Free Monster's Ball :Shadow In Time by Priscilla Poole Rainwater

cannot, and will not, breed exclusively amongst ourselves. So ,well, do the math.”
     
    “But...but you're GODS! I mean...you're perfect, aren't you? Well, not the vampire we saw earlier, or Frankenstein over there, I know they were once human. I'm talking about you, Zeus, Hades...”
     
    Seemingly embarrassed by the flattery, Medusa laughed. “Child, no one, or no one thing, is perfect, including the Godhead.”
     
    “Godhead?”
     
    “Well, it's just a term, really. By that I mean the architect of the universe, whoever, or whatever that is. Not even we can comprehend or understand who or what that may be.”
     
    “But.....”
     
    “Volcanoes, fires, earthquakes, floods. Let me quote Jack Nicholson from the movie 'The Witches Of Eastwick'. 'What, you don't think God makes mistakes? Of course he does, we ALL make mistakes. 'Course when WE make mistakes they call it EVIL, when GOD makes mistakes, they call it nature!' Classic stuff, that Jack Nicholson is a character. Always have wanted to meet him.” Medusa laughed. “Too bad he doesn't have a little bit of that 'royal blood' flowing through his veins, if you catch my drift!”
     
    “So you've got the hots for him!” Rena laughed.
     
    “I never kiss and tell.”
     
    Shaking her head, Rena mumbled, “In the last two minutes, my entire world has been turned upside down.”
     
    “Well, if you'd like I'll help you pack up and move to China. That should help you regain your equilibrium.” she teased in a good natured voice.
     
    “This...royal blood, so to speak, well, how do you know who has it, and who doesn't?”
     
    Shrugging her shoulders, Medusa suddenly seemed uneasy for the first time that evening. “We just do, I can't explain it any better than that. Much like, I suppose, birds migrate south for the winter. It's just instinct.”
     
    Nodding slowly, Rena reflected on the fact that the immortals seemed to be more like humans than they would care to admit, and she admired Medusa's honesty all the more for admitting it. “But what about the human guests who are here? What if they don't want a mate? Or worse yet, tell the world all about you, once they leave?”
     
    “Child, number one, do you think ANYBODY would believe you if you left here and told whoever would listen what you have seen and heard?”
     
    “Good point, that would be a one way ticket to the laughing academy.” Rena muttered.
     
    “Indeed it would. Besides, number two is this: Thoth is very careful about the humans he invites, and if they don't bond with a mate, he uses his powers to erase all memories of us. The immortals, I mean. All they'll remember is they had a wonderful time at the Ball, and the costumes and food were superb.”
     
    “I wonder if I'm on some sort of delayed reaction here.” Rena mumbled.
     
    “Meaning?” Medusa asked, suspecting she knew the answer.
     
    “Every fiber of my being still tells me I should be freaking out, but I'm not. Oh well.” she sighed. “As my mom used to say, I'll just go with the flow and see where the river carries me.”
     
    “You would be surprised at some of the beings that move about in your world unnoticed. Those of us here...” she said, making a sweeping gesture with one hand, “..represent only a tiny fraction of us.”
     
    “Jesus.” Rena breathed.
     
    “Oh, he's real too.” Medusa laughed.
     
    “Is he actually.....?”
     
    “THE son of God, in Christian-speak?” Medusa interrupted. “No. But he is an immortal. A damn fine faith healer, and as loving as any being, immortal or otherwise, could ever hope to be.”
     
    “I don't think I can take much more.” Rena laughed weakly.
     
    “You'll survive quite nicely, I'm sure.” Medusa replied, patting her hand reassuringly. “As for you not freaking out, it's my guess you probably have always known, at least on a subconscious level. Humans have an amazing sense of awareness, if they care to use it.”
     
    “Really?”
     
    “Really.” she