Perversions of the Flesh

A groan stirred Ann from her sleep. She twisted, sandwiched between Kat and Rosalyn. She hugged the Druid in her waking moments, nuzzling into her muscular neck. SHe smelled like roses and lavender. So tall. Mmmm.

Wait.

Ann’s eyes flew open. The head she was staring at the back of was not her lover!

“WHoooaaAT THE FUCK!” Ann shouted. Her claws were out in a moment as she shoved Kat off the bed behind her. Rosalyn went tumbling off the other side with a grunt and groan. Ann barely stopped herself from ramming her claws into Orenous’s neck.

The goddess lay there, naked, and seemingly surprised. She was in the plain human form she’d taken before, but her hair was a glittery blonde, and her eyes were smouldering orange. Every curve and edge of her form was sinfully seductive, even as she actively tried not to be.

Ann slapped her. Hard.

Orenous scrunched up her face and rubbed her cheek. Ann doubted that she had really been hurt. “Yeah. I deserved that, too. Sorry. I just wanted to cuddle. It’s been so long.”

“Get Bren and Lucia in here, and we’re having this talk,” Ann growled.

A knock came at the door as soon as she finished her sentence. Bren and Lucia entered without waiting for an answer, tactfully ignoring the general nudity of everyone else in the room.

Kat tossed Rosalyn one of her massive shirts as she quickly doffed another. Pants could wait.

Ann was still straddling Orenous, pinning her to the bed, deciding whether to hit her again or let her go. She decided to do neither and just sat there, arms crossed. She was not going to talk or point out that both her cocks were rock hard.

Orenous looked like she was about to speak, but Ann spoke over her. “Alright, this is part one for the discussion. You, Goddess, need to start asking permission. I swear to fuck I am this close to committing some blasphemy to get you out of here.”

To her credit, Orenous nodded without speaking. Any words right now would only piss Ann off more, and she knew the Goddess knew that.

“Bren, Lucia, do you know she’s been in your heads, peeking into your past and personal shit?” Ann asked without taking her eyes off those glowing orange orbs, returning the stare.

Bren crossed his arms, shrugging. “I had assumed. Her domain is both the heart and mind. I am under the assumption that She does not understand boundaries as most of us do. I have braced myself for this invasion of privacy.”

Lucia just sneered, moving to perch on the seat of a high-backed chair. “Don’t like. Know happens. Is… uncomfortable. Frustrating. Stupid Goddess.”

“As if Bryl…”

“You’re not talking right now,” Ann snapped. She got up, deciding that straddling the Goddess of Love, sex, and the mind that processed all of that wasn’t the best place to be making her point. She took the shirt from Kat, and slipped into some panties that did nothing to hide her twin boners.

Orenous sat up, crossing her legs in a perfect lotus position, and facing them seriously. She didn’t speak.

“I do think you’re doing your best to help. I want that to be said first,” Ann began. “You’re juggling being a Goddess and the usual duties plus our party and trying to look more into the Warped. I can’t imagine dealing with that much. You have got to start asking for permission before you dive into our heads.”

Orenous raised her hand meekly.

“I know you can’t help it.”

The hand went down.

“You can’t help it because that’s part of what you are. It’s fucking infuriating, but do you know what you can help? Talking about it. I don’t mind particularly much, but Bren and Lucia, and I’m sure Kat, are going to mind. Right?”

The three mentioned nodded. Ann had left Rosalyn out because, out of all of them, the Druid was a mostly open book. Someone already knowing everything about her meant she didn’t have to do the awkward stages of introductions.

Ann and Waheela had a different stance than either group. Somewhere in the middle. Ann did not like someone poking around in her head that might have the ability to make alterations, but she also didn’t quite mind Orenous seeing her past. She’d come to mostly trust the Goddess.

