Chapter 12

Greek Gods

Zeus - King of the Greek gods

Hera - Queen of the Greek gods, sister and wife of Zeus

Hades - god of the underworld, brother of Zeus

Poseidon - god of the sea, brother of Zeus

Demeter - goddess of harvest and fertility of the earth, sister of Zeus

Aphrodite - Daughter of Zeus and Dione, Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality

Artemis - Daughter of Zeus and Leto, goddess of the hunt, the moon, and chastity

Athena - Daughter of Zeus and Metis, goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.

Ares - Son of Zeus and Hera, god of war

Apollo - Son of Zeus and Leto - god of the sun and light, music and poetry, healing and plagues, prophecy and knowledge, order and beauty, archery and agriculture.

Dionysus - Son of Zeus and Semele - God of the vine, grape-harvest, wine-making, wine, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, theatre

Hephaetus - Son of Zeus and Hera - god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture.

Hermes - Son of Zeus and Maia - Messenger of the gods, god of trade, thieves, travelers, sports, athletes, border crossings, guide to the Underworld

Eris - Daughter of Zeus and Hera, sister of Ares - minor goddess of discord and strife

Deimos - son of Ares, twin of Phobos - god of dread

Phobos - son of Ares, twin of Deimos - god of fear

Dolos - Personification of trickery, cunning deception, craftiness, treachery and guile

Apate - Counterpart of Dolos, goddess of fraud and deception.

Ephus - the godling man with an unusual power.

Dr. Quinn Markov - human wife of Ephus

Egyptian Goddesses and wives to Ephus

Bast - Goddess of cats, protection, joy, dance, music, family, and love Sekhmet- Goddess of fire, war, and dance Hathor - Goddess of the sky, dance, love, beauty, joy, motherhood, foreign lands, mining, music and fertility. Serket - Goddess of scorpions, medicine, magic, and healing venomous stings and bites Maat - Goddess of Truth and Justice Tefnut - Goddess of Rain, Air, Moisture, Weather, Dew, Fertility, and Water

Brothers of Bast and Sekhmet

Thoth - God of knowledge Sobek - God of the Nile, the Army, military, fertility and of crocodiles Anhur - God of war and the sky bearer - Full brother of Bast and Sekhmet Horus - Ancient God of the sky and kingship Min - God of fertility Khonshu - God of the Moon Apophis - God of Chaos and darkness Shu - God of the wind and air

Amaunet – The spirit body of the green Eternal Nile Serpent Sword

Aniketos – Brother of Amaunet & the spirit body of the Black Caspian God Killer Sword

Ephus was still in shock that not only had Hephaetus given him lightweight armor, it was far stronger than he thought. Smiling wider, he bowed to Hephaetus whose mouth only dropped open. He of course, bowed to Ephus, causing his half-sister goddesses to giggle.

Hephaetus looked at all three with a slight scowl. “Honor is not something you should giggle about.” He stated.

“Oh, of that we are all most certain. It is just, seeing you bow to anyone other than father, that is funny.” Artemis said.

“Still in this instance, I fail to see the humor in any of this.” Hephaetus stated, growing more angry by the moment.

Ephus touched Hephaetus arm, causing him to whirl an angry look on his face, quickly calming when he saw Ephus.

“I, do not want this house to be destroyed by a battle between the two of you. This is my home; I will get pissed off.” Ephus stated, a look of anger growing on his face. “I know that you, are only showing your affection for each other, the only way you can. Again this is MY home, I do not want it damaged or destroyed. I have enough problems as it is.”

Ephus sat his head in his hands. He felt this was all his fault, he should have had better protection something.

“I am also to blame brother, it has been a long time since, I was fooled as easily as I was. You will have the full...” Anhur was saying.

“No, by the rules, none of the Egyptian realm can interfere, unless they are hurt by a god. Not through, no interaction of a god. No, this has to be me, it is my responsibility. Though,” Here Ephus was going through all the rules from both realms. “I could use a second, if I am killed or injured. She, should allow you to use her to cut Ares in several pieces.”

“She? What are...” Anhur started.

“I am not a fool Anhur, your actions gave it away.” Turning to the sword, Ephus waved his hand not expecting it to work. Looking around, he could see that all there but him and Anhur were frozen. “I am right, am I not Amaunet?”

A sudden gasp, let Ephus know that he’d gotten it right.

