Page 20 of Deliverance
“Thank you, goddess.” Mateo bowed.
Odessa nodded, then reached out, touching both men’s torsos and running her delicate fingers along their scars. She frowned, a hint of shame in her expression. “This one sees and is sorry for her part in your pain.” She pulled her hand away.
“May I ask why you are here, dear goddess?” Titus asked.
With that, she smiled. “This one has seen to your care and has prayed to the god, Hersi, for your life. This one has thought long and hard about what it means to take a human as a lover. A companion. None have touched me so as you and this one will no longer deny herself that one’s cock and company.” Her voice trailed off on the last word, then she looked off to the side as if contemplating continuing.
“Goddess?” Titus asked.
She turned back to face him, then sighed, heavily. “If you would have this one’s company and pleasure,” she said, finishing her thought.
Mateo looked at them both, eyes wide with shock. “I should leave. Thank you, goddess Odessa, for sparing my friend’s life.” He bowed respectfully and she gave a curt nod, but didn’t take her eyes off Titus as Mateo left them alone.
“You would have me in your bed at all times?” Titus asked. “Even though I often enjoy the pleasure of men?”
Odessa smiled. “This one often enjoys the pleasures of women. This one does not see why we cannot have both and each other.”
“You really care about me that much?” Titus asked, the realization that he mattered to a god took him by surprise and he found himself grappling for something to hold on to.
Odessa was by his side quickly, her delicate arms wrapped around his masculine and heavily muscled body, and together, they walked back to the bed he’d been convalescing in. He sat down with her help and she gently ran her fingers through his thick, blond hair. “This one has marveled at you for some time. This one also wants to know what it means to be with someone as her eyes have been opened to the possibilities. Will you join this one and finish your recovery in her temple with her?”
Again, Titus’ mouth dropped open and he stared hard at her. “How could I… How could I ever be worthy, goddess Odessa?”
“You have always been worthy,” Odessa said.
A single tear rolled down Titus’ face, then it was followed by another and another, so much so, he turned away, embarrassed. Odessa reached under his chin, turning his face back to her. “This one will have that one by her side. Come with her?”
“How could I not? I… I would like to see what we can become, goddess Odessa,” he said, then struggled with her help to rise.
“This one is eager, too,” she said. “Leave this world behind you, take only what holds value, then we leave. There is one more stop this one must go to before it is too late. Hurry,” she said, then she left Titus to gather his things before returning to her waiting car. She did thank Rama before leaving for his part in saving Titus’ life and that was enough for Rama, to be in the Goddess’ graces.
Eloy’s gaze drifted over the five humans that sat before him as they gave both he and Simeon updates as to how good and how bad things were progressing under the new commandments. Three women and two men, each took turns telling the two gods about their respective cities. They were the presidents of their cities; Fago, Ocena, Gemini, Airies, and Fiary. Under each president were four chancellors who held command over the guards. All but Fago had two thousand guards. Fago only had two hundred, as it was the smallest city at the center of the four other cities.
No one was paid for their positions, but they were entrusted by the gods to keep the peace and retain order. If anyone was caught breaking the commandments, the gods would then punish that person. So far, in the past two months, only a little over two hundred people needed to be punished. And all but one resulted in the death of the accused who refused to release his slaves whom he had made his whores in his bordello. Bordellos were no longer allowed, however, people were free to have sex with whomever they wanted. The fact that money was no longer a necessity eliminated several businesses that relied heavily on it.
“That is good to hear,” Simeon said, smiling after hearing how people were starting to settle in with the new world order.
“Thank you, god Simeon. Since those who were wealthy did not have to give up their livelihoods and those who were poor can now get the life they have always wanted, we have faced little resistance, practically none in fact,” President Nicola Leti stated. He was the president of Airies, and picked for the position because of his honorable and generous personality. Never had he owned slaves and often fed those who couldn’t afford to feed themselves. The other four presidents were picked for similar reasons. They all had to show high moral standards and a willingness to do what was right.
“Please continue the good work and keep us duly updated,” Eloy said. “You may go.”
The five presidents rose and bowed to the gods before leaving and as soon as the door was closed, Simeon turned to Eloy. “That was better news than I had expected.”
Eloy nodded. “Once we leveled the playing field, what would humans have to fight about? They have an innate nature to help each other, you see that when we’ve created disasters. How quickly they rush to the rescue, how generous they can be, even saving animals. Just when a system is designed to bring out the worst in them, do you get the problems of the world that we had come to eliminate.” He smiled. “I feel good about this, Simeon, better than I had at any arena match.”
Now, Simeon smiled, because this was what he had always wanted and had fought for. He was happy that his fellow gods had agreed, even if Kijani cared for no part in the reconstruction. Odessa had offered some input, but mainly, it had all been Eloy and himself who had come up with the new commandments and how to execute them.
“I am so glad to hear you say that, my friend. Hersi will be proud that we finally found our way,” Simeon said.
“What is more, is that I believe it is almost time for me to bring Mateo back into my life. I have missed him so much,” Eloy said, then rose to walk over to his bar to pour himself a drink. He still had plenty of humans willing to serve him, but he no longer demanded that they wait on him hand and foot as they once had. He took a few sips then turn to look back at Simeon, who winked at him.
“What will you tell Kijani?” he asked.
“That it is over between us, the few dalliances we had must end.”
“Oh. Odessa’s titsandKijani’s cock, to be a fly on your wall when you have that conversation,” Simeon chuckled, then snorted.
Before Eloy could reply, there was a knock on his door. “Come in,” he called out.
