Reluctant Gods II: The Demon Seth

Reluctant Gods II – The Demon Seth

By A.J. Aaron

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Buddha

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher and author do not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for third party websites or their content.

Copyright October 2012 - A.J. Aaron

Smashwords edition

Rev. April 2013

Rev. November 2015

To purchase another copy of this book or to see our other books go to:

Amazon.com

Search any of the following titles followed by: A.J.

A New Reality - A Wake up Call to Life’s Mysteries

Reluctant Gods

Reluctant Gods III - Reset

Reluctant Gods IV - Aysel

Reluctant Gods - Books One Through Four

Power, Control, Conformance

The Hawk, or Other Worlds

About the Book Itself

This book was written so it can be read in different manners. It is published in paperback, and e-books for any platform. You will see hyperlinks to the music being played at any time as it happened in the book (I have left the http making it obvious what they are.) In the printed versions, these will be unusable, of course, though you could punch them into your web browser and go to them. In the e-book formats, they link to Amazon where you will need to click again to hear them. Since the technology is available, I thought it would be a more fulfilling experience in helping to create the full scene in the readers’ minds.

Quotes are listed at the start of each chapter to try to capture the essence of that segment.

I hope this is a flavorful experience, causing you to get angry, laugh often, wonder, and feel the characters’ experiences.

Thanks,

A.J. Aaron

Acknowledgments

I’d like to thank everyone who contributed ideas and information for this book and especially like to thank those who helped in the editing process: Barry in the UK, Gene, and Jennifer. A special thanks to Jennifer for all of her support and drive in the process. Thanks to Christine Winslow for her patient and detailed editing. Lastly, a special thanks to Anne Rice for telling me to, Listen to no one when I told her at a book signing of hers that I was writing a book. It’s odd how a little thing like that can change the way you create your story by freeing your mind. Thanks Anne!

Prologue

IF YOU’VE READ THE FIRST BOOK, YOU CAN SKIP THIS PROLOGUE.

If you haven’t read the first documentation of our dealing with being gods, I’ll tell you about it so you know what’s happening in this one.

Back in the 1400s, Leyna and I were in training to become wizards. Unfortunately, due to Leyna’s nature at the time, she had an instance of her power backfire and it killed her. I was stricken with grief since she was my true love.

I cast a spell with the help of the archangels, Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Auriel to have Leyna and I rejoined in another life so we could become what we were meant to: gods.

Yup, reincarnation. Can you imagine what I thought about that? Since I was a pragmatic engineer, I thought what you’re thinking—bullshit. But it became another accepted paradigm for me, eventually.

Well, that darn spell I cast in the 1400s worked. There I was in the present day and all of a sudden, my crazy great grandmother Aysel, who looked twenty-six, not her age of one hundred and six, introduced me to a stone I used in casting the spell. As it turned out, she was the Designated One for the family fortune and an immortal goddess herself. She passed the title to me, along with the vast fortune it carried.

I learned about the past I had in the 1400s and about Leyna. My life changed dramatically. Instead of being the engineer, manufacturing, operations, vice president guy I was, I reluctantly became a god to save Leyna from herself while she, also reluctantly, became a goddess.

Leyna and I had come into most of our powers and were living in a beautiful mansion in Chardon, Ohio, along with our trusted manservant/administrator/adviser and fellow god, Alexander. Aysel was there as well, since we were all confined to the mansion, due to a run in with a rather annoying little demon in the shape of a boy called Seth, who smoked stinking cigars.

Seth had his eyes set on Leyna for his side, the evil side, and once she became a goddess on our side, he said the balance of good and evil was messed up and needed fixed. Seth wanted to kill Leyna, or take her to his side as he planned.

The mansion was a safe space where unwanted entities couldn’t go. It wasn’t a bad confinement, but like any confinement, we developed a bit of cabin fever. We needed to resolve the issue with Seth so we could continue our immortal lives as the gods we were meant to be — whatever that meant, since I wasn’t quite sure what we were supposed to do.

What I did learn was, there is balance of good and evil in the world at all times. When there’s too much of one and not the other, everything goes off kilter like a bad equation. As gods, we could do whatever we wished, but our objective was to maintain balance. There are supposedly around a thousand of us on this earth today.

