Liora

4 | Clouded Connections

AUTHOR'S POV

As the plane settled into a smooth cruise, the hum of the engines became a steady rhythm, a background noise to the whirl of thoughts in Athena's head. The earlier meal had done little to soothe her nerves. 

She could feel her stomach twist with a mixture of anxiety and uncertainty. Her hands clenched on her lap, nails digging into her palms as she stared out of the window, the world below shrinking beneath layers of thick clouds.

The silence between her and Ares was palpable, but she could feel his eyes on her from time to time. She shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to navigate this new, overwhelming situation. She had a family.

 Brothers. Six of them. But they were strangers, and she felt like she was intruding on a life she never knew existed.

"A-Ares?" her voice wavered, barely above a whisper, the sound almost lost to the steady hum of the plane. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. Her heart raced, her chest tightening.

He turned his head towards her, his expression curious but calm. "Yeah? What's on your mind, Athena?"

Her eyes flickered down to her hands, nervously twisting her fingers together. 

"W-What are my... our brothers like? W-What are their names?" She stuttered, each word feeling heavier than the last. It was a question she'd been holding in since this whole journey began, but now that it was out in the open, she wasn't sure if she wanted the answer.

Ares smiled softly, his demeanor lightening at the mention of their siblings. "Well," he started, his voice holding a hint of warmth, 

"there's Artemis, the oldest. He's 27, and... well, he's always been the serious one. He's got a lot on his plate, but that's just how he is."

Athena nodded, biting her lower lip, unsure of what to say. She didn't really know what she expected. Family... it was such a foreign concept to her. The word tasted strange on her tongue.

"And then there's me," Ares continued, a hint of humor creeping into his voice. "I'm 26. A doctor. A bit more relaxed than Artemis, but... still got my moments." He chuckled lightly.

As Ares spoke, Athena's mind wandered. A family. A real family. Could they really be hers? A sharp, familiar voice crept into her thoughts, dark and twisted.

They don't want you. They'll punish you just like he did. You're nothing to them, just like you were to him.

Her body stiffened, the echoes of her father's cruelty seeping into her bones. She could still feel his harsh grip, the bruises that lingered even now in places no one could see. The words were as painful as the beatings. Worthless. Useless. Unwanted.

"Athena?" Ares's voice snapped her back, and she blinked rapidly, trying to focus.

"S-Sorry..." she murmured, a soft flush creeping up her cheeks.

"It's okay," Ares said, his brow furrowing slightly, but he didn't push her. 

"You were asking about the others, right?" He continued, though there was a slight hesitation in his tone now, as if he sensed the shift in her mood but wasn't sure what to make of it.

She nodded, grateful he didn't pry. "Y-Yes... the others?" she pressed, her voice shaky.

"Right, well, there's Nikolaos, 24. He's super friendly, runs his own business, real people person," Ares said, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—a hint of caution. 

Athena didn't know why, but something about how he spoke made her feel like there was more to Nikolaos than just a businessman.

A small voice in her mind whispered What if he's dangerous? What if they're all like him? Her heart rate spiked, but she forced herself to focus.