Twisted threads

 
“Sister? Sister, are you awake?” A quiet voice interrupted visions of death and blood. “Sister, I know you are awake.”

Lisa’s jaw clenched. That voice, she knew that voice. And she had hoped to never hear it again. It belonged to her sister, Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness. The bitch that had taken all of her memories and left her an empty shell.

“Don’t touch me!” Lisa growled as a hand gently caressed her back. “Get away from me before I do something we will both regret.”

Lethe continued to rub her sister’s back. She knew that no matter how angry her little sister became, there was nothing she could do to her or any of the other siblings. That was one of the limits their grandmother, Nyx, had put on each of them at birth. Nyx was a wise woman, she knew that each of the fifteen half siblings were capable of destroying the others and she would never allow one of her blood to kill another of her blood. Being a primordial deity her power had no limitations, so what Nyx wanted, Nyx got.

Lisa sprang up from the bed, her eyes flashing red. She knew she could not cause her sister physical damage, but she damn sure cause her pain. The look on Lethe’s face caused Lisa’s anger and pain to disappear. Love shone from Lethe’s eyes. Love was something Lisa had not experienced in years, and seeing her sister look at her with such a gentle emotion caused something inside her to let go.

“Why, Lee, why did you take my memories of him?” Lisa didn’t attempt to hide the tears that glistened in her eyes. “His memory was the only thing I had left and you took it. You left me utterly alone.”

Lethe stood and wrapped her arms around her little sister. There was nothing she could do to right the wrong she had done to her, but she could try to comfort her, try to explain to her why it had to be done.

“I had to, baby girl. I had no choice.” Lethe’s voice broke with emotion. “If I hadn’t you would have caused the destruction of us all.”

“You could have let me die.” Lisa’s voice was rough with defeat. “You could have let them destroy me as they did my children.”

“Baby girl!” Lethe cried, “Your children were not destroyed, they could not BE destroyed. They are the blood of Nyx, as are we. Nothing other than our grandmother can destroy us.”

Lisa stepped back stunned. Her children were alive? All of this had been for nothing?

“They live?” Lisa whispered. “They live and yet you did this to me? You took my memories, my power, my life. You allowed me to be turned into a monster that could only survive on human flesh. YOU LET MY NOSE FALL OFF!!”

‘Her nose fall off?’, thought Lethe. ‘What is she….’

Lethe never had time to finish the thought as Lisa’s fist caught her in the chin and knocked her out cold.

“I can’t believe that bitch would do this to me.” Lisa’s ranting and raving voice was the first thin Lethe heard, followed by the sounds of breaking glass and furniture being upset. “Let me be turned in to that, that THING. Let me think my children are dead, take every good and decent thing I’ve ever had away from me. THAT BITCH!”

Another resounding crash followed, then more cursing and muttering as Lisa destroyed Lethe’s rooms.

Bounding to her feet, Lethe staggered as the room spun. It could not be said that her little sister couldn’t throw a punch that much was for certain. Squinting her eyes in an attempt to stop the room from spinning, Lethe staggered toward the sitting room.

“Aite Lisaria! Stop that NOW!” Lethe’s own voice made her wince in pain. Damn, she hadn’t had a headache in centuries, she had forgotten how painful they truly were. “Calm down so I can tell you…”

A blinding pain laced her cheek. Lisa was standing right in front of her, her arm cocked to throw yet another punch.

“STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!” Darkness flared and a wave of power knocked down both women. Grandma Nyx had entered the building. “I HAVE HAD MY FILL OF YOU TWO!”

Lisa and Lethe found themselves pinned to the floor with invisible hands. They know it is useless to struggle, having tried that during the many times they had found themselves in similar positions as children. Lisa felt laughter begin to bubble in her chest as she realized the stupidity of her actions. Many times Grannyx, as they called their Grandmother, had told her that for a goddess she acted more like a stupid human.

The giggle that escaped Lisa’s lips caused a similar reaction in Lethe. She too had been remembering the times she and her baby sister had fought as children and the punishment that followed. Grannyx had been known to leave them pinned to the floor for days at a time, having forgotten about them after their squabbles ended.

“Grannyx, I’m so glad to see you!” Although Nyx hadn’t actually appeared yet, Lisa knew she could hear her. “I’d hug you if you’d just pop in and let us up.”

Another wave of inky black seeped into the room, glittering lights that were thousands of stars struggling to be born. A cool breeze wafted through the room, carrying the scent of night blooming jasmine. Lisa couldn’t help but stare in awe, as she had always done when her Grandmother made an appearance.

The pressure holding the women to the floor lessened as Nyx appeared in the middle of the room. Her long dark hair glittered with pinpoints of light, her black eyes blazed. Grannyx was angry and Lisa was sure she was angry at them.

“Grannyx! It’s so good to see you!!” Lisa attempted to keep her voice from quivering with fear. She loved her grandmother, but she feared her more. Nyx was one of only a few beings that could put an end to everything. Literally everything.

“Don’t try it, girl.” Nyx’s voice was soft but held a note of anger. “It’s been centuries since I’ve seen you and it’s not that I’m not glad, but damn it, you two are grown goddess’, it’s about time you act like it.”

Lisa turned her head to see that Lethe was looking at her. Both women were afraid they had gone too far, Lethe especially quivered in terror. Lisa held a special place in Nyx’s heart, and she had no idea what had been done to her favorite grandchild. Lethe wondered if she would survive once Nyx found out.

