As Alex stepped out of the massive bedroom containing the two gods, she stared at the elevator that was across the room. The door slid shut with a solid âclickâ. On the other side of the double doors behind her, she heard the sounds of Fortia walking away - loud, heavy weighted thumping behind her. The first few made her brace herself, before they grew distant. The further away they got, the clearer she could thinkâ
The sound of someone munching on something crispy could be heard, as Alex turned to face the source of it.
âSo!â Max stood there where she had last seen him, leaning with his back against the wall - a bag of fries within his grasp. He plucked at two to three at a time, bringing them to his mouth and taking a bite out of the fries with a slight crunching sound.
She stared at him, hair slightly messy, with a bit of a damp look. As if she had just gotten out of the shower, and had recently blown dry her hair. Her clothing was full of wrinkles, and the brown haired woman could feel how cold the floor was; with her feet clad only in a pair of somewhat dry socks.
âHow was sugar and spice? Did they find you rather nice?~â The suited man asked her with a bit of a grin, with Alex finding herself scowling at him. Her eyes briefly darted down towards the fries. The taller man pushed off against the wall, strolling towards her in a laid back manner. Pausing roughly half a foot away from her, offering her the jumbo-sized container, with a number of lightly seasoned fries within. Although there was only half remaining.
âFries?â He offered with a straight face, causing Alex to stare up at him. . .maintaining her gaze, as she slowly reached up to take a small fistful out of it, making him raise an eyebrow. âSheesh, guess they worked you up enough to make you hungry again, huh? Well, once youâre ready, weâll get you to your quarters and settle in.â The young woman merely nodded in response, shoving a few fries into her mouth.
Taking a moment to chew them up and swallow, the brown haired woman found herself remembering how to speak like a proper person. âUhhh. . .â A pause as she coughed, taking a moment to gather up some remaining saliva in her mouth; swallowing to try and clear her throat.
âIs all that. . .normal?â She asked.
Max gave Alex a âcluelessâ face, munching on a pair of fries, before speaking. âIs what normal?â He asked in return, in an almost âinnocentâ manner.
A scowl split across the tomboyâs lips when he said that, gesturing with a free hand from herself towards the double doors.
âThat!â She exclaimed, with Max glancing from the door, then back to her. Staring for a moment.
He reached for another fry, only for a hardened glare to make him pause and chuckle.
âIt depends. Right now, theyâre still high off the festival, so with most others they restrain themselves. Somewhat. Although, they were quite excited to meet you!â Max expressed, as heâd gesture towards the elevator, pressing a button on the side to call for it.
Alex frowned slightly when thinking about it, before looking up at him, asking him the big question yet again. âBut, like, -why- are they excited about me?â
Max smiled when she asked that, deciding to fill her in as they waited.
âBecause youâre different from the ones they had before. Almost all the others were what some called heroes. . .some villains. Members descended from royalty, while others came from extremely wealthy families. With you? Youâre something fresh compared to all of them.â
Alex stared up at him, waiting for him to reveal something. That she did in fact have royal blood in her. Maybe she was secretly from a line of heroes and didnât know it. She could be special and be born with magicalâ
âYouâre normal.â Max exclaimed.
The shorter of the two looked up at him in an almost dumb founded manner, a beautiful chime heard as the doors opened, as the elevator had arrived at last.
âNormal? Just. . .normal?â Sheâd repeat back to him, as the two of them entered the elevator doors slowly closing behind them. Max took a second to let her get settled in, before pushing one of the many buttons, and theyâd sense themselves starting to go higher. . .then it felt as if they had stopped and. . .were moving off to the side.
âWell, not TOO normal. I mean, if we went too hard on that, I think itâd sort of back fire. Your name was listed among a number of others, but you got chosen after they looked through the rest! I think liking both of them on a sort of equal level diiiid help you net some big points! Most tend to favor one over the other.â Max expressed to her, as Alex tried to process the reasoning she was here.
âSo, lottery winning, but they just liked the numbers I chose?â She said in almost disbelief, with Max closing one eye, head swaying from left to right briefly. âMmmm, sort of. Last time they picked someone it was from a very wealthy family that had members from their lineage picked before. Howeeeeverââ He consumed another fry or two.
â--there is a reason behind wanting someone like you. You see, when you start picking favorites that donât really come from where the everyday person comes from? You tend to only hear a certain side. Do the -people- like them just as much? Less? Maybe even more! Being in an echo chamber, even if you do enjoy hearing people praise and talk about you, can be unwise. So, the two big gals decided to have a crack at something different! Less of a yes man, and more of a. . .well. . .someone like you.â He said, gesturing towards her with a free hand.
Alex held up a hand, trying to figure out how to word her next question; which Max waited for with a smile.
âOk. So, they want to hear my thoughts on them? Like, my real thoughts and how people like âmeâ feel too?â She said, with Max giving her a small wink, along an odd sound from his mouth. âBingo-bango~â He declared with a bigger grin, with Alex rolling her eyes at him. âNobody says that anymore. My -grandpa- doesnât say that anymore.â She replied with a huff, with Max making a mock wounded expression on his face.
âNow -that- sounds like someone who doesnât want any more of theeese~â Max gave a slight shake of his container that still held a number of fries in it.
âOk, soââ Sheâd not react to the fries comment, something that made Max look almost offended by. â--how does all this work? Am I going to sit in on some meetings between, like, world leaders or something?â A small âpffftâ emitted from Maxâs lips, shaking his head.
âWhat? Going to sit down, have a gal-pal talk, look over some magazines and talk about how cute the people are in it?â Alex said with a small laugh and amused look. . .though it shifted to an uneasy one, as Max gave her a grin.
Another fry was consumed by him, with the only sound heard in the elevator was a simple crunching while Maxed chewed it up.
â. . .youâve got to be fuckinâ kidding me.â She said with a dry tone.
âNo maâam, thatâs the honest truth of it. Though youâre also going to be working a bit to earn your keep! Free ride is nice, but too much of it might make you lose your edge. That, and weâll need to train you as well.â He said, with Alex giving him a curious look. âTrain me for what?â She asked, with Max giving her a look.
âThe type of âworshipâ youâve learned growing up is nooot quite the same here. Youâll be doing such a thing much more. . .direct.â He cleared his throat, ceasing his fry eating for the time being.
âMost of the time itâll be just you, but other times they might call for you and a few others. When they want that group attention. When that happens, Iâd urge you to pay close attention to how the others act. Youâll see what I mean when I say, normal.â He said in an off-handed way, causing Alex to look unsure after that.
âWhatâs that mean?â
Before he could reply, a soft chime was heard, as the elevator arrived at its chosen destination.
âHere we are, a bit of a walk to the next area!â With that, Max gestured for Alex to exit, following right behind her as she did.
It dawned on Alex within seconds that they were in a rather fancy looking hallway. The one might see at a wealthy mansion that was several decades old.
âAre we in the temple?!â Alex asked in shock, feeling the nice red carpet beneath their feet. With Max nodding as he waved for her to follow him down the hall. She followed, looking out the windows as she passed them. A massive green landscape was seen outside, but the stained-glass windows made it hard to see much beyond that.
There was a large pair of brown well polished oak doors at the end with a golden handle on each of them, as Max spoke again.
âItâs undergone a number of rebuilds. For now, they still favor castle stuff. Easier to get around, more color to it than what they had before. . .and youâll be living here for the time being!â Max expressed, making Alex pause for a moment. A look of confusion written across her face.
âWait, I thought I was going to live in that place we saw underground?â She questioned, with Max nodding as he stood in front of the doors, turning to face the favored one.
âAaaand you will! Just not yet. See, youâre the new gal in town. Itâd be a real hassle if you lived down there, as itâll take longer for you to get to olâ sun and moon. Trust me, the place down stairs is extremely nice, but everyone starts here. Hasnât been used in about five decades since the last guy.â Max explained, making her give him an odd look.
â. . .and how long am I staying here?â She asked the blonde haired man, who merely held up his arm and tugged back on his sleeve, checking on his watch hidden beneath it.
âIt differs for everyone, but for now? I think getting you inside and in a new set of clothes would do you some good, yeah?â Placing a hand on his hip, the other gestured in shoeless-oneâs general direction; causing Alex to look down at herself. Wiggling her sock-clad toes as they stood out against the red carpet floor she was standing on.
