Niobe and Felix glided low in the air, just above the topmost foliage of the trees. The two were riding pegasi—winged stallions reared at Mt. Radomir. They were hunting a herd of white devil-boars this evening. Niobe's pegasus was a double-striped black, while Felix's was a brown-white. They were roughly twelve miles outside the border walls of Theikos. It was a bold venture into the dangerous outlands, even for game hunters, especially since it was only the two of them out there. "Cura, take me!" Niobe screamed the goddess's name in joy over the deafening beating of wings. "This is amazing!" "Let us go hunting together in the evening… You know… Just the two of us," she had suggested to Felix in the morning. "I am tired of party hunts. A god-prime always watches over us, and we don't even get to flirt with each other." The Ascendancy Divine Government ruled over the mortal population of Theikos. The government members were categorized into princeps, priors, primes, and titans b

Niobe and Felix were locked in an amorous embrace, unclothed, female over male, goddess over god. Their lips overlapped, their tongues jousted. Niobe's pelvis grinding over Felix rubbed against his erection, making him moan. It happened without warning. Only a few minutes had passed, and she was dripping wet. Felix's erection slipped, found the mark, and the penetration occurred abruptly. Both gasped in unison into the darkness. Niobe was louder, unwinding years of chastity, bellowing into the wilderness. Then she bounced up and down on him. She was haphazard at first, but then slowed herself to a pleasurable tempo. The forest had come alive around them—insects chittering, sleeping birds awakening, and animals responding to their rhythm. Niobe tilted her head back and rode Felix faster, who found a deeper inroad into her. He went deeper and harder. In response, her pupils set aflame, and her skin gleamed like gold. The goddess's moans echoed sonorously in the clearing and beyond.

The goddess paused, furrowed her brows, and raised her arms to examine them. It was then that her heart froze. Niobe's beautiful, toned arms were slathered with some sort of fluid. The ooze glowed red, spreading from her fists to her lower arms, finally dripping down to the elbows. "What in the name of Hera is this?" she exclaimed in panic. Her question was answered immediately when the pain came to her. Crackle! It burned through Niobe's skin, flesh, and bones like magma. A scream escaped her, one with so much agony that it sent shivers up Felix's spine. The young god stared at his lover in disbelief. He could no longer recognize her voice, mannerisms, or body language. The sweet-talking, vivacious goddess was braying helplessly without a hint of grace. On her end, Niobe had never felt pain like that before. She screamed her heart out, praying the miasma on her arms would go away. She shook, wiped, and snapped, but it stayed with her, like mud that had come alive. Amid her heart

Spiritually connected to the members, the Titanide heard Niobe's prayer for help and arrived in the crack of time. She surveyed the clearing with riveted attention. Elektra's eyes were vortices of ghastly light. Streaks of blue-white sparks crackled throughout her body. She donned an armor of platinum-gold. Right now, the titanide's hair was white as day. It almost stood on end, charged by the divine energy coursing through her body. Elektra, having completed her survey of the situation, walked over to Niobe and placed a hand over the girl's head. "I am here, child," she reassured her ward. "Your prayer was heard. You must fear no more." Niobe started sobbing hysterically. "Your Providence, that thing killed Felix. Bit his head off like a monster! Its poison took my hands! I was helpless!" "Justice will be served, my dear," Elektra said, interested neither in Niobe's bursting emotions nor in the dire situation. It seemed she wanted to wrap things up as soon as possible. The tita

Felicity was lucky. If she, as little as stumbled, there was someone or something to give her support. Something always broke her fall when she tumbled down while climbing trees. Her lost jewelry always found its way back to her. Of course, her good fortune went way beyond such trivial relief. Nevertheless, she had never dared to tempt fate. Tarsus walked on silently. It seemed to Felicity that he was not one to talk much unless it was necessary. Unlike Damon, he had not raised a single question. “I am having trouble believing anything you say,” Damon asserted. “You are a beautiful damsel that I cannot deny. However, I will not spill any facts about my abilities.”“I know of them already.”“What?” Damon turned to Tarsus.” Yasou, beanstalk! Did you hear what she said? Do you trust this witch?”“I believe her, runt.”“This is so endearing,” Felicity chimed in, “The two of you have nicknames for each other already.”“Then go ahead and tell the girl your abilities