Chapter 2: Blood, Sweat, and Tears
ERIS POV:
"My heart is torn between love and jealousy, my dear," Apollo chuckles darkly in my ear.
"Um. Hi. You're Apollo, right? Sorry, I need to catch up with my friend. I will find you in like, 5 minutes, okay?" I say, trying to catch up with Enyo who is going to find Ares.
~We were just about to start eating our Loretillos at my house (because I was to scared to face Ares), when she felt her brother getting angry.~
Suddenly, he grabs my hand. I feel a warmth spread through my arm and into my body. Apollo suddenly feels like the man of my dreams. I don't know how I didn't see it before. He kisses my hand. Butterflies fill my stomach. We disappear from the area.
At this moment, I was willing to go anywhere with him. His golden eyes glowed brightly in the sun. His skin glittered like the god he was. His lips were so kissable. That is all I wanted to do.
We were inside of his house. It really was beautiful. There were flowers everywhere and most of the walls were made of glass. The sun crept into every corner of the house. There were musical instruments around the house. I felt like I was drunk. I was in a magical place with a magical man, stumbling around.
He took my hand once more with a kind smile. I would trust this man with my life.
As we stepped into the basement, I felt strange. It was a large, dimly lit room with chains, whips, and other BDSM sex toys.
In the center of the room, there was a smooth wooden table with wrist and ankle rings.
The walls were covered in red velvet sheets and adorned with lace and frills.
My heat began to race with excitement as he locked the big metal door behind me. I don't really know this man, but he clearly knows me. What a kind soul.
Apollo gently pushes my fly aways behind my ear and caresses my face. He brings me over to the table and lifts me onto it.
"You choose me over that mean man, Ares, right, darling?"
"Of course, my love. You are my one and only. Ares is a whore, and I hate him," I say will all seriousness while looking into his golden eyes.
"That makes me feel so wonderful, sweetheart. You are going to make me the happiest man in the world. Lay back for me, won't you?"
As I lay down on the table, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and security in this moment. The air was still, and there were no distractions or interruptions. It was just me and him.
I closed my eyes and let myself become one with the table and let myself go with the flow of the moment. I was ready to let go and let myself be free.
He straps my hands and legs down. I am ready for him. My virgin self will be no more. I will have a man inside of me. Apollo, what a guy.
He slips his hands down my pants. I giggle drunkly as I feel him attempt to find my clit. I laugh at him as he rubs the innermost part of my thigh.
"Does it feel good, my princess?" he asks with all seriousness.
"I don't even know what you're doing!" I say, laughing. I am having such a fun time.
"What the fuck is so funny, bitch?" he says, now angry. "You're supposed to enjoy this.
What? You think Ares can do better?"
"No no no no! I am so sorry, my love. I didn't mean it. It does feel good. Ares is the worst."
"Every time you say his name, I can hear you heart pound faster. You are a lying whore. Give me your hand."
"What? I'm not lying. I love you, Apollo. I-" I feel the warmth that once made me feel euphoric leave my body through my hand like a vacuum.
I start to gain my sense back. Where the fuck am I? "Get me out, Apollo. Right. Fucking. Now. I'm going to kill you when I get out of here."
"Awww. There she is. My little feisty girl. You know, Ares was right. You are too much. What are you? 1900? You aren't even 2000. What a baby. You know, Ares is 2312. You really think he would ever want to be with a slutty baby like you? He wants someone more mature like Aphrodite or Persephone. That is why you are going to be mine.
Even under my truth changer, you still couldn't resist Ares. Ha. I'll help you change that. Don't you worry."
My heart drops. Ares thinks I am too much? Did he find out that I liked him? Did he know that I have been standing by his door? Oh my gods. I am a slut. I need to get out of here. When I get out, I am never coming back to Olympus again. I am staying with my mom and Erebus. I am staying in the fucking shadows.
"Let me out of here and I promise I will never show my face again. I'm sorry for whatever I did," I say trying to get him to let me out.
