Twisted Sisters by Autolycus, maynlinz@earthlink.net A super heroine battles an old foe, who also happens to be family. 2000 Years Ago She was The Queen Of Mean. Now She's One Of The Good Guys, But Not Everyone Who Knew Her Is Buying That! NightFox, Vol. I TWISTED SISTERS (c) 2000 Autolycus Genevieve Patsy Tucker, known to her friends, since she has no family, as "Vixen," was just an average street punk...until she stole the Seal of Erishkigal from her old gang and bonded with the Sumerian Goddess of the Underworld. Now, each night the Goddess inside her takes control, transforming her into NightFox, Los Angeles' newest super heroine. This is the story of her battle with Eri's sister Inanna, who isn't convinced she now fights for good...and has a very old score to settle. A shadowy figure scampered across the rooftops, her curves clearly visible in the dim light of the waning moon as she jumped seemingly impossible distances between buildings. She was dressed in a form-hugging outfit of dark blue which left her back and midriff exposed to the cool Los Angeles evening air, but she didn't seem to mind. A pair of elbow length gloves and thigh-high boots and a mask which covered the top of her face and flared out at the tips like a pair of ears completed her ensemble. "Are you sure this is how it's done?" she whispered, tossing her dark hair back and scanning the streets below her intently with ice blue eyes. Absolutely. Stop asking questions and concentrate on finding some sort of criminal activity, Vixen replied in her head. "Like that?" NightFox asked, pointing at a broken skylight with ropes attached to the edge of the roof disappearing into it. Exactly like that. NightFox sighed and jumped down to the roof and peered through the open window. She saw four figures ransacking glass cases filled with expensive jewelry, three were definitely male, but the fourth had the slender build and curves of a female. All were dressed in tight-fitting black outfits and were wearing black stocking caps and gloves. Without a second thought, she dropped through the skylight and announced, "Sorry to interrupt your looting, peeps, but this is a scum-free zone and you're definitely in violation." "Who the heck are you?" demanded one of the men. "Call me NightFox--That's one word when the reporters ask--and I'm here to protect the denizens of this fair metropolis from your scurrilous kind. So, you can either surrender and make it easy on yourselves, or we can have some fun. Your call," she grinned. "How about we just kill you instead?" sneered another man. All four thieves drew automatic weapons and opened fire. But, faster than a human eye could follow, NightFox pulled a glowing golden sword from thin air and, whirling it like a propeller, deflected the hail of bullets. "What the...?!" gasped the third man. "It's a Goddess thing," NightFox shrugged. "This broad ain't human!" cried the female, dropping her gun and making a run for it. She slung the sack of loot over her shoulder and started to frantically climb up one of the ropes to the roof. "Sorry, but no one's leaving until the police get here," NightFox said, producing a dagger. She threw it in such a way that it flew through the air spinning on its side and cut neatly through the rope. The lady thief fell to her ass. "Get her!" screamed the apparent leader of the group, tossing his empty gun aside. The two other men charged her, but NightFox neatly sidestepped them and sent them sprawling with kicks to their backsides as they ran by. The woman rushed at her only to be met with a boot to her face which knocked her backwards and into one of the looted cases. "Just you and me now, stud," she said with a smile to the leader. "Ready to give up?" "I think not," he replied with a chuckle. But the laughter died in his throat when the woman suddenly snapped both her fists up, catching the other two men square in the face as they tried to attack her from behind. She then dropped her hands down and grabbed each by his crotch, squeezing painfully and causing both men to stand on their tiptoes. "They are absolutely gonna love you two in prison," she said with a wink. Then, she jerked back, literally throwing the thieves into a large display case by their dicks. They groaned loudly and didn't get up. "You were saying?" NightFox asked, brushing her hands together. The thief roared out in fury and ran at the woman, wrapping his arms around her narrow waist and trying to force her to the ground. But, to his amazement, he couldn't budge her. "Some people just insist on doing things the hard way," she sighed, driving the point of her elbow between his shoulder blades while ramming her knee into his chest. As he gasped for air, she lifted his face up and said with a mock frown, "I did try to warn you" and then let fly with an uppercut which sent him sailing into a display case. He didn't get up either. Hearing the sound of approaching police sirens, the Goddess tensed her powerful leg muscles and then jumped straight up and through the open skylight, landing on the roof and then racing away across the rooftops before the cops arrived. "Tell me again why we're running from the authorities, Vixen?" Eri asked, resting against a fire escape. "I thought we were all on the same side?" We are, Eri, but the cops tend to take a dim view of private citizens fighting crime. They call them "vigilantes," not a nice word. "But, maybe if I spoke with them..." What would you tell them? And how would you explain that you can only help them at night? "I guess you're right," Eri sighed, heading down the stairs. "Things were a lot simpler back in my day." Yeah, that's just what we need, more human sacrifices. "Maybe we do. Can you think of a better deterrent?" the Goddess shot back. You're one of the good guys now. Heroes don't kill people. Not even villains. Not if they can help it anyway. Try to remember that. "Fine. You sure know how to take the fun out of this heroine business," Eri scowled, causing her outfit to change into a more conventional blouse, slacks, and jacket ensemble before heading out onto the street. Ignoring Vixen's suggestion to keep patrolling, she instead returned to the small house she shared with Catherine Driver, whom Vixen called Pandora, and, after making love for several hours, fell into a contented sleep. I really don't think you're taking this whole heroine thing very seriously, was the last thing she heard before falling