As gods, we had powers, which we continued to discover. We accessed the Akashic Records, transported ourselves by magic, took on any form, threw bolts of lightning, used ESP and telekinesis, placed thoughts in others’ heads, healed others, cleaned ourselves without showers, changed clothes without actually changing and a whole host of strange things, which at times made me feel as if I was insane and it was all an illusion.

Oh, and finally, as gods, since we had attained the highest gateway, or chakra level, we were without morals. That is, the things humans consider as good or bad, gods don’t necessarily consider in the same way. Some would have considered us insane.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! We became good friends with the four archangels I mentioned. They’re really cool guys, well, not all guys, I mean, Gabriel is genderless so it’s hard to determine how to refer to Gabriel. Anyway, they’ve been around for a long, long time doing their jobs and excelling in their individual powers and were a big help to us, as well as quite entertaining.

So, with that, I’ll start where I left off last time and fill you in on what’s been happening with us since then.

Most of us can, as we choose, make of this world either a palace or a prison.

Sir John Lubbock

There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.

Ben Johnson

The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.

Mark Caine

Palace or Prison

The fire crackled in the library, radiating its feverish heat to Leyna and me, folded into one another, reading on the leather sofa. The snow sparkled as it fell outside the windows in the spotlights placed there for effect. I wasn’t in favor of that waste of energy, but I was overruled.

Aided by the after dinner brandy and cigar, I was deliciously relaxed and felt I should stir about, lest I fell asleep at somewhere before eight o’clock.

The three quarter hour Ave Maria strike on the grandfather clock alerted me to the time. I was just about dozing, listening to the fire crackle and the steam from the hidden radiators along the wall trying to keep us warm.

I moved Leyna gingerly from my shoulder; her drooping eyes scolded me for stirring. Leyna, it’s way too early to be falling asleep. We’ll end up waking at three in the morning looking for something to do.

She continued to scowl, stretched her arms, curled her back, and opened her mouth in a yawn that reminded me of a cat awakening. Her long black hair shined in the firelight, her skin flushed radiantly from the heat of the fire.

Oh my gosh! I know, you’re right, Sevi. This is just too much being at home. I love this house and the things in it and us being together, but I wish we could escape. Even if it were just to the grocery store! I love Aysel, too, but she can be sooo, uh, sooo, Aysel, ya know?

I stood and poked the four-foot logs with the long poker, wondering at the carbon imprint we were leaving with this massive old place. Yes, I know, I feel the same, I said.

A new voice entered the conversation and it was berating to say the least. What do you mean Aysel is sooo Aysel? Since, Mr. Decarain, you are agreeing, maybe you can answer that!

My twenty-six-year-old-looking great grandmother Aysel stood in four-inch stiletto heels and black baby doll nightie. Her shoulder-length earrings swung with the body language she threw at us.

She came over to the fire and looked up at me, since she was short even in her heels. Smug and afire, with hands on hips, she stared me down, or up as the case was, and waited for my reply.

Aysel, Ninee, my god, well, I guess you are one of my gods that is, but can you please perform a little introspection right now? Can’t you see what this is doing to us? We’re all on edge from being cooped up so long. Now, settle down, please?

First, I’d like to know what that comment was about? Aysel stomped over to Leyna, glaring, hands still on her narrow hips, and said nothing except what her eyes spoke.

Aysel, listen to Sevi, that’s what the comment is about. But, if you insist on asking, Leyna said, glaring back at Aysel with her hands on her hips. If you have to know, I do not enjoy you running around the house dressed like the queen slut all the time. You could at least dress in street clothes! Fire lit Leyna’s eyes and tiny flicks of blue and white light flashed off her as she tried to remain in control of herself.

Aysel reached out to slap Leyna, but Leyna shielded herself quickly, which caused Aysel to slap her hand painfully hard against Leyna’s force. Bitch! Prude! Aysel shouted and stepped back. Ready to throw a bolt of lightning, her hand rose, fingers pointed in unison. Not a bit of loose blue flicks though, because Aysel had the advantage of years of control. Leyna stood and aimed the same way at her, but blue lights zapped and flicked into the air at random.

