"Hey! Leggo!" Theo yelled. "Nuh uh! Since when did you get so manly?!" Faith giggled. "Ah! Alicia let go of my shorts!" he yelled.  "Looks like she matured in more ways than one" Alicia chuckled. Lucy got out of bed. "Let him go!" she yelled from her room. "Oops. Somebody is mad" Faith muttered. "If you two are done screwing with me, my wife is waiting for her breakfast" he said. Lucy sat on her bed smiling and when she heard giant feet coming to the door, quickly got under the covers. Theo sat down and placed two dollhouse scale plates with bits of food on her lap. A tiny little cup of coffee was ready for her. Lucy felt a little embarrassed as the giant watched her eat. "Where does that all go?" he asked as she cleaned her plate. "I'll have you know that lactating mothers burn quite a few calories just in that. Not to mention my body is still craving what it lost when I..." she said before abruptly stopping. Theo took away the empty plates. He said nothing as he rubbed her bare belly. The quiet somber mood was broken by her letting out an impressive belch. Both chuckled, them giggled, and full out laughed. "Holy shit was that thunder?" Theo laughed. "You got jokes. Least it didn't come out the other end like you do. Last week it was like pure propane with you" she laughed. 

Theo slipped his hand underneath her. "It's nice to hear you laugh again" he said softly. His fingers rubbed her little feet as he looked at her. "How sore are you?" he asked. "Not sore enough to turn down whatever you got planned for me" she replied. "Careful now. You don't know what I got planned" he said. "After hearing what you said in the living room, I don't care if you decided to eat me" she said.  Theo smiled and chuckled until she spread her legs. "Eat me. Fuckin eat me" she cooed as she fingered herself. Theo brought her close to his mouth and stuck out his tongue. Lucy took her hands and held the wet fleshy organ and sucked the tip into her mouth. With a grin, she wiped her mouth. Slowly, she pushed on his tongue till it reached her pussy. "Yes. Fuck yes" she hissed as the tip pushed into her slightly. Lucy moaned as she fucked herself on the tip of his tongue. With a cute little chirp, she came. Theo’s tongue slipped underneath her bare ass and began to lift her up. His lips clamped onto her shins. Lucy tingled as her bare soles were tickled by his taste buds. Slowly with a sucking motion, she was pulled deeper into his mouth. His lips resisted on top of her breasts making her moan. Theo's finger petted the top of her head before playing with her long brown hair. Lucy felt helpless and yet safe secured between his lips. Her hands felt their warmth and softness.

Theo relaxed and began jerking off as he tasted her juices and flesh. She could hear him jerking his giant shaft as he played with her. Then, with a groan that rattled her bones, Theo came. Theo took her out of his mouth worried she might slip down his throat as he caught his breath. His left hand held her while his right glistened with his seed. Lucy shocked him as she slipped from his grasp and purposely landed in a puddle of semen in his right hand. The smell was strong, virile, healthy, her mate's semen. "What are you...whoa" he muttered as she scooped up some in her hand and jammed it up her pussy. Lucy writhed around in his hand until she was finely coated with spunk. "Don't push yourself. I know you're..."

"Happy. Very fucking happy" she said. Theo shrugged and carried her to the bathroom. Even though she had showered earlier, she was in need of another and Theo joined her. He doted on her cleaning her body and when done, carried her back to the bed. He had just put her down when the growth spell wore off. The shower had removed the scratches that made it. Theo slipped a dress over her. She smiled contently as he put on her sandals. "I'll give you a pedicure tonight" he said touching her toes. "I'm okay now. You don't have to keep spoiling me" she said. "And if I decide to keep doing so, what're you going to do about it?" he asked. "Pay you back" she grinned. Theo leaned in and kissed her. Their passionate kiss was interrupted by their daughter crying. Lucy got up, picked up their baby and began rocking her. Theo went to the dresser and picked up his wedding band. He slipped it onto his finger and remembered the first time he had done so. He remembered their wedding vows. "For better or for worse" he muttered.