asleep. * * * * * Vixen was on a mission. Not a mission of life or death, or even one that most people would think important. And certainly not one that held the lives of any Californians in sway. No, she was on a mission of discovery. Specifically, the discovery of the young man named Cal that she'd quite literally run into a few days ago--Days that seemed more like lifetimes given all that had happened to her in that short period of time. She wasn't exactly sure why she felt so compelled to search him out, though. Sure, he was cute and all, but that wasn't the only reason. No, he'd seemed...frightened of something, and she wanted to help him if she could. Even my powers have their limitations, Vixen, the Goddess said in her head. I'll do whatever I can, of course, but...I'm new to this whole hero business. So I can't make any promises. "Did I ask you to?" Vixen said quietly, pretending to be singing along with the CD in her Discman. "You just concentrate on the super villains and leave Cal alone, got it?" What super villains? "Well, I'm sure some will show up sooner or later now that you're here," she sighed. "That's how it always works." What are you talking about? Besides, we've been doing all right dealing with the muggers and thieves. "Sure, but every super hero battles super villains. That's how it is." And once word gets around that NightFox is in town, they'll just start showing up? "Yep," Vixen smiled. Why? "Why what?" Why would they only show up after they know a super hero is in town? That makes no sense. "Hey, don't look at me, I didn't write the rules; I just know'em. Besides, we're talking about super villains, they don't have the same motivations as petty thugs and your garden variety criminals. They're out to rule the world." From Los Angeles? Eri asked incredulously. Fortunately for Vixen, further conversation with the Goddess was cut short by the appearance of her quarry exiting an old shop which sold magical books and artifacts. Cal was a good-looking young man in his mid-twenties with short, spiky blonde hair and a good build. He wasn't terribly tall or muscular, but he wasn't a ninety-eight pound weakling, either. And, once again, his nose was buried in a large tome. This one was titled: Spells and Hexes Exposed: Witchcraft in the New Millennium. Vixen very deliberately walked into him, knocking both of them to the ground. "Oh! I'm sorry. I wasn't...You!" he exclaimed, his brown eyes widening in shock as he stood up. "I was hoping I'd run into you again, but not quite so literally," Vixen laughed as he helped her to her feet. The Goddess in her head groaned loudly. "Vik, wasn't it?" he asked, retrieving the book and stuffing it in his back pack. "I'm flattered you remember. And you're Cal, right?" "That's right! How have you been?" he asked awkwardly. "Oh, fine. Nothing too exciting. No life or death struggles with demons or anything like that. Just life. Boring old, regular, normal, not worth bothering about life," she replied in a rush. You're babbling. Relax, he likes you. "Um, that's good, I guess," Cal said slowly, laughing nervously. "Well, I-" "How about letting you buy me a cup of coffee for knocking me down?" she said quickly. "Excuse me?" he questioned, his eyebrows raising in surprise and a grin forming. "Oh! I meant me. Let me buy you a cup of coffee. Please?" she added, almost, but not quite, batting her eyes coyly. "I guess I've got time before I have to get to class," he said, glancing at his watch. "Sure." "Great!" Vixen smiled. "Um, I mean, that's, er, great." He laughed and they headed toward a Starbucks' cart on a nearby corner. "Double tall mocha with a shot of vanilla," Vixen told the bored looking woman running the cart. "I'll have the same," Cal said. "So, you're a student, hmm?" Vixen asked as they waited. "It's better than the real world," he joked. "Most of the time, anyway." "What are you studying?" she asked, digging some money out of her purse. "Journalism," he replied. "I've had this crazy dream of being a reporter since I was little. I even started my own website in the fourth grade that reported all the local news at the school and in my neighborhood." "Keep the change. Here," she said, handing him his drink. "That doesn't sound so crazy to me." "Thanks, but a website is a far cry from national syndication. I want to write for one of the big news organizations one of these days. I just need a break, some way to get my foot in the door," he said. "Say, this is really good. Thanks." "Any time," she smiled. "So, what about you? Any crazy dreams you'd care to share?" "Um, no. I mean I don't have any, not that I don't want to share them. Believe me, if I had any, you'd be the first person I'd share them with." That was smooth. Vixen scowled. "I just want a normal life, you know?" she added, looking hopefully at Cal. "Sure, I know. House with a white picket fence, a dog and a cat, a couple of kids and a husband, right?' he questioned. "Exactly," she smiled. "Well, if I meet anyone who wants that, too, I'll be sure to send him your way," he said, a somber tone entering his voice. "I'm not really the domestic type. I'm more of the social injustice avenger type, I guess." "I am, too," said Vixen quietly. "But not really by choice." "Huh? I didn't catch that," Cal said, looking at her curiously. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud," she replied. "Oh. Well, I really should get going," he said, glancing at his watch. "Thanks again for the drink. I'll see you around." Vixen suddenly grabbed a pen from her purse and scribbled onto a napkin. "Here. This is my phone number and my email addy. Don't be a stranger," she smiled, handing it to him. "I mean, we can't keep relying on clumsiness to bring us together, can we?" He took the napkin and carefully folded it and placed it in his shirt pocket. "No, I don't suppose we can. Besides, that could get painful after a while," he smiled. They stood looking at each for a few moments and then he said, "Thanks again" and rushed off to a nearby bus stop just as a bus pulled up. "I am such an idiot!" Vixen snarled as the bus drove off. I thought it went pretty well, Eri said gently. "Do me a favor and just shut up for a while, okay?" The Goddess harrumphed, but didn't say anything further. Vixen nodded and noisily sucked at the last of her drink as she stalked angrily down the street. * * * * * Hearing the sound of a car driving up, Vixen padded over and looked out the