The Return of Ares The God of War

The Void

The room was nothing but a blur to Jayden and the only clear view was the cage on the stage with his sister in it.

A shuddered sigh left his mouth subconsciously as he stared at her, tears pricked at his eyes.

Ella had to go through so much since he left, five years ago, he wondered how she coped. Alone, punished for a crime she hadn't committed, tortured and molested.

He wanted to break down in tears, and he let his heart get pulled deep into the ocean of despair by a heavy anchor.

But his sister didn't think that way. Ella was happy to see her brother again, alive and well. Her circumstances almost faded from existence as she stared with a broad smile on her face at Jayden.

She was so happy that she felt like crying.

Now was not the time for a sob party and Jayden knew that much. He sought the void. The void was a ritual that helped him focus. He would banish all his thoughts by keeping himself inside a void where no emotions could enter and reach it easily.

It was a ritual he had learned while working in the military. Whenever he needed to focus on something, he would reach for it. It was his secret weapon.

Conversations sparked in the crowd like a wild flame as they all wondered who he was.

"Could it be?" One man asked.

"Doesn't he look like that man in the scandal from five years ago?"

"It is him! The son of the Knox family who brought shame and dishonor to his family. Good thing his parents are dead."

The void wavered as pain tried to push its way in, but Jayden wouldn't let them get to him.

They all began to berate him for his shameful actions towards Elsie, the daughter of the Holden family, but their spiteful words bounced off him like a balloon.

Jayden wouldn't let himself get distracted by the judging eyes that watched him intently and the hateful lips that cursed him without end.

"It is courageously stupid of you to show yourself here in front of us when you know the fate we have in store for you," Adam said egotistically.

Everyone was against Jayden, it was the right moment for him to show them how powerful he was and scorn him in front of his armies.

"Everyone thought you were dead this whole time, but you turned out to be alive, yet instead of keeping your head low, you foolishly brought yourself to us and tried to terrify us?” He laughed. “Well it's your lucky day because I am feeling a little bit generous today. I will not kill you and that dog sister of yours IF you crawl on your knees and beg." A sinister smile curved up on Adam's face as he spoke.

Everyone seemed intrigued by his words and waited impatiently for Jayden to beg for his life.

"I know you might still have some pride left in you, but arrogance will do you no good here," he assured, talking a few steps closer to Jayden. "Beg me! Lick my shoes and cower before me!" He roared while laughing maniacally.

The people cheered him on. After all, the rich and powerful only supported their fellow rich and powerful people.

"So," Adam pronounced softly, "what is it going to be, hero? Your pride or your life?" He stared intently at Jayden like a viper.

Like a flash of light, Jayden moved his hand towards Adam's throat. That was all they saw before Adam spat out blood and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Your life." Jayden responded dryly.

The once laughing crowd were suddenly drained of their souls as faces turned pale white in horror.

Just like that, Adam Gilroy had been shamelessly killed in front of all those eyes. Jayden hated how merciful he had been in killing him, but the deed had already been done.

Normally, he had wished to punish him for a very long time, making Adam wish for death himself and not find it. Then, when he got bored with torturing him, he would kill him slowly by dicing him into bits of chunky flesh.

Jayden crossed over the lifeless body in front of him and bent to pick up the key to his sister's cage.

"Everyone! Clear this place immediately!" He ordered his army while hurrying to his sister's cage. "Tear it down if you need to. Withhold everything of value, like the priceless paintings and artifacts, but destroy every other thing."

"Yes sir!" They all chorused a response.

"A filthy place like this shouldn't even exist." He muttered to himself.

His sister jumped into his arms as soon as the door to the cage opened, and he hugged her tightly.

A single teardrop rolled down his face as the void shook and collapsed. "I'm so sorry for being so late." He apologized while trying to keep himself from falling apart further.

She shook her head. Raising her head from his shoulder, she looked into his eyes with so much admiration in her gaze. "You are right on time." She responded as tears trailed down her face.

Jayden stared at Ella with pain burning in his gaze. She had grown skinny and her face was bruised and battered. But somehow, she still looked so beautiful to him.

The crowd had seen enough, they didn't care about the things of value they had purchased, all they wanted was to get out unscathed.

They all panicked out of the large hallway trying to protect the one thing of value they possessed. Their lives.

Soon, the place was empty save for Jayden's men and the other three of the great giants of Rose City.

Dom Hawkins, the competent person in charge, seemed shaken by what he had just witnessed and feared his life would be next.

But something else drove him harder than fear. Anger. Nobody like Jayden would be allowed to ruin everything for him. No! Not while I'm alive!'

He immediately made a swift dial on his phone and his lips twitched into a taunting smile. 'And so what if he learned how to fight in the military? Let's see him take on hundreds of men!' He thought to himself.

Almost immediately, men pushed in through the entrance and crowded the hall. Judging from the number of heads, there were well over a hundred.

Jayden hid his sister behind him, his eyes traveled across the men in front of him.

Each one of them had a weapon in hand, even guns.

Dom stepped forward just then, smiling broadly. "Today is your last day".