Blind Fury

A week had already passed since Ares had resumed his place as God of War. In that entire time, not once had Eden crossed his mind. It was like those six-months of mortality had never even happened. He had already lost all of the humanity he gained while being a mortal, and worse yet, forgotten about what it felt like to be loved. He was back to his old tricks, causing madness and mayhem across the nation, evoking fights and petty arguments, and of course, war.

He was kicked back in his throne in Athens, one leg casually flung over an armrest, listening to a general’s account of a recent battle, when a shimmer of light with pink and red hearts happened.

“Here you are! I’ve been looking for you for a week now, Ares.”

The war god rolled his eyes and dismissed his company. “What can I do for you, sis?” he sighed, swinging his leg around and sitting upright. He grabbed a goblet of wine from the nearby table and offered some to Aphrodite.

She shook her head. “No thanks, bro. I really need to talk to you, though.”

“Fire away,” he said as he took a sip from the cup.

“I thought you should know that I took care of Eden. When Zeus took you and made you a god again, I took it upon myself to send her a note saying that you were unexpectedly called away, so she wouldn’t worry about you.”

Ares dropped the cup, wine splattered across the floor. He stood abruptly. “Eden? Oh, Gods, I haven’t even thought about Eden. What did you tell her? Does she know who I am?”

“Calm down, bro. I just told you what I said. And no, she doesn’t know who you really are. I signed the note with your initial. Good thing Ares and Aaron start with the same letter, huh? So, why are you lying to the girl, Ares? She’s been completely honest with you.”

“It’s none of your business,” he snapped.

“Ares, you can’t continue to lie to the poor girl. It’s just not right.”

Ares glared at his sister. “Stay out of it, sis. Don’t go poking your nose in places where it doesn’t belong, okay.”

Aphrodite, put her hands up in front of her. “Okay, fine! I was just doing you a favor. A simple thank you would have worked, you know.” She disappeared.

An instant later, Ares disappeared too.


********


Eden had continued to practice and train since Aaron had left. She desperately needed something to focus on, to keep her mind off of Aaron. She had done her exercises and was taking her usual run around the lake when she noticed a dark figure standing on the other side of the water, by the trees where she practiced with her sword.

At first, she didn’t know who it was, thinking that the stranger could be trouble for her. But as she got closer, she realized it was Aaron. Sudden adrenaline kicked in and she ran as fast as she could towards him.

“Aaron! Aaron! It’s you. It’s really you!” she yelled as she approached. He smiled and held out his arms. She didn’t bother to slow down, throwing herself at him and knocking them both to the ground. They rolled over a couple of times, stopping with Aaron on top of Eden. He could hear the joy in her sweet giggle. It sent a strange sensation through him.

Out of breath, she panted, “Gods, Aaron, I’m so glad you came back. I wasn’t sure when I was going to see you again. You left so abruptly last time.”

Aaron stared into her beautiful blue eyes and his heart stopped. All it took was one look from her and everything he had felt came rushing back. His face softened as her warmth filled his heart. He pushed a wild lock of silken hair out of her face and said, “I know. It couldn’t be helped. But I’m here now, my sweet, but I can only stay for a little while and then I must return. So let’s make the best of it.”

He lowered his mouth to hers and felt a rush of emotion. His emotions – her emotions – twisting together, becoming one – just as their bodies did beneath the tree they lay under.


********


Aaron insisted on carrying Eden back to the cabin. He told her he wanted her in his arms for as long as possible, since he wasn’t sure when he would be able to return again. Eden tried not to show her disappointment at his words; however, the god was so in tune with her feelings at that time that he could easily tell how she felt.

She made them a simple dinner and then sat by the fire, content to just be with each other, talking late into the night. They made love again before falling to sleep, wrapped around one another. By late morning he was gone, with a promise to return again as soon as he could.


********


Since that day, Ares made it a point to check in on Eden at least a couple of times a week. She, of course, didn’t know he was there, since he was invisibly cloaked. Mostly, he wanted to make sure she was safe, but there were other reasons he keep watch, as well. Although she had given him no reason to doubt her love, he couldn’t help but think otherwise. Deep inside, he found himself worrying that she might find another lover in his absence. It caused the war god to experience feelings of extreme jealously when he thought about it, and he was determined to keep her for himself. Another idea came to mind. He knew exactly what to do!