window--She and Pandora didn't have many visitors; in fact, the only people who ever stopped by were Dr. Trotter, Lupe, and Simone Stallion, and this didn't sound like either Simone's Porsche or the doc's Nova. Her mouth dropped open when she saw a white Rolls Royce with 24k gold trim parked in front of her house. Then, a tall man in a chauffeur's uniform opened the back door and a stunningly beautiful woman with blonde hair stepped out. Oh, no... groaned Erishkigal inside her head. "You know her?" Vixen asked, watching as the woman scowled slightly and then approached the house. She was wearing a sleek white gown with toeless white heels and a large, floppy hat. She glanced over the top of her dark glasses as she noticed Vixen peering curiously at her through the window and smiled a frozen, mirthless smile. She's my sister. "You mean she's a Goddess?" Vixen yelped, scrambling for the door. She opened it and found herself face-to-chest--And it was quite an impressive chest, too--with the blonde. "You must be Genevieve," said the stranger, removing her sunglasses and fixing electric blue eyes on the young woman. "I'm Inanna, Erishkigal's sister, but friends call me 'Nan.' I'd be honored if you would do so." "Hello, Nan. My friends call me 'Vixen,'" she stammered, stepping back and gesturing for the statuesque woman to enter. "It's a pleasure to meet you." "Of course it is, Vixen. Now then, before you start asking all sorts of questions, let me explain," she said, sitting on the sofa and stretching her long legs out in front of her. "We Gods have this ability to sense other Gods, demons, and non-mortals, so when Erishkigal was released from her...bondage, I sensed it. It was then a simple matter of finding out what had become of the Seal--Which I did by having my people scan every newspaper in the world until they came up with the story of the capture of the Mals, your old street gang, in which the Seal was mentioned. After some phone calls to the right people, I learned about you and hopped the first plane to LA and here I am." "Why? I didn't think you and Eri were on very good terms," Vixen added quickly. "Oh? What has my dear sister been telling you?" Nan asked, gazing into her eyes as if she could see Erishkigal inside them. "Not much, actually. She's very closed mouth about her past," Vixen shrugged. "But I got the impression that you were somehow responsible or involved in her being trapped in that Seal." "How very intuitive of you, Vixen," the Goddess smiled. "As to why I went to all this bother, it's simple: I came to put my sister some place where she'll never hurt anyone again." She removed a glowing crystal from her handbag. "What's that?" Vixen asked fearfully. "It's just a piece of rock that I've enchanted. I'm going to remove my dear sister's essence from you and place it in this and then cast her adrift in space, there to float harmlessly for all eternity," Inanna explained. "But...that's monstrous!" the young woman exclaimed. "No, my dear, in comparison to all the things my sister has done, it's going extremely easy on her. Justice would be to have her soul ripped to atoms over the space of ten thousand millennium," Nan said, her eyes flashing with anger as she held the stone up. "She's changed," Vixen blurted out. "What do you mean?" "She's trying to be good, to make up for all the rotten stuff she did so she can rejoin the Council of Anu, or something," Vixen said, her eyes watching the Goddess' every move. "Do you mean to sit there and tell me you don't want my sister's soul removed from your body?" Inanna demanded. "Um, sure I do, but not at the expense of Eri's life or freedom. She's my friend," Vixen said quietly. The blonde Goddess paused, considering this new information. "All right, I'll wait a while and see how she does at being one of the good guys. But, there is still the little matter of my own personal revenge for what she did to me," she said, holding the stone up once more. "So I'm going to extract your soul, Vixen, to spare you the pain my sister will experience. Once my vengeance is sated, and your body is fully healed, I promise I'll put you back." "Wait! You can't just-" she began, but Vixen's body suddenly stiffened and her soft blue eyes began to glow with an eerie intensity. "Nice to see you haven't forgotten me, sister," said Eri as Vixen's body grew more busty and muscular. Then, for the first time since she had bonded with the human, her face also changed. Her nose became more angular and her chin more rounded, the baby fat in her cheeks disappeared and her ears grew more pointed. "Dear Erishkigal, how could I ever forget you, or the pain I suffered at your hands?" Inanna replied, rolling the glowing crystal in her palm. "We have until sunset to get reacquainted, then I kick your ass like it's never been kicked before." "I'm looking forward to seeing you try," grinned Eri. "If you thought I hurt you last time, just you wait...But, in the meantime, why don't you fill me in on what you and the rest of the family have been up to." Inanna explained how after she and the other Sumerian deities had ceased being objects of worship they had retreated to a different dimension to regroup and conserve their strength. But, after a thousand years of doing little more than existing, she had decided to return to the material plane and take her chances. "I was the Goddess of War for a tribe in New Guinea for a while before coming to Norway and being mistaken for their Goddess of Marriage--Frigga was not happy when she got back and found me with Odin!--and then I came over to the Americas, before they were called that, where I was worshiped as 'Buffalo Woman' by the Navajo until the coming of the Europeans," she said, a hint of sadness glistening in her bright eyes. "For the last few hundred years I've been amassing a fortune and keeping a low profile--Well, as low a profile as a multi-billionaire can keep." "What about father and the others?" Eri asked, not sure if she really cared, but figuring the least she could was ask. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to know if they were likely to show up any time soon, too. "Enki was here for a while back in the Middle Ages, posing as a wizard named 'Merlin', but he got disgusted when his pet king got killed and he returned to the security of the other dimension. Oh, he visits me in New York once in a while, but technology annoys him," she said with a shrug. "I can understand that. It took some getting used to," Eri confessed. "But, having full access to your host's mind certainly must have made it easier than trying to figure out everything on your own, didn't it?" Inanna smirked. "What about Anu, Enlil, and Ninhursag?" she asked, ignoring the jibe. "Oh, they're here...somewhere. We don't really keep tabs on each other that closely. No need with our special sense," she added. "So, is this nonsense about you turning over a new leaf on the level or is Vixen just covering for you because you've done something to her mind?" "You've read her mind. You know the answer," Eri sighed. "Yeah, but I still want to hear you say it," the blonde sneered. "Forget it," snarled Eri. "Fine. I'll beat it out of you, then. That will be more fun anyway," she said, glancing out the window. "It's nearly sunset. Do you want to apologize?" Eri merely scowled. "Have it your way, dear sister. Not that an apology would have spared you." "I figured as much." "So, shall we establish rules, or just make this a free-for-all?" "No sense bothering with rules that I'd just break anyway, right?" Eri grinned. "Just thought I'd ask," said Nan, rising from the couch and heading for the door. She opened it just as Pandora was stepping up to it with a bewildered look on her comely face. "Good evening, Catherine. I'm Inanna. Please, come in and I'll explain everything..." * * * * * Lilith Kahira suddenly looked up from the contract she was reading and frowned. Something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She looked uneasily about her, noting that the sun had nearly set and saying a quick prayer to her patron Goddess, Sakhmet, wishing her a safe journey until the morning, and then shrugged her shapely shoulders and gathered her papers, preparing to leave her office for the evening. Lili was a beautiful woman, with the dusky skin and dark eyes common to Egyptians. She had adequate breasts and wide hips which supported a generous posterior. Not that she was fat, far from it, but there was no mistaking her sensual curves for anything else. But, as the saying goes, 'Beauty is only skin deep.' And, having long ago dedicated her life to the evil Goddess, her soul was as dark as her eyes. "I'm going home, Pam," she said, opening the double doors of her office. "See you in the morning, darling." "Night, boss," Pam replied without looking up from whatever she was working on. As Lilith rode her private elevator down to the underground parking lot, she was once more struck with the inescapable feeling that something was wrong. But, again, she couldn't even determine what it was that was causing her to think that, let alone identify what, in fact, was wrong. It was just a...feeling. She shook her head, tossing her dark hair this way and that, and calmly waited for the elevator to reach the garage. Lilith... Lil practically jumped out of her skin at the sound of her name. Except...it wasn't actually a sound. It was more like a...thought. But one which wasn't hers. Then, the doors opened and she saw her chauffeur, Zaynah, standing beside her limousine, waiting for her, and she quickly made her way over and climbed inside and promptly poured herself a drink. By the time the car left the garage, she was already on her second glass of wine. Up front, the tall blonde driver noted the unusual behavior--Ms. Kahira was not given to excessive drinking, nor excesses of any kind, save sexual ones--but said nothing. It was not her place to question her employer and they were hardly what one would call friends. Arriving at her mansion, Lilith, who by now had consumed no small amount of alcohol, staggered inside and went straight up to the bathroom. After relieving her bursting bladder, she ran a hot bath and then let herself sink into the bubbles as she sipped at a fine Chianti. "Much better," she smiled, leaning her head back against the rim of the large tub and closing her mahogany eyes. Lilith... Startled by the odd inner voice, she practically drowned herself as she frantically scrambled from the bath. "Wh-what do you want?" she stammered, wrapping a towel around herself as she backed toward the buzzer which would summon her private maid. I want to help you. "Who are you?" Lilith inquired, no longer quite so afraid. A friend. * * * * * "So, Vik is really inside that rock?" Pandora asked, gazing at the glowing crystal in her hands. Both Goddesses nodded. "And now you two are going to fight each other over something that happened over two thousand years ago?" "Time, as you experience it, is practically meaningless to us," Inanna said with a shrug. "And Vik will be returned to her body, and she and Eri will be the way they were, when this battle is finished, right?" Catherine pressed, her eyes fixing on Eri, still trying to decide if she preferred the Goddess' face over that of her friend. "Right. The only reminder of the fight will be the pain and humiliation of losing that my dear sister will never forget," Nan assured her, glaring at Erishkigal. "You're the one who's going to be leaving here with those memories, babe," Eri retorted. "Keep dreaming, sister. And when you wake up you'll be in more agony than you've ever known. I promise you that," the blonde snarled. "You know, I'm beginning to think all those social anthropologists were right and you're nothing but a masculinized version of the Mother Goddess," Pandora suddenly remarked, staring directly at Inanna. "ME?" questioned the blonde, ignoring Eri's giggling. "You. According to several theories, you're the result of the Earth Mother being forced into a patriarchal cosmology," she explained. "My dear Catherine," said Inanna, standing up and running her hands down her curvaceous form, "you can't honestly say that there's anything even slightly masculine about me, can you?" "Not your body, no, but your warlike, violent attitude is very masculine," she said defensively. "No, my warlike, violent attitude is the result of being skinned alive and left on a stake for three days by this conniving bitch!" Inanna shot back, pointing at Eri. "Besides, I'm a living, breathing individual, not a social construct. Also, I know the Earth Mother, and, believe me, she's not all that feminine, if you catch my drift." "You did that to her?" Pandora asked her lover, her eyes quivering with fear. "I can explain, Catherine. It's not as bad as it sounds," Eri began. "Oh, yes, it is!" Nan suddenly exclaimed. "Immortal or not, that was still the