He sensed them looking for him, and knew they'd be here soon. He may not have all of his abilities at the present time, but the ones he did regain were the ones he needed most. And the keen awareness of all of his senses, both modern and primal, were one of them. He couldn't tell much about his visitors, just that they somehow felt familiar, and they were here for him. It was just a matter of waiting, as he must not leave his Princess's side, regardless of circumstance.
His Princess, he mocked himself. Is that what the treacherous God of Blood has become? A slave to human emotion. Was he actually finding an interest in this girl? Blasphemy of the highest order, a God and a Mortal must never fall in love. It is unsightly in the eyes of the gods, and against the rules set by the top five.
He banished the thought of emotion and rules from his mind and focused on his duties, protecting the Princess from any and all harm. The two who were searching for him would be here soon, and he wouldn't allow any harm to be done to anyone under his watch.
The night went by slowly, or maybe that was just his perception. The fires had all gone out around the encampment long ago, with the exception of the main pyre where the King was located. The Princess's Pavilion was located just outside the reach of pyre's light, casting long and moving shadows in their direction. He glanced back at the Princess, her soft and lovely form sleeping peacefully on soft silks. She looked graceful, even while resting. Somewhere deep inside of him he felt at peace for the first time in his existence. It felt odd, to say the least, but comforting.
The crack of twig breaking outside the pavilion pulled him from his thoughts, all of his senses heightening to preternatural levels. He could make them out in his mind, two of them, one taller and more heavily built, the other small and more slender. They were just on the other side of the pavilion tent interacting with the stationed guards. To his astonishment the tents flapped opened and two men in dark cloaks appeared from the outside darkness.
"Hail young Lord Nobaru, we have come to relieve you of your duties," stated the taller man with authority. "The King requests your presence."
Nobaru eyed the two suspiciously.
"What form of trickery is this? How two cloaked heathens could even get passed the guards is beyond comprehension. But it matters not," replied Ares coldly.
His eyes became a deep crimson, the color spreading to a tight aura around his body, faintly casting light the color of blood across the room. He had been in such a good mood this whole night, and someone had to come and spoil his moment of peace. Arrogant fools.
"You're the fool Ares," a voice exclaimed in his mind.
"You dare speak to Apep, the God of Chaos in that tone? I should have never saved your meager existence and brought you here."
Telepathy, mused Ares. It had felt like far too long since he had the pleasure of enjoying a wordless conversation.
"Apep, so it was you that sent me to this putrid place upon my death," complained Ares. "And here I thought we had an understanding."
"Enough with your nonsense Ares, I'm here to warm you. Tursas knows your alive and is searching far and wide to end your existence once and for all. There is even talk of him convincing other gods to follow his cause, trust nobody Ares."
Ares eyed Apep contemptuously, if this was true he couldn't trust them either.
"Be gone from my sight Apep, and your dog as well," he gestured at his companion. "I sense ill will and misfortune around his pathetic existence."
That provocation was all Dolos needed, and he lunged at Ares at blinding speeds, that dagger of shadows the formed in his hand point straight at his his throat. But just before he could reach him something sharp painfully pierced his heart, forcing him to fall to his knees in mid lunge. He looked down to see Ares' hand had gone through his whole body, decimating his organ. His eyes lifted, blood trickling from his mouth as his vision faded, before falling face first into the ground.
Ares placed his hands over the God of Deception's lifeless form and began the ritual, the crimson life force flowing in to his own. A look of disdain crossed his features as he lifted his gaze to Apep.
"Leave this place Apep, never come to again, and take the dead god with you. It was raise quite the alarm if he was found here at first light."
Apep knelt down beside Bolos and placed a hand on him, both vanishing without a trace in an instant, not even a drop of blood remained. Ares retracted his aura and his eyes returned to normal. With this new surge of energy he would need sleep for days.