“And you”, Nyx said, looking directly at Lethe. “How could you be so stupid to get drawn into this mess? If you’d kept your powers to yourself, we wouldn’t be facing extinction.”

‘Extinction?’, Lethe thought. ‘Had it really gotten that far?’

“Oh Great Nyx, I beg your forgiveness.” Lethe begged. “I was a fool, I allowed my heart to rule my mind even though you always taught us to be stronger than that. Please tell me how I can make amends for the mistakes I have made.”

Lisa giggled. She loved it that her sister felt the need to beg for forgiveness, it made her feel better than knocking her out had. Glancing at Nyx, the giggle froze in her throat. Grannyx was pissed, and not just at Lethe. She was angry at Lisa as well.

“Get up, both of you.” Nyx said, her voice still hard with anger. “We need to have a nice long talk. Or rather I need to talk and the two of you need to listen.”

Nyx repaired the destruction around her with a glance, then walked to the couch and sat down. Patting the cushions next to her, she looked at the woman and said, “Come on. I won’t bite.”

Lisa and Lethe got to their feet, both woman weak from the pressure that had held them immobile. Cautiously approaching the couch, they sat down on each side of the angry Goddess. Neither could help but flinch when Nyx threw her arms around them.

“It is good to see you, my girls. It does my old heart good.” Nyx whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. “Aite, my darling, it’s been too long since I held you in my arms.”

Lisa was overcome with emotion. She should have known her grandmother loved her and wouldn’t cause her any real damage. She snuggled closer to Nyx and sighed. It was good to be home for a change.

“Now girls”, began Nyx, never release them from her arms, “you two have really gotten into a fix this time. It’s going to take all our considerable powers to straighten it out.”

“I don’t understand, Grannyx. What have we done?” Lisa whispered.

“You and your sister have wasted too much time because of men.” Nyx spat. “Love is not for the weak, and you’ve both been weak. Now we have to fix the damage or else I will be alone for all eternity.”

Lisa and Lethe both attempted to respond, only to find themselves mute. Apparently Nyx didn’t have time for their explanations.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses, and I won’t hear them.” Nyx stated bluntly. “It’s your turn to listen and learn the truth. Both of you.”

“Aite, when you pissed off that fool Zeus and he threw you to earth, I sent the Litae to follow you. I couldn’t allow you to wander among the mortals without some safe guards. But you had to have things your way, like always.” Nyx shook her head in disgust. “Falling in love with one of them, enticing your sister to make you forget who you were so you could be with him. What were you thinking?”

“And you”, Nyx turned toward Lethe, “giving her false memories, leaving all that power unattended. You’re as big of a fool as she is.”

Nyx stood and began to pace the room, leaving the girls anchored to the couch.

“Having children? What did you think would happen? When the others found out about them they had to do something, anything, to prevent them from growing into their godheads.” Nyx was once again angry. “That was the first time I actually messed in the matters of mortals, only to find out they weren’t mortal at all. Not even half.”

Lisa was stunned. Godheads? Her children weren’t mortal; they were gods? They couldn’t be, Titus was human. Wasn’t he?

Nyx spun around, darkness seeping from her.

“No, HE IS NOT MORTAL.” Nyx yelled, able to hear their very thoughts. Lisa had never heard her grandmother yell before and now her ears bleed from the sound. “He is Prometheus! Even he is unaware. Only I, and your uncle, know his true nature. He had to be hidden from that conniving bastard Zeus, so your sister kindly wiped his memory as well. Good job, by the way Lethe.”

Nyx took a deep breath attempting to calm herself. Nothing good ever happened when she was upset and she hadn’t been this upset in eons. While Nyx was calming herself, Lisa glanced at Lethe. Her sister managed to look terrified, guilty and smug all at the same time. Good thing Nyx had anchored them where they were, otherwise Lisa would tear that smugness from Lethe’s face.

“Prometheus and you had three children, Aite, even though you are only aware of two. You are unaware of your daughter, Peitho. That bastard Zeus conspired with Satan to take your child and leave Lucifer in her place. I consider Lucifer to be your child, even though he is not from our direct line, he is the grandchild of my sister, Gaia, he is the child of your body.” Nyx began to look old and sad. Knowing she was causing her granddaughter such pain caused Nyx to age before their eyes.

With a wave of her hand, she released the sisters. Nyx was surprised when Lisa sprang from the couch and threw her arms about her. Squeezing her grandmother tightly, Lisa kept whispering, “They’re alive, they’re all alive.”

And Death lingers

 
Titus paced the empty kitchen. His life, his very existence, had changed so much in the last twenty-four hours. The thud-thud-thud of his heartbeat, something that he had not heard in centuries, made his head ache.

Stopping in front of the kitchen island, Titus looked down at the empty plates and realized that one was splattered with droplets of his blood. Snatching the plates up, he stomped across the kitchen to the sink and threw the delicate plates into it. The crash of porcelain against porcelain made him realize his mistake. Hanging his head and heaving a deep sigh, he began picking up pieces of the beautiful plates. The contrast between the broken dinnerware and his life crashed into him with such force it drove the breath from his body.

He too had been snatched up and slammed into an unfamiliar and unyielding situation. And now he felt as shattered and broken as the jagged pieces of porcelain he dumped into the trash.
A sudden change in temperature alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone. Unsure of whether it was Democritus or the demon woman who had sank her teeth into him, Titus spun to face the intruder.

