Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 10
Chapter 4: Pink Bunny Blues
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
I was busy tending to the quadruplets and the other younger children in the nursery as I saw them in their playpens and bassinets. Even though I was recovering from a caesarian section, I had to lighten the workload as I was forbidden to do too much. Still, I was mainly helping with the babies as I noticed Sylphina fidgeting in her bassinet. The little one was fussing as she was starting to get a little hungry in which I picked her up and allowed her to nurse. Even though I was used to doing this as I felt the little one latching onto me while she was getting her "second breakfast." It wasn't long until I noticed Drusus coming with a few baby bottles with the formula that the Medical Corps gave us as he picked up Raizo from his crib the moment he was wanting his due breakfast, for he was mainly known for having the Winchester appetite.
"You're a lot like your brothers and sisters," he said as he fed Raizo when he got his baby bottle.
"It's strange that he and Pippa are four months older than the quadruplets, but at least they're here at last," I said as I finished feeding Sylphina. "They were the lucky ones after Iago kicked Reiko the moment she miscarried their unborn siblings. They've reincarnated in the form of two tiger cubs in which their parents still watch over them on Gwylthid Island."
"Ever since the quadruplets were born, Reiko won't leave their side even though she isn't their real mother. Still, she knows how to watch over the kids, but—"
"She should also take a little time for herself sometimes. I also notice the children helping her in which Gyatso has adjusted to his role as a big brother in Dirk's absence."
It wasn't long until we finished feeding the younger children as they were later cleaned up complete with a few diaper changes before putting them down for a nap. When we left the nursery, we went towards the kitchen as we saw the older children making a mess in the form of making breakfast. Still, it was mainly the girls doing the cooking as we noticed the meal that consisted of a typical Peruvian breakfast in which I noticed a cookbook that was left behind by Lyra not too long ago. To my surprise, I saw Jill making Peruvian tamales as she was steaming them in a pot. The smell of chicken, cheese, and other spices that were given to us filled the kitchen as I was starting to get a little hungry. Even Drusus saw the stack of the cooked tamales that were wrapped in twine and banana leaves as he grabbed one and ate it with such gusto.
"This is pretty good," he said.
"We learned from the cookbook that Miss Lyra gave us," said Kanna as she was busy frying some donuts. "If we're here temporary, we have to try the local cuisine."
"You're getting good at cooking."
"We learned from both Sam and Reiko," said Gyatso as he was busy washing the dishes. "They know how to keep us fed with what we find. It's been said that Sam's raw power makes the vegetables and fruits grow in which he knows how to sustain us, even in tough time."
"We're the ones doing the cooking," said Kanna.
"I do some cooking, too."
"You and Dirk also knew how to craft a turkey dildo," I said.
"I miss him already…"
It wasn't long until I saw Kanna place some of the cooked donuts on a rack as she added in some glaze on them. I smelled the scent of sweet potatoes that were cooked into them as I tried one of them to see what it tasted like. It was unlike any other donut I tasted before as it was coated with a vanilla glaze instead of being accompanied by a syrup known as chancaca as it tasted more like a sweet potato cake. When I finished it up, I was happy to have it as I was also going after one of the tamales that Jill made. The taste of the chicken and cheese with some of the spices in it were delectable as I tolerated the spices without any complaints. Even though I finished it up, my tolerance with the spices ended up causing me to leak as I fled the kitchen and went straight to the bathroom.
"There's no rest for the wicked, is there?" I said as I got out a towel and cleaned up the mess that went all over me. "It's my second, but I'm used to embarrassment."
It wasn't long until Reiko barged into the bathroom as she was holding Shizuko in her arms. The little one was crying for seconds as I had to do my best to alleviate the embarrassment that I had earlier. When I was handed the little one, Reiko noticed me still leaking as she was aware of me eating some of the foods here in El Anillo del Fuego just to replenish what was siphoned from me. It wasn't long until Shizuko latched onto me as I nursed her in order to alleviate her fussiness, for she wanted a little more than just what was given to her by either the wetnurse or from the Medical Corps.
"She gets a little fussy when she wakes up," said Reiko.
"Earlier, she had her due breakfast, but she's going for seconds," I said.
"She's a growing baby, Sammy. Her other three siblings also want seconds every once in a while in which even Dirithi comes here to lighten the load."