"You look like a tourist" Marco said to her. "That's the point. Once I'm outside your barrier, I'm an open target again. Better to blend in with normal humans" she said as she placed a camera around her neck. "You can't tell us anymore about this Cassandra person?" Alicia asked. "Only from what was passed down. She doesn't like men, she can divine the general location of gods and goddesses, and she has her own powers. Powers that have kept her alive for an exceptionally long time" he said. "Well if that's all then nothing to it" Faith said. "If it's nothing to it, then why does Cordelia look nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs?" Alicia asked. Faith glanced at her. Cordelia was staring out the window quickly tapping her bare foot. "Something happened. Drusilla was very disturbed when she returned. You don't remember because what happened days later, but I do" Cordelia said. "Drusilla?" Faith asked. "My mother. She went to Cassandra days before she and my father died to get Perun's location" Marco said. "She never spoke about it" Cordelia said. "Be as it may, I have no choice" Faith sighed. "You going?" Lucy asked walking with Theo to the living room. "Yeah" Faith replied. "Kisses first" Lucy told the giantess. Faith picked her up and brought her to her lips. With a kiss as gentle as feathers, Lucy got what she asked for. She felt the giantess take in her scent.

"Yeah yeah we fucked" Lucy said smiling. "It was your scent I was wanting" Faith said smiling. Lucy felt her giant hand shake slightly. She could see in those big eyes that Faith was more than frightened. "Girls night. When you get back were having girl's night" Lucy told her. Faith nodded and put her back down. "You need me to drive?" Marco asked. "No. I'll translocate. Faster and less people involved" she replied. "Joseph said they can track you that way" Alicia warned. "It won't matter by this point. I just have to be quick about it" she said. Alicia hugged her tight. Faith had to push her away. There was a breeze in the house and a single beautiful wildflower floated in the wind to Faith. "For luck" Cordelia said softly. Faith slipped the flower into her hair. "Now or never" she said as she concentrated. As she couldn't lock onto Cassandra, she focused on a park she had seen in a YouTube video of her location. The portal opened and Faith stepped through. 

"Oww!" she said as she exited at an awkward angle slipping on a bathroom floor and falling. She nursed her bottom for a moment before exiting the park bathroom. Faith looked around, a normal day in the ancient yet modern city. The park had dozens of people just walking around or sitting in the grass admiring the sunny day. Faith sniffed the air. Car exhaust, food stalls, sewer grates, humans either sweaty, aroused, or fresh smelling. She sensed no magic, but she didn't either when she was attacked by a shade over a month ago. The city directory was nearby, and she looked upon it. The ancient ruins of the Sybil oracle were not far away so she decided to go immediately. Her pace was brisk, and she took pictures to fit in and for herself. Her sandaled feet slapping on old cobblestone as she made her way closer and closer. As she arrived, so did a small group of tourists. Faith was wary of them. If something were to happen, they would undoubtedly be pulled into the fight. "Dammit" she hissed as young children joined them as they neared the iron gates. She looked around and saw nothing unusual. Faith passes the gates and felt a tingle. A familiar tingle like she did at the Vatican. "A barrier" she thought.

For an hour she was on guard as they toured the ruins and the tour was over. "Where is she?" Faith wondered not seeing this Cassandra. It occurred to her that she neglected to ask Marco how to contact her or what she even looked like. "Dummy" she hissed. Faith walked outside the ruins and sat down on a bench. Her clairvoyance did indeed sense magics embedded in the old stones but no magical beings whatsoever nearby. "Is this seat taken?" a young woman asked her. "No" Faith replied. The young woman sat down next to her. "Gelato?" the young woman asked. "No thanks" Faith replied. "Really? Strawberry is your favorite Hope...oh I mean Faith" she said. Faith turned quickly to face her. Her fist collecting magical power by the second. "Easy. I mean you no harm. I am the one you're looking for after all" she said. "Cassandra?" Faith asked. "In the flesh. Hmm. The pure cane sugar really makes these pop" she said as she ate her frozen treat. 

