Blind Fury

“Look, boss! Seems like someone had a bit of a fire here lately,” the semi-bald, overweight, middle-aged man told his employer.

“Sift through the rubble and see if there is anything salvageable,” Etor commanded the men. “I’m going to head down to that lake we saw and water the horse.”

Etor, an up and rising criminal, had been working his way through Greece with his entourage of thugs, robbing and pillaging small defenseless villages. Not too far across the border, Etor had a small compound, which served as a home for him and the boys when they were not out on the road tending to business. Once they had stolen all that they could transport, they would head back to the compound and unload, rest, and then go out again.

But Etor had not taken his usual route back to his lair this time. There had been word floating around about a planned ambush to capture him and his men, so they had taken a different road home. Ultimately, it took them right past where Eden’s cabin used to be.

As he got closer to the lake, his eye was caught by a glimmer of sunlight reflecting off of something shiny on the pathway. He dismounted his horse, curiosity getting the best of him and retrieved the shiny object.

“Well, now. What do we have here? A warrior’s sword!” he spoke aloud to himself. “And of the finest quality I’ve seen in a long time. What luck!” He removed his own sword from his sheath and replaced it with the one he found. He had no idea that it had once belonged to a commander in Ares’ army, nor d hed he have cared anyway.

He grabbed the reigns on the horse, deciding to walk the rest of the way to the lake, and nearly tripped over Eden’s charred and lifeless body. He had just bent down and turned her over when his group rode up.

“There’s nothing left of the place, boss. It’s just a bunch of ashes. Who’s that?” one man asked.

“Some woman,” he answered. “Must have been the owner of that establishment that burnt down. She’s dead now. Oh well, come on. We shouldn’t stay in one place too long. Let’s get the horses watered and get out of here.”

“Sure, boss,” a skinny man responded.

Etor stood and grabbed the horse’s reigns again and started walking. As the last man passed over Eden’s body, he heard a soft moan. He jumped off his horse and got down on the ground, placing his ear close to Eden’s mouth.

“Etor! She’s breathing. The woman is still alive,” he shouted.

“Cashius? Cashius?” she murmured.

Etor shouted back from the water’s edge, “So what? If she ain’t dead yet, she will be soon enough.”

The man’s eyes draped over Eden’s body before settling on her healthy bosom. Gallus was not a handsome man and had not been lucky with the ladies. And, like most of the men in Greece, he thought mostly with his codpiece. “But boss, we can’t just leave her.”

“Yes we can. Come on, Gallus.”

“Boss!” the man whined.

“Fine. If you want her, you cart her on your horse. An you you are slowed down by having extra baggage and get caught, don’t expect any of us to hyou.you.”

Gallus smiled at the small victory of getting his way. He picked up Eden’s frail body and laid her over his horse. He joined the rest of the men by the water and they were off again a moment later.


***********

Ares had materialized in the Halls of War after monitoring a particularly brutal battle in Northern Greece. He had another argument with Zeus earlier that day about him spending too much time with ‘that mortal distraction’, as Zeus had put it. Zeus knew that Ares had been troubled by his lengthily deception with Eden and that it was affecting his work. Something had to be done about it immediately or Zeus threatened to take the matter into his own hands.

He just didn’t under the old man. One day he was being chewed out for having too many ‘mortal distractions’ and the next day he was yelled out for having only one on his mind. He figured he would never be able to please his father. No matter what he did, it was never right. He had left Olympus in a rage and took out his aggressions on the battlefield.

At least now he was feeling a little less stressed and lot more alive. He thought about Eden, and his cock started reacting in its normal way, and combined with his recent activities at war it seemed to be twice as hard as usual. He needed some relief. He needed sex. He needed to feel Eden’s arms wrapped around him, whispering sweet, loving things in his ear.

“DAMN IT,” he said in his head. “There I go again.” He was confusing his emotions together. Lust – love – war - power. He didn’t know where one ended and the other began. They were all just one huge lump inside of him, each one battling against the others to rise to the surface and be recognized. He knew Zeus had been right, which he hated. But this confusion was going to end – TONIGHT.

Ares disappeared from the Halls of War almost as quickly as he had arrived.


