Chapter 7 Soraya
The smell of metallic blood is the first thing I smell.
I open my eyes. Unlike before, I am on a bench on a balcony.
I stand slowly in awe, pressing my hand to the marble column.
The purple and gold curtains frame the stone window.
Every stone, every stitch looks handcrafted, detailed, and beautiful.
A single oil lamp flickers on the wooden table.
I walk slowly to the banister, smoothing my hand over the stone.
I look out, and I am in a city with a small coliseum-like structure sitting in the middle of it.
The lights of many homes illuminate the city. It is quiet and glorious.
I trace my fingers over the gold tassels of the curtain.
This room screams privilege, especially seeing how high up I am.
I step away from the banister. Then I hear a faint murmur of someone’s voice.
I turn my back to the balcony, slowly walk inside, and pull the purple curtains back.
I stop in my tracks again as I see the same woman from my other dream on her knees rocking back and forth.
There is a small table sitting in front of her that has a brown bowl with what looks like a heart of some enormous animal in it.
She places a coin onto her makeshift altar, then a statue of a man with a spear and shield.
As I move closer, I see her in tears, and she lights a red candle. She then picks up a bowl and pours wine into it.
“Ares, God of War, I give you an offering. Begging you to give pity. I plead with you to come into the flame.
She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. “I come to you not as a soldier, but as one wounded in a different war.”
Her red hair shines brightly under the lamplight. “Without consent, men were dragged into a war. Now I kneel before you, broken, begging for your presence. Lend your fire so my spirit would need to be crushed. Lend me your shield, please, so that I can protect myself from my enemies.”
She swallows and pulls the statue to her chest. “Strike them down swiftly on my behalf. Let my rage become my armor. Let my survival become my victory. Oh, Ares, great bringer of courage. Make me resilient, make me brave, make me unbreakable, and—” The dagger glitters as she raises it high over her head, stabbing the heart of the animal.
“Make me resilient, make me brave, grant me revenge…set me free.”
Her red hair loosens, and she turns in my direction. She stands slowly and advances to me with the dagger in her hand. “Set me free.”
My eyes flutter open, and I hear a sigh. “She is coming through, Hecate.”
Is that Ares? Wait, where am I? Am I imagining Ares’s voice? Oh my God, Nisa. The men. I need to get to Nisa. I sit up with my eyes open.
“Nisa!”
“Shhh, Raya.” I look around and realize I am in my room at Ares’s home. My breath leaves my chest like hot puffs.
Hecate’s face is the first one I see. “Cate, where’s Nisa?”
I hope they didn’t touch her. If they did, I will make Elias see the depths of hell.
“She is safe, Little Flame. You are safe.” Ares’s warm hands gently hold my shoulders.
I rub my hands over my neck. “She is safe. I am safe.” I repeat it like a mantra.
“Drink this.” Hecate moves Ares aside and gives me a cup.
It smells putrid. “What the hell is that?”
Hecate smirks. “It tastes better than it smells.”
I make a face as I bring the cup closer to my mouth. Once I taste it, I look back at Hecate. “What is it?”
She chuckles. “It’s a little tonic.”
The tonic tastes like caramel apples with whipped cream.
I drain the cup and pass it back to Hecate, and she quickly exits the room.
Ares sits with his legs spread in front of him, and his arms resting on the armrests. His fingers tap on his chair.
“Thank you for saving us.”
His eyes shift to me. “I am the one who should apologize. I should have kept you safer.”
“No. You saved us just in time. I should call the police.” Slowly, I begin to come off the bed. Ares leaps for me as I stagger.
“I think you should lie down,” Ares says as he pulls me to his side.
“No, we must stop Elias, and my cousin is working with him.” I can feel the panic rising. “Call the police now.”
They don’t understand the feeling of despair. My throat feels like it’s tightening. “Ares, please.”
Hecate pokes her head back into the room. “We are about to have company.”
“Who?”
“The police,” Hecate replies.
Why were they coming here? “Ares?”
He shakes his head as if he instantly understands. “I have no idea. Excuse me.”
Ares walks to the door and looks back at me. “Stay here.” Then, he was gone.
ARIC
To deal with the police, Ares graciously allowed me to come forth. I fix my clothes.
“You really need to work on not having blood remain on your hands,” I speak out loud to Ares. I close my fists, allowing flames to engulf them. The blood burns away, and tiny particles float through the air.
“Hey, Firestarter, you’ll want to put those out; the police are climbing your stairs,” Hecate says as she walks to the huge door.
“How did they get past the wards?” I ask, while shaking my fists, and the flames are gone.
