I may have made mistakes in life. Minor ones I would like to believe.

But none should have led me to this point. Dying in a sewer. The horrid smell of human waste, rat fur, and regrets. I couldn’t scream as my mouth was full of blood. I could only look up at the soft blue sky from the only source of light here. I couldn’t feel my limbs anymore and the painful struggling breaths I am taking reminds me of how screwed I am.

I should have continued walking my usual route regardless of the foot traffic and the fact some annoying slob was eating his sandwich so loudly he drowned out the sympathy of horns honking. I could have stood still and let the endless shuffle of bodies drag me towards my work sight for today. I would have eventually arrived there, a bit late, however. I know I was tired of walking through dreary industrial buildings only to be yelled at by my supervisor because his boss yelled at him for something he didn’t do.

I just wanted to see the park before I am forced to keep a happy straight face for over eight hours a day then return to a home where I am not welcomed. Too many people crammed into a one-bedroom apartment my family can barely afford. A single old TV from the days my mother was a child and eager to see America. Now she only sees America through that clouded glass and demands for her children to keep up with tradition. The same tradition that snuffed the life out of her body.

I try to laugh but it only came but as a gurgle. Of course, the trash of the family, the one accused of hating our traditions, dies in a sewer. I guess this is my ancestors' form of punishment.

I swear if I have another chance at life I will live it my way. For better or for worst...

Time passes and I can still see the blue sky above me. I know that more than a few hours have passed based on the fact I have seen plenty of clouds float by. That leaves the question...

Why I am not dead yet?

I sit up, absentmindedly noticing my chest does not hurt. I spit up old coagulated blood and a small piece of my tongue. It was a disgusting sight, especially when my tongue bounced on the clean, reflective blue floors. Blue floors? I rub my eyes then look around me. I was no longer in the sewers but a luxury bar. The walls were some sort of shiny black material, probably obsidian and the floors looked like soft ocean waves. In the distance, there was a lone table with three chairs before it.

I try to stand up but I fall down in a flump. I chuckle, “Of course. Despite all the weirdness my brain tells my legs not to move...I either survived with severe brain damage or died. Get moving, Natalie.”

I manage to stand up and unsteadily walk to one of the bar stools. It was a nice and definite upgrade from the hard concrete of the sewers. I run my hand against the mahogany table and appreciate its craftsmanship. It reminded me of my great-grandfather’s table. He was always a man of great showmanship, too bad his personal relationships were a mess. This table was different. It feels warm and connected with me in a way I don’t know how to describe. Perhaps the tree it came from was an outcast.

My hand clink against a crystal glass of whiskey. I stare at the glass, fully knowing that it was not there a minute ago. My eyes wander up and I see a slender hand resting near mine. My eyes continue to trail up and I see a wide smile on a beautiful face. The woman has an unnaturally perfect face; almost as if someone copied and pasted half a face together. Her eyes are the same comforting blue as the floor yet her gaze was twisted. I squirm as her eyes take in every movement. I feel as though I trespassed on a wild animal territory and it’s going to kill me.

She leans closer, her smile widening. “Hello. I do adore attention but if you plan to stare at me all day, I suggest taking a drink.” Her voice was akin to the chime of bells; neither male nor female.

I sit up straighter then stutter, “I-I am sorry. I do not accept drinks from strangers.”

Their eyes shimmer amusingly as they slide the cup closer to me. “Ah, but you are the stranger to my lands. Although, I am fully aware of you and who you are. You are a soul from a godless plain of existence. Luckily, one of the souls I have taken an interest in.”

I stare at them for a moment then blurted, “You are god?!”

They bark from laughter then take a swig of their own cup, causing their long silver hair to hypnotically sway. “Ha! I am a young god. Millenniums younger than those old crones that landed claim on your home-realm and bicker among themselves and engage in petty wars. They mishandle their realms so badly that they slowed time to watch all the major events! However, I do have a scheme to be stronger than those decrepit stacks of stolen power.” Their fingers tighten on the cup. “I managed to lay minor claim on your realm during one of their wars. Alas, I am the only young to do so.”

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My mind reels from the information and I try to compartmentalize all the times I spoke blasphemies and how many days it took for something to go wrong. All I could do to reset my mind is grab the cup of whiskey and down it in one go. It was surprisingly smooth considering I was not a drinker and I am used to hearing complaints about the burn of cheap whiskey from my coworkers.

I jump when the god places a hand on top of mine. They pour another glass for me while rubbing circles on my hand in an effort to help calm me. I tense and they notice.

They clutch my hand with both hands. “I am in need of your help, my dear.”

I tense more as those predatory eyes seem to have sharpened. “I-I don’t know what you need me for.”

They gesture to themselves. “I am a newborn god with no realms to call my own. Those old creatures guard their plains like a hawk and would never allow me to siphon any of their precious power. If I don’t do something dramatic,” They hesitated for a moment. “desperate, in the next two hundred years... I will cease to exist. Or at least in this form. I would be lower than a minor god. A spirit with the power to complain and nothing else. Eventually, I won’t even have that.”

They clinch their fists. “It wasn’t always like this! There was a time where those primordial dirt clouds use to leave planets for Gods to struggle over. They had a chance to gain power and prove themselves to the universe. Now it’s gone! All gone!” Their eyes manically search the room for an outlet. “Now you have to pander to some pretentious god who stuck their nose so far up the ancients black hole they could taste neurons to be gifted their own world! Now all other gods fight and scramble for scraps!”