"I need you help" Faith said. "Yes, I know" Cassandra said. She finished her gelato, stood up, and threw the cup into the trash. She began walking. "Wait!" Faith said running behind her. "So it was the barrier, right? How you knew I was here?" Faith asked. "No" Cassandra replied. "Oh, you saw the future. Listen. If we could, I'm pressed for time..." Faith said.  "In a moment. It's not time yet" she said oddly. Faith followed her quietly until she stopped in a secluded spot. "Don't move" she told her. Faith stood still nervously as Cassandra walked behind her. Faith sensed a small burst of magic and turned her head to see Cassandra' glowing foot stomping her shadow. "Son of a bitch! Again?!" Faith yelled to see the familiar ominous shade dislodged from her shadow. The living shadow pulled a sword. With astonishing speed, Cassandra charged him. The shade swung his sword over and over and her to miss each time. Faith was in awe at how easily Cassandra evaded him. Then she grabbed his throat and sent a blast of light magic through her hand. "Whoa" Faith muttered as the dark shadow engulfing him was blown away leaving a pale man in ancient armor. "Damn Faith. You really must've pissed someone off if they sent this guy. This isn't just any old shade. Motherfuckin' Marc Anthony himself. Now then, let's have you at a more manageable size" she said grinning. The man began shrinking in her grasp until the Latin cursing form had dwindled to a more safer 4 inches. She dropped him into her purse. "Now then, on to business" Cassandra casually said to the mind blown Faith.

She was led to a small yet lavish home overlooking the city. Cassandra had her wait a moment as she adjusted her barrier to let her through. Cassandra had her enter and remove her shoes. Faith was aghast to see dozens of borrower sized people walking about tending to the home. Tending to plants and housekeeping mostly. When they saw Cassandra, they paused and bowed. She coolly dumped Anthony on the floor. "Prepare him" she ordered. The struggling man was led away. "Have a seat" she said. Faith did and studied the people at her feet. Faith found it strange as they had no real scent to speak of and sensed spiritual energy of a higher order from each one. She nearly jumped out of her skin as three of them took it upon themselves to clean her feet. Cassandra returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. "Don't mind them. They're just doing as they've been trained" she said.

"How...how did you beat him so easily?" Faith asked. "Oh that? Shades carry a spark of godlike Authority within them. His kind can be made vulnerable with a good blast of life energy. After that, it's just a task of reveling their true name to render them powerless" she replied. "Marc Anthony as in cleopatra and Marc Anthony?" Faith asked. "The very same. It's exceedingly rare to send a shade of his class to attack a mortal. Says something about their mindset and their possible identity " she said. "Who?! Who sent him?" Faith asked intrigued. "Ah now there's the rub. Anthony was Roman but the Romans borrowed if not stole their deities from the Greeks. Between the two pantheons, there's quite a few that has their hand in death" she replied. "These people..." Faith said watching one mindlessly polishing her toenail. "You would notice. They are shades...of a sort. I have found them to be necessary for me to continue living" she replied.

Faith looked at their faces and found them devoid of emotion. "What can you possibly get out enslaving someone's soul?" Faith asked irritated. "Unlike a privileged girl born into power, some have to acquire it by other means. Tell me Faith, have you ever heard the story of the oracle that angered the god Apollo?" she asked. "...no" Faith replied softly. "She was born into a modest family near Delphi Greece thousands of years ago and by the time she was 13, became a favored virgin priestess of Apollo. The God showed her favor as she learned divination and when she turned 16, the god offered her the gift of absolute prophecy. She accepted. However, the gift came with strings attached. The god demanded sex from her but as she made a vow of chastity, she refused him. This angered the god greatly and took it upon himself to rape her on the spot. He did every cruel thing imaginable to her for a day and a night. A day slowed to three with the help of his son Helios. And when it was over, he gave her a curse as he couldn't take back his gift. Her prophecies of doom would not be heeded. She would be scorned for the rest of her life."

"And as she went from court to court trying to warn of the disaster of the coming Trojan War, she was raped again and again out of spite and anger until she decided to fake her death. She hid her identity and traveled throughout central Asia learning the various arcades and spells of the people she found. Using her skills of magic, she made contracts with those seeking her prophecy and as payment, she would take ownership of their souls for one century. Care to guess what that girl's name was?" Cassandra asked. "I have a good idea but how do they keep you alive?" Faith asked. "Give praise unto me!" Cassandra commanded them all. "Praise be to our mistress the high oracle Cassandra!" they shouted in unison. Faith watched them shout it over and over as a weird energy emitted off them and was slowly absorbed by Cassandra. "Tastes like chicken" the woman smirked.  "You absorb their praise just like a goddess. That's how you're immortal. They're nothing but batteries" Faith muttered. "And now that we're getting along so well..." Cassandra said dropping her appearance. Her hair turned snow white and her eyes like amber. Her clothing reverted to a classic Greek toga which she slipped off her shoulders. Faith found her exceeding beautiful.