"And the feeling is mutual…" I feel Shizuko unlatch as I began to burp her. "It's been three days since Drusus put his foot down against his angelic stalkers, but they're also the constant strain of Jack's watchful rhetoric if they decide to step out of line."
It wasn't long until Reiko and I left the bathroom as we went straight to the nursery. With Shizuko content from her "second breakfast," she was put down for a nap as we also kept an eye on the other children who were in their cribs and playpens. Still, we had our ups and downs as we were also on high alert with the presence of the Zenith Vectors coming and going, for they were still at large and still eager to be stealing Draaza technology that was left behind…
Drusus was in the main hall of the villa as he had a plate full of tamales in his hand. He was mainly here to be at my side as he also didn't want me to suffer from far worse due to the postpartum depression that has a way of coming towards me. When he entered into the sitting room, he ate the tamales he had as he later left and was ready to go into the kitchen to wash his dish. Just as he was about to do so, he saw Alcmene coming as she was dressed in a pink rabbit suit in which she was getting uncomfortable. After trying to intimidate and nearly kill him, he was seeing the angel being trapped in humiliation for what she tried to do to him, for this was more than just instant karma in mind.
"Don't look at me," she said as she lowered her head in shame.
"So, you're finally getting a slice of humble pie after all," said Drusus triumphantly.
"This is so humiliating!"
"Really? You've been humiliating me in which you and your friend resorted to stalker behavior that can be dangerous. For nearly four years, I had to run away from you all because I got struck by lightning and became a prophet. Now, if you don't mind, I suggest that you be humble and not ruffle anyone's feathers, you got that?"
Drusus left outside as Alcmene was left in the main hall screaming after enduring such humiliation in the form of a pink bunny suit. Even though she was forced to wear it, she also didn't want to be under the wrath of Jack and those in the Grey Havens as she had no choice but to bend the knee to us. Just as she was about to stomp away, she saw Zaphariel arriving as he was carrying a bag of fruits and vegetables that he got from the market. She wasn't too fond of him blending with the locals as all she wanted was to steal Drusus and leave this village, but was unable to, for she had to spend her days being humble so she wouldn't have her grace siphoned out of her.
"You look like a pink nightmare," said Zaphariel.
"And you're too busy buying fruit to make a tropical salad with," said Alcmene as she was still sulking while wearing the pink bunny suit. "I hate this suit! It's too hot to wear in this warm and humid weather."
"I hate to say it to you, but you got what was coming to you. I know that you want to take Drusus away, but trying to kill him? This is wrong of you for resorting to attempting to kill a prophet. This isn't the first time that one was killed and not the last."
"You can thank Gadreel for doing the deed…"
"He didn't do it by choice. In the Elder Days, Metatron had big plans for turning Heaven into a 'members only club' by having Castiel to three things: kill a Nephilim, steal a bow from a cupid, and have the grace of an angel being siphoned out just to close its doors back then. Even though the slain prophet was reincarnated in this age, he is also part of the god and goddess' acolytes after he had an imprint of raw power given to him during the Gale Canyon incident. As for this prophet in the villa, he has another mission in mind than to uphold an outdated tenet, for he was brought here to be moral support for Sam Winchester as well."
"Like I care…"
Alcmene was still not too happy with dressing up in the pink rabbit suit as she was still feeling the primal sting of humiliation she endured after she tried to kill Drusus earlier. As for her further folly, she would bite off more than she could chew if not careful, for she was also keeping her head above water right now…
Lyra was busy inspecting the cave that covered over the Clampett as she was mainly looking for more stray tunda plants. When she went towards the backway of it, she saw C.J. hard at work as she was looking for what caused it to crawl here for no reason. What she didn't expect was that there had been a trail of sulphur near the pond below as she had a gut feeling that a demon was here, for there was no end to such threats who would go threaten El Anillo del Fuego at this time.
"Encontraste algo?" she asked in Spanish as she saw Lyra standing in front of the sulphur.
"Habia un demonico aqui," she answered.
"Demonico?"
"This trail is different, but stops near the pond."
"And it let out whatever made its way into the cave…" C.J. finds a box as it had protective runes all over it complete with the Draaza language. "'Danger, dangerous lore monster?'"
"This specimen came from the Science Corps in which it was stolen by one demon who's been trapped in his jail cell by his mistress all because he pissed her off one too many times and we all know Abaddon has a harsh temper."
