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Greek Gods

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Zeus - King of the Greek gods

Hera - Queen of the Greek gods, sister and wife of Zeus

Hades - god of the underworld, brother of Zeus

Poseidon - god of the sea, brother of Zeus

Demeter - goddess of harvest and fertility of the earth, sister of Zeus

Aphrodite - Daughter of Zeus and Dione, Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality

Artemis - Daughter of Zeus and Leto, goddess of the hunt, the moon, and chastity

Athena - Daughter of Zeus and Metis, goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.

Ares - Son of Zeus and Hera, god of war

Apollo - Son of Zeus and Leto - god of the sun and light, music and poetry, healing and plagues, prophecy and knowledge, order and beauty, archery and agriculture.

Dionysus - Son of Zeus and Semele - God of the vine, grape-harvest, wine-making, wine, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, theatre

Hephaetus - Son of Zeus and Hera - god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture.

Hermes - Son of Zeus and Maia - Messenger of the gods, god of trade, thieves, travelers, sports, athletes, border crossings, guide to the Underworld

Eris - Daughter of Zeus and Hera - minor goddess of discord and strife

Deimos - son of Ares, twin of Phobos - god of dread

Phobos - son of Ares, twin of Deimos - god of fear

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Ephus - the godling man with an unusual power.

Dr. Quinn - human wife of Ephus

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Egyptian Goddesses and wives to Ephus

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Bast - Goddess of cats, protection, joy, dance, music, family, and love

Sekhmet - Goddess of fire, war, and dance

Hathor - Goddess of the sky, dance, love, beauty, joy, motherhood, foreign lands, mining, music and fertility.

Serket - Goddess of scorpions, medicine, magic, and healing venomous stings and bites

Maat - Goddess of Truth and Justice

Tefnut - Goddess of Rain, Air, Moisture, Weather, Dew, Fertility, and Water

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Brothers of Bast and Sekhmet

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Thoth - God of knowledge

Sobek - God of the Nile, the Army, military, fertility and of crocodiles

Anhur - God of war and the sky bearer - Full brother of Bast and Sekhmet

Horus - Ancient God of the sky and kingship

Min - God of fertility

Khonshu - God of the Moon

Apophis - God of Chaos and darkness

Shu - God of the wind and air

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Ephus walked in pissed as hell. Ares, all this had the feeling of him. The more he thought about it the more upset he got.

He was still of a mind to do nothing for them, nothing more than he had already. With the stubbornness the males had shown, he was almost convinced that all the males were insane. Hell, even Zeus had refused to listen to a single thing he said.

Closing his eyes, he had to calm, he was nothing like them nor did he want to even remotely be. Opening his eyes a few moments later he saw that Eris was hiding in a corner as far from him as she could get.

Taking a deep breath, he walked to her bending to help her up.

"I am sorry Eris; I am feeling that none of them really want my help. Nor do I feel that they are really that anxious to survive." Ephus told her as she stood.

Shocked a moment Eris stated, "I am afraid that I am not much help to you. Considering what I have done in the past, I am sure they only wish to destroy me."

"Unfortunately, I can only agree with you. Can you tell me about this hold Ares has on you? At least enough that I will know a little of what to expect?" Ephus asked.

Eris thought about it a few moments seeming to be at war with herself. "Anything I tell you; he will be able to find out later. Know that I am his 'til he releases me. I have no choice in the matter. Though it was great satisfaction when I saw that you taught him a lesson. It has been a very long time since that has happened."

Ephus was nodding, though knowing Ares as he thought he did, it was going to take a lot more. Ephus shook his head, he really didn't think he had THAT long.

"I know you have no real love for the Olympus realm. I am starting to be of the same mind as you. Are they really that stupid and petty that they don't want the help?" An irritated Ephus asked.

A small smile appeared on Eris's pale lips, "Not as much stupidity as pride. I have noticed that many times the males were too proud to ask for help of the others. All of them agreeing? That has only happened a very few times." Here Eris's head dropped, "I am afraid that Ares banishment, subsequently mine also, were one of those times."

Ephus was still nodding, though his eyes were wide hardly able to believe that they had banished Eris.

