Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

I think it may be time to re-evaluate things.  So I was bleeding out and Wuyi had put a temporary fix in, and the litter was floating over the ocean.  Ben had already jumped out and I sent Cal after him.  I was worried about him and also felt...a little pissed.  Anyway Rupper dove out and swam to shore while Kelly's spider spun silk around me to lower me down to a raft of water Rhia made to ferry me.  I looked through Cal eye's and saw Ben head for a cottage after Cal told him I was alive, barely but alive.  Ben seemed to not be concerned, but then I don't think either of us realized how bad it was.

The rest of the group headed Ben's way when we heard a loud gunshot.  Looking through Cal's eyes I saw Ben had startled an old woman with a gun and she was screaming in that language Rhia speaks sometimes when she's angry.  I started struggling to get  free, I had to get to Ben and the other's weren't moving fast enough.  Rhia may as well have just slapped me in the face cause she told me to settle down or she'd tell me details of her night with my father.  I had almost forgotten that in all that had happened and now felt myself wishing to tear her heart out again.  I glared at her (now wasn't the time to fight with her on THAT event) and fought to get out.  Ben needed us.  There was another shot as she fired directly at his feet and then aimed at his chest.  When we arrived Ben had backed off and the woman recognized Rhia.

Turns out Rhia is her step-daughter and we had made it to Mann's home.  She took us in and Rupper stitched me up and gave me some pain pills.  I know something is bothering him about me or us, but I couldn't ask him about it here.  We were eating some wonderful stew while Rhia and Mona talked when a horse screamed and Cal and Pepper informed us that giant wolves were attacking the herd.  Ben ordered me to stay put and my blood boiled at having to sit out but I knew this wound was much worse than any other I had ever suffered because...it wasn't healing.  All the wounds I had taken up till now had healed in the first few minutes or at least started healing in a couple hours but this...there wasn't even the barest of tingles indicating healing, and that scared me.

I didn't look to see what was going on outside but I could hear Rupper growling and barking at the wolves and them growling back.  I paced a little and sat down again when a wolf crashed through the front door and tried to eat me...but he passed through me and bit the couch.  Seeing I was safe from their attacks I rushed to the kitchen for a knife, remembering my own weapons would not work, and lept onto his neck only to find, despite my amazing strength, I was having trouble getting through it's hide.  No matter, I put the knife in my mouth, wrapped my hands in a blanket from the couch and proceeded to pry his jaws open.  Looking at the soft tissue I almost jammed the knife down his throat but then a thought settled on me.  He had invaded my sister's home....so I ripped his lower jaw off and dropped him to the floor.

The others came in then and Rhia noticed I had ripped my stitches open.  I held the wound until Rupper came in and restitched it as Ben hovered over me... literally.  Ben was flying.  I told him I wanted a ride and I could see the worry etched on his face when he promised he would when I was better.  He went to look out the window, explaining he was just restless...but I know him, or at least I feel I do.  Something else is on his mind.  I wonder if he regrets any of this...*head shake* Then I heard someone outside walking through the pasture with a cane.  Ben did too and we both told the group at the same time...as sappy as this will sound he and I really are right for each other.  After Ben confronted the person we found it to be Mann, returning from searching Rhia out. 

I really hope Rhia is right in thinking he will help us.  I really thought my father would help us, he even seemed to elude to the fact he would...but look how that turned out.  I really think we need to be weary of Mann, and any other god we meant from now on.  Assumptions only make an ass out of you after all.

Can the dead kill themselves?

Do you have any idea how hard it is to walk around with emotions and reactions to things and yet not know WHY you have them?  I do.  It's a bitch, let me tell you.


So after a nap and more time exploring my husband, I fell back asleep only to awaken to a servant holding a dress made of gold coins.  I was the daughter of the leader of the Atzlanti after all, and was expected to dress like one while in m father's house.  The dress irritated me but inside I felt the urge to please him...I needed his approval somehow, so on it went and I made my way to the Basin where my father's re-birthing ritual was taking place.  I could see the sacrifice, even though willing, of a human was bothering some of them...especially Wuyi, and knew there would be much I would be hiding from them.  As he stepped forward I could see there would be trouble ahead.  Wuyi and Rhia were staring at him like they were gonna offer themselves to him right there and as the thought of Rhia and m father crossed m mind I felt my gut twist in revulsion and betrayal.  Where in the hell did that some from?  I thought.  I mean my father is god, and is only a father in the biological sense of the word. 


