Ungodly Resurrection

The ash swirled around Emma's feet as she knelt before the mangled corpse. One twisted antler could still be seen above the charred and blackened remains covering the ground on this plane. “Life and Death” Lucian had said. “Balance.” That's what she and Bel were intended to be. She caressed the swell of her stomach. Well if she was intended to be life... “Time for the Princess to kiss the big bad wolf, and when he wakes up alive again, he'll be good...” Emma murmured, thinking of the game she had played with her children just days previously, which had led her to this idea. She bent to press her lips to the large, charred skull. “It's time for you to rise, former Forest God. Your duties were once to protect the land and its inhabitants. You lost sight of that purpose and had been Corrupted. I'm calling your spirit back in its uncorrupted state. Come back and begin anew. Start life over with the purpose you were originally intended for. Come back and serve your goddess who restores your life, and live peacefully once more without the hatred that hardened your heart.” Emma's lips brushed the skull once more and there was a swirling around Emma and the corpse that kicked up ash and charred detritus everywhere. Emma shielded her eyes, but not before noticing she was crying, and that the tears blended with the strange whirlwind until there was a sudden rush of matter into the corpse and all was still. Disappointed, Emma sat on her rump with a huff. She felt suddenly drained, so tired she was going to need to rest for a while before she did any traveling between the realms. She closed her eyes briefly and tried not to fall asleep. A strangle trickling noise got her attention, pressing more urgently on her consciousness until she opened her eyes. The corpse in front of her moved. Emma cursed and would have jumped backwards if she had the energy and wasn't already sitting. She looked closer. No, the corpse wasn't moving, something on it was. She scooted closer on her butt, then jerked back with disgust, a hand held over her mouth. The trickling sound was fluids. Blood, plasma, Emma couldn't name them all. Is this all she had achieved? This was not life! It was repulsive. She reached out a hand, thinking of destroying it all, only to see the fluids roaming over the body had started to condense into little areas, forming the shapes of organs, tissues, veins, capillaries. Emma did jerk back in surprise this time, nearly toppling. Then her fascination got the better of her as tissues knitted together and bones healed and straightened in front of her. Fur began to grow in, and lastly a set of eyes suddenly opened and the stag took a great, shuddering breath, before heaving itself to its feet in front of her. For a moment it looked at her, and then it collapsed in human form at her feet, unconscious. Emma reached out a trembling hand. Had she messed up? He looked different somehow now. His skin a bronze color to match his fur, hair and eyes dark. Still, the vest made of what looked like his own deer hide was there, with the single antler point tied about his neck, but no other shirt underneath. He wore simple cotton pants, similar to the kind popular in these realms. No shoes, but now, there was a brand upon him, and Emma knew immediately it was hers. The Mark displayed itself proudly on the underside of his forearm, it was a shifting, shimmery thing in a language Emma wasn't familiar with. Emma brushed the Stag's wrist to try to find a pulse, but he gasped and pulled away from her swiftly. His eyes flew open and he scrambled onto his feet unsteadily. “You're dead!” He panted when his eyes met hers at last. “Well that hardly seems likely.” Emma said gesturing at her rounded stomach. “No, you're dead! I killed...you.” There was a hitch in his voice. “Again, preggers, hardly likely for a ghost, now is it?” Emma responded with exasperation. “I killed you while you were with child!” Screamed the stag. “Ok, fair point.” Emma said thoughtfully. “But I was much further along-and you're not paying attention. Look a little better. I'm not exactly human anymore, am I?” Emma chided. The stag examined her from top to bottom. “You..” He licked his lips. “... are a goddess.” He sighed. “So beautiful.” “Quite literally it appears.” Emma responded dryly. “But-wait-where are we?” The stag looked around. Emma hesitated. “How much do you remember?” She asked softly. The stag took on a wary expression. “The wolf, the sun god-are they with you?” The stag asked sharply. Emma struggled to her feet with a grunt and held her head for a minute as the exhaustion tugged at her. “No. I came alone. I wanted to try to help you find your way back. Not to this plane-to who you used to be.” Emma moved closer to the stag slowly and laid a gentle hand on his chest. The stag licked his lips again. “I'm not sure I know how.” The stag responded. “And that's why you have me.” Emma replied. ---------------- “And she didn't say where she was going?” Bel asked Luci with concern. “I could hunt her down if you want...” Luci offered helpfully. He bounced Sol on his lap and let his knees slip to the side, making Sol tip crazily while the boy screamed with laughter. Suddenly Luci grew pasty