Disclaimer - these characters are the property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance
Pictures and no attempt is made to infringe the copyright thereof. We are
just borrowing them and will give them back at the end of the story!
SACRIFICES
by Ruric
"Apollo!" the hoarse, tortured scream rang aloud, shattering the
silence and stillness of the evening.
There were no stars visible, the unremitting blackness of the night was
only alleviated by the soft, silvery glow the moon cast over the fallen
stones of the temple. Selene was back in the night skies, now the battle
was over Zeus had removed his ban on her and Helios appearing. Dark shadows
lurked around the shattered walls and tumbled masonry, almost appearing
solid enough to reach out and touch.
"Apollo... where in Tartarus are you? I NEED you!" the baritone
voice was strained with suppressed emotion, echoing around the relics of
the temple, bouncing back from the ruins, to surround and ring loudly in
the ears of its owner.
The tall, well built man almost seemed to blend into the surroundings. He
appeared to be clad totally in black, until the faint light of the moon
illuminated the polished, silver decoration on his clothing. Soft black
leather vest, pants and boots. His tousled, heavy, black hair fell in disorderly
curls to his shoulders, and a glint of silver could be seen at his left
ear. The moon reflected off his pale skin, making him a
study in silver and black. His sideburns emphasised the high cheekbones
and a trimmed black beard surrounded a sensual and full lipped mouth.
He stood apparently quiescent now, in the centre of the temple.....waiting.
He had no doubt that his brother had heard his summons .... and would appear
in his own sweet time.
His biceps flexed and shoulders tensed with the weight of the burden he
bore. Glancing down his brow furrowed with worry as he registered the pallor
of the man cradled in his arms. Chestnut hair fell away from the man's brow
revealing a finely sculptured but unnaturally pale face. His breathing was
laboured and shallow; his mustard coloured shirt and leather pants were
stained heavily with blood, and one arm dangled loosely down towards the
ground.
The darkly clad man had just taken in a sharp breath preparing to bellow
once more for his brother's attention when he noticed a shimmering behind
the altar. A golden light erupted across the temple for a moment before
a figure coalesced into being.
The new arrival was as tall and well muscled as his visitor but his appearance
formed a complete contrast. He had the same high cheekbones (anyone lining
up the three men would have seen some familial resemblance between them),
but where the other had deep brown eyes this man's were a piercing, crystal
blue. The colour of a summer sky, or a fresh mountain lake. His hair, the
rich gold of sun ripened corn fell in a rippling and curling tide to his
waist. He carried a heavy gold shield over his right arm, and was clad in
shining golden armour, consisting of a breast plate heavily decorated and
embossed with the emblems of chariots and the sun, the solar symbols being
repeated on the arm guards and greaves. Underneath this protection he wore
a knee length, white cotton chiton which left a remarkable amount of firm,
tanned flesh on display. The entire effect was completely stunning as if
Helios had risen from his slumbers to suddenly appear in the temple.
The dark clad man resisted the almost overpowering urge to look away from
the blazing, aureate figure and instead squinted crossly at the dazzling
vision before him.
"Gods, Apollo! Tone it down before you blind me, will you?" he
asked shortly.
"Oh, sorry, Ares, didn't know it was you," he apologised. The
voice was melodic, almost musical, reminiscent of a lyre string gently plucked.
It was only as the magical light around the god dimmed that it was possible
to see that his armour was battered, showing the effects of a serious battle.
The dazzling white clothing was, perhaps, not as clean as it could be, and
indeed that the god himself bore many half healed wounds on his burnished
skin.
"What happened?" he questioned, taking in the tableau before him
and the careful way in which his brother cradled the other.
"Hercules was badly hurt in that last battle. Hippolytus attacked me
and Hercules took the blow instead, before cutting him down. He saved my
life, Apollo, and I think it may cost him his own." Ares voice almost
broke on the last words as he remembered the ferocious battles the gods
had just fought against the Giants in their uprising.
The gods had been helpless. Without Hercules they would have been lost,
as none of the Giants could be killed by the gods acting on their own. Zeus'
half-human son had, as Hera forecast, been the only one able to strike the
death blow. They had battled for days, engaging the Giants, wearing them
down and then giving Hercules the opportunity to strike the last blow. Apollo
and Hercules had already saved Ares' life once in the battle, defeating
Ephialtes, the leader of the Giants, by blinding him,
before Hercules killed him.
When the remaining Giants had realised they were losing the battle they
had fled to Bathus, near Arcadian Trapezus to make their final stand.Most
of the gods had, by that stage been exhausted and it was left to Hercules
and Ares, along with Hermes and Artemis to finish the fight.
