Deliverance: Book Three Finale (Gods and Slaves Series 3)

by Nicholas Bella

  “My baby… my baby boy… you live,” was all his mother could say as she held onto her son with trembling arms and hands.

  “Mama, I live and love. I want to take you back home with me and Eloy,” Mateo said.

  His mother stiffened then and pulled back to look her son in the eyes. “The god, Eloy?” she asked.

  Mateo’s smile widened and he nodded. “Yes. He came with me.”

  “A god in the badlands?” his mother gasped.

  “Everything is different now, mama. He is different. We are in love.”

  His mother cried as she chuckled. “My son… my son has made a god fall in love?”

  “Well, I do not want to brag,” Mateo joked.

  His mother laughed, then kissed him on both cheeks and his forehead, hugging him again.

  Eloy stood back, allowing the family reunion to take place and only approached once Mateo called him over. As with all humans who were in his presence, he was used to the awestruck expressions. The humbleness and fear. He did his best to put both women at ease. In the end, it was Mateo’s casual attitude around him that took away their reservations and nervousness. After a few hours, they felt more comfortable asking the god questions.

  “You love my brother?” Isabella asked.

  “I do and always will,” Eloy said.

  “How did you meet him?” she asked.

  “Oooh, that is a story I want to tell you, but first, let us go home,” Mateo injected.

  Eloy chuckled. “I think it would be best for Mateo to tell you. I can answer any questions you may have afterward.”

  “All right,” Isabella begrudgingly agreed.

  “Where are we going to live?” Mateo’s mom asked.

  “With us,” Mateo said. “In Eloy’s temple. If you want your own home, we can have one built. Everything is different now, mama. There are no more badlands. Soon, the gods’ blessings will replenish all of these lands.”

  “The badlands are already growing vegetables as we speak,” Eloy said.

  “That… that is amazing,” Mateo’s mom said as she looked at both her son and the god in awe.

  “You think that is amazing. Mother, wait until you fly in the clouds,” Mateo said with a wide grin.

  “Fly?” his mother and sister inquired together.

  Mateo nodded. “Yes, on an airplane! Oh, it is so exciting. That is how we got here so fast, then a limo was waiting for us. Only the gods have airplanes, but now more and more are being built for all to be able to use. I cannot wait until you see the world as it is now. It is a paradise, mom. Isabelle, you will love it.”

  “Oh my… yes, you must tell me everything,” Mateo’s mother said, then she began to gather her things. Isabella did the same. Mateo went to his old room to gather some items that meant something to him and after a few more hours, they were all packed up and ready to go start their new life in better pastures.

  Eloy and Odessa stood over the two corpses of Simeon and Kijani. They had given the gods their blessings together and prayed for Hersi’s mercy for both and for each other.

  “This one feels that we should burn them and plant Kijani’s ashes in the ground and send Simeon’s off into the wind,” Odessa said.

  “I think that is perfect,” Eloy said, then he used his power to burn the bodies until all that remained were the ashes. Odessa helped him gather the ashes inside two golden bowls.

  Odessa looked at the ashes of Kijani in the bowl she held. “If only he could have let you go.”

  Eloy nodded. “Unfortunately, Odessa, he was the weakest among us. He saw it as strength, but it was the opposite. I will miss our friends, but we will see them again.”

  “In a human’s lifetime. This one felt the moment when you… confessed,” she said.

  “Are you angry?”

  She shook her head. “This one knew it was inevitable and she had resolved her fate. As long as Mateo breathed, you would love him. This one… This one wants to know what that feels like.”

  “With Titus?” Eloy asked.

  She nodded. “This one would test the waters.”

  Eloy walked over to her and kissed her forehead. “I hope you know what it feels like to love and be loved, Odessa. Know that I forgive you.”

  Odessa lowered her head for the first time, feeling humbled by the actions of another. “This one is grateful for your mercy.”

  “Come, let us send off our friends.”

  He led her to his garden, the one that both Simeon and Kijani loved so much. Mateo stood by Eloy’s side as he released Simeon’s ashes into the cool breeze that blew at that very moment.

  “Goodbye, my friend, until we meet again,” Eloy said.

  “Be at peace, Simeon,” Odessa said, then she knelt and dug a small hole for Kijani’s ashes. Eloy joined her until the hole was deep enough and together, they tilted the bowl upside down and poured Kijani’s ashes into the ground. “Be at peace, Kijani… finally.”

  “Goodbye, my friend… we will meet again. I forgive you,” Eloy said, then he rose and helped Odessa rise as well.

  The two gods stood in silence, staring off into the distance for several minutes before Odessa spoke. “What will we gods tell the humans when they notice that Kijani and Simeon are absent?”

  Eloy sighed. “I have thought about this. We will tell them the truth. That the gods have parted this plane to return to the heavens to watch over all. Let them believe we work together in this. That way, we can guide them better if they believe we can see all from the heavens and the earth.”

  “And when they see us age?” she asked.

  “Then we will tell them our time on this earth is coming to an end. Hopefully, they will see that we have given them heaven on earth and if they, too, wish to continue to live in paradise in the afterlife, they will continue to live in harmony,” Eloy said.

  Odessa nodded. “This one wonders if, not that she is human, she may one day bear offspring.”

  Eloy looked at her now, his mouth slightly open, yet he remained speechless.

  Odessa turned to him and smiled. “This one wonders if Titus’ seed will take root in this human vessel and if so, what being will be born? A divine one or human?”

  Eloy cleared his throat. “A mystery, one to be seen. Is that what you want?”

  Odessa nodded, then shrugged. “This one will accept the gift of life if it comes.”

  Eloy took her hand into his own, and bringing it to his lips, placed a gentle kiss on her soft skin. “Then I hope you can bear life, my friend. Something you and Titus can share.” He released her hand and she leaned in, giving him a loving hug.

  “This one will leave you now… she has her own human to attend to,” Odessa said as she released Eloy.

  “Then you must not keep him waiting.” Eloy grinned, then put his arm around Mateo, holding him close.

  Odessa nodded, walking off toward her waiting limousine.

  Eloy looked at Mateo. “How have your mother and sister settled in?”

  Mateo grinned widely. “They love living inside the temple and being close to me. Thank you.”

  Eloy kissed him. “For you, anything.”

  “Are you all right?” Mateo asked, gesturing toward Kijani’s grave.

  Eloy looked down, then back at him. “I am. I just do not want to waste a moment of life with you. Let us say we make the most of the time we have, eh?” he asked with a wink.

  Mateo blushed. “You are a dirty god.”

  Eloy laughed. “And horny.”

  “That too,” Mateo joked, then darted off toward the temple.

  Eloy let him get a head start, then chased after him toward their bedroom. Yes, life was now worth living for him as well.

  The End.

 

 

 
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