Power Play [Blue Demon and Tetisheri]

The darkened water undulated under the sky. The last light of the golden rays reflected brilliantly across the rippling surface. The wind plucked little droplets and tossed them skyward. As the wind whisked around the grasses it howled. Flowers were hiding under their green leafs or being plucked by the wind. Seeds were being scattered. Trees were moaning as their leaves were pulled from their limbs. Darkness moved in from the east. Blotting out the sun.

One lone figure by the water's edge danced. Red clothes snapped and pulled under the onslaught by the wind. Red hair streamed out like a flag. White limbs were exposed to the harsh weather but the dancer was not bothered. She twisted as a gust of wind tried to push her over. She turned the action into a graceful dance step and the wind howled in frustration. Her ruby red lips moved. Her voice was soundless only because the words were stolen by the wind before she could complete them.

Her bare feet stamped out an odd rhythm on the ground. The pale limbs covered in mud. The first peals of thunder sounded in the distance. The light lit up the sky. She threw her head back and shouted something to the sky. Fat heavy rain began to pour down. Her long dress soon became plastered to her lithe figure. Yet she still danced. Her lips moving to her silent chant. Soon. Her lips twisted into a smile. Her red hair was plastered to her back, across her face. It was knotted around itself, around her upper arms. But she paid it no heed, not even when she had to compensate for the restricted movements.

Thunder crashed and lightning lit up the sky. She shouted again. Lightning struck a nearby tree causing it to burst into flames. The woman still danced. She danced and danced.

Finally, when the storm was spent, did she stop. She turned slowly.

"So, you've come." Her green eyes were filled with the dead storm. Wild and deadly.

She had a busy life. She always did. Here and there, now and then, she was always coming somewhere only to leave somewhere else. The life she leaded required energy and she was never idle. After all, humans were such helpless beings, especially in this "brave new world". Her dear brother wasn't likely to give her any rest, anyway. And so she travelled, inspired soldiers, devoured atomic bombs (though not always successfully), whispered to men of power and spent her leisure time instructing maidens in their craft. Though those weren't only maidens now and instructing was more like ordering the machines to create patterns. Oh well, her life was still busy.

Her sweet brother was plotting some trouble again, she could smell it with her godly nose. She could sense it in Iraq, Egypt, Israel, Syria, USA, Chechnya and even in more or less peaceful Europe. That made her frown. She didn't like the smell of his intrigues. Sure, she would win as always but the price to pay... Sometimes she wondered how it was possible for the humanity to still be able to pay this price. The goddess sighed as she remembered the events from the previous century. If this was going to happen again, even she wouldn't be able to change much. Her lovely brother was the most lovely in his scheming. Probably the only lovely feature he had. Too bad he used it only for bloodshed.

Her father wasn't particularly occupied with chastity either. When she heard thunder singing somewhere outside, she was sure that it was the result of his new passion.I should talk to Apho about it, thought she listening to this song, maybe she could restrain herself regarding him... At least a bit... Though to her personally it looked that he didn't need any Apho for his affairs. But as the thunder was becoming louder and louder, she started to realise that it wasn't the usual kind of stormy melody. Someone was calling her.Oh my, chuckled she recognising that someone.

"Where are you going?" asked her dad suspiciously when she exposed herself to the rain and lightning in order to find the way. She hated the fact that such weather allowed him to spy on her. Nonchalantly she waved without any particular direction.
"You hear it, don't you? Someone invited me for dinner"
"I don't think you should leave at time like this..." started he, but she made a gesture to stop him. Being the favourite daughter had its benefits.
"I will go, " said she with some pressure, "and be so kind, daddy, switch off your radio. I don't like being overheard.".

Without saying anything else she turned her face towards the wind to determine the direction and melted. When she reappeared, the storm was calming down. Her host didn't look particularly friendly, but she was used to it. Hard life brought her hard issues. Nevertheless, in the end they all were equal.

"Sure, I have. Using this mean... Do you know in how much trouble I will get after returning?" replied she to the red-haired dancer. Her streaming clothes made of white and golden silk threads turned almost transparent due to the water pouring from above and the virgin goddess wasn't particularly happy about it.

Mokosh turned, finished with her calling. Athena. Her rival for worshippers. Even in a world of six billion people, she was losing power. Power was existence. The loss of power was what pushed the Gods to return to the world of men. They had seen their brothers and sisters fade out of existence. For fear of it happening to them, they returned. Not soon enough though. Mankind wasn't happy with the resurgence of the deities. They had grown complacent in being their own masters. Most didn't bow down to the Gods. Starving them of power, trying to destroy their very existence.