âAlright, alright. That seems fair. . .â It wasnât just her lack of shoes, but she was slowly starting to ache all over. Whatever had happened back with the two gods had started to fade, leaving only an aching body in their wake.
âNot feeling too hot? Guess itâs fading.â Max said, opening the door for her - as he led her inside where Alex found herself. . .
. . .inside what seemed to be a larger, better version of where she lived in her apartment.
âUhhh. . .â Alex had a look of confusion on her. It was still made up of three rooms. A living room, a kitchen, and a bedroom. However, the space was larger, and while containing all of her stuff, they were all new and improved. She noticed her more personal belongings were in the places they had been before.
There was also. . .other things as well.
On the coffee table between the couch and television set was a number of gifts, all wrapped up like it was Alexâs birthday already. A small stack awaited her, different sizes and shapes. Dozens of wall papers and pictures were seen about her room. . .all of them either of both goddesses or one of them. They seem to be striking different poses, each one wearing a different outfit.
One showed Sophia and Fortia holding a globe of the planet between them in space, eyes closed and focused on something. Another showed Fortia lifting an entire skyscraper above her head with one hand, grinning at the viewer, with the logo âNever stop improving!â under it. Then there was one of Sophia in a dark emerald dress with a slit up the side, just like in that butler and maid ad she had seen before. However, unlike the former it held no other person in it. She was merely laying on her side, one leg practically fully exposed up to her hip. Eyes half closed, and a devilish smirk seen on the godâs painted black lips.
There were a number of others, but what was begging her attention above all of these, was what was waiting for her on the couch.
Resting on either side of the couch, with a spot free in between, no doubt for her, were two large stuffed dolls that were made in the image of Sophia and Fortia. They were wearing the outfits they had been sporting during the midnight hour at the festival. Though they were more, what Alex knew as, âChibifiedâ. Smiling faces with buttons for eyes. Despite it being the type one would hope to win at their local fair, they seemed to be rather high quality.
Nothing was said for a moment, as Alex just. . .stared. The tomboy turned towards Max, who looked down at her with a smile on his face.
The young woman then spoke in a rather flat tone. âMy room looks like I just won some runner-up prizes on a game show.â
The well dressed man merely flashed her a grin, before looking over at the large stuffed dolls. âI think many would be jealous!â
âItâs tacky.â She said without thinking, still sore all over and somewhat drained.
âAhhh, come on! Who doesnât want two lovely ladies looking at them; all day and night, for the rest of their lives? Could be worse!â He said in a rather happy tone, which Alex only found herself scowling.
âItâs corporate.â Alex declared with clear distaste slipping into her voice.
âMmmm, not quite! I mean, I think theyâd be hurt to know they took all these new and personal photos for you this morning, and only for you!â The Enforcer expressed, causing Alex to do a bit of a double take at both him and the objects within the room.
âWait, all of them?â She felt an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach when hearing that, unable to pinpoint why she felt like that.
âYuuuup! I watched as they had our people take them! That building was a tricky one, as they had to reinforce it so it didnât crumble when she held it up and on its side like that! They even hand picked the gifts they wanted to give to you!â Stating that, Max gestured towards the gifts on the table, as Alex felt. . .nervous.
âThey. . .did all this for me?â The dryness and distaste in her voice vanished, as a bit of a unsure, but somewhat excited one replaced it. It made her feel. . .special. It was also slowly dawning on Alex that this wasnât a dream, and that she had in fact just had a first time meeting with both of the larger-than-life titans. . .and a âpersonalâ one at that.
Her knees started to buckle, as she felt a gentle hand press against her arm; as Max would guide her towards the empty spot on the couch. Once she was seated between the Sophia and Fortia dolls, Max stood up a bit to the side; so as to not block her view of the presents.
With a glance given to the tomboy, Max would stroll off into the kitchen - opening the fridge and viewing was inside. Reaching in, he pulled out a simple bottle of water, before closing the door to the fridge, and returning to Alexâs side. Without a word, he offered her the water. Accepting it with a small nod, as she took off the cap and guzzled down half the bottle at once. A small trickle of water dripped down the corner of her mouth.
For a moment, nothing was said - as Alex just. . .took a moment to rest. With Max standing off to the side, waiting.
Silence hung in the air, until after a few moments of it, the man cleared his throat, causing Alex to look up at him from her position between the large dolls.
âHow about we open the gifts, yeah?â He urged her, with an unsure look on her face again, as the tomboy looked down at her current attire.
âWell, Iâm for it, but itâd be nice to change first.â She noted, with Max grinning at her all of a sudden. âOh, I think thereâs a few things in here you can wear! In fact, double-trouble told me to tell you that they expect to see you in -all- the things theyâve given you!â Max alerted her, causing her to give a wary look at the gifts now.
âWhat, like Iâm some sort of doll?â She asked with a huff, with Max peering down at the boxes, poking around as if looking for one in particular. âLetâs seee. . .â Heâd muse to himself, with Alex grunting a âDonât you ignore me. . .â under her breath at him.
Max placed within her lap two small boxes. One was a simple square that was about as big as her hand, while the other was a bit more taller and lean than the first one. âI thiiink these two go together. Smaller one first!â Max urged her, with Alex giving the box a somewhat annoyed look, slowly unwrapping it. . .
. . .only to pause as she saw a hint of what it was, and quickly tore open the rest of it.
âWoah, woah, wooooah!â Alex exclaimed, feeling as if she had gained a second wind, as she held a simple black box within her grasp; with a picture of a grinning cartoon Seagull on it, wearing a baseball cap. Behind the seagull was a white baseball, with a â1st editionâ seen on the bottom right of the box. She wasted very little time in opening the box, as sheâd find said baseball inside. . .with a number of names scribbled about on it.
âOh crap, oh crap! No way!â There was excitement in her tone, as she held the baseball like it was made of glass. Slowly, she turned it over between her hands. Noting all the names on it. . .it was the entire Seagullâs baseball team!
âThis must have cost a fortune! Is this legit?!â She asked, as if expecting it to be some cheap knock off, with Max shaking his head - a light-hearted laugh emitted from him. Heâd reach over to nudge the other gift in her lap towards her. âNoooope, all legit! Made sure to see to the signing of it myself when we got it! This goes with it.â With that being said, Alex placed the ball within her lap and against her stomach, opening the next one.
It held the same mascot on the front of the black box, just taller and thinner in size. Behind it was the picture of simple silver bars crossing over each other, with brown wooden bottom holding them together.
Making sure to take care in opening it, Alex noted there was a small gold plate at the front of the board. . .with it reading; Property of Alex Fae.
âThis is FIRST. EDITION.â Alex exclaimed, showing it off to Max - who gave a somewhat comically âImpressedâ face, nodding as he did so. âVeeery nice!â He said with a grin, causing Alex to scowl at him. âOh my goddesses, this is just. . .hoooo. . .â She was clearly trying to not over react, though it was hard. âWant me to put it on your desktop next to your bed?â He asked, holding his hands out to her, only for her to recoil and grip both the ball and stand closer to her; as if he was about to steal it.
âI prooomise to treat them like my own child~â He said in a teasing tone, earning him another scowl from Alex. . .who slowly relented and handed them over. Picking them up, Max stood up in a slow manner, gripping each one in his hand. . .as he started to âsingâ some off-beat fake âhymnâ of sorts. First he placed the stand on the desk, then, gripping the ball with both hands, he lowered it onto the stand as if he was a holy man crowning a king; causing a snort to emit from Alex in response.
Sliding back over to her, the Enforcer took a seat on the floor to the side, searching for the next gift to give his companion. The next several gifts didnât quite spark the same feeling as the first two had. Ranging from nice shirts and pants, the type of clothing she wore on a day to day basis.
A few, however, made her pause and question them.
âOk, I -have- to ask you something. . .uhhh, just between us.â She said, sounding a bit unsure as Max leaned forward. She was holding in her grasp a pair of black socks with orange tips on the toes and heel section. On the sole of the socks was the letter F. Clearly standing for Fortia.
âReal talk, when I was in there, I noticed she sort of. . .â She paused, wondering if it was wise to question it out loud, with Max merely giving her an eager curious look. âWhen I wasâdo you even know what happened?â She asked with a judgemental look, with Max glancing off to the side. . .then looking back at her with a thoughtful look on his face.
âIf it makes you feel better, Iâve heard of others getting it way rougher, but go on?â A hand gestured for her to go on from him.