"Is the goddess of discord apologizing to me? Wow, am I not the luckiest guy in the world?"
"I don't want to cause any problems, as much as I would like to."
"Spread your legs, my pet. Daddy is going to take good care of you."
Suddenly, the table starts to curve. My legs begin to spread open. Apollo grabs scissors and cuts off my lower pants. He makes his way to my waistband and slides the now sleeves of fabric off my legs. I can't move.
"Let me go, darling," I whisper.
"No." He whispers back.
"What? How?"
"I know your tricks, dear. I took a couple of potions before coming here today. As the god of truth, trust me. I can see everyone's truth and basically predict the future from there. I knew Ares was going to the gym. I knew Aphrodite was coming out of her appointment. I knew about you being head over heals for Ares. You saw them, you got persuaded to hang out still. Ares didn't care about you, and I ran into him at the gym and chatted with him about you. We got in a disagreement as I was trying to stick up for you from all of the mean things he was saying. Of course Enyo was going to come with her brother going insane. I went home, took potions, brought you here, now it is the present. Make sense?
"Let me go!" I scream. I am shocked. What is happening? What is going to happen to me? I am innocent. Sure, I can be quite the horndog, but I am a good girl. This wasn't supposed to happen. I never should have came to Olympus. I just wanted to be like the real gods. Look where that got me. Strapped to a table with my legs spread open.
ARES POV:
Enyo and I followed her scent, though it got lost a couple of times. I am just hoping she is okay. Her scent changed like, 4 times. It was happiness, pleasure, happiness, fear, and it has continued to be fear. Fear just keeps getting stronger.
I realize that I am heading towards Apollo's house. I now know where I am going, and speed there with Enyo.
Not caring about his house at this moment, I crash through the window. She is in the basement.
Fuck. Epinephrine is just pouring out. Please be okay.
We race down the stairs and jiggle the door handle.
Locked.
Fuck.
I punch through the door and unlock it with my hand.
When I open the door, I see Eris strapped to a wooden table with her legs shaking frantically. Apollo is in between her legs with his tongue deep inside her. Eris has been gagged, blindfolded, and deafened with ear plugs.
I rip Apollo away from her by his hair. I slam his head into the wall behind him.
I hear Eris sniffling behind me when Enyo takes her blindfold off. This sound was enough for me to have knocked out Apollo without even thinking about it. I just kept bashing his head into the wall. Golden blood spilled out of his head. The light that crept into the stairwell went out. A few moments later, Nyx is knocking on Apollo's door. I rip the velvet fabric off the wall and cover up a shaking Eris. I carry her up to the door where Enyo and Nyx stand.
"Eris?! What happened?! Where's Apollo?!" she screams, grabbing onto her daughter.
"He is bleeding out in his sex dungeon downstairs. If you don't believe me, go look for yourself," I say as I point to the stairwell. Enyo takes Nyx down to see the horror which is his basement.
I sit down by the wall with this tiny girl in my arms. I just stroke her hair. Normally, I would be feeding off of her adrenaline, but right now, I just feel heartbroken.
She slowly starts to regain her senses. It almost looks like she is about to fall asleep in my arms, almost leaning into my body. Oxytocin fills my nose. She is taking in my warmth and accepting my help. For a second, I just want to bring her home and cuddle her to sleep. I have the urge to keep her safe. She has stopped shaking and her breath is slow, but just for a second.
Eris jolts up out of nowhere. The velvet falls and she screams and starts to cry again. She wraps the velvet around her very quickly and apologizes frantically.
"Iamsosorryforeverything iwillleaveyoualoneforever iamnevercomingback iamsosorryforbeingannoyingandtoomuchandtheworst pleaseforgivemeforwhatihavedone imsosorryimsosorryimsorrypleaseimsorry-"
I stand up trying to get her to calm down again. I will admit, I was a bit aggressive.
"Hey. Calm down. Your mom is downstairs. Eris. Eris!"
