With Blood shall come Desire (MxM)

☽ Chapter Twelve ☾

𝕾ilthos widened his eyes and quickly burrowed his face into the menu card again. Aristaeus was flirting with him, wasn't he? He slowly laid down the menu and sighed as he had to concentrate on Aristaeus again, so that the desires of the others didn't overwhelm him. The god's own wants remained a mystery to him. He could sense something, but it felt like it was covered in fog. It would probably take some time until his heart would fully reveal itself again and have all feelings restored.

"Why isn't it overwhelming you to sense all of this?", Silthos asked and looked at the man in front of him, almost hesitant.

Aristaeus hummed. "I sense different things than you. Negative emotions. That is why I like to stay in the company of people like this." Aristaeus gestured at the crowd in the guesthouse. Groups of people were sitting around tables, chatting and eating while the dance floor was filled with couples dancing to slow jazz. "People that just want to have a good time and not think about the consequences. They are the same as me...trying to avoid the darkness inside of them and enjoy the night. My mind is clear and I am in full control of my powers. Well, that is until a fight breaks out." He chuckled and leaned back to look at Silthos. "You need to spend more time in the human world. I am used to their feelings and desires because I encounter them almost daily. Someday you will learn how to use it to your advantage."

Since his heart started beating again, Aristaeus' own desires had overwhelmed him. He desired to smell blood on a battleground. He desired to feel joy after seeing another era being introduced. But the desire that overwhelmed him the most sat directly in front of him. And it grew in size quickly. Every time he inhaled deeply, Aristaeus could smell his sweet scent and with each smile that formed on his lips Aristaeus fell deeper and deeper. The god had felt it from the first moment, when Silthos kissed his chest and since then he had done everything in his power to keep these desires hidden. The god couldn't risk to overwhelm Silthos with his own feelings. Not only towards him but towards everything. Getting this part of himself back had been a curse and a blessing.

Silthos looked around, watching the humans dance and laugh together. It had something peaceful. He found beauty in the little things they did. Sitting together, talking about work, the new book published by a famous artist, dreams and the future. Being human was a beauty in itself. "I know I probably should but controlling and sensing an emotion that is so powerful and diverse and also an emotion I never felt myself... it's confusing and overwhelming for me. I feel like I'm walking through a labyrinth I have built but lost my memories of it." He glanced back at Aristaeus. "That's why I'm concentrating on you... though I sense your way of thinking about me has changed even more since you got your emotions back. It felt cold before now it seems peaceful but more like a sleeping volcano. I can't place it right yet."

Silthos had no idea how right he was. Aristaeus was glad that the god of love could concentrate on him and that he felt calm around him. That had not been the case in the past. Aristaeus had been like a monster that everyone tried to avoid. Until he learned how to take control of everything. The wars had stopped as he learned the real meaning of his purpose. Until Aurelius took his heart and everything he had built started to crumble. "Don't think too much about it...", he mumbled. "The volcano should stay asleep for as long as it can."

Their food came out after and a steaming soup was put in front of them.

Silthos examined the food and slowly brought a spoon to his lips. The creamy liquid tasted really great and it surprised him. "It tastes delicious." He continued eating and thought about Aristaeus comment. "I don't sense anything evil from the volcano... it's something different, I can feel it-" "Hey, beautiful! Care to dance with me? I've never seen someone so gorgeous around here.", a random guy showed up and started flirting with Silthos. But he had no time for this. He didn't even look at the guy but used his powers to make him desire another person in the room. The man turned around in a trance, stepping to a guy with shoulder long hair and kissing him harshly. They quickly started to make out and got into a dark corner to intensify their little session. Some people watched the couple in shook. Love between two men or women was still frowned upon in the human world, even though the gods themselves had never questioned it. It was customary to love and have fun with whomever you wanted.