Chapter Seven
“If this isn’t because of you, why are treaties that we’ve had in place for decades deteriorating?” I ask. “These are our allies.”
“Didn’t the errand boy warn you that this could happen?” Ares looks puzzled.
“That’s uncalled for,” Kira snaps and grips Draven’s hand. “He’s more than an errand boy.”
“You misunderstand, daughter of my enemy,” Ares says and glares at Dax. “I’m surprised at you, son.”
“Surprised at me?” Dax asks. “You’re the one who was wrong in that situation. Why do I have to be without the woman I love because of your feud?”
Kira gasps and Dax curses but glares even angrier at his godly parent. He hadn’t meant to say that but his damn father riled him into defending his relationship. Good for him.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that for the first time, like this,” Dax mumbles and it’s the cutest thing in the world.
“Okay, let’s everyone calm down. Hermes said something about possible war because he’s the god of communication. Is that what you’re saying is happening here?” I ask.
“Essentially, the countries that have been allies for decades now can’t see eye to eye on everything to the point it’s almost like they are speaking different languages when they are all speaking English.” Ares nods.
“Okay, so this is because of a breakdown in communication and not because of you or that your shield is missing. Why are there so many gods that influence so many different things? It’s really starting to annoy me to have to prevent a war every time the queen throws a new tantrum,” I say with a growl.
“There are many ways to make mortals quarrel. They are fascinating creatures in their spite and hatred for all they don’t understand.” Ares shrugs.
“That’s really not at all comforting.”
“I didn’t come here to comfort you, little godling. I came as a warning. I’ve never worked so hard to prevent war before. It’s unsettling and against my very nature. I don’t like it.” He clenches a fist at his side.
“What are we supposed to do, Ares? We’re already preparing for the mission to find the caduceus for Hermes.”
Ares narrows his eyes at me and then glances at Raven. She crosses her arms and raises a brow at her father in challenge.
Ares sighs. “I have never understood females.”
He scans the faces of the guys in the room but wisely they don’t make eye contact with the god or acknowledge his claims that women are the weird ones and not megalomaniac men in positions of power.
“Look, Ares, we are working on it. How long do you think you can hold them back?” I ask, placating the war god.
“I don’t know.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “I’ve never tried to stop it before. Time in the millennia I have lived means very little to me.”
“Can you ballpark it?” Raven asks. “Do we have a month? A week? Two? We need a timeframe before the world explodes.”
“I would say a month is too long. The feeling I’m getting is that this is an imminent threat to the world. Two weeks maximum. That’s all I can give you.”
“Shit.” I slump back into Jayden’s chest. “We need to leave as soon as possible. We don’t know what the situation with the roads might be and we could end up anywhere.”
“So, you’ve figured that part out already, then?” Ares asks.
“With some not so subtle hints from Hermes himself. We understand we could end up moving in the wrong direction or transported to a different place entirely.” I nod.
“Anything is possible on the roads right now. You could be lost for days and lose precious time.”
“We got that,” I snap and rub at my temples. “Sorry, this is just a lot and there’s never enough time for all of this bullshit.”
“I’ll leave you young ones to plan your journey, then. Remember what you’re fighting for, godlings. The world will cease to exist.” Ares transports away.
“A world we are no longer a part of,” I mumble. “We need to save it so we can have lives again, safe from the monsters who hunt us.”
“I think we all need the reminder of what we’re fighting for,” Raven says with a sigh.
