UGR - "Freckles That Kill" (1035 hits)
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Submitted by kaos-king (antius777) (View user info) at 2007-08-21 12:23:41 EDT
Okay, let me start by saying that I've always had a weakness for redheads. I don't know, there's just something about them. I mean REAL redhead chicks; that fiery hair and that porcelain skin. And the freckles... I'm a total sucker for girls with freckles. Maybe it was all a coincidence, but it was probably destiny.
Yeah, I'm a big believer in destiny these days.
I couldn't even really tell you how it all started that night. I know I was out at one of the clubs with Hank. My roommate really grooved on that techno-dance crap and he was always dragging me to different clubs in the city. Ever since we had lived next to each other in the dorms our Freshman year, we had been tight. He was a Communications Major going to school on a track scholarship and here I was, just some lame ass Photography & Design major struggling to eat. When Hank offered to let me crash with him, free of charge our Sophomore year, I jumped at it. Seems his parents had passed some years back and left him a nice chunk of change.
Anyhow, we were buddies. Although we had pretty different interests and takes on life, we got along damn well. I suppose I was a bit reserved back then, hell... you could even say I was shy. Hank was usually responsible for dragging my ass all over town, getting me out of the apartment and into the club scene that he dug so much. I didn't really fit in with that crowd the way he did, but I did have fun some times. So there I was that night, just hanging out up by the bar and drinking myself stupid while Hank was out grindin' on the floor with some random girls.
Now, I'm not THAT big a drinker. I enjoy an occasional Long Island or Gin & Tonic, but I don't usually indulge to the point of silliness. Perhaps that night was fated to be different, because I can honestly say I was quite hammered when I saw her. Like I said, I was shy back then and didn't usually walk up to strange young women and straight start making out with them. But this chick...
Okay, so I'll try and describe the moment. There I am leaning against the bar and staring out upon the dancefloor. It was like all the people parted and she was right there, swaying her hips with her slender arms raised above her head. She had on those huge skater jeans, black, barely hanging on and revealing a good portion of her lower torso that gyrated about in slow circles. Right above that flat, white tummy was a neon green tube top that clung perfectly to her curves and small breasts. A simple gold chain hung around her neck and her hands were running up into her hair, hair that was a fantastic hue of amber. I couldn't quite make out her face yet, but even from the distance I could spot the freckles that painted her shoulders, that graced down across her collar bone.
Spellbound, I watched her dance alone, dance in sensual rhythm to the music. Then she looked up, looked right at me. I saw the freckles that were scattered along her face, the pale lips with the hint of a smile, and those dark eyes that drew me in.
Next thing I can recall, I was out on the floor with my arms around her, locked in an embrace and kissing her hard.
Yeah.
It would seem we immediately left the club, although I have no memory of returning home to the apartment. No, my next bit of recollection was her straddling me in my bed, her green tube top being peeled off and me just losing a little more of myself. Naked with in moments, we were all over each other; kissing, touching, sighing. I remember sliding in between her legs and feeling like this was it - this was moment in my life I would never forget. Funny how it comes to me dreamlike now, instead.
Afterwards lying there next to her, I was running my fingertips along her thin arm, just kind of lost. I think I started babbling, saying anything that popped into my mind. I felt insane, I felt alive. I think for the first time in my life, I felt like I was falling in love. Madness. Finally, it actually occurred to me to ask her name. She turned to me with a small, almost secret smile.
"My name's Persephone. Persephone Kore."
We simply stared at each other for a while before I blurted out, "You are absolutely beautiful."
She blushed, a gorgeous shade of pink coloring that white skin. "Thank you."
"I would, I would love... oh, nevermind."
"No, what?" Persephone asked.
"I'm a photo major and... I just, I just..."
She pushed the sweaty sheet that had been covering us back and raised up slightly on her elbows. "I would love for you to take my picture."
I started babbling again. "I swear, nothing creepy! Not like... porn stuff or anything. You just... I just want to..."
Persephone leaned in and kissed me.
"Capture me however you would like," Persephone whispered. "I want to see how you see me."
She sat up in bed, completely naked but for the thin gold chain around her neck. Like in a drunken haze, I fumbled for my camera and began taking shots of her. She posed a little, but nothing slutty - just beautifully. After a few more shots, she removed the gold chain.
"Don't need this anymore," I heard her mumble.
What?' I asked.
"Nothing," Persephone replied. "Are you almost finished?"
"Oh. Oh, um... yeah, sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"Don't be sorry," Persephone smiled, "I just want you to come back to bed."