"Imsosorryforeverythingandiwillleaveyoualonenowforeverimsosorry"
"Eris! Calm the fuck down. What is happening? I don't know what the hell you're saying."
Yep. Definitely aggressive. She bursts into tears and runs out.
The trembling girl who was just a sleeping bunny in my hands runs out.
Of course, Nyx runs upstairs.
"Where did she go?" "I don't know. She finally calmed down and then out of nowhere, she sprung up and just started rambling about leaving or how she is sorry or something."
"Ares, did he... you know... did he hurt my baby?"
"I... I don't know, ma'am. I don't know what he did before I came, but he definitely violated her. I apologize for not getting here sooner."
"Thank you for all that you have done. I will go find her, because I can bet you that she went home. But... thank you. Both you and your sister have been all Eris has been talking about recently. I don't know what will happen now, but as a mother, I need to say thank you for giving my sweet girl someone who cares about her, and can come to help her when she needs it. Say bye to your sister for me. I cleaned up the mess. Apollo will live, unfortunately, as we are immortal. I suggest you lock him in that table of his before he wakes up. I bless you with the ability of taking care of him however you please."
"Thank you, ma'am. Tell Eris that she can come get me if she needs me. Enyo too, but... I promise from now til the end, I will protect her with my life."
"Here is my address, Ares. I am sure Enyo knows, but later tonight, please stop by. I would like to talk to you before I have you see her, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am. I will hopefully arrive by sundown... though that really isn't a great way to tell time at the moment.."
"Don't worry, I understand. I will see you then. Bye bye."
Oh my god. What did I just confess to Eris' mom? Oh gods. Whatever. It was bound to happen at some point. I can still feel the smell of her oxytocin. Ive never smelled such an addicting smell in my life. My mouth waters at the thought of it. It made me feel like I was on the best high of my life. Having her next to me, touching me, trusting me, holding me... it was like I was a kid in my mom's arms. I was at peace. Our hearts were in sync for a couple of seconds. We became one. I was hers and she was mine. I want to feel that all the time. She is like a drug to me. I still haven't even had a real conversation with her, yet I feel like I have known her for millennia.
I walk downstairs and help Enyo with the rest of the clean up. I throw out Eris' pants fabric and all of the disgusting sex toys. It is clear that he cannot please a woman with just his dick. He needs some help. I fucking knew it.
I strap Apollo to the table. I get an idea.
About 30 minutes later, Apollo wakes up. I have made my contraption.
"Ares... hey bro. So, no hard feelings, right? It was just a small challenge. No biggie."
"Your dick is no biggie. This situation however, is big biggie," I say with a chuckle, circling the table. "You know what I saw when I got here, Apollo, God of the Sun? I saw you, with my girl who was strapped to a hard, wooden table. Not only that, but MY girl was gagged, blindfolded, and had her ears plugged. She was shaking with tears streaming down her face. She was defenseless. That wasn't even the worst part. The worst part, Apollo, god of the sun, was that your disgusting face was tongue deep inside of MY GIRL. I know, and when I say I know, I really know that I remember telling you that she was mine. I said back off, didn't I? So why didn't you back off? You think it is fun to mess with me? Do you wanna be tongue deep inside of my ass? Is that what this is about? Are you a gay little bitch? With a tiny dick? You want to call me daddy? Well now you'll get your chance."
"No no no no. That isn't what I want! Get away from me, you bitch! I just wanted to have some innocent fun!" Apollo screams at me.
With his legs already spread open, I take my contraption and roll it to his face.
"Do you see this, Apollo? This is that stupid autofucker you have. I have attached my favorite and sharpest sword to the end here. Now, for what you did to my sweet girl, I have decided that the only acceptable punishment is to have you feel the same thing she felt. I banish you to 10 years of being sword fucked in the ass."
"No! No! Please no! I will do anything! Please! Please let me go! This is torture!" Apollo screams.
"Okay. I will make a deal with you. If you can tell me who Eris belongs to, I will shorten your years to 5. If you can then tell me where your cameras in here are, I will shorten your years to 4."