Those that were willing to worship the Gods and give them a proper sacrifice were few. Mokosh had fewer worshippers than most. Most thought that she had no place in the modern world. Of course some worshipped her. Most were of the Wiccan variety. But she needed more. Every day she lost worshippers to Athena. And the scant few she gained weren’t enough to make up for the loss.

The simpering sow spoke of trouble. Bah. She didn't know trouble. Not sheltered up in the clouds with "papa dearest" looking after her. He protected her. She didn't know trouble, not like Mokosh.

"Please." Mokosh said, her voice was harsh with her thick Russian accent. "Your father is hardly going to give you any trouble about this." She folded her arms under her ample breasts. "Little Miss perfect."

Mokosh stalked through the wet ground until she stood inches from Athena. "I'm tired of it. I'm tired of you. Trouble? You have no idea. You shouldn't worry about your father. You should worry about me." She spun, spraying water from her hair and clothes, turning her back of the other Goddess.

Mokosh stared down at her hands. Hate and fear warred equally inside of her. She hated Athena with all of her being. But she also feared her. Because one day Athena would take all of her worshippers and she's vanish and no one would care. Mokosh clenched her hands and spun back. "I'm going to destroy you and take everything from you. I thought it was only fair to tell you."

Athena's face remained unchanged. She was used to threats, danger, jealousy and everything else in her long godly life. Besides, she didn't feel any particular emotions against Mokosh.

"That's not the point," remarked she, "it's my father who will drag the rest of my family in some kind of trouble without me around."

It was true more or less. Zeus was quick to slip from Olympus after noticing some hot chick with long legs. And nowadays such chicks didn't even require golden rains or white bulls to get laid. Pitiful beings, Palladia was almost glad that her responsibilities had nothing to do with them.

"Relax," said she in easy voice. The goddess tried to find something to sit down but everything was wet from the rain. Mokosh's spun didn't help her to feel any dryer.
"I am not your true rival, you know it," shrugged she after hearing the accusations, "I was always worshipped by men more eagerly than by women. Or are you interested in virgin girls embroidering the tapestries? Believe me, the majority of them are dead for centuries. And with Ares around I don't have time for them myself."

If there was a god who'd never lose his worshippers, that was her sweet brother.

"Artemis, though," continued Athena, "that's another matter. She is the only one truly interested in women becoming single rulers of this planet. Or haven't you noticed feminism spreading all around? I bet, this is exactly what you fear the most - disappearance of motherhood and thus, disappearance of family gods. Isn't it right, Mokosh?"

Her voice was cold and quiet, yet she knew how to scare with her arguments. Manipulate or fight, that was the creed of the modern world. Athena preferred to manipulate. Only with good intentions, of course.

Mokosh frowned at her rival. Athena seemed to calm and cool, distant. Of course she was always like that. She never felt that Mokosh was much of a threat. Mokosh hated her for it. Hated the blasted Godess for being right. She couldn't beat Athena as things stood. No, she'll wither away slowly and leave the world without even so much as a ripple.

Mokosh clenched her fists. She listened to the words of the other Goddess and hated herself. They were logical and calm. It made her hands clench tighter. Her nails dug into her palms and blood began to appear. Yes, she was more human now than Goddess. It frightened her. She didn't have much time. Athena was right about that.

"Artemis?" Mokosh said slowly and turned back to face the other. She hadn't even thought about the other Goddess. It was true. Artemis was all about women, women, women. Not that Mokosh cared much for the male humans. They were less in her eyes. But they were necessary if only to make a woman's life easier to give them children.

Then she shook her head. Was it true? Her determination waivered.

Feeling that her words hit the point, Athena decided to take hold of the situation quickly and continued before the moment was over.

"Look, Mokosh, I am for the equal right for each gender, fair pay-off, access to education and so on, but even you have to agree that the way Artemis does it, ruins our world. I am personally tired when she tries to stick her nose in my realm with her half-mad huntresses. Sure, women are much cleverer and wiser than men and I am totally on their side - I am a woman, after all! - but under her rule they are becoming mad! Isn't it right to be a mother, a wife and raise wonderful, happy children? If I weren't destined to be virgin, I would choose such life, seriously!"

She looked at Mokosh to see her reaction and continued.
"And those animals who call themselves men? What are they without us? They can't even prepare a dinner in proper way. Can you imagine it? Hunters who were supposed to feed their families, can't even make a fire nowadays." She leaned closer and spoke in lower, secretive voice, "We need to get hold of them. We need to teach woman how to be womanly, how to raise proper husbands and children who would be able to protect them and make them happy. Why don't we make a deal? I'll use my resources to help you rise again, you will obtain proper female worshippers and I will get normal, strong and well-brought men to take care of the rest. What do you think?"
Athena's eyes were full of honest determination and readiness to act, as she made that proposal to the Slavic goddess.