Democritus, or Mitch as demanded to be called, was slumped against the wall. His pale skin glimmered with sweat and his hair was in disarray. Titus sprang forward and managed to catch him seconds before he crumpled to the floor. Titus eased him down softly, then sat down beside him, unsure what to do.

“I’ll be fine, old friend.” Mitch whispered. “Just give me a few moments to adjust.”

‘Adjust’, thought Titus, ‘what a strange thing to say.’

Minutes passed like slowly as Titus watched the color return to Mitch’s face. It was strange to think that this man, if he actually was a man, was also the personification of Death. That Death could care about a living being was a concept that Titus was having difficulty with.

“She’ll be okay, in case you were wondering.” Mitch said as he slowly rose to his feet. “I got her there in time.”

“Got her where? What have you done with her?” Titus suddenly realized that it mattered to him, that she, the woman the so looked like his Aelia, was important to him.

Mitch was surprised by the emotion in Titus’ voice. Gone was the cold, cruel creature that he had snatched from Satan’s grasp and in his place was a man that resembled the warrior of old. Perhaps things were not as bad as he’d feared, maybe Titus could save her.

“I took her to Lethe, she’ll be safe there.” Mitch answered.

“LETHE? Why the fuck did you take her to that heartless bitch?” Titus raged. “You know what she is capable of, you know what she is. Damn it, I thought you said she would be okay.”

Titus began pacing the length of the kitchen floor, his footsteps loud and angry. Mitch watched him, a mixture of frustration and amusement fluttering in his chest. If the situation wasn’t so tenuous Mitch would be amused at the man’s statement. If anyone had reason to know what a bitch Lethe was, it was definitely Titus.

“Titus, calm down. We need to talk and we can’t do it with you wearing a hole in my tiles.” Mitch said as he sank onto one of the bar-stools. “Fix us some coffee. You DO know how to fix coffee, don’t you? I mean, do they have coffee in hell?”

A snort of laughter escaped Titus’ lips. Shaking his head, he stared at Mitch. Sighing, he headed to the counter to start a pot of coffee. At least here the coffee wouldn’t taste like brimstone. Although the taste of brimstone did improve on that swill that Satan tried to pass off as coffee.

Silence reigned while the men waited for the coffee maker to finish its’ task. Titus grabbed the pot before the last drops had fallen and filled two cups with fragrant black liquid before setting them on the counter and turning to face Mitch.

“So talk.” Titus’ voice was steely and left no room for argument.

Mitch just stared at him, he knew he had to be honest with Titus, he had to tell him everything. That wasn’t a problem, he had known the time would come when he had to bring everything out in the open, when he had to live with the consequences of what he had decided to do. He just wasn’t sure how Titus would react and at the moment he didn’t know if he was strong enough to deal with whatever reaction there would be.

Letting out a sigh, Mitch decided there was no time like the present and reached for his coffee.

Taking a sip, he pondered his words. What he was about to say was nowhere near as important as how he said it. They all needed Titus’ assistance, without his help it would have all been for nothing.

“You’re right”, he began, “Lethe is a bitch, probably the biggest bitch that has ever walked this or any other planet. But she is also the only one that can contain Lisa at this point. And we need Lisa contained.”

Titus continued to stare at him, waiting for the rest of the story. The fact that the woman needed to be contained meant that she was more than just a human. But what was she? And why was she so important?

Mitch realized that Titus was going to wait him out, that there would be no comment until he had all the information. Taking an unneeded breath, Mitch continued.

“Lethe is her sister.” Mitch waited for a reaction, when none was forthcoming, he continued. “The woman you met is Aite.”

Titus sucked in a breath, he was familiar with Aite, more familiar than he wished to be. She was the reason he had lost his family, she was the reason he had lost his soul. And now she had wormed her way into his emotions.

“Titus,” Mitch continued, “she is also your Aelia.”

The words had barely left his lips when Titus sprang from his chair. Rage and hatred blazed in his eyes and he launched himself toward Mitch. Only the quick thinking that came from centuries of fending off the hatred of millions saved Mitch from Titus’ wrath. With a quick wave of his hand the man froze in mid-air, the hatred and rage coming off of him in waves.

Calmly finishing his coffee, Mitch got up and poured another cup. Turning back to Titus he grinned at the sight of the man frozen in mid-air like some type of enchanted carving. Even amidst all of the chaos, Mitch could find humor. And that was what made him so good at his job. Death and laughter work together in the most astounding way.

“I know you can hear me.” Mitch said. “So I will tell you the rest of it.”

Sitting down, Mitch began to tell Titus a story that would forever change his perception of life.

“Aite loved you, loves you. She watched you as a young man, she saw the pain of your life. She saw why you became such a warrior; she saw the hatred that drove you to greatness. And she was impressed.”

Taking a drink of coffee, Mitch made himself more comfortable on the bar-stool and continued.

“She knew that you hated her, she knew that she was at the root of all the pain you suffered. She didn’t want to fall in love with you. Love was a foreign emotion to her. Confusion and discord, pain and suffering, those she was familiar with, but the emotion she developed for you, well, that was new.”

“She talked with her sisters, she even spoke to her mother, Eris, about you. But no one could give her a solution to what she saw as a problem. Only Lethe offered a respite from confusion.”

Taking another sip of coffee, Mitch contemplated allowing Titus a small allowance of movement.

With a nod of his head, Titus slowly glided to the ground. Struggling to acknowledge Mitch, Titus managed a small movement of his head. Mitch took that as a sign that the man was ready to listen and would at least attempt to control himself.