**********


Etor and his men had made it back to the compound without incident. Gallus quickly unloaded his spoils and returned for Eden. He took her to his quarters and tried to make her comfortable as possible. She was burnt pretty badly. Without medical attention, those burns were sure to become infected. He called for the healer.

She was burning with fever and mumbling deliriously when the healer arrived. He tended to her with great urgency. Luckily, the burns were fresh and the healer was able to cleanse and dress them before serious infection set in. However, she would need constant attention to keep them from worsening, and they would likely leave terrible scars regardless of any effort he made. There wasn’t much more he could do for her, so he left some medicine and aloe with Gallus and went on his way.


************


Ares materialized in his usual spot near Eden’s c. A. As soon as his feet hit the ground, that same excitement he always seemed to get when he arrived started churning in the pit of his stomach. Memories of bouncing Cashius on his knee, the baby smiling and giggling with joy, flashed across his mind as he headed towards the cabin. He couldn’t wait to see them both, to be in their company. He was proud of his little family and he was happy there. He only could hope that it stay that way once he told Eden who he was, but it had to be done.

But something started to nag at the war god the closer he got to the cabin. Something wt rit right, he could tell. He emerged from the bushes in a rush only to stand frozen in horror, looking upon the burnt remains of Eden’s cabin. He couldn’t move for a long time, unwilling to believe what he was seeing. Then he seemed to break free from his trance-like state and ran over to the debris yelling for Eden and his son.

“Eden? Cashius? Where are you? Eden? ANSWER ME, DAMMIT!” He turned over pieces of burnt lumber and tossed aside larger chunks of debris in a panic. Black soot covered his hands and cloths and his hair was littered with gray ash. He knew he wouldn’t find either of them. He came across a charred piece of pink silk from the robe he gave Eden. He slowly rubbed it between his thumb and fingers and was overwhelmed with a great sense of loss. He felt completely empty inside. He had lost the two most important things in his life. Anger followed soon thereafter.

“NNNOOOOO! YOU’RE GONNA PAY FOR THIS, ZEUS!”

He disappeared in a thundering bolt of electricity.


**************


“Ooohh, yeahhhh. That feels ssooo good. Just a little higher. Higher. Aahh, that’s the spot,” Aphrodite moaned while lying on the massage table at Mt. Olympus Day Spa. She had spent the entire morning having her usual weekly beauty regiment done, the rub down being the concluding event, when all of a sudden she started to feel a great pain in her gut. She stood quicklye sme small towel that covered her nakedness fell to the ground at her feet, and with a thought – she was dressed in her usual negligee-looking outfit.

“What’s wrong, my Goddess? Did I hurt you?” the masseur asked.

She absently waived him off, her mind deep in thought. “No, Sven, you did fine.”

“What is troubling you then?”

“Someone I care about has been hurt. I can feel their heart breaking in the greatest way. They’re in such pain because they’ve lost their love,” she said with empathy.

Then the ground rumbled slightly beneath her. It could only mean one thing when that happened. Two gods were fighting. And the only two gods she knew that actually did that was her father and her brother.

“Oh, oh. Someone’s in trouble. I bet I know who, too.”

In a shimmer she was gone.


**********


Ares had shown up in Zeus’ main throne room on Mt. Olympus in a heated fit. He was sure that his father had something to do with the death of Eden and Cashius. Without waiting for an explanation or reason, Ares had started wailing fireballs at the old man.

“You had to go and do it, didn’t you father?” he screamed as a fireball left his hand and whirled past Zeus’ head.

The King of the Gods retaliated with his own attack, shootins sis signature bolts of lightening in his son’s direction, and narrowly missing him.

“What in Tartarus are you talking about, Ares? I would appreciate it if you would fill me in before trying to blow my head off.”

“You know what this is about.” Another fireball was shot in Zeus’ direction. “You just couldn’t allow me to handle things in my own way, could you? Well, that was the last straw, father. I’m not going to let you push me around any more.” Ares sent fireballs shooting from both hands.

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” Zeus roared. Suddenly Ares was frozen in place, unable to move ea sia single finger. “I don’t know what has caused you to act this way, Ares, but you will not continue this behavior with me. Do you understand?”

Ares glared at his father. “Fuck you!”