Lyra later looked up as she saw a man standing in the distance as she noticed his eyes flashing black before leaving. Still, she had to prevent further threats all over her village as she also remembered what happened when she faced off against one of those plant monsters as she was also aware of what happened to Dirithi due to the stillbirth of her baby and the death of her husband. Clenching her fists, she had to do her best to protect her village as she went towards the grave that had a small Buddha statue that denoted the stillbirth along with a cairn of stone. It wasn't long until she and C.J. prayed at the dual graves as they were a reminder of what happened to them over a month ago, for the plant monster was gone for now.
"The threat that took you from this life and that of your unborn daughter is gone for now, but a demon had to bring its remnant into the cave just to spread in this village," she said. "Damn you, Apollyon! You just had to send in your underlings to do your dirty work while you're still rotting in your jail cell in Hell's Dungeon. Oh, you really did make it on Abaddon's shit list, didn't you?"
"Looks like the Queen of Hell may have put our little toady in jail, that doesn't mean that his minions have the gall to spy on us," said C.J.
"Apollyon may be walking on landmines, but he's not stupid. He knows how to make people tick and force them to embrace their anger to the point of irreparable damage. He's not like Crowley that often has the gall to get in trouble, but he's also dug a hole in his reputation in which he was the main lynchpin who continued to invoke the blood moon until Abaddon caught him in the act. For centuries, he admired the Royalists in which one of them was responsible for nearly letting out the shedim while another brandished the Colt to open a portal to Hell in the Elder Days. This time, he's having phone calls from jail in which he's up to something, for this mess is far from over."
It wasn't long until Dirithi walked over to the dual graves as she placed some flowers near them. The loss of both her husband and unborn daughter was too much for her as she also never forgot about how a tunda plant spread into the neighboring village where she lived. She never forgot about the loss of her daughter as she was left with her breasts still swollen and filled with milk, only to have them alleviated by the presence of the quadruplets, for she had purpose after all.
"I know that it's hard for me to move on after the death of my husband," she said as she began to sob uncontrollably. "If only our daughter lived… If only my husband lived… It's not fair that Tzippidar and Azavar lost their father when that thing spread in our village only for the Dickersons to destroy it."
"There is still hope for you," said C.J. "You have a sense of purpose after you lost your baby."
"I know… Ever since Sam gave birth, he's been overwhelmed with the feedings of the babies, but I often help to wetnurse some of them so they can get what is needed for them."
"We should get back," said Lyra. "Besides, Sam's gonna need all the help he can get."
Dirithi was aware of this resolve as she had her reasons to move forward after all the tragedy that occurred. When she followed Lyra and C.J. back into the cave, they were glad that the mess with the plant monsters was over as the threat was gone. Still, this village was no stranger to dealing with monsters that caused trouble as this was far from over. When they went out from the front of the cave, they were in the village as they noticed some of the townsfolk going about their daily business. It was a typical day in the lives of the people who lived in El Anillo del Fuego in which they lived in stone houses with the usual amenities of electricity and indoor plumbing that made it normal, but liveable. Life was simple, but mainly useful as this village went through hell and back, for this was what made it resilient over the years so far…
Reiko was with the younger children in the nursery as she had recently put Kazuko and Giles down for a nap earlier. Both toddlers were on the cusp of reaching the terrible twos as they had the usual growth spurts like their siblings. When she looked at Pippa and Raizo, they were already on formula due to their growth spurts as they were also put down for a nap like their older siblings. Still, she was eager to look after them as she went towards the quadruplets who were napping away in which she saw them to be more adorable due to their genetics. She also thought about their late mothers in which she was happy that their legacies were continuing in which she was thankful that their sacrifice to protect their friends and loved ones wasn't in vain.
"Your mothers were the bravest soldiers of all and you'll be brave as well, my little ones," she said as she was staring at the quadruplets in their bassinets. "I made a promise to your mothers and I will see it through till the end. You have your brothers and sisters with you and you also have me and your father, for we will do our best to protect you."
Reiko left the nursery as she was ready to check up on them later. When went into the main hall, she saw Alcmene sitting on the stairs as she was still sulking while wearing that same pink bunny suit that she was forced to stay in. Even though she wanted to kill Drusus for his defiance, she wasn't about to step out of line in Reiko's presence as she was still feeling the sting of humiliation, for she couldn't weasel her way out of the mess she made.
"You shouldn't be wearing that thing, for it gets hot in the daytime here," she said.
"Jack was the one who forced me to wear this damn thing," said Alcmene as she had a hint of disgust in her voice. "I hate this suit! It's uncomfortable for me to wear in!"