Waving his hand, he freed Titus from all restriction. Surprised at the freedom, Titus simply stared at him, then slowly moved toward his seat and cautiously sat down.

“Continue”, was the only thing Titus said.

“Lethe wiped her memory. The intent was to remove all memories of you and in doing so remove all emotions Aite felt towards you. But it backfired. Aite forgot you, forgot watching you grow and turn into the warrior she was so very attracted to, but she also forgot who she was. She forgot that she was a goddess, that she was the cause of pain and strife, of despair and confusion. She forgot everything. And in her moment of weakness another of her sisters decided that it would be a good thing to drop her down on earth and allow her to live as a human. So Aite was sent to earth and sat down in a small, primitive town next to a beautiful, clear stream. The same stream she was standing in when you saw her for the first time.”

Mitch paused for another sip of his tepid coffee, got up and refreshed his cup. Turning to face Titus he watched the river of emotion that played across the man’s face. Love, anger, fear and confusion tainted with heartache, pain and despair rippled across his face. Mitch hated to see him experience centuries of emotion in the space of a few moments, but it had to happen. Titus had to know what was going on and how important it was for the existence of all living beings.

“Titus, she didn’t deceive you. She simply didn’t remember who or what she was. But when she saw you, she remembered the love she felt. It was real, Titus, she loved you and she still does. She just doesn’t remember.”

Titus spun to face Mitch, the rage flaring in his eyes caused him to look insane. Mitch feared he would have to stop the man from doing anything dangerous to their cause.

“Why doesn’t she remember? Did that bitch of a sister of hers destroy those memories too? Why didn’t she destroy mine? Why did she leave me to suffer?” Tears glistened in his rage filled eyes. “I would have died for her. I DID die. I died and sold my soul so I could have the illusion of her, of our children. Was my suffering so entertaining to them?”

Mitch realized that the man could not process any more. He had reached his limit and was about to break, and that was the last thing they needed. Titus was essential to their plan. There was no way they would succeed if they lost him and lose him they would if he continued to suffer like he was.
Closing his eyes, Mitch imagined Titus at peace. He allowed that image to engulf him and, with the merest mental nudge, he sent that image to Titus. Mitch opened his eyes just in time to see the man crumple to the floor. With a twitch of his fingers, he moved Titus to the comfort of his bed. Mitch knew Titus would be able to continue once the image of peace had time to settle over him.

The tug of duty caused Mitch to sigh. A woman was struggling, fighting to hold on to the illusion of life. She was an important woman, one that was well known and important to the ongoing battle with Evil. Death needed to comfort her, Death needed to move her on to the next phase in her journey.

With a sigh, Mitch donned the robes of his office. The handsome, laughing man that walked the earth every day was replaced by Thanatos, the daemonic personification of Death. A blast of freezing air and he was gone.

Titus shivered in his bed. Even in sleep he was aware that Death had lingered a moment too long.

The tie that binds

“We are so fucked!!!” Lucifer’s voice carried throughout the cells of hell. It was usual for Satan’s son to come calling, but when he did even the most fearsome demons hid. They all knew Satan’s son could make his father seem like a fluff bunny. No one could cause pain and humiliation with the finesse of Lucifer.

“No, son, YOU are the one that is fucked. I, and rest of the lowly minions, are safe and sound in our home.” Satan’s replied in a voice as soft and smooth as velvet. “You failed to do what was needed in order to prevent her awakening, now YOU will deal with the results. I will sit here in the comfort of my realm and watch.”

Lucifer knew he had overstepped when he raised his voice, but the anger and…..was it fear? Yes, it was fear. The anger and fear he had experience form the moment he felt the awakening had driven him to seek out his father, the one being he hated above all others.

“I’m sorry, father. I didn’t mean to raise my voice.” Lucifer attempted to sound contrite, and failed miserably. “Everything was under control until that bastard Death began to meddle. HE is the one at fault for this, not I.”

Even as the words left his lips, Lucifer realized his mistake. His father could not abide someone that did not take responsibility for their mistakes. He could forgive a mistake, if being tortured for a few hours as opposed to being tortured for centuries amounted to forgiveness. But to blame another for your screw-up, that was something he refused to allow.

Lucifer didn’t have time to brace for the assault before he found himself pinned against the far wall, his feet dangling a foot above the floor. Pain rippled through his body as his blood began to boil within his veins. Throwing back his head he screamed out his agony, praying to a God that no longer listened for it to stop.

As suddenly as it began, the torture stopped. He felt himself gently settle on the floor and although his legs were too weak to hold his weight he remained upright. Red tinted steam emanated from his skin, more proof of the fact that he had been as close to death as he would ever be. Taking a ragged breath, he struggled to take back control of his body.

“Death only did what he had to do, son. He didn’t ‘meddle’ in this any more than you did.” Satan said. “If the two of you had continued this stupidity everything would have crumbled. Although I do not agree with my Father, He has rules that He will NOT allow to be broken. The two of you were breaking them and that could not be allowed to continue.”

Satan stared at his son. Lucifer was a wonderful specimen of what true beauty could be. Satan once looked like that, tall, muscular with skin that shone like satin with hair like spun gold. He had lost more than his wings when his Father threw him out of Heaven, he had lost his identity. Satan had vowed not to damage his own son the way his Father had damaged him.

“Sit down before you fall down.”

