Chapter 9 Ares
“You know you’re pussy-whipped, right?” Deimos says with his leg thrown over the armrest as he eats grapes. I choose to ignore him and focus on fixing my cufflinks.
Phobos studies his fingers. “How is your little piece from the Caribbean? Maybe I can pay her a visit.”
Deimos sits up and slowly takes his leg down. “What did you just say to me?”
Phobos shrugs as he ties the laces on his shoes. “I said your girl in the Caribbean. I want to visit her.”
Deimos’s face goes blank. “How the hell do you know about her?”
Phobos dusts his foot and sits up. “What’s her name? Tina, Tia, Tanya? I know it starts with a T. Either way, I want a piece of her.”
Deimos stands and walks over to Phobos, who is now sitting spread-eagle on the armchair. “How much does she charge, by the way?”
“I will slap you at full speed and reboot your whole fucking system.” Deimos’s fist clenches.
“Because I asked you for her price? I just want to know how well she fu—” Before Phobos can continue, Deimos pulls his fist back and cracks Phobos on the chin. Phobos falls to the floor, and a sinister chuckle leaves him.
“Who is pussy-whipped now, brother?” Phobos spits out blood and wipes his lips.
I sigh. “Boys. Don’t bleed on my floor if you’re about to fight.”
“Well, tell him to shut the hell up.” Deimos’s chest rises and falls as he stares down at Phobos.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. All I said was…”
Deimos looms over Phobos, his eyes daring him to say more. Then he steps back and goes to his chair. It’s interesting that the playboy has a hidden treasure of his own.
“Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom of consequences, Phobos.
” The reflection of the man staring back at me is perfect and composed.
All a fucking lie. Inside there is a quiet storm.
I am about to get married. To bind myself in a ceremony meant for love.
Do I love her? I care for her. I care enough to marry her.
To make sure that she is safe. But is she safe from me?
No. The sad part is, she will never know until it’s too late.
“I’m going downstairs into the garden. Go get her in five minutes. I will get Nisa.”
“You scrotum-neck motherfucker. I’ll deal with you after the wedding,” Deimos sneers.
Phobos smirks, “Oh look, Deimos, you are giving my middle finger an erection.”
They both disappear.
“You’re awfully quiet, Aric.”
“I am just observing tonight.”
“I find that to be very interesting. Interesting indeed.” I close my eyes and disappear from my room and reappear in front of Nisa’s.
I knock on her door and wait.
When the door opens, Nisa steps out with her hair braided with white ribbons. She is wearing a chiton, a simple white tunic fastened with a brooch with my sigil on it.
She spins around. “How do I look?”
I smile down at her. “Like a Roman princess.”
She smiles. “You’re so silly, Einstein.”
I bow and hold my hand out to her. She looks at my palm like she’s hesitant to touch it.
Just as I was about to pull my hand away, she smiles up at me and places her warm hand in mine.
In that moment, I knew two things: I would die protecting her, and she was more than my ward; she was becoming my daughter.
Hand in hand, we step out onto the patio and walk to the rose garden. There was no need for decoration; the rose garden held its beauty on its own.
The pathway was brightened by the copper basins with fire dancing in them. They lead to the stone arch covered in red climbing roses.
Red, white, and black cloths drape a stone table along with a gold bowl of water, one pomegranate, a gold dagger, and a gold cord.
The moon hangs high in the sky. I look up, wondering if the gods are looking down at me. Maybe some are feeling pity for me, while others may be hoping for my demise.
“Tonight, fuck the gods.”
“Agreed,” I whisper.
I hear footsteps coming behind me. Looking around, I see Phobos and Deimos in black shirts and charcoal pants. Deimos’s gold chain sparkles under the torches.
“Phobos.” Nisa lets go of my hand and goes running to Phobos, who stoops to talk to her.
Deimos turns to me. “I forgot to tell you that Mrs. Grady sent an email stating that she will be out for the month. Family issues.”
“Hmm, that’s never happened before.”
Deimos shrugs. At the same time, Hecate walks down the aisle in a shimmering, thin-strapped silver dress.
She smiles, and her eyes meet mine. “You ready, loser?”
“More than I would ever be.”
“Then let’s begin.” Hecate walks behind the stone table and throws her hair over her shoulder.
SORAYA
I can hear the soft music of a harp. No, it’s not a harp. It could be a lyre. I take up the bouquet of red roses and walk to the door leading to the garden.
Slowly, the door opens. Hmm, I didn’t realize they were automatic.
