A NOT so Welcomed Guest Ch. 4
Introduction:
Where are we?
Reaching out he felt what he could from those that were nearby. Ephus mouth dropped open, from what he felt no one knew of nor had ever heard of many of the things that he considered everyday things.
A further search revealed that there were no cars, only carts, wagons and what?! Chariots!? Ok, now he was really confused. Shaking his head a thought accrued to him, they had traveled back in time? From all he saw it seemed to be the only thing that made sense.
Ephus looked up as they appeared to have reached the destination that the small boy had spoken of.
“I was told to bring you here, then I was to leave.” The small boy said.
Ephus nodded as he reached into his pocket thinking of a coin like the one the boy already had. Smiling, he brought it out handing it to the boy. “You have done well.” The boy’s face lit up then he was gone in a flash.
Ephus looked at the two females that were with him, then nodded toward the building in front of them. He could feel godly power though, it felt more like his own. Nothing like the three sets of gods he’d already met.
The door to the building opened before them, then a man stepped out. Ephus, Freya and Göndul’s mouths all dropped agape. The man that stood before them could have been Ephus’s twin brother.
A smirk crossed the man’s face as he like Ephus, looked Ephus up and down, then nodded his approval.
“Ah! Where are my manners, please come in we have much to speak of Ephus. Yes, I know who you are, I believe you also know of me, do you not?” The male said to Ephus.
Ephus shook his head almost in disbelief, “Epaphus, my ancestor.”
“Thank the god’s you are far smarter than I hoped you would be. I have a few things to discuss with you. I wasn’t sure when you three would come, just that you and two others of power would appear.” Looking at the females he nodded his head, “judging by the dress and the weapons, they are from the Asgard realm.”
“I had thought that there was no contact between the realms ’til almost my time.” Ephus said shocked.
“Oh, there is, though,” here Epaphus touched Ephus head.
Ephus eyes went wide as he saw Epaphus in the three realms he’d visited. Then he saw India, America, China, Japan then a myriad of other countries gods and their realms.
Ephus’s mouth dropped open, then he turned toward Epaphus. “You’ve been to them all?”
“I have not that much really, though you! Umph! You seemed to go about it the hard way. By the way, nice work with Ares he always was a pompous prick. For me, it was easy though I do seem to have a few more powers at the moment that you don’t. Then again, this recharging power, I do not, nor as the three sets you have met said, have I ever heard of.”
“So, why in the hell am I here besides to get Odin’s Gungnir?” Ephus said.
Epaphus could only shake his head, Odin without Gungnir it was a wonder Asgard hadn’t already fallen.
“Well,” Epaphus said, “I have known for some time that you and they would be here. I knew that it would be before I left for Egypt. It seems a year or so after you acquired you power, you had a very strong desire. A desire so strong that it transversed time. I watched as time changed here, changed to how it should be not as it was.”
“Wait you are telling me that my desire righted time?” An astounded Ephus said.
“Ummm, well, something along those lines. It was your desire to meet me, plus the fact that you are here now, that has corrected time. It appears that there is something I have to do for or to you before I can leave. I really wish to go; you know how the Egyptian goddesses are. Hmmm, six Egyptian, four Greek, already a possible one in the Norse and a human wife.” Here Epaphus shook his head, “and they called me a busy boy.”
“So, I have to ask, how in the world were you able to go to all the god realms, without them raising a stink?” A confused Ephus asked.
Epaphus sat there thinking a moment. “I have going through all the powers I have. As I said, I have a few more powers than you do at the moment. The best one I have found is the visual and energy masking power.”
Ephus’s brow furrowed as he thought about it. “No, can’t say that is a power that I have even begun to, let alone have. Being able to hide would help a hell of a lot.”
“Good, we should begin as soon as possible. At the moment we all four are hidden from all the realms. You need to learn this if you wish to avoid confrontation.” Epaphus said.
So for the next seven days, Epaphus slowly tried to have Ephus use his power in a certain way. For the first five days Ephus found only dismal failure. Epaphus gave Ephus part of the next day off.
Ephus and the two females were walking through an outdoor market, when Ephus felt an approaching power. Freya and Göndul’s power immediately disappeared. Ephus looked at the two of them not feeling anything of their god power.
Ephus thought of everything that Epaphus had tried to teach him. Almost in a near panic, Ephus felt something deep within him that he desperately reached for. It felt odd almost like a blanket that Ephus began to slowly wrap around his self.