âOk, ok. . .does she have a thing for these?â Sheâd wave the socks at him, as he gave a mock confused look. Glaring at him, the brown haired woman pointed towards her sock-clad feet, with Max looking down at them as well.
âI mean, I would hope someone enjoys every part of themselves.â He said with a straight face, with Alex merely groaning as she shook her head, causing Max to laugh.
âSorry, sorry! Anyways, all Iâll say is if you think that? Canât hurt to talk to -her- about that, and see if itâs true! Remember, part of the meet and hanging out experience. Be wrong of me to ruin that for you two. Although, I am sure sheâd love to see you wearing those next time you meet up!â He reassured her with a smile to boot, although the tomboy wasnât quite sold on it.
A few more gifts were opened. A new baseball jersey, a hat with the Seagull logo on the front. . .then it started to move away from Alexâs favorite baseball team, and ontoâ
âWhat in the FUCK is this?â She was NOT impressed by what she was holding up in front of her.
It was pink, frilly, and large.
Everything she hated.
âItâs a princess dress!â Max said with a smile!
âItâs a mistake.â She shot back at once, as Max took it and held it up in front of her as if they were choosing outfits at a store. It was a one piece princess gown. The one most expected to see on a doll for young girls, causing Alex to scowl at it as if it had offended her in some manner. âI am -not- wearing that. . .which one even WANTED me to have THAT?!â A finger pointed at the pink outfit, wishing she could just burn it then and there. âAnd donât you try to weasel out of this with a âAsk them yourselllllf~â She said in a mock version of his voice.
âOh, Fortia got it for you!â
She looked over at Max, as if expecting him to finish a joke. . .only to find there was no punch line.
âThis seems waaaay more like Sophiaâs thing, not Fortia. . .whyâd she want me to WEAR this?â She asked again with a look of disbelief, with a sigh emitting from Max.
âFortia has a thing for them. Was very fond of wooing them all the time, back in the yeâ olden days! I mean, youâve seen the place. Castle era, sheâs big and strongââ Max was cut off by Alex suddenly.
âWait, am I in a tall tower?â She asked, looking towards the window which she hadnât gone to peer out of yet.
âAhhh, funny enough, yes, BUTââ Max held up a hand, as Alex was about to say more. â--not because of that, but because that way itâll be easier to speak to you whenever they want while theyâre outside.â As he spoke, Alex was already marching towards the window, pushing away the ache her body was feeling from what the two gods had done to her earlier. Throwing open the window, she felt a fresh breeze blow in as she gazed at the outside world.
There was a great deal of green outside, with a number of massive trees with odd paths cutting through them. Large massive paths, which Alex could only assume was meant for Sophia and Fortia to walk about on. Much further away was the mountains, as it dawned on Alex that the temple was inside a valley of sorts. A waterfall and lake seen far off in the distance, with a number of other things seen further away.
When looking down, she found herself feeling taken back for a moment, flinching away from the window itself, before peering back over the edge, trying to judge how high up she was.
âItâs just tall enough that theyâll be able to sit down, and talk to you face to face.â Max said, as if knowing what she was thinking as she looked back at him.
There was more she wanted to ask more, while also curious what other gifts were awaiting her in the remaining packages. Yet, she felt herself grow more tired with each passing second. Despite the small bursts of excitement at the gifts and learning more, the day had already taken a toll on her. Wincing as she rolled her shoulder, placing a hand on it. A motion noticed by Max, who stepped closer, gesturing at her jacket.
âMay I?â He asked, making a gesture as if he wanted to help her take it off. Normally sheâd balk at such a gesture and remove it herself, yet she was starting to feel weak in the knees; as she shifted to sit down on the bed near the window. With Max reaching out to steady the somewhat tired looking woman with a hand placed on her back, before removing the jacketâ
âWhat the hell?â Alex was surprised at what she saw on her arms once the jacket was removed. Bruises had started to form, and odd dents that were rather large seen on her body. She felt confused, until Max spoke.
âEven with the magic they gave you, it seems they got a bit more rough than they meant to.â He expressed, causing the tomboy to frown. â. . .theyâre bite marks?â She said in a dumb manner, not quite understanding why it was taking her so long to notice that; despite knowing what happen to her not too long ago. Her mind felt fuzzy, as if trying to reboot.
âYeah, buuut theyâll heal quickly! I think a few days of rest are in order. Give it time for everything to sink in.â A brief glance was given towards the rest of the gifts, before Max went on further. âWhy donât we stow the rest of the gift opening until after you get some rest, yeah?â He almost seemed. . .apologetic.
Alex wanted to say she was fine, but with each passing second, she felt her energy draining. Slowly, everything was starting to set in during that moment of processing. She felt weak in the knees. Nervous. Excited. Both in awe and. . .and. . .
There was another feeling, but it was hard for her to describe, more so due to her current state.
âYeah. . .yeahâI think I need to sit down. . .â Alex remarked suddenly, as she stumbled a bit to the bed. Max was already there to lend her a hand and help her get settled in. The young woman felt her vision fading in and out, as she got settled into her new bed. Max had brought her a bottle of water, and a few pills, to help her get some rest.
Max stayed by her side for a time, watching as she drifted off to sleep. As she fell into a slumber, he grabbed the blanket and covered her up. Looking down at her for a moment, a frown slipping across his lips. . .then, he turned to leave. . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
Tick. . .tick. . .tick. . .tick. . .tick. . .
Alex felt herself fading in and out of sleep, unsure of what was causing her to wake. All the lights in the room were turned off, with the only thing enabling her to see was the moon light pouring through the window nearby.
Tick. . .tick. . .tick. . .tick. . .tick. . .
She slowly gazed around, trying to locate the odd sound. It was akin to an old grandfather clock, but only hearing it partly. . .the rest of the sound lost to her. . .just out of reach. She tried to turn her head, but was unable to. Her body felt heavy, as she was made of stone. Yet, she felt a tingle up and down her spine. Goosebumps broke out across her skin, as she felt her heart beating faster than before.
Something was wrong. She couldnât moveâ
The sound stopped.
Just outside of view, something shifted. Even when trying to turn her head, unable to, all Alex could do was see movement out of the corner of her eye. Unable to look around properly. She tried to say something. Anything. Shout. Move her hand. Anything, even a fingerâ
It moved closer to the bed.
The moonlight shined down on her bed, almost as if it was acting as a shield against whatever was just a few feet away from her. It stared at her, no noise made. Dead silence hung about the room.The only sounds Alex could hear were the beating of her own heart, and the shallow breaths she was taking in fear.
Time was lost to Alex. Restricted from doing anything, as whatever shared the room with her remained there.
Then, what happened next was not something she saw. . .but somehow just. . .knew. Staring at where the things head should be.
She knew it was looking at her. . .
And. . .
Her heart felt as if it was going to burst, staring right at it.
It was smiling at her.
Word Count: 4167
Added: 03/24/2025
Updated: 04/04/2025
âAHHHH!â
Alex bolted upright from her bed in a cold sweat, eyes wide open, blinded briefly by the bright sunlight pouring in from the nearby window. Her hands gripped the sheets resting on top of her, squeezing it so hard her knuckles were turning white, as she was able to move.
It was morning, and she was alone in her room, as she whipped her head around; freedom of movement regained as she stayed where she was. Nothing was there, save for the things she had seen before she slept. The two large dolls of the goddesses right where they were, with the presents on the table as well.
After figuring out she was safe and sound, she started to calm down; gripping her arms to help ease herself. She was trembling without even noticing it, but was quickly getting it back under control.
âDream. . .fuckinâ just a dream. . .urgh. . .â Alex said out loud, glad to hear her own voice as she tried to get over whatever nightmare had awoken her. She could recall it, but with each passing second, it became harder and harder to recallâ
It had moved closer that night.
Alex felt as if a spike was pressed against her head, seconds from piercing through her skull as she tried to recall the nightmare. She let out another gasp, looking around in a wild manner about her room. She felt safe, yet, it felt as if it could go away at any moment. She felt as if something washed over her, but the details were hard to make out, as the feeling went away. . .all of it.
She was safe. There was no need to worry. She had been summoned by the two most powerful beings to ever walk this planet, and they had made it clear they were fond of her.
The tomboy told herself this, trying to push away the fear of the nightmare she had with logic. She saw half the gifts still wrapped. Those two giant âdollsâ of the goddesses she was now a guest of. Inside of a room that was no doubt safe and very high from the ground. . .ok, maybe only safe if she stayed away from the windowâ
A knocking sound on the door roused her from her thoughts, as she looked over at it without knowing what to do. Save for her natural reaction when oneâs door was knocked on.
