A deep, masculine voice boomed throughout the hall. "What in the seven hells do you think you are doing?" The voice drew the attention of all the beings in attendance.
A figure with the appearance of a man in his mid-twenties turned around at the authoritative tone. He faced the accuser with a raised eyebrow and his hips cocked to one side. "Why Koray, good buddy. What brings you over to this side of the realm?" The man asked the golden-haired accuser. His eyes burned with intensity and fire as he turned to glance at the fool that was in his way. I don't have the patience to deal with this idiot. The mere sight of him turns my stomach, the being thought. .
Koray frowned as he looked at his older brother. He had short black hair with skull-and-crossbones earrings in both his ears. His dark red eyes filled a face with soft, gentle features, a contrast to his brother's bloodthirsty desires. "What are you doing, messing with my shifters, Ares?" Koray stormed over to the God of War. "Why are you so intent on messing with the shifters?" Koray continued his questions, not giving him a chance to answer. Why did this god always have to go around causing chaos among the mortals? Couldn't he just live peacefully for once, Koray wondered.
Ares raised an eyebrow and let out a boisterous laugh. His laughter brought frowns to the other gods nearby. Heads turned and curious stares watched the altercation. His laughter had enough mana mixed in to even make the flames flicker in the golden braziers scattered about. Shadows danced along the marble hall as the flames moved back and forth.
"What business is it of yours?" Ares had a smug grin on his face as he faced his much younger brother. . "Why do you care about the deaths of the mortals? They exist solely for our entertainment," Ares crossed his muscular arms over his chest. He glared down at the shorter, blonde god. "You forget your place younger brother," Ares reprimanded him. "You are several millennia away from being able to boss me around, you punk." Ares mana was swirling around him as he glared at Koray. Maybe this time I'll make sure and kill all of his precious little shifters, Ares thought. How dare he think to challenge me?
Koray stepped closer, rage filled his features as he glared at Ares. "We are not to directly intervene or interfere in the lives of the mortals. The treaty is in place just for this reason," Koray spat into Ares' face. His normally controlled emotions were bursting out in his anger and rage. "Your actions have started a chain of events that you will not be able to prevent," Koray shouted. His voice was echoing all through the grand hall of the gods the two currently found themselves in. I have to find a way to stop him or he will cause all kinds of destruction.
Ares leaned forward, his breath tickling Koray's cheek. Ares' arrogant smile plastered on his face. "Then why don't you try doing something to stop me?" Ares challenged with his arms spread out wide at his sides. "Oh, that's right! The last time you did so, my agents slaughtered your people to the edge of extinction. Is that what you want?" he asked Koray.
He took a breath before he continued, "Do you want the rest of your pathetic shifter minions to be slaughtered and erased from the history books?" His body was tight and poised to strike, as if he was just waiting for an excuse to inflict pain and suffering on Koray. Come on boy, just give me an excuse, Ares thought with a grin. The gods' were forbidden to fight in the hall itself. Zeus forbade it. However, if this young fool took a swing, Ares would remind him who the stronger god was. He'd remind everyone what a God of War is capable of.
Koray gritted his teeth. As much as I want to shove my fist down his throat, now is not the time. "You know what you are doing is wrong. The human lives down there matter as more than just playthings," Koray argued back as he took a single half step back, his chest deflating. This wasn't the time or place for the gods to be fighting among themselves.
I knew it. All bark and no bite. Ares smirked at Koray. . "Smart move; backing down. Perhaps if you did that last time I wouldn't have arranged for the slaughter of your precious shifters," Ares said with a glint of aggression in his eyes. He was itching for a fight. Unfortunately, Koray was too smart to give him an excuse right then and there.
"I will make you suffer for what you did to my people, make no mistake about that Ares. You are not all powerful," Koray countered. His resolve was set in stone. He was done being bullied by Ares. He took a step forward, squaring up with the much older god. He was face to face with his older brother that delighted in bullying others.
The other gods in witness stood in shock as they witnessed the confrontation. Whispers spread among them in anticipation of a fight. Some were worried about the results of breaking one of Zeus' laws.
"What's all the commotion going on over here?" Another voice called out in a young, joyful tone as a young-looking male with short blond hair that fell just past his shoulders came running over swift as a breeze. A magical wind ruffled Koray's hair as the man stopped next to him.
Ares let out an annoyed sigh and glanced at the newcomer, "Nothing much, brother Hermes. Just the usual; plotting war, death and destruction among the mortals." Ares snapped his fingers, and he vanished in a cloud of smoke and brimstone. "Stay out of my way Koray. Treaties or not, I will personally gut your wolf if you continue to be a thorn in my side," Ares called out with a final word of warning, his voice echoing through the chamber. The power behind his words made the golden braziers flicker back and forth. Koray winced as the threat hit him like a slap across the face.
Hermes raised both eyebrows as he heard that parting comment from his older brother. "Well, he sure doesn't mince words much does he?" he asked Koray. His shoulders were tense and his face grim despite the humor in his words.
Koray sighed as he rubbed his temples. He was a god; they were supposed to be immune to all diseases that humans could get. I swear I have a god sized migraine coming on. I have to do something to help Gavin. If I don't, he could end up going down the wrong path to find and rescue his mate.
"We have to find a way to stop his plans, Hermes, or the entire world will be involved this time," Koray whispered, his voice barely audible to Hermes' hearing.
Hermes nodded. "Do you want me to find my father, or any of the other pantheons to assist in this matter?" they watched the smoke dissipate in the air from where Ares flashed out of the room.
Koray shook his head as he turned to face the messenger god. "No, not yet. I will figure something out. But Ares must be stopped," he replied. He would find a way to help Gavin, he just hoped he wasn't too late.