21. The God Killer

Sage stood on the bridge, the wind ruffling her hair. Cars rushed by but she ignored the traffic. She leant against the handrail – her attention focused on the old ship yard below. The place had been refurbished into a night club and was owned by Skelrun. It was too early for it to be lively yet, but Sage wasn't watching the place to check out partyers.

The doors opened and Sage's grip clenched around the rail – her excitement building. She held her breath. A guy stepped out of the door. It wasn't Ezekiel. Bitter disappointment crushed her. She wanted to see Ezekiel – just from afar – a glimpse would be enough.

"Sage?"

Sage turned and looked up, startled to see the object of her obsession standing only a couple of feet from her.

"Ezekiel," she breathed – her heart picking up as she soaked in the sight of him.

"The guys said you've been coming here a lot lately. I wanted to see if it was true and... and to see you. To check you were alright." Ezekiel exhaled, frustrated with himself. "I should have come sooner. I just..."

"I know, it's a lot to take in." It couldn't have been easy, learning about the gods by being abducted by one. "I'm sorry, that it happened like this."

Ezekiel studied her.

"You look awful. Is he hurting you?" She knew that he meant Ares. Sage made half a move toward Ezekiel, pulled in by the desire to touch him. Her fingers itched. The idea of touching Ezekiel, of running her fingers over his chest and kissing the tattoos on his face and neck, was dangerous to dwell on. Especially with him standing so close.

"Don't," she said – stopping him when he made to close the gap between them. "Don't come closer."

Ezekiel looked away, attempting to hide the hurt in his eyes.

"Why can't I be near you? Is it because of him – has he threatened you?"

Sage quickly shook her head. She bit her lip to keep herself from saying the truth. That she couldn't trust herself. Everything about Ezekiel drew her closer to him. She wanted to claim him. She wanted him to be her man.

She groaned, using all her self-control to take a step away. The hurt raged behind Ezekiel's dark eyes. "Do you love him?"

"Ezekiel, I..." She hesitated.

"He's not human, Sage. Is that what you like about him? Because he's powerful and immortal." Ezekiel's face scrunched in disgust. "If it's him that you want to be with – then you shouldn't come here anymore."

Tears pricked Sage's eyes. She cleared her throat, not wanting him to hear the weakness in her voice.

"You're right. I'll leave." Her heart clenched painfully. She wanted so badly to throw herself at him. She'd much rather beg him to let her stay. She'd beg at his feet far more happily then she would be walking away. But walking away was what she needed to do. "Goodbye."

She turned, walking briskly against the wind. Tears slid down her face and she quickened her pace. She couldn't let Ezekiel see her cry. If he tried to comfort her, she'd really lose all control. Sage gritted her teeth and focused instead on the way her name sounded when he'd called it. The sound of his voice was beautiful and she'd imprint on her heart every word he'd uttered.

Walking back into the apartment, Sage's gaze immediately locked with Sophia's. Sophia gave her a look of warning before turning away, feigning interest in her phone. Sage hadn't forgotten Sophia's advice.

"You only have once chance to kill Ares. If you fail and he realises what we were planning, we're finished. You need to wait for the right moment."

But waiting was hard. And Sage couldn't wait for long. She was losing her mind.

"Sage," Ares crooned, bringing her out from her thoughts. He quickened his stride over to her and Sage outstretched her arms so that they could hug. She tried to imagine that he was Ezekiel. She held him close and breathed in deeply. "You were gone a long while."

"Hmm," she pulled back but not before kissing Ares on the cheek. Make him believe that you love him.

"Where did you go?"

"I was just walking around." She lied. "I've been thinking about things."

Ares' brow furrowed in concern and he stroked her face tenderly.

"What's worrying you?"

Sage swallowed, she gazed up at Ares. Could she really do this? Her heart trembled at the idea.

Her shaking fingers clenched onto his clothing, trying to regain her resolve.

"Aphrodite." Sage's voice was so soft that he almost missed it.

"Aphrodite?"

"What if she comes back? I... I'm worried that she'll keep returning."

Ares pulled Sage into a hug, his hold protective.

"I won't let her hurt you."

Sage met Sophia's gaze over Ares' shoulder. Sophia nodded. Sage took a deep breath.

"She'll keep trying, Ares."

"If she comes for you, I'll kill her."

"How? She's immortal."

Ares pulled back slightly so that Sage could see his face.

"My sword was made by the giants. It can kill a god."

Sage bit her lip. She focused on not looking over at Sophia. If Ares had forgotten that Sophia was in the room, it would make this easier.