Just about dizzy with excitement, I nodded like an idiot and excused myself to go to the bathroom quickly. While I was taking a piss, it occurred to me that I hadn't used a condom. This worried me for a second, but my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Hank banging through the front door.
"Dude! Are you here? Zack?" Hank was calling out from the living room.
I quickly threw a towel around me and hopped out to see him, a finger to my lips.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he asked me with a laugh, dry rubbing his face in a semi-inhebriated stupor.
"Shhh!" I scolded him. "Man, I met this chick at the club. She's in my bedroom now, so don't fucking ruin this shit for me!"
"Score!" Hank whispered, holding out a fist for me to hit knuckles with. "I'll bail over to Jen's for the night or something. You make sure to..."
The words died on his lips as he stared past me towards the hall. I turned and saw Persephone standing there with the sheet wrapped around her slim form. She wasn't looking at me, no... she was looking right at Hank. Looking right at him with a face I still really can't describe.
"My god," whispered Hank, "My god, what have you done?"
"What?" I asked in utter confusion as my roommate stormed past me and up to Persephone.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" roared Hank at Persephone. "Hasn't everything been enough for you, hasn't it all been ruined to the fullest?"
"How dare you talk to me that way!" hissed Persephone. "How could YOU of all people think to speak to me of such things!"
"Hank, stop it!" I yelled. "What's going on?"
"We've endured enough of such things! Did you even think of what would happen if you conceived? The ramifications are..."
"It is my choice to do as I please!" screamed Persephone. "I will not be handled like a possession, nor even a child! Not by you or anyone else! Not by my mother or by my husband!"
"Husband?" I stammered in shock.
That was when the front door to our apartment exploded in.
We all fell back and a voice came from the debris. "Husband," the voice acknowledged.
I looked up to see a tall, slender man in a black suit. He was deeply tanned and had thick black hair and a short cropped goatee. The stranger strode into the living room and surveyed everyone before him. His eyes halted on me, an eyebrow raised.
"You will not touch him!" screamed Persephone. "You will not or I'll..."
"My dearest," the man sighed, "I would never harm him. I am aware of what has transpired here, and although I am wounded by it, I understand."
"What the fuck is going on?" I cried out.
The tall man offered his hand to me to help me up.
"Greetings, Zachary James Whitman. My name is Hades and I would be your stepfather of sorts."
Eyes bugged out in complete confusion, I allowed him to aid me, stuttering something about my parents, George and Carol.
"This time around, perhaps," said Hades. "Oh, let me introduce you to my wife, Persephone... your mother."
It was at this point, that I distinctly recall falling back down.
____________________
Things get a little ridiculous in my head here. I seem to remember Hades somehow fixing the door. I think I sat there on the floor, naked, while the other three talked for a minute or two. I believe it was Hank who helped me to my feet and over to our kitchen table. At some point, someone fetched my robe for me and got me in it. Around this time Persephone got dressed and somebody made coffee.
So there I was - sitting around my kitchen table with this beautiful redhead who I just had sex with, her husband telling me that this young woman was somehow my mother and my roommate Hank seeming to not only know these people, but accepting all of it. I sipped on my coffee and stared at all of them. Giving each other the occasional furtive glance, they all stared right back at me.
"Yes, so..." coughed Hades, "Perhaps some explanation is in order."
"Eh, you think?" I blurted out.
Hades frowned, but Persephone gave him a warning look. "How much do you know about our legends?" she asked.
"Okay, so you're talking Greek Mythology here, am I right? This is what you're trying to tell me?"
"Ummm, yeah," said Hank.
"I'll start at the beginning," said Persephone with a sigh.
"I was born to Demeter and Zeus. Daughter to the Goddess of the Harvest and God of the Heavens. My mother, Demeter, was... IS a, well... she's an overprotective and somewhat controlling woman. The story has been twisted over time, but Hades did NOT abduct me - he rescued me. He freed me from the tyranny of my own mother. However, mom couldn't accept such an idea and went mad. She demanded that I be returned to her or she would allow the world to wither. Zeus tried to calm her down, but eventually had to side with my mother for political reasons. I managed to ensure that I could escape my mother for at least part of the time by engaging in an ancient bit of ritual and eating a handful of pomegranate seeds. Due to ancient pacts, my mother had to accept that I would only be with her part of the time, but to show her displeasure in the situation, allowed the Earth to have seasons."
Persephone ran a hand through her red hair in exasperation. "My mother Demeter has some... well, she has a pretty skewed view of perception. She couldn't handle the fact that I was no longer her 'little girl.' I managed to get a charm from Helen to prevent me from ever conceiving with Hades, least my mother realize I was indeed a consenting adult and tear the world apart in her insanity. This worked... for a while."