“Alright, so here’s the thing. I need to know one very specific, important thing, and I need you to swear on something you cannot lie about. I need you to swear that you have never, EVER, made alterations to mine or anyone’s memories here.” Ann’s Lover’s Intuition was on full blast, and she was digging for anything that told her Orenous was lying. The woman was a Goddess. She could probably lie perfectly. Still, Ann was trying.

Orenous nodded, her expression serious, and took a deep breath. “I swear on The Compact, forged upon our return, that I have never altered a memory within any of your minds. Not a second nor scent has been altered. Not even your time in a coma was shortened to a manageable period. You endured those five thousand years on your own.”

Ann glared at the Goddess. She searched for anything. Any twitch or flick of her eyes, a muscle misfiring, anything. Orenous was so still, she might as well have been a statue. “Bren, how serious is that?”

“I have never heard of a Compact between the Gods,” Bren replied. His voice was hushed, and he seemed in awe of what he’d just heard. “I believe this may be the first mention of such. She’s said They made a promise to never speak about something before, actually. Is this the Compact, Orenous?”

Orenous nodded gravely. “It is.”

“What happens if ye break this oath?” Kat asked.

“I end. The me that you currently know would no longer be, and something or someone else would be created in my place to maintain order. This is my literal life on the line, here, and every plan, heart, and hope I have for the world on the line. If I lied under this oath, all other Gods would know, as well.”

Shit. Ann hadn’t expected such a strong repercussion. That was a solid reason for someone not to lie. Hell, Orenous would already be gone if she had lied. Gone and replaced by something else. She might not even be friendly in whatever form the being would take.

“Do we all accept this?” Ann asked, looking around for the first time to everyone else. “Not just asking us. This goes for the creatures in our souls, too. The somewhat friendly ones, at least.”

“Dearc doesn’t give a flyin’ feck, but I accept that,” Kat nodded. Her arms relaxed, cords smoothing as she still stood there.

“Vokvi casts doubt upon these words,” Bren said, eyes focused keenly on the Goddess. “What are words? What proof do we have that this Compact has the power to bind you so?”

Another knock at the door.

Kat stalked over and cracked the portal, then stepped back.

Four other people walked in. Well, three and an outline. Illdall, Bryltia, Qu’Sella — in Qu form — and Eas.

Ann had a feeling that this was more momentous than she was giving it credit. Six gods in one place, giving their conscious attention to this conversation.

Bryltia glared at Orenous and huffed, stalking over to a corner and sitting with her back to it, watching everyone at once while leaving no room for anyone to sneak up on her.

Qu conjured seats for herself, Illdall, and the standing five to sit on with a wave of her hand.

“Well,” Illdall said, taking his seat and leaning his cane against his knees, “this is a fine mess you’ve made for yourself, Orenous.”

“Love is messy,” the Goddess shrugged. “Always has been. Sometimes it burns too brightly and hurts others. Sorry to drag you all into this.”

Bren’s mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish out of water.

“Speak up, boy,” Qu cackled, smacking his back. “Or has that cat got your tongue? Twisting your words into riddles- is it?”

“No one will believe this has happened,” Bren croaked out. He cleared his throat, trying to gather himself, but couldn’t speak.

“Uh, can I ask it, then?” Rosalyn peeped, raising her hand. Eas was there behind her, Their outline framing her and gently lifting her hair in a woolly halo. “That Compact she’s talking about is real, isn’t it?”

Eas made a noise like wind rustling through bushes, then through wind chimes.

“What the old windbag is saying is yes. The Compact is real. This is the first we’ve discussed it officially with you mortals,” Sella nodded gravely. Ann started for a moment. He really did look like Indiana Jones. Well, the idea of Indie without Harrison Ford. His clothes, eyes, hat, and whip were all there. His face even looked right, but it wasn’t the one in the movies. He was the archetypal adventuring archaeologist. That was all ignoring that there wasn’t even a sound when he replaced Qu. It was like she’d blinked, and he was there instead. It even felt like her brain had skipped a millisecond ahead during the transition.