"You're just saying that so I don't worry." Sage thought about Ezekiel and tried to pull out every bit of acting skill she possessed. Tears filled her eyes. "You're in love with me. You'd say anything to reassure me."

Ares took a step back and, his expression pained from the sight of Sage's tears, he summoned the sword and the mighty blade materialised in his grip. The apartment felt immediately smaller, the walls seeming to shrink in the sword's presence. The glowing steel illuminated Sage's face, making her teary eyes glisten.

"Wow." She reached out, her hands unsteady. "Can I hold it?"

"It's heavy, I'll help you."

It was heavy. Sage had to grip the great sword with both hands. Ares put his hands over her hands and helped her to swing the blade a couple of times.

"You make it seem so light when you hold it."

"I'm strong, even for a god I'm stronger than most."

"Who's stronger than you?" Sage asked, her curiosity momentarily distracting her from the plan.

"My father, though perhaps not anymore. He's getting old. Hephaestus might be the only one now."

"Gods get old?"

"Yes, it's just slower than it is for humans. Eventually, we return to our true form – our base essence. One day, I will exist only in the shouts and cries of war."

A tear slipped down Sage's face. So that was what would happen, after she killed him. She cleared her throat.

"Give me space, I want to try to swing it on my own."

He indulgently complied though anxiety lingered in his gaze, in case she accidentally hurt herself. Sage grunted and lifted the sword. It was off-balance and she was struggling to control it. Sage looked to Sophia. There was no way she could do this alone.

"Put it down now." Ares advised, reaching out for the sword. Sage faced him.

"Ares, look at me. I want to tell you something."

He stared at Sage, the adoration he felt evident on his face. He didn't see Sophia closing in. Sage breathed in. "I love you."

Ares smiled, his heart swelling with warmth. In that unguarded moment, the two women struck. Sophia lunged forward, helping Sage with the weighty great sword as they thrust it into Ares' chest. Sage grunted, the impact jarring her shoulder. She stared at Ares, watching the change as he realised what had happened. Love turned to shock and shock to heartbreak.

"Why?" He rasped. Sophia pushed against the sword's hilt, jamming it in deeper.

"Die you evil bastard." She spat angrily. "I won't be your slave!"

Ares and Sage stared at one another. Sage sobbed. She let go of the sword's hilt and covered her mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Ares."

Ares staggered back and clutched the sword.

"But... you love me?"

Sage shook her head sadly.

"It was Ezekiel that I saw first." She sniffed, her breathing becoming ragged. "I lied, I thought you'd kill him. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Sophia let go of the hilt and made her way over to the drinks cabinet, her hands shaking but her eyes blazing with triumph.

"She never loved you, you were just too much of an idiot to realise it." She sneered. Sophia poured out two drinks. "Now, I can watch you bleed out on the living room floor." She perched on the arm of the sofa, drink in hand. "Shame, I liked that rug."

Ares roared. Sophia's smug smile vanished as they watched the great sword vanish. There was no blood on Ares' shirt. Sage's eyes widened in alarm.

"How?"

Ares' face darkened, a shadow passing over it. He growled and they saw how his teeth had changed, growing out to become fangs.

"You thought you could kill a god!"

Sage winced at the sound of his voice. It was awful, like the splintering shriek of clashing metal. "You thought you could kill me!"

Sophia's glass smashed against the floorboards, having slipped from her grip. She stared at Ares, horrified.

"But the sword-" She spluttered.

Sage's attention was on Ares' shirt. She saw that the material had ripped from the blades incision. But there was no mark on his exposed skin. Sage rubbed her aching shoulder. When she'd thrust the sword, it had been like thrusting against stone.

"You're wearing armour." Sage exclaimed. Of course, he was wearing armour – she could have hit herself. Just because she'd never been able to see it, she'd assumed...

But she should have realised. He probably had armour that no human could see.

He was the war god.

Ares prowled toward Sophia, closing dangerous in on her.

"No!" Sage cried out, terrified. She rushed forward – but too late. A spray of blood fanned out over the room. Sage put up a hand to shield her eyes from the crimson splatter. There was a long silence in which Sage held her breath. The sound of Sophia hitting the floor with a thud made her flinch.

They'd failed. They'd tried to become god killers and now they were defenceless and alone.  Ares cornered Sage next. He snarled and Sage's trembling legs gave way. She sank to the ground. Was Sophia still alive? Sage looked up and stared at Ares as he stood over her, Sophia's blood dripping from his handsome face. Sage's mouth went dry with fear.

"Are you going to kill me?" She asked, her voice hoarse.