Aphrodite reappears in the city of Sparta staring out at the passing citizens as her thoughts drift to her son, she had never really cared for the place much, but now that her son had fled Sparta the place seemed like a dead husk completely. She didn’t want to be here but she had to find out if Christos had decided to take matters into his own hands after what happened.
Changing her form to look like and old woman she hobbles out of her hiding space heading to the training arena, until she is stopped abruptly by an old man stepping in front of her.
“Such a lovely lady, would you do me the honor of giving me your name?” He questions with a crinkled smile.
Frowning at the delay she answers “My apologies kind sir but I am married and running late for a very important appointment, so if you’ll excuse me.” She says pushing past the man.
With amazing speed he grabs her arm forcing her to stop in her tracks. “Just a husband? What of your lover? Is he so unimportant that he doesn’t even warrant mentioning?”
Her frown quickly changes to an evil smile. “What are you doing here Ares, don’t you have some innocent puppies to kick or something?”
“Not at all, I’ve already got my fill of puppy kicking for the day among other things, but if it is entertainment you seek just watch.”
Turning away from her he winks in the direction of a few men passing by, promptly the three men who were once brothers in arms turn on each other fighting to the death.
“You see dear I always have fun wherever I am, but that’s not why I’m here. I’m simply here to visit my half-brother Christos and make sure he is doing what is befitting that of a son of Zeus.” He smiles evilly.
“Zeus is handling what happened Ares, the gods may test Vasos and Kol but may not go beyond that, do you really need to pick on a fifteen year old anyway?”
“I am well aware of his age and what Zeus is doing Aphrodite, and I will respect my father’s wish, but should he be attacked by another demigod, mortal or monster then so be it.”
With an angry look she pushes past him heading to the stadium.
“Not to worry my love I’m sure that Vasos will die a hero.” He yells after her.
“Ugh.” She huffs moving faster “Sometimes I don’t know what I ever saw in him.”
“He’s the bad boy, the dangerous type maybe that’s it.” Says a crippled man falling in pace next to her.
Stunned into stopping she slowly turns to look at the man as they walk.
“Hello husband, spying on me again?” She questions.
“Not at all, I am here out of curiosity and worry about my step son.”
“He isn’t here, he fled after what happened.”
“I am well aware of this fact. I’m here to find out what plans are in motion against him and to pick up a special gift he was unable to take with him when he fled.”
“I was aware of no gift Hephaestus, so what is it that you gave to him and why?” She says suspiciously.
“One day at the temple of the gods many children were praying, they praised many of our family but when my name was brought up the children heckled me because of my looks and crippled leg. Anger and hurt festered in my heart but I still had hoped that I would be honored as the children’s parents stifled their mocking, yet again I was disappointed. Once they had sent off the children I believed they would have prayed to me but instead they too began mocking me. I raised my hand in anger ready to blast them into pieces, however, before I could Vasos appeared in the temple standing before the four large men with his fists balled. Interested and curious I watched as he demanded they take back everything said against me and beg me for my forgiveness, he said that they would not disrespect his father in such a manner. Then this brave young child fought four grown men to force an apology, alas he did not prove a match for them and was defeated before the fight was broken up by the temple guards. I never forgot what he did that day and I promptly chose to make him a gift to show my gratitude, he is my son whether or not he came from my loins.”
“I never knew that.” She whispers quietly.
“Not many do dear wife, none the less it is so.”
“So what gift did you make for him?” She smiles happily.
“A magical weapon, it changes between an axe and sword with but a thought. Also, it will come to him on command the same way Thor’s hammer does as well as no one else being able to lift or use it but him.”
“Why on Earth would he need a weapon like that?!” She yells for a second drawing everyone’s attention before using her powers to make everyone forget the incident.
“Such anger, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one who cares for the boy. As for why I gave him such a weapon, because I foresee him becoming one of the greatest heroes of all time.”
