Ch. 63 Rules

                                    

                                          
Previously
                          
I sighed. It felt like there was a crushing weight on my shoulders that just wouldn't go away. I saw the room begin to spin as my vision started to tunnel. I could barely breath. I barely registered my body hitting the floor before blacking out completely.
                          
Present
                          
I shot up and frantically looked around. I saw a silhouette standing off to the side, just out of reach of the light coming through an adjacent window. As they stepped forward, I couldn't stop from going rigid.
                          
"You believe I am here to kill you, correct?" Ares asked.
                          
"Why wouldn't you? I'm supposed to kill you within the next year just so I can get my damned freedom," I replied.
                          
"You will not be killing me in my entirety, kid," he said.
                          
"Huh? I thought any time a human kills a god, the god dies and the human turns into a god," I said, confused.
                          
"Yes, mundanes turn into gods, but not all gods die when you kill them," he said.
                          
"That's even more confusing," I said.
                          
"There are twelve of us total, each with a varying amount of power and influence. One in the Fae, the others here with the gods," he said.
                          
"The Zodiac?" I asked.
                          
"Correct. Leo was the only one able to get away from all of this," he said, nodding to the window and what lay beyond.
                          
"Which Court?" I asked.
                          
"The Morrigan's," he replied.
                          
"Rhysand..." I whispered.
                          
"So that's the High Lord now, hm?" Ares asked.
                          
"You know what a High Lord is?" I asked.
                          
"I do. Though, it seems you do not believe me," He said.
                          
"Rule 3," I said.
                          
"What is this rule you speak of?" He asked.
                          
"Never believe what you're told. Double check," I replied.
                          
"Do you have more of these rules?" Ares asked.
                          
"About fifty of 'em. Why?" I asked.
                          
"I would like to learn them. Are they written down anywhere?" He asked.
                          
"Nope," I replied.
                          
"I do not se—" He started.
                          
"If you really want to learn them, it's become my job is to teach them to you. If you can't remember them, too bad," I growled.
                          
"Very well. Forgive me," He said.
                          
"Rule 6, never say you're sorry. It's a sign of weakness," I said.
                          
"Why do you view it as a sign of weakness?" Ares asked.
                          
"Rule 8," I replied.
                          
"Hm?" He hummed.
                          
"Never take anything for granted," I said.
                          
"You will lose them if you do, won't you?" He asked.
                          
"Yeah. It happens more often than you think," I replied.
                          
"I know very well how often it happens. I am, after all, the God of War," He said.
                          
"Cool. Ya got a title. If memory serves me right, there's a library somewhere around here. Care to show me it?" I asked.
                          
"If that is your wish," he said. I nodded and followed Ares out of the room. I reached to my weapons pouch to grab a kunai knife but didn't feel it on my hip.