It was her first time actually seeing the other Gods who had sponsored her friends and lovers. Sure, they’d all described them the best they could, but a description was never entirely accurate.

Bryltia was a Thrundol. She wasn’t particularly large, either, which contrasted with Lucia’s experience. Still, Her long tusks and hair, coupled with Her eyes that Ann couldn’t meet because of some primal fear, told her everything this woman was. She was the hunt. Ann was the hunted. Maybe she wouldn’t be killed in this room, but this Goddess was actively tracking and watching her. No matter where she paced in the room, no matter who she was behind, those eyes saw her.

Illdall was pretty much how she’d imagined him. Rail-thin and bearded with a deep hunch to his back. His cane was probably the most interesting thing about him. Ann could tell that it was absolutely ancient. She’d never seen wood like it before, and the polished surface held so many dents and scars that it was practically decorated with them. It also seemed incredibly heavy, as it made an ominous tocking noise whenever it hit the ground.

Eas, well, was the wind. Ann remembered an old animation that had fairies depicted as leaves that fit the description well enough. They moved and rippled through the light, but had no substance. Ann couldn’t tell if They had two legs, six, or none. Same for every other limb. Ann realised now just how difficult it was for Rosalyn to even get an inkling of what her God intended or wanted. Orenous really was helping her with the translations.

“Orenous, we expected you to be the first to let it slip, but not like this,” Illdall sighed. He held out a hand towards Ann. “Might I have a drink from that mug of yours?”

Ann nearly fell over herself scrambling to her bag to hand the God her coffee.

Qu was back, and had a steaming cup of tea in her hand.

“Very nice. So, Orenous, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“Oops?” the Goddess shrugged.

“Should have brought Nylir,” Bryltia growled from the corner.

“Don’t fucking bring my sister into this!” Orenous looked furious. Ann knew She had a cruel side to Her, but she’d not expected this reaction to the Goddess’s sister being mentioned.

A loud clack silenced the room. Illdall set his cane aside again. “This is not a time for our squabbles. I am sorry, you five, that this discussion must happen here. I will be demanding an oath of secrecy that what your friend’s patron has told you never leaves this room. You five may only discuss this between yourselves.”

“What, that ye gods made a feckin’ deal wit’ each other? Why’s that such a big deal?” Kat asked.

“Questions,” Qu answered simply. “Questions and doubts that’ll cause more questions and doubts that’ll destabilise everything that’s been built up for your people. Before you get your head twisted, boy, remember that forbidden knowledge is forbidden for a reason. Your friend out of time could tell you of weapons that’d make your whiskers curl.”

Ann’s mind went straight to nukes, but there were other weapons. Briefly, she wondered how magic hadn’t replicated some of those horrors. Acid alone was terrible, as was nerve gas. “There are no honoured dead here,” she muttered.

Bren stared at her, then tapped his forearm in a way that she knew he’d be asking her about that later.

“Alright, so yes, Orenous has let slip a few things that we require be sworn to secrecy. The Compact, which involves all Gods currently known, and that it is something that we can swear upon in such a way that will unmake us.” Illdall regarded them all calmly. “We needed to step in before she revealed more. Mostly for her own protection, but ours as well. You all know by now, better than anyone, that we are fallible. We can overlook things, and this shrouded Goddess creature is one of our gravest oversights. If we can miss this, we would be better off not having it known that a weapon exists that can kill us.”

“Rambling, Illdie,” Orenous hummed.

“You are right. Now, I will require an oath from all ten of you. This will be binding. You will not be able to speak about this with anyone else present. You will not be able to write about it or transmit it telepathically. You may use no form of communication to indicate its existence to another. The only ones you may communicate with regarding The Compact will be others who know of its existence. I will not brand your flesh as Bryltia prefers, but this will be an indelible mark upon your souls.”

“And what if we say no?” Ann felt Rosalyn’s arms squeeze her waist tightly as she asked the hard question. A moment where she could really test the moral fibre of these deities. It was a terrifying question, but one she had to ask.

