Chapter 4

Aphrodite - Daughter of Zeus, Goddess of love, beauty and sexuality
Artemis - Daughter of Zeus, goddess of the hunt, the moon, and chastity
Athena - Daughter of Zeus, goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.
Zeus - King of the Greek gods
Ares - Son of Zeus and Hera, god of war
Apollo - god of the sun and light, music and poetry, healing and plagues, prophecy and knowledge, order and beauty, archery and agriculture.
Dionysus - God of the vine, grape-harvest, wine-making, wine, fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, theatre
Hephaestus - god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture.
Hermes - Messenger of the gods, god of trade, thieves, travelers, sports, athletes, border crossings, guide to the Underworld
Eris - minor goddess of discord and strife

Ephus - the godling man with an unusual power.
Dr. Quinn - 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

Eris followed Ephus limping a bit to try to sell that she was weak. A slight smile on her lips, this Ephus was a bigger fool than she thought he was. This was going to be her best work, that was ‘til she stumbled against Ephus.

A massive shiver shot through her body as she tried to pull herself away from Ephus. What the hell was going on? She’d never felt anything like she had when she touched him. Her brow furrowed as she thought of the other rumors she’d heard about the godling.

Ephus smiled at Eris as he helped her to stand. Thank goodness he had something around his head keeping the shades in place. After all, he’d just met the female no sense in having her throw herself at him.

Nodding his head, they both started again toward the house. This one was different Ephus thought as they slowly made their way toward the door. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt a power like hers. Something was amiss here. He’d felt the power that Ares had, then he’d felt the others in the Olympus realm.

“Now then, before we go in, what should we call you?” Ephus asked.

Trembling a moment remember what she’d felt when she’d touched him, she almost whispered, “I am called Eris”

“Ah! Good, Now we can see to your safety. Don’t worry Ares won’t come here, It is very well guarded” Ephus related to her.

“How? I don’t feel that you are stronger than Ares.” A slightly shocked Eris replied.

“Well, you might say I’m being watched over by all my wives and their brothers.” Ephus told her with a slight smile.

They walked in with Eris looking over everything. What was going on? This was a godling that was before her, yet he lived like a human? Ok, something didn’t add up here, Nodding her head she thought I need to delve as deep as I can before I can start forming all the rifts between them.

Ephus sat in the great common room as he regarded Eris. ‘Yes,’ he thought, ‘there was definitely something off here.’ Sighing he really hated mysteries, why the hell not just get it over with?

Ephus was about to ask Eris a few questions when he felt the approach of Bast. A moment later she appeared beside him.

“Husband I felt that you had returned, I...” Bast started ‘til she saw Eris standing at the other end of the room. A long, low hiss issued from her throat as her hands started to glow. “SHAYTAN!”

Eris’s eyes grew wide as she slowly bowed her herd. “Theá” Was all Eris said as she fell to her knees.

Bast was now between Ephus and Eris her hands still glowing. Though now, there was a look of caution plus anger on her face.

Ephus was shaking his head, what the hell was going on? He’d never, not ever, been able to understand what the gods and goddesses were saying. Rising his power up to almost full he started to check if his power was starting to fail.

Eris’s head suddenly snapped up to stare at Ephus. By all the realms of power, he really was a godling! Dear heavens his power almost had her skin crawling, even Ares power wasn’t this intense. Damn! She wasn’t about to go back to Ares and tell him that this godling put him to shame!

Eris opened her mouth to speak though nothing seemed to be coming out. Bast also had whirled to stare at Ephus as she was searching the area for any threats. Not finding she wondered what was going on.

“Husband? Is all well? It has been some time since you pushed your power that high.” She asked a true look of concern on her face.

Ephus held up a finger to silence Bast a moment as he felt all of his power. Ok, so nothing seemed to be wrong with them. Turning toward Bast, Ephus had his own look of concern on his face.

“I’m sorry my Bast, I was afraid that my powers were fading. You see, I couldn’t understand what the two of you just said.” Ephus told Bast whose mouth immediately dropped open.

“Thoth! Brother we need you!” Bast was suddenly shouting. There was a rush of wind then a tall pale skinned male appeared with an Ibis mask on.

