“Stop doing that!”
“What?”
“Telling me what to do. I’m not in your fucking family; you’re not my father.”
“Oh hell, Immortal, why don’t you just stomp off to wherever you sleep at night and have your hissy fit there. I’m very busy.”
“Fuck you!”
“OK. But we try not to curse unnecessarily here in the Palace, and we never use ‘cunt’ or ‘bitch’ or ‘whore’. It’s rude and disrespectful. ‘Asshole’ is OK, because my girls call me that all the time. And if you transform later as a human woman, I promise to be respectful to you just before I take your head. Now please, I have a lot of work to do, and a date tonight with the Lady Kendra. My wives like me to be prompt when it’s their night.”
“I’ve seen better.”
“Yeah, sure you have. At the hotel “I’m an Immortal’ just down the road from ‘Bullshit Island’.”
“Ooooh fucking mortal, you’ll pay for this.”
“Yeah, yeah. Now leave child. Daddy’s busy.”
“My name is Hecate, and I will teach you respect for Immortal ways and authority. You will wish you had been more obedient and submissive.”
“Yes, I’m sure you’re right.”
Hecate the Immortal left in a fury, not yet realizing that she was subject to the human emotions and feelings when interacting with lower life forms such as clever humans. She would soon learn to control emotions she didn’t know she had, and even improve at the word games these humans so admired. But she was still young and would disappear for now and get even later. Still, she wouldn’t mind giving him a proper beating as soon as possible. That, she thought, would teach him a lesson.
She decided to ask the Creator if an occasional beating was allowed.
The Creator said no, which only infuriated her more.
***
Adam delayed leaving for military camp, sending a guard ahead to explain to Chel that he had important business at the Palace to attend to before he came out. With apologies, he informed Chel that he would be delayed for just an hour or two, if that. Adam was aware that a few Gens were going home to their home villages in the Black Forest and wanted to spar with him before leaving. He asked Chel to ask them to delay their departure by a day and send someone ahead to their villages, so none would worry.
When Misti finally arrived, everyone else was already in the kitchen, savoring this morning drink the Manti called ‘coffee’.
“Adam says it’s Ecuadorian French Roast,” explained Lady Cia. “You should try it. It’s delicious with honey and cream.”
Misti ignored the comment and headed straight for food. “I assume you are all waiting on me and grousing about my sleep habits. I was busy last night, so I have an excuse. Besides, what’s so all fire important that it couldn’t wait ‘til later?”
Adam said, “I had a visitor last night.”
Misti, always the snark, asked, “Tall, blond, big boobs?”
“No, unfortunately not. Shimmering, incorporeal and threatening harm to one or more of you. Me too, but I don’t think she’s allowed to do that just yet. But the episode with Kendra proves she’s capable of working in a very dangerous manner and, though I don’t believe she would attack or hurt any of you directly, she’s capable, it seems, of making things appear to be real that are not. So, we waited patiently for your arrival.”
“Sorry for the attitude. You know me: cranky in the morning. And afternoon, evening and overnight. I appreciate the thoughtfulness. If we were allowed to use the ‘B word’, I would admit to being that way every now and then. But since we’re not, then it follows I can’t be such a creature. Right?”
Lady Cia and Lady Eene looked at Kendra, like ‘what’s she talking about?’ Kendra mouthed she would explain later.
Adam answered, “Right. Besides we all adore you just the way you are. But we have a problem, and I must admit that I have no idea where to start. Anybody?”
“She could just be bluffing. Temper tantrum; mad at daddy stuff.”
“Yes, I agree. She doesn’t seem like a mature being, so maybe she’s just showing off and fucking with us. But do any of us really believe that or do we just want to believe that.”
“What’s the alternative?”
Misti asked, “What was the conversation about. What did she want?”
“Nothing. We traded some insults, and she left in a huff.”
“Did she appear as a male, female or other?”
“Hard to say. But I think ‘it’ was a ‘she’. All the right parts in all the right places. But she kept changing form but returning to female form most of the time.”
Misti said something incoherent, her mouth full of a delicious omelette. “This butter here is to die for. I mean literally, it is so good my arteries are clogging as we speak.”
Adam looked at her sternly.
Misti said, “OK. OK. The solution is so simple I’m surprised all you big fucking brains didn’t think of it already.”
She paused while she buttered and put fresh fruit jam on her whole wheat toast. Then she looked up to see everyone staring at her.”
“Jeez, hold on to your panties for a sec. The solution is …”
Adam said, “Please don’t make us beg. Honestly, no sex with you for a month if you keep this up.”
“Apologize. Tell her you were rude, and you’re very sorry. You will behave better in the future and you have no idea what got into you. Apologize. Women dig it. Assuming she’s a woman that is.”
Adam smiled. “OK, sex is back on the menu for you sweetie. That is the best fucking thought of the month. Saldana, I am so delighted with this that you have my permission to beat the fuck out of the Mussos if that would give you pleasure. Maybe let the guards have a turn, then report back what you see. Ladies, I love you all, and anything you desire that I can provide is yours whenever you want it.”
There was a short confab among the women minus Misti.