"And I can tell by the weather that it will be hot, but the humidity here is worse. And for the record, you can't just wear something that can cause its wearer heatstroke. As for what you tried to Drusus, you got what was coming to you, but Jack could've thought of having you help out with the chores around the house instead of wearing what is known to be a 'pink nightmare.' As for your target, he shouldn't mock anyone who is being shame, for he or she will end up dead by torment if he does this. From what I heard, you and Zaphariel resorted to stalking Drusus since he became one of your Father's prophets in which he doesn't want anyone to disrespect his boundaries."
"Zaphariel talks too much…" Alcmene begins to feel the sting of the heat as she was desperate to take off the pink bunny suit. "If this is penance, this isn't as bad as what happened to Castiel while he was walking around in Purgatory."
Reiko saw Alcmene staggering in the pink bunny suit she was forced to wear as she was also sweating from being in such stifling fabric in hot weather. It wasn't long until she had no choice but to forcefully remove the clothing from the disgraced angel as she was wearing a set of pink bottoms with a blue top. She had to get her to the beach as she led her out of the villa and walked her towards the ocean where the waves were crashing slowly. The heat may have been intense, but stable as Alcmene was mainly being drenched by the water that came in buckets. Even though she was cooled off, she was still under the watchful eye of Reiko as she didn't want her to suffer further from the blistering wrath of heatstroke, for it wasn't fun to wear the "pink nightmare" while walking around in hot weather.
"I'm drenched because of you; happy now?!" she yelled.
"Just because you're an angel, doesn't mean that you're not prone to heatstroke," said Reiko.
"Jack put me up to it! He said that it was me getting my 'just desserts' by wearing that horrible pink bunny suit!"
"You may have got what was coming to you, but that doesn't mean that you can swelter in the heat. From what Lady Lyra told me, the heat in the spring can get up to eighty-five, but the summer can get up to a hundred in the hottest days."
"This vessel I house once belonged to a meteorologist who lived in Spokane. She loved her work, but she had an ex who stalked her after she broke up with him. This vessel once had a name of Lucille Ellis in which she was barely clinging to life and that was when I sensed her agony. When she accepted me to saying yes, I took over while ushering her soul to Heaven. That was when I killed her stalker in which I, too have begun to be on that path…"
"You were stalking Drusus too much. Still, you can't accept this ongoing cycle forever, for it will surely backfire on you without warning. You can't let this behavior go on repeat forever."
Alcmene remembered what happened when her vessel suffered worse in which she was reliving the memory of what happened on that fateful night. She remembered her vessel's stalker very clearly as he broke into her house on that night the moment he violated her in which he enjoyed the trauma he caused her. That was when she remembered her vessel's plea to be saved, for she had to step up and take over. Even though she avenged her vessel, the damage was already done as she was also repeating the same stalker pattern due to the outdated belief that every prophet must be taken away, for it was a behavior that she couldn't break out of until now.
"You're right about this, Lady Reiko," she said as she broke down crying. "I know now because I've seen it too well. And yet, like any angel, I've had Father's beliefs hardwired into me for too long in which I also had to obey without question."
"I know you find it very hard to obey Jack, but he's been raised by three father figures who brought him up to show compassion instead of obeying the one who sired him," she said. "So far, he has his reason to punish those by humiliation in which the idea of that pink bunny suit came from an ancient Christmas movie about a boy who wanted an air pellet gun despite the adults telling him that he'll shoot his eye out."
"You took off the rabbit suit," he said as he came out of nowhere while staring at Alcmene. "I had a feeling that my punishment was a little overkill on my part."
"She already knows in which I also told her about how hot El Anillo del Fuego gets during the summer months. This place may be on Trujillo land, but it has a knack for having the heat come full circle when you least expect it."
"This village is mainly named after a Johnny Cash song, which is known as The Ring of Fire in Spanish. As for Alcmene's predicament, she's been punished enough in which I won't let her wear that pink nightmare. The reason is that I looked at the weather report and it's about to get hotter."
It wasn't long until Reiko spotted a Hunter Corps ship approaching in which it landed near the harbor when Jack left earlier. What she didn't expect was that there was Damien arriving as he was there on business in which he was more than likely to be observing what was going on. Still, he tolerated Lyra and the rest of the Trujillo Clan as he was on his way to the villa. When Reiko and Alcmene followed him to the villa, they noticed him looking for me the moment he saw Drusus sitting on the stairs in which he was still reading some of the books that he found, for he wasn't paying attention to anything other than what he procured on the Clampett.
