Here we are again, my lovely readers!

Chapter Twenty: War Gone Mad 

Point of View: Zianthos

As soon as I flash in, I am washed over by anger. I flit in front of Apollo and catch Ares' fist before it can hit him, stopping it right in front of my face. 

"You need to calm down." I say.

Ares growls and red flashes in his eyes.

"Then I will make you calm down." I snarl right back and shove him to the floor.

An image flashes in my mind and it overwhelms my senses. I grunt as Ares kicks me in the chest, sending me flying into Poseidon's throne. I lose all of the air in my lungs and watch as Ares gets up from where I put him on the ground.

What was that?

"Zianthos." Apollo looks at me. 

I push back up onto my feet and Ares charges at me. I move to the side and jab my hand into his side, causing him to crumple onto the floor as I hit one of his pressure points. The image flashed in my mind again as soon as I made contact with him. It was Ares...some man was with him, red light flowing into Ares as the God of War choked on the light.

I immobilize Ares for only a few seconds before the red light begins to wrap around my right arm and it stings worse than anything I have ever felt. I hiss and the red light flows onto my chest. Ares is suddenly behind me and my eyes widen. His hand goes to my throat, his fingers pressing tighter than should be possible. I suck in air as I am thrown through the air out into the city through the throne room doors. 

I land on my feet and the red light slowly leaves me, but the pain remains. I feel the sweat flow down my face. What is this? My body is burning up. This is much like the poison of the manticore, just stronger. And unlike that poison, this one spreads. I will not be on my feet much longer, Ares must be suffering.

Before I know it, Ares is in my face and his hand is in my body. I grab onto his wrist and keep him from removing my organ. This poison slows me and my body is still recovering. This is not good. This red light has incapacitated my ability to not be hurt.

No...

I cannot feel myself, my core. 

I am losing myself.

I crush Ares' wrist and he makes this feral, inhuman sound. 

He is only inside because he is not physically attacking me. He is after my soul. He is not inside, he has passed through.

I get my other hand caught in his and he pins me to the ground. 

"Zianthos!" I hear Apollo.

I use my legs to flip us and put pressure on his neck with my arm. I stick my hand in his chest and the red light washes over me, leaving him. Ares passes out and I cough up this green stuff into my hand as I make the red light vanish into thin air. 

Apollo rushes over to me and I look at Ares as black starts to cloud my vision.

"Zianthos, are you alright?" My patron demands.

"I feel like I am being crushed on the inside." I choke out.

He becomes worried and I fall weakly against him, unable to make my body move.

What is this?

"I can't feel anything." I gasp out. 

Apollo nods and gathers me in his arms.

I black out, hearing all the words around me.

And my past comes alive.

Save me. 

Hey, guys! How are my lovely readers?