FALSE GODS

02 Prologue II: Bird Problems

The double-striped black pegasus tried to get on its hooves. It failed and instead keeled over on its forelegs, neighing in agony. The collision and fall had shattered its ribs. The right wing was missing, probably stuck on a branch. Moreover, a large pine tree had fallen over its back.

Niobe got to her feet and approached her pegasus. She lifted the heavy branch effortlessly with one hand and hurled it into the distance. The creature neighed in mortal pain.

The pegasus is a majestic beast, a ride befitting the gods and goddesses. However, there it was, suffering like any other inferior creature. "Mortals,' Niobe said, rolling her eyes. "They make a lot of noise. I hate them."

"Stiletto," she chanted, and a dagger appeared in her hand. She pulled the creature's head back and cut a fissure on its neck from end to end. Blood gushed out like a stream, forming a shallow pool on the grass.

It was better to put the beast out of its misery than leave it dying in the wild. There were vile entities in the dark who would feast on it while it was alive. A dead pegasus was not a significant loss for them. There were plenty of domesticated pegasi on Mt. Radomir.

Felix's ride was tangled in the branches, but it broke loose soon. The creature looked relatively unharmed. It hobbled to the dead pegasus and prodded the body with its muzzle, hoping to revive it.

Somehow, the episode of slaughter by Niobe made Felix bolder than he had ever been before. "Niobe of House Elektra, let me make love to you!" he demanded.

The goddess turned to look at him and then at the dagger. Blood dripped onto her elbows. She threw the weapon, making it vanish into thin air.

Niobe got down on all fours and approached him, giggling childishly. The bloody spectacle had triggered something wildly horny in her as well. "Oh, Felix," she said and mounted him.

Her partner gave her thighs a reassuring squeeze. Niobe unfastened her belt and removed her tunic, exposing her body. A belly chain was the only accessory that remained on her skin.

Niobe was citadel-born, citadel-bred, and had pure divine blood within her. She had led the life of a princess.

Felix, in stark contrast, used to be a human. In his mortal life, he had worked for a patrician familia in Modo City on the foothills of Mt. Radomir.

The young man had worked hard and appeared in The Labors, an annual tournament hosted by the Ascendancy Government. It was an opportunity for talented individuals from the three crescent cities to earn divinity and join the gods and goddesses at Mt. Radomir.

The Labors evaluated aspirants over their wisdom, their athletic prowess, their mastery over elementals, and their innate peculiar abilities.

Felix was one of the four champions from the previous year. He was inducted into House Anaximander. He was granted divinity through consecration and given princep quarters and equal privileges in the citadel.      

Niobe had never seen him as a mortal. She had fallen in love with him while watching the tournament. After he was victorious and was elevated to a god, she proposed to him according to the laws of courtship.

The goddess was wild and adventurous, and yet warm and affectionate. She was everything that Felix had ever wanted. "Do I even deserve you?" he asked with a warm smile.

Niobe giggled. He pulled her by the chin towards him, and they locked lips. They had kissed before; sometimes they fooled around on the turrets and battlements of the citadel; at other times they romanced in their private quarters. Once they escaped to the plebe city of Pago and pleasured each other on a florist's terrace.

"Tonight is special," Felix whispered.

"Why else do you think I invited you to come with me?" Niobe asked, kissing the nape of his neck. "It is high time we took a step further, my adorable new god. I can't wait any longer!"

"Neither can I!" Felix agreed.

"Viola," Niobe said aloud. Golden musical instruments appeared in the air. Soft music started playing in their ears. Strings of the violin and peals of the lute mingled to build a sensual ambiance.

The goddess started swaying to the music. Felix took his time admiring her. The starlight was intense enough to see the flush on her body.

The forest was humid, and a layer of moisture hung onto their youthful bodies. Niobe's skin glistened like honeydew; her lustrous golden hair had a life of its own.

Niobe snapped her fingers, and the clothes on her disappeared. The goddess’s naked body was taut like a metal figurine, but she moved like a young feline.

Felix raised his hands and felt her breasts; he cupped and caressed them. They felt supple and warm, as if a fire burned in her bosom.

Niobe shivered and giggled and laughed. Her left hand slipped under his tunic and rooted around for purchase. Finally, she found what she was looking for and stroked it slowly.

Felix closed his eyes and ran his hands down to her slender waist and ample buttocks. One of the perks of being divine was that the body never aged or faltered. It was immortal, unaffected by disease or aging.

Felix of House Anaximander and Niobe of House Elektra looked at each other with what they interpreted as true love. Two divine beings were about to begin their sexual congress with the outlands forest as a witness.