“He can be great but greatness is all too often tied to excessive hardship not something I wished for my child. I worry for him Hephaestus he is much too impetuous in his decisions.”
“He isn’t impetuous, he is brave and fearless. A combination that every hero must have, show confidence in him as I do and as Zeus does.”
“Zeus?” She questions.
“He favors him over his own son Christos, which is why Christos hates him so much.” He grins coming to a stop in front of the training arena.
“Thank you for your council and comforting words husband, I must go now, I need to find out what Ares has planned.” She glowers. “But what will you do now?”
“I know where he has hidden the weapon, I am going to retrieve it and meet with Vasos. Lord Zeus has ordered that I convey the quests to him and send him on his way.”
“So it begins.” She exhales.
Hephaestus kisses her on the check lightly disappearing in a shimmer of light leaving her to her task as he takes care of his.
She takes a deep breath heading into the arena changing form again to resemble a maid in the queens’ court as she searches for Christos. Out of the blue an arc of electricity cuts through the air sending a young man flying into an adjacent wall, with a smile she follows the smell of ozone back to its source to find Christos laughing wildly next to the old man Ares is pretending to be. Swiftly she ducks behind a nearby column to listen.
The young demigod son of Zeus named Christos stands at five foot five with golden brown hair and eyes to match, his wiry frame is muscular and well defined as he drips with sweat from training.
“Excellently done little brother, but even in training I expect you to never show mercy. Now you will leave today to track down Vasos and when you find him give him what he deserves is that understood?” Questions Ares towering over him.
“Don’t worry I will brother, I will not allow his affront to my honor to go unchecked any longer, what of the king? Has he decided to allow me to leave?”
“I have had a talk with the king, do not worry he has agreed.” Sneers Ares evilly.
“Excellent I will…” Begins Christos only to be cut off by a blunt tipped spear hitting him square in the chest and sending him to the ground.
“Out of the way old man or I’ll send you to Hades along with this bastard son of Zeus.” Shrieks the man who Christos blasted before.
“Is that so?” Questions Ares growing to his full size and form with a flaming sword in his right hand.
Ares hair turns reddish/gold and his eyes turn to burning yellow, at the same time he grows to his regular height of ten feet tall and covered in full battle armor.
“Lord Ares forgive me, I did not know it was you.” He says quickly falling to his knees.
“Regardless, you made your choice Spartan now meet your death the way your people have always done, with honor and joy.” Lunges Ares picking the man up by the throat and throwing him back to the floor. “Come fool show me why your people are feared.”
The man rises slowly to his feet bowing for a moment before bringing his sword to the ready.
Expertly the man feigns an attack to Ares face followed swiftly by a flick of his wrist changing
to attack him at the chest. With a deadly cool Ares bats away the man’s sword then just as swiftly buries his hand in the man’s chest ripping out his heart and bursting it into flame. The man’s shocked expression looks at his chest for a moment before collapsing to the floor in a heap that starts on fire. As everyone watches dark hands from Hades break through the ground pulling the body of the soldier back to the underworld with them.
“How disappointing, I didn’t even break a sweat.” Says Ares. “Now where were we? Oh yes, I have something for you Christos, this is the spear of Ares, nearly unbreakable and it will focus your power doubling its force.”
“Vasos is as good as dead.” Laughs Christos grabbing the spear and sending electricity into the sky.
“Excellent, you will find him in Messene waiting for Hephaestus to bring him his weapon. Get there and destroy him before he can learn to use his powers and the weapon, the Cayldonian Boar will meet you at the edge of the city and speed you on your way to make up for lost time, until you reach the city Stymphalian birds will keep watch and attack him to delay him if necessary.”
“As you wish brother I will leave now.”
“Outstanding and Christos don’t fail me.” Says Ares disappearing.
Christos leaves the arena with Aphrodite waiting in the background having overheard everything. “So you think that you can send creatures against my son, well let’s see how your pet birds do against my little surprise.” She laughs disappearing herself.