So on the following visit with Eden, he decided to leave her with a little gift. A child. She became pregnant with his baby, thus insuring the fact that she would never take another in his place. Additionally, he thought that the baby would help to keep her company during the times when he was not there. There had been many occasions when he invisibly checked in on her, that he noticed she seemed somewhat depressed, sometimes even in tears, because she deeply missed being with Aaron.

When Eden found out about the baby, she couldn’t have been more excited. She was about two months into the pregnancy and hadn’t started to show yet, but she couldn’t wait to tell Aaron. She only hoped that he would be as happy about it as she was.


********


Aaron arrived the following week with a gift for Eden. A beautiful pink silk robe, the kind that wraps around and secures with a tie and belt. He had gone to Aphrodite for a suggestion and she had recommended the robe, happy to hear he was still seeing Eden. However, when she started digging deeper for information about the relationship, he clammed up and disappeared.

Eden was practically bubbling over with joy when Aaron walked through the door. She ran up and threw her arms around him, showering him with little affectionate kisses.

Aaron laughed. “You aren’t happy to see me, are you?” he teased. “I brought you a little something, my sweet. I hope you like it.”

“Really? Oh, Aaron! If it’s from you, then I love it already. I don’t care what it is.”

Aarockeocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows questionably. “So, you’re telling me that if I brought you . . . say, a frog, or a bucket of dirt, then you’d think that was just grand?” He laughed again.

She looked at him and nodded yes. Love and admiration shone in her eyes in abundance. “Of course, my dear. Anything. I’ve got something for you too, in a way. I’m really excited about it. I hope you will be, too,” she told him nervously.

“Well, open mine f,” A,” Aaron insisted. He handed her the brown paper wrapped package.

She ripped the wrapping open and saw the pretty robe. She held it up in front of her, adoring it. “Oh, Aaron! It’s gorgeous! This had to cost you a week’s dinars. Just look at quality of this material and the fine craftsmanship.”

“So you like it then?” he asked.

“Like it? I LOVE it. But why are you spending your hard earned money on me like this?” She looked seriously at him.
He reached out and stroked her cheek. “Because, you deserve the best things this life has to offer you. To me, Eden, you are a queen. My queen. I want you to be happy.”

She leaned into his touch. “I am happy, Aaron. As long as we’re together, I’m the happiest girl alive!”

He cupped her chin and gently kissed her and immediately his heart began to race. There was something about the girl that brought all of his defenses down. When the god was with her, it was almost like being mortal again. He was free from war and pain and anger, only not from deception. Although they hadn’t talked about it recently, he knew how she felt about Ares – about him, the deity. So many times had come and gone where he almost told her the truth, but never followed through. Perhaps he was just being the usual selfish god he had always been, knowing that she would likely leave him when she did find out. But maybe that would change, now that the baby is coming…

He released her and took a step backward, clapping his hands together, and the rubbing them against each other. “So, you have something for me, too? What? What is it? You’ve got my curiosity going,” he said as he sat on her bed.

She froze momentarily, unsure of what his reaction was going to be. But then she took a deep breath and shook it off and sat down next to him. Still nervous, she couldn’t look him in the eyes.

“Well? I’m waiting. What did you get me?” he poked.

“A . . . Aaron, I didn’t get you anything. Not really.”

“But didn’t you say that you had something for me? I swear I thought I heard you tell me that.”

She sighed. “You did. I did say that.” She finally looked up at his face.

Ares saw a river of mixed emotions swirling around in her eyes. “What is it, Eden? You’re worrying me. Is everything alright?” He took hold of her hand.

Aaron’s show of concern enabled her to relax a little and find the courage to tell him what she needed to say. “Aaron, I’m . . . I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a baby!”

With a surprised look on his face, he pointed to himself and then to her. “Me? And you? A baby?” He pointed back to himself once again, “Me?” Then he stood and paced the floor in thought.

Eden shook her head. “Yes, you. Did you think it would belong to another? Aaron, I love you. For me, there is no other.” Tears started to fill her eyes, as she thought he was not pleased with the news.

“So, I’m going to be a father? I’m finally going to have a family! YYYEEESSS!” he cried out. He ran to her, picked her up and swung her around a few times. “You don’t know what this means to me, Eden. I’ve always put off having a family because of my work. And even though I wasn’t expecting this to happen, I couldn’t be more please about it.”

Eden smiled from ear to ear. “Really? You’re really happy about it?”

