Welcome to Gaia! ::

She smirked against his lips. "Nice save..."

She began to trace Ares' lips with just the tip of her tongue. Before she was done, though, she gasped and pulled back.

"Hey! Why DON'T you care that I don't want to be involved in all of this Room and lake stuff? Why don't you even want to know why I don't want to be involved anymore?"

She frowned at Ares and pulled back from him. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"What? I thought you didn't care if I cared about the Room and the lake or not. I thought that you knew there was no way I was going back to that and that you still wanted to be with me..."

"I shouldn't HAVE to care about this crap!"

It was then that Ever heard what sounded like a flock of ravens nearby and she gasped softly. She really hoped, prayed, that it was a real flock of ravens.

"Yes, Ever, do continue, please. Answer dear Ares' unasked question. Why don't you care about what we sent you here to do any longer?"

Ever shut her eyes and grimaced as she heard the voice of Alecto. She looked down at the ground and frowned when she saw five of her mothers below. Well this wasn't good. Usually it was only three.

Ever sighed and hopped off of the branch, just like it was nothing to leap from a tall tree. The shadows of the tree reached out and guided her safely to the ground and right in front of her mothers.

"Hello, mothers..."

Ever was surprised to sense Ares standing behind her. After she had yelled at him again and thought the worst of him, he was still standing behind her? Well, it could be because he would try to convince her to go back to her 'duties' as well. So she shouldn't get her hopes up.

She nodded respectfully to Alecto. "Hello, Mother. I... I simply do not think that I should have to go to the Room any longer or try to find out what's in the lake for me to guard."

Alecto smirked and tilted her head to the side. Meanwhile, the four other Furies began to notice Ares and move toward him. They were smiling seductively at him and when they reached him, two of them began to stroke his arms, even though they were covered in armor, one stood in front of him and began to stroke his face, and the fourth knelt down and started to run her hands up and down Ares' thighs.

"Ever, Dear, we created you to guard what is in the lake. You would not be here if we did not need someone here to do that. You really have no choice in the matter."

Ever wanted to glare at Alecto, but she knew she couldn't. She was too scared of her. She simply frowned and looked down at the ground, trying to think of something to say.

She knew what her other mothers were doing behind her. Or, rather, she had a general idea. It was very creepy and awkward, but they weren't exactly mothers to Ever in the way mortal women were mothers. Their powers and blood ran through her, but she had been formed in a the shadows. She did not come out of anyone.

The Furies were used to Ares' rebuff. They usually had to entice him a little. Only rarely had he come to them seeking their attentions first. So, the Furies laughed, somewhat maniacally, and continued their ministrations. The one stroking Ares' face even leaned forward and began to drop soft kisses along his face.

Ever finally looked back up at Alecto and tried to speak firmly. "I... I know you cannot destroy me. You created me, but you cannot destroy me. Gods cannot kill each other. So, I won't be doing your bidding anymore... Alecto."

She stood straight, but inside, she was shaking.

Alecto stared at Ever for awhile, and then she smirked again. She stepped forward toward Ever and stroked the side of her face gently. Oh hell. This wasn't good. Alecto did not do gentleness normally, not unless it was to intimidate.

Alecto whispered to Ever in a deceptively-sweet voice. "Ever, dear, you have no choice in the matter. You are only here to do what we say, and if you don't, we will take you back to Hades with us. Don't forget, Ever. You've been on Earth for a long time, and when a god is on Earth for an extended period of time, they weaken."

To emphasize her point, her hand began to tighten on Ever's face and her nails began to dig into Ever's cheek.

Ever winced at the pain but did not jerk away or say anything.

The Furies gasped as Ares shoved them away. They hated when he got in a mood like this. He was no fun to play with. They pouted at his back and some crossed their arms over their chests.

Meanwhile, Alecto was staring up at Ares with wide eyes. They started to fill with anger, but she obeyed. He was one of the 12 main Olympian Gods. She had to obey or he could make her life a living hell.... or even command Zeus to trap her away somewhere.

When she removed her hand from Ever's face, Ever gasped at the pain that rippled through her cheek. She reached her hand up and felt four small cuts in her face and one larger one near the bridge of her nose. When she pulled her hand back, she saw a small smear of blood on her hands.

Alecto glared at Ares. "What is this, Ares?! You are just as invested in the relic as we are! You know we need her here and invested in her job if we are to obtain it before anyone else has a chance to!"

Ever glared up at Ares. So he was doing all of this to manipulate her? He was doing all of this because he thought he could control her better and get her to care about whatever this stupid relic was?!

Ever shoved herself away from Ares' arm, turned around, glared at the other Furies, and then stormed off toward the castle.

Alecto saw Ever leave, but she was focused on Ares at the moment. That look in his eyes scared her, even though she wouldn't admit it. She hadn't seen that look too often.

"Ares... You're getting far too attached to her. I told you to stay away from her or you'd make her one of your conquests and screw everything up."

Alecto stared after Ares with wide eyes. All the Furies did. Well, this was an interesting development. A really bad one!

Alecto thought of an idea, though. She smirked darkly, put her hands on her hips and nodded to the other Furies to leave, which they did. A sound of a flock of ravens could be heard in the distance as they left. Alecto remained in the same spot for a few moments, watching Ares run after Ever.

Zeus would be very interested to learn of this development...

She smirked darkly and then, just like with the other Furies, Alecto disappeared in black ribbons of shadow with the sound of a raven.

When Ever heard Ares call out behind her, she shook her head and kept walking. He couldn't see her! She would not let him see her face because if he did, he would see that she was crying, and she hated crying! With the embarrassment and pain she received from Alecto and with what she had heard Ares say to Alecto, it was all just too much and Ever couldn't keep it in anymore.

She hissed out through her teeth, not turning around once. "Go away, Ares!"