I felt a pang of jealousy as Hades took Persephone's hand, urging her to continue.
"We're an incestuous bunch, Zack. We... well, Zeus knew the Pantheon need to grow, needed to be strong. And since he was our king, he was free to act without much in the way of repercussion. Oh, Helen would throw a fit every time a new kid showed up, but overall..."
"Wait, what are you saying?" I asked. "I thought you said Zeus was your dad?"
"He is," replied Persephone. "He's your father as well."
Finding my face in my hands, I said slowly through my palms, "Okaaay, go on."
"You were born," said Persephone with a smile I could just see through my fingers. "You were born and we gave you the name of Zagreus. Zeus... Zeus adored you instantly. We kept you hidden in the Underworld, hidden away from Demeter, but your father..."
With tears now freely flowing from her eyes, Persephone was unable to continue.
"Zeus decide you needed to visit Mt. Olympus. Had we been more aware of what was transpiring, would would have tried to stop him. You were still a child, you see. You hadn't fully grown and developed your Divinity, but Zeus was so proud of you. He took you to Mt. Olympus and let you... you alone, you only among us all... to hold the Thunderbolt. You, as just a child, held the symbol and source of his power, and you wielded it well."
"Then," said Hank suddenly, "The Titans attacked."
"They had been imprisoned, locked away within the depth of my realm," said Hades, "But somehow they escaped. They escaped and came after you, enraged that Zeus had shown favor to a beloved son when he had defeated and banished his own Father, his own aunts and uncles."
"They attacked and captured you. We were trying to follow them, to come to your rescue, but..." tried Persephone.
"But I was too late," whispered Hank.
My eyes went wide at my roommate, my best friend.
"They are cannibals of the Divine, the Titans. The had torn into, began to devour you. All I had time to do was to save your heart. When Zeus finally arrived, finally got there and saw me fighting them off with only your heart in my hands, when Persephone showed up and found me weeping..."
Persephone laid her hand upon one of my roommate's. "It's all right now, Hermes."
"Hermes!" I exclaimed.
"I've always felt responsible," said my friend. "When I discovered you had been... well, I came to Earth to ensure your protection this time."
I leaned back in my chair, my head spinning. "So, so I died?"
"Eh, kind of," replied Hades.
"We didn't understand at the time, I couldn't understand why Zeus..." started Persephone.
"Your heart," said Hades. "It was ground into a powder, made into an elixir and given to one of Zeus's whores to drink. He them impregnated her in an attempt to resurrect you. He had chosen not to do so with Persephone because..."
"You were reborn," interrupted Persephone with a scowl, "But you were reborn... incorrect. You were mad. You were something different, not the child I had birthed. Yet Zeus was fine with this, Zeus accepted the new you and gave you the name Dionysus."
"The Mad God of the Drink," sighed Hank now Hermes.
All I could say was, "But I don't even drink that much."
"You are NOT Dionysus!" exclaimed Persephone. "You are Zagreus! You are my child, of MY bloodline and divinity!"
"Okay, okay! Jesus," I said. "Okay, let's say for a second I'm NOT going crazy here with a bunch of other lunatics..."
The three looked at me.
"... what the fuck does all this matter now?"
"It was Demeter, my own mother," hissed Persephone with seething rage. "It was SHE who leaked the information of your existence to the Titans. She was the one who aided in their escape! All because she couldn't handle the thought that I had conceived a child, that I myself was no longer her precious, innocent daughter!"
"You see," tried Hades, "We eventually pieced together what your intended divinity would be like. We came to realize that you would never truly pass on, that through Persephone who was the Queen Of The Underworld, you had received a portion of your abilities - the ability to be TRULY eternal. But as we came to this conclusion, others did as well."
"Dionysus," spat Hermes, "Your mad twin. In his insanity, he is terrified of your existence, completely assured that the two of you can not be at the same time. In his fear, his lunacy, he has taken up an alliance with Demeter. Demeter who is just as mad, who feels that you are somehow a mistake, the spawn of the purest evil."
The table grew quiet.
"So Dionysus and Demeter are after me?" I exclaimed. "They want to kill me... again?"
"Worse," whispered Hades. "So busy in our search for you, so wrapped up in my wife's grief... I allowed the unthinkable to happen once more."
"Four," said Hermes, his eyes with a faraway look. "They managed to rerelease four of the Titans to come after you."
____________________
I was walking down the street with Gods.
