Chapter 12

LaterTuesday Evening

Lizzie’s house

Harborton Washington

Lizzy was dreaming about Ben again only this time he wasn’t riding a white horse. He was riding a huge gray striped tomcat who wore a kilt. Ben, of course, was naked. The good bits were a bit blurry though like they always were. Why is it she could never see it? It’s her dream, she should be able to see a dick if she wanted to, Lizzy thought indignantly. Ben was dismounting in preparation to rescuing her then ravishing her although sometimes he went straight to the ravishing part. It was going to get good now. It might be even better since she was now wearing her Ben shirt. Lizzy squirmed in anticipation.

Then her dream started to fade. “No dammit, no!” moaned Lizzy in her sleep. This was too much; she had been frustrated all day and now this!

As her dream faded another image faded in. This was of a young flame haired woman, maybe a bit older than her, wearing a white greek chiton, some light armor and a crested, open faced helmet. She was carrying a huge round golden shield and a spear.

“Athena! What are you doing in my dream!”

The apparition started at being recognized then looked relieved. “You recognized me! Great, now I can get rid of this heap of metal. It’s heavy and it chafes my tits.” As she said this her armor and the spear, shield and helmet faded away. “Everyone said you were really smart, but I didn’t expect that you’d pick up on who I was so fast.”

“Yeah I knew right away. I’m honored and all but why did you have to interrupt all the good parts?”

“Sorry about that. Believe me I know all about what it’s like being a frustrated virgin! This is an emergency sitch though and I needed to get through to you as soon as possible”.

“Okay what can I help a goddess with?”

“Oh, it’s not you helping me. I’m here to give you the 411 and to help you where I can. You are on the verge of entering a war. I heard about what was happening around you and decided to help out a fellow smart girl virgin.”

“A war? I’m not a soldier and I don’t think I can get drafted or anything, can I?”

“This is a different kind of war. This is between the greater forces of Dark and Light and you have been drafted. Well, not exactly. No one, not even the greater gods and certainly not the Light itself can force you to participate. You were placed in your world at this time and with the people that you will fight with for this purpose. No one can make you but let’s just say there are certain perks in addition to the good feels you get by doing the right thing.”

“Perks?”

“Well for one you will need to become a part of Ben’s circle. From what I’ve seen of Ben there’s a ‘big’ upside to being one of his ‘friends with benefits’”. Athena flashed a lewd grin then continued more seriously. “Actually, I have a feeling that there’s much more than being ‘friends’ between you two but you get the idea.”

“Yeah, I wish. I’ve been in love with him for years, but I think he thinks I’m a daughter or little sister though. I mean c’mon look at me!”

“Naw have you really looked at yourself lately girly? You have off the charts hot potential! And Ben won’t admit it to himself but he is really attracted to how you look and even more to who you are. And unless I miss my guess, you are about to get some serious help with Ben’s attitude.”

“Help?”

“Yep other members of the circle are going to want you and Ben together. I think you are about to get some sisters. At least one maybe two more.”

“Sisters? Really!. OMG I’ve always wanted sisters!” Lizzy squealed.

“Haha, yep! You are going to have to share though. I can’t see the future but I’ve hung around you humans for a few thousand years now and I think your sisters are going to be just as in love with him as you are. He’s a helluva catch even by god standards. Ben isn’t much for looks but he’s a true hero and he’s also that really rare ‘good guy’. Achilles was a hero but he was also a pretty boy and an arrogant asshole to boot. I’d choose Ben over him anytime. Not to get off topic here, but it really sucks being a virgin goddess sometimes. Even if dad would let me lose my cherry all the gods are total dickheads and I haven’t heard of one that could really show a girl a good time.

“Sorry Athena. I really feel you girlfriend.” Lizzy said sympathetically.

Athena continued with a sniff, “Sokay. So where were we? Oh yeah, sharing. You good with it?”

“That doesn’t bother me at all as long as I get in on the action. I’ve always known that any woman who could see Ben for who he really is, would want to be with him.” said Lizzy.

“Yeah so true. He’s kinda dreamy” Athena closed her eyes for a moment and sighed.

Lizzy sighed along with her. Then paused and composed herself. “Um can you tell me what a ‘circle’ is in this context?”

“Haha, yes, back to it. Some might call it a nexus. Think of it as a team that coalesces around and is catalyzed and enhanced by a center, in this case, Ben. Powers much greater than me or even my Dad have decided that this nexus is needed to keep the Dark from overwhelming us.”

“Oh. Okay, so why don’t all you gods just get together and fight it out? Why do you need us?”

