36. Blood Offering

Finding a wooded area had not been easy. He'd had to leave the city and fly searchingly in the human realm for a place where nature was still allowed. Even then, finding trees old enough for his needs had proven a challenge. Ares stood now, in the woods, and winced at the distant sounds of a busy road with cars thundering down. The tree nymphs suffered much in these times, with no gods on earth to remind the humans why they mattered.

The War God stood beneath the oldest tree and solemnly delivered his offering. He poured pigs blood over the tree's dark roots and lit an incense candle. The thick, scented smoke rose up the bark and wafted between the tree's crinkled leaves.

"Meliae," Ares addressed the spirits. "I make this offering and ask for you guidance."

A breeze rustled through the branches, carrying with it the gentle sound of a laughing maiden. Ares heaved a sigh of relief. "I'm looking for a demon named Lamia."

The tree's branches creaked and swayed. Ares closed his eyes and placed his palm against the tree's rough bark. An image flashed across his mind. Lamia.

Ares opened his eyes. He'd only had a flash of the demon in her lair. But it was enough. Lamia hadn't retreated far.

Ares sat with Jaz in the café, sipping tea.

"Do you need my help?" Jaz offered, after hearing Ares' plan. "Demons are tricky creatures."

"Lamia's magic is tied to the moon. If I wait until it's waning then she won't have such an advantage."

Jaz nodded, impressed. He'd half-expected the war god to storm into battle blindly. But Ares was better at strategy than legend suggested.

"She might be taken by surprise by you. Unless she already knows that you're back."

"Hmm..." Ares' expression was thoughtful. But his mind had drifted from Lamia and was on a question that Ares wanted to ask the café owner. Jaz had been by Sage's side for all the months he'd been gone, surely he would know the answer...

"Whilst I was gone, did Sage and Ezekiel ever..." Ares' voice trailed.

"Ever?" Jaz stared at him blankly. Ares huffed.

"I mean... I wasn't here... It's no big deal... they were free to do... that."

Jaz choked on his tea. Finally guessing what Ares was talking about.

"You want to know if they slept together?"

Ares' eyes glowed hotly. He nodded. Jaz shrugged. "I've no idea."

Ares' grip tightened around the mug he was holding.

"Oh."

It was fine if they had, Ares told himself grimly. As long as Sage chose to be with him now – he'd never mention anything of the past.

But even as he tried to soothe himself, jealousy writhed like a snake in his stomach. Ares drank the last of his tea and set the mug down on the table.

"I have to go." He excused himself.

Jaz nodded.

"See you tomorrow." He waved. Ares said nothing as he silently left the café.

Jaz watched him go and pursed his lips thoughtfully. Never, in thousands of years, had love between a god and a mortal run smoothly.

It was the fault of the fates.

**

"Sage."

Sage looked up at the sound of her name being called. She'd been putting the bins out and it was dark.

"Ezekiel." She greeted, smiling.

The two friends sat together on a low brick wall.

"Are there any issues with the gang?" Sage asked anxiously. She'd been hearing troubling rumours at the café. Ezekiel nodded slowly.

"The Bent Man's crew have resurfaced, under new leadership." Ezekiel admitted.

What he didn't tell her, was that a few hours ago he'd gotten the kind of call he dreaded. One of his people had been found dead, cut up and left on display. It was the beginning of another turf war. "I'll be busy."

"I hate your job." Sage murmured softly. "It's all beating people up and getting money and... death." She finished, frowning. Ezekiel sighed.

"It's the way it is. There's no way out." Once you're part of the gang – it's a life sentence.

"It's crap."

Ezekiel didn't argue with her.

"I have to go."

Sage grabbed his wrist to make him wait.

"If you ever want to runaway... I'll help you." Her gaze was wide and earnest. Ezekiel swallowed.

"As my friend?" Or as more than that?

"Yes."

Ezekiel's head drooped in defeat and Sage, seeing this, let go of his wrist - unsure what to say. The gangster cleared his throat and tried his best to cover his feelings.

"I'll see you again soon, we'll go for drinks at Castle Hill." He promised.

"No." Sage spoke suddenly, her voice sounding strange. "I'll see you. But a bony hand will cover your eyes."

Ezekiel frowned.

"Sage?"

She shook head.

"I...err... I'm not sure why I said that." Her voice had returned to normal.

"Were you being possessed?" He asked, alarmed. "Is it that demon?"

"I'm fine." Sage interrupted, waving her hands dismissively. "I'm just tired and chatting shit." She forced a tight-lipped smile. "Take care."

Sage hurried back inside. Why did that keep happening to her? Why did she keep saying such random things? She charged up the stairs, wanting to go to the bathroom and check something in the mirror. She had a strange suspicion that something was changing with her new eyes. But as she barrelled into her room, she came to an abrupt stop.

"Oh." She exclaimed, taken aback. Ares was sat on the end of her bed. He smiled at her but his smile faltered when he read her expression.

"Has something happened?"

"No." Sage shook her head quickly. "Nothing."

Ares made to get up and embrace her but Sage gabbled quickly.

"I just need to wash my hands. I was sorting out the rubbish." She swept passed him and as she did so, Ares got a whiff of Ezekiel's scent. His expression froze.

Unaware of this, Sage locked herself in the bathroom and frantically checked her eyes in the mirror. It couldn't just be her imagination. The ring of black on her iris was definitely larger. Soon it would blend with her pupils and make them look unnaturally large. She leant against the sink and tried to control her fears and stem the tide of panic. It could just be her imagination. Perhaps they weren't bigger...

When she returned to her room, she managed to compose her face a little better. Ares had her back to her.

"I didn't know you were coming over." She commented, forcing her voice to sound 'normal'.

"Was I not supposed to?"

"Er..." There was an edge to Ares' tone that had taken her by surprise.

Without turning, he extended his hand to show her what he was holding.

"You got a message whilst you were in the bathroom."

Sage took the phone and frowned.

"You read my message?" Disapproval leaked into her tone.

It was a message from Ezekiel,

Thank you for saying you would run away with me.

Sage's brain took half a second. What would Ares think after reading this message? Would he misunderstand her? Sage's eyes widened in realisation.

"Ares, I-"

"You don't want to live with me. You don't want to be with me, do you?"

Sage rushed around him so that she could see his face. It was a strange expression, a new one. He half-smiled at her, but his eyes were sad. Unbearably sad.

"Ares, I-"

"Even without obsession in your eyes," Ares murmured softly. "He's still the only one you see."

"That's not-"

Ares vanished, dematerialising from the room. "Ares!?" Sage yelled out. She turned on the spot. But Ares didn't return. Sage stared at her bedroom, silenced. The walls seemed to shrink around her.

Had she just lost Ares all over again?