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Aphrodite appeared beside a large columned building. Hmmm she thought, so these humans still used the god type of building style. Passing through the walls she appeared in a rather large room with many people.

"Athena?" She asked as soon as she saw her sister.

"Shhh!" Athena quieted her. "The grand human at the highest point is about to pass judgement. I am so glad that they still try to govern themselves with adequate laws. Nothing as good as our system, though far better than any other I have seen in this dimension."

A moment later the judgement was passed, Athena smirked then turned toward her sister. "So sister, what brings you to see me? Especially in these surroundings? I know for a fact that you detest this room most of all."

Aphrodite blushed with a tinge of anger a moment. "I had a visitor earlier, our father's wife." Athena's eyes narrowed as she searched her sister for anything or one controlling her.

"Hera!" Athena hissed. "What did that pathetic bitch want?" Aphrodite nodded, though she had backed away a bit at Athena's venom.

"She proposed an end to the hostilities between all of us." Aphrodite told her sister.

A smirk crossed Athena's face as she stared at her sister. "Oh, this should be rich. Again, all I can say is, what did that pathetic bitch want, REALLY want. You know she's never done a thing for any of us."

"Well," Aphrodite started. "I actually brought her here with me. I--"

"You WHAT!" Athena shouted causing the building to tremble a bit. "There is really nothing I want to hear from her. I--."

"Sister!" Aphrodite shouted to get over her sister's voice. This caused Athena's mouth to drop open. Her sister never raised her voice to her, Hera must have come crawling to Aphrodite to gauge a reaction like this.

"Alright, you have my attention, what did she have to say that has you so passionate about this." Looking Aphrodite up and down she added, "well more passionate than usual."

"Well," Aphrodite started as Athena sat, this was going to take a while if Aphrodite was taking this long.

Almost a half an hour later a still smirking and non-believing Athena still hadn't said a word. Finally finished, Athena started to speak when they both heard Hera's voice behind them.

"So, is that enough or do you want more assurances?" Hera's voice stated.

Athena's face momentarily slipped to anger then faded to a more thoughtful one.

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Back in the Olympus realm Zeus was shaking his head at his sons. Had they all fell so far that they were above all others? 'No,' he thought, 'it had just been so long that they had forgotten how hard it was so far back then.'

Well, he and the rest of his family. Zeus was about to speak again when another male appeared this one looking a lot like Zeus.

"Brother," Zeus stated then a female appeared with a scowl on her face. Zeus was about to speak to her when a second male appeared.

This one though, had a severe look on anger on his face. All three were staring at Zeus their anger appearing to grow the longer they stood there.

"My siblings, why are you here? I--." Zeus started

"As if you don't know why we are here!" The last male almost shouted. Reaching out the male swung a trident in an arc toward Zeus.

Catching it Zeus was barely able to stop it. "Poseidon! What are you doing? You should be helping."

Growling Poseidon drew back his trident ready to attack again. "The only chance we have to be normal again and you act stupid! You wouldn't even listen to the godling. Help you? No, I wish to knock the stupid out of you. Here you have almost half your power back, yet you act like you want no more. Be glad you have as much as you do or I would be using you as something to beat upon!"

"We know you are proud Zeus, though in this case you should have shut up! I for one, am tired of being as weak as I am." The first male stated.

"Hades, I cannot allow," Zeus started.

Both brothers moved aside as the female, Demeter, moved forward. In a very calm voice she stated, "Brother. I also do not wish to remain this weak. You need to fix this, that or you might find that there is no longer any support from your family. I have also heard that our sister, your wife is even more displeased with you than usual."

Zeus shivered a moment as he looked at the three of his siblings. No one had gone against him in a very long time, he'd rather keep it that way if possible.

Shaking his head Zeus sighed, this entire situation was starting to spiral out of hand. As angry as Ephus was when he left he wasn't sure he could fix it.

"I am unsure just what exactly I can do at this point." Zeus told the three before him.

Poseidon marched up to Zeus getting in his face. "You better think of something brother; I still say that I can beat you. Are you sure that you want to truly find out?"