I pushed it down as best I could and we went to a private room for a little question swapping.  He told us he would not restore us, that we were to stay here forever and I felt my anger boil.  I wanted to LIVE gods damn it all!  I want to remember what happened to me and know why I am little more than a ball of rage and pain yearning for someone to give a damn.  The others asked questions that I admit I aid little attention to until I heard Rhiannon ask to grace my father's bed.


In that moment I felt a multitude of things happen inside me...the loudest of which was my heart breaking.  I felt utterly horrified and betrayed by the one person I let close enough to me to call sister.  I felt utter rage at her and my father when he offered to bed her for eternity if she stayed here.  I felt like screaming and crying all at once and was powerless to do anything more than walk away...so I did.  I walked off not wanting to be anywhere near the whore and Huitzilopotchli.  He opened the door as I left and told me not to disappoint him.  That I had made him very proud up until now and urged me not to rebel.  Well fuck that.  I wanted, no needed to get out of here.  I couldn't stand it any longer.  Before I left I asked why we could not return and after answering another question from him he told us because our story had ended...and if we took back our life then Fate would repeat itself...and countless more would die.  Then Ben did something I never expected...he challenged my father.  Not in a dual sense but challenged his words.  Ben accused him of lying essentially...saying we could change Fate and that it was some other reason Huitzilopotchli wanted us here.  He became very angry and ordered us to leave his presence though not the grounds, but stopped Rhiannon and Wuyi.  They were to join his bed it seemed...and they were still eager to do so.  I called it like I saw it with the utmost restraint I called them whores and left.  Screw this shit I was going to find a way out of here with or without them.


After walking about for some time I finally cast my spell and it split to the wall of fire, the carriage we arrived on and the Well-Bronzed-Man who, after some thought, I realized was Painsal a lesser god who grudgingly serves my father.  After some talking and pleading I convinced him to help us leave here.  I sent Cal for Ben and he returned telling me he, Rupper and a firebird were on their way.  Shortly after Rhiannon, Wuyi, and Kelly came up to us.  I decided my best bet was to ignore them both.  They don't exist cause if they don't then what they did doesn't either.  Besides I could not trust myself to not do something I would later regret.  Turns out the firebird was a Phoenix Rupper rescued from my father.  I stroked the bird being the only one immune to it's fire and immediately felt a kindred spirit in the bird.  Rupper will have a friend for life in her.  We all climbed in and Painsal set us off rocky at first but it smoothed out eventually and he revealed that though my father understands the importance of sacrifice there was one he could not make...us.  He instead offered us eternal opulence rather than kill us and ensure 'Kathy' was not released again.  He also told us to surpass my father he would sacrifice us and disapated into embers letting the litter plummet from space towards earth.


We kept falling and Kelly began praying to her mother, trying to take control of the litter and Rupper asked if we had any other ideas to which I could only think of one thing to do as Kelly's prayers seemed to be unanswered.  I pulled out my knife and began my own prayer begging my father to forgive my rebellion, promising him I would serve him as the dutiful daughter I once was.  I pleaded and begged for him to save my friends, my family and in return I would give him the greatest sacrifice yet, greater even then when I gave him my husband...I plunged my knife into my heart and gave myself to him.  I vaguely remember the phoenix flying out of the litter and grabbing it, of Rhia screaming my name, Wuyi hitting points on my body and a surge through me, Ben's face etched in worry as he begged me to live and all I could say before passing out was that I loved him and was sorry.  When I passed out I saw my father fighting with thousands of warriors against the darkness.  He suddenly sensed me and his head snapped in my direction in surprise as the massive darkness slashed at him and killed him.  He had heard but would not be able to help until his rebirth.  I awoke briefly to hear Wuyi pleading with me to heal myself but even if I could I simply did not have the will to.  I told Cal to find Ben when I noticed he was gone and drifted back to the blackness that was bereft of any complications...

Rest at last...and surprises.

Today was simultaneously stressful and one of relief.  So where were we...oh yes.  The human who changed his mind.  


