Here you go @fredhincanada @eminerale and everyone else!:
It took some time to find the archway over the ramp leading down into the morgue’s underground, but Neeku finally did it, and she didn’t have to kill anyone during her trip; the nightly patrols were easily avoided, and she couldn’t help but notice that their vigilance of the previous evenings had started to lack. “You can’t keep people on the edge of fear forever,” she mused to herself, “and eventually their caution slips back into complacency.”
A fact you’ve taken advantage of on more than one occasion, Sheeba replied.
“This is true,” Neeku agreed. The heavy gate was locked from the other side -which made sense, as the bodies were brought up from the morgue not back down into it from this path- and rather than try and pick the lock from this side she just shadowstepped through the bars down further the ramp. “And yes, I’m aware I could’ve unlocked it and not resorted to magic, but after having been without for a couple of days I am just overjoyed to have it back,” the young woman said, foreseeing that her Goddess would tease her about not relying on her hard-won skills in larceny.
I’m just so glad that you’re back that I wasn’t even thinking about how lazy you mortals can be, the Goddess of the Night replied drolly, and Neeku couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Glad you could suffer to overlook my ‘laziness’ my Goddess,” Neeku replied just as drolly, and now it was Sheeba’s turn to chuckle. The young assassin slowly crept down the ramp, keeping her head down slightly so as not to ruin her night vision with the occasional torches set into the descending hallway. “I wonder if it’s the mortician’s assistant who has to light these lamps every night,” Neeku mused out loud. “And why bother? Seems like a waste of pitch and straw if you ask me, I doubt they have bodies going to the cemetery EVERY night.”
I would imagine it’s a routine and it instills discipline, which you mortals really need. Shall I revisit my previous comment about how lazy you mortals are? Sheeba asked.
“I still remember it; I’m not as old as you, so I don’t forget things so easily,” Neeku shot back, and the indignant gasp from her Goddess put a big grin on her face.
Fine, you win that round, Sheeba conceded rather grumpily, and Neeku gave a little bow of her head in appreciation. Now, the door is just ahead, the Goddess warned her, and something feels…off. I can’t put my finger on it, but just be careful, please. I just got you back, I have no desire to lose you again so swiftly.
“I’ll be careful, promise,” Neeku said, the concern from her Goddess warming her soul. First she stopped and searched all over the door and the frame for any traps; this took her a minute, but thorough was much better than dead. Fool me once, she thought bemusedly as her missing right hand gave a phantom twitch of pain. Once she was satisfied it was safe, the real work could begin. Pulling her lockpicks out, she kneeled down by the door and began quietly putting the tumblers into place. Once the door was unlocked, she gently pulled it open slightly, giving herself enough clearance to look inside without exposing herself -hopefully- to anyone inside waiting to ambush her. Once she felt relatively safe, she opened the door some more and tumbled inside, moving towards the right as she did.
Once inside, she slowly moved her head from viewing one side of the room to the other, until she was satisfied she was alone. Standing up, she moved softly over the mortician’s desk, trying not to look at the metal gurneys waiting by the cold wall. Not an experience she was in a hurry to remember. The mortician had left a half-eaten apple on their desk, along with a handful of almonds, and since beggars couldn’t be choosers Neeku decided to finish it off for them, so it wouldn’t go bad before they returned in the morning. Biting into the apple, the tart taste was crisp and fresh, and some juices ran down her chin. “I must’ve gotten lucky, they had to have just left,” she said around the food in her mouth, quickly polishing off the apple and throwing crunchy almonds into her mouth as fast as possible, barely taking the time to chew them up before swallowing.
Once she’d finished her purloined meal, she pulled the waterskin from her belt and drank some before putting it back. “Sheeba, I don’t know why you were so nervous; I don’t see anything wrong in here.”
“I would imagine She’s nervous because of me,” a voice called out from behind her, and without thinking Neeku spun around, crouched down, drew Bloodmoon and flung it in the direction of the voice. Her aim was true, but the being that appeared like a human male just reached up after studying her dagger sticking out of its chest, pulled it out slowly, and placed it on the desk. She couldn’t help but notice that there wasn’t a drop of blood on the blade or coming out of the wound. “I rather you not do that again, if you don’t mind. I think we can have a civil chat without resorting to violence, don’t you think?”
“Sheeba, what in the Hells is going on?” Neeku hissed, backing up slowly while her right hand gripped Nightblade tightly. “Is this what you meant by something feeling off?” But all she got from Sheeba was silence that felt like…fear, which couldn’t be right.
“I imagine She’s being silent because I tend to have that affect on beings,” the not-human said as he casually sat down at the mortician’s desk. “It’s a shame you ate his lunch, but you’re right, he probably wasn’t going to finish it before it went bad.”
Studying the being, Neeku took in the black robe, the glasses, and the hands that looked permanently stained with blood and other fluids. “You said ‘he’ like you’re referring to the mortician, but…aren’t YOU the mortician?”
The being smiled. “No,” was all it said.
Taken aback, Neeku kept thinking, wishing her Goddess would chime in and offer some insight. “Well then, are you some kind of priest for Ara?”
