Chapter 4 Cleaning The Blood

Vivienne stayed pressed against the wall, her hands trembling as she stared at the three bodies on the floor. The smell of blood filled the warm air of the mansion.

Ares stood in the center of the mess. He looked completely calm, his breathing steady and slow. He folded his stained handkerchief and slid it back into his pocket.

"Be quiet," Ares said. His voice was low, but it filled the empty space easily. "If you scream, you will only bring more trouble to your door."

Vivienne swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. Her throat felt completely dry. "You... you just killed them. With your bare hands. Who are you?"

Ares turned his head to look at her. In the dim moonlight, his dark eyes seemed to hold a deep, dangerous weight. "I told you before, Vivienne. I am the man you married. That is all you need to know for now."

"No," Vivienne whispered, shaking her head. She gripped her robe tightly, her knuckles turning white. "The Ares Vane I knew was a coward. He was weak. He hid whenever his brothers entered the room. You are not him."

"People change when they are pushed to the edge of death," Ares said simply. He did not want to explain the divine realm or his past life to her yet. It was too soon, and her mortal mind would not understand.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the pale blue screen that only he could see.

[System Message: Use 100 Conflict Points to clean physical garments and heal minor internal strain? Yes / No]

Yes, Ares thought.

A faint, cold energy rippled across his skin. Vivienne gasped softly, blinking her eyes in the darkness. For a split second, she thought she saw the blood on his shirt melt away, leaving the dark cloth completely clean and dry.

The slight tightness in his chest from using too much physical force disappeared instantly. His breathing became even smoother.

"What did you just do?" Vivienne asked, taking a small step back. "I saw something. A light."

"You are tired, and the room is dark," Ares said, walking toward her. His movements were completely natural, carrying no hesitation.

He stopped a few feet away from her, his tall frame casting a long shadow over her. "Your mind is playing tricks on you."

Vivienne looked from his clean clothes down to the floor, where the dark pool was slowly spreading near her slippers. She felt a deep sense of confusion.

She was a brilliant businesswoman, used to controlling every meeting and every person in her life. But right now, she felt completely powerless against the man standing in front of her. She could not treat him like a puppet anymore. He was the one in control.

"What do we do with them?" she asked, her voice dropping to a low whisper. "We cannot leave them here. If the police come, my company will fall apart by morning. Julian will use it to ruin me."

"Julian is the one who sent them," Ares said flatly.

Vivienne looked up, her eyes widening. "What? How do you know that?"

"Because he is a fool who lacks patience," Ares replied, a cold smile touching his lips. "He wanted to eliminate me before the marriage could benefit your company. He planned to frame your rivals for the hit, clearing his path to take everything you own."

"That bastard," Vivienne spat, her fear briefly turning into pure anger. "He wants to destroy my family's legacy."

"He will try," Ares said, his voice entirely confident. "But he will fail. Now, go back to your room and lock the door. Do not come out until the sun is up."

"And the bodies?" Vivienne asked, looking at the floor again. "How are you going to move three grown men by yourself?"

"I have my ways," Ares said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Go, Vivienne."

She hesitated for a second, looking into his steady eyes. For the first time in her life, she chose to obey someone else.

She turned and walked quickly back to her bedroom, her heart still beating fast. She closed the door and turned the lock, leaning her back against the solid wood.

Her hands were still shaking, but beneath her fear, there was a strange, unfamiliar feeling of safety. For the first time, she was not fighting her battles alone.

In another part of the city, inside a luxurious penthouse overlooking the bright lights of Manhattan, Julian Vane was pouring himself another glass of expensive whiskey. He checked his gold watch. It was already past two in the morning.

He walked over to his large desk and picked up his phone. There were no new messages.

Julian frowned, his handsome face twisting into an ugly expression of annoyance.

He dialed a number and placed the phone to his ear. It rang several times before going straight to voicemail.

"Damn it," Julian muttered, slamming the glass down on his desk. Some of the dark liquid splashed onto his papers.

He walked over to the large windows, staring out at the rain. He had hired three of the best contract killers in the state.

They were supposed to enter the Sterling mansion, end his bastard brother's life in his sleep, and leave before anyone noticed.

It should have been a simple task. Ares was weak and clumsy.

"Why haven't they called?" Julian said to himself.

He tried calling the team leader again, but the phone was completely dead. A small seed of worry planted itself in his chest, but he quickly shook his head, brushing the feeling away.

There was no way a useless piece of trash like Ares could defend himself against professional weapons.

"Maybe they are just cleaning up the mess," Julian whispered, trying to calm his nerves. "Yes. That must be it. By tomorrow morning, the Sterling girl will be a widow, and her company will be mine."

Back at the mansion, Ares stood alone in the dark hallway. He did not need to carry the bodies out himself. He opened his system interface once more, looking at the available options.

[System Function: Summon Underworld Cleaner. Cost: 150 Conflict Points. Clean the area completely? Yes / No]

Ares pressed the screen. Within ten minutes, a quiet, unmarked black van pulled into the rear driveway of the estate. Two men in plain gray uniforms walked up the back stairs, carrying large bags.

They did not ask a single question. They simply lifted the three dead assassins, packed their weapons, and thoroughly cleaned the floor.

Aress watched them from the shadows of the balcony, his arms crossed over his chest.

In less than twenty minutes, the hallway was completely spotless.

The van drove away quietly, disappearing into the rainy night.

Ares walked back to his room in the guest wing. He pulled off his suit jacket and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his hands. This mortal body was still too fragile, but with the system, he was

growing stronger with every conflict.