Goddess Reborn

Fear and Terror for all

"Erebus? Like the elemental God that created the underworld?" I ask the guys. They just nod before Deacon adds something that I did not expect.

"He was an actual Titan before that, Menoetius, Zues is the one that sent him to Erebus, who helped create it all. He also created you, Meno, as we remember him, creater all of us. It's why we have elemental abilities." He explains. "I don't understand why he would do this though, he hasn't been heard from in ages. When he was banished in the Titan wars we were limited to using our abilities to aid the humans. Then we learned we were connected to more than just Meno, we came from all darkness. There is something we share with all the darker gods." He ponders.

Roman looks lost in thought, staring off into the horizon. I want to comfort them but I have no idea how, there must be someone that can help. I say as much to them, "someone must have answers."

"I think now we go see the twins Deac. We need to know what is going on." Roman insists. Deacon just nods, but no one moves. The shock of what they had seen happen coupled with the information they were able to tell us left me feeling numb. I had no feelings left for those two, but no one deserved to die that way. It seemed that the day had hit the guys as well, none of us could move. I finally knew it was time to break the silence the only way I knew how.

"Who are the twins? Why do you think they can help us?" I ask in a somber tone. Neither answered right away, seemingly lost to their thoughts.

"Anik and Amas, they are Jinn. They often know of what is happening around our existence and are more likely to talk." Deacon explained. "Let's go see them, if they have answers, it's time we know."

It was still another hour or two before we moved. Like before we did not bother with earth bound modes of transportation. Instead, Roman opened our door onto a foreign hallway and we walked through. Knocking we were met with a small elderly woman, Iranian possibly, who led us through to a main parlor. At first I thought nothing was amiss, until I noticed the sound around us. The room was filled with the sound of moving legs and slithering bodies. As I inspected the walls I realized they seemed to move on their own. Deacon pulled me back from getting too close before calling out the names of who were there to see.

Suddenly, two snakes slithered from the wall and landed in plush leather chairs. Once there, the snakes grew and contorted until they had become human like. Now sitting before us were two beautiful people, their looks so captivating I could feel myself being pulled toward them.

"If it isn't the elemental bounty hunters, and I see your plaything has returned, though she still seems to be a bit human. Want to come sit over here love? I can give you anything your heart desires." Amas cooed, while rubbing his thigh. His voice was like a song, drawing me to him without me even realizing. Suddenly, Deacons arms is wrapped around me, holding me in place. A snicker from the two in front of us makes me realize what had happened.

"Amas, be nice, clearly the little sparrow can't yet keep herself out of traps." Anik snickers, her smug grin and murderous gaze not hiding her distain at all. "Why have you three sullied our home with your presence?" She snips.

"Relax Ani, we just need some info and we will be on our way. I even brought you a gift." Roman offers, pulling a velvet bag with what sounds like coins in it from his pocket. He tosses it to Amas and, once he inspects it, he nods to Anik. "We just came from a funeral, but the dead person was not the main attraction." He finishes, sitting back as they have accepted his gift.

"Yes, your funeral, I presume? Amas was right, you do still smell human." She responds, looking me over. I could feel myself getting annoyed by them. All they did was seem to speak in riddles and jabs to get a person off their game. "So, whst fun would there be to be had at a human funeral? Did someone else die?" She giggled.

"Yes, two people actually. My ex boyfriend and my best friend, burned from the inside out." I snapped. Deacon tried to comfort me, but I was annoyed at this point. "I don't know why the guys thought of you two for help, you seem about as helpful as the snakes that you were." In a flash the room erupted into the sound of hissing so loud it made my ears rings. Closing my eyes to focus my thoughts when I opened them again to Anik kneeling in front of me.

"Careful little sparrow, I could eat you whole and still have room for dessert." She said through an evil grin. As she stood to move back to her chair I noticed that as she walked she moved much like a snake, sliding her feet in a move that was just as captivating as their voices. "And they came to us because we have ears everywhere. We trade favors, for secrets, as they are much more powerful than gold these days." She states as she sits.

"We know something about you three, a secret told to us, in exchange for some misguided power. Three of the elementals of Erebus, back in fighting form." Amas added, looking bored by the conversation. We looked between ourselves before I asked the obvious question, about if there are more than just us, and who had told them this secret. "We won't tell you who, in fact, I barely want to tell you anything. You have always been an issue, you children of darkness. But, I'll leave you with this - do not trust those that come to you as friends, but trust less those that come to you as foe. Protect the elements, or allow Erebus to rise and darkness to fall."