Bryltia tensed in Her corner, the floorboards creaking under Her as She shifted Her weight. “I will hunt you until you are no longer a threat.”

“Holy Me, you all are so fucking dramatic about this, and that’s coming from me!” Orenous groaned. “You, me, and these five are going to keep it a secret. I think we can count on Waheela to keep this hush-hush, but the other four are a big question mark. Can’t we just have those five creatures make the oaths? This is messing with free will a bit much for my tastes.”

“Free-use bitch,” Bryltia snarled.

“Lady fucked by a snake says what?” Orenous shot back.

Bryltia lunged, but was stopped in her tracks by a runed barrier. Her forehead smacked dully against it, and she struck it a couple of times before giving up.

Qu put her hand down, rolling her eyes. “I agree with Orenous. I am fine with binding vows, but usually only when both parties agree on what they’re swearing to. Mortals, speak up. Don’t have five thousand years to think about this one.”

“Wait, so we can just say no, and not talk about it, and nothing’ll happen? HOnestly, I’m ok with saying I won’t talk about this. It’s kinda really important and I don’t want people to get hurt because I know something. At least we can talk about it with each other and you guys, so that’s good enough for me,” Rosalyn said. “I swear it.”

“I want to know what The Compact is before I swear on this,” Bren said stubbornly. “I will not fully swear to this agreement until it has been revealed what is so serious that it holds such weight for the Gods themselves. Do this, and you have shown me trust enough to hold this secret.”

“This is not your secret to demand,” Bryltia said, her voice like a knife in the dark. “We should not even be discussing this. Demands should be made, and oaths taken. Know that it is the correct path and get on with it.”

Lucia stood, staring her own Goddess in the eye. “No. Need. Know what swear to protect.”

“You do not!” Bryltia shouted back. “Just as a child does not need to know what their parents did in their wars, nor do you need to know our secrets, girl. Know your place.”

“Place here,” Lucia insisted. Her voice was quiet and calm. “Place stand here. Challenge you. Hide from tools. Hide thing might help Ann. Is stupid, short-sighted. Secret now, or no oath. Will seek truth. Bren hunts, too.”

Bryltia looked like she was about to gut Lucia then and there. Illdall had his cane in hand again, Sella was back with magic sparking on his fingers, and the breeze was picking up.

Orenous rolled her eyes. “Hey, let’s just take a vote on it. This is clearly too big of a sticking point, and Lucia’s right. We need Ann. She’s already figured out that it’s someone deific that’s doing this, and a bit of why she’s doing it. Ann is a connection we’ve been missing for over two thousand years, and having them tell us to fuck off here is not how I want this to end!”

“I will, too,” Ann said. She didn’t believe her own words. “I’ll tell you all to go fuck yourselves and do my own thing until whatever else happens.”

[Chosen Annita]: Play along, please.

[Orenous]: You were actually scaring me there. What happens if there’s no consensus?

[Chosen Annita]: Then we don’t swear, and we move on. We know more than you wanted us all to know. I’m not going to go yelling this from the rooftops. It’s the kind of thing that collapses civilisations.

[Orenous]: Thank Me you get that. Alright. I’m going to push for the vote. Thank you, Ann, for that. I know you all are good people. Bryltia and Nylir are far more cynical. I know I’ve fucked up and broken a lot of your trust. Let me at least try to make this part right.

[Chosen Annita]: Can I tell the rest about this after?

[Orenous]: Absolutely. Alright, time for some acting.

“Come on,” Orenous huffed. “We all agreed that this would come to a vote, so let’s vote. I’ve already called the forum. Other Gods are showing up. Let’s do this thing.”

Orenous turned to the mortals and waved. “Be back in a minute.”

With a wink and a shimmer not unlike static, the five Gods were gone.

“What the fuck.” Ann’s voice quaked as her legs finally gave out.