Chapter 13 Soraya #2
“Who are you? Why are you telling me all of this?” My voice is raspy.
Venus places her hand on her chest. “I am Venus, Aphrodite to the Greeks. I loved Ares once too. I want to spare you the humiliation of thinking his love and devotion is real.” Her lips curve into a mean smile. “Better you hear it now than be blindsided by it later.”
Venus steps back to the chair, picks up her things, and walks to the door as if she were done with the matter. “Oh, restore the painting if you like. Burn it, dump it. It doesn’t matter; the truth will remain. Say this next time you meet Ares: Apokalypsathe, and wait.”
I refuse to believe her. “You’re lying.”
Venus pauses at the threshold. “If only I were.” Then she was gone, her heels echoing through the hall. My hands tremble, and my knees buckle. Slowly, I collapse to the floor. My brushes clatter on the floor. I have to head home. I have to fix this.
ARES
Hecate laughs at something Deimos says. “You know, I’m sure every night the devil checks under his bed, confirming that you’re not there.”
Deimos places the tray of T-bone steaks on the kitchen island. “He no longer welcomes me into his domain.”
I lean on the counter, waiting for Soraya to get home. My neck feels tight; something is wrong.
“What else are we making for her?” Phobos asks.
Hecate jumps up from her stool and goes to the fridge. “I got her favorite cheesecake.”
I already covered the dining room with roses.
After declaring my love for her, it’s only right that we have a small feast with family.
Family. I have a family, and I feel like happiness is within reach.
A faint click of the front door pulls my attention.
Her scent follows a second later…paint, citrus, and something sweet.
My wife is at home. In this moment everything feels so right.
The moment Soraya steps into the room, I know something’s wrong. It isn’t the look on her face or the tears that run down her face. It’s the way she’s holding the chalice in her hand.
“What’s wrong, Little Flame?” I stretch my hand out to her.
Her eyes turn to me in disgust. “Little Flame. Haha. No, but I’m about to set your world on fire.”
“What are you talking about?”
Soraya throws back her shoulders and lifts her head. “Apokalypsathe.”
Hecate looks up at Soraya in surprise and sucks in her breath. A black silk dress and two dogs appear.
I look at Deimos and Phobos, and they are in full Roman battle gear.
“What the hell is going on?”
When her eyes settle on me, I can feel my clothing deteriorate, and my old gold and red armor appears.
My cape unfurls at my back.
“It’s all true,” Soraya says, and she looks down at the chalice in her hand. She slams it down on the counter.
Hecate approaches Soraya like a hurt animal.
“Soraya, let us talk.”
Soraya shakes her head, and tears stream down her face. “No, Hecate. You were like my sister. I…I trusted you.”
Before Hecate could continue, I state, “Leave us now.”
Phobos and Deimos disappear. I hear Soraya’s breath hitch.
Hecate looks down at Soraya like she has so much to say.
“This is fate, Ares,” she says, then she disappears with her dogs.
SORAYA
“You want me dead to free Talia.” The words rip out of me before I can stop them. I bend my head in shame. “You were using me.”
I can see Ares’s shoes as he steps in front of me. His arms rise toward my shoulders. “Don’t do that, Ares. Don’t touch me.”
His hands drop to his side. “Soraya, please.”
“I need to know if any of this craziness is real. I have questions.” I try to steady my voice. The small twinkle of the cup gives me courage. “Do you want me dead?”
Ares’s voice sounds pained. “Never. I love you, Soraya.”
“Stop lying to me.” I close my eyes to center myself.
“Let me explain.” Ares begs. I can hear a hint of desperation in his voice.
I shake my head and lift my gaze to his. I need to see his eye as this news crashes over me.
“Explain what? No, does my blood buy back Talia’s soul?”
Ares closes his eyes, and exhales hard, his fists clench.
“We are trying to figure it out. They’re…” He slams his jaw shut.
A hollow laugh escapes me. A tear slides down my cheek. “You’re no better than Elias or my aunt and uncle. It’s crazy that I am worth more to you all dead than alive.”
Ares takes a step toward me, and I back up until I hit the doorframe. “Do you want me?”
“I want you.” His hands move toward me.
I study him. I can see the pleading, and I can also see him calculating. “You lied to me.” My breath hitches. “You wanted me to fall in love with you. You made me love you so that I would be malleable. Easy to manipulate.”
Ares’s nose flares. “You are anything but easy.”
“When were you planning to kill me, Ares? Next month? Next year?” I know each reply will feel like small cuts on my soul.
“Hecate is looking for a loophole. I don’t want you dead.” His voice somber, his fists clench at his side.
I feel a small relief that Hecate was looking for a loophole. “So what if there is no loophole? Was I going to be a sacrifice? What was the plan?”
“To explain things to you around your last breath…”
I smile, and another tear slides down my face. “At the last breath? You would have killed me or waited until I am old, so Talia could be free.”
I wrap my arms around myself trying to find comfort. “For the curse to be completely broken, do you have to love me or do I have to love you?”
“It goes both ways,” he murmurs.
My chest tightens because I know this will be my final draw here. “Who do you love more? Me or Talia?”
I wish he answered, “You, Soraya.” Instead, he hesitates, and that’s all I need to know.
I nod, and I can’t see as the kitchen becomes blurry.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“Upstairs to pack.” That’s all I say as I turn away. I pause at the door. “You know what really hurts? Knowing I was never loved or chosen by you.”
He never wanted me. I walk to the stairs with my soul filled with the knowledge that I would never be Ares’s prize. I was just the price.