“We request that you remain in the Palace to help us, with our duties for the next two weeks. We’ll let you know what your assignments are every morning that day.”
Adam said, “Then Kendra has to go tell Chel. I’d be laughed at. They know what my ‘Palace Assignments’ are.”
Kendra said, “No problem. Consider it done, but I make the schedules. After all, I am the ranking royal, just below the King here.”
There was general grousing, knowing how the schedule would look with the Princess in charge. But two weeks with his dreaminess was two weeks. They’d all share in the “booty” of the conquest, so to speak.
The group began to break up just as Misti was beginning to mouth something through more omelette and buttered toast.
“By the way, for those of you who didn’t already know. Adam knocked me up again. And Saldana, Beata and Kendra. Our twins are on the way now.”
Lady Cia remarked, “And eighteen other maidens. My you have been busy repopulating the new world.”
“I’m here to help, wherever I’m needed.”
“So selfless,” said lady Eene. “I am impressed by your willingness to give. Of yourself, that is.”
“That’s me. Thrusting myself into my work; bringing to a climax all the joy I can muster for those who love me.”
Misti said, “Yeah, that’s it. Must be a burden on your busy schedule.”
“It is. But Kendra keeps me to my appointments as best she can. There is the occasional double booking then we just have to share. And Kendra always helps out and manages us through the turmoil. What would I do without her?”
“Get laid a lot less? Or not at all?”
Saldana ignored the banter; didn’t get the nuances of human banter anyway, and said to Misti, “Move over sister. I’m starving and you’re hogging all the food. Get it? Hogging? Pass the bacon and make some room here. I get huge when I’m pregnant in human form.”
Chapter 16
In the early evening, Adam returned to his Study and called out to Hecate to appear if sh
e could hear him. He had something important to tell her and would she please make herself visible to him. Nothing happened right away, but an hour later she appeared.
“What do you want insect? I cannot believe I’m even lowering myself to talking with you after your extremely insulting behavior last time. I should beat you as penance, but I decided that since I’m the more intelligent and advanced of our two species, why should I lower myself and act like you? So, what’s so fucking important that you summon me from important business elsewhere in the RealVerse?”
“I wanted to say I’m sorry. I was wrong to speak to you in that fashion and I wanted to apologize. I would beg you not to punish me other than a reprimand this time but, in the future, I promise to show you the respect you obviously deserve as the superior being. Can you find it from within to forgive me this one time? I promise to do much better in the future and ask only that you teach me how to serve you with proper reverence. And I beg you to not punish any of my women; they did not offend you in any way. In fact, it was they who pointed out the error of my ways and begged me to apologize to you. I am truly repentant. Please show us mercy.”
Hecate was delighted with Adam’s show of humble submission and decided to act strict, and severe, but not harshly so.
“I accept your apology and will restrain my instinct to punish you with a beating. Perhaps even more than one would’ve been merited under the circumstances. If you behave, I will refrain from harming you and your collection of whores. And there will be no more correcting of my language nor attempting to set any rules around my behavior. Understood?”
“Yes, Hecate, the Immortal. I only ask that you teach me how to address, and serve you in the proper manner, and with proper respect.”
“I shall on another occasion, but not now. My presence is demanded in Council in another sector of the RealVerse. When time permits, I shall return and begin your tutoring.”
Hecate the Immortal vanished.
Adam thought to himself, ‘Well, that went well. Misti can get out the whips, and chains if she wants. Misti may be a pain in the ass, and, but she’s my pain in the ass, and I will need to be extra kind to my newly pregnant first bride.’
***
“Really, tie you up like in the old days? I don’t have any of my stuff here with me though. It’s all back in the City of Light.”
“I’ll talk to the Supply Master, and the Chief Saddle Maker. I’m sure if you can draw it, they either have the parts in their warehouses or can make it. Ropes and leather? Your favorites?”
“Yes please. And, Adam, if you need any other womanly advice, just ask. If I had only known … I’d have been a lot nicer to you a lot earlier.”
***
Hecate, herself, was in heaven, over the top with joy for so completely deceiving the human. She had done this on her own without help from anyone. This wasn’t unusual; an Immortal’s transformation to maturity so quickly after bursting into existence was always tricky. Humans took a long time to gestate and develop to maturity; the maturation process of humans was considered exceedingly slow among the infinite number of extant species evolving in the RealVerse. But humans had other humans to help them over the long road to adulthood; Immortals didn’t. The Creator generally left the Immortals to develop themselves with little help or guidance. Immortals, especially the Creator, were a cold, unemotional and indifferent beings. They didn’t bond, care about, or nurture other Immortals.
Hecate was on her own; there were no councils or meetings to attend; no parties or friends, no kids or schoolmates to hang out with. There was only cold empty space and isolation. For Hecate this was a problem. She was Immortal, but only half Immortal. She was half something else too. She was drawn to other social beings but didn’t understand why.
The Creator usually set things in motion and intervened only when a planet or Universe wasn’t working according to plan. The Creator created the basic structure of things but wasn’t what one might consider “detail oriented”. Occasionally things went wrong and the Creator wanted to fix the problems, but not start all over again. It depended on what became of her little “science experiments”; the one created on the obscure planet on the edge of an obscure Galaxy was interesting and the Creator wanted it to succeed. The Creator decided at first to fix it slowly, but then grew impatient.
