That's A Real Life Bronze Age Priestess Sammy
Chapter 19
It's showtime, Dean thought. Or it would be, if only Marie would stop stalling, by dragging out her introductory speech. However with the flip of a switch by Maeve, and the opening chords could be heard by the entire auditorium, forcing the young director to haul ass. He had to admit, the song was fine, enjoyable even. And by that he means the tune was catchy, cause the lyrics need some work.
He could see Sam on the other side of the stage, while he was on the side with Maeve. And Muwatti, who asked him what was their plan. "Simple enough. Protect the kid. Kill Calliope. Don't die."
"That's not a plan, Dean. Those are your objectives." Her face clearly showing what she was thinking, how did these two morons manage to save the world multiple times. "What are you going to do if Calliope just animates everything else from the play or simply decides to appear right in the middle of the stage and kill everyone here, and then grabbing Marie. It's what I would do."
"Son of a bitch Muwatti, why would you even think something like that?"
"Why aren't you? A good strategist doesn't just think of plans, but also goes over their every weakness and strength, for proper defence as well as increase the efficiency of the attacks."
However before he could say anything to that particular statement, he saw the Scarecrow walk right out of painted background. Right behind Sammy. He tried to warn him, frantically gesturing him to turn around. But he couldn't make the little bitch understand.
Fuck.
Without a second thought, he ran as fast as he could. However he was too late. His brother had been taken away. And his problems had just started, since he turned around to face the stage, only to find that Muwatti was no where to be seen either. She had disappeared as well.
Fuck. Fucking fuck.
Who stuffed cotton in my skull?
That was Sam's first thought, as he started to regain consciousness. His second thought was that he's not alone. There were voices. Was that Muwatti? Why is she here? How is she here?
"Despite how he looks right now," he heard Muwatti, while using her American accent, say to the other voices, "He is a capable and competent man. I can assure you both that he does this sort of thing quite regularly. And as I've recently learned, has an excellent success rate."
"How are you so calm about all of this?" Said the younger of the voices. Maggie. "When the Scarecrow brought me here to the basement, I was a sobbing mess, scared shitless."
"Not the first time I've been magically trapped by someone or something. At least this time I have company."
Here's hoping that none of them have to spend as long as she had to in that damn tablet, Sam thought as he opened his eyes, only to see the blurry image of three pairs of legs. The first thing he does after standing up is to try to open the basement door, though he knew that it would be a fruitless endeavour. That's when Calliope materialised. He had barely taken a step towards her, before he was flung forcefully back and pinned to the door.
Calliope stood right in front of him, wearing a smug and satisfied smile, as if she had won already. Doesn't really make a difference, so many other were also confident, which changed the moment they meet his brother and him. "I've consumed many authors. Many stories. But tonight, as soon as that curtain opened. I knew something special was brewing with this one. Maybe it was because the story's actual inspirations are here. I don't know. However even I couldn't have expected a story where the lost Hittite princess would also be joining us." She said, turning towards Muwatti, who had positioned herself between the goddess and the other two.
How the hell does Calliope know about that? Why the hell does she know anything even remotely related to Muwatti? What else does she know? Were some of the questions running through his mind. And pretty sure Muwatti's as well. Sam could see the shock on her face. He could also see how tightly she was clenching her fists, with beads of sweat on her forehead. With the goddess right in front of her, the pain must have become excruciating. She was also taking deep breaths, forcing herself to keep it under control. Well, she wasn't lying when she said she was stubborn.
"You were smart enough to change your voice, but you should've also hidden your tattoos." Calliope pointed towards Muwatti's hands, specifically at the symbols of Ishtar. "Those stars are a dead giveaway, princess."
Muwatti looked down at her hands and when she looked up, she had the smirk on her face. Except this time he wasn't at the receiving end. She now spoke in her normal accent, while gently pushing the student and teacher duo towards him and away from Calliope. Taking advantage of the muse's distraction, they quickly joined him in that corner of the basement. "I had no idea that I was a prominent tale for the members of the Greek pantheon. Here I was thinking my fandom exclusively consisted of balding scholars of history. Anyways it's always good to meet a fan."
Is she seriously trying to sass a goddess? What the fuck Muwatti?He tried to give another go at separating himself from the damn door, but was unsuccessful. As expected. Guess Calliope wasn't that distracted enough.
"I'm hardly a fan princess. The only reason I know who you and what happened to you is because Ishtar never stopped talking about you. Her favourite. She also never failed to mention how one day you'd come back. Both you and your mother. Turns out she was only half right." Calliope added bitterly. Something Muwatti noticed as well, as she remarked that Calliope doesn't seem to like Ishtar, but why. The goddess let out a sound that was half scoff and half snort. Sam recalls Dean once making that sound while eating pie. "I dislike the sheer audacity of her. After your lot disappeared, she became Astarte for the Phoenicians, who brought her to the island of Kypros, just south of Sparta, for whom she became Aphrodite later on." All the while Calliope was speaking, Muwatti slowly started to circle around her, forcing the goddess to turn mid-rant. That meant her back was now towards the still pinned to the door Sam. "Just sprung up from the ocean one day and arrogantly assumed she's the same as us."
