Page 10 of Deliverance
Simeon shrugged. “I respect these humans for their innovation, their struggles, and their determination to go on, to leave legacies. But I do not and have not ever loved them… not in that way. I do not think Odessa or Kijani are capable either. Why you can is a mystery.”
“Perhaps you can, but you have yet to meet the human who can spark that part inside of you,” Eloy stated.
Again, Simeon shrugged. “Perhaps. Two centuries is a long time, but still… you did find the one special human. I will simply live vicariously through you.”
With that, both gods laughed until they were interrupted respectfully by one of Simeon’s servants announcing the arrival of both Kijani and Odessa.
“Bring them here, Ola,” Simeon commanded.
“Yes, god Simeon.” Ola bowed, then left to carry out her duty.
Eloy sighed. “I do not look forward to this conversation.”
Simeon laughed. “Welcome to my world. I knew to expect resistance from the three of you whenever I made suggestions of reason. Finally relieved to have you on my side.”
“My apologies, my friend, for putting you through such turmoil.”
Again, Simeon laughed, then waved his hand dismissively as if to say,none of that matters anymore.
The servant led both gods outside the temple to the backyard where Simeon and Eloy were waiting. They took their seats and held their wine glasses still as the servants poured their drinks.
“This one must say, your temple is the most humble of the four,” Odessa commented, then took a sip of her wine as she settled more comfortably into the lounge chair.
“I leave all the glitz and glamour for you, my dear,” Simeon said, with a slight nod in her direction.
“Let us bypass all of the false pleasantries and get on with it. What else would you have us relent on? Odessa’s tits, I had thought this conversation over with at the restaurant,” Kijani said, his tone more agitated than normal.
“Keep this one’s tits out of your agitation,” Odessa retorted.
Kijani huffed with an eye roll, but kept his attention on both Simeon and Eloy, waiting to see who would speak first.
“Not relent, but to uphold our own promises. What we made to Hersi and why he allowed us to return to this earth. We need to make right what we have broken,” Eloy said.
“Why do you have these thoughts now? What has changed in you, Eloy?” Kijani asked with a sip of his wine.
“I have already told you,” Eloy said, then waved his hand dismissively.
“Bah, Simeon has been at odds with the three of us from practically day one after we established our rule. Two hundred years of his complaints and they have fallen on deaf ears… until now. Why is that?” Kijani stared hard at Eloy as if daring him to speak the truth of his suspicions. To confirm them.
“Two hundred years has been long enough to ignore what we have done. Bringing this world back together, I do agree was wise. Humans have been torn apart by much, we should not contribute to their own flaws. We should lead by example and set them on the path to glory not failure. I have been wrong long enough, Kijani. We three have been wrong and we know it. We feel it, for we are Hersi’s greatest creation and only within these weak human bodies have we succumbed to their imperfections. Lust, greed, envy, wrath, sloth, so much gluttony, and worst of all, pride. As gods in heaven, we were above all of that. We have sullied ourselves and must cleanse our souls,” Eloy stated, then paused and stared forward as if stunned by his own words.
“Let us truly lead these humans the way we were meant to,” Simeon added.
Kijani remained silent as he studied Eloy. It was Odessa who spoke next. “This one will not give up cock, breast, or tongue, as it gives her great pleasure.”
“We will not ask you to, but you can reward the human whose cock, breast, and tongue has pleased you. Perhaps with blessings,” Eloy said. “Simeon does not have slaves, he has servants who enjoy working for him because he has shown them that he values them. Perhaps you can do the same.”
Odessa rolled her eyes. “This one thinks she has heard enough.”
Simeon shook his head. “Not even close. We have created a world built on greed and envy the most. Let us do away with money all together. People should be rich by what they can provide for each other. Water is given by us, so why are some allowed to charge for it? Man must be given reign of this land once more, but to share it equally. No longer should there be a divide of rich and poor, not when everything is readily available for all. No longer should a few hold power over the majority.”
“Then how will we create and maintain order? These humans are wild, savage when not controlled. We have seen such things from them since their creation. How you do propose we establish a world where they do not kill themselves?” Kijani asked.
“We cannot guarantee such things. We cannot, because they are flawed. But we must allow them to be as they were meant to be, but with some guidance on our part. We have fed into and fed them the very worst of ourselves. We have glorified all that is wrong and we…wemust change all that,” Eloy stated, then put his wine glass down. “One day, many centuries from now, we will have to answer for what we have done on this earth. Answer to Hersi… what can we tell him that we could be proud of?”
This time, no one spoke and the space was filled with a silence so deafening, it reached deeply into each god’s being, begging them to think. To reflect. For one day, they would have to answer to the god of life. Would he punish them for their disobedience? Would he forgive them as he’d done countless humans who must answer for their own sins? Would he hold them in the same regard considering that they were prone to human weakness or would he hold them at a higher standard? Would he lock them in stone, to be statues in heaven that human souls gaze upon in wonderment? Their powers active without their consent or control? Would he ever set them free again if he did? They were not immortal, and one day, they would have to bow before the mighty god, Hersi, and give account and be judged.
The god of life was merciful… until he wasn’t.
