Chapter Text
Alectryon rolled over, the soft silk wrapping around his lower body, he sighed and got up, it was the same old, same old. The old pervert had already left and paid, Alectryon hissed lowly, almost falling to his knees as that all too familiar pain hit him.
He headed to the bathroom, which was just a small side room with a small tub and a mirror, he looked at himself and sighed, grabbing the ointment, but before he could tend to himself, the Madame called everyone downstairs.
Alectryon groaned, throwing his head back like a spoiled child, though the thought made him cringe. He dressed himself in the silk chiton and threw a blanket over his shoulders and walked down the stairs.
The Madame had a large smile on her face, Alectryon did not like that look as he sat down on one of the may plush chairs.
“Glorious news! Lord Ares has chosen to visit our brothel with his men.” She says, clasping her hands together, the slaves, including Alectryon all shared a look, a god coming here? For what purpose?
Alectryon felt a sinking feeling in his gut, a few weeks ago at the temple… He shook his head, looking to Adara, a fellow slave and the other person he was truly close with, she shrugged back, twice as unsure. They looked back to the Madame.
“They’ll be here soon, so get dressed, tend to yourselves and make sure to look your best!” he giggled, before she grabbed Alectryon harshly on the cheeks, her nails digging into his skin. “And you. Keep your big mouth shut and your head down. Understand?”
She waited for him to nod before she walked off. Alectryon tsked, going back up to his room to get dressed, Adara following after him, he had told her about the fight he had with the priest, but they had both assumed nothing would come of it because he was one slave out of thousands.
Adara shut the door behind him, Alectryon looked pale as he dressed himself, Adara helping him apply the ointment, they were still silent, Alectryon was processing everything, he was dead. So freaking dead.
Him and Adara said nothing, maybe Ares just wanted to reward his men, the Brothel was quite popular, so that must be the reason.
“If he knew, you’d be dead already.” Adara muttered, getting dressed herself, “Ares doesn’t drag these things out, if you disrespect his priests or temples, he just find you and kill you.”
“Yeah.” Alectryon nodded, hoping she was right. It was around dusk when the men arrived, Alectryon sat down in his usual corner, trying to look casual, but the anxiety in his gut was making him feel sick.
The men gawked and groped, the others smiled, laughing and playing along, whispering in the men ears and taking them upstairs, as Alectryon spaced on, someone suddenly sat down next to him.
Ares.
Ares had decided to sit by him, Alectryon quickly hid his shock and smiled, posing himself. Ares looked his over, before speaking.
“You seem awfully bored.” He mused, leaning back in the chair, “what’s your name?”
“Tannis, sir.” Alectryon says, he hated having to say that, but he didn’t want to test his luck with the Madam, running a hand through his hair, “I apologise if it was showing on my face, it’s not often I get chosen to entertain.”
“Really? But you’re so pretty,” Ares chuckled, cupping Alectryon’s face, his rough thumb rubbing against his bottom lip, Alectryon leaned into the touch, though for some odd reason, he found himself enjoying it.
“What’s your parentage boy?” He asked, looking over his face, “or are you a man?”
“I’m 23.” Alectryon chuckled, keeping a smile, but he hated the constant questions about his parents, like he was some kind of prized horse, “my mother was a Scythian slave, and my father was a Thracian, I’ve been told I got his hair but my mother’s nose.”
“Did you ever get to meet them?” Ares asked tilting his head, his hand still holding Alectryon’s face, Alectryon must’ve let his mask slip because Ares quickly backtracked, “apologise, I forgot slaves aren’t treated the same.
“Please, do not apologise, but I must ask though…” Alectryon muttered, pulling away from the warm hand, “I’ve never heard of a god bring their men to a brothel. May I ask why?”
That was a lie, he had heard of Zeus and Apollo rewarding their priests with beautiful men and women, but he hadn’t heard the War god to do such things.
“Ah, I’m giving them a reward.” He explained, wrapping a hand around Alectryon’s waist, looking back at his men who were drinking and smiling like nothing was wrong in the world. “Some woman punched one of my priests, so we’re trying to track her down, but no luck so far.”
“That’s terrible, I hope she’s caught soon.” Alectryon hummed, it seems the priest didn’t know his gender, that took some stress of him.
“Yeah.” Ares nodded, he looked at his men before smiling, looking back at Alectryon, bringing their faces close, “how much do I need to have the night with you?”
“For you my lord?” Alectryon blinked, glancing at the Madam who mouthed ‘zero’, he wrapped his arms around Ares’ neck, grinning too. “Completely free.”
“Truly? Well, I shall not waste an opportunity like this one.” Ares stood up, Alectryon quickly hopped up, grabbing him by the arm and leading the war god to his room. But as the door was closed, Ares grabbed him tightly by the neck, yanking him into the air, clutching his collar, a scowl on his face.
“Did you think I was that dumb? You’ve been acting guilty all night; you know that right Tannis?” Ares snapped, his grip tightening around Alectryon’s neck, “is that even your name? You hesitated about that too.”
Alectryon squeaked, grabbing at his hands, the War god wasn’t smiling, his eyes didn’t seem cruel, he just seemed mad. Alectryon gulped before squeaking out:
“It’s Alectryon.”