To his amazement he felt the power stop, almost hovering far above the street. Ephus turned again toward Freya and Göndul pointing to the end of the street, the two followed him. A moment later they all felt the power land in a large building in the direction they were heading.
The moment they got to it, Ephus could only shake his head. There at the entrance, was written on a stone tablet proclaiming it to be a temple for Hera.
Ephus and the females kept walking toward the simple domicile of Epaphus. Upon entering Epaphus home, they thought that the male was gone. They went through every room finding him in the farthest room from the door.
“Ah! I see that you finally achieved it. I’m just glad that she did appear today. Hera, isn’t the most dependable goddess. I glad to see that you, like me, had an almost discovery, of you to get your ass in motion. Should be far easier for you from now on. Oh, a word of advice? I wouldn’t let any more than these two know.” Epaphus said.
“So, you’re about to leave?” Ephus asked, glad that he’d got to meet the man though sad that they’d never see each other again.
“Yes, though, don’t think this will be the last time. I have seen that we meet more than once. Also, when your future sight comes? Get alone as fast as possible. The absence of people will make your first time, a whole hell of a lot more pleasurable.” Epaphus told Ephus.
Future sight? Ephus thought what in the hell is that? What am I going to be like a psychic? Damn, Ephus thought as if I am not enough of a freak. Not a god not a human but something in-between.
Epaphus sighed seeing what appeared to be a war going on in Ephus mind. Damnit, he thought, wish there was more that I could do for him.
“Well, I guess I’ll have to do as you say. You’ve never led me wrong yet.” Ephus said, causing Epaphus to do a double take. “Yes, I believe I have a touch of it now. I just hope I can do as you said when the time comes.”
Epaphus nodded, “I can’t really tell you exactly where this weapon, you are looking for is. I can tell you it is near, so less chance of messing up time. I know you will have to meet a goddess, though if you use what you learned you should do well. A warning though, when you get the weapon? Leave as quick as you can.”
Ephus stared at Epaphus for a moment, then nodded his head filing away everything Epaphus had told him.
“I will do the best that I can. I’m just glad that I got a chance to meet you.” A slightly sad Ephus said.
“Fear not, it won’t be the last, not by a long shot. This building is mine; you may take refuge here as long as you need to. I also suggest that you also work on the hiding blanket. It will also be of great help to you.” Epaphus said then bowed to all three of them, with a flourish Epaphus smiled then winked out.
Ephus stood there a moment going over all that Epaphus had said. Hiding blanket? Was that what was hiding them? Was it going to fade now that Epaphus was gone? Damn, another mystery to solve, god I hate mysteries Ephus thought.
The first thing he was going to have to do, was locate Odin’s weapon Gungnir. With a sigh Ephus turned toward Freya and Göndul.
“Well,” Ephus started, “that was an unexpected experience. I learned a lot though, being able to do some of them, it’s going to take some time. First thing, Freya, I can feel Gungnir nearby, I can’t seem to actually pinpoint it.”
“Pinpoint?” Freya said.
“Ah! Tell or see exactly where it is.” Ephus explained.
“Oh, you are more familiar with how the energy of it is, is something blocking you?” Freya asked.
“I’m not really sure, it might be that you have been around it for far longer than I. As it is, I am feeling several places that seem to be emanating power, almost exactly like it.” Ephus said.
“Let me see,” Freya said as Ephus touched her head. “Ah! I see, yes, they are greatly similar to it. I think,” Freya said eliminating most of what he was feeling. “There I think that should help you a great deal.”
Ephus smiled greatly when he saw what she’d done. He went through the last few eliminating all but one. Ephus smile got larger then just as suddenly faded into a slightly worried look.
Freya noticed that his mood had suddenly dropped to one of concern.
“Lord Ephus,” Freya said, “what has you so concerned?”
“Did you by chance notice where the few were and what they were near?” Ephus asked.
When Freya shook her head, Ephus, again touched her head. For a moment she looked through all that Ephus was letting her see. A moment later her eyes flew wide.
“Seriously? That’s where it is located? Well, that seems to throw much in our way.” Freya said.
“Our way? No, I think not. This is something that I have to do alone, you and Göndul need to stay her in case I fail. If it is just me then history won’t change much.” Ephus said.
“I am afraid that you are wrong there, without you in the future? There really is nothing of history, if Loki gains control, he will change all that he can. I believe that the first thing he will do is come here.” Freya said.
“Can’t really see him doing much, from what I felt of Hera? She was at full power unlike in my time.” Ephus said.
