Page 2 of Deliverance
“It is a start.” Simeon turned to the servant again. “Please take this food and eat it. I do not wish to see it thrown in the trash.”
“That was a command from your god,” Kijani added with a cock of an eyebrow.
All four servants rushed toward the table then, afraid to anger the gods, and began to remove the food from their table. They placed the platters on the table Simeon had pointed to earlier and sat down.
“Good, now enjoy,” Simeon added.
The servants looked at each other before anyone took a single bite. Their nervous glances showcased the fear they felt.
“Eat,” Eloy ordered.
They each reached out with trembling fingers and grabbed something from the platters before them of the delicious smelling food and began to eat. Moans of delight and sounds of greedy swallows followed and Eloy smiled, then turned back to his fellow gods.
“I would like all homes to have access to running water, heat, and electricity the way it used to be,” Eloy said.
“As gods, we can declare anything and the humans must obey. They will obey,” Simeon said.
“What if they rebel as they are want to do?” Odessa asked.
“Yes, what if they rebel? That is what will be inevitable if life continues on as it is. Only, those who will suffer will be the humans. The poor will rise up against the rich, the oppressed against their oppressors,” Simeon said.
“What is their rebellion to us? We are gods,” Kijani stated.
“Gods who were supposed to show them a better way. It is you who fear the change,” Simeon pointed out.
“You are mistaken,” Kijani said. “I just do not fear humans or their gripes.”
“This one fears nothing,” Odessa snapped. “I care not. Make whatever changes you desire. This one only asks that the Games remain the same.”
“The Games do not need to be to the death,” Eloy stated.
“Now, do you want to get rid of the gladiators and Games all together? Is this to save that gladiator you spared?” Kijani asked.
“We eliminated wars to save lives, yet we have reveled in the needless death of so many over the centuries. Simeon is right, we have become corrupted,” Eloy stated.
“I will not return to the heavens,” Kijani snarled.
“I have not even suggested such. We can live here on this earth until our time comes when we must return. But we can truly make this world better. Let us extend our blessings to the badlands,” Simeon suggested.
Kijani scoffed. “To give blessings to those who have refused to worship us?”
“Let us be merciful, that is how we can earn their devotion,” Simeon said.
“I will agree to everything you want with one condition,” Kijani said, sparking the interests of the others.
“Oh? And that would be?” Simeon asked, leaning forward.
“That Eloy take me as his lover. His one and only lover,” Kijani said.
“I will not,” Eloy said.
“Then I will not agree to the changes you want to make.”
Eloy rolled his eyes and looked at Odessa. “What say you?”
“This one does not wish to be your one and only.”
“Don’t stray, you know what I speak of,” Eloy said.