"Where's Sam?" he asked.
"He's been busy tackling the Fab Four and struggling to keep his head above water with his postpartum depression," said Drusus.
"You could've informed the captain about this."
"Dean's got too much on his plate in which he's still cleaning up the mess that the Zenith Vectors made."
"The captain deserves to know because he refuses to let Sam out of his sight. As for him giving birth to Aloysia and Te'Katri's children, his raw power accelerated their growth in which they were rushed."
"My bad… Actually, he used his raw power not by choice, but I was nearly plant food while we were exploring in the Clampett."
"It's true…," said Reiko.
Alcmene remained silent as she stared at Drusus in which her actions to the point of stalking had plenty of consequences. Still, she backed away as she had to do her best to respect his boundaries in which she later noticed Damien walking towards the infirmary wing with Reiko following him. She was alone with her target as she was also dripping wet from being in the water earlier in which Drusus noticed her shivering from the cold after getting soaked, for she was further humiliated by her actions towards him.
"Shouldn't you be getting some dry clothes?" he said.
"It's fine," said Alcmene.
"First, you end up wearing that pink bunny suit and now you took it off due to heatstroke. Lyra wasn't lying when the weather here can get so hot that it's not safe to wear carpeting all over one's body."
"Lady Reiko must've told you of this…"
"No… The last time I was here, I was busy exploring the cave where the Clampett was in which I found some of Mavik Kandor's journals and even a few souvenirs he took with him. He even wrote about taking the Box of Solomon with him and we all knew where it ended up in."
"The Box of Solomon housed the Maladendrum. It was too powerful to kill, but hearing of its demise was the most unusual."
"I know that Reiko hardly gets mad at everyone in which she often scolds people for not staying in line. From what I heard, she has a powerful aura that's on the same level as the Knights of Heaven. Her determination to save us from the wrath of the Maladendrum is now history in which everyone is telling tales about show she shot an arrow into the moon in order to dissipate the crimson hue it suffered from. Her gentle demeanor makes her a powerful force to be reckoned with in which she is known as a harbinger of light. Now, if you excuse me, I suggest that you go into one of the rooms and get out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold."
Alcmene obeyed as she went into her room to change out of those wet clothes. When she did so, she put on some different ones as they were a far cry from what she wore earlier. By the time she was dressed in a blue kimono, she was away from the humiliation as she also had to do her best not to lose her temper. She was at Reiko's mercy as her temper got the very better of her to the point of losing it, only to resorting into such rage if things went sideways. When she left her room, she went back downstairs as she saw Drusus standing in front of a group of members of the Hunter Corps with Kevin in front, for he was stuck in a rut that he couldn't get out of just yet.
"If you're inquiring about Sam, he's busy in the infirmary taking care of the babies," he said.
"We heard about what happened to him in which I had to get here in order to keep watch over him while Dean's busy cleaning up the mess on Skald Island," said Kevin as he was in the group.
"I bet that Dean doesn't know about this…"
"He does 'cause he sent me and Damien to get over to the villa. Sam has the most children in which there are other clans from across the galaxy wanting some of them as spouses once they come of age."
"They're not ready for it 'cause most of them are still in diapers. As for his wards, we all know that they'll be growing up and leaving the nest."
"You got a point, but we're here to lighten the load of the childcare around this villa. Besides, Sam can't be unattended forever."
Alcmene was a bit disgusted at what she heard earlier as she was concerned about the future of the children and wards in my care. Even though she was hardwired to follow orders, she was now starting to grasp at the reality of thinking freely as she overheard the conversation between Drusus and Kevin about the future that was put in front. And to top it off, she saw a group from the Rakuen Priesthood arriving as they were ready to give out their compatible decree, for they have always remained on top of keeping balance when it came to balanced relationships.
"Don't you have a city to go to?" said Drusus.
"It is a decree that is made in the will of the gods and Matriarch," said one of the priests. "It is also said that Sam's duty as an Incubator to house the genetics of Aloysia and Te'Katri Webber is a sign of a future that is set in stone."
"They're just babies," said Kevin. "They're too young to be put in the spotlight right now."