Once again I had to repeat myself 5 times that we needed to find a safe place to discuss the situation...my band however insisted on not using common sense and standing about talking about it in this office while these Keepers closed in.  Finally the others left and I turned to Reginald.  He was a loose end, we had told him where the cave was and he was going to tell the Keepers about us...but he could still serve a purpose.  Before they left I let Rhia know my thoughts and she agreed which made me even more secure in my decision.  I began the prayer and shoved my obsidian knife into him only to have it go through him.  Curse this being dead shit!  My anger and frustration at everything boiled over and I snatched a letter opener off the desk and started again.  This time it bit in and with a little force and a lot of blood I worked his heart out and watched as the ritual seemed to work...confirmed by an eagle call that did not come from Cal.  Rhia came in in time to see the blood flake off into the wind and hear the call and we left heading up.  


We found Ben and Kelly but apparently Rupper and Wu went another way. *sigh*breath in*breath out*  Ben sent Pepper to look for them as Cal scouted outside, and it wasn't long before Pepper screeched she was trapped.  We headed quickly to her as Rhia babysat Kathy who was mimicking a statue of the Aztec titan, Coatlicue.  Cal reported there was less Keepers out front and that they did not see him.  After Rhia promised her a reward if she moved we were finally headed out, meeting up with Wuyi and Rupper on our way.  After yet another discussion we made our way out, unseen by the Keepers and headed to the cave.  Something was bothering Rupper but to be honest now was not the time to stop and ask about it.  We needed to close that cave.


Once we arrived we saw spirits leaving it and then a breeze and a voice came from the cave asking about his brother...and I knew it was Thanatos asking about Hypnos.  The more we talked the harsher the wind became as Thanatos became more an more angry.  It was literally cutting at all nearby, flaying the spirits and opening cuts on the others.  Wuyi had enough and ran down the tunnel and I began to pray, pleading with my father to aid us.  On the horizon there was what looked like a heat shimmer but quickly became apparent someone was coming.  I took up a defensive stance as it approached, unsure of who it would be but gasped in surprise and fell to my knees when I saw it was my father.  Rupper and Rhia followed Wuyi and as my father stopped in front of us a protective barrier sprung forth around us.  I arose and my father greeted us though he was not pleased to see us.  The short of it?  We had sacrificed ourselves to seal in a titan (we knew this) and were not in our own afterlives because we were to guard in vigil over said titan...but we were give Lethe water by Joshua somehow and forgot our Duty. A white hot rage surged though me at this thought.  I had been tricked out of my sacred duty.  A duty I had given all for.  I swore to my father then that if he helped return us to life I would take Epimetheus heart in sacrifice for him...it would be one of my greatest offerings to him.  And then he dropped a bomb referring to Ben as my husband.  My HUSBAND!?  I'm married!?  I was shocked and just stood there...Ben must have known cause he had asked me earlier to talk with him alone...but there was no time to process this.  Father said to go help our friends and return before the sun set. At his orders I snapped out of it and dashed down the tunnel.  Inside it felt good to hear an order from him...it had been so long. 


At the shore of the Lethe, Rhia was controlling the water to hurl the strings out, presumably to give back to Hypnos.  Both Rupper and Kelly touched his memories and briefly channeled them taking up more time than I had patience for.  As the two of them ranted I went to the boulder and Wuyi and Ben joined me in shoving it back in place. We all squeezed through the holes made by Ben earlier and as we ran for the surface I saw the light fading to almost nothing.  Luckily we made it just in time and Father had a litter waiting to take us with him.  We all climbed wearily in and Father told Rhia her blood was always welcomed.  If I weren't so tired from everything I would have rolled my eyes but even that was too much effort at the time.  Father took us to his realm and looking at it I had a sense of knowing where everything was but of course no memories of it at all.