They hiss in disdain, “Do you know how disgraceful begging for leftovers is? How it makes lesser and new gods feel?!”

They take a moment to calm down and recenter themself. I notice how asymmetrical their face, was odd considering how unnaturally perfect their face was a few moments ago. Their eyes are no longer blue but a reptilian shade of yellow. Crooked fangs pierce through their bottom lip and curl towards their upper lip. Earlier their hair was a shimmering shade of silver, now it is the color of silk and just as thin. Rather than looking like a transcendent being, they look like a defeated non-human. Mortal, rather than otherworldly.

They look at my curious expression then run their hands through their hair; their immaculate hands and nails turned into bony claws. “You owe me. At least something. I used some of my power, or at least some of my pitiful emergency power, to bring you here, If I let you roam the Rivers of End you would have been consumed, one way or another. Some minor gods use souls as an energy source. Slowly the core foundations that made you would be chipped away, dissolve into essence slop. Your soul would be unrecognizable and mostly corrupted.”

They let out a small sigh. “I saved you and not because I am feeling generous.”

They lean over the table and look directly into my eyes. I suppose their charm ability is active again as their eyes are blue with gold flakes. They place a soft hand on my cheek and give me their best charming smile. I want to move away but I don’t think it would be a good idea. This god is too unstable.

“I fell in love with you, Natalie. Your ancestors called me to watch their blood on accident but none of their descendants charmed me like the way you did.” That threw me into a loop. “Can you imagine being stuck here, in this tiny corner of infinite realms with nothing to do? Every second of my existence was used to watch your blood. Then... you were born. You are quirky, smart, and cute. Your silly attempts to please your family amused me and your imperfections brought a twinkle to my eye. I would love to spend the rest of my tortured existence with you.”

Yep, they lost it. I was just unlucky it lost its last marble when I was born. I am probably the least interesting member of my family simply by happenstance. I hate drama, being in public spaces, and rather sleep my life away. How that interested this freak, I will never know. But I need to be very, very careful with my response.

I force my face to flush by thinking about my most embarrassing moments then shyly slip out of their grasp. “A-ah, thank you,” I mumble, making sure I keep my expression full of adoration. “I-I’m glad you find me so interesting but how can I be with you? You are a god and I am a mortal soul. Additionally, I don’t even know what’s your interests, your name, your...” I glance at the glass. “your drinking preferences! I am so glad you saved me but I need time to think about this. Possibly alone?”

They stare at me for a moment then laughed. It was an earnest laugh, considering their charm twink out. “I have no form, to be honest. I took on what if found amusing and shaped it to your liking.” That explains their uncharmed form, I guess. “ I never thought about a name though. You can call me, Silas; I know you have a fondness for nature and whatnot. I think I’ll be a male for this era. I took many on many female monikers over the millenniums.”

They-He completely ignored my request for privacy and I have a feeling if I ask directly he would not take it kindly. I rack my brain for a second to find a new angle when a brilliant idea struck me.

I secretly suck in a breath then hold his hand. “I... I don’t think I can completely be okay with taking your kindness for granted. I think I have an idea that would benefit you while I take all the risk.”

He look at my hand then hummed as a response.

“I am going to need your trust for this.” I rub little circles on his hand and his face melts into one of contentment. “And I am going to be transparent with you, after all, we are going to be friends, right?”

He purrs with his eyes closed, “Partners, Natalie, Partners.”

I cringe inside but nod at him. “Right, partners. I am not perfect as you know.” His head bobbed in agreement. “And you know I tend to manipulate people to achieve my goals. It comes with the territory of being the assistant manager of a large business. So I might keep some things from you.”

He leans completely over the bar and rests his head on my shoulder. “Itsh fine.”

What a sucker. “I need you to send me to a god world as your follower and allow me to secretly store their energy in my soul so I can safely and secretly deliver it to you.”

He wraps his arms around my waist. “Hmm, no.”

Well, frick, I quickly come up with another pitch. “You need energy to live and you just said you don't want to beg for scraps. And you talked about other gods begging to be allowed to take small amounts of power. I don’t want you -us- to perish when I have the ability to help.”

He shakes his head. “If you go, you still can’t send me energy, and the only way you can collect it is making people have faith in you.”

“Ah-ha! I thought of a way around that. A purchasing system like how some games at home do. You make extremely low-cost items and trade them for double or triple the energy. Since you control how much an item costs, you can scale it with how much I earn. That way it seems like a trade and not you stealing their power. And we can improve our standing with them. After all, you have some claim over Earth. Maybe something we have will interest them and you guys can strike a deal. If not, I still can charm people with Earth knowledge and make a shrine for you.”

He hums in discontent but I think I am making progress.

“We can make a pact on my soul so I come back to you! I can never leave you but I think I should... explore other romantic opportunities.” A cold sweat forms on the back of my neck when I feel his claws dig into my sides. “Listen! It’s a good method to quickly gain a follower and allow me to gain experience to be a better partner for you! We will be together forever and they are only pawns for our end goal!” His claws are still in my sides but he does not harm me.

He grumbles under his breath then kisses my neck, making my skin crawl. “Okay, my partner. What shall we do first?”

“Uh. Well. I need a smidgen of your power.”