I jumped between them and grabbed their aiming hands. Enough! If you want to fight, do it normally! What kind of way is this for two gods to act anyway?

I held their arms tight, pulled them both close to me, wrapped my arms around them and pulled the energy into me like a ground rod on a roof. I felt the burn as it moved through me and into the earth. We have to take action, something other than hiding out here in our safe house! Seth needs to be dealt with!

I escorted their now relaxed selves to the couch where we all took a seat. The leather creaked and the clock’s last strike of eight resonated from the hall, reminding us again that time was passing.

Aysel leaned her head against my shoulder. A deep sigh escaped her as she put a hand on my knee and ran it up my jeans to the top of my thigh and back. Sevi, you’re right, we are going insane. I need to have a life again! She took my head in her hands, and kissed my lips deeply, filling me with her energy and lust.

Leyna stood and glared at us. How can you two be like this? Aysel! You are his great grandmother! Just because you look twenty-six doesn’t mean it’s okay! Sevi! I thought you loved me!

I do, I do! Uh…

Aysel defended her actions. Leyna! Settle down, your old jealous self is coming back. Did you forget we’re gods and gods have no morals?

Ungh! Leyna stomped over to the fire; her favorite oversized, shabby sweatpants and top billowed behind her like flags stuck to her frame.

I got up to go to her and Aysel fell off my lap with a thump, startled. How dare you drop me on the floor!

Aysel, take a downer, please. Let’s just all calm down.

Alexander entered the room just in time with some nightcaps. My lord, Lady Aysel, and Lady Leyna, please try this new concoction I created. It’s sure to bring a more pleasant disposition to you all. I know it has personally done wonders for me while listening to all of you.

Alexander gave a warm loving smile, white teeth flashing against dark Turkish skin. He passed the tray as he offered his newest creation, nodding as he did. We each took large martini glasses carefully to our lips and sipped. Lady Aysel? I’ll ask you first since you’re the oldest soul, he said.

How nice, the oldest soul. Alexander, as always, your work is impeccable. Thank you. I feel better about these two miscreants already. Looking apologetically at us, she continued. Sorry for the troubles.

Lady Leyna? Alexander asked.

Very nice, Alexander, leave it to you to keep us in check. Aysel, apology accepted and I offer mine, as well.

Thank you, Leyna. Aysel sipped her drink. So. She strutted around the room. What is the answer?

She stood by the fireplace, peering in at the flames. The stone griffins holding up the mantle stood like sentries. Aysel turned and wiggled her butt against the heat, smiled and winked at Leyna and me in turn, once more the Aysel we knew.

Lastly, Lord Sevilen, does the drink meet with your approval?

Absolutely fantastic! I’ll certainly have more.

That’s why I brought the pitcher, my lord. Mind if I stay here a while? I’m invested in this conversation, as well.

Please do. Your presence is always an honor.

Alexander settled in the great wingback chair by the fire; the only seat fitting of his six foot six stature. A regal and gracious manner flowed from him. Smiling, he sipped his drink. So, Lord Sevilen, do you think there are things we can do to remove this blight on our lives? Something we might do to, on, or about Seth?

I’m sure we could think of something, heck, we are gods now and we weren’t stupid as humans, either. We also have access to the Akashic Records, right?

Yes, sir, we do, but the information of the things to come for us, the results of our labors, or our encounters — we are exempt from seeing. We would have to be of the next level up in order to access those records. We haven’t the proper energies, so to speak.

Alexander crossed his legs nonchalantly, a leather slipper dangled from his foot. He loosened his tie and smoothed his impeccable woolen dress pants. His drink went on the Louis XVI end table carefully. He removed a case from his pants, took a cigar, snipped the end off, and tossed the end in the fire. Using his thumbnail, he lit it with a stick match. Like one, lord? Ladies? He looked at Aysel and Leyna in turn, presenting the case.

Aysel took one. Thank you. She snipped it with the instrument Alexander offered and lit it from an ember-tipped stick from the fire. Aysel winked as she rolled the cigar between her lips, licked the tip with her tongue seductively, and then stood like a model in front of the fire.