The Creator could create life forms but didn’t exactly know what life was or how it functioned across the RealVerse. The Creator’s own form and abilities came from a source the Creator knew nothing about. The Creator would bring together the materials to construct life, but then would need another existing life force to bring a new being to life.
Once created, the new life form, if Immortal, might be given a consciousness in order to perform a specific task. Then that consciousness might be removed when the task was complete, and the Immortal stored for later re-use. The Immortal could later be recreated in a new form and with a different consciousness for a new task.
Most Immortals, however, were permanent beings with ongoing duties throughout the RealVerse, or were given portions of the RealVerse to manage or control. In the case of Hecate, the Creator had not decided which path she was to follow; it depended on the outcome of her assigned task. If the task was fully realized, Hecate might be allowed to exist. If she failed, she would likely be stored for later use.
Occasionally, an Immortal with a well-developed sense of conscious self would fight being deconstructed. The Creator wasn’t God; the Creator was also incurious about existence and had no sense of what humans would call emotions or feelings. The task of the Creator was to create, and this the Creator did. It was like Adam’s “data is data, neutral and without moral implications”. Occasionally an Immortal would just go off to a far-off part of the RealVerse and exist as it chose, not wishing to remain a toy in the great game the Creator played.
The Creator rarely cared about these indiscretions; the RealVerse was large and the creator did not mind escape so, long as the transgressor went away and didn’t cause trouble. The RealVerse was littered with such beings.
The Creators domain was not matter, energy and spacetime. It was something else entirely, and the Creator cared nothing about understanding what it was. That the Creator could create matter, energy and spacetime was fun, but by far not the Creators only creations. Many other wonders in the RealVerse existed, some more interesting than others.
The RealVerse was a collection of Universes, and other dimensions that, like bubbles in a soft drink, existed in discrete packets of being. But the bubbles were infinite and streamed into existence in rapid succession. Time didn’t exist nor did consciousness as humans might try to understand their own sense of consciousness. Consciousness on some level had to exist in everything created, otherwise nothing created would ever remain intact or be capable of expression. A rock on the planet Earth “knew” it was a rock; it knew how to be and remain a rock. Not that complicated. As such, there was a consciousness to all things comprising the RealVerse; that collection of things in existence came from, and through, the Creator. Some “things” could tap into all that was, all that is and all that would ever be. But the Creator rarely intended this outcome; the Creator deemed it too dangerous to let lower life forms and objects to have too much knowledge or power. But there was the occasional fuck up and lower life forms became knowledgeable and aware of most of what was within creation; but only God, if God existed, knew everything.
In this context and with this background, Hecate was tasked by the Creator to impart justice upon completion of his task, as this human called Adam St. James had become a nuisance. And by nuisance was meant that somehow these primitive human organisms had developed free will; the ability to choose for themselves how to act. The ability the Creator hated most was the ability to choose and say “no”.
The Creator was a bit of a “control freak” and having little insects running around with free will could pose a danger someday. Most destroyed themselves through their own foolishness and arrogance
, but a few did not. A few evolved into something special in which the Creator both took both a measure of what might be called pride, yet at the same time wanted to eliminate them from existence before becoming too independent and too powerful.
A few life forms, with the aid of their Immortal guides and progenitors, found a way to become Immortal and Incorporeal; they simply hid where the Creator might never find them. There were too few to be a big bother or concern but stamping out nascent life forms that could evolve in that way was a high priority for the Creator.
Hence Hecate. She would mature as an Immortal, but since she came into existence by human contact and life, it would be slower. She had learned to transform from matter and energy to an incorporeal Immortal, but not as a fully mature Immortal yet. Mistakes could be made, and the Creator might need to watch and guide Hecate more than Hecate liked. Her human qualities were showing, and she might not even be mature enough to carry out her task in time allotted to the human to rectify the mistake the Creator had made. Extra time would be required though, with insurrection against the Creator fomenting, time was at a premium and short.
The Creator had better things to do than worry about the fuck up on the planet Earth and chances were high that Hecate could do the job. All Hecate had to do was wait, then kill the human. How hard could that be?
But the Creator made multiple mistakes, all of which created a “perfect storm” of consequences for which the Creator had not allowed. After all, when an infinite number of Universes filled with and even greater infinite number of possible life forms are created, things cannot only go wrong, it is almost a certainty they will go wrong on occasion. Most of the errors were easily fixed; occasionally a few were not.
This one was truly a monumental fuck up, and the Creator didn’t yet realize it and might not have until it was too late. Nothing was fixed or predestined in the RealVerse, but, in fact, most of the time, things just seemed to work in the favor of the Creator. In this case, the Creator failed to comprehend humans, their emotions, and mental qualities as well as their capacity for love. The idea of “love” was never intended by the Creator; it led to very bad consequences when beings began to want to protect their own kind. Attachment to each other was dangerous enough; when combined with Immortality, it could lead to disaster.
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