A small smile crossed Zeus's lips that was quickly fading as Poseidon growled at Zeus.

"Fix this brother, do not make the three of us have to get more involved than we are. You wouldn't like the results!" Hades said as he punched Zeus in the stomach. "You might have almost half your power, you are still weak from trying to keep this realm together."

All three of them gave Zeus a furious look, then they all vanished. His four sons came from the doorway of the building.

"Father? Were they all that upset with you?" Hephaestus asked a look of concern on his face.

"I am afraid so, as are your sisters. As I told all of you earlier, we might all have to apologize to the godling. Rather Ephus, if I remember right he is more human in his way of thinking. His actions might be the same also." Zeus confessed to his sons rubbing his stomach where Hades had punched him.

"Is there anything that we can do to aid you father?" Hermes asked.

"For the moment I think that you four should stay out of it. You and Hephaestus most of all." Zeus told Hermes. "The two of you have angered him the most at the moment. I haven't helped much in the area either."

Perhaps he thought, he'd heard of what Athena had said. Maybe with her help, possibly Aphrodite, they could make things right.

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Many miles from where Ephus and his wife had their home, Ares was pacing the floor. Where in the hell were his sons? A moment later a disheveled Phobos stumbled through the door.

Ares eyes went wide a second as he asked, "What happened to you? I told you to not engage him!"

"I didn't father, I swear he could feel me. I hardly reached out, still he felt me. It wasn't 'til he sent out a type of counter wave that I found I had been weakened. Father this godling has much more power than we at first thought."

Ares growled a moment; this was an unexpected bit of news. Phobos had always had an extra light touch, much like a female. Still this was the first time that Ares had ever heard of him being felt let alone detected.

Reaching out Ares could feel that his power had indeed increased though not enough for his liking. He was at least twice what he was at least twice what he was the last time he and the godling went head to head. No, he was going to need more a lot more if he was going to destroy him.

"Deimos!" Ares yelled. Making the twin brother of Phobos appear.

"Yes father. You have need of me?" He asked of Ares.

"I need you to drive the godlings human wife from their protected home. That way I can kill her and drive him to distraction. When he is at his wits end then I can end him. We can't have him repowering the rest of the family before I take over." Here Ares stayed Deimos a moment. "I suggest you wait 'til he has left before you do, your brother demonstrated that the godling CAN feel us."

Deimos's eyes showed surprise, so he could feel his brother and him huh? Good he always welcomed a challenge.

"I will do all I can father. The sooner we crush this frail human, the sooner we can have fun." Deimos replied.

'Fun,' Ares thought, 'there was a word he hadn't heard nor had in a very long time. Then again the latest conflict he started was beginning to be somewhat fun.'

He watched as Deimos vanished then turned toward a weakened Phobos. Whatever this godling had done, it had done a real job on his son. Then he thought, whatever the godling had done to him without being there had been a surprise also.

It really didn't matter, with his power growing as it was he'd soon overshadow anything the godling could throw at him. Hmmm, Ares had a sudden thought, appearing near the hellacious battle he reached out.

Ah! Ares thought as he felt the slight anger from several other armies not far from there. Pulling, Ares started to also whisper in all the soldiers ears of war and glory. He felt as almost all their emotions closed down. Good he thought as their anger started to rise.

A few thousand, possibly tens of thousands more would do nicely. Feeling the hatred of the others wash over him, Ares groaned in pleasure as it started to grow like a gnawing hunger.

Ares face started to twist into a look of almost sadistic glee as he felt the new additions arrive to enter the fray.

Deimos was moving through all the men spreading the dread. Phobos was still trying to get his energy up. He had to somehow warn his father about what he had felt about the godling. The thing was his father's temper could have him hurting for a week.

Taking a deep breath, he again tried to send out as much fear as he could. Damn but he was still feeling weak. What in the hell had the godling hit him with?

'Well,' he thought, 'perhaps with all the extra power Ares was gaining perhaps the warning was unfounded.'

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Ephus sat as he waited for Eris to speak. He could see that she was still at war within herself. After a few minutes she finally looked up.

"As I said before there isn't much that I can hide from him, at least not in my thoughts. All I can really say is that he pretty much owns me. There's not really much I can do about it." Eris finished hanging her head low.