"Heh... what cameras?" he says, nervously laughing.
"Okay. 10 years it is."
"NO NO NO! I'm sorry! Okay. Okay. I have 2 camera's in almost every room of the house. They are all connected to the tv in the bathroom cabinet upstairs."
"You sick fuck. Who does Eris belong to?"
"You..."
"Say it again. In a sentence. I need it on film."
"Eris belongs to you and only you."
"That was music to my ears, Apollo. Just know, you never mess with a war god. I have no sympathy for you. Good luck."
I bring the machine over to his ass and turn it on. His screams where lovely to hear. I close the door, though it doesn't do much now that my punch hole is there. I collect the film from the basement and entrance way cameras. Fuck. She looked so perfect laying in my arms. It just looks so normal.
*Iamsosorryforeverything iwillleaveyoualoneforever iamnevercomingback iamsosorryforbeingannoyingandtoomuchandtheworst pleaseforgivemeforwhatihavedone imsosorryimsosorryimsorrypleaseimsorry*
Hold on. Replay. Slow it down.
*I am so sorry for everything. I will leave you alone forever. I am never coming back. I am so sorry for being annoying and too much and the worst. Please forgive me for what I have done. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. Please, I'm sorry*
What? What happened? Sorry for what? Annoying? Hold on.
I head back downstairs to see Apollo, still screaming. I stop the machine. I play back what she said.
"Hey, dipshit. What the fuck is this about?" I ask him.
"Oh uh... that's nothing. She was probably just being crazy. Don't look at the tapes because there is nothing there. Ha.." He says, out of breath from screaming.
I was done talking to him. He basically said that whatever I need to see is on the tapes. I turn the machine back on, slamming the door behind me this time. I don't know why, but I feel furious.
-*You choose me over that mean man, Ares, right, darling?*
*Of course, my love. You are my one and only. Ares is a whore, and I hate him*
-*What the fuck is so funny, bitch? You're supposed to enjoy this. What? You think Ares can do better?*
*No no no no! I am so sorry, my love. I didn't mean it. It does feel good. Ares is the worst*
-*Every time you say his name, I can hear you heart pound faster. You are a lying whore. Give me your hand*
-*You know, Ares was right. You are too much. What are you? 1900? You aren't even 2000. What a baby. You know, Ares is 2312. You really think he would ever want to be with a slutty little baby like you? He wants someone more mature like Aphrodite or Persephone. That is why you are going to be mine. Even under my truth changer, you still couldn't resist Ares. Ha. I'll help you change that. Don't you worry*
*Let me out of here and I promise I will never show my face again*
That lying bastard. He fucking truth fucked Eris and lied to her after she was brought back.
Too much? If anything, she is too little. AND, most girls I talk to pounce on me the moment I look at them. Also, who the fuck calls a girl a slutty little baby?
...She likes me...
Holy shit. It just hit me. She likes me. I mean, I knew she liked me or was curious about me, but she still had feelings for me even under his truth fucker or whatever. She truly likes me. Oh my gods. He said he knew Aphrodite was going to be by the gym and-
Holy fuck, she really does like me. She was probably frustrated when I was talking to Aphrodite which gave Apollo the upper hand to her feelings. Whatever, I need to get out of here.
ERIS POV:
Oh my gods. What the fuck just happened? I am never leaving my house ever again. I feel disgusting. I need a shower. I need to scrub all of my skin off.
Did I really get kidnapped and tongue fucked by Apollo?
Did Ares really save me?
Gods! I need to get him out of my head! He doesn't care about me! I'm just his sister's stupid friend.
"Eris?? Are you here?"
"Mommy!" I say, running down the stairs, into her arms. Tears start flowing down my face.
"I am so glad you're safe, my sweet rose. I gave Ares my blessing to do with Apollo whatever he wished. I know that Ares will protect you. I promise he will."
"Ares doesn't care about me, mommy. Apollo told me that he thinks I am too much."
