OF WAR Anthology Novels 1-3

by Lisa Beth Darling

  Zeus wandered over to the destroyed wall and turned back to look at Apollo. “This isn’t over, my Son, you should have thought twice before making an enemy out of me.”

  II

  Taking a breather in the bedroom, Ares inspected Alena’s wounds while she told him all about her time on world below. “What did this? A dog? That’s nasty, Alena.” He looked at the gashes on her alabaster skin, turned her arm over for a better look and shook his head.

  “Yes, it was a dog.” She sighed, glad to be home and Alena never thought she’d be happy to be back on Olympus. “Oh, it’ll be fine.” She tried to pull her arm away when Ares materialized a basin of water, a clean rag, and fresh bandages.

  “How many times do I have to tell you…”

  “Yes, yes, I know, you’re an expert in battlefield patch-ups.” She held her arm so he could tend it.

  “That’s right. Have I told you yet how proud I am of you?”

  “Maybe once or twice but I’m not tired of hearing it yet,” she giggled and then sucked a harsh breath as he dabbed the cloth over her open wounds. She fell silent until he finished dressing the wound on arm and those on her flanks.

  “Been a long time since I saw you wear this type of clothing,” he said as he handed her a fresh pair of blue jeans and a soft fuzzy green sweater from the bag of goodies she’d brought back from the Mortal World. “I miss them.” He helped her dress and then stood her up. “I know what you’re going to ask me.”

  “What?”

  “Whether or not there’s anything we can do for the Mortals. The answer is ‘not really’. We can’t stop this disease from spreading but maybe we can do damage control. Maybe we can help them erect a better world from these ashes.” He put his hands on her shoulders and bent to look her in the eye. “We’re moving back to the island.”

  “We are?”

  “Yes, it will be a good to have a home base below.”

  “Home base? You’re going?”

  “War is going to break out any day, Alena, I have to go. I have to make sure this doesn’t happen again and that the wrong people don’t rise to unimaginable power.”

  Alena sat back down on the bed. “You’re taking Raven with you, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, he’s strong, and he has to see what his deception has brought, his stupidity, and then he has to do what he can to fix this.”

  Alena nodded in agreement but her heart was sinking fast. “You’ll be careful, you’ll watch out for him.”

  “They can’t hurt us,” Ares assured. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back to the island as often as I can. You and Rose and the women, you’ll be safe there. It’s far from the fighting. Safer than you will be on Olympus with Apollo.” Ares brushed a long silky lock of gray hair behind her ear amazed at her strength and how she was able to stand up to Apollo even with all he’d done to her. How very sweet it must have been for her to knock him like that in front of all of the Olympians. But pissing off Apollo, whose mind was rapidly escaping him, could come with a heavy price. “You’ve made a powerful enemy in him today.”

  “Today? Nah, he hated me already.” Alena took his hand and held it to her cheek. “I know you’re right. I’ll be careful and I’ll still worry about you. What kind of Wife would I be if I didn’t worry about my Husband gone off to war?”

  “We still have tonight,” Ares said with a hopeful grin, “our last on Olympus and we are worry free.” He watched her smile knowing she thought she’d never hear those words. “We have a grand feast ahead of us, drinking, dancing, plate breaking, and, after that, we have a long night to make love.”

  “Feast? Are we having a party?”

  “Oh, yes, you have done magnificently today, my Queen.” Ares took the hand holding his to her cheek and brought it to his lips. “You’ve filled me with so much pride I might explode. We’re going to celebrate your victory with much abandon.” He took her hand, pulled her off the bed, and led her down the stairs.

  III

  In the Parlor, the long rugged wooden table was spread out in a banquet overflowing with all of Alena’s favorite foods. Three large gold vases full of wildflowers sat at even intervals. Raven and Rose were dressed in their best attire, and when Alena entered the room they stood up and applauded for her along with Onya, Iris, and Aryanna who were standing near the Throne of Bones and away from the table. “Ummmm, look at all of this,” Alena grinned happily as she looked around at those showering her with such adoration. “This is wonderful, thank you.” Ares pulled the throne he made for her years ago over to the table and settled it at the foot in place of the usual, rather ordinary chair that normally held her bottom in its plush cushion when she sat to eat. “This is too much.”