A chair appeared behind Lucifer just as his knees gave out. His father had never been overly kind, the pain of all he had lost had twisted him into something unrecognizable, but he had never been outright cruel to Lucifer either. As a matter of fact, he treated him with a back-handed gentleness that was almost worse than outright cruelty.

“Son,” Satan began, “I don’t mean to be so harsh to you. But you must understand, now that she is awake everything will change. If Death cannot find a way to control her all of us will pay the price. I don’t believe Death CAN control her, but it is better for him to try than for you to risk everything. Even my Father would have difficulty with her, and he is the Creator of all.”

Lucifer stared at Satan in shock. Never before had his father ever said a kind word to him, never before had he ever said he didn’t mean to be “harsh” with him. Things must be worse than Lucifer realized for his father to be acting in such a manner. And to hear that even the Big Guy would have a problem with that little bitch was almost more than Lucifer could stand.

“What is she?” Lucifer’s voice was barely above a whisper. He was afraid his father was setting him up for a harsh punishment, the out of character actions had to be an act. “Why is she so important? She’s just a parasite, a carrion eater.”

Lucifer was stunned as Satan burst out laughing. He had rarely heard laughter from the King of Hell, and he had never heard laughter such as this. Fear, that unfamiliar feeling that seemed all too common today, once again began to curl in his gut, Satan laughing was a sure sign that things were taking a turn for the worse.

“A carrion eater! Yes, she was that, wasn’t she?” Satan gasped between fits of now hysterical laughter. “I’ll pay for that one, I’m sure. She never did have a sense of humor.”

Lucifer stiffened. His father spoke of the bitch as though he actually knew her, or had known her. There was something in the way he spoke of her that conveyed affection. He had never known his father to be affectionate toward anyone, especially a ghoul.

“Father,” Lucifer began, “you speak of her as though you know her. She’s just a flesh eating parasite, a being that is too stupid to die. How is it that YOU know her?”

“Well, Lucy,” Satan replied, knowing his son hated the nickname, “that ‘flesh eating parasite’, that ‘being that is too stupid to die’ is your Mother.”

Satan’s laughter echoed in Lucifer’s head as darkness enveloped him and he sank into a stupor. The word Mother chased him into oblivion.

It’s just a little blood

 
Titus stood in the middle of the room, too stunned by recent events to develop a coherent thought. In all of his torturous time on earth, he had never seen anyone that so resembled his wife. Aelia had been the light of his life, his strength, his courage, his very reason to live. He had fallen in love with her the moment he set eyes on her. She had been standing in a stream, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, staring at the mountains with such a look of longing that it near broke his heart.

Titus had been a soldier for years, since he was a child he had moved from camp to camp, taking care of the wounded and running errands for the commanders. It was only natural for him to join the ranks once he came of age. Of course he had lied about his age, but what was a thirteen-year-old orphan to do. Both of his parents had died in the course of the Battle of Oenoe, his father in battle, his mother as she attempted to flee. He felt he had no choice but to avenge his loved ones.

Still deep in thought, Titus mechanically began to search for clothes and get dressed. His mind filled with memories of war and pain followed by sunlight sparkling on water and a woman that would conquer his heart. Logically he knew that the woman from earlier could not be his Aelia, but his heart refused to accept that fact. The Gods were maniacal and it was not beyond them to bring his love back only to rip her away again.

Satan would have if it had been in his power, Titus knew that for a fact. Only the power of the One kept him from doing so. But would the power of the One stop the others? Or would they, in their hatred of all things human or once human, do such an insidious act?

Titus approached the door, only after he had opened it did he realize that his feet were bare. His heart clinched, Aelia’s feet had been bare the first time he laid eyes on her.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and listened. Voices, muffled and low, reached his ears. Although he couldn’t identify the voices, he knew it was Democritus and the woman. The voices rose and fell in anger…or desperation, he couldn’t tell which.

Striding down the hall, Titus slammed his fist against the door and charged into the room. The scene before him stopped him cold, she had been crying. His heart broke, his Aelia had been crying. He charged.

“What the fuck are you doing in my room?” Lisa shouted, anger and pain making her voice rough and harsh. “Look Hercules I don’t need rescue and you don’t need to be busting down my door.”

The sound of her voice stopped him in his tracks. ‘Hercules?’, he thought, ‘She thinks I’m Hercules?’

“I am Titus Manlius, not Hercules. I am a Roman General and not the bastard son of an errant god.” Titus’ voice was stiff with indignation. How could she believe he was a bastard of a bastard? He was nothing like Zeus, he was intelligent and cunning, Zeus was a bumbling idiot that couldn’t keep his parts to himself. “I am not a man-whore, nor am I a bumbling idiot, so I couldn’t possibly be the spawn of one.”

Death glanced at Titus and then back to Lisa as laughter bubbled in his chest. Great bellowing gales of laughter erupted as he compared their expressions, she was stunned and confused and Titus was thoroughly insulted. Try as he might, Death couldn’t stop the laughter that threatened to overcome his sanity.

Titus stared at the man he knew as Democritus. Then he glanced at the woman to see that she, too, was staring at Democritus who was by now literally rolling on the floor.

“Has he lost his senses?” Titus asked her.

“What senses? I’m not sure he has any. He goes off like this from time to time, I think it’s a by-product of his job.” Lisa stated as she continued to stare at Death.

Hearing their conversation, Mitch laughed even harder. Rolling back and forth on the floor like a man in pain, tears running down his cheeks as hysterical laughter shook his body.