Zeus raised his hand and a violent lightening bolt began to form, a bolt that easily would have killed the God of War. But before Zeus could strike Ares down, a shimmer of hearts appeared between the gods, and there stood Aphrodite in a protective manner.

“No, Zeus! Please don’t do it.”

“Get out of my way, child. I’ve had enough of this arrogant bastard’s mouth.”

“You can’t kill him. He’s not responsible for his actions right now. He’s acting out of grief,” she pleaded.

The lightg bog bolt Zeus held started to fade away as he brought his hand down to his side. He drew his large, completely white eyebrows together in question. “Explain.”

“His heart is broken . . .” she started.

“Diteee…” Ares said in a condescending tone, not enjoying the fact that his sister was intervening on his behalf.

“He has lost his loved ones, Zeus. The girl and the baby,” she concluded.

“Are you sure? You know how Ares is always playing tricks . . .” Zeus asked.

“Oh, I’m sure. I can feel his pain, right here,” she pointed to her heart, “and you know it has to be serious if I can pick up on it.”

Sudden compassion filled the King of the Gods face and all his anger was instantly forgotten. “How did this happen, son?”

“You know damn well how it happened, dad,” Ares barked.

“Ares, quit.” Dite scolded him.

“Okay, fine. A fire. Her cabin went up in flames. By the time I arrived, there was nothing left. No sign of them. Why couldn’t you have waited just one more day? I was on my way to tell her everything. Now I’ll never get the chance.”

Zeus walked over to Ares and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry this happened, Ares. Really, I am. But I swear to you that this was not my doing.” He released Ares from the hold he placed on him.

“Well if you didn’t, then who?”

“I don’t know, son. I don’t know.”


****************


Two weeks had passed since Gallus had brought Eden to the compound and she still had not regained consciousness. Etor had allowed Gallus to stay behind to tend to her while he and the others went out pillaging for more treasures. Gallus had been diligent in tending to Eden’s wounds, and was successful keeping them free from infection. The healer had confirmed the she would survive – physically, but without knowing the circumstances that caused her injuries, he could not say what mental state they might find her, once she awoke.

Gallus had hoped, by rescuing her from death, that she would eagerly reward him with her affection. The burns she sustained had not left her face much more appealing than Gallus, himself, but her body was nothing to turn an eye from. His cock hardened with anticipation every time he would think about their coupling. They were a good pair, as far as he saw. Nobody else would want to be with such ugly, tarnished people. It only made sense that they be together.


*************


After three days of total isolation, with nothing but his grief to keep him company, Ares threw himself into his work. He found that he could take out his anger, vent his grief, and keep his mind otherwise occupied, when out on the battlefield. The wars as of late had been overwhelmingly brutal, more so than usual, but considering the circumstances, that was to be expected.

However, for Ares, there seemed to be no end to his rage, his pain. Just as he thought he released it all in a battle, a few hours later, the memories would surface and everything started all over again. He did not rest. When his Greek army could fight no more, he would pass over to Rome and masquerade as Mars, rallying the troops against the Greeks, against his own. Pastures that used to be green and beautiful were now stained red with blood. More villages were burnt to the ground that week than there had been the entire year prior.

After he wore down the armies, he pitted brother against brother, husband against wife. The entire country was in a state of chaos. It was getting so bad that even Aphrodite had a hard time mending the damage her brother did. She, too, was working nonstop, just to keep up with him.


****************


Even through Aphrodite thought it was best to leave Ares alone for a while, she was exhausted and knew that something had to be done about her brother’s rampage. She went to one of her temples to rest. Once she had enough strength to confront her brother, she called for him.

“ARES. ARES! I need to talk to you.”

There was a flash of blue and white light as the summonsed god arrived.

“What about? Can’t you see that I’m very busy?” he said in a slightly angry sounding tone of voice.

Aphrodite sighed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes. “That’s what I need to talk to you about. What in Tartarus are you doing out there? Trying to destroy all of mankind?”

“I’m doing my job. What else would you have me do, sis?” he said sarcastically.

“Well, you need to give it a break, dude, or there won’t be anyone left to fight. Besides, you’re wiping me out, bro.” She sat down on the pink covered day bed.

