Chapter 14: Show us your tricks!
Den took a deep breath in.
And out.
In.
And out.
All the while, Anders was still seated next to her, watching her as she processed the last little bit of information he had just told her.
Gods.
He was, a God.
Or, at the very least he HAD been a God. The reincarnation of, a God.
Or...what had been his words again?
'I was the vessel for Bragi, God of poetry and...a few other things.'
A vessel for a God. And not only that but his entire family and friends had been Gods and Goddesses also. The story that he told was once 'Odin' and 'Frigg' had found one another and married, their Godly essence ascended back into the universe and left them to be mortals again.
With some lingering powers.
"You don't believe me do you?" Anders gave her an amused smirk when she just blinked blankly at him, "It's alright, I wouldn't believe me too. I was going to say you were taking it all surprisingly well, but I can tell you still doubt me."
Den took another deep breath and finally found her words again.
"Well...since you agree about that if you were in my place, wouldn't you ask for something? Like...proof?" She offered tentatively, hoping he wouldn't suddenly get defensive and prove that he may actually be a little more eccentric than she first thought.
"That's understandable. I can't give you much but," he thought for a moment and stood up, "wait here. I'll be right back."
Den watched him leave and since she seemed to have a moment to herself, shut her eyes and REALLY thought about what he had told her.
It wasn't TOO far-fetched, considering all that they'd been through and what had happened to her before she seemed to pass out.
So he was a God? Or had been a God...but still retained some God powers.
'Try not to think about it too much. You trust him, don't you?'
"Yes," she mumbled to herself.
'Then trust this. He's going to bring you proof, so look at it with an open mind and DON'T try to disprove or reason with anything.'
She opened her eyes again when she heard footsteps in the hall and stood up when Anders came back in.
"Come back through. They're ready for you."
When Den came close to him, he didn't step aside. Instead, he gently took her hand and she allowed him to lead her back through to the front, her heart beating a little faster at what awaited her.
Like before when they'd first walked in, everyone turned to look at them. But instead of curiosity and warmth, she was met by some worried and concerned expressions.
Luckily, the bar seemed a little more deserted and had widdled down to the family and close friends. Mike had called for an emergency and gotten the regulars to leave.
"So," Den suddenly felt a little awkward and squeezed Anders hand to let him know not to let go, "I've been told I'm walking amongst Gods."
She let out a nervous laugh and was glad that a few people smiled back, easing her nerves.
"Well, former Gods," Mike corrected her and looked at Anders, "it's not the strangest thing you've heard apparently."
"It's up there," she finally felt herself relax a little. This was all sorts of weird, but apparently her mind was adjusting to this level of strangeness.
She took that as a good sign.
"Anders told us that you wanted proof," Ingrid stepped forward and smiled, giving a little nod of her head as a way of introduction, "you know me as Ingrid, but I was host to Snotra. Goddess of Prudence and Wisdom. AND I am an oracle. All that I told you earlier was real."
For some reason, that didn't settle well with Den, considering she'd been told something bad would happen. But she'd remind herself to talk with Anders about it LATER.
Olaf, reclining back in his seat and looking completely unbothered by the whole situation, waved his hand at her.
"And I know you heard what I said. Like Ingrid, I have the 'all-seeing powers' too. And at some point, I'm getting you two alone," he smirked and gestured to herself and Anders, "and we're going to have a little bit of drugs...and a lot of fun."
Den turned and gave Anders a look that said, 'what did he just say?'
"I'll...I'll explain later," he quickly signaled to Mike to come in and save the day.
"Well," Mike clapped his hands together loudly and got her attention, "I was saving these for a rainy day, but might as well use them now."
Den walked over to the bar as he spread out five scratchcards, all different prices and styles.
"Now, I'm a little rusty, so these won't all be huge winnings," he pointed to the most expensive one, "I can't win $10,000 on this sadly. BUT I can win my money back. That was my gift: God of the hunt and of games. Ullr."
Den, as though she were meeting someone new, nodded her head politely.
She watched as one by one, he scratched off each card and slid them to her. She looked over them carefully and sure enough, each one was a winner. He either got his money back or $5 more.
"Wow," she slowly slid the cards back to him once she was satisfied, "where were you when I was paying off my student loans?"
"Well, on the Brightside, if it was rock, paper, scissors, I'm afraid you'd win almost every time," he quickly brought out a can of energy drink and slid it along the bar for someone to catch, "ready bro'?"