Deimos and Phobos stand behind Ares. They are all dressed in black.
Nisa stands at Hecate’s side, but it’s Ares who has my attention.
With each step I take, I think about how he saved me from Elias, how he gave me and Nisa a home.
How he makes love to me. No, he was nothing like Elias; he was better.
The moon hangs high in the sky, making everything in the garden look mythical.
At my first wedding, I ran away. This one, I am running too.
Ares inhales as I stretch out my palm and reach for his. It feels so warm and safe. That’s what it is. In my years of living, I have never felt completely safe, but with Ares, I do.
He looks down at me like he has never seen me before. “You look absolutely beautiful.”
I bow my head and smile. “Thank you. You look very dashing in black.”
A throat clears. “Shall we begin?”
Both Ares and I look at Hecate. “By the crossroad and doorway, I open the path. By the light of the moon. I sanctify this union.”
My heart is beating, and I am hearing little of what Hecate is saying. I pivot to face Ares, and he does the same. Maybe this was a mistake? Should I run now? Should I?
I feel a soft squeeze on my hand. I look up into the scared face of Ares. His blue eye roves over my face, and a small smile tugs at his lips.
Hecate is still talking, and I swear the flames in the bowls are all moving at the same time. Hecate comes around the stone table with a gold cord. She begins to bind our hands together.
“Speak your vows out into the night. Start with the words before the witness and the flame.”
Vows? I didn’t know we had to write vows. From the look on Ares’s face, neither did he.
Ares clears his throat. “Before the witness and the flame, I, Ares, promise to protect you from all things. To be loyal and true. I promise to be both your sword and shield, to be respectful. I promise to give you the best version of myself. I vow constancy in the sight of both gods and men until life unbinds us.”
I swallow because he sounds serious. This is no longer feels like just a thing for my protection. This feels real.
“Your turn, Soraya,” Hecate urges.
“Before the witness and the flame, I, Soraya, promise to be faithful, to be industrious, to be loyal and true. To be accepting even if I don’t understand.
I vow to be respectful. I will strive to bring you great joy.
” I pause, thinking about the words he said before.
“I vow constancy in the sight of both gods and men until life unbinds us.
Hecate sprinkles water on our hands, and the droplets catch the moonlight, making them look silvery. She takes the seeds of the pomegranate and pushes them into my mouth and Ares’s.
“Like Persephone and Hades, may you be blessed with happiness and peace.”
I can feel the ceremony coming to an end.
“Wait,” I say. All eyes turn to me, and the place becomes silent.
“What is it, Little Flame?”
I bite my lip. “May I talk to Aric?”
Ares scowls. “Make it quick.”
Ares throws back his, and his moan is mighty.
When his eyes meet mine again, I know from their soft stare and the relaxed stance, Aric is here.
“Before the witness and the flame. I, Soraya, promise to be faithful, to be industrious, to be loyal and true. To be accepting even if I don’t understand.
I vow to be respectful. I will strive to bring you great joy.
I vow constancy in the sight of both gods and men until life unbinds us. ”
Aric repeats the words that Ares said. His hold weakens as he inhales, and his shoulders curl in, allowing Ares back in control.
Hecate smiles and places her palm on ours. “Forget the past you leave behind, embrace the present you now choose, love the future that binds you together.”
For the first time, I hear the word “love” in this ceremony, and my heart does a leap of joy.
“What is bounded under the moon shall not be broken by God or man. This is my solemn vow.” Hecate’s hands feel hot, and I almost pull my hand away.
Hecate claps her hands and says, “Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Kallistratos.” She wiggles her eyebrows at Ares. “You may now kiss your wife.”
I glance up at Ares, shyly expecting a chaste kiss on my forehead.
Instead, his hand slides down my side, slow and soft, until he finds the curve of my waist and pulls me closer.
My breath stutters, and goosebumps race up my arms from his touch.
He bends closer, and I tiptoe, bracing my hand on his chest. His eyes lock onto my lips, and my heart is beating fast, waiting for the kiss.
His mouth finally crashes onto mine. His kiss is hungry, demanding, like he was marking a part of me. I moan against him as his tongue teases my lips, urging me to open for him.
His hands slide down to my butt and grip me tighter, pressing so close that I can feel the heat rolling off his body. My nails dig into his chest, and I take delight in the low growling sound that he makes. I kiss him back harder. I feel desperate, like I want more of him. I need more of Ares.
Then I hear a throat clear. Ares pulls away first. I keep my eyes closed for a second and then open them.