Greek Gods that also happened to be my own mother who I had been fucking only hours ago, her husband (my stepfather), and who I had believed my best friend for the last three years. It was early morning, the sunlight just starting to creep out and make the presence of the day known. The city was waking up, the sights and scents drawing themselves out more.
Hades had said that we had to move quickly, that the others that were after me would soon realize that something was going down. It seemed the Gods have a limited awareness of their family's presence and that once it was determined that Hermes, Hades and Persephone were all on Earth together, the logical deduction by the others would be reached. Many of the others in the Pantheon had chosen to stay neutral in this affair, those such as Poseidon, Hephastus and Minerva.
I had asked about Zeus and gotten a strange, almost cryptic response - No one had seen him in a long time, but never to count him out.
Not everyone has decided to sit out this event, however.
We entered a large warehouse a number of miles from the apartment. It was a gigantic room, probably once used simply for storage with a ceiling four or five stories up. In the center of the massive space sat two individual, their chairs pulled up to a small array of tables.
A muscular man with a shaved head and scars turned to us as we approached and nodded his head. "This is a good place for the butchery of the Divine," he said.
Persephone embraced the sturdy-built man and said, "Thank you, Aries."
"I have longed for this encounter," said the God of War, who then turned to me. "Well met, Zagreus. We now know the four Titans that pursue you."
"How could..." started Hermes.
"I have seen much through the shadows," came the response from the other individual who now came further into the light.
"Pandora?" asked Hades in shock.
Persephone frowned. "You have no love for our kind, the children of Zeus. Why would you help us in this?"
I tried to get a better look at Pandora, but her features seemed to keep changing. She was tall, that much I could gather, but some moments she moved as if quite slender and other times as if voluptuous. I think she had blond hair. I have no idea really about the rest.
"For my husband," said Pandora. "And for his father, Iapetus."
"But... Iapetus is one of the Titans," said Hermes.
"Not all of the Imprisoned Elders agreed with this course of action, Iapetus chiefly among them. Shortly after I was tricked into opening The Box, Epimetheus was cast down with his father into the lower depths of the underworld." Pandora looked away. "They devoured him."
Persephone gasped and Hades shook his head in disbelief. "Persephone," began Hermes.
"Iapetus raged against those who he felt had betrayed him and his. He came to realize the all encompassing madness that drove his family. That drive, over so much time, has finally burnt out with most of the Titans. It's not that only four managed to escape, but that only four were willing to go aid Dionysus and Demeter," declared Pandora.
"Well," I tried, "Eh, that's good right?"
"Hyperion, Coeus, Phoebe... and Cronus," said Pandora in a quiet voice.
"Fuck," swore Hermes and Hades in unison.
"Eh, that's bad, huh?" I asked feebly.
"Yeah, they're probably the worst of the Titans," replied Persephone wearily.
"So be it!" boomed Aries. "Gather our glory, for we shall slaughter well this day!"
I just kind of stared at Aries. Hades was giving him the same look. At least the King Of The Underworld came across as relatively sane.
"Come Warmonger," said Hades, "Let us ready our plans."
Hades, Aries, Persephone and Pandora began to look over the War God's notes and blueprints of the building. Hermes hung back, his face a mask of regret. I walked up beside my best friend and coughed.
"So eh, Hermes... Hank... um, what would you..."
"Whatever you're comfortable with, my friend," sulked The Messenger. "Would you rather 'Zack' or 'Zagreus'? A name means nothing."
"Dude," I tried, "All these years, well... you've been my best friend. Was it just from guilt, or did you..."
The God Of The Journey gave me a sideways glance. "Dude, don't be all fuckin' lame."
I laughed and slapped my friend on the back. I just had to speak to Persephone now, but that was going to be a talk more awkward than even the one with Hermes. I wasn't sure when would be a good time.
"Six against six," growled Aries. "Yes, those are good numbers."
"Indeed," mumbled Persephone with a strange smile.
"Wait, you guys expect me to fight a freakin' God! Like, one on one?" I exclaimed.
"No Zagreus," replied Aries with a shark-like grin, "I expect you to slay a God."
"But..."
"We have shown you little in the way of Divinity, Zagreus. When you find yourself surrounded by it, it will come to you," spoke Hades.
"Take on Dionysus when he comes through that door over there," said Pandora pointing, "In about seventeen minutes."
"Seventeen minutes!" screeched Persephone.
Pandora cocked her head to the side, seemingly confused. "Okay... sixteen and a half?"
"Shit!" exclaimed Hermes.
"Round about the table, backs to each other!" roared Aries.