A pair of servants stepped forward and offered to take us to the royal chambers but I needed to get away from the group to talk to Ben.  I strode by them, Ben in hand, and went to where I knew was our room.  I told them to leave us alone until called for.  Ben told me about his memory...one of our wedding and he was having a hard time searching his feelings.  I admit I am not much better at that but on the trip here I examined my own.  I told him I knew that his presence is soothing to me and his touch both calms and excites me. I told him of killing Reginald and of my own memory to be sure he understood what he had married.  Blessedly though it did not matter.  He said he feels protective of me, more so than the others, but was worried about emotions being weakness.  I told him it wasn't weakness, it made us human, made us alive, and pointed out I had been able to set my feelings aside once to do what was needed.  I reached for his cheek and he caught my wrist asking what the others would think.  I pointed out they approved before and we were already married.  We had not even parted in death.  Then he asked how we could be sure that bond was still there and I did the first thing that came into my head..I leaned in and kissed him, and to my ever lasting relief he kissed me back.  and without going into detail we found our rhythm again reintroduced ourselves to each other as man and wife.  We lay in bed for many minutes afterward, a sense of belonging settling into me and seeming to heal wounds I did not know I had.  I turned to him and looked into his eyes as I whispered against his lips the words I knew to be true "I love you."  And my heart sang for joy when he returned the sentiment.


After some hours we left the room to find Rhia and Wuyi reclining at the feast table.  She wanted details of course and Ben teased her a bit before I introduced her to the one person more important to me than her, my husband.  She was speechless, which was nice for once, and when she recovered we told her about the wedding which was a mix of Aztec and Egyptian customs to which bother our fathers attended.  When Wuyi fell asleep there was more serious talk when Kelly arrived, but she too fell asleep against Rhia and I was tiring as well...between the physical wear and tear and even more the EMOTIONAL wear and tear I was exhausted and fell asleep in my husbands arms...that's going to take time to get used to, husband...but I'm up for the challenge.

We can't seem to catch a break

So here we all are, standing in this dark ass cave with a lute that has six glowing strings.  I pull mine and Ben's off and hand him his before passing the lute to the others.  I don't understand some of the other's need to stand around and prattle on about things when there are pressing matters to attend to...like becoming alive again.  The strings did nothing by touch and Ben seemed to have found a way out but it was blocked by a boulder.  Prometheus confirmed it was how we needed to leave and Ben asked for my spear.  After I handed it to him he began to whack off large chunks of it to make it lighter.  Then he, Prometheus, and I pushed while Wuyi used her spear as a lever and started to move.  Suddenly Kelly said she was seeing her memory after eating her string and I stopped as the boulder rolled free.  Seeing her stand there obviously seeing something I quickly unwound my string and ate it....


...and gods above and below I wish I hadn't.  As I watched it unfold it took all my strength to remain standing; I just could not believe what I was seeing.  I tried to believe it wasn't me in that memory...it had to be someone else but then I heard my father's voice...and I could not deny the validity of what he said that day, hells he had said it when he visited me.  All I could do was stand there saying "NO" over and over again like it would change what I did.  Finally everyone had eaten their strings and we were moving out of there.  If I never see Hades realm again it will be too soon.


As we climbed the tunnel out the ground became soggier and harder to get through and a sharp pain thudded against my chest.  The further we got the weirder the sensation became.  It felt like thousands of fire ants crawling over my skin and we soon reached a membrane stretched across a cave opening.  Prometheus, his brother, and Kathy walked through without a problem but when we went through it tore open.  I didn't give two shits because we were standing on real grass!  Overlooking a city.  I fell to the ground and kissed the grass, so relieved to be free of Hades and alive...


...well almost.  Rhia broke the news that we weren't alive yet.  Prometheus and his brother left saying he owed us a boon but staying together would bring down wrath on our heads we did not deserve; I could not have agreed more, and after more useless chatter we headed for town.  Once there we found we were in Naples, which I think is in Italy. Wuyi insisted on getting clothes even though no one could see is...they walked through us!  We really were ghosts.  I sighed my last hope fleeing my body at that point.  


We went in the clothing store and Wuyi grabbed pants and a shirt...apparently those don't turn incorporeal like us cause people started reacting....which made Wuyi start doing more stupid things attracting attention.  I'd had enough and walked back outside.  I was so frustrated, worried and a feeling of hopelessness was settling in.  Damn it why couldn't I brush these off like usual!?  Why was THIS the first feeling that seemed to linger for more than a moment?  Suddenly a man was hurrying down the street and he looked me right in the eye!  He SAW me!  