Ephus nodded, he'd felt something like what she said, when Ares influence had been here in the house. Holding out his hand he waited for Eris who nodded her head yes.

Ephus felt as if his hand was gently sweeping back and forth over Eris. Sure enough, he soon felt what felt like several teethers attached to her power. Reaching out to the first he easily snapped the connection. He had the second almost gone when he felt some type of defense snap up.

Ephus eyes were large as he felt his hand start to grow extremely hot. Never letting go of the connection, he wrenched his hand back ripping what he had a hold of loose.

Eris grabbed her head with a small scream then fell at Ephus's feet. Concerned he again passed a hand over her relieved when he felt she was alright physically. Shaking his head, he just hoped he hadn't done irreparable damage to her mind.

Concentrating he quickly called Serket. If anyone might know it would hopefully be her. A few moments later the shy pale Goddess appeared. Her face immediately took on a serious look as she first looked at Ephus, then at the prone form of Eris.

"I thought that if any could help her, you could." Ephus stated, afraid that he might have harmed Eris far more than he thought he had.

Serket nodded almost completely ignoring Ephus as she went all the way around Eris looking at her at every possible angle. Finally, she nodded then turned toward Ephus.

"Husband, did you attempt to break some type of bond that was on her?" Serket asked with deadly seriousness.

Ephus thought about what had happened then explained what he had done, plus what happened when he felt his hand heat up.

Serket was nodding the whole time writing everything down that had been said.

"It appears that she has been bonded to another through her power. You must have caught the bond holder at a low moment. You appear to have torn two of the bonds loose, though I am feeling many more as powerful if not more than the second that you broke. The heat you felt was the defense that the bond holder put to protect the bond." Serket explained.

"So, I almost killed her? Is there any other way to break these bonds loose from her?" Ephus asked.

"Not much more than completely turning or taking all her power. Though as you know that could kill her. There is also the fact that you would have to bond with her. You could be at risk to be controlled partly like her. I caution you husband if you do this there may not be that much we can do, short of going to war." A now concerned Serket told Ephus.

"I thank you Serket, wife, I will take all you have told me into consideration. If it did come to war, I feel that there would be nothing left of the Olympus Realm." Ephus replied to Serket.

Serket nodded her head, "No husband, there would not be. As you know, all our brothers would join in. Though I fear that sister Bast, would be at the front leading the way."

Ephus nodded, he remembered Bast's anger a few years ago. When she thought that a human woman had taken him away from his Egyptian wives. He still didn't know how he kept Bast from slicing the woman into far too many pieces to count.

"So, is there anything that I can do to help her? I have already seen the cruelty that the bond holder can do." Ephus told Serket.

"You have helped already, losing two of the bonds isn't much. In the grand scheme though, that is two parts that the bond holder no longer controls. It perhaps, gives her back a small piece of herself. Though I am afraid that being able to do this again might not accrue again for some time." Serket explained.

"Thank you wife, I will remember. I will call you again if I need you, make no mistake about that." With a radiant happy smile Serket kissed Ephus then vanished.

Ephus shook his head then covered Eris sitting to wait for her to awaken. It wasn't all that long before her heard her groan then sit up. Looking around confused a moment she then looked at Ephus.

Reaching inside she was shocked to find, two areas of her power that she now had complete control over. Looking again at Ephus she asked, "How? I was told that a bond couldn't be broken, the only way out of it was for the one who held the bond to release. No one has ever done this, plus I fear that Ares will punish me more now."

"That's why you will not leave my company. As long as I am protecting you, he will meet more of like he did before." Ephus explained.

"No, I should go before he sends others after you. He has more to aid him than you think. He will do anything to defeat you." A now scared Eris told Ephus.

"I don't think he will, I have more surprises than he thinks I do." A more confident Ephus told her.

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On the battlefield Ares was slicing his way through more than a dozen soldiers. Covered in blood Ares was gleefully slicing at will. Ah he thought, there's nothing like the smell of fresh blood. The cries of those that were split, slashed, hacked and beheaded was sweet music to his ears.