Coming Out of Exile: The Strength of A Father's Love
By Moon Mistress

Epilogue

Three Days Later

Calla slept warm and safe in Daniel’s arms grateful to have him home and to be by his side once more.  Her family came to visit her daily as she recuperated and slowly back to herself.  She was tired inside and out and felt as though she would never fully recover. With so much unfinished business and fearing time was short she stole away to Ares’ island on the third day while Daniel was busy with the UPs.

“What are you doing here? You should be home resting.” Ares chastised as he lounged on his throne. “Are you hungry? Sit.”  She looked worn out and weary to his eyes.

“I want to help you.” Calla whispered. “Please Father don’t argue with me I’m too tired to argue.”

“I don’t want your help.” Ares said softly knowing what she had in mind. “Your magick is weak and so are you. Save it and your strength.”

“No,” she said gently. “I won’t leave you this way. It isn’t fair.”

“It is no less than I deserve after all I’ve done.”

“Where is it? I know you still have it.” She said ignoring his words.

“I burned it.”

“Liar.” She said with a sad smile and climbed upon his lap to lay her head on his brawny shoulder. “I see you’ve started lifting stones again.”

“I have and swimming laps around the island.” Ares agreed. “Listen to me, I am an old man, I have no use for that appendage any longer…”

“Stop, please, Father, just stop.” Calla begged. “I want to do this for you and I want you to come and live in Altair Ain.”

“You want what?”

“I will build you the grandest home in all of the kingdom—“

“Your home is the grandest as it should be.” Ares countered. “Stop this nonsense. Why would you want me to come live in your kingdom?”

“Because I will soon need all of my family around me, you most of all.” Calla confessed.  “I will make you whole again and then you will call for Hades and we will hold our own pavlar.” She traced her finger tips across his cheek and through his salted beard. “I love you, Father. Please don’t argue anymore.”

Ares shook his head and grumbled.

“Where is it?”

As a reminder Ares had hung his own drying penis around his neck and now he took it off and gave it to her. “Don’t.” He advised.

“You must never tell Daniel,” Calla whispered as she took it from him, “what I am about to do for you. Never. Swear it?”

That tired look of determination in her eyes Ares felt it best to let her do what she wanted. “You’ve talked to him about my coming to live in Altair Ain?”

“I have and he’s agreed.  He’s been telling me for years to lift your exile and welcome you back but I was afraid. I’m not anymore.” Tears welled up in her emerald eyes. “Not of you anyway.”

“What frightens you now?”

“What lies ahead.” She confessed. “Don’t turn your back on me, please, I beg you, Father. Stay with me. Come live with us. Watch over me.”

“Always do I watch over you no matter where I am.”

“Then show me you love me and let me do this for you.”  Calla slithered off his lap and with shaking fingers undid the leather straps that held his pants closed.  “Shut your eyes, Father.”

Ares felt it was wrong and that he should not let her do this. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust himself around her anymore but rather that he didn’t’… “Don’t waste your energy this way, please my Daughter.” There was so much gray in her hair now even more than last he saw her which was just yesterday.

“I am your Queen,” she reminded him sadly, “you will do as I say.”  With no further words Calla took the fading appendage and placed it back where it belong as her mouth descended over it.  Above her Ares sucked in a harsh breath as his dark eyes rolled back in his head and he gripped the arm rests of the throne to keep himself still and from grabbing the back of her head which was working him so expertly as it healed him and put back what he had lost in her defense.  Calla saw the act through to the end and didn’t stop until there was a fresh amount of warm salty liquid hitting the back of her throat.  When she was done she looked up at him and tried to smile. “Never tell.” She begged. Ares was crying when was turned her eyes to him. “Father? Did I hurt you? Are you all right?”

“No man deserves your love,” he whispered.  “You’re too good for all of us.” He wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Thank you.”

“I love you, Father. With all my heart, I love you.” Now it was her turn to cry and she buried her face into his hard flat stomach so he wouldn’t see the love she held for him and how deeply it ran. In another place and time they would be together as Husband and Wife but that time would never come and a part of her heart would always ache for it to be so.  “Call for Hades, please?” Calla got up and turned her back to him to wipe the tears away.

“Why?” Ares asked and laced up his leather pants. Part of him was grateful to be whole again and the other part was disgusted by it.

“I must know where my Grandson is and he knows. He will tell me.”

“What if he doesn’t know?”

“Then we will find that out together.”  Calla came back to his side and held tightly to his hand. “I must know.” She whispered again.

“Hades!” Ares shouted. “Hades!”

A moment later the God of Death appeared in Ares’ cave. “What do—Calla. What are you doing here? You should be home resting.”

“Where is Wolfgar?” Calla asked not letting go of her Father’s hand.

“I don’t know.” Hades answered.

“You’re lying. Where is he? Why can’t I find him?” She demanded in a weak voice. “I must know where he is. I must bring him home to us and I must have Bacchus’ notes.”

Hades shook his head which, in contrast to hers, was far less gray than it had been the day before.  “Bacchus’ experiment is a failure.”

“How can you say that? Wolfgar lives he is proof that Bacchus’ experiment worked.”

“No,” Hades said sadly, “my Queen he is not.” Hades looked up at Ares. He had so hoped to keep this knowledge from everyone.  “I cannot find him because he has no soul, Calla.  He is an abomination an evil creation that has no right to exist in this world or any other.” Hades advised.

Ares hand tightened around Calla’s. “Something without a soul cannot live.” Ares said through gritted teeth.

“Yet he does.” Hades returned. “I say it again; Bacchus’ experiment is an utter and complete failure.” Hades sat at the table. “Wolfgar is a monster one that seeks to bring you down and all that you and Daniel have built.  I beg you, Calla, leave him alone. You cannot bring him into your fold, Calla.  If you try he will only destroy you.”

“He is Nicholas’ Son!” Calla cried out in a weak voice. “My Son is a good man. What you say cannot be true.”

“Yet it is.” Hades said softly and wanted nothing more than to offer her comfort as she clutched her Father’s hand near tears. “I beg you, leave him alone.”

“And what?” Ares sneered. “Wait for him to come to Altair Ain and destroy all she has built? All she has sweated for and slaved over these years?  You tell me where he is and I’ll destroy him.”

“Father, don’t.”

“There is no other choice.” Ares said as easily as he could. “If what Hades says is true—“

“No matter what he is my Grandson! He is my family, my flesh and blood, you can’t do this.”

“Guard against him Calla but do not go looking for him.”  Hades stood up.  “I can never apologize enough for the wrong I did you or thank you enough for the good turn you did me. I can never return what it has cost you I can beg you not to spend your final days chasing this white elephant.  Instead spend them in the comfort love of your family.  Don’t go looking for that monster.  One day I assure you, he will find you.”

The End of
Coming Out of Exile: The Strength of a Father's Love
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
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