most painful fucking experience of my life and you're going to pay for it!" "Fine. Let's get this over with already," Eri growled, noting the sun was in the final stages of setting. "But, before we do, there's something you need to know, to prepare yourself for, Catherine..." "What's that?" she asked. "My true form. This is just a convenient package for dealing with humans during the day," she explained. "But, with the coming of night, I can adopt my real appearance. It's not very pretty to look at I'm afraid. Are you ready?" Pandora nodded and Erishkigal's body suddenly grew darker and tiny scales appeared all over it. Her face became more demonic as her teeth turned to fangs and her ears grew even more pointed. Her hands and feet became reptilian, with long, black claws, and a long tail suddenly sprouted from her backside. Then, a pair of enormous bat-like wings sprang from her shoulders, startling the human. "Hideous, isn't she?" smirked Inanna. "On the contrary, I think she's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," Catherine replied, stepping up on her tiptoes and kissing the surprised Goddess. Eri was smiling when Pandora finally pulled back. "Thanks, Catherine. That means a lot to me," she said, hugging her tightly, but carefully. "I think I'm going to throw up," Nan gagged, sipping from a glass of water. Eri turned baleful red eyes on her and gently pushed Catherine aside. "Okay, bitch, that does it! It's time to get this party started!" she roared. "I couldn't agree more," Inanna said. Suddenly, her own appearance changed. Not her physical appearance, but her clothes were suddenly altered from the white gown to ancient looking white armor plate, laced up boots, and a glowing sword. She also had a helmet crowned with small horns and feathers. "Just one thing before we begin..." she said, reaching over and turning on the television. To Pandora's astonishment, it showed her living room, with the three of them as they were, as if a camera were filming them and broadcasting it. She looked around her in confusion, but there was no camera to be seen. "I want you to see what I do to her," Inanna explained. Then, before Catherine could respond, she lunged at her sister, driving her shoulder into the soft flesh of her belly and lifting her off her feet and out the door. By the time Pandora had reached the door, the only thing she saw was the white Rolls and its driver, casually sitting in the front seat and reading a magazine. Hearing a grunt, she turned and saw the two Goddesses on her television, fighting each other far above the city. Shaking her head at the wonder of it all, she sat down and watched the battle unfold... * * * * * "That was hardly a fair beginning," Eri remarked, spreading her wings and gliding away from Inanna. "There isn't going to be anything fair about this," Nan replied, floating effortlessly in the darkening sky. "Besides, we agreed that there would be no rules. What's the matter, sister, change your mind?" "Not on your life. I was just surprised that you'd be so obviously vicious. I didn't think you had it in you, Inanna," she said with a smirk. "I've learned a lot in the past two thousand years," Nan informed her. Then, she dove at her, swinging the glowing sword, forcing Eri to backpedal with a flurry of beating wings. But, before the blonde could make another move, her sister had flown forward and raked her clawed hand across her chest, shredding the armor and the creamy flesh beneath it. "Let's see if you've learned how not get skinned alive," she cackled, enjoying the sound of her haughty sister's cries of pain and outrage. "You're the one who's going to be skinless when the night is through!" Inanna was suddenly next to her and the sword was driven into her gut. "Painful, but nothing I can't handle," Eri sneered, pulling herself off the blade and causing an identical sword to materialize in her hand. "How about you?" She plunged her sword into Inanna's chest and then punched her in the face, snapping her head around. "Can you take it?" "I can take anything you can dish out," the blonde replied, floating backwards off the blade. "Are you sure? Remember, Anu isn't going to show up and save your fat ass this time," she said, circling her sister, trying to keep the more powerful Goddess off balance. "My ass isn't fat!!!" Nan shrieked, closing once more. But this time causing the sword to disappear and instead using her fists. She pounded a right-left combination into Eri's chest. "And at least I have curves!" Erishkigal likewise dispensed with her sword and drilled a fist deep in her sister's belly. "Curves? Those are more like defects!" she snarled, grabbing handfuls of blonde hair and driving a knee into Nan's generous chest. "Defects?! Just because I actually look like a female instead of a prepubescent boy?" she said, gasping a bit but nevertheless grabbing handfuls of her sister's dark tresses. The two goddesses rolled over and over in mid-air, their hands firmly entangled in each other's hair while their knees and feet kicked and jabbed each other in the chest, gut, and crotch as hard as they could. "If you want to talk about defects, this is a defect!" the blonde shouted as her hands closed on her sister's tail as it whipped about. Then, catching Eri off her guard, she began to spin, whirling her sister about by the tail until the pair looked a small whirlwind. Hearing the sound of a passing aircraft, Inanna carefully altered her axis and then let go when Erishkigal was at the height of her spin. The winged Goddess did her best to slow herself down, but the force with which she'd been thrown was too great for her to even unfold her wings from around her body and she slammed heavily into the bottom of the airplane as it flew by. Dazed, she dropped back down, her wings finally unfurling and flapping weakly, toward where Inanna was unfortunately waiting for her. The blonde soared up and plunged her fist deep into her gut, causing Eri to gasp and practically black out from the pain and loss of oxygen to her system. "And these are defects!" Inanna cried, grabbing hold of her sister's wings and literally ripping them off. Erishkigal screamed in agony and plummeted to the ground. * * * * * Don't you recognize me, Lilith? the voice inside her head asked. Look over here. I think you will. Lili looked over at the mirror on the wall and was a bit disconcerted to see not her reflection, but that of a lioness-headed woman