I found myself facing the doorway that Pandora said my "Mad Twin" would be coming through. I suppose I really still didn't believe any of it was happening. Maybe I was still in shock, maybe I thought I had simply gone insane. Could all of this nonsense really be true?
Next to me stood Persephone. I had made love to her only hours ago now, this beautiful young woman who claimed to be a Goddess and my mother. She stood there, a mix of emotions on her face, in black skater jeans and a neon green tube top. What the fuck. All I wanted to do was go back to the apartment and curl up in bed with her, run my hands through that red hair and kiss those freckles. Of course her HUSBAND may not approve of that.
"Why did you... why did you sleep with me?" I suddenly blurted out to her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I remember seeing Pandora spin about and gape at me with wild eyes. At the time I didn't care - it didn't really register. Perhaps I simply thought she disapproved. Now? Now I look back and think she understood the full ramifications of what was transpiring.
"Because I love you, Zagreus," whispered Persephone to me, taking my hand. "Our kind, its love and even its hate... it has no type of definition or boundaries. You are my son, my lover and perhaps..."
"Perhaps?"
Persephone just smiled and squeezed my hand.
I was about to say something else when Pandora spoke up.
"They are here."
The door behind me opened first, far off at the end of the warehouse and I could make out three forms walking in. Aries barked at me to pay attention to my side, and I turned just in time to see the door about fifty yards from me slowly creak open as well.
I don't know what I expected, really.
However, when the human figure on fire strolled into the warehouse, it's quite possible that I screamed.
"Oh, my little ones," floated a voice from behind me, "Oh, my insolent wee grandchildren."
"Hello Cronus," I heard Hades say.
"Tiny God Of Afterlife, I'm so glad you could be with us today," the voice sighed.
I didn't see Cronus, I was too busy being in shock.
The man in flames had wandered off to allow two others inside. One appeared as an older woman, thickly built with her face scrunched up in seething rage. And the other... the other looked exactly like me, but... wrong. Paler, with hair much longer and in knots and tangles. A face that hadn't seen a razor in a long while, a face that twitched spastically.
"Dionysus," I found myself saying.
"ABOMINATION!" screeched the rotund woman who I took to be Demeter. "The filthy stain shall not speak!"
"Damn you, Mother!" screamed Persephone. "Damn you forever for what you've done!"
"Ooh, my precious darling, my poor misguided daughter!" cooed Demeter in a saccharine voice. "They've raped your mind as well as your body."
"We all have our destiny, Demeter," tried Hades.
"Pillager of innocence!" shrieked The Goddess Of The Harvest, "How dare you, how DARE you?"
"Silence yourself, Demeter," came the voice of Cronus. "Now, I wish to see..."
"... our feast in full," finished Cronus as he came around into my line of sight.
I didn't know whether to laugh or run screaming. He was a little boy, a child no more than ten years old. A little boy in black slacks, dress shoes and a black button up shirt. Of course, then there was the large sickle he had at rest on his shoulder. That, and his eyes had been gouged out.
"Zagreus," Cronus's voice wavered to me, full of malevolence, "You tasted so fine once. I wonder if you've aged well, like the mortals' do with their wine and their cheese? Will your flesh taste sweeter upon my tongue this time? Will the marrow in your bones that I chew out be ever so more robust with flavor?"
I looked on this sightless child who talked about eating me with disgust and horror. And with anger. An anger that grew from simply exasperation.
"Kid, what the fuck did I ever do to you?"
The Father Of The Pantheon giggled. "Such wonderful pride and a sense of injustice! And such woeful ignorance... I wonder if then you will fill my mouth with a taste akin to dear Epimetheus?"
Pandora went rigid at the talk of her dead husband. I turned to look at Demeter, then past her bulky form to see Dionysus cowering. Her insanity I could understand, the Titan's evil, sure. But why these feeling from my other self?
"Dionysus, it doesn't have to be this way," I tried.
"My voice!" squawked Dionysus. "My face! My me is you and that can not be!"
I sighed. He would be no help.
"Even if I and my child perish this day, Mother," said Persephone in a strong voice, "I will see you dead before I cease."
"Dead? Dead like Zeus?" came a sensual voice from behind me.
"Yes Phoebe, I believe that's what she means," replied Cronus.
"Lies!" spat Hades. "My brother still..."
"Your brother, my son, he rests within my gut," finished Cronus.
"Have you not discovered him to be missing?" asked Hyperion in his crackling, burning voice.
"He tasted like a cloud," drifted Phoebe's voice.
Hades released a scream of rage, a bellow of sheer anguish. And with that decree, so came the black fire of the Underworld.
It began.