Shaking her head, Lisa wiped the last vestige of tears from her face and turned toward Titus. She was startled at the intensity with which he was staring at her, but having lived with Death for the last six weeks, she figured he was one of “those” type of people.

‘People’, she thought, stifling a giggle, ‘like I have had any contact with people since this began.’

“We might as well go down and start breakfast, he’s liable to be this way for a while.” Lisa said, looking pointedly at Mitch.

Without waiting for an answer, she strolled out of her room and headed toward the kitchen. Titus was stunned, being left in a room with a maniac was not on his list of things to do. Figuring out why this woman looked so much like his beloved Aelia was the most important thing, followed by the why and how of being in this place.

Sparing one last glance at the man rolling around the floor, Titus shrugged and walked into the hallway just in time to catch a glimpse of Lisa descending the stairs. Following her, his heart clinched at the familiar way she moved. This woman was the living embodiment of his long dead love. Hurrying to catch up, Titus wrestled with long forgotten emotions.

But the time he had found the kitchen, Lisa already had the counter-top covered with the items for breakfast. Titus didn’t recognize many of the things laying there, although he was very familiar with eggs even if he had never seen them put on display in a container before. The slab of fatty meat he took to be side meat but he had no idea what she was planning on doing with the vegetables she had strewn about.

“Don’t talk much, do you?” Lisa asked. “What is it with quiet men, a girl should never trust a quiet man, you’re all trouble.”

She seemed to be talking more to herself than to him, so Titus ignored her and simply sat and watched as she washed, dried and then began chopping some strange green item. When last he had watched food prepared there were no items he could not identify, but watching this woman he was confused by everything she was preparing. Well, except the eggs and he had no idea what the hell she was doing when she broke them in a bowl and started adding spices and milk.

“What, may I ask, are you preparing?” Titus asked quietly.

“It speaks!!!” Lisa exclaimed. “Food truly is the way to a man’s heart, or at least to getting him to speak!”

Getting no reply other than eyebrows that drew down in either anger or confusion, Lisa shook her head and tried to stop being such a smart ass. It was a difficult task.

“I’m making us omelets. You know, eggs, peppers, mushrooms, cheese. Good stuff.” Lisa said, trying to keep the edge from her voice, “Breakfast of Champions, that what it is. Don’t tell me you’ve never seen or eaten an omelet before.”

“No”, replied Titus, “I have never heard of such a thing. Before last night I had not eaten food for over two thousand years.”

Lisa froze. What had he said? She must have heard him wrong.

“Say what?” Lisa squeaked. “You’ve not eaten food for over two thousand years? What the fuck did you eat?”

Although Titus had heard women curse before, it would have been impossible not to after being here for so long, he was stunned that a woman he thought of as a lady would use such language. He didn’t know how to reply other than to tell her the truth.

“Before last night I didn’t have the need to eat, nor the ability to taste food.” Titus answered. “I sold that ability along with my soul. I sold many things for an act of vengeance.”

‘Oh shit,” Lisa’s inner voice piped up, ‘this is not good.’

“Did you say ‘sold’? Like you traded your soul for vengeance?” Lisa stood as still as a statue. “Who the fuck did you sell your soul to?”

“Satan, of course. Who else is in the business of buying souls?” Titus answered in a tone that told her he believed she was simple.

Lisa’s pale skin became even paler as his answer sank in. He was one of Satan’s Minions and he was HERE. This was NOT good.

“MITCH!!” She screamed, backing as far from Titus as she could get. Her hand scrambled for a weapon, landing on the paring knife she had just used on the pepper. Snatching it up, Lisa fell into a defensive posture, knowing full well that she was no match for the warrior in front of her.

Titus stared at her in confusion. He had no idea what made her suddenly become so frightened and defensive. Thinking it was better to simply remain calm and still, he tilted his head and pursed his lips in confusion. If she hadn’t of been scared out of her mind, Lisa would have laughed at him.

“MITCH! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE NOW!!”, she screamed again, praying to whatever being would listen that Death showed up before this man dragged her kicking and screaming to Hades.

A shift of temperature and a bending of light foretold the appearance of Death, dressed in full, frightening regalia. Lisa jumped to his side and wrapped her arms around him.

“Don’t let him take me!! Please!”, she sobbed, “I’ll do anything. I’ll be good. Just don’t let him take me.”

“What are you talking about?” Mitch questioned. “Don’t let who take you where?”

Struggling to release himself from her grasp, Mitch didn’t realize Titus was sitting still and silent at the counter. Finally managing to loosen her grasp, Mitch grabbed Lisa by the shoulders and gave her a slight shake. Fear began to bleed from her eyes and anger seeped in. Mitch knew she hated to be treated like a child and had figured this was the best way to get her to calm down, if you could call a pissed off woman calm.

“STOP THAT!” Lisa demanded, taking a step back from Mitch. “You KNOW I hate it when you treat me like a child!”

“Then stop acting like one.” Mitch replied.

Titus winced as he watched the exchange. It was painfully obvious that his old friend hadn’t had a lot of experience with women. Titus fleetingly wondered if it would be better for him to evacuate the room than to sit here and watch. Stifling a laugh, he decided the show was going to get good so he’d stay right where he was.

“ACTING LIKE ONE?? Did you just say I was acting like a CHILD?” Lisa’s eyes flashed as she jerked her shoulders from Mitch’s grasp. “Like you would have ANY idea what a child would act like! You basically kidnap me, hold me hostage and now you insult me as well!!”