âUhh, gimme a sec!â She called out, moving to get out of bed and throw on some fresh clothing that had been laid out nearby. It took only a few seconds, as she slipped on a pair of somewhat loose jeans and one of the baseball shirts she had gotten from her gifts, and headed over to the door.
There were a few locks in place, but it wasnât anything out of the ordinary. It was, however, odd when each time she did away with one of the locks, an odd sound was heard. Almost like the sound effects made on some kidâs show when magic was done. She stared at the lock she had undone, relocking it and hearing the sound again. . .then did it in reverse; hearing it once more.
Recalling someone outside, she winced and went to quickly undo the rest, a series of sparkling like sounds heard in their wake, before she threw open the door - only to find herself looking upward at a man that had her beat in height by roughly a head and a half.
Dark brown eyes met her own lighter shade of brown, looking down at her with an amused smile on his lips. He was rather good looking, with a touch of age about him that gave her the impression he had her beat by almost a decade or so, roughly in his early forties she assumed - with his dark brown hair combed neatly to the side and slightly back. It wasnât his looks that quite caught her attention, but what he was wearing that did.
It was a simple, yet sharp and well tailored button suit; white in coloring. A walnut colored vest peeked out from just above the breast line where the man had ceased buttoning it up. An almost plain black tie was seen under it. His white pants were just as fancy as his upper half, with a pair of proper black dress shoes on. His figure was that of someone in great shape, unless the suit just hid anything that was unsightly that damn well.
While his hands were mostly bare, there was a ring of notable size upon his left ring finger. It almost looked like a family ring of sorts.
A part of Alex figured this man was just into very outdated fashion from almost a hundred years ago, yet, it didnât feel like that. The way he held himself and wore the suit spoke of a different story. . .
It bothered her.
âAlexandra Fae, with an L in the middle, that is correct?â Even the way he spoke was extremely well mannered and reminded her of her grandfather faintly. He didnât look over fifty, yet, sheâd wonder if maybe that was due to some sort of magic. That or some damn good makeup.
âHeyâhello there! You can just call me Alex!â Despite her feelings, she put on a best smile and made sure to remember her manners.
A light snapping sound was heard with a click, as Alex caught sight of a pocket watch briefly within his grasp, being slipped away within the inner folds of his jacket. A hand was presented to her, but the back of his hand was facing upward - with the young woman catching on to what he was doing; meeting him half way as she offered her hand within his. She watched as he brought her hand up to his lips while dipping his head; a brief, but polite kiss given to the top of her knuckles.
âAhh, well met then, Miss Alex! Pardon the sudden meeting without announcing myself ahead of time.â Her hand was released, as he gave her a proper dip of his head; a hand hovered over where his heart was. âI am Jonathan T Hardy, although, if we are to address each other in more simple terms already? Jon will suffice for the time being. Without the H.â He said, as if expecting that to be her next question, despite it not.
âYeah, itâs nice to meet you as well! Just moved in, new girl on the block.â She said, at once wishing she had said something a little more clever than that.
âYes, indeed you are.â It was only for a second, but his smile didnât quite reach his eyes. Then, a twinkle was seen within, as heâd smiled slightly more than before. âIt just so happens Iâve come to escort you, but, ahhh. . .it would appear you are not properly dressed.â His tone held a hint of disapproval, causing Alex to look down at herself, her bare feet in front of his well dressed shoes.
âJust got out of bed, do I have time for a shower ooor. . .?â She let the question linger in the air, a gesture given to the inside of her room as if to try and get her point across that she wanted to.
âIâm afraid not, but there is a measure of time we can spare for you to put a little more on than what you have now.â Head tilted to the side, a polite smile given to her.
A part of Alex was tempted to follow him with no shoes on just to cause problems on purpose, but it was just a thought. A smile given in return, along with a well practiced work laugh directed towards him. âIâll get dressed then, hope you donât mind?â She made a motion to close the door, as he glanced towards the inside of the room, quickly scanning it. While his smile remained, his nose crinkled just a tad, before heâd nod. âOf course.â He didnât look back at her, but the room within.
With a quick âThanks!â mouthed, she closed the door and hustled towards the bed in order to find some shoes and socks.
She tied her hair into a lazy ponytail, as she had no time to take a shower. With that out of the way, she headed back out where he was waiting, the pocket watch once more in hand. Sheâd close the door behind herself, hearing those faint sparkling clicks again, before the man offered her his arm.
Not wanting to be rude, she accepted it as they began walking down the same path her and Max had traveled. Max. . .where was he? She had assumed he would come bother her and see how she was doingâ
âI hope your arrival here was a pleasant one?â
The youthful woman stared up at the older man who was staring ahead, the same smile on his face. She turned to look towards where they were going as well, not wanting to be odd and caught staring at him while he wasnât looking back. âYeah, yeah! Was good! Umm, a little crazy, and still feeling like itâs a dream.â She expressed, causing a low chuckle to emit from him.
âThis is no dream, rest assured of that. You have been chosen by the Gods themselves, where only a select few have been blessed with in the world. Violence and misery is often a common trait one finds in the world of the gods, but for those that rise above the others? Well, I dare say youâve become a light for them, and to remind them of the joy one should feel by being in this world!â He said, seeming rather excited while talking - speaking honest and true.
âYou mean because they picked me, iiiit could happen to anyone then?â A small âtsk, tskâ, emitted from him, while an amused chuckle was heard once more. âCome now, Miss Alex. It isnât like a lottery. Quite the opposite in fact. The gods have been watching you, for your entire life, there is no doubt about it. Every path you have taken has been a test, like many other people of course, but yours? Itâs special.â Jon noted to her, his other arm reaching over to fondly pat her on the arm.
Already the man reminded her of some priest one might find in one of the many churches inside the city. Sprouting the good word of the twin goddesses, noting fate, and everything else that came with the package deal they called life. It all traced back to the duo themselves.
This time around, it felt different. Unlike the others, the man was speaking directly to her as if this was pure fact, with no other way around it.
âWell, I certainly feel special here! Sort of crazy, trying to wrap my head around it. Had a crazy dream last nightââ
That sense of something pressed against her head. Not a dream. Something else. The promise of something painful on the horizon. It was brief, but it caused her to stiffen up and halt where she was. Alex brought her hand up to rub at the back of her head, as Jon peered down at her - arm still looped within her own.
âA dream can be a wonderful thing, but it is just that, a dream. You are in reality, and what life has in store for you is something far grander than anything you could have thought of. Do not sour such an occasion with that, but focus on what you are able to learn from the past.â The man in white stated to her in a low, but calm tone, causing Alex to look up at him with a slightly puzzled expression.
âThe past?â Sheâd question, with the taller man giving a nod as they started to walk once again. âYes, the past. Within it are all the answers one ever needs. Within these hallowed walls is the truth of the world itself, with everything you seek being here. The great goddesses Sophia and Fortia have chosen you as a light, and it will no doubt shine brilliantly.â
With the feeling of looming pain on the horizon drifting away from her head, Alex merely nodded as they pressed on, heading for the same lift she had taken the day before. Pressing the button, the two of them waited - no words exchanged for a time. Their arms still linked together, as the tomboy felt like pressing him with a few questions as they waited.
âSo, Jon!â A small âHmmm?â emitted from him, as she noticed he was thumbing the pocket watch within his grasp again, watching it. âWhat do you do around here? Youâre not dressed like an Enforcer. Are you like a butler or priest?â She was unable to help herself, wincing a bit as she wondered if that was maybe rude of her to assume him as either of the two.
âI am neither, for I am what came before you - a light that was once chosen as well.â He said without paying her a glance, speaking in a proper manner still.
âOh, rightâwait, before me?â It took her a few seconds, before she asked another question. âDid they pick you for something too?â Alex was trying to wrap her head around it all, but from what he said earlier, she figured it had something to do with being hand chosen.
âIndeed I am, for I too, was blessed with the goddesses choosing me among so many others. It was some time ago mind you, and although my path has been set, it has come time for you to find your own. As the divinities of this world have hand picked you; just as theyâve done with those that came before us.â Jon stated, with Alex cocking an eyebrow upward - which Jon noticed as he glanced at her. A smile seen before he continued.