"Oh no. My flower, I can promise you that he doesn't think so. He will be coming around later tonight to speak with me about what happened. He told me a lot already, but please know that I can tell he cares about you almost as much as I do."
"He is coming over?? I am not ready!"
"You don't need to get ready. He won't hurt you."
"I need to get ready!" I say, bolting upstairs. Why do I need to get ready? I am still a mess. I don't want him to see me that way ever again. I was vulnerable. I was weak. I was helpless. I am still a goddess. A broken one, but still one that earth people pray upon. I must not let my reputation be tarnished by a stupid man.
I shower for probably an hour. I felt disgusting. I needed to be cleansed. I scrubbed my body harder than ever. The layer of skin that had touched Apollo is no longer there, but in memory. I put on my towel and walk out of the bathroom.
I open my door and step outside. Fuck. He is here already.
ARES POV:
I will say that Nyx's house is not completely what I was expecting. They live in the darkest part of the underworld which is controlled by her brother, Erebus. That being said, I was expecting like, a black house with no real windows that looks kind of spooky.
Instead, what I stood before was a nearly invisible mansion. It was a reflective sort of brick-like material. The land around it was illuminated by these glowing orbs. It was really like nothing I have ever seen before.
As I walk up to the dark blue regal door, I see these handprint rocks along the path. They are Eris' growing handprints from when she was 0010 to now. She has the cutest little hands.
When she was 0100, her hands were just so small and chubby. I can't even take it.
Her 0800 hands are when they started to lose there cute baby chubby-ness.
I approach the door and see her 1900 hands. They are still so small. I crouch down and put my hand over the rock, just to see. Images of her holding my hands flash in my head. Her fragile hands in my hands which have killed many. Though, to be fair, hers have as well.
I stand up, taking one last glance at her small hands, and knock on the door.
Nyx opens it quietly and whispers me to come in. I take off my boots at the doorway, seeing Eris' shoes there as well. So small.
I try my best not to stare at the photos of the young girl on the walls. Gods, she was such a cute baby.
"Cute, right? I swear, she just grows up too fast for me to keep up with," Nyx says to me.
"They always do. She is probably the cutest kid I have seen, though," I reply.
"Right? Her little curls in this picture drive me nuts. I can't even look at it these days. And this one, her first day at Olympus Training School. Her and her huge backpack. Gods, she was always such a smart kid. It was terrible, however, as she grew up.
Once she had passed OTS with flying colors, she started to find that people didn't appreciate her skills. When entering Olympus Prep, she was bullied often by the students who's skills were more luxurious, like growing flowers or something. It kind of made her step back from actually living her true potential. She never had a boyfriend or made many friends because she is the goddess of discord. Most people she met, when they had a fight, it would automatically be her fault.
She went through this phase of rebellion. She would lock herself in her room most days. As I am asleep during the light of day, I could never really pay much attention to her at that time. During that short phase, she learned about what she can do. She mastered her abilities and discovered that all she really wanted was to be loved.
She has an apple tree farm inside of her room which she tends to regularly. I didn't know about it until a couple of centuries ago, when I walked in and saw her... in her true form.
You know how we all have this true form? Not many of the lesser gods ever find it, but I know I am the night sky. You are the demon soldier, killer of men. She is... nothing like I have ever seen. She is an interesting creature, as I am sure you have come to find. Never let her know that I told you, but because you probably will never get to see it yourself, and I trust you... Eris becomes a sort of psycho-looking angle. I will try to describe it the best I can.
Imagine what you would consider an angle. You know, the big white wings, the halo, elegant white dress, delicate skin. Now, take that image and make it black instead of white. Get rid of the halo, and instead, replace it with branches for horns blooming with apple blossoms and these golden apples. Then, imagine her eyes, normally green and soft with white scleras, becoming a glowing red with specks of gold like fire and black scleras. Her finger tips, elbows, and knees are gold and it sort of fades outwards from the original spots. Her eyes were lustful and full of mischief."