Alexander gave a deep-throated chuckle. Lord, I think we have to resolve the Seth issue or we will have chaos here. Alexander grinned while watching the two goddesses look each other up and down.

Leyna stood and walked to the other side of the fireplace. She strutted like a stripper and posed. She stripped her sweatshirt off and threw it to the floor, revealing a black top similar to Aysel’s.

Leyna licked her lips and looked at Aysel, who was now smiling. Leyna slowly pulled her sweatpants down to her ankles, revealing stockings and garter belt. She then attempted to take the sweatpants off over her sneakers.

She stumbled and twirled about, one foot stuck. Aysel laughed with one hand over her mouth. Leyna balanced like a Russian ballerina after she managed to get one leg free. Leyna twirled as she tried to remove the final pant leg and she landed head first into Alexander’s crotch. Sweatpants, still stuck on one foot, hair a mess, ego bruised. Aysel giggled like a schoolgirl, smoked her cigar, and posed by the fire.

Alexander, always the gentleman, reacted as one. Lady Leyna, please allow me to assist. He lifted her to her feet and then sat her in his seat while he held his cigar in his mouth. He removed her sneakers and helped with the pants.

Leyna was flushed and Alexander diverted his eyes. Lady Leyna, my apologies, but you seemed in need. May I get you some respectable shoes to go with the very womanly outfit you have chosen to wear this evening? It seems sneakers would not be flattering, if that was the intention you had with this outfit.

Leyna looked at him with despair. Her voice was tiny and childlike. Please? I put them in the bottom of the grandfather clock case. I was saving this outfit to surprise Sevi after everyone went to sleep, but it’s hard to compete with Aysel.

Aysel went to Leyna, climbed into that big chair with her, putting an arm around her. Aysel nuzzled her hair, kissed her on the cheek. Leyna, angel, I love you and Sevi, please don’t get upset at my antics. I am what I am.

While Aysel held her head, Leyna nodded as tears welled up in her eyes. I’m so sorry. We just need to fix this mess.

I know, dear. Aysel kissed Leyna on the lips deeply, pulling her hair as she crushed Leyna’s face to her in an embrace.

Leyna responded by grabbing Aysel’s head in the same manner. The two of them were locked in an embrace with Aysel’s hand on Leyna’s breast as Alexander approached.

The two of them were glowing bright white, which I saw as an energy exchange with the god’s eyes I now had. The time in the house had given all of us the opportunity to tune our abilities and right then I knew the two goddesses were not just touching, but exchanging energy in a blissful manner.

Alexander regarded me and I shrugged. One of Leyna’s eyes peeked opened, saw Alexander, and then went wide open as the energy field collapsed. She pulled away from Aysel as Alexander knelt before her with something in his hands. Oh my, I’m so sorry, Alexander.

Nothing to be sorry for, my lady. Allow me. Alexander took her foot and slid on a high-heeled, strappy, black satin shoe, and tied the strap around her ankle. He did the same for her other foot. He admired his work, and backed away.

Aysel sat on Leyna’s lap, still and content. Alexander, could you take a seat on the couch? I’m afraid if I get up, Leyna won’t allow me back. Sevi, you’re okay with this right? She waved her hand over the two of them.

Of course, Ninee. I had to laugh. You’re something else.

Alexander responded, Of course, Lady Aysel, I would love to sit on the couch with Lord Sevilen. Alexander sat next to me, puffed his cigar, and sipped his drink. So, what do we do?

Aysel said, I say we stay here forever and let Leyna and I become closer. Mmm. She gazed at Leyna, enjoying the caresses Leyna gave her hair.

Leyna laughed and kissed her cheek. Sorry, Ninee, we do need to get back to reality. That was nice and I‘ll probably feel different toward you from now on, but the reason it came to that is because of our being locked up together. Maybe we can try it again when we aren’t locked up and your libido and mine aren’t so abnormal. Right, guys?

Alexander sipped his drink and smiled.

I looked at everyone. Now that we aren’t killing each other, we can talk. Let’s think of as many ways as we can to solve this. I’ll get supplies from the office. I went to the office, gathered a flip-chart and some fresh markers. They were laughing and saying things about engineers behind me. A good thing from where we started tonight.