“You have to remember, Loki is the trickster, he can assume the guise of any animal. In this was he can gain access to almost any of the gods while on earth. Not many are familiar with his energy so they are easily fooled. You lord Ephus have felt him a few times, I do not believe he can any longer fool you.” Freya said.
With a sigh Ephus nodded, “we need to recover Gungnir, though if Loki has managed to travel here? I’ll have to stop him first.”
“As I said,” Freya said, “you have fought and felt his energy a few times. I am sure that he can no longer hide from you. I also believe that, with this power that your ancestor taught you? Loki won’t be able to find you.”
“That’s all well and good, I do need to use it far more to strengthen it. I have only used it once not really much to help build it, even then I won’t know how long it lasts. This last time it was only about an hour, as you remember I was struggling a bit.” Ephus said truthfully.
Freya nodded, “I remember many stories of this from Thor and a Greek demi-god Hercules. They have said much the same thing.”
Ephus was nodding as he reached out feeling over all of Greece for Loki. It seemed about like something that Loki would do. With Loki being a trickster, Ephus almost considered him to be lazy.
Even as he was thinking this over, Ephus went over all that he’d felt. There was definitely some outside influence, the thing was, was Loki doing this against his will, with them or a mixture of both. Shaking his head Ephus decided he’d learn soon enough.
“Now then, I am going to have to have a plan of attack as it may. This was after all the temple of Zeus that he was going to have to raid. At this time, he is almost as powerful as he is in my time. That plus I’m not sure that I can catch him as unaware as I have before.” Ephus said.
“All the more reason for us to aid you.” Göndul said speaking up for the first time.
“What do you mean by that?” Ephus asked.
“Well Lord Ephus,” Göndul smiled seductively, “I can distract him as I am sure Freya can. She is after all the goddess of love.”
A small smile came to Ephus features, “she is one of three I have met so far. They all do seem to have beguiling ways about them.”
“It does help at times Lord Ephus, though it seems to be no match for the power that you wield.” Freya said a slight smile on her lips.
Ephus turned to look at Freya she almost the same seductive look on her face that Göndul had. So he thought they are still trying to figure out how to get around my power. Again, Ephus smiled, good luck with that he thought.
Freya seemed to turn on her charm more, to which Ephus only shook his head. “I am sure that by now, you know that I am immune to your power.”
Freya’s smile seemed to drop as she suddenly nodded, “You can’t blame a goddess for trying.” Freya said with a renewed smile.
“Actually, I can,” Ephus said shocking Freya, “after the first time, I thought you knew that I was immune to almost all god and goddess power.”
“As I said I was trying. You know a love goddess could get a complex around you.” Freya said with all sincerity.
This of course had a large smile on Ephus face. A smile that turned to a chuckle. “Ah my dear Freya, as I remember Aphrodite said something along the same lines.”
Freya started to frown, “so you think all love goddesses are the same?”
The smile died quick on Ephus face, “no my dear, they are most certainly not. Especially when they are with child.”
This had Freya’s mouth dropping open. “I don’t believe that, that applies to myself.” Freya turned away feeling within herself, a sigh of relief when she found she was not with child. “Here I thought you had included me in that group of love goddesses. It has been a very long time since I received a fright.”
Ephus head snapped around to stare at Freya, ALL of Freya. She wasn’t the only one that had just received a fright. He’d been only thinking about it, almost scared that he’d somehow developed a power to impregnate with thought.
Ephus shook a moment, that was a power he hoped to never see! Taking a seat, he decided that he needed to come up with a plan to wrest Gungnir from the temple of Zeus. Hell, might as well say wrest it from Zeus himself.
It was a day later that a shadowy figure moved to the front entrance of Zeus’s temple. A sly wicked smile crossed the figure’s lips as he looked inside. There at the back of the temple, was a statue of Zeus, well over twelve feet high. Well, the figure thought, he does like to go big, though about one’s self, the figure shook it’s head.
The figure, cloaked in something that appeared to be other worldly, took a step forward. A male figure strode behind the figure, making it stop. Another smile came to its lips, just another pitiful human of this time.
The cloaked figure stood stock still, knowing that the human could in no way see or feel him.
A moment later the weak human figure moved passed. The cloaked figure breathed a sigh of relief. That was ’til a hand touched it’s shoulder and they were in the middle of a desert area. The second astounding thing was that the figure couldn’t leave!
The figure ripped the cloak from itself to reveal Loki. With a turn Loki was unprepared for who, had a hold of his shoulder. “You piece of trash! What have you done to me?”