"Not surprising. Her cults have always had deep associations with Venus. And before Hittites came along she was Inanna for Sumerians and Astoreth for the Canaanites. Partly because humans will always desire love and war, and partly because Ishtar is a shrewd and smart creature. Certainly a lot smarter than you." What is wrong with this woman? Does she think she can solve all problems by insulting and antagonising them? "I have no idea where she is, but something tells me she's not whinging about centuries old feuds, all the while rotting in some underground squalor reminiscing about her past days of glory."
When he saw Calliope raise her hand, about to attack, Sam knew his fears came true. He heard someone shout the word no. He would later realise it had been him and his voice. He could see Muwatti's face and her smirk being covered in purple light. Which is why he didn't miss her saying a bunch of Hittite words, though the only thing he was able to make out was "Pahsnu." Sam and his brother would later learn it was a basic Hittite protection spell, used in defence against a magical attack. Basic or not, turns out the female Hittite pope was powerful enough to not only deflect Calliope's attack and send her stumbling back few steps but also, more importantly, released Sam from the invisible bonds that were pinning him to the door. He was free. Shocked, but free. Though he suspected not as shocked as the goddess.
Calliope straightened herself as fast as she could, but it was apparent that she was out of breath and most definitely was not expecting something like that. Seeing the muse in her now jumpy state, just made Muwatti smirk even more. Sam thought about if that smirk had the power to fend off gods, what chance did he have. He slowly started to approach both of them, after taking out the blessed stake for his pocket, hoping against hope that Calliope won't turn around.
Thankfully she never even got the chance, since Muwatti continued talking, or rather taunting. "My dear Calliope, do not feel bad that you can't hurt me." Despite the fact that her tone made it abundantly clear that the goddess should most definitely feel bad. "I managed to hold off attacks from Isis, Osiris, Horus, and Anubis, at the same time for three days, before they had to return back defeated. Twice, in fact. And they were incredibly powerful beings." Or maybe she just bragging. Why three days though? "While on the other hand your power primarily consists of inspiring writers and poets. Maybe you would've had better luck throwing a book of poems at me."
Just eight more steps. Please just keeping looking at that smirk.
"No wonder you were her favourite. Just as arrogant as her. Just as conniving."
Six steps.
Five steps.
"I prefer strategic. And do you want to know what's another good strategy?"
Four steps.
Three steps
"And what would that be, priestess?"
One step.
"Distraction."
And right then, Sam stabbed Calliope, with as much force as he could muster. For a moment, nothing seemed to be happening, and they two of them started to step away from the now stiff Calliope. Then her eyes started glowing, before exploding and sending little splashes of warm purple goo on his and Muwatti's legs. While surveying the disgusting mess currently covering their feet, both of them simultaneously said, "High Priestess actually." Their necks snapped up at the same time, with the two of them looking at each other. Sam could see the same smirk on her face, which he must admit had started to grow on him now. And then both of them bursted out laughing. Her having the same sweet and melodious laugh from last night. However they stopped when they remembered they weren't alone. He turned towards the other two, who were holding onto each other for dear life, and saw their shocked expressions. Maybe it was because of the still warm goo covering a good portion of the basement floor, maybe it was the sharp stake that he picked up once more, maybe it was Muwatti's changing accents. Or maybe their expressions had to do with the visual of the two of them laughing like a bunch of maniacs over the dissolved remains of a deity. Who knows.
With her laugh quickly dying, Muwatti gave the strange viscous liquid covering her feet another glance and unfortunately some had even splashed on the new shirt bought by Sam. Are liquified remains of exploding gods easy to wash off or should she just burn the clothes? On second thought she will most definitely be burning them. She was also put off by the fact that the play must have gone beyond the point she had been looking forward to with anticipation, where they sing 'Single Man Tear'. Damn you Calliope. Muwatti tried to look on the bright side, thinking at least she had been able to listen to the song numerous times during the rehearsals.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she started to feel the familiar pain once again at the back of head. No. That's impossible. There can't possibly be a second one. Right? Certainly not an ally of Calliope, it would've surely come to help her. And also it felt a different. Whatever it was.
All four of them left the basement and headed towards the auditorium. The whole way Sam was finalising the story of a crazed kidnapper hiding in the basement, who unfortunately wasn't there when they found missing student and teacher. Seems a bit too simple and too preposterous at the same time. But at least Maggie and Ms. Chandler would have something to explain away their disappearance and eventual reappearance. As long one doesn't have to wait for almost three and a half millennia for a rescue, one would be willing to come up with a whole plethora of silly stories.
The whole way back to the theatre, Muwatti could feel the pain increasing. The closer they got to the auditorium, the stronger the pain became. They were right at the door to the theatre, when she turned towards Sam ,to tell him that there might be another one. Another god, somewhere. However upon entering the auditorium, the pain completely disappeared. Like it was never there. No one was shouting or screaming, no one was hurt or had gone missing. Did she really feel the pain? Or was her mind playing tricks on her? If nothing is wrong, should she still say something. They don't have the luxury of staying. After hearing about the discovery of the student and teacher, the police officers would want to ask them questions, something the brothers would definitely not want to do. If nothing was wrong and there wasn't any danger to anyone and whatever it was was no longer here, then wouldn't it be better to not say anything? Hopefully she'll never have to meet this other god to find out.
Translation
Pahsnu - to defend
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