The princess of Ares

6

The god woke up in his huge bed wrapped in his black silk sheets. He remembered falling asleep caressing the muse's fiery hair while she sang a sweet melody in ferric language.

He stirred, expecting to find her by his side, right where he had left her before being led by Morpheus. But he was alone.

He got out of bed quickly, searching the entire temple for her. Every second he couldn't find her, he got more and more upset. He ended up destroying the table along with the breakfast and the ambrosia that the muse had left for him before leaving. Next to the little note where it said that he had returned with Apollo.

How dare she? How dare she leave without his permission?

In the temple of Apollo, all the muses had gone out into the gardens. Daría had stayed to rest, she had not slept at all because being close to the god of war made her too nervous. The muses used to sleep during the day, they preferred to inspire during the night, when the weather is calm and the soul is restless. Still, not sleeping through the night had worn her down, perhaps it had been the god's energy, so brutal and... different from Apollo's customary, which was sweet and peaceful. 

She stretched like a cat on the griffin-legged couch, trying to sleep. Despite having come to her "home" hours ago, she could not feel calm.

She got up and took a few sips of wine. I put the glass aside, hoping to find myself relaxed enough to fall asleep. After a few seconds in bed, he got up again and took the wine in one gulp.

Annoyed by not being able to rest, I throw the glass to the ground. She sat on the bed again determined to sleep but just couldn't. The peaceful face of the god of war as he slept reached her thoughts no matter how she tried to push it away.

He was a tyrant, he was the god of war. He was a barbarian. Why couldn't she get it out of her head?

Why had she decided to tell him about her people, about herself? 

She bit her lips as he wondered. Perhaps she had been so lonely for so long, she had wanted so much to talk about her own, to remember them, that she had run to talk about them to the first person who had asked her.

Yes, that must be it. She was desperate to even mention to her family that she hadn't stopped to think who she was telling it to.

She smiled at the memory. He looked so interested, even rapt upon hearing her. He had even caressed her while listening to her speak while listening to her sing the lullabies of her people. And he smiled at her, so magnificently that she could only see him in that golden splendor of a god. 

And for that very reason, it was that she had run away from the temple of Ares as soon as he fell asleep, she had been scared of the heat in his chest. She had been scared because... because she was getting used to the closeness of the gods. 

From that god. 

What would her mother say when she saw her in bed with that great barbarian? What happened to her? She had forgotten who they were and who she was. She was a fairy, and they, the barbarians who slaughtered their people whenever they could. More so he, the god of war. He destroyed everything he touched ... shouldn't get close to him, shouldn't be his ... What? Her friend? She was sure that the war had no friends ... she was sure that the best thing she could do was to keep her distance from the gods as she had been doing since she was forced to be in this place.

She got up from the couch scared, the thoughts clouded. What was that noise?

She ran to her room frightened by the loud footsteps that echoed through the temple. It was fortunate that precisely today Helios had demanded his chariot and Apollo was in the temple.

-APOLLO!

The call was heard to the last corner of the temple.

The god Apollo came out to meet the exalted newcomer.

-Brother, please lower your voice, you are in a sacred place.

-Holy, now that I've arrived. - Ares scoffed. 

Apollo raised his face in outrage.

-What do you want?

-The muse, she left, without my authorization. - denied the god of war.

Daría covered her mouth with her hands, he was there for her. I was upset with her.

-He did it with my permission. - Apollo released challenging him. 

The god of war began to glow again, black smoke began to cover him.

-She had orders to return as soon as you were better.

-Where is it?

-Where all my muses must be. - was the only thing the god gave in response.

Between the gods a gaze war began, Ares's eyes began to turn red and Apollo knew that a battle would begin.

Daria ran in front of Apollo covering him with her body. He owed much to Apollo, he would not let the war s*******r him because of him. So, seeing himself in that mess, he did the only thing he hates to do, the last thing she wanted to do... she pray.

-I beg your pardon ... my lord. I had no idea that he would need me this morning. Please don't blame Apollo for my fault.

The evil glow faded from the god of war upon seeing her. He took her by the arm and began to walk dragging her out of the temple.

Apollo stopped him abruptly.

-Don't you dare try...

-My mother has given the order that the muse treats me. And so it will be done. - Ares's voice seemed to come from the Underworld itself.

Apollo was stunned. The goddess Hera hated him, she hated every bastard of Zeus but she had never gone so far as to hurt him. Everyone knew that his muses were his heart and with Zeus by his side no one had ever dared to touch them.

-I'll talk to my father Ares. - I threaten the pattern of more muses. 

-Talk as much as you want, meanwhile, I'm taking the muse.

Daría turned to him in terror. And Apollo with one look convinced him that he would bring her home soon.

The god practically threw her into the carriage. There was nowhere to hold on and while for the god it was perfect, for her immense.

The steeds were glad to see her as they whinnied and turned to try to see her. Ares lashed out at them with his whip and they began to run at full gallop.

-Hold on - I hear him order her but she was so puzzled that she fell on her face in the front of the car.

She felt Ares's arm around her waist lifting her.

-I told you to hold on. - I whisper in her ear with a clenched jaw.

-There is nowhere - reproach the muse.

She felt that they were flying, the carriage was already going so fast that a fall would kill her.

-Find from where - I order him.

I hit the horses harder and they picked up the pace even more.

The muse screamed and hugged the god's waist. She pressed her cheek to his chest and she felt more protected than she had ever felt before, not even in the forest, not even in her mother's arms.

After a few minutes in which his heart raced to the rhythm of the steeds the carriage stopped.

The god didn't move until she released him bit by bit. He looked up, his golden eyes watching her from above with a mixture of fury and glory.

-You are a barbarian! - shouted him.

He got out of the cart and approached the steeds, to flee from what he felt inside.

-How dare you hurt them like that?

The steeds approached his arms happily.

-It doesn't hurt them, I already told you.

-That's what you think. The poor cannot defend themselves from your tyranny.

She turned to face him annoyed and bumped into his chest. He took a step back, tripped over the animals' legs, and nearly fell. Again, she felt Ares's strong arms wrap around her waist. His face was so close to hers that he could feel his warm breath and his lips, pinking hers, so damn inviting.

-Why do you want to Apollo-like that? 

The god's brow furrowed. And the muse took the opportunity to get out of his arms.

-You know that the muses are the most precious thing for him ...

-I haven't come for you to bother him.

-Then why?

- You have left without my authorization, it will not be repeated. Everything in this temple belongs to me, even the people who enter. - He released looking at her with narrowed eyes. - You understand?

-Do not. - The muse released, crossing her arms.

-Do not? - His tone was low and gloomy.

-No, I don't belong to anyone, much less to the gods. Much less a great barbarian.

-Now yes. - Ares released taking a step towards her. The muse did not move.

-Do not. - She released more than furious.

The god frowned again.

-Your hair- I take one of her reddish locks- rises like fire itself.

He looked at her as if it were a star and smiled pleased. He turned around and started walking towards the temple.

After a few steps, he turned to her.

-Will you walk or will I have to carry you inside?

The muse followed him annoyed, her arms crossed wishing she could make her life miserable just by daring to say such atrocities.