THE SON OF DEIMOS

Chapter 3

Ethan

I place my hands just above Apate's heart, and for a split second, I deliberate leaving her like this. This way, the rest will know what has become of me, and that I'm hunting them down. But since I love suspense, and I want to stretch this out for a little bit longer, I decide to dispose her body.

Sti synécheia ekdióko aftín tin psychí sta lákka tou tartárou sýmfona me aftó pou ékane o idioktítis tou

I hereafter banish this soul to the pits of Tartarus in accordance to what it's owner did

I close my eyes as I chant this over and over again, until at last, I feel the anguished soul of Apate leave the body. I open my eyes and with a flick of my fingers, the crimson shadows cover the body and whoosh, it's gone. First letter, down. It's time for dear ole uncle. The fact that I didn't start with him, proves just how big of a softie I am. I smirk to myself as I imagine the fear on the face of Phobos, the god of fear himself. Isn't this world a little ironic sometimes?

I pocket the knife and the small bottles of Ichor, pull the baseball cap down, then head out. The door opens at my command and I almost jump back when I collide with a small frame. I grit my teeth in anger when I see the little girl from earlier; eavesdropping mortal brat.

"what are you doing here? Did your mommy teach you to eavesdrop on adult's conversations?" I manage to keep most of my anger out of my question, as the girl stands up and brushes the dirt off her clothes.

"No, I just arrived. I actually came to bring something for Miss Apate. Her daughter sent me here, said she was busy. Sorry for offending you. please don't make a spider crawl on my neck. I'm afraid of them" She speaks in a small voice, possibly scared, and takes a step back, ready to run. It takes five seconds for her words to hit me.

"No, my dear sweet child. I'm not offended with you, now that I know your reason for being here. So, did you say Apate's daughter sent you?" My tone is neutral, and I hope, just for a moment, that I heard her wrong and she's going to give me the answer I want.

"Yes, her name is Rhea. Don't you know her?"

"I have not had the chance to meet her, but I'm sure I will" I answer the child, but in my mind, I'm wishing for the exact opposite. Why did anyone never bother to tell me she had a child. I really am going to exile those worthless guards now.

"I'm sure you'll like her. She's really pretty, with long red hair, and the biggest of hearts. Where's Miss Apate, I really need to give her this and then run home" I notice, for the first time, the envelope in her hand. Too bad, the recipient is too far away. Again, Tartarus is no child's place, so it's not like I can take her there to deliver the message.

"She's gone out to get me something to drink. You know how miss Apate is, loves giving treats to her visitors. But you can leave it with me. I'll give it to her" There's no need to use the charming effect on her. She happily gives it to me and hurries away. She really needed to go home.

I watch to make sure she's gone, then tear open the envelope. Inside, is a letter, written in cursive, with the most, well, unexpected handwriting. Aren't girls supposed have dainty little handwritings? Or is there usually an exception?

At least the words are in the same line, and are not completely incomprehensible. She's written in ancient Greek, a language no longer used, except by deities, and half bloods. So it was a coded message, only meant for her mother's eyes, or any other deity who happened to stumble upon it. It reads:

giatí den mou eípes óti kynigoúses? pes mou poia eínai i theótita kai tha ton stamatíso prin ftásei se séna

Why didn't you tell me you were being hunted down? Tell me the name of the deity and I'll stop him before he gets to you

I laugh to myself as it turns to ash on my palm, and I have the courtesy of closing the door behind me when I leave. See how good I can be, haha. I walk with my eyes down, following the same path the small girl led me through when we came. I'm not gone very far, when I look up to see an old woman just ahead, and she's approaching me. Walking away would make me suspicious, well, that is, if I've studied the moral ways correctly, so I continue with my brisk walk.

She stands on the path and stops, obviously waiting for me to reach her. When I do, I realize that I made the mistake of assuming she was moral, when she clearly isn't. I start to flick my fingers, deciding to be on the offense rather that on the defense, when she decides to strike. But she holds her frail hand up, with the palm to the sky, a clear sign of surrender, the immortal way.

"I am not here to stop you, or to try and fight you, as you so obviously think. No, I am here merely to give you a fair warning. Don't go back to the palace. Phobos knows that he's next on your list and he has recruited Hecate. It will be your baby powers against theirs" Her voice sounds nothing like her appearance, so I assume she must be in disguise.

"They are not baby powers. I can now overthrow any god, even Zeus himself"

"I call them that because they're newly acquired. You have not even learnt how to fully use them to your advantage. It is you against the deadly god of fear, and Hecate's dark magic. Do you seriously think you can withstand that. Even you?"

I grit my teeth in response, as I search for an answer I know I don't have. Though I doubt her reasons for telling me all this, I clearly don't want to cross Hecate. Not with her dark magic, and certainly not a combination of that together with fear. I look at the old woman in front of me, testing her conscience for any trigger that this might be a lie, but no. I nod once, then turn and walk the same way I came. I'm not known for gratitude so I hope she wasn't expecting it from me.

I know a search for me will start soon enough, and I cannot risk getting caught. Not now, when I'm unprepared. There's only one place I can go to now, and it doesn't matter if I don't want to. This will be the only regret and guilt I'll ever feel in my immortal life. But I have no choice.

A/N

Another late chapter, I know, but I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think of this chapter and the story so far. I'm open to suggestions.

Love you guys.

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