Page 10 of The Cursed Chalice

“Do they think they can take us?”

“Alcippe was his daughter. He loved her. One day, Halirrhothius raped Alcippe. Do you know what Ares did?”

The room remains silent. I sigh. “He killed Halirrhothius. All for the sake of his daughter. See, Ares loved his daughter. He is a protector of women.”

“He deserves to die,” Cerano says.

Both my reflection and I smile.

“And so do you.”

Cerano pulls his gun out and points it at me. All his men do the same.

“Did you hurt that little girl, Zara?” The windowpane behind me trembles.

“Embrace me, Aric.”

Cerano shrugs. “She was crying too much. So I gave her something to cry about.”

Disgust curls in my stomach. I look at my reflection. “You are free, Ares.”

I hear a heavy chuckle. A rush of energy ripples through my body. I stretch my arms over my head and groan out loud.

“Fuck. It’s good to be out.” I whisper.

“Kill them all, Ares.”

I chuckle. “With pleasure.”

“Kill this arrogant fucker,” Cerano says.

Bullets hail against me. They feel like small pinches on my skin. “Aahhh, no…help.”

The shooting stops, and I chuckle. “Help me. No, the bullets…they…they…tickle.”

“What the fuck?” someone screams.

Cerano runs to the door. I flick my two fingers, and the door locks. I chuckle, watching Cerano fight with the door. Stupid mortal.

“What are you?” someone asks.

I raise my hands slowly. The bullets rise from the floor, levitating, and all the men stand in awe.

“A god.” I push my hand forward, sending all the bullets into the men. They all drop to the floor dead.

“The fuck?” Cerano turns and pounds on the door. “Someone, please. Help!”

“I imagine that’s what Zara wanted, someone to help her,” I say.

Cerano’s eyes widen, and he moves from the door and claws at the red brick wall.

I clap my hands together, and they split apart slowly. A gladius-style sword is revealed.

“Come to me.”

Cerano’s body begins to flail about as he tries to fight my command.

“NO, PLEASE, SIR.”