Chapter 10

She frowned at the familiar voice. "You."

"I'm not going to hurt you."

"Get away from me!" She waved her arm.

"Sit down." He said holding her shoulders firmly.

"You know I have powers right?" She said.

"You can't use them, you're sick."

She eyed him. "I'm fine. What am I doing here anyway?"

"Your boyfriend brought you to me."

"He wouldn't."

"That's how desperate he is apparently." Ares grinned.

"Why would he do that?" She asked and Ares squirmed.

"Fei took my powers away from me."

"Technically they were mine from the beginning?" She said, her feelings of resentment for Ares was rekindled.

"Don't start." He said lowering his head.

"Why would she take them? I saved the world even though I made a mistake. I shouldn't have them taken." She said.

"Settle down. Do you understand why I didn't want you in that battlefield?"

She hugged her knees. "Because you didn't think I was a competent hero."

He felt so much distance between them."When you were young, at first I was afraid you would use your powers to gain freedom but I had to teach you to think for yourself. It's a double edged sword. I asked you to teleport from point A to B. Then gradually increase your distance from time to time. You wanted to go to China if anything and your heart nearly failed."

Harley's eyes watered. "Why am I even listening to you?"

"Because you need me now more than ever."

She clutched her hair, if she blamed Ares for rebelling against Fei then she would have never gotten her powers in the first place.

"I thought gods don't play favourites." She said.

Ares clamped his lips tightly.

"All you care about is manipulating me and keeping me under your control. I spent years searching for my father and you locked him away in the catacombs. A living person."

She walked towards the doors and it shut.

"If I played favourites, I would have let you have your father."

"You just wanted your powers back." She retorted. "And I was the key."

"My point exactly."

She brushed her eyes.

She was not as important to him as she thought she was.

Ares tilted his head and the doors opened. "I need you to stop using your powers until you recover."

"Screw you!" She said walking out the door.

She went to the pool and crouched. She shuddered, grabbing a sweatshirt putting it on.

She grinded her teeth. Why was Ares telling her this? She wasn't valued by him as much as she wanted to be. She accused him of playing favorites and she got hurt when he proved the opposite.

Would it make a difference if she died using her powers? Would he even care? What about her friends? Her followers...

She glanced at Blackjack, her hellhound, even he rested.

Harley's lip trembled. She had to stop or else she would upset everyone around her. Including Ares.

Maks glanced at Harley, he had tried to warn her and failed. But all Ares had done was talk to her.

He went over to her. "How are you feeling?"

She brought herself to look at him. His green eyes lit under the pool light. "Fine thank you for asking."

"You had me worried." He said raking his hair.

"This is your second time coming here."

"Yeah, no big deal."

"You're braver than me. I stayed with Ares even if I saw the red flags and I didn't run away."

"I don't think it's a matter of being brave. You needed help and I did what I could."

"I just wish it wasn't Ares." She said. "My ability to open the null void I understand but why would Fei take my fire powers too? I mean you have that creepy ability to draw monster energy but why didn't she take it away?"

Maks looked hurt by her statement.

"What's the point of powers if I can't use them?" She said with tears.

"I think there are consequences." He told her.

"There aren't consequences! The gods didn't bring Bo back from the dead! They brought me because you're their favorite and I'm just some prize to be won right? I mean my feelings don't matter." She said with tears.

"Are you saying that I don't care about you, is that it!?" He said.

He sighed. "Nevermind, all I'm trying to say is, for every action, there's a consequence and you... you're just spoiled and entitled." He said and she stood back.

"I'm spoiled!? Spoiled!" She said. "You're wrong about me. Well how about I start off like this. Maks, I understand how hard it is for you to bring me here and I appreciate your concern for me. Or I appreciate my powers so much that I won't use them to the point I kill myself! And then make others worry."

He nodded. "Sure but your actions speak for you." He said.

She growled when he left.

She drove the car while he sat arms folded. "This would have been a lot faster if I just teleported."

"Blackjack's been contained so he's not helping you make disappearing acts anytime soon."

Harley looked pained.

"Slow down." He said.

She stepped on the accelerator.

He saw a cat crossing the road and his eyes rounded.

"Stop!" He steered away from the cat and the car swerved and they continued down the road.

Harley breathed harshly and she stopped speeding ahead.

"What's wrong with you, we're gonna go to jail or something."

She bit her lip and he stepped out.

"Come to the party with me. This weekend." She held out a flyer.

"Fresh out. I have classes." He said walking away and she pouted staring at the flyer.

"No drinks okay? I've seen Artemis party." He said.

She put on lipstick and a mini dress with rhinestones.

Maks was in class listening to lectures and watching a slideshow about the opthalmic nerve.

She stepped into her shoes.

He laughed with study group and then scribbled on sticky notes.

He softened at her leaving with her friends. They squealed.

"We're going to that party." Rex said.

"Wait, you're all going?" He asked.

"Yeah. You coming?"

"You just...have fun. I'll stay at home tonight." He watched them leave and stuck his tongue his cheek forcing it to protrude.