Ungodly Resurrection

5: A Goddess' Mark

Emma allowed her hand to float over the grasses and flowers. Wherever her hand passed, the plant-life flourished, and the stag was struck yet again by how much they could have done together to protect the forests and those that dwelled within. Could still do together.

“I played a game with my children of all things.” Emma spoke softly. “And it gave me an idea. I thought you deserved a second chance, and I thought I could give it to you. I thought I could restore you to your original state. Your first Form, your True Nature.” Emma turned to look at him with gentleness and love, but there was also a hint of caution in her eyes. A bit of fear. It enraged him. He had put that fear there by killing her. It was all his own fault that he'd ruined any chanced he'd ever had with this beautiful goddess that was so suited for him that it was torment just to be around her. He felt the draw to her even before she spoke, had recognized she was there before she made a noise. She called to him on a cellular level, and he could never have her. He felt the rage building as he realized he was being kept from the one thing he desired by such a cruel twist of fate. That they should have met, but too late, after he'd lost his mind. That her family had a Pact with another. That the other had Claimed her. All the little steps along the way that kept her from him. He found himself lashing out at her, knowing it was wrong, but unable to help himself.

“Who says my original nature is any different than the one you knew?” He roared “Or any better? Who asked you to decide my fate? Bring me back to this torment? Bring me back to suffer?” As he advanced on her, Emma felt her body twitching. Her shoulder blades began to ache and she looked down to see her nails elongating and blackening, her skin fading to an ashen color. She put up a hand in fear.

“Step back. Your energies are affecting me and I don't want to harm you.” The stag's body froze and took a stumbling step backwards. The shimmering Mark on his arm blazed to life and he clasped at it with a gasp.

“This Mark? It is yours?” The stag asked. Emma nodded, her skin slowly fading back to normal. “Why? Why did you Mark me?” There was a reverential sound to his voice now and Emma's body flushed with heat.

“I wanted to.. make you mine.. so that I could help you.. Bring you back to the light. I.. I.. was going to ask you to work for me, with me..” Emma blurted, flushing as the stag neared her again. He held up a hand and brushed her cheek. She felt electricity zing beneath her skin and shuddered. She knew this body was overly sensitive to s****l desire-but this was getting ridiculous.

“You wanted me?” The stag murmured. He rubbed his thumb along her jaw. She turned her face into the movement self consciously, the rough, calloused hand gently cupping her face as Cern's eyes grew wide. Emma could feel the sparks of desire shooting through her and she absorbed them eagerly. Then she realized what she was doing and shook herself mentally, stepping back.

“I'm sorry, I...” Why was she apologizing? “Bel and Luci.. and I brought my daughter with me..” What was she babbling about? “I should go.” The stag caught her arm as she tried to pass.

“Stay, please.” He murmured. “I'll mind my temper, and my touch.” He removed his hand swiftly as he said it. “I just need to understand what I'm supposed to do with myself now.”

“Whatever you want.” She replied softly, then turned to look at him. The look on his face was not something she was prepared to face. It was full of heartbreak and loss.

“Oh Cern!” She stepped directly into him, against his chest, hugging him tightly. He stiffened before wrapping his strong, muscular arms around her. He smelled of animals and forest. And male, she realized, sweet, seductive male musk from his workout in the stables. Emma suppressed a cross between a purr and a moan building in the back of her throat. She stepped away quickly.

“Goddess, have I done something to offend you?” The stag asked. For a brief moment, she had come into his arms willingly and the feeling in his chest was as if his heart had exploded, only to have it ripped from him as she backed away like she'd been burned.

“I.. I'm sorry. I.. this body.. This Form, I'm still not used to it. It affects people, and is easily influenced by certain.. moods.. I haven't quite gotten used to it yet.” Emma apologized.

“You are a fertility goddess-why would it bother you if people desired you?” The stag asked with confusion, and then it clicked. “My desire affected you?” He asked with a dizzy sense of elation. If his moods affected her own.. Perhaps then he had a chance.. Emma flushed bight pink, which the stag found charming.

