"Don't be like that to Mama Heli! Just come over here and sit on my lap and let me have a good feel! I can see you didn't wear your wrap today and you're jiggling around! Don't be such a tease!" Healia said as she rushed me.
I pushed Lesha towards the fireplace and dug my heels in.
[Red Blood] Activate!
Clasped hands with Healia, stopping her in her tracks, a clap of force echoing from us. I was standing toe to toe with a god! Then I was tossed into the table that Gram had just stood up from. The old man had an uncanny sense for danger, and always was wherever it wasn't.
I smashed through the table, barely feeling the impact and catching myself, and sliding back. Healia was going for Lesha, but she had already grabbed the fire poker and had just landed a hit to Healia's face, good girl! But the poker just bent like a sick joke, and I bolted for Healia.
The fire poker was normally enough to fend her off, but if the fire poker bent that meant she was using more of her power. The gods never were at even a fraction of their true power or this wouldn't be possible, we would be killed like insects. Healia must be worked up now, but I wasn't going to let her touch Lesha.
I threw her chair and smashed it into bits against the goddess, but all she did was flick the splinters from her hair, but she kept moving towards Lesha. That was fine, I was already there, and I plowed into Healia, knocking her over and taking her to the ground, only to get kicked back off like a rag doll, but I was back on my feet. I rushed forwards, but this time, I pulled at Lesha, draining some of the sweet strawberry juice, the blood flowing to my mouth like a thin stream that chased me as I closed on Healia.
"So, it is true, you did get something from the Core! Come at me then, my sweet little child! Wait!"
Lesha slammed into Healia with more force than should have been humanly possible and was lifted off her feet and slammed into a corner, but Lesha was on her before I could get between them. Sparks flew and I could barely hold Lesha's arm, but I took deep breaths, in my mouth out my nose, and her arm relaxed. Healia was already standing in the middle of the room, glaring at the two of us, but Lesha collapsed, and I was just able to catch her.
"What are you, or is she? Did you make her? Why is she so brutally strong, I almost had to make a mess!" Healia said dusting herself off, but there was a thin red line in the back of her arm where Lesha had smashed the iron poker into her arm.
"You tell me, I got this power from the Core, and then I found Lesha about to be raped. I saved her, but then I bit her and took her home with me! You stupid woman! You could have just had a normal conversation with me from the start, now I've used up most of my extra's!"
"Wait, you bit her? Can I come closer? I will keep my hands to myself for now," Healia said, waiting.
"Fine, or I'll bite you next!"
"Dear, your teeth would break, and you couldn't hand all of this. As for my motives, I wanted to get a feel for your power level, and I have to say, with just the two of you, I almost had to break my third gate to keep from getting injured. I still got a slight mark from deflecting that stab. Remarkable, and this all happened after you drank her blood through these little holes? What does it taste like?" Healia asked with curiosity.
"She goes into a frenzied state when I take her blood, and then she feeds of our emotions. Her ability or her Service is red blood, strengthening, and I also have that ability and more. What do I do with this? Now, that I have it, what am I supposed to do?"
"Start by bringing out a new table and four chairs, you're strong now, I think you will be able to get it. Then we will talk about what your next move will be. Don't worry, I won't touch your girlfriend, I would be scared for her to wake up!" Healia joked, waving me away.
I got up with some hesitation but decided that Healia seemed to have calmed down, and she was usually good after that. Still, I was surprised but how much I had changed overnight. It was just yesterday that I was fighting for my life and on the verge of death, now I was almost forced into the hand of a god.
I walked to the back storage room where there was a large stack of poorly made tables, and I grabbed one taking it back out, and then grabbed four chairs, and after my last trip, Lesha was sitting up, but Healia had left the room. I put the chairs down and walked over to see how she was feeling.
"Lesha? How are you feeling? You passed out."
"Mmhmm, I'm sorry, I lost control, is the goddess Healia mad at me? She left the room as I was waking up!" Lesha tried to get up, but I held her door, and then kissed her out of instinct, pulling away quickly.
Her face had a look of surprise, but then it turned into a warm smile.
"Healia is perfectly fine, but you left a mark! Good girl! I am actually impressed, that strength you get is enough to make a god turn up their defense!"
"Yes, well I didn't want to kill you before you got a chance to let that power grow, so It was nice of Kiada to stop you. Cute blondes like you are so hard to find! So, let's get down to business! Come join me at the table girls, I will be civil this time, god's honor!" Healia laughed.