Den turned her attention and saw Axl, greedily glugging down the can as though he hadn't had anything all evening.
Once he finished it, he eagerly tossed the empty can into the trash without looking and shook himself out.
"Just getting ready," Den watched as he prepared himself and she wondered what his 'trick' would be.
From what she could remember of Odin, he was the all-father and a war God. Maybe he'd fight someone?
"Right," he reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out something small, "you ready?"
Den nodded, though she wasn't sure what for.
When Axl held up the item, she realised it was a small, copper coin and got REALLY confused.
He grabbed it either end with his thumb and forefinger. He held it up to his face. And Den watched with great concern as his features contorted into something that looked a lot like pain and concentration.
He turned bright red and for a moment, she feared he would pass out but to her amazement, he suddenly relaxed.
And bent the penny easily in two with a satisfied sigh.
He smiled and held it out to her on his open palm.
With a shaking hand, she plucked it from his hand and held it up in front of her. She just wanted to see if it was real and as soon as she realised it was...then it got strange.
"I mean...I would say anyone could do that after drinking what you just did but...that was actually intense," she put it back into his palm and took a deep breath.
Gaia, seeing her nervousness, came forward and laid a calming hand on her arm.
"It's pretty wild, right?" She shrugged her shoulders as though it were completely normal and Den supposed, it must have been for her, "All us girl's got pretty awesome powers as well, but I can only make Appletini. I suppose it's a good thing I'm engaged to the former almighty one."
For a moment, Den had clean forgotten about the other Goddesses, but hearing it coming from Gaia seemed to trigger something in her memory.
'I slept with my brother's fiance.'
"Oh, shit," she quickly slapped her hand over her mouth, too late to stop her outburst. Gaia looked slightly worried at what she had said, but Anders swooped in and got her attention.
"The power the Gods had was hard to fight and...a lot of the time, we couldn't escape our fate. Even if we really wanted to," he and Gaia shared a guilty, embarrassed glance and Den reminded herself to have something strong to drink when she got home.
Everything was getting a little confusing, but Ty (sensing there was distress), moved quickly in and grabbed a glass off of Mike.
"God of...winter, cold and darkness?" Den had remembered the brief passing comment someone had made earlier about likening Ty to 'Höðr' and he only nodded.
His powers were by far the coolest and she didn't mean that in the joking sense.
He held up the glass and she watched, mystified as it iced over, cold steam even rising up when he did so.
"Oh, God...Gods," she slowly turned about, suddenly seeing everyone in a new light, "it's real...wow."
"Well...that's the best reaction we've ever had. I think that tops Dawn's quiet stupor and Zeb's celebratory dancing," Axl laughed and seemed a little bit more hyped up than usual. Though Den blamed that on the drink.
"So...can I ask, what happened?" She looked at Anders and squinted, "You were a God but...somehow you've also got a past life like me? Is it...I don't know, is it something else that jumps into your bodies? Will this leave us as the Gods did?"
"I have a theory," Olaf spoke up and raised his hand, "it's just a theory, but hear me out. At 21, when Bragi was 'awakened', it hopped into him and suppressed who he was. In doing so, he also suppressed 'Fili'. And to be fair, I quite like him. He's not so much an asshole and doesn't fuck anything that walks."
"Olaf!" Anders groaned, rubbing at his face.
He should have known Olaf would be the one to-
"Anders."
He turned slowly back to Den and saw how anxious and exhausted she looked.
"I think...I think I need to sit down again."
He put his arm around her and quickly turned her about, steering her back into the safety of the room.
Den was in shock, that was for sure.
She hadn't thought he was lying but maybe misinterpreted what he meant, but all that...all that she had been shown, she couldn't deny it.
It was all a bit overwhelming.
Once back inside the safety of the room, Anders carefully helped her sit down.
"Do you want some water?" He asked, concerned for her wellbeing but she shook her head.
"No, I want a beer, but I'd rather be in my home before I got plastered."
"Well, at least your sense of humour is still intact," he smirked and slipped one arm around her shoulders, his other hand gently grabbing her hand where it lay in her lap.
"It's the rest of me that feels a bit like a rung out doll," she managed to look at him again, her eyes wide, "you were a God! Like, an actual living, breathing God...Holy shit."
"Sorry about...springing it on you. I was going to tell you eventually, just not this very night after meeting my family."
