32. Loyal Dog

"B-but... I don't understand. The love arrow broke?" Sage bit her lip. Eros' arrow had broken. That was why Ares had left her. What he was saying now didn't make any sense. Was this all just wishful thinking on her part? Was she misunderstanding him?

"Yes, it did break." Ares agreed.

"Then your feelings...?"

"My feelings were real, Sage."

Sage's lips quivered. She wanted to cry. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. Happy. Sad. Angry. Confused. But she felt that there was something very important that she needed to check he had understood.

"I don't have any eyes."

Ares swallowed.

"I know."

Did he? Didn't he realise what that meant? She was burden to everyone. Everything was challenge for her now.

The bar owners of Castle Hill called out for last orders. There was a scrape of a chair as Ezekiel pulled back from the table.

"Ezekiel," Sage murmured. Ezekiel hesitated.

"Do you want me to stay? Or do you want to be alone with him?" Ezekiel's voice made it clear that it was her decision. If Sage asked him to stay, he'd stay.

Four months ago, when she'd been alone in her apartment – eyes gouged out – it had been Ezekiel who had found her. He'd broken down her apartment door after hearing that she hadn't shown up to work and he'd found her lying on the bloody sheets of her bed.

"Sage!? Sage, answer me!?" He'd yelled, holding her in his arms. She'd struggled to reply. Her voice scratched and breathy, ruined from screaming.

He'd called for an ambulance and he'd held her hand all the way to the hospital. It was something she'd be forever grateful for. She'd thought that she was going to die alone on that bed. The moment Ezekiel had found her, her fear had gone. The hospital had done what they could. But nothing could save her eyes.

"You don't have to stay with me." She'd said, when she'd woken up in the hospital the next day and discovered that Ezekiel still hadn't left her side.

"I'm you loyal dog, Sage." Was all he'd replied.

Now, as Ezekiel asked if he should leave – Sage couldn't help but think about all he'd done for her.

"I want you to stay." She replied. Her words made Ezekiel smile. But they crushed Ares.

"It's getting late." Ezekiel commented gruffly. "Jaz will freak if I don't get you home."

Sage nodded. Since losing her eyes, Sage could no longer live alone. Moving to live above the café had been Jaz's idea.

They all stood up and Ares put a hand on Sage's elbow, guiding her between the myriad of tables. The trio were awkward as they walked down the hill, taking up most of the pavement. Whenever an obstacle came up and one of them had to walk briefly in the road, the men kept trying to nudge the other further away from Sage.

"Where have you been all this time?" Sage asked Ares, filling the uncomfortable silence. She couldn't see the glares Ezekiel and Ares were sending to one another.

"Following wars across the world. It built up my powers, so was a good practical use of my time. I thought it would also be a good distraction. It wasn't though."

Sage's heart fluttered.

"I thought when the arrow broke that you'd never forgive me..." But here he was, walking by her side. It felt too good to be true.

"The obsession is Aphrodite's fault, and mine. Never yours." His words were flustered and Sage sensed that he was becoming agitated. With guilt, perhaps? She shrugged.

"Well, it's over now at least."

"What do you mean?"

"The obsession. It's over." Sage stated as if it was obvious.

"I don't understand." Ares looked over Sage's head at Ezekiel for confirmation.

"The curse was in Sage's eyes. That was why the demon removed them." Ezekiel explained. Ares came to an abrupt stop and put a hand on Sage's arm.

"So... you're no longer cursed?"

Sage nodded. She was free. They all were.

Ares felt strangely giddy. If Sage was no longer cursed to love Ezekiel, then that meant that he had a chance to win her heart fairly. Ares exhaled, grinning stupidly, and ran his fingers through his hair. One day, perhaps, she'd be able to love him almost as much as he loved her. He knew Ezekiel would be trying just as hard as he was. But the war god was prepared to fight for her.

"Do you know why she did that?" Sage asked. They resumed walking. Ares shook his head and then remembered that Sage couldn't see the gesture.

"No. I don't understand the demon's motives." What had Lamia gained by removing Sage's eyes? Did cursed eyes contain properties that the demon might need?

They arrived all to soon at the cafe. Ares was reluctant to say goodbye.

"Can I come up with you?" He asked hopefully.

"Sage needs to sleep." Ezekiel growled, speaking for her. Sage didn't argue. She was trying to keep both men happy.

"Will you come back tomorrow?" She asked Ares.

"Yes."

Sage smiled. She would have to be patient and wait until tomorrow.

Ezekiel huffed. Sage reached out blindly and found Ezekiel's arm and tugged on it.

"Don't forget your promise." She reminded him. Ezekiel's expression immediately softened.

"I won't. I'll be there." It was Jaz's birthday in a couple of days and Sage was organising a party, with Sophia's help. Secretly, Sage was relying on Ezekiel coming. Parties weren't really her thing but she knew Jaz loved them. (Though the café owner was being very cagey however on how old he was going to be.)

Both men bid Sage goodnight and anxiously watched her step inside, her stick out to keep track of the walls. Ares would rather have carried her up to her room. He couldn't help worrying that she'd hurt herself.

"Are you really staying?" Ezekiel asked Ares, once they were alone.

"Yes."

"You're a god. Can you fix her eyes?" This was the question Ezekiel had most wanted to ask, but he hadn't wanted to say it in front of Sage.

"I don't know." Ares replied honestly. But there was one person he could ask.

Ares disappeared, seeming to melt into the shadows. Ezekiel shuddered. Whilst he knew what Ares was, the idea still unnerved him. Ezekiel clenched his hands into fists. He wished that the god had never returned.

In the underworld, Hades was spitting blue fire.

"You're back. Again." He faced his insolent nephew and his lips curled in disgust. Ares put his hands up in surrender.

"I'm not here to break in. Or to hurt your pets." The war god reassured.

"Surely not for my company then?" Hades asked sardonically, knowing the answer. Nobody ever visited the Underworld just to spend time with the god of the dead.

"You're older than me. You've seen more. It's your knowledge that I need."

Hades snorted.

"You think I will help you, war god?" He sneered.

Ares winced. He guessed that he deserved that. Slowly, he dropped down to his knees.

"Please, uncle."

Hades stared. His cold eyes narrowing. His insolent nephew, the belligerent god of war, was kneeling at his feet. Why?

Hades thought back over their encounters lately. Ares, using powers he'd never shown before, trying to erase his memoires and now kneeling in submission. The war god was changing. Gods were controlled by their natures, natures that couldn't change. Not unless forces far stronger were at work. Hades' blue flames died down.

"Tell me your tale, nephew. Only after I have heard it all, will I decide if you deserve my help. And there will be conditions." He added the last part with a terrible note of threat in his voice. Ares nodded. He understood.

He'd have to make a deal with the god of death.