Two men dragged a naked Anthony to them. "You were better off in Tartarus little shade" she said scooping him off the floor. "Unlike the others, you will be mine for untold amounts of time" she said. Anthony yelled and cursed her. "Silence!" she commanded as a magic paralyzed him for a moment. She spread her legs and placed him in front of her naked cunt. "It has been some time since you ate pussy but I'm sure you remember how" she chuckled. Faith watched as the tiny shade who meant to do her harm had now become a cunt licking slave. "This is not offensive is it? Not all of my guests are...understanding of a woman's needs" she said. "As you well know I am a borrower. I'm not as squeamish as a human" Faith replied. "Then you may happily indulge" Cassandra told her. Faith was playing a game of sorts. Show this woman respect and act as her equal to gain favor. She was not picky and chose a random person at her feet. Faith stifled a moan as she slipped a young male shade into her panties.

"You came seeking my help finding a deity, right?" Cassandra asked. "I did. One of them attacked someone I love with a kind of jealous madness. It nearly cost her her life" she replied. Cassandra pushed Anthony into her and shifted her legs slightly as her pussy sucked him in. "So, it's revenge?" she asked. "More than that. If I take this one out, it can hopefully give any others second thoughts about attacking me" Faith replied. "Dubious thinking at best. Gods and goddesses are proud beings. It is only in the last few hundred years they have taken mortal living habits. If anything, they will take your attacks as a challenge to gain honor and prestige. Be as it...one moment" she said closing her eyes. She shivered and then sighed. Anthony slid out of her moments later. "Leave it to a Roman to press his attack. What a boon you are" she grinned holding the sticky mess of the small man. "Be as it may, I'm not one to turn down a request as long as payment is made" she said. "My soul no doubt" Faith said shaking. "As Americans say...bingo" she replied. Faith pulled the young man out of her panties. He showed no emotion as her juices coated him from head to toe.

Faith looked at him remarking how young he was. "What was his request?" she asked. Cassandra looked at him. "Marriage. He wanted to know if he should marry a girl. He was killed in an accident six months later" she replied. "And you didn't warn him?" Faith asked. "I always warn them. They don't listen. The curse remember? That one wanted fame and died of an overdose 8 years later. Stock market tips for her to curry favor with her boss. Her boss killed her when she got pregnant with his child three months later. And that one...well she wanted something similar to what you want and paid no heed to me warning her she was wrong about who they were attacking" she said pointing to a female shade in her early 30's polishing a giant antique vase. "So? Is it a deal?" she asked. Faith hesitated to answer.  Finding this deity was top priority before they attacked again but selling her soul into servitude for a century? Thinking she was clever, Faith figured as the Joseph, Oberon, and others had found ways to be immortal, she could as well and if so, Cassandra couldn't collect her soul if she couldn't die. However, she was making a critical mistake which she had fortunately caught immediately. They had enteral youth, not true immortality like Markus had. She could die. Cassandra coolly sipped her wine as she watched the woman mentally debate this. But as she thought of people, she loved dragged into this her decision became clearer. She remembered being in total shock as she scrubbed Lucy's blood off the floor. The smell of bleach and wet iron, the scent of sugars. Someone she loved like a real sister with her stomach slashed open by her own hand. "...deal" she muttered. "Excellent. Give me a few minutes to prepare" Cassandra said putting her glass down and tossing Anthony into it.