âWhen one is chosen, they are to pledge their very mind, body, and soul towards their chosen fate. Today is that day for you, and I envy you for it. It is a feeling that so very few get to feel and understand; as they find their purpose in life.â Jon expressed with a rather fond smile, although Alex felt anything, but that.
Purpose in life? It was a question she had asked herself when she was in her teens, but had done away with as sheâs gotten older. There had always been some weird sales pitch made with certain jobs or the church, saying how they were their purpose or that it was shrouded in mystery, and only they could find it for themselves - so long as they paid tribute to the duo themselves.
Now she was being told that it was really going to happen. Alex didnât know how to feel about it. Would it be like being told where to go from here on out? Something deeper, like, what she was born to do? Maybe she was already doing it, but wasnât even aware? It was quite a bit to think about, what with the âanswerâ for it being right around the corner.
A soft ding announced the arrival of the elevator, with Jon taking a step forward, but halted upon noticing Alex lagging behind. âIs something troubling you?â He asked, with the woman recalling what had happened the other day. . .meeting the gods. . .
Last nightâ
The pain in her head doubled at once from what it was earlier, causing her to reach up and grip the side of it while the tomboy clenched her teeth. She felt a reassuring grip on her shoulder, as Jon moved to steady her as Alex found herself almost tripping forward.
âCareful, easy. . .here. . .â
Taking it nice and slow, Jon helped the woman make her way into the elevator, before pushing a button nearby as the doors soon closed shut behind them. She felt it moving, as Jon bent over slightly, a hand pressed against her forehead akin to a parent checking on their sick child.
âMmm, a slight fever. Not uncommon.â He said in a soft whisper to her, with Alex giving him an unsure look due to his comment. Something he seemed to notice, as he kept on talking.
âYouâve been through what many would view as a life changing experience, and itâs only the beginning. I doubt you were able to sleep soundly, and the day before has taken its toll on you. No need to fret, there is a medical ward we can stop at before meeting with Goddess Fortia.â The older man expressed, with the younger tomboy looking curious when Fortia was mentioned.
âFortia? Iâm going to see her and Sophia?â She asked in an unsure, somewhat pained tone - with the man in mostly white responding shortly after.
âGoddess Sophia is attending to other matters, as there was a problem this morning that is being dealt with. It was also decided that itâd be best for them to have their time with you; one at a time.â Alex wasnât sure if she was just in pain and not quite understanding it, but Jonâs tone for the later half of that statement seemed. . .almost resentful? She didnât question it much, given the fact she was wishing she could simply will the headache she was suffering through away. That, along with knowing she was going to be along with Fortia soon after what happened before. . .
âYeah, gotâcha chief.â Alex declared with a somewhat strained tone, not even remembering what caused the headache now. Just that she wished itâd go away.
It wasnât long before the elevator doors slid open once more with a soft ding emitting from them, as Jon aided Alex down another hallway and through a door. She didnât quite pay attention to it all, nursing her head with one hand, while the other clutched at Jonâs arm. There was the faint recalling of seeing the symbol of the goddess on the door, with a medical symbol between them, but she was too busy finding the lights in the room to be a bit bright.
Squeezing her eyes shut helped slightly with shielding her gaze from the bright lights, as she heard Jon speaking to someone, before she was being placed into a seat. A wheelchair of all things.
She felt her cheeks grow hot, wanting to stand up right, but a hand gripped her shoulder firmly - with Jon once more looming over her. âRelax, youâll be taken to the doctor at once. Iâve already alerted them of your condition.â She wanted to protest, but was halted by Jonâs next statement.
âGoddess Fortia would wish for you to be at your best when meeting her, and you do owe her nothing less than your best.â
Despite the fact there was a decent bit of pain in her head, Alex calmed down and knew he was right. Maybe they had some of the âgood stuffâ she had gotten after being hurt when she was younger and needed stitches for the side of her head. All she could recall was it felt like she was floating on a cloud, and she couldnât even recall if it was painful or not.
Alex was soon wheeled off through another set of doors, from what she assumed was the waiting room. Two doors down the hallway a turn was made, and she found herself being wheeled into an empty room. It had what most medical offices had, yet everything looked. . .rather fancy. Expensive and well taken care of. It made her feel slightly sick, as everything seemed almost -too- clean.
Closing her eyes, the young woman tried to relax and not focus on what was going on. The pain was slowly subsiding, unable to recall what event triggered it earlier. She heard Jon speaking softly to someone that came into the room, before turning to leave as a medical staff member entered and started to check her vitals, while asking her some basic questions.
It was all a blur to her, as Alex was more focused on her thoughts of Fortia. Despite the headache, there was a tingle of excitement that she could sense coursing through her entire body.
Before long, the doctor had noted she needed some bed rest, but was told to wait where she was. Leaving the room, the tomboy was alone with her thoughts. She was aware she was laying down against one of those âtable recliner med bedsâ as she called them, often seen when visiting the doctor. Sheâd lay back and close her eyes, as sheâd let her thoughts drift about for the first time since she had been taken away by Max.
It was real. It wasnât a dream, and she was going to spend time alone with one of the two super beings that were far older than she could even dream of. Some noted they were around since before mortals even existed, with the church often citing them as the reason life came to exist and the like. They had lived through so many different time periods. So many different people they had âfavoredâ or chosen as their âchampionâ in the past, which over time turned to being just favorites - with many considering the time of âheroesâ gone once they had stopped claiming any as their chosen champion. A ârelic titleâ from a bygone era.
Yet, she couldnât quite recall the more recent favorites. Most didnât, considering it was a known fact they were people the gods wished to fool around with. Toys, pets, and a number of other such names were thrown their way, but it was often said with a note of envy among most people.
She felt a frown cross her lips, thinking on the biggest question of all that she still hadnât had time to process. Why -her- though? Sure, she wasnât bad looking, but there were far more beautiful men and women out there. She didnât have some hidden talent or know of anyone in her family tree that was related to someone major history wise. It was something that bothered her, more so after how Jon spoke of her as if knowing something she didnât. He couldnât be saying that merely due to being picked, but the reason for it. . .right?
âMiss Fae?â
Alex snapped back to reality as it dawned on her that someone was trying to get her attention. Glancing over at the door, the person she presumed to be her doctor had stepped back into the room; a chart in hand as she gave her a kind smile. The older woman flipped through the chart once, before going on.
âWelcome back to the land of the living. We took a look at your vitals and based on recent events, we concluded that you need a bit more time to rest before appearing before the goddess Fortia.â Alex felt herself frowning slightly, about to protest and claim she was fine, before the doctor beat her to it. âNow, now - you're in your best state of mind and body. Unless you can recall what I told you when you first came in, Iâd dare say youâre due for some bed rest.â
The door creaked open as Jon took a look into the room, a somewhat worried look on his face when seeing Alex frowning and the doctor. âI trust thereâs no problems in here, is there?â He asked, with the Doctor shaking her head. âNot that Iâm aware of, is there?â Both of them looked over at the tomboy, who was still frowning. . .but wasnât saying anything in return to them.
Leaning back on the medical recliner, Alex tried to let it sink in that she was going to have to rest a bit more before she could spend some time with Fortia. Her index finger and thumb rubbed roughly against one another, a nervous habit of hers when unhappy, but accepting things going on around her. With a sigh, she closed her eyes as the tired woman noticed Jon shaking the doctorâs hand; a brief flash of orange was seen, but sheâd pay it no heed. Figuring it was some hall pass or something. . .which the very idea made her snort, causing both to turn towards her.
âRest easy, knowing you have earned everything you are about to experience henceforth.â Jon expressed with a smile, before turning to leave, closing the door behind him.
The doctor went through the normal steps. Advising Alex to take some pills before she went to sleep, drink plenty of water, and so on. Excited as she was, there was a part of her wanting to just call it a day as well. Restless from the last day or so, the events of last night had already been forgotten.
Closing her eyes, she decided instead to daydream about how the events of tomorrow could unfold - hearing Fortiaâs words within her head.
âSee you soon. . .Alex~â
. . . .
. . . .
Even still, something just felt off, but she was too tired to think much more of it, as she at last gave in and fell into a slumber at long last.
Everlight: Part 7
Word Count: 5808
Added: 03/24/2025
Updated: 04/04/2025
After a good nightâs sleep, Alex found herself in a bit of a daze. Nervous and eager, but also trying to think of what she was going to ask Fortia. The doctor had given her the green light, and she had gotten a hefty breakfast before she found herself standing in front of a pair of twin doors that were very much like the ones from before, which had led into a giant room and let her meet the goddesses for the first time in person.
