Its been a few hours since we were caught by surprise by Jax's Elf minion and her bloody Earth creatures. God why me, why am I always the center of everyone's rage and aggression? Oh right I forgot because of the whole stupid fucking shit about me being framed of killing those three noble men. Thank god to the man in front of me and the other behind me if it wasn't for them I would not be here to tell the tale. I owe these two everything.
The silence between us three is getting a little too unbearable. The look on Leon's face kept flashing into my mind, was he really jealous? And why would he be? I jammed those mental questions to the side for another day because I need to keep my mind concentrating on the situation at hand first.
There was a question that was swimming in my head ever since the Prince spoke its name.
"Jackles Cave...was name for Zexeal the God of Death or the Jackle God wasn't it?" I asked, mentally kicking myself in the ass for asking such a stupid question.
"Yes it was in fact. The Cave was founded by a group of humans a century ago. When the Dragoon King found out about the God's worshipping cult he sent down his son who is riding right behind you right now."
I looked over to Hajime at the same time he was turning his head away from my gaze. Then Leon's voice pulled me back.
"So thanks to his Tyrant father Hajime killed every one of those humans..."
Hajime interrupted the Prince. "Let's not talk about this anymore. Those memories are something I don't want to remember."
"Well Ares is going to find out eventually so it might as well be now." Leon shook his head and went on with the history of the Cave and a little bit of his friend's dark past. "After he finished slaughtering all of the humans he was about to walk away until he heard the sobs of a young boy. When he found him the sight was to much for him to bare to see, the boy was bleeding perfusly from his side but some how the wound healed itself quickly then when the wound finished healing the boy jerked his head up with a wide grin on his face and his eyes went milky white."
"Then what? What happened?" I asked curious about what happened next, but my mind was struggling to get a grip on a memory I have forgotten about.
"I got out of there. I figured out right then that I was playing right into Zexeal's clawed hand. The boy was the door and the blood of his worshipers was the key and he knew it." While finishing the man's emotions went dark and thick with regret, I've never seen him like this before and I did not like it.
Ten minutes later went unmounted heading into the entrance of the cave. The stench of death slammed into my nostrils I could feel puke flood into my throat but instead of letting it out I just swallowed it back. "Well dark, dank and the putrid smell of death this is the perfect place for the God of Death to reside in." I swallowed the lump in my throat hard.
"Ares you can always walk beside me if you need to." Hajime gently touched my shoulder but instead I shrugged it off.
"I'll be fine...come on let's get this over with."
I led the way through the caverns until we heard a blood curling scream which brought back the heart wrenching sight of the Fairy having her wings being ripped away. So I started darting down the way I was going with both the Prince and Hajime at my heel.
I slid to a holt in a huge flame lit cavern that was filled with so much blood, gore and dismentaled body parts that hardly had flesh or anything on them. The sight in front of me this time pulled chunks of puke out of my stomach while I coughed covering my mouth.
"Well this is a sight to see." A gurgling noise yanked my attention to the furthest corner that had a guy who looks like he hasn't seen the rays of the sun or the touch of the wind or even water in years. My eyes went from this man's looks but to what was in his grasp a woman no older then 20 years with his teeth in her throat yanking hard until her juggler was pulled out and eaten.
I cleared my throat loud. "Well the God is forcing cannibalism upon others."
We heard a menacing laugh. "Oh Ares you of all people should know I do not deal with cannibalism. I just had to do something to keep this boy alive I couldn't loose my way into this world."
"Wait, what do you mean by you of all people?" I asked confused.
"Oh right you unconsciously blocked those memories out." Zexeal appeared right behind me in his favorite human form of a light skinned man, 6"0', shoulder length black curly hair and black eyes. He was wearing black tights and a nice white flowy dress shirt.
Zexeal put his hands on both of my shoulders lightly sliding them down on my bare skin. When watching the scene taking place Hajime took a step forward but Leon pulled him back instead.
"No."
Hajime let a growl slip out of his throat, turning his head away and Leon noticed the look on his friend's face. "You really care for her don't you Hajime?" Leon ask in a whisper that only Hajime came hear.
Hajime softly sighed and nodded his head. "Yes I do. I know you do too my friend."
"Yes but the way she looks at you, you are the one who she cares for the most." Leon spoke softly.
Zexeal tilted his head down near my ear and whispered. "Then let's unearth those blocked memories. The time when you and...I were in the clearing with blue cloud blossoms all around with us underneath the Great Oak."
My eyes went wide then pulled away from the God and turned around to face him. "No, it could not have been you, it was me and Jax that day."
Zexeal laughed melodiously. "You actually think you were with that idiot Elf?" He walked closer to me until I backed all the way to the wall. Zexeal rested his hands on the wall on either side of my head. "No, Jax was doing what I told him to that day..." His lips touched the crook of my neck which made a soft gasp escap out of my parted lips.
I bit my lower lip trying to contain my urges. "What do you mean by he was doing what you told him...to..." Something finally clicked into my my mind. "Wait a minute..." I pushed Zexeal away from me yanked my dagger out and raised it to up until the blade was inches away from the God's throat. "You."
Zexeal smiled with mischievous grin on his face. "Oh Ares, I'm a God you know you can't kill me. But yes it was me, those memories you hold in the darkest parts of your brain, the deaths of your parents it was all me."
"But why?" I asked with anger fuming every single word.
"Because I knew I could bring out that rage and fire within you and it was so easy. Just give in to that anger and let me in." Zexeal explained which angered me even that more.
Without moving my head I looked over to my companions who I grew to cherish and care for. "Fuck you Zexeal ok, I won't give in to you not now, not ever. Now if you do not get out of my way I will kill your only doorway into this world." I pointed to the guy in the corner who seems like he is completely out of it and has no idea what is going on.
Zexeal growled and backed away and stepped aside. After doing so I walked past him and straight back to Hajime and Leon. Hajime laid one of his hands on my left shoulder and wrapped his other around my hip. Then Leon laid his hand on my other shoulder and his other the small of my back.
"This isn't over Ares."
The men kept a close distance to me and looked over to Zexeal who had fire burning in his eyes.
"I will have you again." Zexeal growled again.
We walked out of the cave finally which meant fresh air, lots of fresh air. A tear streamed down my cheek which I kept hidden from the Prince and Hajime.
I walked up to my horse who can tell that I was feeling troubled so she nuzzled her cold nose onto my cheek. I weakly smiled and stroked her cheek.
"Ares are you..."
I interrupted Leon and shook my head. "Let's just go, get as much distance between us and this place I'm sick of this place." I adverted my gaze and climbed onto my horse.
Both of the men looked over at each other and rode behind me.