standing near her bathtub. "Goddess!" she exclaimed, practically dropping her glass of wine. "I am honored to finally meet you." And you should be. It takes a lot of effort to manifest myself in this fashion and I wouldn't do it for just any of my followers. "What has prompted this visit, my Goddess?" Lil asked, fighting to control the returning fear that she already knew the answer. Your recent interest in acquiring the blood of a Goddess, Sakhmet answered, confirming Kahira's worst suspicions. "I can explain..." she hastily began. There is no need, favored daughter. You could never have become my High Priestess in the first place if you weren't a ruthless, amoral, power-hungry bitch. Traits I greatly admire in people. "Thank you, Goddess, but I don't deserve such praise from you," Lil replied, trying to sound humble, and failing spectacularly. Save the false humility for someone who isn't a Goddess, daughter. Lilith nodded. "Of course," she mumbled. Now, about that Goddess blood...Do you trust me? "With my life, Goddess," Lil answered immediately. Actually, this is more dangerous to your soul... "What is?" Kahira asked. Then, she suddenly felt different, smaller somehow, yet larger, almost infinite in fact, at the same time. "What's happening, Goddess?" she cried. And then everything went black and all she could hear was the purring laughter of Sakhmet, but it was no longer in her head. Rather, it seemed to be coming from her mouth... * * * * * Eri landed heavily in the middle of a grassy field. Fighting to stay conscious, despite the searing pain, she looked at her surroundings more closely and realized she was in the Coliseum. "Perfect," she said softly as Inanna soared down out of the sky. The blonde struck her squarely in the back with both feet, driving her chest hard against the ground. She then reached down and, grabbing a handful of hair, yanked back and then chopped her viciously across the throat. "That felt almost as good as maiming you!" she snarled, driving a knee in between the brunette's shoulder blades and again forcing her face into the grass. "How you doing, sister? Ready to apologize?" In answer, Eri suddenly twisted her upper body and grabbed Inanna by the arms, pulling her down and then quickly straddling her before she knew what was happening. "I'm holding up," she answered, raking her claws across Nan's face and chest. "And I'll look a whole lot better than you when this is over." "Don't bet on it!" the blonde shouted, whipping her legs up and catching Eri under her arms and pulling her off backwards. She instantly clamped on a punishing leg scissors and applied excruciating pressure on the brunette's middle. "You remember this, don't you, sister?" "Thigh Will Be Done," she groaned, clawing desperately at the powerful legs squeezing the breath from her. But Nan ignored the attacks and increased the force of her hold until Eri was afraid she's be literally cut in two. "How could I forget," she gasped. In a last ditch effort to relieve the pressure, she shoved her hand between the blonde's legs and clawed at the sensitive flesh. "Yeowch!!!" screamed Inanna, opening her legs and rolling away. "What's this really about, Nan?" asked Eri as they paused to catch their breaths. "What are you talking about?" the other shot back, glaring at her with hate-filled glacial blue eyes as she rubbed her wounded pussy. "I'm not dumb, and I've had a lot of time to think in the past two millennium," the brunette said, massaging her stomach. "As painful and humiliating as what I did to you was, it wasn't the real reason you convinced the Council to imprison me, was it?" "I don't know what you're talking about," Nan said, looking away. "Yes, you do. Why do you think I didn't ask about Nergal earlier?" Inanna turned towards her, the icy blue eyes now filled with concern instead of rage. "Oh, I admit I was fooled for several hundred years, but, the more I thought about it, the more the pieces fell into place. And, it was the only thing which explained his half-hearted defense at my trial." The blonde just continued to stare at her silently. "Of course, when you showed up almost immediately, that just confirmed it. You're not here because you think I haven't changed. On the contrary, you're here precisely because you're afraid I have and that now he'll want me back. Right?" she asked flatly. "We didn't plan it, Eri, it just...happened. And, for the past two thousand years we've been very happy. There have been disagreements--He wasn't crazy about me and Odin, either--but we've worked them out and our love has grown stronger as a result. I won't let you ruin that," she stated. "How do you know he and I couldn't have worked out our problems if we'd been given the chance? Let's face it, Nan, our race isn't exactly renown for fidelity," she pointed out. "Don't you see? That's why I had to get you out of the way, to give us time to cement our relationship." "Yeah, like I said, I understand that now. But you must be pretty insecure to come all the way to LA to make sure I've no intention of trying to win him back," she observed. "Trouble in paradise, sister?" "Not exactly. It's just that after over two thousand years together I've gotta wonder if he isn't sick of me. And, I was afraid that when he eventually sensed your release he'd figure you were worth another shot." "Because you're not absolutely sure he never stopped loving me, are you?" she asked. Inanna nodded. "He says he did, but, you know how men are..." Erishkigal laughed. "Yeah, I do. But, did it ever cross your mind that I might not love him anymore?" "Not love...why wouldn't you still love him?" Nan asked. "Apart from the fact that he was sleeping with you, you mean?" "Yeah," the blonde said with a sharp laugh. "Partly because of that, sure, but I fell out of love even before I figured out what was really going on between you two. See, while I was in that Seal the only person I had to keep me company was me. I had a lot of conversations with myself and did a lot of soul searching and I came to the conclusion that the real reason I had loved Nergal was because of what he represented, not because of who he was. I saw him as a ticket to get back in the Council of Anu, to be free from the Underworld and soar the skies again. To be honest, he was never more than a means to an end and a great fuck," she said with a grin. "But love? No, not really. Not the way two people are supposed to love each other." "Then, you