Warning:
There is a scene of remembered rape. I just want everyone aware in case that sort of thing bothers you or hits a little too close to home.
Spoiler Tags:
Lesbian, Fantasy, Adventure, Goddess, Cunnilingus, Golem, Bee Girl, Transformation, MtF, Harem
"Okay, first of all, what's up with everything happening at once? Can we keep it to only one revelation at a time? Please, it's common courtesy." I huffed a tired breath. "Let's start with Surt. I thought I killed you, how are you here?" I said, trying to get a handle on everything that was happening.
Destiny's hand flopped awkwardly to her side, obviously disappointed with my response. "I can answer that. It takes quite a bit more than physical destruction to truly kill a god. In defeating his physical form, you've obviously altered some of his followers beliefs that were defining the nature of the fire god. In the ensuing uncertainty, his core consciousness was allowed to reclaim its influence."
"Which means?" I asked, looking at the pint sized person standing calmly in my hand, listening just as raptly to Destiny's lesson.
"It means that this is probably whoever Surt was before he
became
Surt."
"Okay, so who are you?" I asked, transferring my attention the pint-sized man.
"I'm..." he paused, scrunching up his face, looking uncertain. "I don't actually remember my name. I guess Surt will do for now." He didn't seem overly bothered by this bit of ignorance.
"A common side effect of various summoning rituals. Including the one I gave Selena. I would not be surprised if you were experiencing similar effects," Destiny interjected.
"That can't be right. My name was..." Like a piece of fluff floating on the wind just beyond reach, I couldn't catch it, the word slipping through my mental cracks. "Huh." I was slightly taken aback by this.
"It's insignificant, pay it no regard. Please call me Surt, it is how I think of myself now." The man said with more confidence and dignity than I possessed.
But I shrugged it off quickly, focusing on the topic at hand. "Fair enough. What do you remember of your life Surt."
"I was widowed, a retired professor of mythology who volunteered at my local library. I remember a strange light coming from the nonfiction stacks. When I went there to investigate, I found a gem. Upon touching the gem I was engulfed by a strange light. Then everything went hazy and I remember being angry. So very angry. And I was jealous and greedy. I wanted something but it fled just out of my reach so I screamed and threw a tantrum. The whole event is sort of hazy. I" Surt wobbled, his body losing cohesion for a second. While he continued to mull over the incident, the frown on his face face grew more pronounced and his eyes gained a crazed tilt.
"Hey man. Don't worry about it. That's over now," I said, hoping to stave off any additional erosion of his psyche.
I
really
don't want to have to fight him again.
Surt looked at my singed and pitted flesh and became embarrassed, a tight frown pinching at his lips. "I don't believe I can do that. Regardless of the circumstances I seemed to have caused a great deal of trouble. I will do what I can to make amends for that. I apologize for that and for..." A yawn stretched his mouth wide, smoke leaking from it like steam from a teapot. "For being so terribly tired." His form shifted and flowed until he was once more just a lump of glowing rock.
The Vespal queen was hanging in the corner and I motioned for her to come closer. She did so without hesitation but the quivering of her wings indicated her nervousness. "Yes?"
"Here, take this." I dropped Surt's heart into her possession and she caught it, cradling it with all four of her hands.
She blinked at me, uncertain about what I wanted.
"Take care of that. I think he's safe to deal with now but if you think you're in danger drop it and come get me immediately. Until then talk to him, work things out, I get the sense that he's still in there listening."
"It will be as you say Mist... Bast." Bowing to me, she left the room taking two of the four guardian Lathen's with her, the remaining one's stepping closer to flank me more tightly, ready to intercede if Destiny tried anything.
"Freya, go with her please. I have a feeling this should be a private conversation," I said, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
Freya frowned, not quite finished healing me but left without protest.
"Okay that's one crisis dealt with, now to the other." I turned to the pristine mousy looking goddess, if Ata was to be believed.
She pinched her lips and met my eyes with a hint of annoyance. "I would appreciate it if you don't refer to me that way. I'm tired of people assume I'm a natural disaster whenever I come to visit."
"Well there
is
that proverb or curse or whatever, may you-"
"Live in interesting times," she finished with a heavy sigh, her brow furrowing.
"Normally when someone talks about destiny, at least in my old world, they were rarely talking about a leisurely life of farming versus a life that was full of potential dangers. Now, maybe that's not you're fault but your appearance has freaked out my sister; she has, up to this point, been unflappably supportive, even when dealing with a giant fire god coming to burn down our home."
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, looking beyond weary. "I'm aware of that but she doesn't have all the details." She continued in a smaller voice that my enhanced senses had little trouble deciphering. "And I'd hoped you would meet me with an open mind."
I looked away, chewing the inside of my cheek as I contemplated what to do. I'd obviously struck a nerve but my opinion had certainly been colored by Ata's reaction. "Okay, say your piece. But know that I'll be taking everything with a grain of salt until I have a chance to run it by Ata."
"Of course. I wouldn't dare lie to someone... Well, someone I hope to rest my head beside someday," she said, averting her eyes bashfully.