He set her back on the floor and cupped her cheek. With a sensuously serious look on his face, he answered, “Oh gods, yes, babe. Aren’t you?”

“Well, yeah. Of course I am. I just wasn’t sure . . .”

He placed his finger over her lips. “Ssshhhh. Don’t even think that way. Have I been away so long that you’ve forgotten how I feel about you? Let me jog your memory,” he said as he moved her toward the bed.

She lay down and he climbed on top of her and began to kiss her neck. She pushed him off gingerly. “Don’t you want me to model my new robe for you?” she teased.

“Yes!” he whispered, his lips returning to her soft, sweet skin. “In the morning.”


********


Throughout her pregnancy, Eden kept up her training until she was too big to continue to move properly and handle the sword. Aaron had made a number of visits and worked with her when he could. She was becoming quite a swordsman, and would probably have no problem defending herself against an aggressor. However, the God of War knew she could be better. Perhaps after the child was born he would take her to the next level of training.

During the last few weeks before the baby was born, Ares kept a close eye on Eden. He wanted to make sure that he was there in her hour of need. For some reason, he felt it was important to do so. This was the first time he ever wanted to be involved with the birth of his child, and part of him was rather excited about the whole thing, although he would never admit that to anyone, or himself.

So, it turned out that Aaron just happened to show up for a visit when Eden went into labor. And coincidentally, he arrived with a midwife to help Eden to bring his newest child into the world. She delivered a son, beautiful and healthy. When Aaron held the small boy in his arms for the first time, he felt proud, paternally proud.

“He’s . . . he’s so tiny. Are you sure I’m not going to hurt him?” Aaron said as he watch the baby’s miniature hand wrap around one of his massive fingers.

Eden was exhausted. Her pretty golden hair was stuck with sweat to her face and she was still out of breath. The midwife was cleaning her up as well as the mess that they made during birth. “You’re doing fine . . . dad!” she teased.

He smiled at her. She looked radiant to him, despite the fact that she was a mess.

“Have you thought about what you’re going to name him?” the old woman asked.

“Yes,” Eden said. “I want to name him Aaron, after his father.”

Aaron face contorted. “No. Not Aaron.” He handed the baby, who had started fussing, to his mother. “I thought we could call him . . . Cashius, in honor of your father.”

Tears formed in Eden’s eyes as she smiled warmly at him. “Oh, Aaron. That’s a lovely idea.” She looked down at her babe and touched his nose. “Cashius, huh? I think he likes that name.”

The old woman left, and Eden and the baby fell asleep almost immediately. Ares spent the rest of the night sitting in a chair and watching over them. He knew he had some important obligations to tend to, but he just couldn’t bring himself to leave them at the time. He would go in the morning, and that was even too soon, as far as he was concerned.

He was glad that Eden had agreed to name the boy after her father and not him. He could only imagine the contempt she might feel upon hearing the name “Aaron” once he revealed his true identity. He didn’t want his son to suffer because of it.


********


Ares found a most unusual kind of peace when he would go spend time with Eden and the baby. One moment he would be involved in a brutal war, hatred and bloodlust filling his mind, shooting through his veins, and moments later he would be in Eden’s arms, feeling all the love she had to give. It was quite a contradiction for the god, and it came not without its price.

Parts of each world began to show up in the other. He would be in the middle of a battle and suddenly have a moment of compassion upon seeing a young soldier being slaughtered. Or he would occasionally snap at Eden, as if he were still on the battlefield and cause her or the baby to cry. The god knew it was only a matter of time before the two lives he lived in came crashing down together. He had to do something and quick, a decision that did not come lightly.


********


He decided that it was the time that she knew the truth about him, and so Ares materialized not too far away from Eden’s cabin. Being deep in thought about what to say, he didn’t notice the three young children playing in a field behind him. However, when he appeared in a shimmer of light, the boys noticed him right away and ducked out of sight. One of them had recognized the god, and told the other boys to stay quiet. That was the god who hated their town – the God of War.

Ares headed for Eden’s cabin, and the boys followed from a distance, curious as to what he was doing in their province. Nobody had seen him since he placed a curse on the village. They watched him enter Eden’s cabin, and then ran back to town to tell the others.

Eden was a wreck. She hadn’t been to sleep in two days. Cashius had developed jaundice and she was rushing around the cabin, unsure of what to do. Ares had never seen her look so distraught. He took he in his arms and told her everything would be okay. She broke down in tears, fearful that she was going to lose her son to illness.

