With Blood shall come Desire (MxM)

☽ Chapter Fourteen ☾

𝕬ristaeus stared at the now empty spot with a stern gaze, fighting a battle in his mind. "Why does it feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest?", he looked at Silthos with serious eyes, holding a pain with the same depth as the ocean. "What have you done to me...", he whispered, his gaze softening. This man. This incredible man does not deserve to end this way. Aristaeus wouldn't let it happen. And if he had to make selfish choices, he would take them.

Silthos realised quickly what chaos was circling inside Aristaeus' chest. He widened his eyes slightly and stared at the other god. He, the god of blood and war, desperate and hurt because of his possible future death. Silthos felt it all. The cage around his heart being crushed to pieces, ripping the pounding organ out of it. Aristaeus' words, the soft hurt tone in his voice, touched his own heart more than it probably should. Silthos felt seen. He felt valued. He had been afraid of leaving the world and only to be mourned for his lost beauty. But this man in front of him showed his true pain for Silthos. Aristaeus would fight for him. And he would never forget him. Death wouldn't be able to rip out the memory about this god. He would never forget this gentleman. "I apologise... I should have asked you if you really wanted to have it all back.", he murmured and laid his hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Aristaeus. I'm still here, we don't know when it's going to take place... and I just know that you will protect me long enough to give me time."

Aristaeus looked down at Silthos' elegant hand and swallowed. The touch somehow calmed him, which no one ever before had managed to achieve after Aristaeus lost his composure. Even with the feeling of having the whole world on his shoulders, the god wouldn't give his emotions back for anything. Not even to stop the pain. "I just don't understand... Why should it be you that dies? And does that mean that Lunaan will kill you? He is the one in possession of the sword."

"I don't know..." Silthos took a deep breath. "Could we quit talking about my death? It's a bit depressing. Let's get to Lunaan... and talk about this. We will see how it ends."

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Aristaeus agreed with much hesitation and they made their way back to the lighthouse. But even from afar Aristaeus felt that something was wrong. It was the feeling of dread that slowly crawled through his body. Death seemed so close, as if he was lurking over his shoulder and waiting to strike. He stopped Silthos from going any further. "You stay here. I will check everything inside. Something smells like blood."

"If you are keen on my safety don't leave me alone, I'm staying by your side." Silthos looked at him with strong eyes and stayed close to him. He knew how much Aristaues was desperate in saving him, but Destiny never fails. And he only wanted to ignore the fact that his existence would end soon. And if it would happen in this moment, he would want nothing more but to die in the gentleman's arms.

The wind blew in their direction and carried the smell of danger. Everything around them seemed awfully quiet and the moon was covered by dark clouds.

Aristaeus was split between two sides but at last he gave in. He turned towards the other man and stepped closer, until he was almost towering over him. "You stay close then. If you leave for even a second, I will drag you out and kill everything in this building that breathes. I'm not risking it. Understood?" There was something dark in his tone. A silent promise that he wouldn't stop, no matter what it took.

Silthos glanced up at him and nodded. "Understood." The dark eyes of Aristaeus had something terrifying in them when he said those words. Silthos' limbs didn't want to move for some seconds, they seemed paralyzed by his dominance, anticipating what he would say next. Like a desperate soldier waiting for his commander's order and carrying out everything without further asking. Even if it would be just pure suicide. Finally, his legs seemed to work again and he followed Aristaeus, staying close to him every second.