Faith was alone and yet not alone. Surrounded by indentured souls, it was a harbinger for what could come for her. But as she looked at each one, she remembered what Cassandra said about the one she pointed to last. What she described sounded too familiar. Faith got up, plucked the girl from where she was standing and brought her back to the sofa. She sat diligently in her palm as if waiting to be commanded. Faith looked at her intensely. She studied her sandaled feet, her arms, and legs and most importantly her face. She had the same eyes, and unmistakably the same Romanesque nose. Faith couldn't believe it. She had the soul given physical form of his mother in her hand. The adulation of joy was quickly soured with the reality she was in the possession of Cassandra for another 88 years. She caressed her side pitifully at the thought. Trained, the woman began slipping off her plain toga and was half naked in just a second. "Drusilla stop!" Faith said as the woman was taking her sandals off. She looked at the giantess somewhat confused. "You're Drusilla, aren't you? The mother or Marco?" she asked. What has been lifeless eyes suddenly came to life with emotion. "Mar...co?" she asked. 

"Yes Marco. Marco Alighieri" Faith replied. "Marco...Marco...Marco!" she yelled almost frantic. "Shhh! Yes Marco" Faith said. "My son. My little boy" she cried. "He's not so little anymore" Faith said smiling. "You know him?" Drusilla asked. "I'm staying with him right now. He taught me to become a Campioné" she replied. "Then you are his wife?" she asked. "No. I'm already married and he's in love with Cordelia" she replied. Drusilla seemed to be fighting something. "Feel her. Feel. Please. Take me away" she pleaded. Faith heard footsteps. "Don't say a word" she whispered to the woman. "Enjoying yourself?" Cassandra asked. "Just a little" Faith replied. She looked at Drusilla who had lost the spark of emotion once more. "Good taste. She's particularly good at getting the right spots" she said. Faith bent forward slightly and kissed Drusilla's tiny breasts. "I can see she's...special" Faith said with a slight smirk to hide her irritation. "Now if you are so inclined, we can begin" she said ushering her to the basement door. 

Faith followed her down to the basement which was lit with green flame candles. "Extravagant for clairvoyance isn't it?" Faith asked looking at the arcanes chiseled into the stone floor. "What you call clairvoyance is as different from what I can do as a lit match to a forest fire. First..." she said handing her a parchment. "The agreement which you must sign with your birth name" she said. She handed Faith a strange onyx pen which she took. Faith winced as sharp tiny spikes came out of the body. Faith's blood was absorbed into the reservoir. "Hope Anna McCormick" she said to herself signing in her own blood. Her signature glowed briefly before Cassandra took the parchment away. "Now enter the circle" she said. Faith did keep an eye on her. Cassandra sat down motioning her to do so as well. She took her hands and squeezed them causing Faith pain in her still healing hand. "Think back to the attack. Let me see through your eyes. Yes. Good. Whispers. Whispers in the air. Old magic, incredibly old. I can feel its path back. Behold" Cassandra said. Before Faith she saw a shimmering vision. Lands streaking by as if traveling at hypersonic speeds. Hills become mountains, mountains with snowy peaks. It gave way to grasslands, steppes then the desert. Then finally it slowed above a shining city.

"Dubai. Your adversary is in Dubai" she said. "That's it? Dubai is goddamn huge. Can't you narrow it down further?" Faith asked. Cassandra cocked an eyebrow. "I'll ignore the impertinence. Hmm. Interesting. I'm being repelled. Foreign...entertainment...district. Blue...blue...ahhgh!" Cassandra said breaking the spell. "That's as much as I could get before I was pushed back. It has been an awfully long time since that was possible. I do not envy your task" she said standing. She led Faith back to the living room. "Pleasure doing business with you" she said. "About that. I wish to make one final trade" Faith said. "Oh? What for?" Cassandra asked intrigued. "For that shade. I fancy her" Faith said pointing to Drusilla. "As I've said. Each one sustains me and that one is especially important to me. With your soul bargained away, I doubt you have anything of equal value" Cassandra said. "Not even this?" Faith asked summoning the Bow of Artemis. 

"A fake" Cassandra hissed. "Try again" Faith said pulling the bowstring summoning a glowing arrow. "The Bow of Artemis? The legendary bow lost for over 500 years?" Cassandra asked. "Is yours for her" Faith said. "...deal" she said. Faith handed her the bow. She cut her magic ties to it making it Cassandra's. Cassandra handed Drusilla to her. "I hereby release you from our agreement. You are now her's" Cassandra told the shade. With her hold gone, Drusilla became filled with emotion once more. "I'll see you when your times come. Until then..." Cassandra said bowing. Faith said nothing as she made a translocation portal for home.