She glanced at a clock nearby, noting the time. She had been informed before arriving that Fortia wished for her to enter once it was noon. No sooner or later than that.
The tomboy ran her hand through her hair, as she paced around the room alone. She had yet to see Max that day, but had gotten a text from him, noting they would be meeting up after she and Fortia were done with their meeting. It surprised her slightly, as she had figured the man would always be around her, but there was a mention of something coming up.
Another ding from her phone had her check it, this one from Max. Alex had been somewhat bothered when first getting a message from him, but given what was happening to her, she felt it was the least of her surprises.
M: [ Clocks a-ticking! Excited? Did you wear the dress? Can I see it too? ]
There were times where Alex wished she had been further ahead in time, where one could harm another through their phone with just a few short button presses. She rolled her eyes, typing back to him in response.
A: [ Itâs back in my room, so no. Wearing jeans, sneakers, and a baseball shirt. ]
M: [ Bet you wore the socks. ]
The woman frowned at the screen, refusing to look down at her own feet while the socks could be seen peeking out just slightly from her shoes. She felt like lying, but a sudden pang of worry set in, typing before she could think.
A: [ Would it be rude if I hadnât? ]
M: [ Have you ever had your dear old grandmother give you that itchy sweater, and then you only wore it when sheâs around? Same thing, but they can drop in at any time. Your call! ]
âShit. . .â She felt as if a cold bucket of water had been dumped over her, while feeling a wave of relief at the same time. Scared of the thought of arriving with none of the gifts to show, while the other was happy she had put them on due to being curious if Fortia liked a certain part of her or not.
A: [ What did you do when you were with Fortia? ]
M: [ Trying to cheat our test exam already, are we? ]
A: [ Just donât want to mess up on the parts you did. ]
M: [ What worked for me isnât going to work for you, save for this; be yourself. Itâs alright, youâre going to be fine. Plus, the first time you get several freebies! Just donât go ham. ]
She clenched her teeth when seeing that, a bit of an unsure look on her face when looking at the clock. She only had one minute left.
M: [ Store the phone, go in there, and be yourself. Remember, they picked you because of you! Theyâll know if youâre not being yourself, so donât overthink. ]
Despite how she was feeling, the text from Max oddly helped her calm down somewhat. Be herself. They knew who she was, they were the goddesses of this world, of course they knew, right? Thirty seconds left.
She braced her hand against the door knob, but waited, watching the clock. Twenty seconds left.
Her heart was beating against her chest, a mixture of feeling nervous and excited. They knew everything. Itâs okâwait, everything?
Ten seconds.
How much was EVERYTHING? Ok, maybe not everythingâ
Without thinking or checking the clock, she turned the knob and entered with a few seconds still left on the clock and the door swung wide open. Alex stepped into a massive room like before, but it was different from the first room.
It was just like a bedroom for a single person living in it, but everything was gigantic. Made to scale for someone of the goddesses size. For a moment, she thought she had stepped onto grass, but it was in fact a dark green carpet. It was thin, but felt extremely nice to walk on even with her shoes on, and not much sound could be heard when she took a step forward. The walls were somewhat a mixture of stone and bark, giving the room a rather mythical feel to it, that felt as if she had walked into a painting. The ceiling was a mixture of it all, with a light above that hung high up in the sky almost like it was a tiny orange sun, yet didnât make her eyes burn or water up when looking at it.
There were things in the room that seemed oddly out of place, yet were fitting. Such as the oak bed which looked more modern and had a large dark blue bed sheet with a dark green thin blanket on top of it.
There was a massive closet of sorts in the corner, but she didnât pay it much mind as she saw a table on the other side of the room from the bed, right next to a beautifully handcrafted desk. It looked less like a desk, but as if someone had taken a massive ship from a couple hundred years ago and turned it into one. One fit for someone of Fortiaâs sizeâ
Wait, where was she?
Before she could take in what was on the desk or anything else, she felt dumbfounded as her eyes snapped towards the chair that was next to the desk, but turned in her direction. . .along with WHO was in it.
It was Fortia, wearing. . .something she had NOT been expecting at all.
She was clad in an unzipped black colored sleeveless jacket, with a simple green shirt seen under it. The top, while loose, still showed her somewhat ample bosom contained behind it. The bottom of the shirt had hiked up just enough to showcase a hint of her well formed abs that -everyone- knew about, and Fortia enjoyed showing off. A pair of dark blue jeans, with several tears and rips that were fitted just right for her was seen as well, splashes of that tan, almost dark bronze like skin seen under it. The bottom parts were slightly rolled up, exposing her lower calves for Alex to take in. Then, a pair of clean ankle socks were seen on her feet. Even with them on, she could see the subtle shifts and wiggles of the giantâs sock-clad toes movements without any problem.
One of Fortiaâs feet was planted flat on the ground, somewhat extended forward. The other was next to it, but was turned on its side - the sole of her foot exposed as her toes kept moving in a rather slow, almost hypnotic manner. Even from a distance, Alex could tell how massive the woman was - almost seeming larger than their last encounter. . .or maybe that was just due to how she was feeling, as she was on the other side of the room from her.
There was a pair of discarded boots next to Fortia, a pair that made Alex pause.
For a few moments, Alex found herself focused on the boots more than Fortia - missing the grin that sprung across the godâs face when noting her âguestâ was trying to figure something out.
âHmmmm. . .â
The sound came from Fortia, who Alex now looked up at her face to see the woman had her jet black hair in a somewhat high ponytail that she could see went down past her shoulders a bit. A few strands of hair were hanging in front of her face in a slightly messy manner, head tilted to the side with the side of her face pressed against an arm she was using to support her head - elbow against the desk. Large thick tree sized fingers resting against it, with black nail polish as dark her hairâ
âBlack nail polish? Wait. . .â
All of a sudden, it dawned on her while she had been so focused on the boots. Her eyes snapped back towards them, away from the wolfish grin Fortia now had as it was dawning on Alex.
The boots, the clothing, the hair style, even the black nail polish. No. She had to be mistaking it. Her eyes darted up towards her left arm. It was bare, with a subtle flex being done by Fortia, forcing her to stare at it for a time, before looking at the otherâ
On the other was an armband with the symbol of the sun on it that was Foritaâs mark.
The same armband Alex used to wear when she was younger. The entire OUTFIT was something she often wore after getting out of high school. Even the boots and socks were the same.
â. . .are you wearing my clothing?â
Despite being far away, Fortia heard her loud and clear - a bright set of pearly whites on full display, as those piercing orange eyes had a slight twinkle in them, looking right back at Alex without a single ounce of shame on her face.
âWhatâcha gonna do about it, chump?â Came a slightly husky mocking reply, as Alex heard both Fortiaâs voice and a âwhisperâ of her own within it. Oh goddesses, she was even using the line she often got teased about overusing by her friends too.
âIs. . .is there a box where we can just stuff all of -that- into, lock it, and throw it out to sea?â The tomboy said while wincing, wishing she didnât exist for a moment in time. Even still, she started to head in the direction of Fortia without thinking about it, with said god in question giving her a rather amused smirk.
âI think of it as something to be flattered about. Sure, people enjoy wearing their heart on their sleeve, the symbol, but you really were enjoying my view of life then, huh?â Fortia said, looking as if she was containing a bit of laughter as Alex kept walking closer.
âIâwere. . .even back then, did you notice me?â She stopped for a moment, curious if this was just something informed to her or. . .
Bending down, she lifted the foot upward that was on itâs side, easily taking off the sock that was the size of a bus or something larger to show case that rather broad underside of her foot, slightly spreading apart as if welcoming the cool air of the room, before placing it back down with a loud âthumpâ that Alex could feel through the floor itself. However, as it was laying flat on the ground, she knew why at once Fortia had done that.
Her toe nails were painted the same color as her fingernails, well done and without any error in them.
âWas nice to see you stop wearing boots all the time and try on sandals later! Heels are nice too, but I prefer things that make them a bit more exposed. A shame you put all that work into making these, yet, you kept them hidden away in those olâ boots of yours.â The goddess of the sun declared, the low sounding chuckle made her upper body shift about, her shirt lifting upward to expose a bit more of that well toned stomach of hers. Alex found herself staring at the spot for a moment, before Fortiaâs hand came into view. . .slowly dragging it just a bit further upward.