"What about her tattoo?" I ask, slightly interrupting.
"Tattoo? Eris doesn't have a tattoo."
"Well, maybe you don't know about it. I have seen it, though. You can't tell her I told you, but she has this golden tattoo down her spine. I saw it when she was in battle a couple days ago," I saw awkwardly, hoping Nyx believes that I wasn't being a total creep.
"Ohhh, you mean her engraving thing. Yeah, that showed up out of nowhere a couple millennia ago. She was just turning 1700, I believe. She woke up one morning with this terrible burning in her back. She was screaming bloody murder, I tell you. I run in and her back is glowing under her shirt. I was like, 'what the heck?' Once her shirt was removed, there were these golden lines that were just forming down her spine. It was like someone was etching with gold ink in the moment. I have never heard of such a thing happening to anyone else."
"That is quite strange. Did you ask any doctors?"
"We went to whoever we could. They all asked if she had any dreams before the etching begun. She all told them the same thing. A man with red eyes was hugging her tightly, protecting her from cross fire. Arrows were going through his back and she sprouted vines and branches around them to protect him as well. The man was enchanted by the golden apple which had grown above the two. He had grabbed it and bitten into it when he wasn't supposed to. She woke up after that. The doctors said it could have been a vision or something relating to her true soulmate. They said the engraving could be her physical tie to her soulmate which had formed with her constant repression of love. As I said, she is an interesting creature."
"Wow... her, uh, soulmate. How crazy that is, right?" I say awkwardly. My eyes are blue. I would be stupid to think it could be me. I can feel my heart sinking.
"I may have left out a couple of details for your sake, hon. Don't worry."
Don't worry? What is that supposed to mean?
"So, the reason why I really wanted to bring you here was to talk to you and get to know you, but also so you could be with her. Every time she talks about you, stars fill her eyes. I feel like you are who she needs right now," Nyx tells me.
"I am honored to be that person for her."
"And that is what makes you so special. So, before Eris gets out of her shower, do you think you could tell me what actually happened? Please don't spare my feelings. I want to know if she will recover from this," Nyx says, taking my hand.
I gulp at the thought of Eris in the shower.
Gods! Not the time!
"Well, I am going to be very honest here. Apollo and I had a fight as he wanted to try and date your daughter, amongst other things. This pissed- I mean, made me mad, and so I took him outside of the Loretillos and started to fight with him, out of my own lack of self control, and-"
"Loretillos? Wasn't Eris there?"
"Well, yes, but not when we were. Your daughter seems to have feelings for me, as I'm sure you've noticed, and she saw me talking to Aphrodite by the gym. I went to chase after her because when I waved, she ignored me. She was gone by the time I reached the Loretillos. Enyo and Eris showed up, probably because Enyo always knows when I'm heated. Me, realizing Eris is nearby, let Apollo loose on accident, to which he then kindapped her as Enyo tried to calm me down. I followed Eris' scent with Enyo to Apollo's house. Inside, your daughter was rid of her senses and being inappropriately um... licked.. by Apollo. I have the tapes with me, because Apollo is a fucking sick bastard.. um, excuse my language. But Apollo had truth changed her, making her feel like she was in love with him instead of... someone else, I guess... possibly me... but it didn't work completely so he got rid of it. Long story short, Apollo has a great couple of years ahead of him. I made sure of that."
Nyx just stared at me with an unreadable expression. It was a mixture of sadness, shock, and a small hint of comfort.
"You love her too, don't you?" she asks me, with water filling up in her eyes.
"I um... I guess I do. Eris and I still haven't had a real conversation yet, but I feel like I have known her for millennia. I feel like there is a string that connects our souls into one. I will admit that I first saw her with thoughts of lust. She still to this day is like a drug which I have been addicted to. I know this is not something I should admit to her mother, but holding her in my arms today felt like home. I would never dream of taking her away from you, but something changed today when I actually touched her skin. She went from a girl I find attractive and compelling, to my entire future in a matter of seconds. Please understand that I do not say this with ill intent. I genuinely do care for your daughter."
