Chapter Twenty-Eight: Coming Together
1497 Words
Emma opened her eyes to find herself standing in front of about ten other gods seated behind a long, tall desk, like a judge's bench.
“May I present: the Council.” Mercury announced. He had dispensed with his disguise, and introduced himself formally after capturing her. Currently, she was neatly frozen in place, her full 'potential' as Mercury called it, had been re-awakened, but also had a dampener put on it so she couldn't use any of her talents against the other gods, but that's how she knew what they were. She felt power from them, old power that made her shiver in fear. She saw no goddesses.
“Chauvinists.” She muttered to herself.
“What did she say?” One asked another querulously. Mercury smirked.
“I believe she accused you of being chauvinists. It was very condescending.” He announced to the council. Emma held her head high. She had no intentions of taking it back. There was not a single female on the council, so of course that's what she thought. There was a smattering of gasps and chatter.
“Even standing before us she dares..”
“After what she's been accused of..”
“Obviously her punishment's not been enough..”
“Well that's why we had her brought here. We intended to...”
Emma sighed loudly, which earned her even more gasps of outrage.
“By looking at some of you, I bet I could name you..” Emma spoke. The room immediately began to get quiet. “You sent Mercury, a.k.a. Hermes as your gofer. So let me see, where would that make us? This couldn't be Olympus, not enough people believe in that anymore, surely.” Emma scoffed. There were titters among the gathered gods. “Surely this is nobody's version of Heaven either, but how am I to know? I'm only seeing one small room.” She shrugged. Even more tittering met her statement.
“This magnificent room doesn't impress you?” One of the gods spoke to her. She eyed him carefully.
“No. And nor do you.” Suddenly finding herself free, she yanked at the chains holding her wrists. The god's eyes flashed and the light dimmed around her. Emma tilted her head. “Hmm, I bet I could name you too. Well, perhaps some of your names, not what you currently go by. And by your offense, I'm guessing this place was once of your creation. Judging by the greek and roman feel to it, I'd definitely name you as a certain hot-headed god of thunder.” The god slammed to his feet behind the table.
“Enough! What do you hope to gain by your attitude and such disrespect?” The god stormed. Emma nearly giggled at the thought of him storming, awaiting the crash of thunder or lightning strike.
“Oh, I'm just wasting time.” She smiled softly. The other gods looked at each other in confusion.
“For what?” Inquired another. The sky darkened further and Emma felt him in her bones. She closed her eyes, heaving a deep sigh.
Bel...
“Hmm, I suppose we'll see...” Emma responded cryptically.
“That's enough! Bring forth the Familiar!” Bellowed one of the gods to Emma's left. She stiffened. Did they get to Luci? Hearing the sound of chains dragging behind her, she looked over her shoulder to see Rafe being pushed through the doors.
“Rafe!” She cried out. “Oh my goodness!” Rafe refused to look at her, staring down at the floor as if ashamed. He did not look healthy, and Emma's heart went out to him. As he was shoved forward again, he stumbled and she ached to reach out and catch him. Emma felt her heart clench for Phoebie as well. She would be devastated to see Rafe like this.
“Sorry.” Rafe mumbled as he was shoved forward to stand beside her.
“Sorry for what?” Emma asked him, confused.
“So, little Raven, this is the one who requested you change time?” The god Emma believed to be some incarnation of Zeus thundered. Rafe twitched, not looking up from the ground.
“Yes.” He said, suddenly tossing his head up desperately, his hands held together in a pleading motion. “But you have to promise not to hurt Phoebie!” He begged. Emma blinked.
“Oh. That sorry.” Emma stated blandly. Rafe seemed to curl in on himself, but Emma couldn't really blame him. She didn't want Phoebie harmed either.
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“I need you. Now.” Bel gripped Cern by the arm and dragged him away from Lynne's office. She'd been cleared for work by her doctor and had headed straight to her place of employment to arrange her next shift, provided she still had a job.
“I'm sorry Sun-God, I'm not interested in you.” Cern smirked. Bel slammed a fist into Cern's face.
“Mercury took Emma.” Bel growled and Cern stopped his own retaliatory punch mid-swing.
“Where?” Cern snarled.
“Follow me. We have one more stop.”
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Luci was sitting on the porch of Lynne's house when he felt the Bond between himself and Emma snap. He howled, his back bowed and his body seized. Why would she release him, and why this way? With no warning, or even to his face? He felt himself starting to lose touch with the human plane. He couldn't stay here anymore, he was no longer Bound, so he would return to his place of origin until called for again. Luci wasn't sure where that was going to be this time. Lugus' tie still held, but Lugus' Bond was not consensual, so did not hold Luci to this plane. Where was he going then? To Lugus?
“NO!” Howled Luci, scratching at the ground as it faded around him. He spasmed again, and felt his body reshape in the Hell Hound Form on another plane.
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“Damn.” Cursed Bel. We're too late. He could feel where Luci had been there recently, but now his spirit was gone, and somehow..distant. Bel cursed again. “We don't have time to look for him. Let's go.”
“Wait. What about Sage? Luci was watching him today. It's time for Sage's nap, that must be why Luci was out here.” Cern objected. Bel let out a string of expletives this time.
“We'll have to take him with us. Damn, a child in the middle of a war. Emma will kill me.” Bel dug his hands into his scalp. “Well let's get him.” He motioned Cern forward and Cern took the stairs two at a time into the house and rushed to the child's room. Fixing a sling around himself, Cern tucked a fussy Sage into it and nodded to Bel.
“Ready.” He stated. Bel jerked his head and took a deep breath.
“Let's go.”
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“No! Don't hurt him!” Phoebie yelled, racing into the room that she had started to associate with a courtroom. She had been running in the opposite direction when she just so happened to hear a babble of voices talking about them moving the 'prisoner' again, and on instinct, turned to follow. She had been right, it was Rafe, who now stood beside her Aunt facing a group of men. Phoebie's face heated, and she wheezed, gripping her lower abdomen. “Please, don't hurt Rafe. It's not his fault!” The men turned to look at each other in bewilderment.
“How did you get here?” One demanded. Phoebie bit her lip. The Chaos god hadn't exactly told her not to reveal him, but he did seem afraid of these people.
“I... caught a ride?” She offered pathetically, then waddled her way towards Rafe and her Aunt. “Look, the point is, please don't hurt Rafe, I don't know what you think he did, but I swear he's innocent! I'll take any punishment, he doesn't deserve it!” Several of the men's eyebrows rose.
“He has offered to do the same for you.” One informed her. She slapped him on the shoulder when she reached him and he groaned in pain.
“Oh my god Rafe, are you ok?” She turned to him and gasped. He looked awful. “What did you do to him?!” She demanded, pointing at the gathered men.
“Phoebie,” Moaned Rafe. “Please don't, they're gods.” Phoebie took a second look and blanched, then crossed her arms over her stomach.
“Doesn't give them any right to treat you this way. If anything, they should be treating you better, since you're innocent.” Phoebie snorted. Rafe closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. He should have known his Phoebie would rush in, guns blazing.
- Writer