It began and it was both beautiful and atrocious.
I'll tell you what all I can recall of those first moments. Persephone brought a withering essence against her mother, Demeter. Demeter shifted the polarity of the energy at the last minute and found herself in a pile of flowers. Hades hurled Damnation at Cronus who absorbed it with his sickle, while Pandora systematically began to break down the particles of truth to Hyperion's existence. While The Burning God wailed in agony, the hairless albino known as Coeus engaged in straight out fisticuffs with Aries, his knowledge of reality matching every perfect blow the War God could throw. Hermes ran, ran faster than even the shining darkness of Phoebe could produce.
I stumbled through the divinity all about me.
Just as Hyperion was about to blink out of reality, Cronus used the absorbed Damnation to seek out Pandora. The Immortal Gift took the Underworld's power fully in the back and fell to the ground. Hermes managed to grab her just as Cronus tried a second burst, but The Grandfather missed. Hermes, however, misjudged his motion and speed directly into Phoebe's darkness. Both Hermes and Pandora went down. Hades used this moment to bring all the Curses Of Unlife upon Hyperion, who wailed in misery as he was extinguished. Aries and Coeus traded blows, equally matched, as mother and daughter drew closer to one another, their energies locked. Hermes managed to get up at the very last second as Cronus brought wide his weapon, but Pandora was split in two.
I stumbled through the divinity all within me.
Coeus and Aries continued to do battle, each shot of the War God's perfectly blocked and countered by The Sage's wisdom. Phoebe laughed maniacally as she brought her darkness down upon Hades, yet the King Of The Underworld feared no such blackened light. He redirected the force and sought out Cronus, who was slicing through time to draw closer to the speeding Hermes. I started to see Persephone visibly weaken beneath Demeter's strength, and fumbled my way towards her.
"Broken image, broken mirror," came Dionysus's panting voice behind me.
I spun in time to have my Mad Twin try to claw at my face. Instinctually, I reached up and grappled with him and we found our fingers locked together. His bloodshot eyes bulged at me, a trail of saliva splattering his chin. He made bleating noises like an animal and began to tremble. I felt his essence well up against me, trying to pull me into an abyss.
I felt his divinity as I heard Persephone scream.
The Eye Of The Storm, that's how I can best describe it. Like a quiet Zen moment. I felt Dionysus, my other self, my mad twin, my second being - I felt his divinity and it gave me my purpose.
Zagreus, beloved son of Zeus and Persephone. Zagreus, scion of The King Of Heavens and Queen Of The Underworld. Zagreus, who was to have been The Orphic One. Zagreus, the God Of Immortality and Reincarnation.
I was the God Of Infinite Life.
And with this knowledge that I had never been allow to fully grasp, with this Divinity that I had stolen from me, with this truth of eternity powering me...
... I tore into the existence of Dionysus and proceeded to erase his essence from reality.
It took only moments. Later I came to find out that all those assembled stopped their battles to watch the birth... the REBIRTH of a God. They watched as I sifted through the layers of truth: solids, liquids, gases, energies and souls. I remixed the equation that had equaled Dionysus, and I rendered him undone.
It took only moments and my Mad Twin ceased to be.
I turned to cast my gaze upon all those gathered. I saw it in their faces, saw it shining in their eyes. Awe. Awe and terror. Olympians and Titans alike.
Demeter broke it, her scream that of rage and insanity.
I could have done to my grandmother as I had done to Dionysus. I wanted to, desperately, but it was not my place. No, her punishment deserved to come from another, come in another way. I looked to Persephone, my lover, my mother, and I saw the tears on her face. I saw the truth of it now and I understood.
She did love me, yes. I understood that love and understood that she had WANTED the union between us - but that there had been more. The copulation had been necessary, it had been essential to the final stroke against what these others had done.
I had impregnated my mother, Persephone, only hours ago.
Two of the Pantheon had mated, and Divinity spawned the Divine.
But from us, from the power I now wielded, this birth would be special.
I felt the power of my purpose leap from me, enveloping Persephone, her form glowing.
"And so as you birth my Son," my voice echoed through infinity, "So shall you birth my Father."
Persephone grew beyond the confines of the flesh she wore, grew powerful beyond simple existence. The light of her essence swelled and pulsated. And then she exploded as a star would go into nova.
There was stillness and there was quiet.
And then Zeus laid the form of his dead daughter, his dead lover, his dead mother to the ground.
Demeter wailed in her grief and madness, completely unable to truly fathom what had just occurred.
"Demeter," rumbled the voice of Zeus, "I find you unfit."
