33. A Deal with Death

Sage used her fingers to follow the length of string Jaz had set up, guiding her around the apartment.

"So, Ares has returned?" Jaz's voice sounded thoughtful. Sage nodded but she felt bizarrely uncertain, as if the whole evening had been only a figment of her imagination. Had she gone insane and simply wished him back?

Jaz appraised Sage unhappily. "You were doing fine without him."

Fine was a tricky statement, which Sage decided not comment on. Instead she replied, "He says he's back for me..." But her confidence on this point was already slipping.  "That might have changed after... seeing my eyes." She admitted.

Sage swallowed nervously. If  Ares had loved her before, her being blind might have changed that. She was a burden now, for everyone.

"Stop thinking that." Jaz spoke suddenly, standing closer than Sage had realised.

"You can't tell what I'm thinking."

Jaz flicked her on the forehead in reprimand.

"I can read your face easily enough."

Later that night, Sage lay in bed. The covers were twisted and she groped in the dark trying to fix them. She could hear Jaz snoring from the next room. The sound of the fridge humming filled the silence. Sage sat up and bit her lip.

"Ares." She called his name, loudly and clearly, and waited.

In the distance, she heard the wail of a police siren then the floorboard creaked beside her bed.

"Sage." Ares' voice came from the dark void. Sage clenched tightly onto her covers.

"You came." She hadn't known if he would or not. "Were you listening in on me?"

The bed springs squeaked as Ares sat down beside her.

"I was standing outside the door to the café." Waiting until morning.

"Why?"

Ares didn't reply. She wished that she knew what his expression was like.

"Why did you call my name?"

"I couldn't sleep. And... and I wanted you to see me, before I lost the courage to show you what I look like now. Turn on the light."

Ares obeyed, though it might little difference for his vision. He realised that Sage was rigid with tension.

Sage tried to imagine what she must look like, with hollow eye sockets. Her stomach turned in disgust.

"Sage," Ares uttered her name at last, after a long pause. Sage held her breath. Was this it? Was he about to say goodbye? She held very still and tried not to betray her feelings. "I have a gift for you."

Sage swallowed. Something in the tone of his voice told her that this wasn't a normal gift. She felt the mattress beneath them shift as he moved and she spoke up suddenly.

"Can it wait a sec?"

Ares hesitated.

"Why?"

"My face, don't you have anything to say about it? I'm hideous now."

"You're beautiful, Sage."

Sage bit her lip, trying to think how to frame her words.

"You left." She stated. "Why? Why did you leave if it wasn't because you no longer cared?"

She felt Ares' warm hand against her cheek, tenderly cupping her face.

"To protect you." His voice was rough. "You tried to kill yourself, Sage. It opened my eyes to what I was doing by selfishly staying by your side. I thought I was a good enough person to stay away."

He dropped his hand and the air felt colder without his touch. "But I couldn't stay away a day longer. In my long life, there's been very few happy times to look back on - times that made the eternity bearable."

Sage's heart fluttered. Ares' breath kissed her neck. "I missed you. I missed my time with you."

"What were your favourite memories of us?" She asked, curious.

She felt Ares brush her hair away from her face, as he considered his answer.

"When I showed you my powers and threw a car. You were very funny."

Sage grinned, remembering.

"I'm pretty sure I called you crazy."

"You held onto my wrist as we ran away. It was like you were worried that I'd fall behind and get caught by the authorities." He chuckled at the idea.

Ares moved to sit more comfortably opposite her on the bed and held her wrist in demonstration. "I ran along with you. Even though I knew there was no danger. I just liked the feeling." He admitted. He couldn't remember a time of someone taking care of him or trying to protect him. But Sage had done it so naturally.

"Any other favourite moments?" She asked. Ares smiled.

"There are many, Sage."

"Pick one."

Ares hesitated.

"When I introduced you to Thrax." He hadn't forgotten how nervous she'd been as she'd slowly reached out with her hand to pat his immortal beast. "You were so brave."

"Oh." Sage exclaimed suddenly, remembering. "I owe Thrax for saving my life whilst you were gone. Did you know he'd turned up in my living room?"

"No." Tension leaked into Ares' voice. "What happened?"

"Skelrun broke in and tried to kill Ezekiel. But Thrax came just in time."

Ares blinked and frowned.

"Who's Skelrun?" He didn't know a monster by that name.

"The old gang leader."

"A human?" Ares' anger intensified. How dare an ignorant human almost kill the war god's woman...

"Where is he now?" Ares' voice was dangerous. Sage reached out and patted his arm reassuringly.

"Thrax killed him."

"Good." Ares would reward Thrax handsomely. Perhaps with some apples from Elysium.

Ares was interrupted from these thought's by Sage idly stroking his arm. She was doing a pattern with her fingertips. The immortal's gaze softened and his shoulders relaxed. She'd never understand how badly he'd missed her.

Ares opened his mouth to speak. He wanted to ask about Ezekiel. About her feelings for the gangster. But he couldn't form the words. He dreaded her answer too badly.

"You really don't find me repulsive now? Even though I have no eyes?"

Sage couldn't see but Ares rolled his eyes at her comment. She really had no idea about the depth of his feelings.

"Sage, I wasn't in love with you because you had eye balls."

Sage cracked a smile at his tone. It sounded like he meant it.

"Can I give you your gift now?" He asked. Sage nodded slowly. She put out a hand, ready for him to place something in her palm. But Ares reached out and held her face between his hands instead. "I don't know if this will hurt or not." He whispered.

"Ares, what-"

Warmth radiated from Ares' hands. Sage had the feeling like she was floating, as if the bed had fallen away from them. She gasped in shock. She could see a bright light. How could she see that?

Thunder rumbled in Sage's ears and she flinched, frightened. But the feel of Ares' hands on her face stopped her from trembling. She wasn't alone.

The light disappeared and Sage felt the bed beneath her once more. Ares let go of her face.

"Can you see me, Sage?"

Sage released a trembling breath and blinked.

"Yes."

"You must pay the price, war god." Hades had intoned, holding a set of ethereal eyes that had been crafted by the titan, Theia. "One thousand years of service."

"Allow me to stay with Sage whilst she lives." Ares had bargained. "After that, I'll serve my sentence."

One thousand years of enslavement to the god of death.

"Deal."