Logan quietly followed the assassin up the stairs. He was sure he hadn't been seen, but took no chances nonetheless. He could hear the boots of the Greek demigod as she made her way through the stairwell. Logan thought she would try to remain quiet as she made her escape, considering she just assassinated the Norse god Skuld.
Logan heard the girl open the door to the roof and listened as she made her way out of the stairwell. He steadied the sword in his hands and quietly followed the demigod. Logan reached for the handle, took a breath to steady himself and turned the doorknob.
The door was violently thrown open, wrenching his had forward. Logan caught a brief glint of sunlight on metal as the demigod brought the sword down, slicing the air between the blade and Logan's arm. Instinctively, Logan jerked his arm backwards, and was just able to get his arm out of the blades path.
Logan threw himself backwards and thrust with his sword trying to buy a quick moment to regain a defensive posture. The girl swung her sword wide, narrowly missing Logan’s exposed body and embedding in the concrete wall by Logan’s ear. The blade stuck only briefly, but allowed Logan enough time to gain some momentum against the girl. He plunged himself shoulder first into the girl, slamming into her chest and driving her back through the open door onto the rooftop.
The girl stumbled and fell backwards, quickly rolling away from Logan who was charging now, sword held high over his head to deliver a heavy blow. Logan underestimated the speed with which this demigod could move, and his overhanded swipe was easily parried by the girl. His momentum carried him beyond the girl and onto the center of the rooftop.
The two fighters began circling each other, testing their reflexes and footwork with quick thrusts and movements. Logan feigned a swipe, then attacked the demigod with a sharp thrust, only to have his efforts defeated before they began. The girl had anticipated Logan’s actions, and Logan found himself skewered through the right should by the ice-cold blade of the demigod.
Logan stumbled backwards and he struggled to keep a grip on the sword in his hand. The pain was nearly unbearable and Logan’s vision began to darken, threatening to send him into unconsciousness. He took the sword in his left hand and made feeble swipes at the demigod, desperately trying to hold her at bay while he struggled with the disabling pain that was creeping down his arm from his shoulder. In a brief moment of clarity, Logan realized that the girl’s blade was enchanted.
A low laugh brought Logan’s mind back to the forefront, and he noticed the demigod charging at him to deliver the death blow. His vision cleared and he reacted by instinct, bringing his sword to bare and blocking the girl’s attack. The force carried the girl past Logan and with a quick turn of his leg, Logan was able to catch the girl’s foot as she continued past.
The demigod crashed to the rooftop, losing the grip on her sword as she tried to catch herself. Both she and her sword fell hard against the retaining wall at the very edge of the rooftop. The girl shook her head to clear it and scrambled to regain her sword. She quick stood and turned to face her attacker.
Logan brought his sword down on the girl with such force and speed she only had time to bring her sword up. Over and over Logan struck, each time weakening the demigod and giving her no chance to move. The demigod let out a primeval scream and folded. The momentum of Logan's attack carried her over the roof's edge. Her scream died away and she starred up at Logan. The demigod closed her eyes and spread her arms. Logan watched her fall to the ground and hit with a sickening wet sound.
Logan's arm screamed in pain. He fell to his knees and gripped his shoulder with his left hand. He screwed his eyes shut against the worsening pain creeping up and down his arm. Logan heard a shuffle behind him and turned to see what made the noise. A young woman, dressed in blue and gold Egyptian clothing, slowly walked towards him. Logan spun around and tried to raise his sword to fend off any coming attack. The weight of the sword was too much for his right arm and he had to scramble to switch hands and raise the sword.
The Egyptian woman continued towards Logan slowly. Two identical women stepped out from begin the first and moved to either side. They did not necessarily step from behind the woman, but seed to materialize from the woman herself.
Logan began breathing hard and sweating, not only from the battle, but from the extreme pain that was coming from his right arm. He struggled to keep the sword raised but it was becoming heavier by the second and if the women decided to attack, Logan was not sure he would be able to defend himself.
The three women stopped in front of Logan, inches away from the tip of his sword. The women turned in unison, perfectly in sync and seemingly exact copies of one another. And when they spoke, they spoke as one. "Our mistress wishes to commend you on your success in finding the assassin of Skuld and marvels at your ability to survive the battle. Most mortals would not have lasted two minutes against a demigod warrior, much less defeat her."
Logan's arms felt like they were on fire -- one from the wound and the other from the weight of the sword. He could not keep the sword raised any longer and dropped his arm, allowing the sword to clatter to the rooftop next to him. He breathed heavily and gasped out a response. "Who are you and what do you want?"