I called after him and stopped him asking if he truly saw me to confirm and he said yes.  I asked if he could help us and Ben joined us giving the man a start. We explained there were a group of us and we all needed help.  He agreed and Ben went to find the others.  He came back with the others, Rhia carrying Wuyi for whatever reason and as we were about to make introductions eight foot tall things in shining armor turned the corner...Rhia confirmed what we all guessed, they were bad news and we all hurried after the man who claimed he could help.


We reached his office and he told us they were Keepers...they made sure everyone followed the laws and I would guess that ghosts were against the law. He asked how long we were dead and we seemed to come to the consensus of dying around 2011...it was now 2017.  Then he asked what we wanted, saying ghosts always wanted something before they passed on...then it hit him.  We weren't ghosts we were specters and somehow that was worse and he no longer wanted to help us.  Rhia got him to stand still and I felt myself regain some of my usual composure as I threatened to take his heart.  He told us if we found our bodies and sacrificed a living person, a life for a life, we could become alive again.  I was fine with this and some of the other were fine so long as it was a criminal,but Kelly says she couldn't do it.  Fine.  Ben and I talked about trying to find consensus in the group so we explored other options.  Creating Shabti to posses, possessing the living, finding books, and contacting Rhia's dad.  All were gonna take a lot of work it seems...and finding our bodies may be the toughest since all I know was we died in a tower of some sort.


In the middle of the talking Kathy pushed against a window and it shattered...damn them for making us a take her out of there...revealing a man outside who was possessed.  Shit we let others out too.  Rupper translated his screaming and it only confirmed what I thought.  Why in the hell can't we do anything right?  Maybe we should just give in and go back...but then why was an Aztlanti daughter in the GREEK underworld?  Why was I not in Mictalan if not with my father?  No Hades was not where I belonged anyway.  As I turned back Reginald had started to try to dial on a cell phone and Rhia made him drop it.  Thoroughly pissed now I lept at him and brought my spear to his neck demanding he tell us about the Keepers.  Turns out the Keepers are "aliens" who came through flashes of light saying humans were the first species they encountered.  They keep the laws, some of which have changed, and can cure the blind.  Those that break the law are not seen from again though.


So here we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.  I think we need to find a place to lay low for a moment and discuss the best course of action but I am also rapidly running out of patients and I know one way that could get MY father's attention...

Common sense isn't as common as I'd like...

So we decided to try for Hypnos' cave.  After all we wanted out of here and we wanted our memories too.  I have to tell you I am getting thoroughly sick and tired of not being heard.  I don't know if it's some people's lack of intelligence or lack of common sense or just an unwillingness to try to see things from a perspective other than their own but I am getting tired of it.  I refused to move on till we figured out more about Kathy so I pulled out my leather bound book and asked Fate some questions.


First: Who is Kathy really? *A shabti created by Ben* Second: Why did he create her? *to be an avatar for  greater titan* Third: Is she the evil we imprisoned? *yes* Fourth: Did Ben create her for the greater good? *yes* Fifth: Does she still have the potential to channel and be controlled by the titan? *EMPHATICALLY YES!* (by this I mean my book started to smoke and had I not been immune to fire, I would have been burned.)


And yet even with all that Wuyi still has a flippant attitude toward the whole thing and Rhia was advocating bringing her along...suggesting she could be an ally.  But the thing is once that titan claims her it won't matter how much she likes us...he/she will control her.  THEN Wuyi compares the evil titan to Prometheus.  Prometheus is a titan by birth and was condemned by Zeus because he helped man...if not for him humans would not be where they are.  If anything he was a victim of Zeus throwing a hissy fit just like the Greeks are prone to do...nothing more.  I'm not saying he is a good guy, I don't know him and have not asked Fate about him, but I certainly wouldn't start off by calling him evil.


