Ares

Chapter five: Cursed and trialed

Ares

As I lay on the floor of Elara's room, my body crackling with an energy I couldn't control, a storm of emotions raged inside me. The golden lines flickering over my skin were a stark reminder of the stakes I faced-of the trial that could determine the fate of the Olympians. I could feel Elara's warmth beside me, her fingers brushing my arm, grounding me in a way I hadn't anticipated. But even her touch couldn't stave off the impending dread looming over me.

The Olympians were watching. They had been observing from their lofty heights, scrutinizing my every move, weighing the importance of my connection to Elara against the power I represented. This trial was not just a test of her feelings for me; it was a test of my worthiness to descend from Olympus again. The gods had grown restless, yearning for the days of old when they ruled the earth freely, and I was their spearhead-caught between duty and desire.

The moment the energy surged through me, I knew it was a summons. The gods had sent this wave to force me back to Olympus, to confront Aphrodite and the others. They needed to know if I could be the bridge between our worlds, the warrior they believed would bring us back into power. But I couldn't shake the nagging fear in my gut.

Elara was no ordinary mortal; she was my fated mate, gifted to me by the very goddess who would send me away. I couldn't tell her that, not when everything hinged on the fragility of our connection. The trial demanded that she fall in love with me on her own terms, without the weight of my divinity influencing her heart. It was a cruel game, one that threatened to shatter everything I had come to cherish.

As the golden energy pulsed one last time, I felt the pressure building within me. I needed to leave, but I hated the thought of being apart from Elara. For two weeks, I would be away, trapped in the politics and machinations of Olympus, while she remained on Earth-unaware of the true significance of what we had begun.

"Damn it," I muttered, pushing myself up to a sitting position. Elara knelt beside me, concern etched on her freckled face. Her light brown eyes were filled with worry, and I felt an instinctual urge to comfort her, to shield her from the chaos that was about to unfold.

"Ares? What's happening? You're scaring me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I swallowed hard, forcing a smirk onto my lips. "It's nothing I can't handle, Elara. Just a minor... inconvenience." I didn't want her to see the turmoil inside me. I had built a reputation as the god of war-strong, unyielding, unbreakable. But the truth was, I felt like a fragile thread about to snap.

"Minor?" she echoed incredulously, her brow furrowed. "You just fell to the ground and glowed like a Christmas light. This is more than 'minor!'"

I chuckled softly, the sound feeling foreign against the gravity of the moment. "You worry too much. It's just a little energy surge. I'll be fine."

"Will you?" she pressed, her expression softening. "What is this really about, Ares? You can't just leave me hanging like this."

Her words struck a chord deep within me, and I hated the vulnerability it exposed. I wanted to tell her everything-to share the truth of my existence, the weight of the gods' expectations, and the knowledge that I would soon be forced to face them alone. But I couldn't risk it. The gods were unpredictable, and revealing too much could put her in danger.

"I have to go back," I said finally, the resignation heavy in my voice. "To Olympus. They're waiting for me."

Her expression shifted from concern to confusion. "Olympus? Why? What do you mean?"

"Just-there are things I have to sort out. It's complicated." I stood up, shaking off the residual energy that clung to my skin like a second layer. "I'll be gone for two weeks. But I need you to trust me."

"Trust you?" she repeated incredulously. "You just appeared out of nowhere, and now you're leaving? How am I supposed to trust you when I don't even know who you really are?"

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew I had to maintain the facade of 'Aaron,' the mortal who had stumbled into her life. But with each moment that passed, I felt the weight of my own deception. I wanted to show her the real me-the god who had been cursed with the burden of this trial, yet so fiercely protective of her.

"I promise I'll explain everything when I get back," I said, my voice softer this time. "Just... don't forget about me."

Elara crossed her arms, a frown etched across her lips. "How can I forget you? You're like a walking disaster."

I chuckled, appreciating her attempt at humor, even in the face of my departure. "I'm glad I could make an impression."

As I prepared to leave, I could feel the heaviness in my chest-the gnawing fear of losing her in the chaos of my world. But this was a trial I had to face alone. If the gods were to return, I had to prove that I was worthy, and that included letting Elara find her own way to love me without my divine influence.

With a final glance back at her, I felt a flicker of hope mixed with the fear of the unknown. "I'll see you soon, Elara. Keep your heart open for me."

And with that, I vanished from her sight, leaving behind a piece of myself that I feared I might never regain. The trials ahead were daunting, but I had to remember: love was never a straightforward path. And if I wanted to earn Elara's heart, I had to survive the storm that awaited me in Olympus.