In the Light of the Moon

I stumbled at his voice and spun around. Zeus stood a few feet behind us, a smug grin resting on his face. "How—?"

"How did I know?" he finished.

"Because of me."

I jumped back as Hesperos spoke. My heart sank to my stomach as Hesperos' face started rearranging. Long, black hair grew out of his scalp, and his figure filled out—Ares.

"B-brother?" I stuttered. "What?"

Ares burst out laughing. "You really believed it was your lover the whole time! Your naïveté hasn't changed in the least! It's pathetic! Hesperos died with you, you daft bitch. He's been dead for eighteen years."

"Then, then why take up this, this ruse?" I heard the tremble in my voice. How could they do something like this to me? Get my hopes up and then spit on them like that?

"Well, it was to have incentive over you to keep you from escaping. But, being the selfish girl that you are, you left. Then it became something to draw you back. But you never did come back, so..." He smiled, arrogance glittering in his eyes. "I see your priorities lie with nobody but yourself."

Zeus took a step closer, diverting my attention. "What a perfect time for an execution—we are all here, after all."

I ignored Zeus as Ares's words rang through my head. Naïve? Naïve? Anger boiled inside of me. Ares thinks that I'm naïve? Well, I'll show him naïve! I squared my shoulders back, staring down Zeus. "Arkas, leave. This fight is between us. Get away—away from Zeus."

I heard retreating footsteps, and I prayed that Arkas left. I didn't dare take my eyes off of Zeus.

"Fight?" Zeus asked. "Why must you make this so much more difficult? Just accept your fate."

I spat in his face. Ares punched me in the cheek. When my head snapped in the other direction, Ares seized my hair and yanked me to him. I deflected one of his blows, landing one myself, but another of his sent me to the ground. I'm too weak. Before I could get up, a foot buried itself in my ribs. I coughed and wheezed, trying to get air into my lungs.

Zeus spoke over my hacking, "I appreciate the help, son, but this is mine. Your help is greatly cherished, but leave us."

Ares teleported away with a huff. Now, it was just the two of us. Zeus crouched beside me. "Go to hell," I rasped.

I was so tired. Every time we did this, I grew more tired: tired of fighting, tired of running, tired of the fear, tired of everything. I was so tired. I wanted to lay down and give up. I wanted to let Zeus win, to let him have me.

But I thought of my friends. I thought of Hades and his silent kindness. I thought of Persephone and her undying friendship to me. I thought of Apollo and the deep-rooted familial bond we have. I thought of Hestia and her maternal love for me. I thought of Derek and everything that he taught me. And then I thought of Monica and the love we share.

I'm tired, but I have so much to lose.

I rolled onto my back, letting the moon wash over me. The grass blades against my back hurt so bad that I almost couldn't breathe. But the feel of the moon reminded me of the nothing: swaddling me in its welcoming arms and removing my pain. I'm so tired, but the moon woke me up. She reminded me of my family, my love for them.

I rested my hand on the ground just as thunder rumbled ahead. I need help fast. Or a distraction, at least. I tried to bring back the earthquake from the last time, but I got nothing. I could feel something blocking my powers again, but it wasn't as strong. There was a wall, but I could get some of my powers over it.