Trigger warning.


    This chapter had been closed. Achlys and all of her bad deeds would finally put to a stop and Ares'' burdened heart would get just a bit lighter. He had tried so hard to forget, he did his best to help the people he met afterwards and love by his rule of always being honest and kind. Even though he was aware that changing his attitude wouldn''t simply erase his past mistakes he had tried it. He had pretended he never met Vines, he had lied to himself that he didn''t just turn a blind eye to one of the biggest atrocities he had ever witnessed. He had turned into a completely different person with the hope that no one would search for his old self.


    Right now though he had been exposed. His flaws and the damage he had done had been simply put out in the open for the person that had stolen his heart to see. Ea knew everything, all the small details of the black pages in the book of his life and his usually warm eyes were filled with pain and disgust. He was the one causing these negative feelings, he was aware that he should just disappear but he couldn''t. He couldn''t just say yes to being separated from him.


    Being with Ea had shown him a different world. A place where he didn''t sleep just to ease his pain. A home that was filled with warmth and laughter. Ea had shown him that he could live not just survive. His guilt had made him hostile, forget that maybe he too deserved to find some kind of happiness.


    All Ares believed he could do was simply fall to his knees, beg for his lover to not leave him and maybe think of forgiving him. He knew that what he had done was wrong, he knew he was a despicable and flawed person but Ea, he made his better. His smile made him hope again and he wasn''t ready to give that up.


    That''s why after Allias'' explained everything he gave Ea some time on his own in their room as he walked around alone, his only company his depressing thoughts. Memory after memory a bitter taste had ended up lingering in the back of his mouth. As he recalled on his bad deeds he hated himself more and more, hands clenched in fists on his sides he breathed in. He should confront himself, he should man up and look Ea in the eyes. He couldn''t use excuses anymore. Ea loved him, he knew it he could feel and maybe he would be willing to give him another chance.


    He headed towards their room, frozen for a while outside the door as he heard the small elf pace here and there, the rythmic sound of his walking almost too familiar. He raised his arm ready to knock and ask to be let in when the door opened and the smaller elf stood before him with a displeased expression.


    "What?" He asked him coldly and Ares took a deep breath.


    "I want to talk to you." He stated and the small elf scoffed. He grabbed the door and was ready to smack it in his face but Ares placed his foot in between the strong wood and the frame groaning when he felt the sudden pain. "Please, I am begging you. Hear me out. One last time. I will never bother you again if you haven''t changed your mind." He said and heard Ea sigh. He seemed to be thinking for a second before he took a step back and opened the door, allowing him to come inside. Ares smiled seeing how he took a few steps back and stood still with his usual judgemental look. He didn''t know why but he felt that this was better, much better than the silence and the hate. He didn''t mind being judged, he didn''t mind being called names. Being hated though and abandoned, he simply couldn''t handle it.


    "You have five minutes. Start talking." He said and Ares nodded.


    "I know there are no excuses for what I did. I am immature and spoiled. I am a brat that doesn''t think before he acts. Yes, I know. I tend to lose myself when I am sad and start fights without a reason. I am a total mess but Ea... you''re not. You''re smart and kind. You''re nice and polite, so focused and good at what you do. You are the only one who can help me. I need you, I need you to be the better version of me. A version that would be worthy to be by your side. I know that what I did will never be erased. I know that even of I committed thousands acts of kindness still that moment would keep haunting me but when I finally got to be with you something changed. Life didn''t seem so pointless anymore and my pride, my arrogance, those things did not matter anymore. All I could see, all I can see...it''s you. I love you and I couldn''t stand being away from you. I...I am sorry for everything, not just because you found out but because it happened, because I let it happen." Ares told him, tears making his red eyes glisten as he tried not to start sobbing like a small baby. Ea had been standing still all this time. His expression unreadable as he breathed slowly. He licked his lips and took a step forward. He raised his arm and slapped him, his right palm landing right in the middle of Ares'' cheek, leaving a huge red print.


    "You have made a huge mistake. You hid something so horrible, you tried to erase it and now that you''re caught you..."


    "No, that''s not it! I didn''t try to hide it and I am not apologizing because you found out. I didn''t let anyone know because I was ashamed, ashamed of how lowly and disgusting I was. Ashamed of how I couldn''t be enough for you. Ea please believe me." Ares said and grabbed his husband''s hands. "I will do anything to fix this. No matter what you ask." He stated and a faint smile appeared on Ea''s face. Ares'' frantic heartbeat began to calm down, he was smiling.


    "Anything?" He asked tilting his head to the side.


    "Anything." Ares repeated and watched how Ea approached him. He stood close to him, his palms resting on his chest before he hugged him tightly. At first the prince was surprised with this reaction. He didn''t expect Ea to be so easily swayed and he had a lot more to say but he allowed himself to relax for a moment and feel his warmth. The slow beating of his heart.


    "Then die for me, will you?" Ea whispered and Ares'' eyes widened. He tried to move but he couldn''t. Suddenly Ea seemed to be a lot stronger than usual, so much that he couldn''t release himself from his grip when he felt it.


    A knife ripping the skin of his back. The hand that was holding him stabbed him and dragged the lethal object downwards splitting in half his back. Ares'' screamed, tears gathering in his eyes. It wasn''t just the stab. It was the burn that came with it. The metal object had been poisoned.


    The elf prince felt his mouth get filled with blood and began coughing. He was set free from his attacker''s embrace and fell to his knees, barely able to breathe. Tears escaped his eyes, as his vision slowly turned blurry. He couldn''t move, he couldn''t see, he couldn''t breathe. He was dying.


    "Ea..." He whispered before he fell onto the floor, his whole body getting numb.


    "You should really be careful when you say anything, you never know who''s listening" A familiar voice was heard and the man who had been pretending to be Ea showed his true form. "No one likes disobedient pets. Goodbye my little lover." He said and threw the knife on the ground.


    It was Vines, he was the one who had killed Ares.


    ....


    I am trully sorry. Please don''t hate me.