“Momma! Mummy!” A little girl's voice cried out, interrupting them, and Emma turned to catch Marian as she flew towards them. The stag was struck silent by the tiny Angel that looked like the previous Goddess' Form with wings as she dove into her mother's arms.

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Luci was happily chasing the children through the garden in wolf Form when he felt he first tug. Unbidden, his body paused and he turned his head to face the distance, seeking... something...

“Papa Lu? Papa?” Sol and the triplets came back to see why he'd stopped. He was standing as still as a statue with his head lifted in the air as if sniffing for something, and when Skye walked around to face him, she nearly fell over.

“Daddy! Papa Bel!” She began to scream, running from the gardens into the house. The other children followed her, frightened. When they caught up, she was sobbing in Bel's arms.

“Sol-protect the other children. Find Nadia. I'll be right back, ok?” Bel ordered over his shoulder. Sol gave a solemn nod and herded his two brothers down the hall in search of his mother's Lady-in-Waiting. Luci was still standing in the garden with his head turned and raised slightly. Bel walked around and looked up into the face of the huge wolf. Lucian was breathing softly and Bel looked down at his daughter.

“Is this what you saw Skye?” Bel asked gently, the girl had her face turned into his shirt, hiding her eyes.

“Don't make me look Daddy Bel, please! He smells wrong! His wolf is wrong!” Skye wailed.

“How can you tell sweetie, if you never saw?” Bel asked gently.

“I can smell him. In here.” She tapped her head. “And here.” She tapped her small chest. Bel squeezed her against him. Emma had been right, the girl would manifest a wolf Form. He kissed Skye's brilliant red curls and she scrunched her golden eyes tighter closed against his chest. Bel looked back at Luci as he murmured reassurances to the girl. Lucian's eyes had both turned solid, bloody red with slitted black pupils, and half of his white shaggy fur was now stained with swimming black shadows. Occasional glimpses of a skull could be seen through the shadows as they swarmed over the black fur hidden within. Lucian suddenly sneezed and his eyes reverted to their icy blue and his fur to its shaggy white. He gave a doggy grin to Bel with a wag of his tail, and then noted Skye crying in Bels arms. Taking in Bel's concerned look, Luci let his form melt back into human, with a shake to ease his joints and bones into the new form.

“Skye baby? What's wrong?” Luci asked, reaching out a hand. Skye gave a soft cry and turned back to him.

“Daddy Lu! Your wolf was wrong! It smelled bad! It scared me! And the other part of me didn't like it!” Skye cried, leaping into her father's arms.

“The other part?” He looked at Bel with his mouth open. “She has a wolf?” He mouthed excitedly at Bel.

“We need to talk.” Bel responded seriously, which sobered Luci immediately.

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Emma was listening to Marian chatter about the names of plants and their purpose, but her mind was on Cern. She had never reacted so strongly to anyone's desire and emotions beyond Bel's and Luci's. Was it because she'd Marked him? She didn't feel like she had feelings for him.. It was more like she wanted to save him, help him, and her body was having this very visceral reaction to him.

“Mummy?” Marian asked and Emma jolted. She realized she had accidentally tuned her daughter out and retreated within her own mind, allowing her subconscious mind to keep track of what was happening around her. A little talent she'd learned as a human. Something she never wanted to do with her children. Damn that stag! Even interfering with her relationships with her children now! Emma dropped to her knees in front of Marian.

“I'm so sorry baby girl. Momma made a mistake and started thinking about something else while you were talking. Would you mind telling me again? Everything you say is important to me.” She kissed her daughter's forehead with tears in her eyes.

“Was it that man you're trying to fix?” Marian asked. Emma jolted. It looked like Marian may have some of her mother's gifts after all...

“Yes baby. That's what it was. I don't know how to help him.” Emma smoothed her daughter's hair and Marian nodded.

 “He's got darkness inside. It's very loud. It shouts at me, but I know you momma. You're good at making people better. Like the time I broke my arm and wing. You always make all our hurts better!” Marian danced away. “That's why I want to be a healer-I want to be just like mummy!” She shouted to the world. Marian threw her arms into the air and a small amount of sparkles showered around her that landed on the ground, making the flowers and grasses nearest her suddenly look healthier. Emma's tears really did fall this time.