No words were shared for a moment as Alex caught herself staring, eyes darting back upward towards Fortiaâs grin, then her eyes. Those lovely orange, sometimes golden colored eyes. That same hand slowly rotated, all but her index finger curling inward. . .making a classic âcome hereâ gesture with it, to which Alex found herself obeying at once as she started to power walk towards Fortia.
It made sense why the others had insisted she be in better shape, as it took a bit of time to cross the room. Her mind was blank, as Alex found time had no meaning for a bit. All she could do was marvel at the sight of the goddess before her that she had admired a great deal in her youth.
Whenever she was caught staring at a part of Fortia, the well built super being flexed slightly. Shifting her body just enough to keep her attention on her. From the tip of her toes that would spread apart before curling a bit, to her fingers that did the same thing. . .her arms that moved slightly to showcase the power in them, to even her mouth. Sometimes split apart wide enough to show her well kept teeth, to sometimes parting just enough that she could see that tongue of hers move about. The same one she had gotten forced to know in their last meetingâ
Alex was drawn out of her thoughts as she was now just a few feet, to her, away from the being that was the driving force behind most of the world. Staring upward at her, she was surprised to see Fortia had at one point shifted forward - her lower arms resting against the top of her knees, ponytail dangling over the side of her head, seeming to be just long enough to go down towards her chest.
Her feet were directly on either side of the somewhat now timid tomboy. One turned on its side, minus one sock and showcasing the sole and underside of her foot. Standing next to it, Alex found on itâs side that looking at all five toes as she was now standing right next to them. . .she was roughly at a size where if she walked forward and into the under arch of those large thick digits. . .sheâd be able to fit under all five of them almost perfectly.
She knew the goddesses could alter their sizes, as while Fortia and Sophia had been out in the city, she had noticed their feet were large enough to take up an entire lane, if not the entire road should they choose to do it. However, it wasnât often they grew large enough to have one foot take up all the road, as it made moving around troubling without destroying something. Though she knew, from history books alone, when Fortia and Alex had taken part in war many lifetimes ago, it was noted a single footfall could cover an entire road and many things under it without breaking a sweat.
It was crazy to her, that someone she had read about in both history and many books related to the goddesses was now standing before her. That same being that had once brought an end to wars around the planet, and now was dressed up in an outfit she had worn a few years after high school.
A shadow overhead made itself known to her, causing her to look up to see Fortia pinching one of her socks within her grasp, slightly waving it about, before glancing from Fortia towards the foot she had flat on the ground. Turning to look, Alex saw her foot shifted a bit - the sound of its weight pressing against the floor made it clear the woman could easily crush anything beneath its weight without trouble. She was confused for a moment, before a slight wiggle of eyebrows from Fortia gave her an idea.
Fortia wiggled the sock overhead, while making subtle movements with the foot still clad in one.
âHow the heck am I supposed to do that?!â
Stepping closer, she was now within arms reach of the sock-clad foot that had ceased its movements once it was clear the message had gotten through to Alex. She wanted her to take it off, yet what was a simple gesture for the dark haired goddess sitting above her was a different tale for the mortal known as Alex.
Still. . .
She felt like it was a moment where she was being tested, and she didnât want to fail. Rather than think of how she couldnât, she went forward to reach upward and boldly grip the ankle part of the sock, her hand making contact with the goddessesâs bare ankle.
Just like before, she felt a warmth spread through her. A spark of something strong and a desire to show she could make it happen.
A surge of strength overtook her, as she pulled hard at the sock. . .and felt a shock when itâd yield to her touch. Yet, it didnât come off of course, but she had forced it down. . .but it was going to take more than that to do it.
Looking up towards Fortia, the goddess gave her that same wolfish grin as before, and without words, gave her a look that made it clear she wanted her to keep going.
With that, Alex set about shifting from the ankle to the back of the heel, pulling down at the sock as she knew she had to start from there. She repeated the action several times, until at last she had tugged the back of the sock down near the bottom of the godâs heel. Careful movement was seen as Fortia lifted the back of her heel just enough to make it easier for Alex, who took the aid without question as she tugged it all the way down and now directly under the heel. In her haste, however, she stumbled forward and pressed most of her body against the exposed back heel of Fortia, gasping as she felt the warmth once more.
It dawned on her there was a scent, a mixture of someone's natural scent, but also the smell of....a forest? It was hard to describe, but it was akin to when she had gone camping when she was young. That smell of fresh air, the trees nearby, a campfire that had just been given some more wood to fuel the fire. . .all the scents that gave her a positive feeling were there. Maybe it was due to Fortia often working in forest areas and the mountains, as she was seen outside the city helping to ensure the wild life was preserved. . .but there was a hint of magic to it. Something in her mind telling her this was Fortia herself.
Without noticing it, she had pressed her face against the back of Fortiaâs foot, taking it all in, before hearing a voice above.
âMmm. . .youâre free to do that as much as you wish. . .although, I think itâd be more enjoyable once you take it off fully. We have plenty of time together today, Alex.â
She said her name again. The tips of her fingers felt cold. A mixture of excitement, but also almost being overwhelmed by it. She became light headed for a moment, before she found the sudden strength to tear herself away from that. No, she wanted to prove herself. Besides, she wasnât as weak to just stop and become putty in her hands like that!
Alex wanted to not give in so easily, as she worked her way around Fortiaâs foot - tugging the sock foot and towards the front of her foot. At times she had to crawl under the space of Fortiaâs large foot. Most sound seemed to vanish when she did, as all she could detect and hear was the subtle movements in Fortiaâs foot. Shockingly enough, the goddess didnât press her foot down or give her any trouble. It was with that the tomboy went about nearing her goal, as most of Fortiaâs foot was exposed save for the ball of her foot and those five large toes she was eager to see once she had achieved victory.
As she made her way pulling the sock past the ball of her foot, all five toes clenched down on the last bit of sock still within their grasp - causing Alex to fall on her rear end at the sudden intervention.
âWhat, cold feet?â Alex said without thinking, so caught up in the competitive spirit that she forgot who she was talking to - looking up at Fortia with a sudden nervous look, who gave her a proud one in return. . .before it became more sly in nature.
âMaybe I am? Itâll be awfully cold not wearing it. Might need to find something to warm them up with, buuuut. . .â Fortia leaned over just a bit more, in which Alex could feel the faint traces of her warmth breath as she spoke her next words directly to Alex.
â. . .I think itâll loosen up with a kiss.â
Alex halted when hearing that, staring up at Fortia. . .then back towards the foot where only the toes were left hidden by the sock, clenched tightly by those large digits. Like a person that knew a door was locked, but had to try anyway, Alex tried to give a solid tug or two on the sock, but found it refused to move any further.
A frown crossed her lips, looking up at the goddess who only gave her a wink in reply.
She looked back towards the five massive digits that had a firm grip on the sock, with the rest of her foot exposed. Alexâs skin on the darker side, yet Fortiaâs just seemed so. . .so. . .so healthy. More tan than hers, as if it had always been exposed to the sun, but not enough to look off. It caused her to wonder if they chose to look like this or if they were just âbornâ like this.
The thought made her pause, frowning to herself in thought when pondering it - which she heard Fortia above speaking to her.
âMaybe a few kisses. . .hmm?â Alex felt as if Fortia noticed how she was feeling, speaking before the goddess could comment any further.
âNot even a hug, just straight to this?â Alex said, a plan somewhat formed in her head, but it was only a few seconds ahead of her, but there was a goal. It was vague, but she couldnât help herself. Maybe she was nervous, cocky, or just wanted to do something that defied logic.
âI mean, kissing? Is that because youâre âold schoolâ or youâre just plain into that? Most wear a ring they have people kiss.â The young mortal was rambling to the goddess she had looked up to and worshiped to an extent, hoping itâd work as she placed one hand against the edge of the sock right next to Fortiaâs largest toe.
The goddess looked rather amused at the statement, not shocked or angry, but yet, seemed to go along with it. âA bit of both. A promising two for one that benefits both of us.â She said with a slight chuckle, as Alexâs fingers slightly slipped inside the sock edge. . .but not yet.