“Good question. Funny why all your so called ‘religious’ leaders never seem to ask this. I don’t have time to go over it in depth and truthfully it bores me to tears. I fight the dark because it’s what I do. You know ‘Goddess of War’ and all. But none of us has much power in your plane any more. A few millennia ago we could really give the dark a thrashing there. But now it’s all I can do to talk to you. We have to fight the dark wherever it is or lose but we just can’t muster the power in your realm to do so ourselves so we enlist humans to fight when we can. Just so you know the equivalent of the energy released by a small sun is what it takes for me to talk to you right now.

“Seriously! I’m not that important!” said a stunned Lizzy.

“Yes you are. You and your potential nexus can be a very powerful tool for the Light. Lizzy, I really hate to do this. I wish that you could just have a normal life. But ultimately, you could make the difference for millions between a life of hope and a life of utter despair. I can help with a gift of sight, strategy and of knowledge. The full potential of these gifts won’t be activated though until you are fully a member of the nexus. “ Athena paused and her whole manner changed from that of a young woman to that of a hard, seasoned warrior. “Know that if you accept your role there will be many dangers. There is a very good chance that you will not survive the battles you will need to fight. Your life and even your soul will be at grave risk ... I will not ask you to make a decision now. When the time comes you will know what to do to accept your part in this war or to choose not to fight it.”

“The world needs me. I get that, I guess. But does Ben?” Lizzy asked softly.

“Again, I can’t see the future, but I have fought in thousands of battles alongside hero’s like Ben and I can say with near certainty that there is every chance that without you on his side he will die in battle.”

Lizzy knew then what she had to do.

LaterTuesday Evening

Kelly’s house

Harborton Washington

Kelly was in the middle of her recurring nightmare when suddenly it changed. Her bound hands were suddenly freed, the ropes that had scarred her wrists in reality as well as in her dreams just fell away on their own. The flickering lantern light changed to a soft yellow glow along the horizon. Instead of the howling raucous laughs of her tormentors she began to hear a soft steady drumming sound almost like the beat of a heart beckoning her toward the light. As she stood and started walking toward the light she realized that she was walking through rows of corn, but not like the ones she was familiar with. These rows were also planted with vines of beans and what looked like squash. The farther she walked the lighter it got until at last she reached an opening. The soft drum beats stopped as she entered the clearing.

The clearing was infused by a rich golden light and in the center was a beautiful young woman, maybe a few years older than her. She was sitting in a graceful side legged pose on a thick black fur. Her skin was a smooth dark olive and her braided hair was darker than a raven’s wing, but as the woman shifted to face Kelly it changed to gold and then green then back to black. She was dressed in a long dress made of what looked like butter soft deerskin with colorful painted flowers on all the seams and edges.

“Welcome my child. Please join me” the woman said, gesturing to the fur next to her.

Kelly knelt awkwardly and tried to sit but the dream pain of her injured wrists and abused thighs made it impossible to do so smoothly.

“We can’t have that dear. Please allow me.” The woman said in a soothing melodious voice as she took both Kelly’s wrists in her brown callused hands. A golden glow erupted at Kelly’s wrists and then wide golden streams flowed out from the woman’s hands. The streams found every aching point on her body and soothed them in a pulsing warm heat.

“This will eliminate your pain for now. I think it will also smooth your scars back in the Middle World.”

“Tha ... thank you” stammered Kelly. She knew this was just a really strange dream but she still hoped beyond hope that this woman had somehow eased the scars on her wrists. They were her badge of shame. She always wore long sleeves to hide them. They were a permanent reminder whenever she looked at them that she hadn’t fought hard enough or screamed loud enough. That the whole situation was her fault from the beginning for trusting that evil thing masquerading as a man. Kelly couldn’t help it, the memories overwhelmed her and suddenly she broke down in a sobbing heap. Her head bowed in shame and her arms wrapped tightly against herself.

The next she knew Kelly was enveloped in a warm blanket of love as the woman drew Kelly into her embrace. She was singing softly to Kelly in wonderful lilting rhythmic tongue and rocking her gently as Kelly poured out her heart in tears onto the woman’s soft buckskin shoulder. She had never cried like this about what had happened to her. Her mother and father and friends and other family would have known that she had done something awful and they would have been ashamed of her. So she held it in. Through all the days since. Knowing that when people looked at her they could never see the true her or they would turn away in disgust.

Until Ben.That single look had penetrated her defenses and opened up all these feelings. She saw only acceptance and trust and something else in his eyes. Something else that she wanted so badly that she was afraid to even say it. Love.