  “It’s never enough,” Ares countered as he seated her. Before Ares could take his seat at the head of the table someone started knocking on the door. “I’ll get it,” he said to the women knowing he was not expecting any company. “Eros?”

  “Hello Father,” Eros smiled, “I know you, there’s a party here tonight, I came to join the fun, if you don’t mind too much.” He popped a very old and expensive bottle of champagne into Ares’ hands.

  “No, come in.” Ares moved aside believing he’d shut the door when Hera appeared on the doorstep. “Hello Mother.”

  Hera stood there politely. “May I come in?”

  Ares stood aside. “Of course, it’s always good to see you.” He watched Hera walk down the corridor to the feast and again went to shut the door only to be confronted by Athena.

  “Hello Brother.”

  “What the hell? I suppose you want to come in as well?”

  “I smell lamb,” Athena licked her lips and handed Ares a large tray of cheeses and grapes as she walked past him and into the Fortress.

  “Yeah, the more the merrier, come on in, make yourself at home.” Hand on the large brass knob, Ares pushed the door toward closed when he heard someone clear their throat. He turned to look at the evening’s last guests. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What do you want?”

  Aphrodite blushed and looked down to the ground for a second before meeting Ares’ stare. “I want to celebrate with the rest of you.”

  “Him?” Ares pointed to Hunter standing at his Mother’s side.

  “I swear he’ll be on his best behavior and so will I.”

  Ares let out a grunt and took a step forward to whisper in Aphrodite’s ear, “Not one word about you and Raven, not even a hint, no double entendre cutesy little remarks. I’ll throw you out on your ass.” He stepped back, watched the color drain out of Aphrodite’s face for a moment but she soon recovered.

  “I don’t want to hurt Alena, I only want to share in her victory.” With shaking hands, she offered up a very large gold-covered box full of the finest chocolates. “Please? Let us in.”

  Looking down at his Son, Ares pointed a finger at Hunter. “You, you behave yourself. Act like a God in this house and not like a pig.” The God of War stepped away from the door to growl at his new guests and force a killer smile to his curling lips. “Come in.” Before trying to close the door again, he poked his head out of the jamb to look left and then right. “Anyone else? Anyone at all? I’m closing the door now.” No answer came to his call in the dark and Ares was finally able to close the front door. Coming into the room where his Family was gathering, Ares watched Alena greet the new guests with a gracious smile. The smile faltered when Aphrodite and Hunter stepped up to her.

  “Lady,” Alena stuttered, “how nice of you to join us.” She looked down at the blonde boy at Aphrodite’s side. “And who do we have here?”

  “I’m Hunter, I’m your Husband’s Son,” the boy said snidely.

  “Nice to meet you Hunter,” Alena put out her hand, “I’m Alena, your Father’s Wife.”

  Aphrodite gave Hunter a little nudge when he didn’t readily put out his hand. With a grimace, Hunter reached out for the hand extended to him. “I don’t usually touch slaves and whores b—” Raven stood up, Hera and Athena g
lared at him, Ares smoldered from the doorway, and Aphrodite gave him a harder shove, the silky cool hand around his tightened with gentle strength. “Whatever,” Hunter mumbled and then tried to find his manners. “Nice to see you awake for a change.” He let go of Alena’s hand and plopped himself down at the table where he loaded up a plate without taking any further note of those around him.

  “I know you won’t believe me but we didn’t come here to ruin your night,” Aphrodite offered sincerely, “I only wanted to tell you what a splendid job you did today. Good for you.” The Lady of Love couldn’t help it, she gave Alena a playful congratulatory nudge and a sweet smile.