âAhhh, both of us! Right, right. . .not sure if itâll compare to before, what you and Sophia did to me, but I wouldnât mind maybe round two of that. Just you and me.â Please work. Please work. Please work. Alex repeated that to herself over and over, as Fortia looked a bit surprised for half a second, before flashing her pearly whites down at the much smaller being right next to her toes. . .which had started to loosen their grip, but Alex didnât act. Not yet.
âJust you and me? I dare say youâve grown rather bold!â Her toes loosen up, as Fortia turned towards her massive shoes nearby, speaking to her still. âMight just toss you inside and see howââ
Alex sprung into action, pulling with all her might as she saw Fortia look away from her and loosen her grip on her sock. She yanked it off as if it was a bed sheet in need of a dire replacement, gripping the sock and pulling with all her might as she jerked back away from the toes with it in hand.
Either by a mercy or pure shock, Fortia didnât try to clench her toes again, as the rest of her foot became exposed - showcasing five large thick toes to Alex. She felt a surge of pride and excitement at doing it, before it dawned on her what she had just done.
Alex had not done what Fortia had told her, but had pulled a fast one on her.
On a goddess.
It was almost comical how she let her gaze travel from across that broad foot. All the way up her legs. . .the somewhat exposed midriff, and further beyond that ample chest to see the result of her âcrimeâ as it were.
Fortiaâs mouth was partly open as if to speak, teeth shown ever so slightly, with her eyes a little wider than normal.
However. . .
She was also giving her the biggest grin she had ever seen on the higher beingâs face.
Alex really wished she was anywhere, but there at the moment, as Fortia whispered her next words to her.
âOooh, Iâm going to enjoy at long last doing whatever I want with you. . .Alex.â
The smaller woman was knocked onto her bottom as the goddessâ gigantic foot in front of her shifted again, moving several feet into the air above Alex. Fortiaâs head tilted to the side, as if peeking around her foot at the woman below - a somewhat wild look of enjoyment to her, before her foot started to descend slowly towards Alex who couldnât even let out a scream as she froze up.
Then, she felt herself engulfed in a sea of flesh and warmth, with the floor against her back. It was hard to hear anything, other than the shifts in the sole gently pushing down against her. For a moment, Alex felt a flicker of fear as it dawned on her how dangerous of a spot she was in. Everything felt either cut off from her senses and the inability to move much had gotten her heart racing. Yet, right as that moment sprung up, she felt it start to wash away as something washed across her. Unseen, but felt within her. As if her natural instincts were telling her everything was alright. That she was safe and sound, despite the position she was in.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, for a brief moment, she wondered if it was the goddess doing this. Whatever Fortia was doing to her, it felt the same as when Alex had first met her and Sophia.
It was forgotten as she felt the foot shift forward a few inches. . .then back again. Rolling the tomboy under the thick sole of the giant, before it shifted again, but in another direction - from left to right. It dawned on Alex after a few moments after figuring out how to think again, that Fortia was rolling her about under the entire sole of that broad foot of hers.
The full tour was given to the mortal under the foot of a goddess she had looked up to since she was born. At one point Fortia had moved her about so much, Alex found herself directly under the soft, yet somewhat still hard heel of the darker skin woman - causing her to become nervous. As her heart started racing at the brief thought of being crushed under heel, Fortiaâs voice was heard far above her.
âWorry not, Iâm not ever going to harm you without purpose, and there is no purpose here.â Despite her words of comfort, the way she said it sent a small chill down the smaller womanâs spine.
âHere, why donât we get you in a more secure spot I know youâll adore.â With that declared to Alex, it wasnât long before she was rolled away from the heel and down that thick broad sole of the goddess again, before finding herself on the other end of the foot - right under Fortiaâs large toes.
Even before she had arrived, for a long while it was no secret Fortia enjoyed showing off her body to the mortals, including what most were used to coming into contact with if they ever got close enough to her; namely where Alex was now. There had been times the woman had worn fully enclosed boots and footwear, but more often than not Fortia had a fondness of displaying even her feet to those that took a peek at them. Even going so far as to wiggling her toes in a subtle manner when the camera or others were caught staring, along with slowly rubbing them together when lazing about places.
Alex had been among the many who had found themselves wishing they could get closer one day to Fortia, with one of those desires being where she was now. In her daze, she found herself fitting perfectly under all five digits, which were slowly scrunching her between each one and the ball of the higher beings foot. Has the god shrunk or had she made Alex bigger? With so much going on it was hard to tell, but she felt her face fit snugly between the largest toe and the one next to it - while her own feet were positioned right against the side of the pinkie toe and the one next to that one.
âIt pleases me that you do enjoy this. Having someone do this just to please me can become a bore, but having someone I know loves it makes it a much more stimulating experience.â Alex froze when hearing that, even though a part of her figured the two gods might know of her likes. It wasnât something that was high on her list, but it was there. However, with how she was being handled now, she felt it was going to soon be much higher up there in the future. . .
The toes her face were between parted somewhat enough to allow Alex to see between them, causing her to find her breath lost at the sight.
The shirt Fortia was wearing had been lifted up to just under her ample bust, showcasing her abs on full display for Alex to gawk at. Fortia had straightened her legs out away from her during the footing, but was bent forward enough for the woman between her toes to view her upper half. One hand was idly stroking the surface of her stomach, tracing the lines formed by her muscles for Alexâs pleasure.
âIâm aware that is not all you are fond of. . .which works out perfectly. With time, you will become well versed in every inch of me. Although. . .â Fortiaâs lips pulled back, displaying a wolfish grin down at Alex in a somewhat hungry manner. â. . .everyone finds their favorite spot, sooner or later. I assure you that you will find yours in due time, my favorite.â Alex squirmed under her gaze and words, but spoke up to her in a manner that caused Fortia to pause with a curious look in her eyes.
âIs there a spot on you that hasnât been found as someoneâs fav yet?â She was curious, but also with that energy she had received from before, she felt herself wanting to push her luck. Just enough to learn more about her, but also have fun.
âHmmm. . .you are the first to ask that, I admit. If there was any. . .â Lifting her well toned arm, sheâd bend it in a manner where her hand greeted her own shoulder, presenting her elbow to her. âI believe this one has yet to find true love.â Fortia said in a jokeful manner, with Alex responding back before she could find herself.
âWell, maybe that will be -my- favorite then. Ya never know!â
The massive titan grinned down at the mortal trapped among the underside of her toes, seeming in high spirits as Alex kept responding to her. âOooh, while I am touched you wish to explore lands uncharted, weâre both aware of where your heart truly belongs.â With that statement, the tip of her massive tongue traced along the outside of her lips; now glistening in the aftermath. Her lips parted again, while closing her eyes half-way when speaking down to Alex in a much lower voice.
âYou should focus on the here and now, before you get ahead of yourself; while you try to conquer this mountain. Speaking of. . .riiight here. . .â With that, Alex found the toes suddenly clenched down on her head, forcing it forward and right against the space between both of those large digits. While she did nothing, every now and then Fortia squeezed her shoulders and head against the spot, as if wishing her to do something - which Alex had an idea of what that something was.
Despite her talk, she was still somewhat nervous about this entire experience, but found herself wanting to give in. To do stuff that -she- wanted to as well. Without much more thinking of it, the tomboy let her tongue trace across the area between Fortiaâs toes, electing a pleased muffled sigh far above her, encouraging her to keep it up.
Over and over again, she let her tongue play across the surface, aware that there was no foul scent here. In fact, she was surprised at what she could detect. It was akin to what one would smell out in the forest after a fresh rainstorm, with a hint of her natural scent along with it - like something one would sense when hugging a loved one after being away for so long. It was welcoming. . .and made her feel safe with Fortia herself.
The other toes that were further along Alexâs body lightly drummed against her in a gentle manner, carefully squishing her playfully under their soft almost doughy texture.
There was even a point where the middle toe scrunched at Alex in such a manner, she realized it was somewhat groping her chest, causing her to blush as a small moan of surprise and enjoyment escaped her own lips. Fortiaâs toes kept slightly shifting about her body, drumming them against every part of Alex that she found it hard to focus on licking. However, she found the small gaps in the toe-play to let herself give into her desire to worship Fortiaâs foot, licking and kissing between and along the underside of the large toe itself.
âMmm. . .make sure to pace yourself. Today will be a sample of whatâs to come for the rest of your life, but there are a few other things I will do with you.â
Alex started to wonder if she was going to make it even through the first day, as those two massive thick digits of hers slowly started to press against one another. . .making it clear she was in this for the long haul.