Ares looked over his sister. “You do look a mess, now that you mention it. But what does you being wiped out have to do with me?”

“DUH. Get a clue, dude. You’re causing everyone to fight, and I have to follow around behind you and put them back on track. Normally, it’s no big deal. But you’ve been going 24-7 lately and I haven’t been able to take a day off because of it.”

“Ooww, poor little Dite, hasn’t had time to go to the spa. So what? Like I should care?”

“Ares!” Aphrodite said, shocked at her brother’s remark. She looked at his hardened face and then broke out in tears. She put her head in her hands and mumbled, “st cst can’t take it anymore. I can’t go on like this.”

When Aphrodite began to cry, Ares smug smile turned to a frown. He knew he was acting cruel, he couldn’t really help it, but his sister didn’t deserve to be treated that way. She had stood by him, helped him, even defended him to Zeus. He to sea seat next to her and hesitantly placed an arm around her.

“Don’t cry, Dite. I’m … I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

Aphrodite looked up at her handsome brother. Her eyes were puffy and red, her nose slightly swollen and she sniffled. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Ares said in a low voice. “It’s just that … I’ve been …”

“Ares, you don’t have to explain your actions to me. I understand. Really, I do. But you can’t go on taking everything out on the rest of the world. You have to get through this another way. You have to move on with your life.”

“But, Dite, I miss her so much – it hurts. I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t know what to do to make it stop hurting. How do you stop it?”

“Well, there are a lot of things you can do to help you get through this. But mostly, it will pass in time.”

“Time? We’re immortal. Time has no relevance here. We can’t…”

Ares cut his words short when he heard a noise coming from the main entryway. “Dite, are you see petitioners, today?”

“Are you kidding? Do I look like I’m ready to see petitioners?”

“Well, I think you might have company, then.”

Both gods instantly cloaked themselves in invisibility, but remained where they were seated to see who was entering. It was a group of men – bandits, Ares surmised by the weapons they held.

“Etor! Come quick, in here. There’s more gold in this room,” the man who came in said.

Aphrodite gasped. “They’re stealing from my temple. How totally rude.”

Ares looked over to his sister. “You want me to take care of them?”

“Please do. But try not to get blood all over the place. It tends to stain the carpetu knu know.”

Etor and three other men piled into the room and started to collect the goldware and jewelry that were displayed around the temple.

“This is almost too easy! Like takcandcandy from a baby,” Etor boasted. They all laughed.

“Yeah, it’s too bad that babe, Aphrodite, wasn’t here. I woulda loved to take her back with us. Get me some real good lovin’,” someone commented.

“Right, in your dreams, Dunbar. Like you could get the goddess to comply,” another answered.

After another minute of collecting, Etor spoke to the group. “Okay, fellas, have we got everything? If so, then lets get out of here.”

Etor started to head for the door, but before he passed through it, there was a flash of light and a tall, dark figure appeared in the doorway, blocking the passage. Ares was casually leaning against one side of the doorframe. He was holding his sword, the tip gently resting on one of his shoulders.

“Going somewhere?” he asked Etor.


************


Eden stirred on the bed and then groaned in pain. Everything was still pitch black and she wasn’t sure of anything. Frightened, she started to sob.

“Oh, Cashius. My baby. My son,” she mumbled through her tears.

She held herself and rocked. She felt like crap, her entire body hurt and she didn’t understand why she couldn’t see anything.

Just then, Gallus, who had momentarily stepped out of the room to get something to drink, came back.

“Who’s there?” Eden startled the man, causing him to drop his cup.

“You’re awake!” he exclaimed. “I was beginning to think that you were never going to wake up, you’ve been out so long.”

“Who are you? Where are you?” Eden said in a panic.

Gallus smoothed out his shirt with handhands and smiled proudly. He stuck out his hand for her to grasp. “I’m Gallus! And you are …”

Eden didn’t say anything, at first, nor did she grasp his outstretched hand. She kept looking around, squinting her eyes in vein trying to see. “Eden,” she responded softly. “Where’s my son? Where is Cashius?”

It occurred to Gallus that something didn’t seem quite right with her vision. “Your son? Lady, I don’t know what happened to your son. I only saw you. Hey, what’s wrong with your eyes?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see. What do you mean you only saw me? Where was I?”

