In a chamber of cold, gleaming walls and perennial silence, Sarah awoke for the second time. Once again totally nude. While the man from before her reincarnation stood opposite her, chained to the wall, his eyes weary but eternal. His face was familiar, for she had seen it carved into a thousand personal shrines, and engraven upon the mosques of Khereshetal. Therun Perun Taloc, god of humanity and this world, the cause of her suffering.

The reason she died.

But, this wasn’t right, she had died hundreds of times before, she was supposed to reset to her birth, become aware and live through the ninth month of pregnancy. Live long enough to hear her mother name her. Then curse that name as she was left outside a firehouse. Cause mom wasn’t tall enough to open the dumpster behind it. Yet she was here…

The metallic sheen of the room reflected Taloc’s resolute form, a god bound in chains.

“What did you do? I shouldn’t be here!” Snapped Sarah.

Bare of attire and bristling with indignation, she approached Taloc, her footsteps echoing ominously. “Why am I naked? Has it really been so long that even the ‘great Taloc, champion of humanity’ needs a peek?” She sneered, crossing her arms to cover herself before lowering her voice to a venomous whisper. “Chained up without a key. How fitting for a horn-dog.”

Unperturbed, Taloc regarded her with a calm, almost amused expression.

“Child, you’re not my type,” he retorted, his voice steady. “I prefer older women. The sort who has centuries of experience and more than a grain of loyalty. Tis sad really, I had hoped motherhood would suit you, or at least temper that broken soul of yours. Yet you decided to… Oh, how did you put it? Reset the board? Brutal, but I commend your willpower. Most would not have willingly endured execution for a chance to be a better mother. My dear niece, you might have held that power in your own world, but no such option exists here. But I can give you another.”

Sarah’s eyes flashed with anger, her posture rigid with indignation. She turned on her heel, ready to leave, but Taloc’s voice halted her. “If you leave now, your next body will be random, and roughly a third of all women in my world are pregnant. I had a purpose in your first child, but a second could be all yours to enjoy. The cats breed quickly, maybe you’ll have a litter. Now wouldn’t that be rewarding?”

She paused, one child was too much for her. A litter? She tried not to puke. This world wasn’t earth. While they had healing magic, magic in general was rare enough to elevate magi into nobles. Pregnancy was dangerous, and most women died in childbirth, especially the first go around when complications were most likely. If you factored in the different races, a third of all women being pregnant was probably a conservative estimate. She could respawn as an elf, free in the northern forests, or end up as a felinid breeding sow, bearing a dozen kittens until she died from malnourishment.

That thought made Sarah gag, one birth was more than she’d ever wanted.

Reluctantly, she turned back to face him.

“What will it cost me?”

Taloc sighed, a note of genuine regret in his tone. “When I reached out and borrowed Liam’s soul, these,” Taloc tugged on his chains, “tightened. Your world is distant, and my powers are curtailed, I thought you and Liam were one being, inclined to do good, yet capable of infinite savagery. A lesson Liam has only recently learned. In short, you were an accident, never meant for this world. Although, you’re here now, and I could use someone of your… temperament.”

Sarah’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Take your ‘accident’ and shove it up those chains of yours. How grand of a life did you give Liam? Turned him into a prince, while you left me knocked up and nearly dead? You belong with your precious slaves.”

Taloc shook his head. “Ha, I had hoped Liam possessed your vitriol, but no, Liam was tested with the dying body of a failing baron, no princes or kings in his lineage. Well, I guess he has two kings in his line now, since you birthed him.”

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His quip landed, and Sarah’s fury erupted. A tempest in her eyes. “Taloc, you’re a god-damned!

Disgusting!

Pervert!

Pig-faced!

Asshole!

Fucking Pervert!

You made me give birth to my ex-fiancé? I’d ask what is wrong with you, or if you have a screw loose in that head of yours but I doubt there are any screws left to loosen!” Shouted Sarah, incensed and disgusted in a way she had never felt before.

She’d guessed that Liam was her child, but only in her wildest nightmares! Sarah turned aside, putting the lone piece of furniture –a stainless steel looking panel– between her and Taloc.

Ignoring her outburst, Taloc continued, his voice unwavering. “Bitch please, I’m eternal, ten million humans worship or curse me with every breath, insults like yours might have worked on Liam, but they aren’t worth the earwax that hears them. Ah, maybe I should offer the carrot instead of the stick. After all, you’re uniquely competent. Most people in this world would be groveling on their knees before me, or offering me their body. Tis tiring really, but you’re different. Stick around and chat, swear loyalty with your heart, and I will give you endless lives of your own choosing.”

“What’s the catch?”

Taloc beamed her a smile. “Wield your… temperament for my cause. There are many evil men who need to die, and many innocent souls who need culling. Those who were never meant to be born, and now must die to balance the scales.”

Sarah’s rage simmered, her curiosity once again wrestling with her anger. “I’ll hear you out,” she conceded, her tone begrudging. “But get to the point, Perv McGods-hole.”

Taloc met her gaze, his expression a blend of weariness and infinite determination. “Humanity is on the brink of collapse. I need someone with your… unique skills to help usher in that disaster.”

“I don’t want to be a furry, or any kind of mutant.” Said Sarah, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh cmon, you’d look great with cat ears!” Answered Taloc, feigning offense with an open mouthed wink. “Humanity needs culling, not eradication. A difficult task, I need someone who can kill without feeling, but will not revel in the bloodshed.”

“You mean a psychopath and not a berserker.”

“See, you already know you’re perfect for the role.” Said Taloc.

“Asshole.” Repeated Sarah, “Fine, but I have conditions. I want a good life, as a human. I’ll not settle for anything less than a body with magic! Really, you gave Liam all the magic and couldn’t spare any for me? We could have been living in Efendi’s palace but nooo. You wanted us to starve! I won’t accept any lives without magic, and not some little sparks, real magic. The power to kill and save as I see fit. Lightning and healing at the very least.”

“Finding a body ready to receive your soul is difficult. There is a short window after death where I can… play my card trick of souls. I can imbue the lightning affinity on any magi, but it’ll draw attention from our enemies.” Said Taloc, and Sarah did not miss the ‘our enemies’ bit.

“For our deal to be mutually beneficial, my options are limited to those who are already in a position to create change, and empty of a soul… Adding a requirement for magic as well ties my hands more than these chains. I cannot imbue a peasant who has no mana, but I can grant a similar affinity or enhance existing ones. Healing, earth, and darkness would be easy, or healing, water, and holy light.” Said Taloc, summoning dozens of potential screens into view.

Sarah glanced over the screens, skimming the potential bodies for her to inhabit. The screens were holographic, translucent, and moved in accordance to her will, adjusting to suit Sarah’s focus.

“Lightning and healing at the very least.” Repeated Sarah.

All screens vanished except for one. She scanned it, finding its contents mostly favorable. Except for a few poison pills that deepened Sarah’s scowl like a branding iron to the nether regions.

For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of Taloc’s words hanging in the air. Sarah’s eyes narrowed, her mind racing. Finally, she nodded, a reluctant agreement. “Alright, Taloc. I’ll stay. But you let me pick my bodies every time! Not just this once! No more pregnant bitches or whores. If I get fucked, at least let me enjoy it! I want a good life. Like the one you stole me from.” Demanded Sarah.

“Haha! Of course!” Answered Taloc. Not wanting to chase Sarah away with the truth that all life came with hardships.

And so, within the cold confines of the chamber, an alliance was forged, bound by necessity and the faint hope of resurrection. Though it left Sarah with one irritating thought.

What will happen to three year old Liam without me?

Wait… Why do I care?

It’s just a kid.

My kid…