don't want him back, even if he showed up here wanting to try again?" "No, I don't. Partly for the reasons I just stated, but mostly because I'm now in love with someone else." "The human, Catherine?" Eri nodded, smiling as if she was looking right at Catherine and, back in her house, Pandora started to cry for joy as the rising sun streamed in on her. "So, I guess there's no need to continue fighting, is there?" Nan asked as her sister transformed back into her more human shape. "Maybe not with each other," said an unfamiliar voice, "but your battle with me is just beginning!" "Sakhmet!" the sisters exclaimed. Standing a few feet away was a woman with dark skin and the head of a snarling lioness. She was wearing classic Egyptian armor and carried both a sword and a shield. She was thin, but with large breasts and generous hips, and not particularly muscular. Even so, her entire form radiated with power. "What do you want?" Eri asked, thinking there was something familiar about the Goddess that she couldn't quite put her finger on. "My High Priestess desires some Goddess blood," the being said smoothly, her green eyes warily watching the weary warrior women. "I don't think it matters a great deal to her which of you provides it. So, unless you allow me to take some, I'm afraid you leave me no choice but to collect it myself. To help with your decision, let me assure you that my method of procurement will be anything but gentle." "We might not be at our best, but we're still more than a match for you, bitch!" Inanna sneered, rising unsteadily to her feet and then helping Eri up. "We'll see about that, you Sumerian skanks," Sakhmet said with a purring chuckle, raising her sword. Now, daughter, I will teach you how to deal with multiple foes, the Goddess said silently. I am honored to be given such an opportunity, Lilith replied. The trick is to isolate them by momentarily staggering some so you can concentrate on one, she said, swinging at Inanna's head and then kicking her in the gut when she dodged the flashing blade, causing the blonde to drop to her hands and knees, gasping for breath. Now we are free to deal with Erishkigal alone for a few minutes. Brilliant, Goddess, Kahira said as they closed on Eri, who had managed to materialize her own sword and met them with it raised. The two blades crashed together and lightning seemed to explode from them, but neither Goddess backed off. "I've always known you as a vicious bitch, Sakhmet, so I'm having a hard time believing that you're doing this for Kahira," Eri snarled, thrusting at her chest. "Oh, but I am doing this for Lilith, you Babylonian bimbo!" she replied, easily knocking aside the feeble attack and tagging the dark-haired Goddess with a solid left to her jaw which sent her sprawling. As she closed on her fallen foe, Inanna charged her from behind, only to be met with a back kick which again left her panting on all fours. Nicely done, Goddess, Kahira observed. "You see, Eri, I'm trying to teach dear Lili a lesson," she said, hauling the dazed Goddess to her feet by her hair and driving the pommel of her sword deep into her gut. "A most important lesson, in fact. One she should have learned a long time ago." She suddenly brought her knee up and slammed it into the bottom of Eri's chin, knocking her to her back. "Yeah? What lesson is that?" Eri asked, slowly sitting up and wiping some blood from her lower lip. "Why, to never ever fuck with me, of course!" Sakhmet roared, holding her sword aloft as forks of electricity streamed from it and up into the dawn sky. "I trust you and your sister will be more than happy to conclude that particular lesson for me." WHAT??! Kahira gasped. Did you really think I would approve of your attempts to gain more power as a result of your machinations? If you wanted more power, you should have asked me, daughter, and not gone whoring after the blood of this Assyrian asswipe! Sakhmet shouted, filling Kahira's entire being with a red haze of rage. I'm sorry, Goddess! You might well be, but, when these two are finished with you, you will be a great deal sorrier, she replied. Then, as both Erishkigal and Inanna approached, the lioness head faded and was replaced by the more familiar features of the ruthless businesswoman. "Goddess, no! You can't do this to me!" Lilith cried, startled to hear her words aloud again. Oh, yes, my daughter, I can. Remember this lesson well, or the next one will be much more final. "I thought I recognized those sagging tits," Eri growled, casually knocking the sword out of Lilith's terror-numbed fingers. "So, this is the famous Lilith Kahira," said Inanna, walking over to stand next to her sister. "You don't look as big and bad as your pictures make you out to be." "I have the pictures doctored," Lil confessed miserably. "Listen, I recognize you as Nan Summers, fellow entrepreneur and multi-billionaire, but I obviously had no idea you were really a Goddess, just as you couldn't have known I was a High Priestess of Sakhmet." "What's your point?" demanded Eri so threateningly that Lilith backed up a step. "My point is that she and I, at least, are civilized businesswomen. We don't resort to physical violence to solve our differences," she replied. "We have enough money to hire people for that sort of thing. Your argument is obviously with my Goddess, not me. So what do you say we just forget this and you let me treat you both to some breakfast, okay?" "She does have a point," Nan conceded. "Besides, I'm not all that eager to do Sakhmet's dirty work for her." "Exactly! Let her punish me herself," Lilith said eagerly, stepping closer. "Hello? Do I need to mention the fact that she's tried to kill me twice?" Eri asked. "Not personally," Lil quickly pointed out. "It was personal enough from my point of view," Erishkigal snarled. "On the other hand, you did cause one of my companies to go bankrupt a few years ago," Inanna continued, "and I've been wanting to kick your ass ever since that little stunt." "Now, Nan, that was purely business, nothing personal on my part," Lil said smoothly. "I lost some good people as a result of that. So, as my sister said so eloquently, it was personal enough from my point of view." Sensing the tide turning against her, Lilith suddenly turned and bolted for the exit, but Eri reached her before she had even reached the infield and pulled her up short by grabbing her hair. "Where are you going, Lil? The fun is just