Faith reappeared back at the villa. "I'm free! Really free!" Drusilla yelled. "In a way..." Faith muttered. Faith was very worried how Marco would take this. "Faith!" Lucy said running out of the front door. "Yeah I'm back" she said. "Who...what is that?" Lucy said peering at the small shade. Drusilla cowered in Faith's hand. "It's okay. Nobody is going to harm you here" Faith said. "I'm Lucy" the borrower human sized said extending her finger. "Drusilla but I prefer Dru" she said shaking her finger. "You are so adorable Dru! You kinda look like somebody I know..." she said. "She's Marco's mom" Faith said. "What? But he said she died 12 years ago. Her grave is that way. How can...she has no human scent. What...what..." she stammered. "It's her soul" Faith said. Faith stared astonished. "What crazy shit have you done this time?" Lucy asked. "Long story" she replied. "This is huge Faith" she said. "I know. Have Marco come out and meet us but don't mention his mom" Faith said. Lucy went back into the house. Marco emerged minutes later. "Oh thank god. You're okay good. Did you find out...anything...what is in your hand?" he asked.

Faith opened it further to reveal Dru. "What witchery is this?!" Marco spat seeing her. "No trick. You know I don't do that kind of shit. This is real and I can explain" she said. "No... no. She's dead. She's in the arms of God" he muttered. "Marco? Honey it's me momma" Dru said. "Whatever you found get rid of it!" he yelled. "Little one please!" she screamed in Italian. Marco paused. He walked very close to them. He peered down. "Only one person ever called me that. Only one" he muttered. "Extend your hand Marco" Faith said. He did and she placed the shade of his mother in it. His finger touched her long hair. "Reddish black. She dyed it black because people stared. Momma?" he asked. She nodded and began sobbing. Faith watched him stumble back into the house.

Faith followed and watched him walk right past Alicia and Cordelia. "You're back! I was...what's up with him?" Alicia asked. "Have a seat" she told them. Faith told them everything that happened. Everything including selling her soul. Needless to say, there was much shouting on Alicia's part. "Sweetie. Borrower hearing remember?" Faith said wincing. "Fuck that! You sold your fucking soul!" Alicia yelled. "I did what had to be done. You saw the consequences if we keep sitting on our asses" she said. They looked at Lucy. She looked down at her toes. "No, don't you dare get angry with her" Faith warned Alicia. Lucy sat down with Theo tapping her big toe. She scooped him up and cuddled him. "Cordelia you say something. You're a fucking goddess so you know how these bargains go" Alicia said. "She's betting on you getting killed in a fight like Drusilla no doubt. Alicia has right to be skeptical. However, bargains like these are ironclad for both parties. She won't risk screwing her over and causing unnecessary trouble for her" Cordelia said looking down the hallway.

"Didn't she kinda do that when she enslaved his mom's soul?" Lucy asked. "It was a legal deal that grants the party...namely her protection. That's how these things work" she replied still looking down the hallway. "Cordelia this is important" Alicia said. "So is the man crying like a child for his mother" she said coldly. "Go to check on him" Faith said. Cordelia nodded and left the room.

"What kind of God would allow this?!" Marco yelled yanking his crucifix off. He was about to throw it until Cordelia grabbed his wrist. "The kind of God who gave you another chance to see your mother" Cordelia replied. She knelt beside him and patted his back. "12 years. 12 fucking years" he said looking at her with bloodshot eyes. "And the people of Israel wandered for 40 years. God never said we wouldn't suffer. Only that he would never leave our side" Dru said touching his hand. Marco cuddled her to his face and whimpered. It hurt Cordelia so much to see him that way. Marco said nothing for hours and just kept rocking where he knelt. Cordelia used her magic to make him sleep and put him on the bed. "How bad was it after we died?" Dru asked her. "Angry at the world. He threw himself into the family business as a kind of revenge" she replied pulling off his shoes. "I can see you love him deeply" she said. "He gave himself to me. Not as a goddess but as a woman. I know it is against the rules..." 

