“Damn… did you just admit to being an asshole?” I joke.
“I remember not trusting Jayce, knowing I felt like he was a traitor, but no matter how hard I think, I can’t figure out why I thought that, but I know before I was attacked- or should I say killed- I realised it wasn’t him. I’m still missing a shit-ton, but there are answers in my memories that are blocked off.”
“Can Poseidon help you?” I ask.
“I tried. He refuses to mess with the balance more than granting me the power he already has. He has a temper, so once he’s made up his mind, he ain’t going to change it.”
“Geez, really? I wonder who that reminds me of,” I remark.
He frowns at me before he rakes his fingers through his hair, and his gaze sweeps across the gym. “The perspective on life when you know you’ve been given another chance really is different, isn’t it?”
“I guess so. I ain’t had a second chance, ya know?”
“Yeah… Well, let’s change those habits. In the Realm of the Gods, fighting together reminded me of the past, although we were definitely not that strong back then.
“Yeah, no shit. So, I get that you suspected Jayce, but there’s more to it than that, right? I mean, your issues with him?” I push. I have an idea, but I want to hear it from him.
He looks at me and shrugs. “Maybe. I mean, he can do no wrong, init? He’s always the best at everything, always number one…”
“Jealousy is a real bitch.”
“I don’t know if it’s jealousy. I don’t want to be him, nor do I agree with him on everything, but being in his shadow or compared to him all the fucking time is annoying.”
“Yeah, well, the way I see it, we all bring something to the table. We will all do things differently, and I really do think we all have something the other doesn’t.”
“Hmm.” He neither agrees nor disagrees.
“But I’m mainly glad that we don’t look identical.” I chuckle.
Ares nods. “Yeah, thank the gods for that,” he mutters.
“Yeah, although I think you could have done with a couple of inches,” I taunt.
“Fuck off, I have all the inches I fucking need,” he scoffs, before sighing. “I want to know who killed me, and why. I’m going to figure this out. Poseidon or not, I will be getting the answers.”
“We are going to get the answers,” I agree. “Together, all five of us.”
The words have already left my lips when my wolf shifts with unease, reminding me we still don’t know who’s really behind it all. And I still feel like I can’t mark Renji off entirely. Even if that sounds crazy, I feel he has something to do with it.
And if somehow, he is behind this… then what? Because I don’t see myself being able to expose him.
Then why am I chasing the truth?
The next morningdawns cold and rainy, and we’re all training outdoors.
Last night, I wasn’t able to do it. I wasn’t able to go check those cameras or bring myself to let Heaven know. Because I know her, she would have called me out on it; she has a way of knowing what I’m thinking, and somehow, I end up telling her more than I should.
She’ll probably be pissed at me for standing her up, but fuck, what else was I supposed to do?
“Westwood! Focus!” Matherson thunders. I turn, as do my brothers, even though they all know he’s most likely talking to me.
“Yeah, I am, chill!” I call back, giving him a wave as I focus on my sparring partner.
Ever since Aunty Maria took charge, training continues in all weathers. And there’s a minimum of four hours a day. Harsher, tougher and stricter than ever before. In these matches, we bleed, we break bones, we are pushed to our limits.
“Swap partners!” Matherson orders. We all shuffle around, and I smirk when I’m placed opposite Renji.
“My man,” I say as we exchange a nod before we fall into our fighting stances.