Ephus smiled he figured Loki would start in on the insults. “About the same I did to that idiot Ares, he thought he was better than everyone also. If you ever see him? You can thank him, I learned this trick because of him. He always did have a penchant for several escape routes.”
“You realize if the Greek gods catch us, then the future will change.” Loki sneered at Ephus.
“Oh, I am well aware of that, you just don’t realize that, we do not feel like gods or have godly power. Ephus said a wide smile on his lips when Loki’s mouth dropped open. “Now then, you can either give me the Remira stone, or I can take it by force. Either way doesn’t matter to me though, I really want to beat the shit out of you!” Ephus said as he gut punched Loki dropping him to his knees.
Gasping for breath Loki held up a hand, stopping the next punch Ephus was about to throw. “Here,” Loki said shakily handing a multi-colored stone to Ephus.
When Ephus didn’t take the stone Loki looked up. “You must really think I am an idiot like you. Like I would accept a transfer stone from you!” Ephus growled. Ephus looked at the stone then nodded when Loki suddenly dropped it, the stone turning to slag. “I warned you,” Ephus said as he uppercut Loki dropping him like a ton of bricks.
Searching through Loki’s clothes, revealed several more transfer stones that Ephus also slagged. Finally deep within a hidden pocket, Ephus found, a dull, unpolished, plain looking black rock. Ephus smiled he could feel the raw power that was coming from the rock.
Ephus gazed deep into the rock. Godling, a voice spoke to Ephus, you have question? For a long time, I have awaited a question.
Ephus nodded, are there an ymore like you?
There was once two, my twin was taken to another realm, I have not felt it for a very long time. The voice replied.
If I send Loki back, then he will have no other way to return here? Ephus asked.
You are correct godling, few have the power required, even fewer of those the knowledge. The voice said.
Can you remove the knowledge of you from him? I do not want him looking for you when he returns. Ephus asked.
It is done godling, I shall now send him back. The voice said as a vortex appeared below Loki, that enveloped him, then was gone.
Thank you Remira, rest now I will not call upon you again ’til I need to return. Ephus said as he stretched forth a hand shooting energy into the stone.
I thank you godling, you are the first since my creation, to return power to me rather from me.
Ephus smiled it was as he thought the stone was alive in a way. Like all living things, it required energy as much as anything.
Ephus smiled as he reappeared near the temple of Zeus, it only took a moment to see that the guards were on what appeared to be high alert.
Shit, Ephus thought he’d been afraid that the brief flash of power he’d used, would alert the Olympian gods. Thank goodness he’d strengthened his hiding power.
Ephus walked to the entrance of the temple looking in he saw the object of this whole exercise. Odin’s Gungnir was standing next to the twelve-foot statue of Zeus. Ephus looked back at the two females that were moving with him.
Ephus looked all around the temple, there had to be a way to get to the weapon. A small room appeared to be in back of where the statue was. That might be just what we need, Ephus thought as he moved toward it.
Several guards seemed to appear as if from nowhere, the moment Ephus reached for the door to the room. Ephus should have known better. there were no doors in the temple EXCEPT for this one. Shaking his head Ephus bowed to the guards and started to retreat.
His party had just made the entrance way when several of the guard started to yell at him and the two females. They all turned as soon as they were out, Ephus took a deep breath then pulled. All three of them vanished as the guards were turning the corner. All of their mouths dropped open as the three they had been chasing just vanished.
They immediately returned to the temple to report to the head Zeus priest. The priest was of course pissed, he’d been about to sample the newest female devotee to Zeus.
He listened very carefully to what the guards said his eyes narrowing as they got further into the story. this was most disturbing most disturbing indeed.
Going to the statue of Zeus, the priest bowed as he told Zeus all that the guards had reported to him. Outside the sky darkened along with several severe lightning strikes near the temple.
A moment later the priest, seemed to feel a presence near him, though when he opened his eyes, there was no one there.
So, the priest heard in his head tell me again of what the guards reported to you. The priest, trembling, repeated word for word what the guards had spoken to him.
The priest suddenly had to cover his eyes as an almost blinding light appeared next to him. Not daring to look up the priest said, “my lord Zeus? I hope that I have not displeased you.”
Zeus looked around seeing nothing of another god. Strange he thought he’d briefly felt a powerful being outside his temple, today. Actually twice, plus once out in the desert area outside the city.
Another thing it felt the most like his son Epaphus, that was impossible as he had left for the land of the Nile a day past.
A quick look around the entrance way showed almost the same. He was going to have to watch this closer he decided as he vanished.
