Boons of Olympus

Curse of Longing

The bright daylight entered the room making it impossible to sleep. But they did anyway. What caused the desperate waking up was a message, a special alert that somewhere out in the Elysium, his boon was being activated.

"What? Who?", he shouted to the void, raising his sword in an aggressive move. "Oh, it's just you Zagreus."

Ares got up and started moving towards the water amphora, poured the liquid into a large bow, and washed his face. Just gaining consciousness of his space, he was caught off guard when Aphrodite approached the cleaning bow too. Flinched by her silenced walk, he started to tense up by the idea of having to change room, so they would not be caught together.

Fortunately, young Zagreus couldn't disclose their location through a boon, but the nymph Echo had a most annoying influence in indoor buildings, so he went straight to another room in Aphrodite's chambers. A small one, where Ares sat between spears, shields, and a long sword, in which was engraved "For the most beautiful goddess, slayer of hearts and enemies". A weapon collection from her days among the locals in Sparta and Kythera, relics of a local deity phase. Knowing a thing or two about combat made her a real challenge in bed, which made the god of war a little more excited every time.

"I so anticipate the day you finally arrive upon Olympus. There are few amongst us here with interests such as those I think we share", he said to Hades' newfound son.

"There are at least a few of us who share such interests here, isn't that so, Lord Ares?" Aphrodite interpolated. "As for you, dearest, you take all the time you need!"

Giving out blessings to the deepest pits of Tartarus was an interesting new activity for the Olympians, not all of them for sure. Lord father Zeus and most of Ares' brothers and sister picked a liking for the underworld prince. His uncle and Aphrodite herself also came to good terms with their new relative. But there were a few who still didn't or cared too little about the situation to manifest: lady mother Hera, his brother Hephaestus, Apollo, and lady Hestia all had more important things to tend to, accord to themselves. Work, managing a royal marriage, caring for the mortals, or dating them, just to see if they are going to end up like a rock or with supernatural gifts. The only Olympian who didn't show the vaguest interest in Zagreus was the matron Demeter, and Ares thought that was for the better. The old goddess had a way of making everyone bend to her expectations, and the poor boy could be far better off without her interference in his life. The underworld was an already miserable place without a snaping cold boon waiting to be attended to.

"Dear? Are you still there?", Aphrodite called.

"Yes, my lady", he answered like so many times before.

Walking barefoot was not a problem, but he was surely affected by how light his clothes were when he was in her chambers. Only a thin red robe, perfect to be taken off in a turn of a second, was permitted, so he had to feel the shifting texture instead of the firm and heavy grip of hide and metal. The small room was in a dark corridor, left of several columns, which shadowed a section of the passage in a remarking fashion. There were bigger rooms, open and filled with lavish expenses her devotees presented her. Presents from kings and merchants that got what they wanted in their love lives after endless prayers and sacrifices. She used to toy with some of them, granting half wishes or rearranging hearts' desires to her contempt, but others she held close to her liking. Ares would always question himself which category he fitted the most.

"Don't make him wait more next time, ok?", she heard his footsteps into the private room. "I've found myself fond of our little godling."

"You're interested in him?"

"Oh no, Zagreus is more like a little devotee", she laughed at the thought. "Always thankful, but sometimes mistaken with attitudes. He's too similar to mortals."

She drank a cup of wine from the table next to her fluffy pillows, and the liquid dripped on her in small droplets. A certain rage towards Dionysus came into his heart.

"Besides, he has a thing for two different friends", she completed, like that matter at all to the goddess of love.

"And my lady is married", Ares confirmed.

"Yes, I'm also married", Aphrodite repeated like this crucial part of her life was nothing but a minor aspect of the grand scheme of things. And maybe it was, for her.

She looked at him with piercing eyes, weighing her options. Sometimes, she would dismiss him just as he mentioned her husband. Others, she'd rejoice in the idea of adultery. Her emotions were not flickering, but the power over Ares made sure she had what was not possible outside these chambers: the power to openly play with the gods as much as she did with mortals. His heart ached when the realization came, that he was nothing but a toy. A weakling that exposed the Olympian facade for lust and passion.

However, the mighty god of war knew when defeat was certain, and it served little to keep up the pompous family appearance in closed doors. He loved her warmth more than the few love served in that household.

"You left this on the bed", she grabbed the weapon he used to threaten the air earlier and placed it at the edge of her bed. "I guess war is never outreach of my lover."

"But yourself is very experienced in that. I've seen the armory, my lady."

He reached for the sword, and pushed the weapon aside for a seat at the bed, by her side. The feel of the bed was as smooth as her body, and the mattress's silk offered little abrasion to his tunic.

"I abandoned that aspect of me, the mortals have you and Athena for such things. I barely remember how to use a sword anymore."

"But the physical combat stayed, of course."

"What can I say? It's the daily practice", she smiled while taking another sip of the intoxicating beverage. After a loud sound of appreciation, poured him more of the drink.

"Funny you mentioned Athena, we are often compared but I'm nothing like her", he took a small sip and felt his lord brother's personal influence on it. "She's the final words of victory, the sharpening of tools beforehand, the preparation rites, and the strategical planning", he downed the rest of the cup, accepting her invitation to adultery once more. "Not the bloodshed, the heat of the battlefield."

"Well lord Ares, fortunately, I happen to like you more than her. Mortals often praise the noble things in life, but there's no such a thing as noble passion. Nobleness in passion turns love into respect, something I reserve to lord Zeus, lady Athena, and my dear Hephaestus."

"Yes, but you only fuck me."

Both his hand reached for different cheeks as he made the starting move in their bodily fight.