The female of the sword appeared bowing to Ephus. “Master please forgive me...” She was starting to say.

“No, as I told you and your brother I am only your partner, no more. It will be good to call you by your name not, hey you.” Ephus stated.

“Thank you, I also thank you Anhur, for placing me with one as wise as he is.” Amaunet stated, bowing to Anhur.

“At first, I thought it was Mskhenst or Norfe-Ari, though those names didn’t seem to fit.” Ephus said, seeing Amaunet’s face screw up into a sour look.

Amaunet looked at Anhur, lowering her head, “I am sorry that you, will not remember my name after I am gone. Only he who guesses it, is allowed to remember it. You do not have to worry about Ares, I nor my brother will allow you to come to harm.”

Ephus was nodding, “your brother is Aniketos, if I am not mistaken.”

The shocked and surprised look on her face let Ephus know that, again he’d gotten it correct. “You are a most unusual godling. Never have I ever met nor heard of one like you.”

Ephus smiled as he stood, “I will miss being able to call you by name, Amaunet. I wish the both of you well, whatever comes.” Anhur looked at Ephus who waved his hand.

Immediately, Ephus saw that all four of the Greek goddesses and god, were bowing their heads to Ephus.

All four of them immediately apologized to Ephus, causing all of them to stare at the others. Turning to Anhur he said, “you know that none of you can attack. Unless I or they are harmed outside the rules, I have to do this. That’s not to say, that you cannot watch or give non battle help.”

A huge smile appeared on Anhur’s face as he nodded. “Perhaps, I should mention this to my sisters and brothers, especially Bast.” Anhur whispered this last bit, not wanting to summon his half-sister.

Ephus thought a moment, then nodded, “Though you and the others might have to hold her back. You know that temper of hers.”

Anhur’s eyes got wide as he readily agreed, nodding his head. With a slight chuckle Anhur vanished, sighing, Ephus wished he could make all this crap disappear just as easily.

Ephus looked at the others in the room, he then sighed, it wasn’t like he could keep them out of this. In a sense, it was their brother therefore, their concern. Looking at the green sword at his side he nodded, he had to do this, with as few deaths as possible, though? Was that even possible, with a seemingly death happy Ares? Guess we’ll find out, he nodded to the Goddesses and Hephaetus, then they all winked out.

Back in Ares building, he was doing all that he could to taunt Quinn Markov, to strike him. Damn it! She was the most frustrating human female he’d ever met. How in the hell, was she resisting him like she was?

Ares growled as he changed tactics, throwing things near her. Still, he wasn’t getting a reaction from her.

Quinn turned to her son, stating a little loud, “do you see that?” Here she pointed to Ares. “You son, are more mature and adult than it is. Watch, it’ll have a tantrum in a moment.”

Ares nearly exploded when he heard her words. How dare she, insult the greatest war god of all time! Then a thought came to him, two could play that game.

“Such brave words from such a little girl. To think, that you have the sense to actually have a child, let alone raise one.” Ares said with a wicked laugh.

“Hmph! This coming from a spoiled little boy, who has tantrums when, he can’t get his own way. Ephus was correct when he said that, you were the dunce of war, plus an idiot to boot. Go away little boy, stop bothering me.” Quinn stated scoffing, then turning away from Ares as if he wasn’t there.

Ares face started to twist into a mask of anger and hatred. He drew back his fist to strike her then, felt two sets of hands holding his arm back.

Growling he looked at his arm, to see his sons Deimos and Phobos straining to hold it back.

“Father,” Phobos said, “if you touch her, they will all be here in moments. Some we could fight, not all of them. From what we heard Ra might also get involved.”

“Even all three of us, couldn’t withstand that much power.” Deimos added.

Ares seemed to think about it a moment, then his arm relaxed. “I can see that the both of you are correct.” With that, Ares blew the both of them against the wall, then through it and several others. “Do not,” Ares almost shouted to the hole in the wall, “ever, lay your weak hands on me again!”

With a self-satisfying smirk, Ares turned toward where Dolos and Apate were. It appeared that Dolos, had healed his arm Hmm Ares thought, far faster than he thought it would have healed.

Ares walked closer, then stood there waiting. Dolos looked up seeing Ares, “I fear that someone warned him. No one, god or otherwise has ever broken, let alone pierced the veil of simulacrum.”

“It was perfect,” Apate stated still thinking over what had transpired. “I saw his eyes, he was completely under the direction of the veil”