Mitch began to speak, but Lisa wasn’t done.

“Yes, kidnap might be a harsh word, but still the concept is there. And I realize that I wasn’t really a hostage and that you were keeping me here for my own good and that I’m actually human again instead of that other thing, but still. It has NOT been easy for me, you leave me alone for days and days, I have no one to talk to, nothing to do but wander around this place and read and such. And now you INSULT me??” Lisa was on a roll, she was pissed off, worried and confused, there was no stopping her now. “You stay gone for a few days and then come back with one of Satan’s Minions!! SATAN’S MINION!!! You remember Satan, right?? The ugly dude who has his son searching for me to do who knows what to me!”

Stopping only to take a breath, Lisa continued, “Who knows? Do you know?? NO, YOU DO NOT! All you know is that they want me and they want to do who knows what to me, maybe flay me alive, well now that I’m alive! OH MY GOD, DO THEY KNOW I’M ALIVE?? I wasn’t when they were looking for me before, and now, oh God! They probably want to eat my still beating heart! It is beating right? Oh God!!”

Mitch could take no more as he waved a hand in her direction and Lisa instant fell silent, frozen as still as ice. Turning to look at Titus, he was stunned that the man was sitting there laughing like a fool. Actual tears, more proof that his soul was now intact, streamed down his face as he brayed like a jackass.

Mitch heaved a long suffering sigh and walked around the counter to finish the breakfast Lisa had started. It was easier to cook now that it was decidedly quieter. Well, except for Titus’ laughter and it was slowly coming to a stop.

Wiping his eyes with the heels of his hands, Titus managed to control the laughter that still threatened to boil over. Seeing his old friend deal with an irate woman in such a bumbling way was probably the funniest thing he had seen in eons. But of course, he had not had much reason to laugh in the last few thousand years. And he was in awe at the ability to simply freeze the hysterical woman, it would have come in handy to have that ability, oh yes, real handy. Titus’ mind drifted back to all those many years ago when last he dealt with a woman in any meaningful way. Lost in thought, he didn’t realize Mitch had finished breakfast until he sat the plate down on the counter in front of him.

“You’d better eat now, I can’t keep her like that forever and when she’s free again things will NOT be pretty.” Mitch’s voice shook him from his reverie.

Looking down at the plate before him, Titus was amazed that his stomach was actually growling. Gods it was good to actually feel hungry after so many years of not needing or even wanting food. Digging in, Titus finished the egg concoction that the woman had called an omelet before his old friend had even begun.

“So”, Titus began, “who is she and why is Satan looking for her? And more importantly why the hell did she call you Mitch?”

The man before him simply shook his head and finished eating. Figuring out how to calm Lisa was much more pressing than Titus’ questions, besides Titus could wait, the little hell fire that stood like a statue in the middle of the kitchen could not. If Mitch wasn’t an immortal he would be in fear of his life, but he was so he would have to deal with her wrath sooner or later.

Wiping his mouth, Mitch looked pointedly at Titus and waved his hand in Lisa’s direction. Before he could blink her tirade began again.

“I HATE IT WHEN YOU DO THAT!!” She screamed, reaching for a plate to hurl his way. “You know that, you cold hearted bastard.”

Mitch ducked as the plate flew his way, allowing it to crash into the wall behind him. Before she could hurl another one, Titus had managed to grab her arm to prevent her from hurling another.
Quick as a wink, Lisa sank her teeth into Titus’ hand. Before he could do much more than yank his hand back with a curse, Lisa was across the room. He started at her as her pointed tongue snaked out and darted to the blood that stained her mouth.

“NO!” Mitch screamed a second too late.

Lisa’s eyes blazed red and a golden light surrounded her. Electricity radiated around the room causing the lights to flash once before the bubs blew with resounding pops. Mitch and Titus were thrown back against the wall and the electric centered on Lisa, causing her hair to dance and wave around her face.

“SHIT”, Titus exclaimed as he struck the wall with a thud. He felt weaker than he ever had facing Lucifer or even those rare times that Satan wanted to “play” with him. Whatever was coming next, Titus just hoped his death would be quick.

Fire danced across Lisa’s skin as she turned to face the two men. An evil smile broke across her face as her gaze settled on them. Slowly she began to raise her arms causing the temperature in the room to rise.

“Do something! Freeze her or whatever!” Titus’ voice was desperate and for the first time in eons it was tinged with fear.

“I can’t. It won’t work.” Mitch said calmly. “I have to get her out of here. Stay calm, no matter what happens, stay calm.”

Without waiting for an answer Mitch launched himself across the room and tackled Lisa. Darkness seeped out of his body to encase both of them in inky darkness. With a roaring boom they were both gone.

The Flavor of Deception

 
Titus awoke with a start. He was lying in a large, soft bed, downy comforters covering his naked form. Ever the warrior, Titus jumped to his feet and surveyed his surroundings. He had no memory of coming into this room or of taking off his clothes and climbing into bed. The last memory he had was of Death, in all his ghoulish glory, hovering above him as a feeling of warmth washed over his body, then…..nothing.

‘What has that bastard done?’ Titus wondered. He closed his eyes and tried to bring his wife into his mind. He could bring the image of her and his children to him anytime he wanted, that was part of the deal he had made with Satan when he sold his soul. Eternity in captivity in exchange for the illusion of being with his family anytime he could. And it was only an illusion. His wife and their lovely little boys were ripped limb from limb by the Sasanian, their mutilated put on display as a warning to all Roman women.