  “Thank you, Lady, won’t you take a seat at our table?” Facing Aphrodite was never easy and Alena was never sure how she was supposed to feel about any of it. She wanted to be angry as hell at the insult of having to sit here with her Husband’s mistress but it was hard to be angry with the Lady of Love. Although she undoubtedly enjoyed it to the fullest, Aphrodite hadn’t gone out of her way to bring Ares to her bed, she was just a pawn in Zeus’ grand game. Just like the rest of them. As though he smelled distress on her, Ares walked up behind Alena and put his strong arms around her. She tilted her head to look up at him with a grateful smile as he placed a kiss on her lips.

  “You two are so cute,” Aphrodite cooed. “I don’t want to spoil anything for you.”

  “That’s good because you can’t,” Ares advised, moving the handmade throne out for Alena to sit and then motioning to the table for Aphrodite to take a seat.

  Taking his own seat, Ares leaned over to his youngest Son who’d been foolish enough to sit next to his Father. Ares’ grabbed Hunter’s grubby hand. “This is a fork,” he slapped the utensil into the boy’s hand, “use it.”

  For the most part, the impromptu dinner party went off without a hitch. Wine flowed like water and they ate until their bellies were full to bursting while they celebrated Alena’s victory and took pleasure in Zeus’ defeat. At the end of the meal, Ares told all in attendance that he and his Family were leaving Olympus in the morning. Silence ensued; that surprised the God of War who expected his Mother to voice her dissent but Hera said nothing.

  “I’m going with you, Brother.”

  Ares looked over to his Sister and pondered he statement. The two had a rocky past but Ares thought they could put that behind them in the name of the Great Good. “I’d be honored to have you fight at my side, Sister.”

  Eros understood his Father’s position but had a concern as he looked across the table to Onya, “Will you be going with them?”

  Ares didn’t let her answer, “Will you be marrying her?”

  Eros’ mouth fell open and he stammered like a broken record as he looked at Onya and then to his Relatives gathered at the table.

  “In that case, she’ll be coming with me,” Ares said with finality. “You’re welcome to visit but not overnight.”

  Disillusioned by her time on Olympus and at the feast before the Bacchanalia, Onya offered up no resistance. She’d be just as happy to get back to the island as Alena.

  Raven had no qualms going down to the Mortal World and finally engaging in the fight he’d been promised but he did have one question. “What about my Trials?”

  At the other end of the table, Ares watched Alena sigh and drop her fork to the plate. “Maybe you can finish them when this is over,” Ares ventured, knowing it wasn’t what Alena wanted but it was still Raven’s right to pursue.

  “I thought I heard you say you didn’t want to be one of them after all,” Alena said softly as her appetite and her good mood began wasting away.

  “I don’t get it.” Raven leaned forward to look at his Mother. “You love him,” he pointed his fork at his Father, “you’re head over heels for him, he’s an Olympian. But you don’t want me to be one.”

  “If you can be an Olympian like your Father then I support you but judging from your recent activities, I don’t think you can.”

  Raven got his Mother’s sharp point. Ares may be brash, bold, and arrogant but he was also brave, fierce, and strong. He did what was necessary no matter how distasteful he found it but he hardly ever did it with a black heart. The other Olympians, for the most part, were all out for themselves. “You’ll see,” Raven said in a gentle tone. “I won’t turn out like Apollo or Zeus.”

  Hera raised her chalice, “I think we should all drink to that.”

  Those around the table followed suit, brought their glasses into the middle in a group toast and then drank.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Late in the Evening

  With their guests gone home and the Fortress quiet again, Alena stood outside Raven’s bedroom door gathering her strength. She hadn’t had any time alone with him since she woke and before they left for the island in the morning there were several things she wanted to talk him about. Taking a deep breath she knocked politely and heard him call back ‘come in’.

  “I don’t mean to disturb you but…”

  “Mom?” Raven turned around to see her standing there. “I thought you were Dad.”

  Alena stopped short just inside the room. Raven was naked as the night she gave birth to him. So tall. So lean. So muscular. So damn handsome. The last time she saw that impressive member between his legs it had been small and wiggling inside a diaper.

  “What’s up with you? Quit starin’ at me.” He grabbed the blanket off his bed and held it in front of his body.