"Cordelia. It took me losing everything I hold dear for me to learn that happiness isn't something someone can dictate. It has to come from you" she said. Cordelia bowed before the small woman. "Of all the mistresses I have served, you were my favorite. You saw me as a woman, not a slave or a tool" Cordelia said softly.  "Off your knees and sit with me" Dru said. Cordelia sat on the bed. Dru climbed into her lap. "It's I that should be thankful. You kept him safe and well like family because you are family" she said. Tears fell on Drusilla with the smell and consistency as dew from a rose. "I made sure fresh flowers grew at your grave every birthday. Flowers that can't be found anywhere else" she said softly. Cordelia stared off into the distance. "Well I see you kept the house in perfect order. Thank god my worthless brother in law never showed up" Dru said. Cordelia tensed up. "He did actually" she said. 

"What? He did? But isn't Marco the head Campioné?" she asked. "He failed the Crucible and he died in the attempt" Cordelia said. "Really? It's exceedingly rare for someone to die in that. Like 5 in the last 500 years" Dru said. "It happens" Cordelia muttered shaking slightly. "What has he done?" Dru asked seriously. The giantess looked down on her. Dru held her finger tightly. "He took liberties with me" she whispered. "...he raped you" Dru muttered. "I found out recently Marco knew and blamed himself. He carried the guilt with him for years" she replied. "Oh god" she whispered. "He understands he was just a kid back then but seeing that pain in his eyes..." Cordelia said stroking his hair. She heard Dru sniffling. Cordelia lifted her to her face and kissed her. "What's done is done. We can only move forward" she said to her. Dru was silent. "Dru? What's it like to die?" Cordelia asked.

"For me? Cold, scared, and then like falling asleep" she replied. Cordelia cracked a slight smile. "Why do you ask?" Dru asked worried. "Just wondering what a finite existence would feel like. To be able to die" she replied. "Honey you're scaring me. Immortality has its obvious benefit and to live so long and see everything" Dru said. "Exactly. See everything. Every single one you ever love grow old and die while you never age. Never get sick or feeble" Cordelia said placing Dru on the bed. "I don't want to watch him grow old and die while I still goddamn look like this! I want babies! I want my tits to sag, stretch marks, menopause, grey hair, I want to die and be buried!" she sobbed. Cordelia shrank down and showed her true form. Dru came over and held her close while she cried. Drusilla never thought about it that way. She always thought it was kinda cool to have such powers and be pretty all the time, but would she feel that way in a thousand years? When people she love and care for die and turn to dust? Drusilla thought back to her final moments of life.

Her husband had been the first to fall after being ran through with a spear by the god and then coldly electrocuted into ashes. As her feeble magics dwindled, she thought of her son. She shook as she was certain she would never see him again. Never see him grow up, fall in love, marry, and give her grandkids. "Cordelia watch over him" she prayed as she made one final attack. But as she ran, the world grew around her. Then she saw the god towering over her. Cruelly he shrunk her as if to mock her. He reached down and the attack she was saving fizzled out hitting his fingers. He held her four-inch body in his fist. Her arms punching his fingers frantically. With a grin he grabbed one and pulled. Drusilla let out a screech as he ripped her arm from her body. The shock made her piss herself. Disgusted, he dropped her. "Filthy creature" he growled tasting his boot over her body. Just as he was about to crush her flat, he stopped. "Suffer" he chuckled as he walked away. And there she lay bleeding out. Growing cold from blood loss, she shivered. Her thoughts on those she loved one final time and then as her eyes closed...a white light filled tunnel but at the end of it was Cassandra. Dru could only imagine the magnitude of grief her son has suffered. Both parents dying was bad enough but not even having bodies to bury? It was a testament to Cordelia's love the boy didn't end up with mental issues. And as the goddess sobbed yearning for a mortal life, at least she could do is hold her, kiss her glorious red hair, and comfort the deity.