“We found you by a lake. There was a cabin or a barn or something that wasn’t too far away, though. It was pretty well cooked.”

“The fire,” Eden whispered. Testarstarted running down her cheeks as the realization that Cashius was gone hit her. Then she broke down in heavy sobs. “My son is dead. My baby is gone, now. He’s dead. He’s dead.” She curled up into a ball on the bed and started rocking.

Gallus looked at her and shrugged. As he turned to leave the room, he cocked his head to the side and said, “So, you lost a son. Get over it!” He left to go and get the healer.


***************


Etor boldly looked the god in the face and answered nonchalantly, “Yeah, we were just leaving.” He paused and then added, “Since the goddess isn’t here to see us.”

Ares gave him a suspicious look. His eyes moved down to the sack of goodies that Etor was holding at his side. “What’s in the bag?” he asked.

“What bag? Oh, you mean this bag?” He held it up in front of his face and then lowered it again quickly. “Just our offering to the beautiful Aphrodite. But since she’s not here, we’ll just bring it to her another day. Come on, fellas.” He motioned to his men to join him and pass by the stranger.

“Ah, ah, ah. I don’t think so, f e l l a s,” he mocked. He stood up straight, blocking even more of the doorframe, and pointed his sword forward.

Etor started to lose his temper. He wasn’t used to not getting his way, and right then, he wanted out. “Listen, dude. You don’t want to piss me off. Just step aside and I won’t have to kill you.”

Ares busted out in a hearty laugh. “You?” He pointed at Etor. “Kill me?” He laughed even harder. “Oh, that’s funny!”

Ares took a few steps towards Etor, swinging his sword around in a circle so fast that you could hear it cutting through the air. His powerful jaw was tight with anger and his eyes became darker.

Etor took equal steps backward. He motioned to his men. “Get him,” he ordered.


**********************

The healer examined Eden once again. Physically she was fine. Some of the burns weren’t quite healed yet, some had started to scar and there was still plenty of tender skin, but other than that, she was okay. He also concluded that she had been blinded in the fire.

“Blind? You mean I’ll never be able to see again?”

“I’m afraid not, child. I’m sorry. But you should consider yourself very lucky. You could have died from your injuries if Gallus hadn’t come along,” the healer said.

“I wish I had,” Eden whispered under her breath.

The healer turned to Gallus. “Just continue to put the aloe on her wounds. In another week they should be completely healed.”

“Thanks, doc,” Gallus said. The healer left and Gallus took a seat in a nearby chair. “Well, it’s a good thing I came along, huh, little lady?”

“Yes, ah, thank you. But it seems that I’m going to be more of a burden than you expected, now. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” She started to cry again.

Gallus stood and approached her. “You’re gonna quit your crying, that’s what you’re gonna do.” He bacded ded Eden. “I’ve been waiting for weeks for you to wake up so we can have a little fun.”

Eden froze in shock of being slapped. Did she understand him correctly?

“What are you going to do to me?” She backed up against the headboard on the bed.

Gallus laughed. “Oh come on, now. You know what I want. Now, take off your clothes.”

Eden’s heart started beating rapidly. What was she going to do? Nothing. She couldn’t even see to try and make a ror ior it. This man was going to rape her and she was powerless to stop him.

“Don’t you want me to bathe first?” she said, trying to stall for time.

“Naw. I like my women to be el naturel.” He laughed. “Now get undressed and show me some appreciation for saving your blind ass.”


*************

Ares easily disarmed two men who had charged him, sending one flying across the temple, and the breaking otheother’s sword with his own. Two more men came at him next. Again, with a series of twirls and kicks both men went down. Now, the only man left standing, other than Ares, was Etor.

Ares looked at the leader and smiled wickedly. Etor backed away from him until he hit the wall and could go no further.

Ares swung his sword around again, cutting air. “Well, it looks like it’s just you and me now, huh?”

Etor dropped his bag and grabbed his sword. “Don’t come any closer. I’m warning you.”

“Or you’ll do what? Kill me? I think not.” Ares laughed.