beginning," said the brunette, driving the pommel of her sword deep into the Egyptian's gut, causing her knees to buckle as she gasped for breath. "I think a bit of Tum and Tit It is in order, don't you, sister?" Nan said, walking up and rubbing her right fist into the palm of her left hand. "Excellent choice," smiled Eri, positioning herself behind Lil and grabbing both of her wrists and pulling them straight back. She then lifted her right foot and placed it firmly in the middle of Lilith's back, forcing her chest to stick out. "What are you--Ungh!!!" Lil gasped as Inanna suddenly drilled her right fist deep into her left breast, hard enough that it sunk all the way up to the wrist in the soft tissue. The blonde Goddess then punched the right breast equally as hard and then delivered a powerful left-right combination into her heaving midsection. "It's great to be working with you again," Eri smiled as Inanna repeated the series of blows even harder and faster than before. "Yeah, this is much more fun," Nan agreed, continuing to punish the Egyptian with more powerful and more rapidly delivered blows to the three areas. Lilith tried to beg for her to stop, but she couldn't get enough air to form any words. She could barely suck in enough air to stay conscious. Finally, even with Eri holding her up, her legs turned to mush and she collapsed to her knees, forcing the brunette to release her arms. "What now?" asked Eri, pressing down on Lil's back with her foot, pressing her face into the cool grass. Nan just smiled and sat down next to the sobbing Egyptian and opened her legs. "Thigh Will Be Done?" her sister questioned. "I only use that hold on people I love," Nan replied, reaching for the dazed woman and pulling her face into her crotch. "I had When the Going Gets Muff in mind." She closed her legs, pressing her thighs tightly against Lil's head, and then flexed them until the muscles stood out like knotted cords. Erishkigal giggled and sat down heavily on Lilith's stomach and began to work over her already bruised tits, pulling and twisting them, causing the Egyptian to emit a muffled cry from between Nan's legs. "I don't think she's enjoying this," Eri snickered, giving the dark nipples a vicious tweaking. "I don't think she's enjoying anything at the moment," Nan said, opening her legs and revealing that Lilith was just barely conscious. "Well, we can't have that. Not yet," said Eri, scooting back and punching her hard in the lower belly, just above where her dark thatch was barely visible above her panty line. The pain jolted her back to awareness and she gasped and tried to push the sisters away from her. "I was thinking Breast In Peace would make the perfect finishing move," said Inanna, grabbing a handful of dark hair and forcing Lil's face into her cleavage. "Good choice," Eri smiled, sitting down on Lil's legs and pulling down her panties, exposing her generous posterior. "While you're doing that I'll administer a little Ass You Like It so she won't forget us when she sits down at work later." She gently caressed the round butt cheeks and then suddenly slapped them hard enough to cause the Egyptian's entire body to jerk. A muffled yelp of pain was barely audible from between Nan's tits. Inanna nodded her approval and continued to hold Lil's head between her breasts while Eri worked her ass over until it was red and slick with sweat. "Whew," said Eri, shaking her arm. "I don't know about her, but I've had enough of that. My arm and hand are so numb I can't feel them." Nan yanked Lil's head free and saw that she had passed out. "I think she's had enough, too," she laughed, standing up and letting the unconscious Egyptian topple over onto her back. "Shall we go?" "Hold on, I didn't say I was done with her," Eri said, standing up and rubbing her arm. "Just that my arm was numb." She sharply stomped down on the prone woman's belly, just above her curly pubic hair, causing Lilith to cry out and open her eyes as the pain shocked her system back to attention. "Upsy daisy, Lil," she said, hauling her to her feet by her hair. "What now?" Inanna asked. "Go down to Home Plate and wait," Eri grinned, rearing back and swinging her right fist in the air. Inanna giggled and raced down into the infield. "Wha?" Lil asked, opening her eyes just in time to see Eri's fist speeding towards her chin. It connected with a loud CRACK! and sent the Egyptian flying down the third base line. "Slide, Lilith, slide!" shouted Eri, racing after her as Lil's body slammed into the dirt. "Yer out!" growled Nan, dropping to one knee and jerking her thumb over her shoulder. "Yep," agreed Eri, walking up and seeing that Lil had skidded to a halt a good half foot from where Home Plate would have been. "Definitely out at home." She pulled her sister into a tight hug. "We make a good team." "Yeah, we do. Speaking of home, what do you say we get out of here and get back to your house?" asked Inanna, hugging her back. Eri nodded and the blonde tightened her grip on her sister and slowly rose into the air. "Pleasant dreams, Lilith!" they both called as they flew out of the stadium and into the dawn sky. * * * * * Catherine, with the stone containing Vixen's spirit firmly in her grip, was waiting for them in the front yard and embraced both of them joyously before they had even touched the ground. "I'm so glad you worked things out," she smiled. "So am I," said Eri, kissing her deeply. "I suppose you have to restore Vixen and get back to New York, huh?" she asked, looking over at her sister. "Actually, I was hoping the three of us could spend the morning shopping and getting to know each other. Then, I'd put Genevieve back in her body and spend some time with her, too, before going home this evening. Unless you think she'd mind spending a few more hours in the crystal?" "She hasn't complained so far," Pandora grinned. When the stone she was holding practically jumped out of her hand, she quickly stuffed it in her purse. "First, I think, we should get some breakfast," Nan said, looping her arms with her sister's and Catherine's and heading for the white Rolls where the chauffeur patiently waited, holding the rear door open. "I'm in the mood for fresh Parisian croissants." The chauffeur closed the door and then got into the driver's seat and a few seconds later the entire car pulsed with a golden light and then disappeared. Fin (NightFox Will Return) Send comments/criticism to: maynlinz@earthlink.net