43. Cupid's Second Arrow

Sage sat at her new 'work desk' and rubbed her aching head. It had been a tough day, but Jaz was right – this was working. Getting strangers to hold her hands and ask her questions was making the visions come to her. Not always and when they did, they weren't always completely clear. But it was progress. She sipped the drink Jaz had brewed for her, pulling a face at the strange sour taste. He'd told her that this would help also.

She frowned at the desk. She wasn't sure about the sequins. It definitely had 'fortune-teller' vibes, which was the aim, but the sheer amount of sequins was slightly intimidating. The tablecloth could probably be used as armour. Sage heard the approach of footsteps and  she quickly fixed a tired smile in place.

"What question can I help-" She broke off from what she was saying and blinked.

Ares pulled out the vacant chair, that was opposite her, and sat down.  He only met her gaze briefly, before quickly looking down at the table between them. Sage stared at him.

Every night, she'd been dreaming of him. She studied his face now, the lines of his jaw and his nose. Her dreams remembered him perfectly. That hurt.

"You're an oracle." Ares observed, still not looking at her.

"Hmm. It's because of the eyes."

They sat for a while in silence. "Have you come to take them back?" She asked, warily.

"You tell me." His lip twitched up into half a smile.

"No, you haven't." She sat back in her chair.

Sage's heart ached. Seeing Ares again, talking to him, hearing his voice - it was everything she wanted. But the knowledge that they could no longer be together was crippling. He was the love of her life, and he was so close that she could reach out and touch him. But something bigger than the ocean divided them.

A deal made with Aphrodite.

"I'm offering people one question." Sage told him, hoping he wouldn't notice the quiver in her voice. "One question, and I'll find the answer for them. Do you have a question?"

Ares' gaze moved about nervously.

"Sage," he uttered her name reverentially and Sage shivered. "Have you ever thought that you loved me?"

Sage's eyes filled with tears. Ares looked up at last and his intense gaze searched her face for answers.

"Does that matter?" She asked. "I don't love you now."

"Why are you crying?" He asked, hope and uncertainty in his voice.

Sage took a deep, steadying breath. Keep lying, you have to keep lying - or Ezekiel will die.

"Because I didn't want to see you again." She held his gaze. "I don't like you."

Ares swallowed, struggling to compose his face.

"Do you... hate me?" He asked, his voice shaking. A tear slid down Sage's face. Her heart felt like it was being put through a grinder.

"Yes, I think I do."

Ares' head bowed in defeat. His chin crumbled, as he struggled not to cry. Sage clung onto the table, digging her nails into the table cloth. "I'd like you to leave now." She stared grimly at the wall behind him, no longer trusting herself to look him in the face. She didn't want to read the hurt in his eyes. She didn't think that her heart could take it.

Ares got up and stiffly walked away. Once, he was out of the cafe – Sage broke down.

"Sage!?" Cesar exclaimed, abandoning the table he was clearing to rush over to her. She sobbed, tears streaming down her face. How could Aphrodite be so cruel? If she was the goddess of love, didn't she understand how much heartbreak hurt? Sage buried her face against Cesar's arm and wept.

Ares was marching blindly down the streets. Sage hated him. He'd hoped, hoped bitterly, that she'd change her mind and take him back. But now she hated him.  Ares flinched suddenly, clutching his head. His shields were reacting to the presence of an immortal.

He unsheathed his sword, ignoring the stunned gasps of the mortals walking by him. Pedestrian's stopped and stared wide-eyed at the glowing blade. Some took out their phones to record it.  Ares' grip tightened on the swords hilt. He didn't care about the attention of mortals.

Eros had returned to earth.

Jaz was sat at his desk doing invoices, when he felt the change. He clutched a hand over his heart and groaned involuntary. Eros was back. Jaz scrambled to his feet and staggered out of his office.

"Sage," he called out. Customers started whispering, shocked by the sight of Jaz clinging grimly to the wall for support. "Sage!"

Sage and Cesar rushed over to their boss.

"Jaz, what's going on?"

"Are you having a heart attack?" Cesar asked, flustered. Jaz shook his head.

"Fetch me a water." He instructed Cesar, whilst clinging onto Sage's arm.

Once Cesar was gone, Jaz lowered his lips to Sage's ear.

"Eros has returned."

"Is he hurting you?" She asked, alarmed. Jaz shook his head.

"This will pass." He reassured her. "But you need to stay close."

"Why?"

"Eros intended for a love arrow to be struck between you and Ezekiel. He may be back to fire a second shot. One that won't miss."

Sage's heart skipped a startled beat.

"Err... boss?" Markus interrupted them. "There's a girl here whose come about a job interview?" Markus was giving Jaz a strange look. Breathing deeply, Jaz managed to straighten himself but he winced slightly in pain.

"Who?"

Markus nudged forward a young woman. She looked to be a mix of black and Indian and had her hands clasped nervously together.

"My n-name's Zahira." She stammered. Jaz waved a hand.

"She's great, welcome to the team Zahira."

Zahira looked startled.

"Don't you have any questions?" She asked in a small voice.

"No, you'll do fine here. Can you start right away?"

She nodded. "Great, Markus will show you the ropes. Sage and I need to take a half day today."

Cesar returned with a glass of water but was shooed aside.

"What's going on?" He asked, as they watched Jaz and Sage walk out of the café – both looking tensely toward the sky. Markus shrugged.

"Jaz is being weirder than usual."

The new girl, Zahira, looked embarrassedly down at her feet. What a strange first day...

"Where are we going?" Sage asked, as Jaz led her down the alley behind the café.

"We need to stop Eros from shooting you with an arrow. And stop Ares from killing Eros." He told her, panting slightly.

"How?"

"No idea."

They rounded the corner and Jaz shoved Sage suddenly, knocking her out of the way of an arrow.

"Get Sage out of here!" Ares roared. Sage stared at the love arrow that was lodged in a rubbish bin behind her. That had been close. Jaz stood protectively in front of Sage.

"We need to discuss this. Without anybody killing anyone!" He yelled at the two gods.

Sage gawped at Jaz. She'd never seen him like this – with magic glowing in his eyes.

She peeked around Jaz's back and got her first glimpse of the man Ares was fighting. Sage's eyes widened.  The man was identical to Jaz's paintings of him that covered the walls of the café. In his grip, he was holding a bow, with a quiver notched and ready against the string. His stance was threatening, but he was frozen - his amber gaze fixed on Jaz.

Sage swallowed nervously. Had they been wise to run into this alleyway?

In front of them was a being powerful enough to enslave even a god with love.

He was Eros, the god of desire.