Thoth quickly removed it as he looked at first Bast then Ephus. The look of concern on both their faces also started to concern him. He’d felt nothing as always with Ephus.

“I am here sister, what has the both of you so concerned.” Looking around he suddenly spied Eris, A slight growl issued from his throat as an even more concerned look took over his features. “Shall I end this one?” Thoth growled more making Eris shrink back from the male more.

With a quivering voice she stated, “I thought you said I would be safe here Ephus. I should have left when you found me.”

“NO! Thoth no, she is running from Ares.” Ephus stated to try and calm Thoth.

Thoth’s eyes narrowed, “She is one who thrives on coming between people, to make life as bad as possible. Do not trust her brother, none of us do!”

Ephus was nodding, “I thought you knew me far better than that brother Thoth. I always make sure before I do something.”

Thoth contemplated that a moment then nodded toward Ephus. leaning forward Thoth whispered to Ephus, “I know you brother as I do this little one. If you have need of me or any of us call.” Straightening up Thoth looked at Bast, “Now sister what has you so worried?”

“Ephus said that he could not understand me nor the demon little one.” Bast relayed.

Thoth’s eyes went wide as he stretched his hand out passing it over Ephus. A faint smile lit up his face as he nodded. Waving his hand again, he then passed it over Ephus a second time. This time he nodded, “I apologize Ephus that should help you from now on.” With that Thoth nodded then vanished.

Bast was staring intensely at Ephus, then her eyes went wide as she kissed him, nodded then vanished herself.

Eris had actually been slightly afraid. Both of the visitors had far more power than she remembered them having. If the rumors she’d heard about the godling were true, then Ares was going to get his ass handed to him. A small smile crossed her features as she thought of that.

Ares was pissed as hell. She’d been gone for several hours now she hadn’t contacted him at all. He was starting to have doubts about sending her. Problem was she was the best he had, plus she’d never failed him yet.

Rubbing his chest, he had to wonder if his power was starting to dim a bit. I need another all-out war he thought. All this peace crap that they were going though was enough to make him want to vomit.

Sitting back, he needed to think things through. This Ephus was no weak fool he’d seen that. No, he needed to beat the godling at his own game.

Slamming his fist through the wall Ares growled, he needed that little bitch Eris’s information. No matter how hard he looked he could see nothing about Ephus. Growling louder he started to concentrate on Eris, she’d answer him or he’d make her suffer.

After a few moments Ares face screwed up into a mask of rage. What the hell was going on? Now he couldn’t see anything within a few miles of Ephus.

Concentrating even harder he soon felt Eris though barely.

[Eris I need a report!] Ares’s thoughts assailed Eris.

Eris had finally managed to relax after the two Egyptian Gods had left. Well, she had then felt the cold, calculating, thoughts of Ares. His thoughts slicing through her mind like a sharp razor.

[I need to gather as much information as I can. This one is far different than any other you’ve sent me after.] Eris thought to Ares hoping to placate him into leaving her alone so she could do her job.

[I don’t care who you have to kill get the job done!] Ares thoughts washed over her with heat.

Sighing she shook her head, she had to watch her thoughts. The bond he’d made with her seemed to give him more privy into her mind than she thought he would. Shaking her head, she was a slave to him ‘til he let her go, that she knew he wasn’t about to do.

[Cheer up Eris you’ve only got another century of service to me, Though if you need a reminder.] Ares thoughts ripped through her mind as she started to pant. Then her head was hurting as her throat started to close up on her.

Eris was doing her best to not let Ephus see her struggling to stay on her feet or breathe. There seemed to be little chance of that as she started to feel consciousness start to slip from her grasp. Still she fought to stay on her feet keeping her expression unchanging. The last thing she thought was she was ashamed, then she felt arms catch her as she fell.

Ephus was shaking his head as he thought about what Thoth had said. He was so distracted he failed to notice when Eris started to pant. It wasn’t ‘til he felt her power start to weaken that his head snapped around to stare at Eris. He could see that she was struggling with something, then her legs gave out as she headed toward the floor.