His Thunderbolt struck her fully, her essence burnt out from the inside.
And the three remaining Titans fell to their knees.
____________________
"I already miss her terribly," whispered Hades and we made our way back from the depths of the Underworld.
Cronus, Coeus and Phoebe had been placed even more securely than ever in their prison, now barred from even seeing one another. I believe they had found the punishment light, considering what they now knew could be the alternative. Zeus still didn't want them permanently destroyed for whatever reason. Then again, Zeus seemed to be aware of a lot of things beyond the rest of the Pantheon.
Hades and I stood off from Hermes, Aries and Zeus who were talking about the site preparations for Pandora. Although Divine, she had not been a God, so Cronus's strike had truly defeated her.
But truly killed her? Were she or Persephone truly GONE?
"Miss her," I said to Hades, "But do not mourn her. She is NOT gone, only waiting for her time to return."
"Wait, you mean..."
"Someday, stepfather," I said, "Persephone will walk with the Pantheon once again. Reality demands it, as do I."
I embraced Hades then watched him return with sorrow to the inner-workings of his kingdom. Aries was ready to leave, to go and find the perfect memorial for Pandora and he needed Hermes to guide him. My best friend locked his forearm with mine and gave me a knowing smile. Then they were off and I was left alone with Zeus.
I shook my head at the King Of The Heavens. "You knew what would happen all along."
"Well, I suspected," he replied.
"Why? Why all of it?"
"I am no longer the son of Cronus, therefor no longer bound to him. He knows this now and fears the repercussions of his actions."
"When I died, died the first time... why not give the elixir to Persephone then and simply bring me back?" I asked.
"We all have to discover our own Divinity," said Zeus. "Your particular place among the Pantheon is a complicated one and for you to truly understand..."
I smiled. "I had to be reincarnated myself."
"Precisely."
We walked from the Underworld up through the mist onto Mt. Olympus. I had not wanted to belittle Hades personal grief, but I too felt a void in myself now with Persephone gone. My mother, my lover, and as I now understood, someday to be my daughter. She had been everything I ever wanted, and everything I had ever wanted had been because of her.
"Thinking about Persephone?" asked Zeus.
"Yeah," I replied.
"You know you'll see her again."
"I know."
We were quiet again for a minute.
"Zeus?"
"Yes Zagreus?"
"Did you ever love her?" I asked. "Did you, do you actually love ANY of us, or are we just pieces in a game?"
He stared off into the sky for quite a while and eventually I realized that he wasn't going to answer me. I shook my head and continued on past him. There was no point in dragging it out, I thought.
"I love too much, Zagreus," said the King Of The Heavens. "I love, and I often think my love is a dangerous thing."
"Come on," I said to him, "Let's go home."
"On one condition," Zeus replied, suddenly flashing me a mischievous grin, "I want to see those 'photographs' that you took."
Through my laughter, I managed to say, "You dirty old man! How did you know about..."
"I had already been conceived when you took them. Persephone had been wearing that chain of fertility to ensure it. My essence was incased in her consciousness."
"So you, you were... ewww, that's freaking me out a little bit."
We both laughed, and thoughts of those pictures roamed in my head.
"She really was beautiful," I sighed. "Shit, that red hair..."
"Hell yeah," chuckled Zeus, "And those freckles that kill."
User Reviews
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2007-08-24 10:43:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very creative. The epic mythology thing isn't my favorite, but you write it well.
Moral of the story: NEVER trust a woman in a tube top.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-08-23 15:10:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Most excellent, Bri. I'd love to see your take on the Orpheus/Eurydice tale sometime.
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-08-23 02:53:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-08-22 20:07:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Didn't read this.
Submitted by St_Jimmy (user info) at 2007-08-22 19:57:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was good.
In my opinion, if your next book is one of short stories, they should be around this length. I'm working through your book now and, while quite entertaining, most of the stories are rather short.
Course I've already read most of them. You stated somewhere that the book consisted of uber/pH posts, so that was to be expected. However, I guess that when I'm reading your stuff online, I don't notice how short they are, but when I'm sitting down with a physical book in front of me, my attention span expects more.
In any event, it's turning out to be an enjoyable read. Very well done sir.
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-08-22 19:45:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
It got a little bogged down with all that expository dialogue, which you may actually need less than you believe.
The whole mythological bit is interesting, however.
A longer setup or a shorter resolution would actually make this just right, goldilocks.
Submitted by For_Pony (user info) at 2007-08-22 19:00:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
At first I was a bit daunted by the length, but then I thought, "Shit, not a damn thing else to do at work." I was most pleasantly rewarded. An excellent story utilizing one of my favorite mythologies. Definite +2 for that. Also, the fight scene was really well done, in my opinion.