"What the hell does that mean? You speak in riddles and half thoughts. How does any of this help me know who wanted my human life ended?" I snap at the twins, again earning a hiss around the room. This time I do not take my eyes off of them.

"Cage your lover Deacon before I take her from you." Anik threatens. Deacon does not move to stop me, but I know to hold back some. "Maybe you are looking in the wrong place, instead of asking who wanted your precious human life snapped, maybe you should be asking who put you there."

She has a point, we knew we were wrongly accused but had never looked into who had made us look guilty or why. I nodded and sat back to think, wanting to understand more. Roman was the next to speak, it was not lost of me that Deacon had been quiet the whole time we were there, his face void of emotion. Roman asked if they had heard anything more about elementals created like us. "There are others, how many we do not know, but they always tend to be near each other." Anik tells us. She adds that there are some yet to be pulled from their human lives, then adds something none of us expects. "Like your little Canary to match the Sparrow here, Roman. I am surprised you have not found her yet."

This earns some genuine shock from us all, as we had no idea there was another of us out there. When we tried to press for information they brushed us off saying we should ask our own for help with that, they did not trifle with the will of the gods. "Pretty things and dangerous secrets, those are our world, we will leave the rest to you." Amas quipped. "Sparrow, you seem to have questions, ask before I tire of your presence." He offers.

"Why do you refer to me as sparrow?" was my first question. He said simply that I was a tiny creature trapped in the jaws of a monster, I just did not know it yet. His answer gave me a chill, but I tried to hold strong. I asked questions about his kind, the balance of good and evil and tried to get more information from them. They were not forthcoming with Intel about our needs, but offered insight into who and what they are.

"We are neither good nor evil, like you created by a God seeing an opportunity for balance. We work to keep and restore peace, but take what we want when able." Anik responded. "You must go now, we have entertained you all enough." She says abruptly, Amas just nodding before they rise and turn from us. As they move toward the wall they take their initial shape again and join the moving mass of creatures.

As quickly as we arrived we were back in the apartment contemplating what had been said to us. Deacon quickly started writing down what had been said, still not having spoken a word. Once he had it all down, he finally caught my eye and knew I had questions. I waited for him to say anything but he did nothing, said nothing, just stared into my eyes. Finally I could not hold it in any longer.

"Fine, I'll ask. Why are you all of a sudden mute?" I snap at him. Roman looks up, between us, then hangs his head. With a sigh he explains that long ago Anik cursed him, a price for information received.

"He cannot speak in the presence of any Jinn. It's one of the reasons he was hesitant about going. It will wear off soon enough." Roman explains. I nod and move to the next obvious question, the riddle and this "canary" as they called her. We now knew there was another person to find, and yet even the guys had no idea.

"We don't even have a name, who can we ask?" I ask to no one specific. "Even if we figure out who to ask, can we trust them?"

"Mags, we could ask her. She has always been there for us." Roman offers. I rebuff the idea, reminding him the riddle said not to trust our friends. I finally have my opening to ask who she is to us. "She's a God, old world and powerful. She has always been there for us and helped us through the world. I don't see a better choice."

A cough to my left draws my attention to Deacon, his voice comes out scratchy like first thing in the morning. "Contact Mags, let's see if she can help, but be cautious with what we add. We also need to see what she knows about how we were accused."

"How do we know the Jinn weren't lying?" I ask the guys. They explain the Jinn have no reason to lie, not motivated by good or evil, they deal in truths, and even by their own words secrets. "So, they have no reason to lie, but no reason to tell all of the truth even?" Which both men agree with. We all agree that they likely knew much more than they let on, but at least now we have much more info to work with.

The day felt like it had been long and tiring. I knew we did not need to do any of this tonight, and none of the answers were going to come right away. It seemed the day had the same effect on the guys. They both looked as tired as I did, and we decided that tonight would be pizza and sleep. There was no witty and fun play, no teasing or parties, and even no trips to the coffee shop to see a pretty girl. The night was filled with quiet conversation, comfort, food and contemplation.

When we went to bed that night we were unsure of what the next day would hold.