"I brought him to you, because you're the only one who could heal him,"
Ares growled, voice deep and rough with fear for the one he carried.
"Bring him over here so I can see," Apollo gestured in front of
him.
Ares placed Hercules on the white, marble altar and opened his shirt so
that the God of Healing could view the extent of the injury. Apollo's breath
hissed through his teeth as he studied the wound. "The sword must have
been ensorcelled to injure him so badly."
Ares nodded his agreement, gently brushing the hair from Hercules' face
before turning to leave.
"Wait!" Apollo called out after him. "Where are you going?
Don't you want to stay?"
Ares shook his head, not even turning around as he walked away. "You
know what you have to do, Apollo. I leave him in your care." With a
shimmer of silver he disappeared.
The older god contemplated the man lying on his altar. Yes - he could save
him. But.... if he continued to follow Ares he would surely die. Holding
his hands above the wounded man he sent his senses spiralling outwards,
calling upon his healing gift to aid the man before him, envisaging the
wound healed and closed. A golden nimbus rose, surrounding the two of them
and covering the altar. Apollo had no idea
how long he remained in the healing trance.
As the glow finally died away, Apollo opened his eyes to study the figure
before him. Healing a half-god was much harder than healing a mortal, and
for a moment Apollo slumped weakly against the altar as exhaustion threatened
to overwhelm him. Performing the healing trance after battling against the
Giants for so long had almost drained his remaining magical reserves. However,
it had been worthwhile, the wound was healed, completely, not even a scar
remained. Hercules would sleep now, giving his body time to recover and
time for Apollo to regain his powers. With
the last of his waning magical strength he constructed a small shelter amongst
the remains for them. It was not luxurious, being little more than a covered
bower with a bed of grasses and ferns covered with heavy blankets and furs.
He carried Hercules over to the bed, lowered him slowly and removed his
blood stained clothing. Finally Apollo shrugged gratefully out of his own
armour and chiton before curling next to the demi-god to sleep the sleep
of the exhausted.
*********************************************************************
The demi-god felt the warmth of the sun shining down on him. It had been
days since he had felt such warmth, the battle must be over, they must have
defeated the Giants. Keeping his eyes closed he tried to recall what had
happened. He remembered seeing Ares staggering under the strength and number
of the blows that Hippolytus was raining down on him. Then the dark god
had stumbled, leaving himself momentarily unprotected, and a feral grin
of victory had spread across the Giant's monstrous face.
Hercules had seen Hippolytus start a slow lunge forwards, his obvious intention
being to skewer Ares with his massive iron sword. The demi-god had seen
no fear, only a defiant light, in Ares' eyes as he met the Giant's gaze,
realising there was no chance to block the oncoming blow. Hercules didn't
even have time to voice a scream of anger. He'd simply scrambled frantically
across the few feet separating him from the two figures, hurled himself
in front of Ares shoving the god roughly
backwards, and brought his own sword around in a swinging, double-handed
arc. It was a move born of desperation, and meant that his right side was
completely exposed.
The demi-god had heard Ares yell in surprise as he was pushed out of the
way, and had seen a grin of delight spread across Hippolytus' face. Hercules
gasped feeling the burning pain as the sword penetrated his side. The Giant's
delight only last a second, however, as the demi-god's completion of the
powerful double-handed blow neatly severed Hippolytus' head from his body.
Hercules dimly heard Ares' hissed "Yes" of victory as the world
spun crazily around him. The Giant's body tumbled away and Hercules slumped
to his knees, blazing agony radiating outwards from the wound, as he collapsed
backwards into the God of War's waiting arms.
He was vaguely aware of the strong arms supporting him, as his vision hazed
to grey and angry red, and he closed his eyes against the pain.
"What in Tartarus did you think you were doing?!" demanded the
angry voice.
With a supreme effort Hercules opened his eyes and looked up into his half-brother's
face.
"Saving your life?" he tried for a wry grin, but felt it twist
and turn into a grimace of pain.
"Gods! Won't you ever learn tactics!" Ares exclaimed angrily.
"I was expendable, you fool! We all were, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes,
all of us, except you. You were the only one who could kill them. What would
have happened if that idiotic move hadn't worked and he'd killed you? Who
would have been left to carry on the fight! They'd have wiped us out, one
by one, and then started on the mortals. And look at you now, you're bleeding
like a stuck pig and I have to get you to Apollo...."