Alexander passed me on my way back, waving the pitcher in his hand. I shall obtain more mental lubricants, my lord. His cigar smelled sweet as he passed. I set the flip-chart by the side of the fire, and put a title on the top of the first page, Ideas To Solve The Seth Issue.

Alexander reentered the room with fresh drinks. He poured mine first and put it on the mantel along with a trimmed and lit cigar for me. He poured the goddesses’ drinks and handed them to them so they wouldn’t have to break contact with each other. He poured his and took a seat as the clock chimed out the half hour.

Aysel took a fresh cigar from Alexander and lit it for Leyna, who rolled it between her lips, puffed, and blew smoke rings into the air, then hugged Aysel. Everyone settled in.

Okay, let’s go, what can we do to solve the Seth issue?

Smiling, Aysel responded first. Let’s wait him out ‘til he gets tired of it! Leyna was obviously in collusion with her now, because she smiled and nodded. Aysel kissed her cheek and Leyna laughed.

Uh, that’s why you two were fighting before and why we’re getting increasingly strange as time goes on. It’s what we were doing and it didn’t work. You two nearly killed each other with your lightning bolts less than an hour ago!

I wrote it down on the flip-chart anyway and Aysel and Leyna gave a giggle and said, Woo hoo!

Okay, another one.

Leyna responded next with her arm around Aysel. You’re an engineer. Isn’t there some kind of technology, mortal or magick, which can shield us from him? Something so he can’t find or see us other than having to stay in a place such as the mansion here, or a church? Then we could go dancing, travel, and play with Aysel and not worry.

I nodded. Good idea, Leyna. I wrote it down. Shielding technology/magick. Leyna and Aysel responded with little girl claps and hugged each other in celebration. It was weird to see them that way with each other. If you remember from the first documentation of this strange journey of ours, they never really got along that well — like two cats in the same sand box.

I looked around the room with the marker in my hand and sipped my drink. Alexander was pensive, crossing and uncrossing his legs as he sat on the couch. Aysel and Leyna were giving each other drinks and after Leyna sipped, she said, Kill Seth!

Aysel backed away from Leyna and looked at her face. Sorry, dear. She turned to me. Don’t write it down. It would create havoc. If we start a war, we’ll regret it, but starting a war is what it would do.

I stood and fidgeted with the marker in my hand. But he’s threatening to kill us.

If he did, he’d probably get snuffed out by his side because we have an agreement to never harm each other. The balance could be affected, and the world would cease to function. Even if all the evil ones were killed, there would be no balance. No, don’t even give that thought the energy of writing it down. Sorry, Leyna, my love.

I puffed the cigar and tossed the ash into the fireplace. I tasted the intriguing flavors Alexander had incorporated into the concoction he’d made.

Thank you, my lord. I do think it is one of my best. Though the enchantment of a fairy priestess always makes a concoction taste better.

Enchantment?

Yes, my lord. A dear friend of mine, Asha, made me a box of special enchanted stirring sticks to mix drinks with when I wanted something special. A wonderful woman I have been amiss at seeing lately, and miss greatly. Anyway! What if we defuse him, bind him, such as a High Priestess might. Ancient spells exist and they can be very powerful.

Do you have such spells?

I believe I do. I mean, we could just do it ourselves, but to use a spell made specifically for the purpose is always good, since the focus is guaranteed. Similar to having Gabriel help when you healed Leyna. Perhaps Asha would be willing to assist us in that manner.

Excellent! I wrote it down, bobbled my marker, which nearly whacked me in the face and fell to the floor. It never hit the floor, though, because I drew it back between my fingers.

Nice, Sevi! You’re using your gifts unconsciously now. Just be careful not to get caught in public, dear. Aysel shook her finger at me as Leyna brought a drink to Aysel’s lips.

But I could make them forget they saw it.

Touché! But if you don’t realize they saw it…that is the problem.

Very sensible advice, Lady Aysel, Alexander said as he stood and walked to stand before the still blazing fire, cigar in his mouth.

He warmed his