It broke Ares heart to see her in the state. He cast a sleeping spell on her and then laid her softly on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Then he went to his son and healed the jaundice. When Eden finally awoke, Aaron was playfully bouncing a laughing Cashius on his knee. Surprise and relief crossed her face before her beautiful smile returned. That smile always took Ares’ breath away.


*********


Meanwhile, back in town, the villagers assembled in the town square with their hatred and their weapons upon hearing the news that the God of War was seen entering a small cabin outside the village. They intended to confront him, give him a piece of their minds. They really wanted to hurt him, but he was a god and they knew that they couldn’t really do anything to him, and that he might even kill them for approaching him. Nonetheless, many of the townsfolk had suffered the loss of loved ones, a father or a daughter, or lost their source of income from crops that would no longer grow, and they had nothing left to lose. They were willing to take their chances and go up against the god.


********


In all of the distraction with Cashius, Ares had forgotten the real reason for his visit, and when he finally did remember, he thought she had been through enough for one day and decided against telling her for the time being. He was getting ready to leave and picked up his son to coddle for a few moments. They all walked outside and Aaron handed Eden the baby and then embraced them both lovingly. He kissed each one and promised Eden he would return again as soon as he could. He headed off down the road and she turned and went back into the cabin. As soon as she was inside, the god shimmered and disappeared.

Neither of them had seen the assembly of people hiding behind the trees in the distance, but they all saw Ares . . . and Eden. Anger, hatred and jealously ran ramped amongst their feelings. They were mad that the god had gotten away before they had a chance to confront him. Now they were left without an outlet to take their aggressions out.

“Let’s confront the bitch,” someone suggested. “She seemed rather cozy with the god. Perhaps she can get him to return.”

They all barreled towards the cabin in agreement. Eden had just laid Cashius down for a nap when she heard the commotion outside. Concerned about the safety of her son, she grabbed her sword and went outside, surprised to see that an angry crowd had surrounded her small dwelling.

“What do you want?” she asked, holding her sword in defense.

“We want Ares! Call for the god.”

Eden shook her head. Why in the world would they be coming to her for this? “What’s wrong with going to his temple to summons him?”

“No one has seen him since we burned his temple to the ground.”

Eden smirked a bit in the satisfaction of finding out that Ares’ temple was gone. “I can see why he does not returned then, but why come to me? I have nothing to do with the god.”

“LIAR!” “WHORE!” “TRAMP!” “WITCH!”

The crowd started shouting names at Eden. Accusing her of being in league with the god. A couple of the men approached and engaged her in a swordfight. She easily disarmed them both, holding the tip of her blade against one downed man’s throat.

“YOU PEOPLE GET OUT OF HERE OR I WILL KILL HIM!” she yelled, rage burning through her blood. Then she heard Cashius crying, and while her attention was briefly drawn to the cabin someone knocked her in the head and she fell to the ground, unconscious.

“BURN THE WITCH,” someone yelled. “Yeah, that’ll teach her for joining up with our enemy.”

They lit torches and threw them in the pile of hay and where she stored her wood and within moments, there was a raging fire blazing. The angry mob departed and returned to the village, leaving Eden lying on her porch and poor little Cashius inside the cabin.


********


When Eden came to, the smoke was thick and the heat was intense. Cashius was screaming in fear or in pain, she didn’t know which. She only knew that she had to get to her son.

She took her sword and cut through the burning wood of the door to try and knock the flames out of the way so she could pass. She could hear the baby coughing and crying, but then it suddenly stopped.

“NNNOOOOO - CASHIUS!” she screamed and ran into the fiery cabin. There a s a small explosion that quickly flashed in front of her. It carried enough force to knock her backwards away from the cabin and on to the grass. Her clothes were on fire and she knew enough to roll around aouseouse the flames before she passed out again with her father’s sword lying at her side.


********


Eden awoke to darkness. “Cashius? Cashius, where are you?” CASHIUS?” She felt around where she was and came upon her sword. Then she remembered the fire. “CASHIUS!” she cried. She used the sword to help her stand and then rubbed her eyes, but she still could not see. She had been blinded by the explosion.

Hours went by as Eden crawled around in the ashy debris of what was once her home desperately looking for her son. As the chill of the night fell upon her, she finally crawled away and almost made it to the lake, but collapsed along the way, unable to go any further. Her spirit now depleted over the loss of her son, she passed out, wishing death would soon find her.