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2007-08-21 21:51:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
the annual 'boobs on bikes' parade just went by outside my office window - a welcome distraction I thought.
Submitted by UTOCKIN2ME (user info) at 2007-08-21 19:53:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I read it -and then read it backwards-both were awesome
My wife is an alabaster,freckled,redhead.
Submitted by Wompom (user info) at 2007-08-21 19:38:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I didnt read it, but +2 for the pics. Oh, how I LOVE those super white redeads... mmm...
Submitted by EAZEDZT (user info) at 2007-08-21 19:19:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good read
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2007-08-21 17:27:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Started off good - then i ended up skim reading the rest of it.
Strange thing tho, i had never heard the name persephone before until last night when I was watching 'Catch and Release' - now it's everywhere.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2007-08-21 17:15:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
good post, you giant poofter
give me your email address. if you don't want it on here for public consumption, just drop me a line at uberscourge.at.gmail.com
Submitted by lover101 (user info) at 2007-08-21 17:12:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
wow great story!!
Submitted by FALLEN (user info) at 2007-08-21 16:28:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You are just fucking incredible.
wow.
Submitted by fidelcity (user info) at 2007-08-21 16:14:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-08-21 15:51:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
verbosity
Submitted by FALLEN (user info) at 2007-08-21 15:01:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WTF i'm not reading all that.
Right now.
Submitted by Coleslaw_Murphy (user info) at 2007-08-21 14:54:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
At first I was like "meh-".
And then I was like "hmm?".
And then I was like "damn".
Lots of cool stuff going on here.
I'm guessing the first phrase that started this story (written or in your head) was "I was walking down the street with Gods."
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-08-21 14:43:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I read it, all of it.
You need someone who will proofread, edit, fix. You're good, but a bit sloppy sometimes.
Submitted by Tuxinator (user info) at 2007-08-21 14:36:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow, incredible story.
Submitted by august_sobriquet (user info) at 2007-08-21 14:34:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
wow
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2007-08-21 14:27:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd like to see this done as a series. I know that it was for UGR but it would be interesting to see it fleshed out with more time spent with each character. It would make the actual battle description more interesting for me.
It IS all about me, you know.
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:57:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Some of the fighting got a bit complicated for me, but overall it was very good.
Submitted by Director (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:46:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:41:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by azurefroz (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:13:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:07:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by azurefroz (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Did/do you seriously think anyone is going to read all of that?
------------
Some of us can read big boy words. Maybe one day when you are in the 8th grade, you can too.
----------
Proving your stupidity comes pretty easy for you doesn't it. It doesn't say anything about the word choice. I said something about the length of the story. Kindly, I ask for you step off of my unit, stupid.
---------
Your 'unit'?
This alter is getting old.
Isn't it recess time for you?
Submitted by Prime36L (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:38:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This is the best new submission I've read since I got here.
Submitted by Newty (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:30:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I read half and it was really good. I just really can't be bothered to read the rest.
Submitted by experima (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:29:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well, I fucking read it.
:)
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:28:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by azurefroz (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Did/do you seriously think anyone is going to read all of that?
_____________________________
Seriously???
Um... no.
I knew I would probably get penalized for posting a 20 page, 6200+ word tale.
It couldn't be helped - It's simple the story that wanted to be told.
Submitted by azurefroz (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:13:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:07:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by azurefroz (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Did/do you seriously think anyone is going to read all of that?
------------
Some of us can read big boy words. Maybe one day when you are in the 8th grade, you can too.
----------
Proving your stupidity comes pretty easy for you doesn't it. It doesn't say anything about the word choice. I said something about the length of the story. Kindly, I ask for you step off of my unit, stupid.
Submitted by Rejection (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:09:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
wtf I'm not reading all that.
...Except for the first part. What I've read so far is good, so I'll finish it later.
+2
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:08:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
holy shit man
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:07:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by azurefroz (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Did/do you seriously think anyone is going to read all of that?
------------
Some of us can read big boy words. Maybe one day when you are in the 8th grade, you can too.
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:07:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very, very good.
Submitted by azurefroz (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Did/do you seriously think anyone is going to read all of that?
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:03:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
fucking hell.
how can you be arsed?
Submitted by experima (user info) at 2007-08-21 13:02:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
hi, KK!
good writin' and you ALWAYS have the coolest pictures.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-08-21 12:42:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by UA_MARINE (user info) at 2007-08-21 12:32:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Long read, but definately worth it!