"We know that they're too young, but the older children born from Sam and Reiko have suitors who are willing to have their genetics mixed in with their future needs. As for his ward, Gyatso, he will be paired with Empress Zaralia of Westeros. Another ward, Kanna, will be wed to Minara Mitani's son, Kunio, in which their future is already cemented in stone. Last, Carly Rutherford will marry Ingmar Torgesson in which their future will bring comfort against the northern wind. It is what is made, for it will not be changed nor discussed up to questioning. As for Kevin Tran, he will be wed to Nibori T'Chauli. For Drusus, he will marry Salyndria Bonnefoy, who is the daughter of Sterling Bonnefoy. This is what you're meant for in which it is the will of what's yet to come. For Damien Mahoney, he will be wed to Raquelle Harbaugh in which it is the will of both their clans that they cement their status in the Imperium. Finally, for Hugh Winchester, he will be married to Alundra Trujillo, the youngest daughter of Esteban and Lyra Trujillo. The future is made with balance, not chaos."
When the group of the Rakuen Priesthood left the villa, Alcmene was left not talking until she had the gall to confront Kevin and Drusus at what she saw earlier. She wanted to give them a piece of her mind as she was wanting everyone to make their decisions freely, for she couldn't let the selections of the Rakuen Priesthood slide at this time. She couldn't take it as she was starting to lose her temper once again, for she wasn't about to have anyone in the Order to be pieces of meat to be traded off to the highest bidder.
"How could you do this to yourselves?!" she yelled. "How could you let those people walk all over you like that?!"
"That's not what you think," said Kevin defensively.
"It is what I thought! And yet, those people decide your future as if they think that they rule the decisions of others!"
"They rule in our decisions because they believe in compatibility that's true, not falsehoods that often resort in broken homes to the future children. For the record, you can't go against their decisions in which they're often met with certain death if one defies that order. Still, Nibori and I are acolytes with imprints of raw power in which we get along with our line of work. As for Drusus, however, he's got a long way to go before he meets with his significant other. Even though the future is neither set in stone nor put willingly, we can't defy what gets put in front of us, no matter what is said."
Alcmene never expected to hear such honesty before until as she also had to grasp with the reality of balance and chaos. She was now experiencing how the Rakuen Priesthood does things in which their ways and means have cemented the compatibility of couples that had destiny coded all over them. When she was about to go outside for a bit of air after getting wet, she noticed a young Elf woman walk into the main hall as she was bringing a basket of food in her hands. The woman was more like Lyra as she had the same brown hair and blue eyes like her mother in which she was dressed up in Sindar clothing. It wasn't long until Hugh burst into the villa as he saw her here for a reason, for she was his future betrothed after all.
"Te traje una centa de picnic llena de comida de me madre," she said in Spanish.
"Muchas gracias," said Hugh as he received the basket.
"You've been squatting here for a while just for your half-brother to get here."
"Yeah… As for my duty of returning to the Alecrian throne, I've been dreading it in which I'm concerned about the repercussions that follow. As for us being together, we might not be compatible with each other, Alundra."
"What are you talking about? We've known each other for a short time and we haven't even did anything before marriage. I'm sure that Madre won't mind."
Alcmene continued to observe everyone in the main hall as she left to her room. When she looked in the mirror, she was looking at her the vessel she housed as she took off her kimono and undergarments the moment she looked at herself clearly. She was delving into the soft flesh between her legs as it was grafted to be artificial due to the modifications it underwent. It was when her vessel was born a man as she spent centuries having gender reassignment surgery to match the remainder of her in which it was a reminder of what she and her vessel went through. She also went through puberty blockers and estrogen to grow her breasts as they were firm and not masculine like her former appearance in which she was more different than any other angel in her Father's Heavenly Host, for she ended up fitting in without being judged.
By the time she put back on her undergarments and kimono, she was looking back at the constant humiliation as she left the room the moment she spotted Reiko coming in to check up on her. At first, she was fearing more humiliation, but was shocked that she wasn't about to be smitten the moment she would soon vent her further past. Still, she had to do her best to get something off of her chest as she also wanted to tell Reiko more about her struggles and insecurities the moment she was given a daily dose of the humble pie after nearly trying to kill Drusus, for she was trapped in the cage of humility for now.
"If you're wanting to gloat, Lady Reiko, then do it," she said.
"I didn't come to gloat, but to know more about your turmoil," she answered.
"I bet that you tolerated people who were different than what you had in your upbringing at your home on Alecrast."