white and he set Sold down slowly next to him as the boy protested. Bel came to sharp attention. “Lucian, what is it?” Bel asked swiftly, then placed a hand to his head as a wave of dizziness overtook him. He caught Lucian's worried gaze. “Find her Lucian. Do it now.” Bel instructed. --------------------- “They don't know I'm doing this.” Emma reiterated. “So I'm going to have you stay with some friends of mine. I actually think it'll be a good place for you. They're good people.” Emma stopped talking as the dizziness nearly pulled her under. “Goddess?” The stag cried, gripping her arm, and then her waist to steady her. She noted he even smelled different. More like the forests he claimed to love now. She drank the scent in as he held her against his chest protectively. It took her a few moments to realize she was feeding off the poor fellow's lust for her. Some things never change, Emma thought to herself with a sigh. She pushed him away. “I'm ok. Just a little drained is all. Come on. They have a town down here.” Emma gestured down the knoll they were currently on. Transporting herself and the stag here had nearly depleted her after her little resurrection stunt. She took a stumbling step and the stag grabbed hold of her again and refused to let go. She was grateful for the support, so let him continue to hold her against his side. Plus, he was letting off little wisps of desire that radiated through her, recharging some of her depleted energy. She sighed happily, pulling it in. Unfortunately, it was like a drug, the more she got of it, the more she wanted, and she was very close to pushing the stag down to the ground when a voice rang out. “Goddess Emma!” The village healer called. He frowned when he saw her leaning against the stranger. “Good gods above, as troublesome as Bel that one.” He muttered to himself, then addressed the stag. “What has she been doing this time?” He grumped. The stag looked quickly between Emma and the healer, uncertain what to say. “She says she feels drained..” He offered uncertainly. “Goddess of birth and renewal, not again! What have you been doing this time? Taking on another dragon? Trying to restore an entire rainforest with just your tears? Answering the prayers of as many impoverished as possible again?” The healer griped as he placed a warm hand against Emma's chest. “You know I can't give you much, just enough to get you back to your plane.” He murmured. She nodded gratefully with a smile as the warm honeyed energy flowed between them. The stag looked between the two of them with surprise, and thought carefully on the interaction. Emma had become an even more desirable creature since she'd shed her old life in his eyes. He wondered what he needed to do to get closer to her. “I uh.. well, thank you.. again..” Emma cleared her throat. “I actually came here with a purpose today, not for myself. My friend here is looking for a place to stay, and he has some rather powerful enemies. But he's under my protection-understood?” Emma stressed and the healer looked more carefully at the stag. “Yes goddess.” The healer's voice rumbled. “Even if Bel or Luci come looking-he doesn't exist.” Emma stressed. The interested look on the healer's face grew. Emma had never asked him to deceive either of her partners, which meant this person must be of utmost importance. “Understood goddess.” “I just need a safe space for him to recover for a while. I'll check in on him as frequently as I can. Now, don't treat him like royalty. Put him to work. He needs the interaction.” Emma instructed and the stag looked at her askance. She grinned and kissed them both on the cheek, which shocked the stag. “Now, if you'll excuse me, we're about to have company.” Emma shooed them away and turned, striding off as she felt the gentle tug of Lucian's Familiar Bond as he searched for her. Bel was getting closer too, she could feel it. She was so desperately drained of power, that he was like a beacon to her, calling to her, urging her to find it, partake of it. She could feel her need for Bel growing. Ever since Bel had Claimed Emma, and her body had been lost on the human plane, it had been like this. She and Bel were almost inseparable. It was hard for either of them to let the other out of their sight. They were two sides of the same coin now. One life, one death, at all times. The positions changing depending on the moment. Like now-she had just gifted life, but now she was death, absorbing life from those around her as her power waned and her body grew desperate for Bel, who at this moment, was the bringer of life. Bel spent most of his time as the incarnation of death these days acting as a protector and guardian to Emma, their children and Emma's niece who they had recently discovered also had some of the gifts that ran in Emma's human bloodline.  “Bel.” Emma whispered as she felt him step onto the plane. Even at this distance, she could feel the power draw beginning, that strange infinite power loop that existed between them whenever he was near. As he liked to say 'whatever he gave to her, she multiplied and gave back to him tenfold'. He strode forward purposefully, catching her before she could fall as Luci raced onto the plane behind them.