Nike made her way through the garden. The path was a little narrower than she preferred. Her wings had to remain folded against her back. They need to be preened after her flight. She'd have one of her former priests tend to them. She smiled at the ignorance of most mortal's deeds. The men and woman who signed over their lives to serve the gods did not realize what they were doing. She was certain that most of them would not have signed on if they realized that it was not a mortal deal. To sign allegiance to a deity was to forfeit your soul. They were well taken care of, however. This was not a punishment but neither did it end upon the mortal's death. The former priests and priestesses would serves their patron forever. They did not regret their decision, though Nike herself was unsure as to whether this was due to the mortal's own volition or the will of an primordial force.<br/><br/>Nike was a lithe, graceful thing. Her flaxen blonde hair naturally seemed tussled in a sexy, casual sort of way. Her eyes were a deep green. Her wings were powerful, angelic beauties. Her appearance was not especially important to her but it never seemed all that difficult. Plus, it seemed to just come naturally that she did need much maintenance. She wondered sometimes if that just wasn't some hidden perk to her domain.<br/><br/>No, immortals did not know everything. That was a fact that seemed to shatter that minds of their followers. True, some immortals knew more than others, but they had their flaws just the same.<br/><br/>The Greek goddess of victory finished her stroll through the gardens. She sighed. Now what could she do. She was feeling a little bored. She wished that she could pop in on one of the wars somewhere in the world. However, she was of the "old" gods. No one called upon her anymore. It was sort of in bad taste to cross into the territories of other, more local gods unless entreated personally. So, she was left with little to do. Maybe she'd go have the priests clean her wings now. At least its something to do.<br/><br/>Stepping out onto the wide street the ran through Olympus, she opened her wings and stretched them. The sunshine felt good on them. She beat them a few times. A flight. After her preening, she'd do a lap around the earth. She hadn't done that in at least a week. The mortals made for such interesting entertainment.<br/><br/>Nike heard a different source of flapping behind her. She folded her wings again. These beats were rapid and fluttery. She looked behind herself and up. Hermes was descending to greet her. She smiled a radiant smile.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000">"Hermes! Lovely to see you! Would you like to join me for lunch?"</span><br/><br/>He gave her a charming smile of his own.<br/><br/><span style="color: #4080FF">"Love to, doll. Unfortunately, I am here on business."</span><br/><br/>Nike frowned.<span style="color: #FF8000">"What a shame."</span><br/><br/>Hermes pointed behind him to the palace-temple behind them up at the top of the mountain.<br/><br/><span style="color: #4080FF">"Zeus wants to see you. And...uh...its not good."</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Oh? How bad?"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #4080FF">"Let's just say that its not only us Olympians on edge. Odin, Jupiter, and the other kings are all there."</span><br/><br/>Nike was admittedly a bit stunned by the news. It was not very often that the deities intermingled, especial not the kings. They were not fond of answering to anyone and therefore stuck to ruling their own pantheons. She nodded.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"Lead the way."</span><br/><br/>She opened her wings and followed Hermes back to Zeus' abode. They landed at the front entrance. They passed under the ridiculously tall, columned front arch and into the interior. The white marble was sleek and pristine. The floors were a deep blue and highly polished. The grand height continued through the interior. Making their way into the throne room, she found it full of many of the godly kings. She managed to hide a scoff. Each of their had to get in their arrogant show of power and conjure up his own throne. Kings are kings. She nodded  to each as she passed. He bowed to Zeus as she approached his throne.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"You wished to me, my king?"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #008000">"Ah, Nike, my dear. There you are." He boomed cheerily, "We just got terrible news."</span><br/><br/>Nike frowned.<span style="color: #FF8000">"What is it, my king?"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #008000">"The Morrigan was killed while in mortal form."</span><br/><br/>Nike gasped in horror. Taking mortal form on the earth was one of the few times when a deity could be killed. Well, not entirely. Their conscience would always be alive but they would never again have form. It was quite the miserable condition. However, she was confused. Why would this be worthy of a meeting like this? It was sad but things like this usually were mourned (or celebrated) by the deity's pantheon alone. Zeus seemed to be able to read her thoughts.<br/><br/><span style="color: #008000">"I know what you are thinking. However, a mortal has absorbed her conscience."</span><br/><br/>Nike's mouth dropped open.<span style="color: #FF8000">"But...but..."</span><br/><br/>Zeus nodded.<span style="color: #008000">"We are sending you to check it out. You will carry good odds if this turns into a battle. Good luck, my dear.</span><br/><br/>There was a warm, tingly sensation around here. The world in front of her vision rippled like a watery bubble. Her vision clouded briefly. When it started clearly, she noticed that she was on a beach. She was kneeling on a beach in a white gown and sandals. She felt her back to discover that her wings were gone. She was a little sad. She'd miss them. She looked up. There was port town a short way up the beach. She stood up and headed for it.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://media.photobucket.com/user/usmiwka29/media/WOMAN/000d60aa06df094d75303b.jpg.html"></a><a class="postlink" href="http://i721.photobucket.com/albums/ww220/usmiwka29/WOMAN/000d60aa06df094d75303b.jpg">[ img ]</a></div>