“I don’t know.” Hecate replies.
Hecate looks back at me with a serious face, then pulls at the handle, opening the door with a smile.
“Officers, we were about to call you.”
The two men stand still, watching Hecate in awe. Rightfully so, she is a beautiful woman wearing a short black leather corset dress and heels.
The taller, darker officer clears his throat and takes his hat off. “Good evening, ma’am. We are here to see a Miss Soraya Maude.”
“Yes, please come in. This is my cousin, Aric Kallistratos.” Hecate shows the officers in.
I walk forward, and both police officers step back. I smirk and extend my hand. “Officers, welcome to my home.”
The tall officer throws his shoulders back, acting like he owns the room. His eyes move up to my scarred face and then down to my hand. He stares down at it in disgust and grips the brim of his hat.
“We are here to see a Miss Soraya Maude.”
Hecate laughs and raises her eyebrow at me.
“Follow me, officers,” Hecate calls out.
Both men look at Hecate and then back at me. I can see the fear rolling off their bodies. They walk behind Hecate, their heads moving left to right, trying to take in all the sights that the house has to offer.
Hecate knocks at the door, then Soraya’s voice sounds from the other side. “Come in.”
Hecate opens the door, and the officers walk in. Standing in Soraya’s bedroom, the officers can’t help but look around.
“Officers, I am so happy you came.” That is the first thing Soraya says. I shift from behind them and sit at the side of Soraya’s bed, propping up the pillows behind her.
The taller of the two says, “I am Officer Walker; this is Officer Jabbers.”
Officer Jabbers is shorter and slightly fairer. “Miss Maude, we received a report from Mr. Elias Thorne. He is claiming you are being held here against your will.”
Soraya laughs in disbelief. “Of course he did. That’s what he does. He twists everything, so he looks like the victim.”
Her shoulders drop, and so does her spirit. “He kidnaps me and then sends the police after me?”
Officer Walker shrugs. “It’s more like a wellness check, ma’am.”
“Hold on, he did what?” Officer Jabbers places his hat under his arm.
“He kidnapped me and held me captive in one of his buildings downtown.” Soraya clenches the blanket.
“Maybe you should tell them from the start,” Hecate interjects.
As Soraya begins to retell the story, I can feel myself getting angry again. Hearing about her cousin Michelle only confirms that I was right to have those numbers blocked.
“They all have to die, Aric. Every last one of them.”
The room begins to feel hot. Officer Jabbers begins to use his hat as a fan.
“Wow, is the AC on?” Soraya asks as she wipes her forehead.
Hecate raises her eyebrows. I inhale and rotate my shoulders, trying to calm myself.
Officer Jabbers strokes his chin. “We looked at the grounds. Everything appears to be in order.”
“Agreed. No signs of restraint, no distress. You look fine.”
Soraya frowns, and her lips tighten. “Fine. You think this is fine? He twists everything, so that he looks like the victim. He even calls the cops, so it looks like I’m the problem; it’s a power play. He wants the law on his side.”
Soraya places her hands over her face. “He will never stop, will he? God, what do I do?”
I hear a sniffle and instantly look up at the police, ready to kick them out.
Officer Jabbers exchanges a look with his partner. “Miss Maude, without evidence, there is nothing we can do. As far as the law is concerned, you are safe here.”
Soraya wipes her eyes. “You think I’m safe.” She throws back her head and laughs. “Elias sent you to fetch me like property.”
She turns to me, and I can see the worry in her eyes. “Don’t you see? He’s scum. He’ll just keep coming until he owns me again.”
“That can’t happen if his head is off his body.”
I pull her to my side and kiss the top of her head. “We will fix it, Raya.”
Officers Jabbers clears his throat. “Then I suppose…you are good for now. But if you change your mind—”
“I won’t.” Her answer is swift and final.
“Well, gentlemen, let me see you out,” Hecate says as she opens the door and waits for them to walk through.
SORAYA
I feel like screaming. Not just any scream. No, I want to scream until my throat burns. Till the veins in my neck stand out. Till I knock out and get some peace.
“He just keeps winning,” I whisper into Ares’s side. My voice is shaking with fury.
Ares feels like a stalwart at my side. He is silent and strong, rubbing my back in slow circles, trying to comfort me.
Hot tears sting my eyes, and I hate myself for crying. “I am so sorry for dragging you into this.” I choke on my words. “You don’t have to…”
Ares stares down at me. “ I want to be here.”
He wants to be here. My shoulders sag, like some of the weight has moved from me to him. He peers down at me, and I place my hand on his cheek.