The three women flourished their arms and bowed in unison. "We are the daughters of Qadesh. It is from her that we deliver this message. She wishes an audience with you to discuss a proposal which you cannot refuse. Will you accept?"
Logan couldn't see any other option. He knew he was hurt, but the severity was unknown. All he knew was that it hurt. He also did not know what the women would do if he refused. There would be no defending himself if they attacked. With as much bravado as he could muster into his voice he said, "I suppose there wouldn't be too much harm in meeting with your master. Am I to walk to her palace or will she be sending the golden chariot?"
Logan knew they weren't buying his macho talk. He could tell by the glint in their eyes and the way they smiled simultaneously. "You are about to meet the goddess Qadesh" they spoke in unison. "There is no need for chariots." As they spoke, each one raised their hands and moved to surround Logan. He noted, with some surprise, that this was the first act which was not mirrored by all three of the siblings. Each moved with an otherworldly grace, but in separate directions and moving their arms independently of the others.
The air around lOgan began to spark and crackle, tiny bolts of electricity filling the air. The hair on Logan's neck began to stand up, but he wasn't sure if it was out of fear or the electricity surrounding him. The air around Logan seemed on fire and continued to grow until he was completely engulfed by it. There was a sensation of slowly falling and a prickling sensation over his entire body. He was blinded by the all encompassing light, unable to see his own hands and arms. Logan tried to squeeze his eyes shut against the light, only to realize they were already closed. The light permeated everything!
Darkness. The floor dropped from beneath him and he fell, faster and faster. Wind rushed past hes ears, whistling and growing to a roar. Logan hit the ground and slowed, but did not stop completely. The water he had fallen into engulfed him and swallowed him whole. Even though the water was warm, it shocked his system as if he had been dunked into arctic chilled seas. It took a few moments before he completely realized he was underwater and frantically began kicking towards the surface. Logan's head slammed into an unforgiving object. He was dazed and bright spots of light flashed behind his eyes. Logan began to lose consciousness when he felt hands take hold of him and drag him further down into the water.
Logan fought with his remaining strength against his unseen attacker. More hands took hold and he was violently wrenched down...and out of the water! REalization suddenly dawned on Logan that he had been disoriented and upside down. Instead of swimming up towards the surface, he had been swimming deeper into the pool of water.
Logan coughed and sputtered, trying to remove the water from his lungs. His body went limp and he allowed his unseen saviors to lift him free of the water. He was laid gently onto a stone bench, warmed to a comfortable temperature by the heat of the room. The hands released him and began moving about his body, checking every inch for what he supposed were any injuries. Slowly his breathing returned to normal and his sight began to return. Fuzzy pictures of three individuals began to take shape, hovering over him and moving about his body. Logan closed his eyes and breathed deeply, steeling his nerves and calming his mind.
When Logan opened his eyes, the three daughters of Qadesh stood over him. They were completely nude and starring at Logan with mischievous smiles. Each moved independently now -- on daughter scanned his body, another giggled girlishly and raised her small hand to her mouth. The third starred straight into Logan's eyes. Each daughter was identical, down to the birth mark just to the left of their belly button. And they were beautiful! Logan had been with many women throughout his short life, but none of them even came close to matching the beauty -- combined or singly -- of these women.
The one daughter who had been holding Logan's gaze glanced down his body. Her smile broadened and she again met his eyes. "Your compliment is flattering and very much appreciated, if not a little inappropriate."
Inappropriate? What compliment? Logan had not spoken since the rooftop and didn't know what she was talking about. He raised his head off the warm stone bench and looked down his body, following where her gaze had been. He was stark naked and very aroused. Blood flushed into his cheeks and he tried to cover himself. Pain from the wound in his shoulder flared through his body and he cried out.
Immediately the sisters raced to restrain him, holding his hands down and pinning him to the bench. "Hold still warrior Logan. You have nothing we haven't seen before. Pleasures of the flesh may not be known to us, but we have seen plenty throughout this world. Your wounds are severe and we are the attend to them before you meet our mother and master. Keep your shame at bay and let us work."
Once again Logan relaxed into the caring hands of the sisters. The one who had been giggling earlier now produced a steaming cup of liquid from some unknown place and offered it to Logan. "Drink this" she said. "It will help you sleep while we attend to your wounds." The woman supported Logan's head with one hand while feeding him the drink with the other. When he had finished, Logan lowered his head back to the stone bench. The drug was already beginning to take effect.
As Logan's eyes began to close, he watched the daughters of Qadesh begin to work on his wounded shoulder. Whereas before they were smiling and playful, they now showed concern. Logan's last thoughts before he slept were of what could possibly make gods worry.
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