Ares pulled Hercules roughly into his arms, before standing. Muttering all
the time to himself and wondering how come he ended up with a half- human,
stunningly good looking half-brother, who flaunted his evident physicality
at every opportunity and who could also put up with Ares' black moods and
temper tantrums. Ares had finally succumbed to his younger brother. The
good natured teasing and companionship offered had, in the end, been too
difficult to resist. It was a relationship that had
been bound to end in disaster, and Ares knew that if he continued with it
Hercules would probably end up resident in Hades' realms long before his
time. He had to end it and end it soon, but he didn't know what to say to
Hercules to make him understand.....
Hercules had listened as Ares ranted at him. He knew the angry words were
partly justified, that the risk he had just taken had been foolish. But
he'd been unable to bear the thought that Hippolytus would kill Ares. And
at least the angry words gave some evidence that his elder brother was concerned
for his welfare. Hercules was unable to stop the groan of pain as Ares pulled
him into his arms and stood up. The world finally, thankfully, faded around
him as he lost consciousness.
*********************************************************************
Hercules became aware of the warmth of another body pressed against his
back, of an arm slung loosely across his waist holding him close. Ares,
he thought groggily. Eyes shut, still half asleep he rolled over, lips seeking
those of his lover. The god answered willingly to the demands of the kiss,
deepening it and Hercules could feel the response in his lover's body as
he pressed nearer. Arms encircled him, pulling him closer still, but a little
voice started to interrupt the erotic fantasy his mind was spinning. There
was something not quite right.....
He told the annoying voice to shut up, and allowed his hands to roam the
contours of the body holding him, strong arms, muscular back....... still,
his hands continued on their journey, as his own body's demands became more
insistent. He reached to ruffle his hands through Ares' hair, long, thick
hair that ran down his back........
....he stopped short, finally listening to the persistent voice. Not Ares,
no beard and very long hair. He pushed against the body, snaking backwards
a little as his eyes flew open in surprise. Shocked azure eyes looked straight
into amused crystalline blue ones.
"A..Ap..Apollo," he managed to gasp in astonishment. "Wh..what
are you doing here?"
Apollo propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down into Hercules' face.
"Helping you celebrate being alive instead of skewered dead on some
battle field. If you'll let me?" the god suggested with a wicked grin.
Without giving the demi-god time to reply Apollo leaned closer, capturing
the mobile mouth once more in a questioning kiss. His other hand slid enticingly
down Hercules' body, pausing to tease his nipples into taut points of pleasure.
The demi-god hadn't realised he was naked beneath the blankets and furs
until the hand stroking him moved temptingly lower. Brushing across his
belly, but avoiding his aching erection, Apollo caressed the tender skin
of inner thighs.
Hercules' found himself moaning in pleasure against the god's mouth and
thrusting his hips closer to Apollo's body. The god moved, without breaking
the demanding kiss, one hand pushing against Hercules' knee, as he shifted
his position to kneel between the demi-god's parted legs. His hands continued
to caress the muscular body beneath him, tracing slow, lazy strokes from
chest down to hips, tantalisingly moving across Hercules' groin, before
retracing the path upwards to the broad chest
again.
The god finally broke the kiss and Hercules gasped in pleasure as the hot
mouth followed the passage of the hands downwards. Pausing briefly to suckle
each nipple into stiff points of pleasure, Apollo's tongue continued it's
downwards journey. Hercules was conscious of hot, wet, teasing patterns
being traced around his navel, and the sensation of the god's silken hair
falling over his body, before Apollo blew warm breath gently over his straining
erection.
Hercules opened his eyes as his rigid cock was finally engulfed by the warmth
of Apollo's mouth. From chest to groin his body was covered by silken cloud
of Apollo's golden hair. For a moment he was entranced by the different
shades of gold visible as the sunlight danced across Apollo's curling locks,
from deep burnished gold to almost white blond. Then he realised although
he could feel what Apollo was doing he couldn't see anything.
He knotted his left hand into the rich golden mane, pulling it to one side.
As he did so, Apollo's left hand moved to anchor the base of Hercules' cock
as his mouth slid from base to tip. The god raised his head, crystalline
blue eyes dancing with amusement and desire, aware of Hercules' gaze. His
tongue flicked out, teasing the weeping slit of Hercules' cock and then
tracing the sensitive underside of the head. The demi-god groaned aloud
and attempted to thrust his hips upwards, only to find Apollo's hand firmly
preventing such movement.
The finger's of Apollo's right hand caressed the slit of Hercules' cock,
catching some of the pearly essence and then moved down between his parted
legs as Apollo's mouth again claimed it's prize. Hercules was lost to sensation.