Rage washed over him as he failed to bring the illusion of his family into being. Only the memories of their death played before his eyes.

Titus bellowed his rage as he sprang from the bed. He had nothing left, his human life was gone, his soul on display in Hades forever out of his reach and now the only concept of peace he was allowed had been ripped from him.

“DEMOCRITUS!! Κέβλος!! Where are you? Come face your doom!” His own voice echoing in the silence was the only response.

Looking around for something to cover himself with, Titus grabbed the sheet from the bed and fashioned a toga then stomped to the door. Grasping the doorknob, Titus was stunned as his wife’s face flashed into his memory. She was laughing, the little lines around her eyes prominent, her teeth catching the light. It was a portrait of the last moment they had spent together before her brutal death.
Grief brought Titus to his knees. As a warrior he was unfamiliar with the emotions that washed over him in waves. Pain, heartbreaking pain, ripped the moisture from his eyes. Tears ran freely down his cheeks and his breath caught in his lungs. ‘Desperation’, he thought, ‘this must be what desperation feels like.’

The door flew open, catching him across the shoulder and back causing him to fall face first onto the floor. Lying there, he wished for the end of his existence, for the true death that only defeated prayed for. Weeping, he rolled onto his back and stared into the face of his wife.

Lisa stared down at the half naked man lying on the floor. A map of scars showed the torture he had endured in all of his long existence. As her eyes traveled to his face, she felt the beginnings of things she had long forgotten. Recognition. Love. Desire.

She knew this man. She didn’t know how or when, but she knew him intimately. This was her husband.

‘It can’t be. I’m insane. I’ve never been married’, she thought. ‘But this man is mine and I am his. Of that I have no doubt.’

A cry of despair escaped Titus’ lips. Satan had found him and devised a new way to torment him. Titus had gotten so used to the physical torture that it no longer affected him, so the Great Tormentor had devised a new way to abuse him.

“Do I know you?” The sweetest voice Titus had ever heard, one he had longed for centuries to hear again, asked him. “Are you alright?”

Titus scooted back as she reached out a hand to touch him. He knew this was a trap, a trap that would end with him withering in pain and wishing again for his own death.

“It is safe, my friend”, a deep voice said in Ancient Greek, “Nothing here will harm you. You are safe.”

Titus’ head snapped around to see his old friend, Democritus leaning against the wall. As he stared at him, Titus began to see the similarities between the boy he once knew and the creature now known as Death.

Springing to his feet to land in a defensive posture, Titus demanded, “What have you done to me? Why, why this, the one thing that you of all people know will destroy me.”

Democritus, now known as Death or even Mitch to his friends, threw back his head and laughed. He laughed until he was weak with mirth, tears running down his face and his breath hitching in his chest. Sitting down on the floor he glanced at Lisa and the expression on her face made him laugh all the harder.

Titus glanced at the woman that so looked like his wife to see that she was as confused as he was himself. Straightening up, he relaxed his posture and tilted his head, his eyes traveling over the features of the lovely creature staring at the laughing man. The similarities were remarkable, the eyes were the same sea green and surrounded by fine laugh lines, the lips were full and rosy and slightly parted. Her hair was the same hue and caught the light the same exact way as his love’s did. It was torture.

“Enough!” Titus bellowed. He couldn’t stand looking at the woman a moment longer. “What have you done, Democritus? Are you in league with him, are you Satan’s minion?”

At the mention of Satan’s name, the beautiful woman bolted from the room. Within seconds Titus heard a door slam and muffled sobs echo down the hall. Every fiber of his being wanted to go and comfort her, but he needed answers and he needed them now.

“I haven’t gone by the name Democritus in centuries”, the laughing man said, “ call me Mitch, it’s much easier and it suits me better.”

Climbing to his feet, Mitch wiped the tears from his cheeks as one last chuckle escaped his lips. Shaking his head, he looked at his childhood friend. So many centuries had passed, so much pain and sorrow, he wondered if they would be able to recapture any of the affection they once felt for each other.

“Come, my friend, get dressed and come downstairs. We have much to discuss and I have much to explain.” Titus stepped back as Mitch reached out to lay an hand on his arm. Feeling a spark of pain, Mitch lowered his hand and continued, “You will find clothes in the drawers. I promise they will fit you.”

Turning his back on the man that he had once shared all his secrets with, Mitch swallowed the lump that had developed in his throat. He hadn’t known it would hurt this much. Walking out of the room, he quietly closed the door behind him.

Now he had to deal with Lisa and her newly founded doubts. He hadn’t expected her to find Titus yet, he had hoped to prepare her for the experience. Now she would have doubts and fears that would be difficult to put to rest.

Shaking his head, he walked toward her door. The muffled sound of crying cut him to the quick, he had become quiet found of her and hated to see her in pain. But this was a pain she must suffer if they were going to succeed. And they MUST succeed.

Death pondered the fact that he was dealing with the living more than he was with the dead. But of course, they hadn’t been the living in any true sense until he meddled with them.

Sometimes being the Master of all the Dead had its’ perks. Other times, like now, it truly and thoroughly sucked.

Stopping before Lisa’s door he steeled himself. She was quite a handful, and he half expected to be clobbered as soon as he opened the door. Gods knew she had an amazing right hook, she had used it more than once in the past few weeks.

“Good thing I heal so quickly”, he thought as he twisted the doorknob.