Friends

 

I laugh as I make my way to Eros' office. The four of them are standing around something. I greet them and approach, ignoring Ares and curiously peer over Eros' shoulder. I gasp even though we've seen these creatures before. Madam Tsali conjured them up in real size to prepare us but I know these are real. Three Gronnish young tied with cord that had cut into their wrists so sharply that I could see the blood caked there. Their slender limbs were bent and contorted and they look near to death. But they weren't. They had to be bound that way because of their strength and cunning. Their eyes dug into mine to see if I was a means of escape, if I was sympathetic. I stared coldly back into their beautiful golden eyes. Their bodies were bruised and one of them was bleeding from a wound on his leg. Ares gestures to him and says, “That one fought me, we'll have to keep an eye on him.”

Madam Tsali nods distractedly. “Good work you two. Its getting late, time for you all to return home ;its nearing dawn.”

Ares, Mogh and I hold hands as we prepare to return. Eros nods goodbye at us and smiles covertly at me. I return the smile shakily because I dread being alone with Ares after we drop Mogh off in his hotel. I will have to hold hands with Ares this time as it is only three of us. I place my hand in his and he grasps me tighter. We close our eyes and we are transported to Mogh's hotel. I tell Mogh goodnight and he nods good night. I turn hesitatingly to Ares who looks at me hopefully. I stick out my hands and he takes them, gently into his. He pulls me closer and I am slipping, drowning in his scent, which I loved. Our lips meet and we are lost in passion outside of the hotel Marriott. I shiver as a cold breeze chills me and Ares pull me closer. “I'm so sorry Selene, for everything.”

I feel so serene, so utterly complete with Ares.

“Its okay.”

Ares pulls back and brushes the hair out of my face. “I'll drop you home.” he says.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marriott Hotel

Mogh.

I cant believe Selene is back with Ares so soon. I didn't mean for her to run right back into his arms. She should have waited awhile, tested his patience, make him beg and plead. Ares is glowing with triumph and I have to turn away or I would say something. Stupid Mogh. I just had to soften Selene up for him. Fatten her for the kill. There she is, twisted around him like a vine smiling into his face, toying with his hair. She could have made him wait longer. Come on, Selene.

Ares speaks up boldly, once again the alpha male. “We need to find Sonic, thats the priority now, isn't it?”

I think for awhile before I say, “Well thats true but she could always possess someone else and then murder Sonic. Thats what she did to Helena when we began to suspect her. She leading us on a trail of blood. She is going to strike where it hurts, she already did and she'll only hit nearer home.”

Selene's eyes widen. Ares face goes blank before he regains his composure. He is annoyed that he did not consider the situation in that light before me. Selene nods and asks, “So what should we do?” She looks at me with such faith. I like it when she looks at me like that. “We have to corner her when she is using a host, trust me, you don't want to fight her in her natural form. Then we have to exorcise the host without harming them and bind Dionysus to nightschool. Thats it.”

Ares disentangles himself from Selene and stands up impatiently. “If only it were that easy.”

I decide to change the topic. I wanted to see both their reactions to what I was about to tell them. “Madam Tsali made plans for the two of you when you broke up. She realized how awkward it was for you to work together so you and I are going to be working together while Selene assists in Azza. “What?” Ares looks like he is ready to explode. “Selene in Azza! Doing what?” Selene looks confused and upset. “We can talk to her, cant we.” “Madam Tsali is in Nightschool. I have to carry you to Azza to help Eros deal with the upsurges while Ares and I focus on Dionysus.”

Selene looks strange, as if she is both happy and sad. Ares looks annoyed but more suspicious than heartbroken.

“So I'm not dealing with Dionysus again?” Selene eyes reflect anger now, and I turn away. “You'll still get upgraded when Ares and I defeat her.” I say feebly.

Selene says slowly, as if she is convincing herself, “I suppose that Madam Tsali thought I would not be able to deal with Dionysus after what she did to Helena.”

Ares is staring at me and I say quickly, “Yes I didn't think of that;its probably because of that also.”

Ares is not satisfied. He turns away from me and he and Selene murmur to each other. They kiss goodbye and then Selene comes over to me for me to take her to Azza. We join hands and I concentrate on getting us into the courtyard of Azza. As soon as we arrived Selene looks at me straight in the face and asks, “Eros asked for me to come back, didn't he?”

I had no reason to lie to her so I nodded. Selene sighed and looked worried. She is obviously attracted to Eros, that was since they spent time together the day of the massacre and Ares was her boyfriend for like, forever. What a dilemma, I certainly did not envy her. I remember when Eros, Arachne and I were a team. Eros always gets what he wants. He has charm and he makes people want to do what he wants. Eros is cool with it though, he never overdoes it. He always used it to help us all. Eros got us in and out of trouble. Good times. Until Arachne died. In Azza. She was kinda slack, she flung us both but I liked her. I cried when we found out. Eros and I were alone when we heard and I couldn't help myself. Eros never told everyone how I cried like a frigging baby, he just slapped me on the back and nodded sadly. Eros is a good guy and I prefer him to Ares for Selene. She walks ahead of me and I find myself looking at her figure. I stare for as long as I want because there is no Ares to glare at me.

Selene turns around and catches me looking at her. She raises her eyebrows but says nothing. She slows down and we mount the staircase side by side. “Mogh?” Selene says quietly.

“What?”

“You're a big help. And a really good friend.”

A really good friend.

I force my face into a wide smile. “Thanks.”