As the god slowly engulfed Hercules' cock once more, one finger gently pressed
against his anus and slowly penetrated him, wringing a muffled moan from
the demi-god. A second digit was introduced carefully stretching the tight
opening.
Apollo increased the speed of movement of his mouth and hand on Hercules'
cock, feeling the demi-god tense beneath him and aware of the increased
sounds of shallow panting. He felt Hercules' cock pulse beneath him as hot
ejaculate spurted into his mouth. He swallowed once and removing his finger's
from Hercules' anus caught the remains of the pearly fluid in his right
hand.
As the final tremors of Hercules' orgasm racked his body, Apollo coated
his own cock with Hercules' seed and slowly pushed himself into Hercules'
tight opening. As the head of his cock entered Hercules, Apollo leaned down
over the demi-god, capturing his mouth once more. Apollo's tongue entered
Hercules' mouth, twisting with his own as the god fully penetrated him,
and then paused for a moment, simply kissing him.
When Hercules was just about to scream with frustration Apollo started to
move within him. Long, slow strokes, gradually increasing in speed. The
god supported his weight on his arms as he gazed down into Hercules' flushed
face, his curtain of golden hair surrounding both of them. Apollo twisted,
adjusting his angle until he was hitting the secret spot within Hercules
at every thrust. Hercules felt his body clamp around the god and shouted
in pleasure as he came, and he felt Apollo follow him over the precipice
of pleasure, spurting hotly into his depths.
Apollo's trembling arms lowered his body, as he slid from Hercules' warmth
and he nestled his head next to the demi-god's. Hercules reached one hand
to claw the mass of golden hair away from his own face and then pushed it
away from Apollo's, to reveal the high cheekbones and blue eyes. The expression
he saw there sent a shiver of denial through his frame. Apollo's gaze reflected
fulfilment but also compassion and sadness, and at that moment, with an
undeniable sense of dread, Hercules knew.
"Ares, he's not coming back, is he?" he questioned huskily.
Apollo looked at him unflinchingly. "No, I'm sorry, Hercules, but he
won't be back."
The empathy and understanding in the steady blue gaze almost unmanned him,
as the pain lanced through his heart and into his soul.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Hercules shook his head, dumbly, for a second not trusting his voice, as
tears welled in his eyes.
The golden god pulled him into a warm embrace offering what comfort he could
as Hercules wept for what had been, and what could have been.
*********************************************************************
Ares watched from behind one of the remaining pillars of the temple. His
dark clothing, and the thick blackness of the night allowed him to observe
the two figures. The tenderness as they embraced for the last time told
him all that he needed to know. He watched as Hercules walked away from
Apollo and into a new life.
"You can come out now," the melodic voice of Apollo disturbed
him from his reverie.
He walked into the centre of the temple, before sitting on the altar with
his back towards his sibling. He didn't particularly want to experience
the golden beauty of his brother at the moment. He looked in the direction
Hercules had departed straining his enhanced vision to catch once last glimpse
of the demi-god.
He was suddenly conscious of strong arms surrounding him, pulling him into
an embrace and he leaned backwards into Apollo's grasp. The Sun God's chin
rested on his shoulder, his voice quiet in Ares' ear, breath tickling his
long hair as he spoke.
"You did the right thing, you know. No matter how good a soldier he
was, he couldn't have been the leader of your armies. It would have destroyed
him in the end. He's half-human and too good Ares. He sees everything as
black and white.... there is no grey. Simple solutions to simple problems.
He has no concept at all of the long term. Killing the Giants took its toll
on him as well. You were right to release him to go to meet his destiny."
"Fine!" Ares agreed bitterly shrugging off Apollo's embrace. "But
what about me?" he resented the fact that his pain was so obvious in
his voice. The last thing he wanted at the moment was sympathy and understanding,
he wanted to tear flesh from bone, in fact he could quite happily start
several small battles and at least one major conflagration in his present
mood.
Apollo sighed, recognising the tension in Ares' hunched figure. When he
was in this sort of mood there were only two ways to distract him, and Apollo
thought that the world had seen enough of battles and wars for the time
being, thank you very much.
Footsteps sounded softly as Apollo walked around the altar coming to stand
in front of his darker sibling. The Sun god leaned forwards his golden glow
pushing back the customary darkness that surrounded the other.
His hand trailed down Ares face, thumb caressing the God of War's full lips,
before grabbing a double handful of Ares' vest and pulling him roughly to
his feet. He ground his hips hard against the leather trousers, pressing
his body close to Ares' as their lips met in a voracious, devouring kiss.