"No, it's all right...but now, well...our sort of past life thing pales in comparison," she bit her lip and finally seemed to be brightening up, "can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Well...if I am out of line and you don't want to talk about it, you tell me, alright? It's just...what was your power like?"
Anders smirked. He'd explained to her his own power, but he'd never demonstrated it. He couldn't really...not to her.
"God of poetry...or...well, the gift of the gab."
"I thought you were good with your words when we met," she smiled at him and he shifted slightly closer.
"No, I...my powers don't work that well anymore...but I can get a free drink at any cafe or bar I go to," he shrugged casually.
Den seemed finally happy and relaxed, but then it changed. There was something she thought of and her hand pulled away from his.
"What?" Oh God...what had he said wrong?!
"A free drink...or...dinner out somewhere with someone?" Den felt sick. He said he wasn't that strong but...had he influenced her decision when he invited himself to breakfast with her? But then, she'd felt so sure.
He shook his head vehemently and took her hands again.
"No, no. I never used my powers on you. I swear," despite his panic, he gave her a warm smile and promised, "I was just my normal charming self."
Den looked deep into his eyes and saw the sincerity. And despite her trepidations...she did trust him.
"I believe you," her hand gently squeezed him and she sighed, "so, what now?"
"We...take this one step at a time and try to figure out what we do from here."
"And...us?" Den saw how close he leaned in. How his fingers drew little circles over her hands. How his gaze wandered over her lips, curiously.
"Well...we never got to watch Ghostbusters 2?"
"Oh?" Den smiled when his head moved and she felt his mouth suddenly VERY close to her ear. His cool breath came out as he whispered, "I think I'd like to return the favour."
For a moment, Den wasn't sure what he meant.
Then her mind provided the helpful imagery of the moment she took his cock into her mouth and had him calling her name in her apartment.
She was thankful she was sitting down as her legs turned to jelly and the fires of desire lit up inside her stomach.
He wanted to...oh god.
'Oh, God.'
Unable to contain her breathy gasp, she turned her head and waited for him to move back. Once he was close enough, her lips caught his and she wouldn't let go until she was completely satisfied and satiated.
When she did pull back, she couldn't help but smirk triumphantly at the cloudy gaze of passion in his eyes.
"Let's get out of here."
A short while later...
"As soon as my leg is fully healed, the first thing I'm going to do is take you for a spin in my car," Anders waved the Uber man off politely, glad the man hadn't chatted his ears off. His focus had been on Den and the occasional 'accidental' wandering of her hands on his leg.
"That's the first thing you're going to do?" She turned and pressed her body against his, a flirtatious smile dancing on her face as she asked, "You can't think of anything else you'd want to do?"
Anders's hands came to rest on her waist and he felt himself growing hotter each time she shifted against him.
"I said I wanted to repay the favour...but if you carry on like that, we might be in trouble," he lowered his voice and would have kissed her, but she pulled away with an arched brow.
"What kind of girl do you take me for?" She said in teasing tones and just to make sure HE knew she was joking, her hand moved to the waistband of his trousers and dipped the tips of her fingers inside.
Anders, seeing she was just as turned on as he was, decided to see how far he could go. He wanted to turn her on...let her know how much she was affecting him.
He dipped his head again, his mouth going close to her ear. He felt her hands still on him as he licked his lips.
"The type of girl I want to get out of her pants...and taste her on my tongue as she screams down her apartment."
'Holy fuck.'
"Holy fuck," Den chuckled and blushed, the hand on his pants pulling him as she took a step back, "what are we waiting for?"
Both giddy with excitement and desire, they both turned, hand in hand, and walked around the side of her building, planning to take the side entrance.
But Anders had to stop as Den suddenly froze in front of him.
"Den?" He moved to her side, wondering what made her stop, "What's up?"
He looked at her face and immediately knew something was terribly wrong.
She looked terrified.
He followed her gaze and at first, didn't see anything wrong.
Just her building with graffiti on it.
But it dawned on him...her building DIDN'T have graffiti on it. It had always been clean and unmarked.
In bright red letters, illuminated underneath the only streetlight on that side, was the word 'Zo'.
He didn't know what it meant, but he knew by her reaction that it was bad.
"Den-"
Seemingly startled, Den turned about, looking in horror all around her. Trying to see something.
"Oh God," her voice quivered and she looked back at Anders, her eyes wide with fear, "he found me."