“Technically, all morticians are priests of Ara, but no, I am not one.”
Neeku, Sheeba finally spoke, that IS Ara. Neeku stared at the being, eyes widening as she fought to control her shaking, short shallow breaths coming in and out from pursed lips.
“It’s quite all right, my dear. You can relax, I just want to have a little chat with you.” The being gestured, and a chair rolled away from the other desk and stopped right behind Neeku. “Please, sit. I promise I don’t bite.”
“You…you…you don’t want to kill me?” Neeku asked as her legs finally turned to jelly and she flumped down into the wooden chair, the threadbare cushion tied to the seat barely giving any comfort to her rear.
“Now, why would I want to do that? There’s no reason for me to kill you, my child. Everyone eventually comes to me. Everyone.” It smiled, and Neeku felt Sheeba shaking as She made Herself as small as She could, a tiny mouse before a tiger praying it wouldn’t take a bite.
“So, um, is this normal? Can any deities possess people?” Neeku asked, as the being rolled its eyes at her. “What would you call it then if not possession?”
“First off, possession implies a lack of consent, and he gave his consent when I asked him. Secondly, while technically any deity could ask their faithful to do this, it leaves most of them very vulnerable, and deities hate being vulnerable. And no,” it said when Neeku raised her hand shakily, “I am not vulnerable, nor do I fear for my safety."
You can’t kill death, Sheeba whispered, and it bothered Neeku more than a little to watch the being nod its head at Her words. The implications that it could hear Sheeba speak were almost too frightening to ponder.
“So, without further ado, shall we begin?” Ara asked, and barely waited for Neeku’s nod yes before continuing. “Oh, and you’re welcome.” When Neeku couldn’t help herself and raised her left eyebrow, it chuckled. “For having the mortician alter you and your ‘double’ so you could stay alive without raising suspicions. I mean, you did a commendable job with the tools you had and the time you were allotted, but you wouldn’t have fooled the Council and their justified suspicions without our help.”
Neeku felt her blood run cold. To think, she could’ve died without knowing it, all her plans for naught if not for the God of Death looking out for…she sat upright and glared at the being across from her. “Thank you for your assistance, but I must ask. Why DID you help?”
“Trust but verify,” it chuckled. “A core tenet of your faith. Sheeba chose Her disciple well, it would appear.” It waved away Neeku’s thanks. “But it’s a good question, and the answer is simple. Frea and Gea have grown too, how do your mortals put it, ‘big for their breeches’ is the term I believe. Their unchecked growth is affecting not just the worship of deities such as Sheeba, but others as well. Time and again They have ignored the pleas of Their fellow deities in the name of ‘peace and prosperity’, as if Their way is the RIGHT way.”
“They claim -at least, their priest and their churches do- that they’re only doing this for the ‘good of humanity’. But seeing how rich and powerful their church and priests are getting, I find that hard to believe. Wait,” Neeku said, holding up a finger to stop Ara from interjecting, “do the two Goddesses even know what’s being done in Their name? Maybe it’s just a mortal problem, since from what I’ve been told not too many deities communicate with their faithful like Sheeba does…at least, not with words.”
Ara shook its head. “As much as I wish this was strictly a mortal concern, not being the first time that mortals have misinterpreted the words of their deity for their own petty concerns, such is not the case. They both honestly believe that They are the two most important deities out there, and while They may not ‘talk’ to their faithful like Sheeba does, They can influence them through dreams and portents. Everything Their churches are doing is being done at either Their command or with Their blessing.”
“And I take it that it was your doing that tipped Angelina off about my deception?”
“Correct. I’ve been studying the church for years, and she’s the first I’ve seen in a while who appears to have no desire for money or power. She honestly loves her Goddess and wants to do good things in Her name. Admirable, truly. I just had a runner deliver her a note asking if she wanted to come to the mortuary and take a look at something that could help her out. Her curiosity outweighed her caution, she came late at night, and we both made sure it wasn’t your body that hanged in the town square.”
“For which I am grateful,” Neeku said, bouncing out of her chair and pacing back and forth in front of the mortician’s desk. “But why reveal yourself here, now? What makes me so special? It can’t just be the fact that I’m bonded to a Goddess that the Two are trying to eliminate, for some reason.”
“True, it’s not. And remember, many nefarious things are done under the cover of night, but it’s the one done out in the open in broad daylight that can truly be ‘dark’, forgive my jest at word choice. I honestly just think They picked Sheeba because She’s not as widely worshipped as other deities are, and They probably believed that absorbing Her power would be a good start. Ending a faith by banning it, killing its faithful and razing its temples is one thing, but They now have another way to do so. Too bad for Them that Sheeba did something…unexpected.”
“What’s that?” Neeku asked, intrigued in spite of herself.
“She bonded with you, a mortal, making you and She something less than divine but something more than mortal. Genius, really. They can’t track Her now, which keeps Her safe, and hopefully gives you time to recover it.”
“Recover what?” the young assassin questioned softly.
“Why, a weapon that a mortal could use to kill a deity. So, while we discuss things further, would you like some tea?” Ara asked as Neeku’s jaw dropped.