Ares raised his hands slowly to tangle in the golden stream that was Apollo's
hair, wrapping it around his wrists and
lacing it through is fingers as he dragged his sibling's head away.
Apollo smiled, a slow, sultry, teasing smile, as he saw the fire's ignite
in Ares eyes.
"Well brother, do you feel up to a little healing of our own?"
he inquired of the darker god, as his hands danced downwards, tugging at
the fastenings of Ares' leather trousers.
Ares' mouth covered Apollo's again as he shrugged out of his leather vest.
The Sun God's nimble fingers made quick work of the lacings of the trousers,
pushing them down over Ares' hips.
Ares grabbed a double handful of the front of Apollo's white chiton and
with one swift movement ripped it from neck to waist. As Apollo wriggled
out of the garment Ares was gratified to find that he was wearing nothing
beneath.
Changing positions he pushed his brother roughly down onto the white, marble
altar.
Apollo lay spreadeagled across the altar of his own ruined temple, like
a primitive sacrifice to the moon, his golden hair spilling over the sides
of the structure to brush the ground.
Ares couldn't wait. Conflicting emotions roiled around his body. Anger that
he had had to sacrifice his relationship with Hercules, jealousy because
of the intimacy Apollo and Hercules had shared, and, as always, the desire
for his golden sibling, for whom everything seemed to happen so easily.
He spat quickly into his hand, coating his erection with the resulting fluid,
and with a abrupt lunge buried himself deeply within the golden form below
him. He heard Apollo's muffled grunt, was dimly aware that his too hasty
penetration had caused both himself and his sibling unnecessary pain.
But pain no longer mattered, Ares used the physical discomfort to assuage
the aching of his soul.... and, if he'd hurt Apollo, well, he deserved it
for his shared intimacy with Hercules. Ares mouth covered Apollo's in a
punishing kiss as he increased the tempo of his strokes, hands tangling
in Apollo's hair to hold his sibling still.
He used his anger and hurt to fuel the continued assault on his brother's
body. Breaking the kiss and shaking his hands free of the stream of silken
hair he moved to grip Apollo's hips, pinning the golden god to the altar.
Apollo's muscular legs encircled Ares' hips and he gripped brother's forearms,
trying to make sure his body wasn't pushed backwards with the impact of
each of Ares' desperate thrusts.
Ares felt the contraction in his balls that heralded the onset of his orgasm
and emptied his loss and sadness into his brother and half collapsed across
the prone form beneath him. He drew in a few shuddering breaths, conscious
of Apollo's hand caressing his back, and then pulled away from the offered
warmth, aware that his too sudden withdrawal left his brother gasping.
Ares turned his back on his sibling, stooping to pull up and replace his
trousers, as a wave of guilt washed over him at how he had used Apollo.
He picked up the torn white chiton from the ground and moved again to stand
beside the altar. Apollo still lay sprawled as Ares had left him, except
that he had moved one arm across his face so Ares could no longer see the
expression in his eyes.
Tentatively the dark god reached out one hand and pulled the arm away so
that he could see his brother. Sadness, pain and unfulfilled desire looked
back at him from the finely sculptured face.
"Apollo, I'm sorry..." Ares was woefully aware of the inadequacy
of his apology he offered.
Apollo shook his head mutely, once. Ares held his hand out as Apollo gripped
the proffered forearm, using it to lever himself into a sitting position
on the altar, wincing slightly as he did so.
Ares pulled the golden god upwards, forcing him to stand and then enfolded
him in a warm embrace. Hot breath caressed Apollo's ear as Ares whispered
quietly, "Come back to the temple at Cernaia with me tonight.... please."
Apollo drew back slightly, gazing into his brother's dark eyes. No rage,
no anger remained, only grief, vulnerability and need. Ares was darkness
to his light, they complemented one another perfectly and could rarely deny
each other anything. The golden god leaned forwards, to gently kiss his
brother, arms wrapping around the darker form. Standing for a moment, entwined
in the light of the moon, an immobile sculpture of sunlight and shadow.
Apollo broke the kiss and murmured his reply. "You only had to ask."
In a shimmer of silver and gold they disappeared.
There was a slight rustling in the woods as Hercules straightened his cramped
body from the low crouch. He walked forwards into the centre of the temple,
hands tracing the altar, still warm from the impression of Apollo's body.
Smiling sadly he gazed once more around the temple before turning and walking
away to meet his own destiny.
FINIS
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