Mokosh blinked at the unexpected line of logic from her rival. If she hadn't been a Goddess, her mouth would have fallen open. When she had started her calling, she hadn't been prepared for this. Hadn't seen Athena wanted this as much as she did. Artemis' push for feminism did stop her from getting new worshippers and women cast away children for money.

"You're going to help me?" Mokosh shook her wet head, casting water droplets around. "I don't believe you." She wasn't going to lead about like a fool. But she couldn't find fault in Athena's words. Which just made the whole situation worse. Some part of her was sure Athena wasn't being honest with her, but another part believed the other Goddess. Just what was accurate? Which part was correct.

"You'll screw me over." Mokosh's Russian accent came out hard obscuring her words. She left anger fill her being. "You'll find some way to double cross me. You and I both know this. So why should I even consider your deal?" She crossed her arms under her ample bosom. Her full lips in a pout.

[[I was thinking that maybe this conversation could have happened in the early 1900s when feminism first started become popular with women. Perhaps after their conversation we could move into modern times. Thoughts?]]

Athena pouted like an offended child. "Now why would I do that? Show me what would I gain from casting you down? Hera has fallen long time ago because of her jealousy, Unona never was a proper Goddess to start with - all Romans aren't, Isis turned out to be too weak for the modern world of science. Now imagine you loosing your power. What happens next? Artemis takes over the female part of the popularity. They stop forming families, giving birth and all run for power and money. What do we have? In the most peaceful way, the human population dies out. Even my sweet brother Ares runs mad without having new soldiers to shake the world. Not to mention my father Zeus who will go insane because of his hormones. And me? I will have to deal with all those crazy politicians who will turn each parliament into a battlefield. That's the best scenario. The worst is, Artemis will lead her huntresses to destroy the male population causing the greatest war in the history, and regardless of if she looses or wins, the other gender will be almost destroyed and the remains will become slaves. Now then it will be my turn to give up on power, because there will be no place for wisdom in this world. Is this what you want?"

She changed her expression to her usual, calmer kind and continued.
"True, maybe I wouldn't be that active, if Hera was still alive. But jealousy isn't a trend nowadays and she ended up powerless." Athena looked at Mokosh with a really sinister look in her eyes. "Do you want to repeat her path, blinded by own anger?"

((But wouldn't it be exactly the opposite? The feminism is rising more and more... In the modern world I thought about deriving it all from the laws giving material support for young families, children etc. and all those programs to increase birthrate etc...?))

Mokosh listened as Athena prattled with a barely concealed patience. Her green eyes narrow as the other Goddess babbled on. Then after she posed her rhetorical question, Mokosh didn't say anything.

"Greeks are fools." Mokosh finally said into the silence. She closed her green eyes and took a breath.

"Know this Athena, daughter of Zeus. I do not like you. Nor do I trust you. However you do have a valid point about Artemis. So I will only say this once. I will work with you. However, I will only work with you against Artemis. I won't help you in any of your endeavors. I also expect to be treated like you equal, not some sort of lesser God." Mokosh sneered. "I expect once I have enough followers that our alliance will be dissolved. So be warned Athena. I am not pleased about this. But I will do it."

Mokosh's shoulders sagged at her last words. Some of her grace seemed to leave her and she looked almost mortal. She was beginning to show signs of aging. Unlike her divine form when she was ageless.

"So how do you propose we convince mortal women to want to be mothers again?" Mokosh didn't look at Athena, rather she kept her eyes on the ground.

"Sure we are," shrugged Athena to her remark about Greeks. She decided that arguing was meaningless at this rate.

"Perfect then, it's not like I am plotting something," said she almost happily. Not against you at least, thought she to herself stretching her arm. In a moment a parchment of paper with different inscriptions on it appeared in her hand. It was the sum-up of the general situation in the world. It seemed to be Athena's fate to be entangled more in politics than in wars and keeping track of that was harder than just slicing heads. Back in old times it was easier - she could choose a hero and send him somewhere to deal with troubles. Now her heroes tended to get into troubles themselves even more than in ancient times. "Now let's see... USA is right now hopeless, but the baby boom might bring something new to the situation. Those children without proper parents will raise soon and the outcome is not quite predictable now. China... nothing will change in at least a century, I fear. Well, we have Europe... Those will experience heavy lack of young population soon. We can play with it."

She noted something. "Africa is stable, as always, Australia... well, they have quite beneficial environment, but they are so stagnated that it makes me want to sleep. Same goes for Canada... Hmm... Who would you prefer?" asked she suddenly raising her head and looking at Mokosh. Not that she considered Mokosh's opinion as very important, but good ideas sometimes hit even empty heads. After all, Palladia was interested in this deal and she was expecting to solve it quickly, for the sake of her own mental health.