After everyone had gone to sleep, Faith was still awake thinking on what had occurred that day. She leaned back against the arch of Alicia's giant right foot deep in thought. It was a habit to dwell at her feet when she was troubled. It's warmth, smoothness, and smell comforted the borrower. She knew she made a harrowing deal, but it was worth it in her opinion. So why did it bother her so? She was smart enough not to ask her what the outcome of her fight would be. In truth it was a 50/50 chance the curse would work on her as she was advanced in magic enough, she might be spared. But as her father Keith had told her before, doubt can aid you in a fight but too much can be a liability. She missed her daddy worse in these times. She moved slightly resting her head against her sole and Alicia moved in her sleep. She didn't wish to wake the giantess and stood up. She heard whimpering from the crib and made her way to it. "My little guy needs changing" she smiled lifting her son Matthew up. Cleaned and changed, she sat down and gave him her breast to drink from. Would he grow up without her she wondered. Alicia moved again. She reached around and didn't find Faith. She bolted up. "Right here" Faith said softly. Alicia sighed and laid back down seeing her feeding one of the twins. "Can't sleep?" Alicia asked. "A lot on my mind. You should go back to sleep though" Faith replied.

"Bad dream" Alicia muttered. "One where the cookie eats you?" Faith giggled. "I buried an empty shoebox" Alicia replied quietly. "Want to talk about it?" she asked. "The dream or your decision? Either way it's done" Alicia replied. There was some time of silence between them until Faith finished putting Matthew back to bed. Faith crept onto Alicia's pillow. "You understand why I did it right?" she asked. She nodded. "And the importance of taking this thing out quickly right?" she asked. Again, she nodded. Alicia turned to her. "I don't want to be in heaven alone" she whispered. 

"Ooh baby, do you know what that's worth? Ooh, heaven is a place on earth. They say in heaven, love comes first. We'll make heaven a place on earth" Faith sang softly. "Stop. You're all off key. You bring shame to 80's music" Alicia muttered. Faith chuckled and Alicia chimed in. "What comes will come" Faith said. Alicia kissed her and closed her eyes. 

The next morning...

"You're off?" Theo asked. "Time is of the essence. Whomever I'm hunting could've sensed Cassandra and ran off" she replied. "I should go with you. I am a member of ZODIAC" Alicia said. "Ex member and holding the fort here with Marco" Faith said. Marco tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around. He kissed both her cheeks. "Come back" he said. Faith nodded. "Give em' one for me" Lucy said. Faith flexed a muscle. "May the saints watch over you" Dru said to her. "Thank you" Faith said as she summoned a translocation portal.

Faith emerged in a back alleyway far from prying eyes. "Whew. Least it's a dry heat" she muttered. She stepped out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. "Wow. The pictures don't do it...justice...what the hell?" she asked feeling a strange force around her. She walked a block bewildered as the force seemed to permeate the entire part of the city. She felt strange, weakened. Faith combined her symbology with clairvoyance and found she was in the midst of a spell woven into the very air itself. Feeling the magic ley and structure, she saw unusual symbols she didn't recognize at all. She looked up and saw it extended into the sky but what was more troubling was the sight of the buildings themselves growing. No, not growing. She was shrinking. She ran into another alley to reinforce her growth spell only to see it fizzle out as if the spell itself was absorbed into the air. She was rapidly shrinking by the second as she tried harder and harder and then she was her natural borrower size. Freaked out and standing in her own left sandal, Faith tried to return home. "Oh no..." she muttered seeing her translocation fail miserably. Squeaking, very loud squeaking behind her. 

Faith instinctively froze as a gigantic rat emerged from a turned over fast food bag. It sniffed the air and turned to face her. Faith readied a lightning bolt. It moved closer and closer and stood on its hind legs revealing its rodent penis. The thoughts of the filthy thing raping her filled her mind and she fired off the bolt. It grew weak the instant it left her hand and struck the rodent among it screech. It's cry alerted others to come out. In seconds she was surrounded by rats. She whimpered to herself sure that she would be torn apart and eaten by day's end. "Away with you!" a voice above her yelled. Faith turned around and looked up just as a hand grabbed her from the ground. "A…Ahmed?!" she yelled. "You are a far away from Italy little one. Let's get you somewhere safer, shall we?" he said making a circular motion with his hand creating a portal. He stepped through taking her with him...