the building. Ares let Sage's feet dangle over the window ledge. It was a long way down to the road below. "ARES!" She wailed, terrified. His grip on her wrists was painfully tight and her arms shook. If he let her go now, she'd die.

"Beg for my forgiveness."

Ares' body was shaking. The wind howled through the open window, carrying with it the phantom sounds of war drums and gunfire. He snarled – fighting for control – his heart in agony. He didn't want to hurt her - but the call of violence, of rage and killing - was bending him to its will.

Plead with me, he tried to beg her with his eyes. If only she could understand him. The beast needed to be soothed. His eyes glowed like a furnace. Plead with me.

Before I hurt us both.