Etor stepped forward, swinging his sword. The sound of metal against metal echoed in the room. Ares hit him particularly hard and Etor stumbled back a few paces. That’s when Ares recognized his sword.

Instantly, he disappeared and reappeared again behind Etor holding a dagger to his throat. “Hand over that sword,” he told him in a low, serious voice. Etor complied and when Ares had his sword, he pushed Etor to the ground.

He examined it carefully, turning it over slowly in his hand. Then he pointed it at Etor. “Where did you get this?”

“I found it.”

“LIAR,” Ares roared, his face becoming contorted in rage.

“No, really. I swear. I found it on a small path leading to a lake. It was lying not far from a half-dead girl.”

“Half-dead?”

“Yeah. She looked like she had been in a fire or something.”

Ares bent down and grabbed Etor by the scruff of the neck and shoved him against the wall, holding him suspended above the ground. “Where’s the girl?”

“She’s . . . she’s at my compound, just beyond the Greek border.”

”She’s alive?”

“Just barely, when we found her. She’s doing better now. Gallus is with her.”

“And just where exactly is this compound of yours?”


*********


Eden flung her arms is a panicked fit. “Nnnooo. Please don’t do this. PPLLEEAASSEE!”

Gallus was tearing at her clothes, trying to get them off. His cock was hanging out of his trousers at full attention.

“You’re gonna give me what I want if I have to kill you to get it. Understand? I didn’t save you so you can turn me down, so you may as well quit fighting me on this.” He slapped again.

Eden started to cry. “You should have just left me to die. I’d rather be dead than sleep with you.”

Gallus stepped back and grabbed his knife from his belt. “That can be arranged, little lady.”

Suddenly, there was a blue and white flash of light, and a big, bulky man dress in black leather was standing by the door.

“Who are you and how did you get in here?” Gallus asked the man.

Ares was holding Eden’s father’s sword when he materialized. “I’m the last thing you’re ever gonna see, you slim ball.”

Eden recognized the voice. “Aaron? Aaron is that you?”

“I don’t think so, fellow,” Gallus responded. He charged at Ares anfew few seconds later, Gallus was lying dead on the floor in a pool of blood. Ares had run the sword through his gut.

“Aaron, is that you?” Eden asked again.

Ares noticed how she was looking around, yet not really seeing anything. “Yeah, it’s me, baby. Can’t you see me? I’m right here.”

Eden broke down in tears again. “No. I can’t see you. I was blinded in a fire at the cabin.” She reached out for him and he rushed to her side and took her in his arms.

“How did you know where I was?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it later. Are you okay?”

“Aaron,” she hesitated, trying to find the strength to tell him about their son. “Aaron, Cashius is dead. I tried to save him, but there were flames all around me. Then I think there was an explosion. I donemememember much after that. Oh Aaron, I’m so sorry.”

“Sshhh,” the god said calmingly, stroking her head. “It’s not your fault. If anybody should be sorry – it’s me. I should have been there for you.”

“Oh, Aaron.” She squeezed her arms tightly around him. She always felt protected in his arms.

“Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”


***************


They arrived at Ares’ temple. He had to travel with her on horseback, so she wouldn’t figure out he was a god, but he had helped them along with his powers anyway, by shortening the trip.

He took her to his bedchambers and before calling the healers he cast a s on on her. She would not be able to hear his name, his real name, should someone should speak it in her presence. He did not think that now was an appropriate time to tell her about his true identity.

Once she was comfortable, his temple healers tended to her, along with some other servants and before too long she was sleeping peacefully.

Ares thought she must have been through hell by the looks of her. Her face still showed signs of burns, and would leave some horrible scars. Her pretty long hair was dry and burnt shorter on one side. Her hands and knees had huge blisters. And in addition to all of the physical signs of injury, she had lost her baby – their baby, in the fire. Her spirit had been severely damaged. To put it mildly, the god was shocked when he found her, surprised that she had survived.

He had so many questions for her. How did the fire start? How did she survive? Who was that man who was getting ready to rape her? A million things ran through his head. But they could wait. The most important thing at the moment was for Eden to get better. The fates had allowed him a second chance to make things right with her.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stroked her hgentgently as she slept. “I promise you, Eden, I will take care of you. No harm will ever come to you again.”