Accidentally in Love

The Approaching War

I woke the next morning to Ares banging on the door.

"Clarissa, Zeus says you need to prepare," Ares said firmly. "I'm taking you to the arena to train."

"Let me get something more functional on and I'll be right out," I said firmly. I shut the door grabbing black yoga pants and a black tank top.  I pulled my hair up before I grabbed my sword. I stepped into the hallway as Ares smirked.

"You are bringing a sword?" He said as I nodded.

"I'm going to use my sword in battle so why would I train with anything else?" I asked as he nodded.

"Point made," he said as we walked down the hallway. He led me into the arena as I looked around. The room had mats and ropes. Along the far wall was a bunch of different weapons and armor. The arena had anything you could ever need.

"So where do you want to..." I didn't finish the sentence before I found myself on the ground. I winced before my power lunched Ares off me. He laughed as I got to my feet quickly.

"Be prepared, opponents won't give you a warning," Ares said as I held my sword in front of me. I gasped as Ares took a swing. I blocked his sword only for him to kick me. I staggered backward but stayed on my feet. I barely got my sword up in time to block his next swing. I spun elbowing him in the rips. He didn't flinch and instead pulled my leg out from under me. I tumbled to the ground hitting the mat hard. I rolled to the right as his sword plunged into the floor next to me. I scrambled to my feet as he picked up a shield. "You are holding your own well, for a demigod."

"Thanks," I said bitterly. Immortals think less of me because I'm part human and I was tired of it. His sword lashed out at me as I blocked his blade only for his shield to ram into me. I fell back my sword bouncing away from my reach. He ran toward me but I put up a wall of electricity. He broke straight through without effort. I looked at the sword calling for my blade. I felt the handle touch my skin seconds before Ares reached me. My sword and his locked but I knew I had the worse position. Ares had me on the ground with no way to escape. The harder Ares pressed the more obvious his weaknesses became. He left his right side unguarded even with a shield. I dropped my sword scooting close enough to drag my sword against his skin. I breathed heavily as I got to my feet. Ares had locked up from shock and I knew I had him. I put my sword against his throat careful to to hurt him.

"Nicely done," Zeus's voice filled the room. I turned facing him.

"Zeus," Ares said politely.

"Beat by a demigod, interesting. I have never met a demigod who could defeat Ares," Zeus laughed.

"You should know I'm so much more than a demigod now," I said breathlessly.

"Don't get cocky, you are winded just from fighting Ares," Zeus said firmly. "You won't be fighting just one and you won't have time to find a vulnerability."

"I will do whatever I have to for Derek," I said firmly.

"Honorable as that may be that idea will be your undoing," Zeus snapped walking out of the room quickly.

"Ares," I said facing him. "Did I hurt you too much?" I asked softly.

"No I'm good but we are done for now," Ares said. I nodded walking back to my room. I tossed the sword down when my vision blurred...

Fallon sat in a garden with a small fuchsia flower. She admired the flower while sitting on a stone rock. Hades materialized next to her with a smile.

"Fallon my love," he purred caressing her cheek.

"I have missed you so Hades," she said a blush creeping across her cheeks.

"How is your daughter?" Hades asked as Fallon brightened.

"She's well but she misses her father," she said after a moment. Hades retracted his hand his eyes hardening.

"Have you told Zeus about us yet?" Hades snapped harshly getting to his feet. She stood up with tears in her eyes.

"Please don't be mad," she pleaded as he grew more cold and distant.

"How can you sit here with me but go home to him!" Hades roared as tears spilled down her face.

"I just need more time please," she begged but Hades grew angrier.

"No more time!" He yelled when a twig snapped in the distance. A woman stood in hidden by the darkness as Hades and Fallon argued. Hades launched a fireball into the garden as Fallon gasped.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed reaching for him. His sword punctured her stomach before she could react.

"No more time. You and everyone you love will die by my hand!" Hades growled coolly in Fallon's ear. The woman stepped back catching Hades attention.

"Fallon I'll start with your daughter," Hades laughed as he hurled a fireball at her. The woman's hands flew up send the flame into Hades. He tumbled through a portal back to the Underworld. The girl ran to her mother dropping beside her.

"Mommy," she cried as Fallon took her hand.

"Be brave daughter of Zeus," she said before going limp her dead eyes staring at nothing.

My eyes flew open to find Zeus sitting beside me. I sat up with confusion. What had I just seen and was it true? There was no other explanation to what I had seen and it most certainly was true.

"Hades loved her," I said with anger and betrayal flowing through me. Fallon misled me about the situation!

"Who?" Zeus asked as I looked into his eyes.

"Fallon. She had an affair with him and it killed her. Her affair started this entire war," I snapped as Zeus's gaze filled with an unreadable emotion. Fallon was the reason Hades cared so much about me. Hades wanted to finish what he started all those centuries ago.