Ben was silent through all this, internalizing it all I'm sure, so I got his attention to get him to step in.  He's our leader and he needed to do something.  Mean while Wuyi was trading her pants for her jacket to Kathy, basically ignoring my warnings as usual and writing me off like I was some less than interesting toy. And what Ben said next made my heart sink.  He said we should keep her, because she is his responsibility.  What in the hells was going on?  Had they all lost their minds?  He apologized and I told him to fuck off...I didn't want his apology.  He said it wasn't personal and he's right it wasn't, it was about doing the gods damned sensible thing.  We should drop her in one of these rivers and never look back.  He worried she would get free but gods there are fire rivers and geysers everywhere!  We could easily find out if she was immune to fire like me and if not drop her in and she'd burn to crisp...problem solved.  Rhia told me to grow a heart and it was the first time I wanted to punch my best friend.  GROW A HEART?!  SHE IS THE EVIL WE LOCKED UP!!! She should be killed before she remembers anything!  Then she argued we should lock Ben in cause he might go evil "again", I hate when people argue the preposterous against reality.  It's dumb and a sign of a bad arguer.  I told her Fate already clarified he was working for the greater good and pointed out we locked her in her and by extension some of the titan's power, and they were suggesting we bring it into the world with us. To which I got another lame argument "Oh you're right.  We should trust the creepy book.  My bad."  SERIOUSLY?!  Gods above and below Rhia it's FATE.  I ask her questions she answers them truthfully.  Just because you don't like the method I channel her does not make her answers less true.  I finally had had it with them all and gave in, obviously out voted and walked off to cool down so I didn't attack my friends.  Ben came over and tried to plead his case but I was done talking about it.  He asked about the coins and I told him there were seven left.


After more discussion on the Ferryman we headed out with Ben in the lead and I took the rear, too distracted by my anger to pay as close attention as was needed to lead.  Kelly apparently took some of Rupper's drugs cause I found my time occupied by babysitting her as we went along.  When we reached the river Ben rang the bell.  As soon as the Ferryman came I took my coin, tossed the bag at Ben, and lept on the boat handing the Ferryman the coin.  The others followed and Prometheus stepped up and snapped the Ferryman's neck and tossed him in the river explaining he wanted none of the wrath for that to fall on us, thus he waited for us to pay.  I like him, a coolly logical person so far...no wonder Zeus hated him.


Rhia took the oar and shoved us off and the river turned from easy and calm to rapids.  Rhia expertly got us through them and we soon found ourselves rushing towards a cave with stalactites and stalagmites making it look like a maw of stone teeth.  Ben fired at some and I hurled my spear at other giving us a hole to go through and Kelly's spider spun a web to help absorb some of the impact as well as released her sand to aid us.  We made it through and were plunged into darkness...yay.  I couldn't see but Rhia helped me aim my throws at more rock in the way as went through the tunnel and we suddenly plunged off another waterfall and dropped straight down into the river.


We awoke on a beach before a golden castle with no sign of Prometheus and his brother.  I tried to track them with my magic and was greeted with a resounding NO.  At first I thought it may be Pluto's castle as Prometheus mentioned it before, and then we noticed Kathy speaking perfect English...great she was starting to remember.  The others started chattering about utter nonsense and I tuned them out as we headed to the castle which had the sounds of a party coming from it. When we entered there was a large table with people feasting, rooms with different types of music, and people gathered about a 10yr old playing video games.  He one a game against his brother who turned out to be a mummified corpse...and then I knew we were starring at Lord Hypnos and his brother Thanatos.  It was one of those times again where common sense should have kicked in.  The others were quipping and commenting like they weren't standing before a god...one that could blink us out of existence should he so desire.  I asked to see his piles ignoring the others and he showed me to them.  I cast my tracking spell and was surprised to have it lead me to a lute player back in the main room...one of the strings on the lute was MY memory.  A stab of pain laced into my heart and I was even more sure it was mine.  He said I could not have it, as he takes the est memories and strings his instruments with them, so I focused on trying to find others only to discover NONE were here.  I tried Ben's with the same result...I was certain that lute's strings were all a memory from each of us.  Rupper asked about a trade and Hypnos said he would trade him for his relic guitar.  Wuyi threatened Hypnos and another white hot lash of pain tore into me causing me to gasp and nearly double over as Rupper started to play, seeming to entrance Hypnos!  I snatched the lute and he didn't resist...instead he raced to the Lethe and began drinking gulp after gulp of the water!  As he drank and drank though the world around us began to crumble and shake and twist!  Kathy suddenly broke open to reveal something horrible as it seemed to be releasing something evil into the world again....and then we woke up.  On the shore.  Prometheus and Joshua with us as well as a mummified corpse and a 10 year old boy face down in the river, and in my hand the golden lute and six silver strings...