  “I’m sorry,” she mumbled and took a few more steps toward him. “My little boy, where did he go?”

  “I’m right here.” Keeping the blanket between them, he wiggled into a pair of clean blue jeans. Once they were buttoned he dropped the blanket. “What did you want?” She was looking at him strangely as though she didn’t have any idea of who he was or where he’d come from. “Mom? You all right? Where’s Dad?”

  Alena kept coming toward him on silent cat feet until she reached out and touched his flat stomach with its scars and fresh wounds. “She did this to you? Aphrodite? She whipped you?” Tears stung her eyes as her fingertips gently traced the damaged flesh.

  Raven gathered up her hands by the wrists. “It’s all right, ok, I’m fine.”

  “You’re not fine, she hurt you, why did you let her do that? What…” She stuttered watching him loop his belt onto his jeans. “Where are you going? It’s late.”

  “Out, I’m goin’ out for a while.”

  “You’re going to see her, aren’t you? Aphrodite? Raven, don’t…please. Look what she did to you! ” A dark thought came to her head and she couldn’t stop it from voicing itself. “Is this what you like? Pain?”

  Raven sighed and ran his hand through his long hair. “Ya know what, Mom? I don’t think you should ask me about my sex life. You don’t want me asking you about yours do you? Although the whole frickin’ Fortress can hear the two of you.”

  Alena’s eyes widened and she stumbled backward as though he’d hit her. “S-s-sex life? SEX life?”

  “Yeah, what did you think Aphrodite and I were doin’?” Raven cracked.

  Alena shook her head, covered her hand with her mouth and then dashed out of the room.

  “Mom! Mom!”

  Raven followed her across the hall to the bedroom she shared with Ares and found her clinging to the God of War.

  “What did you say to her, boy?”

  “Nothing, I…I didn’t mean to upset her.” Raven started walking toward his crying Mother but Ares held up his hand to stop him.

  “I saw the way she was looking at you all through dinner. Go on, go get your rocks off.” Ares stopped a moment when Alena shrank in his arms as though all of the strength went out of her knees. He held her a little tighter. “But be back here before sunrise.”

  Feeling guilty Raven let out a grunt and then left the Fortress on his way to Aphrodite’s Temple for the remainder of the night.

  “That bitch is trying to steal my men! And I have to sit at the dinner table with her and…an
d…and…”

  “Shhhh,” Ares soothed, “it’s all right. I’m not defending her but you should know the whole time you were sleeping, Aphrodite didn’t make a single move on me.” He stopped when Alena pursed her lips and put a hand on her hip. “All right, she batted her eyelashes and wiggled her ass at me once or twice but that’s just who she is.” His offering softened her lips and dropped her hand back to her side. “She’s not trying to steal your men and she’ll never take me from you no matter how hard she might try.”

  “Raven? She whipped him, did you know that?”

  “Lucky boy,” Ares muttered as his eyes momentarily glazed over.

  “What? What did you say? ” Alena gave him a shove. “You’re incorrigible!” She pushed him again, harder. “Is that what you want? You want me to whip you?”

  “Stop, stop, Alena,” Ares came back to his senses as he grabbed her hands when she came in for a third shove. He sat her down on the edge of the bed. “I’m not in favor of him sleeping with her either…” Alena’s face turned red with rage. “You must calm down, you’re going to burst a blood vessel or something.” He ran his hand over the side of her head and looked into her angry eyes. “It’s natural. You can’t stop it. He’s young, Alena, he’s strong, and full of vigor. Like most young men his age, he wants to go out and experience everything. That includes sex, as much as he can get, with whomever he can get it from, and however he can get it.”

  Alena let out a long guttural groan and shook her head as she tried to come to grips with the reality of it all. “Why her? Why can’t he meet a nice girl?”

  Ares let go a belly laugh. “A nice girl? Where? Here? On Olympus?” He put his arm around her sagging shoulders and brought her in close. “I know you miss your little boy, don’t you?” He felt her nod against his side. “Morpheus stole it, he took it all away from you, and you missed him growing up.”