"I was mainly sheltered most of my life due to the fact that I was a target to those who were eager to steal me. The people who would do that have often feared my ascension just like those who harmed and violated your vessel in life."
"This vessel of mine was born male, but faced condemnation and ridicule once she reached eighteen and left the house. Her parents viewed her to be unnatural after she came out to them, but they continued to bully and harass her to the point of deadnaming and misgendering her. She became a 'real' woman by having gender reassignment surgery to fit her peace of mind until that fateful night when her ex violated her to the point of killing her. That was when I stepped in and took over when she went to Heaven. That was also when I killed the man who destroyed my vessel, but I also had to attend the duties of those who served our Father and to welcome the Apocalypse in the time of the Elder Days. Years later, I remained in Heaven with Zaphariel, who knew of my plight, and stayed firm over the centuries in the Grey Havens."
"That was when you obeyed your Father's orders to steal any prophet who was struck by lightning, wasn't it?"
"For a while, I obeyed without question, but your presence awakened a new resolve to be different instead of being cold and callous. And yet, over the centuries, people like me have either been bullied, ridiculed, harassed, violated, and even murdered or taking our own lives. There were even times when we were labeled as 'groomers' all because we want to exist. I don't even compete in sports because of this. As for those other than the ones who change their gender, there are others who have been harassed and branded as outcasts because of how different they are."
"The ones who brand people other than their own are considered to be fools themselves without walking a mile in the other's shoes. As for you, you should live in your true self and not let anyone else tell you otherwise. It's the most you can do."
Alcmene's was moved by Reiko's words as she was beginning to accept more about her true self one slow step at a time. Still, she had a long way to go as she was more than humbled to hear more support as she also had so much growth to accept, for this was something that she had to figure out on her own…
I was in the nursery with the younger children as I was mainly watching over the babies that were sleeping. Even though I was about to take a break, I was mainly ready to call it a day as I later saw Lyra entering into the nursery to see what I was doing. Still, she had no trouble with me as I was mainly attentive to the younger children that were taking their nap until dinner time, for I had to leave the nursery so they can have some quiet.
"There's no need for you to leave so hastily, Sam," said Lyra.
"I just put the little ones down for a nap not too long ago," I said.
"It was a long day, but at least Alcmene's getting a dose of humble pie."
"At least she's not losing her temper and wanting to attack Drusus."
"About that… To tell you the truth, the vessel that Alcmene houses in wasn't born a natural woman, but a young man who had so many modifications that would even make any Barbie doll feel jealous. It's a real shame that fate dealt her vessel a bad hand in life, but at least she houses it to the fullest."
I was stunned to hear what Lyra told me as I was beginning to have sympathy for Alcmene in her plight over the centuries. For a long time, those who were uncomfortable in their own bodies and wanting to transition to the opposite gender was met with a mixed response, but I tolerated their presence due to their right to exist like the rest of us. Still, I couldn't toss her back in the lion's den as people like her have been harassed to no end in sight, for it was a cruel plight for them to bear since time immemorial.
"Fate has a way to define anyone who tries to change for the better, only to have them backed into a corner," I said. "We all should live freely without any strings attached, for humanity is a way and mean to define us for our charity instead of exclusion."
"People like our wayward transgender angel have never lived their lives happily due to the constant threat of death hanging over them," said Lyra. "You've heard of the Terran God's son and how he included everyone instead of exclusion. He even healed the sick, welcomed the stranger, turned water into wine, changed a simple grain into a loaf of bread, and even died for everyone's sins on the cross. These days, most of the so-called 'religious right' often go against his teachings that even flies in his face in which those who are different have often faced ridicule and death. I also don't tolerate those who abuse their religion to oppress others in which I threatened to melt their eyes out of their skulls if they didn't show respect to those below them. It's such a tragic reminder of how those who reach such high goals have the gall to engage in the very same cruelty they were forced to endure. They even labeled some that were different than us as 'groomers' and child predators in which they happen to be the real ones that embrace cruelty and depravity just to one-up the ones below them."
"I hear you there, but I know for a fact that Alcmene will face her fear in which she's got a long way to go instead of wearing that pink nightmare earlier."
It wasn't long until Damien and Kevin burst into the nursery as they were eager to have an audience with me. Still, with everything out of the way, I was no stranger into accepting what was thrown at me as I also had to hear what was going on, for I would soon hear what had to be heard soon enough,
"We need to talk, My Lord," said Damien as he knelt.
To be continued...