"I know you do. I have been waiting for this day to come," she says, smiling at me, a single tear falling down her cheek.
"Are you alright, ma'am?"
"You, my dear, are her soulmate. I am so thankful to have finally found you. She found you. All her pain will finally go away."
"I believe there might be a misunderstanding. I have blue eyes, ma'am. As much as I so desperately want to be the one for her, it just isn't possible."
"Only time will tell, my dear. Though, I must ask a favor of you."
"Anything. I am at your service."
"As you get to know Eris, please ask her about her apple farm. I don't know much about it myself, but I have a feeling it will be necessary to know."
"Of course. I will keep it in mind."
Nyx and I continue to talk, however our conversations drifted from topic to topic for the next 10 minutes.
"Ares, I must ask. As the god of war, have you ever thought about having children?"
"Yes. 100%. Ever since I turned 2000, I have longed for a child. Although I can be short tempered, I love children. It is my dream to teach my own kids how to wield a sword."
I hear the bathroom door open and small feet pattering across the floor.
"Ares, I am going to go tell her that you are here, though I am sure she already knows. I will be right back. Sit tight."
Fuuck. Traces of epinephrine drift in the air. She does know I am here.
In my patient wait, I look around at the light and airy aesthetic of this house. Though dark in appearance outside, the inside is well lit and full of life, though not an excessive amount of color. The main color of the house is grey and silver, but blues and golds accent each room.
Epinephrine floods my nose. I feel Eris coming closer. Nyx and Eris walk down the stairs together.
Gods... she looks like a real goddess right now. Her brown curls, still damp from her shower, rest on her chest delicately. She isn't wearing a bra underneath her black gown. Her hips are accentuated by a golden rope. Her gown drapes across her body, emphasizing her shoulders and neck. There is a bottom slit which gives view to her leg when she takes a step. This is the first time I have seen her in non fighting clothes. Her guard is down.
"I hope my mom didn't say anything too weird while I wasn't here," she laughs awkwardly.
I smile at her mother.
"Eris, go show Ares around the house."
I smile even brighter.
ERIS POV:
Something about the way he is walking with me just drives me nuts. I never thought he would be in my house today, or ever.
I know I need to get over him, but I can feel his eyes scanning my every move. He is just observing me as I show him around the house.
If I gave him a pop quiz on my house, I doubt he could answer even one question right because of how much he isn't paying attention to anything other than me.
"And this is my room," I say.
"May I see?" he asks, not making any jokes. It almost seems like he is genuinely curious.
"Ummm, sure. Why not?"
As we enter my room, I almost forget everything that happened today. I instinctively close the door behind us. Ares pauses for a moment, but continues walking. He glances at my bed, but not for very long. He glances at my clothes, mostly black. He glances at my desk, full of paper and ink, with sketches pinned up on my wall. One sketch he stares at longer than the others: my dream sequence. It is a sketch of two barely visible people, me and the man with red eyes, enveloped in a branch dome. Though mostly black ink, two pops of color are splattered on the eyes. One with red, one with yellow. They are barely seen inside of the branches, but their love can be seen by all. They are looking into each others eyes. It is my favorite one.
He takes his eyes off of my art, though he seemed to have examined every detail, and turns to my mini library. One book popping out of the shelves is the one he picks up, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.
"You know, you kind of remind me of Mrs. Jennings, bunny."
Bunny...? The name is ringing in my ears. I want him to say it again.
"Really? I feel like I am more of a Marianne."
Say it again... please...
"No way. You're definitely a Mrs. Jennings. Let me tell you why. You are smart, mischievous, but all in all, never truly ill intended. You just like some good, chaotic fun. Plus, you're a little nerd, bunny."
Gods. I never want him to stop calling me that.
I chuckle slightly at his comment and he continues to walk. He stops completely at my trees.
"How the heck are you growing full apple trees in the dark?