The Vanishing Act - The Return Part 4

If you are visiting this series for the first time you may wish to read the first three chapters before reading this one. Thanks for stopping by!

The Vanishing Act - The Return Part 1

The Vanishing Act - The Return Part 2

The Vanishing Act - The Return Part 3

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She was a waif of a Goddess, so ghostly white that she glowed in the darkness of our surroundings. Her beauty took my breath away. But, honestly, I think she was even more impressed with me on first sight than I was with her.

I had bent my head down to enter her office behind Madame Hekatos, my shadow following me like a shroud.

Come in, come in, Auntie, she said before kissing her on both cheeks. Only then did she look with curiosity and awe at the giantess who followed her Auntie into the office and the deep darkness that clung jealously about me.

Kaos, you are welcome here at the hidden gateway to Hell and Tartarus, she silkily intoned. Please accept my invitation to my home and the mighty queendom beneath the Earth that Zeus gave to his brooding brother Hades. Joined to Persephone, they bore only a single child, a daughter rather than the son that he desired.

As prophesied, I wrested Hell and the damned from Hades with guile and the power of my godhead and released my mother from His cruel thrall.

I give you honor and invite you to sup with us and take thy rest.

...

Earlier that day, Hekatos had visited me at the hospital a second time to offer a set of clothing large enough to accommodate my sudden growth spurt. I didn't bother asking where she found one that would fit.

After she left the room to give me privacy to strip and change, an administrator entered with a clipboard to discuss payment arrangements for the stay. It did not go well at all.

It's hard to complete an insurance application when you don't remember anything about your life.

First and last name? she asked, so I played along.

Jane Doe. I swear she wrote it all down before realizing the obvious.

Is that really your name?

You can check my chart to see for yourself.

She returned to the clipboard with a sigh.

Date of birth?

I don't remember. She looked up at me crossly.

Social Security number?

Don't remember that either. Peered over the clipboard again, this time with concern and surprise.

Insurance company?

Lord, I hope so. I answered with a laugh. This must have cost a small fortune.

This is not a laughing matter, young lady. We're not a charity, you know.

Our Lady of Charity Hospital is not a charity? It's right there in the name.

She didn't laugh at that.

Growing bored, I swung my legs over my bed side and stood while she gawked when she realized how tall I was. Pretty sure I had grown two feet since Hekatos first visit.

I'm glad you came by, I said amiably as I pulled off the hospital gown.

She starred at my inky breasts with her mouth open.

I'm thinking about suing Our Lady of Dubious Charity for malpractice. Look at me! I said in mock exasperation. I gave my right breast a hard squeeze to demonstrate the grave nature of my condition and jet-black fluid squirted from the nipple onto the floor where it bubbled and hissed. Pretty sure there was no cleaning that up without protective equipment.

Looks like they disrupted my pituitary, too, I continued, I must be seven foot tall! I could play in the WNBA. I wouldn't even need to run, just stand by the basket and swat the ball away.

It had all the makings of a great story. Pity I didn't remember anyone to share it with.

After I dressed, I walked out the room and into the hallway. When the administrator asked my back how I was going to pay the $70,000 I owed, I shouted over my shoulder to put it on my tab.

She didn't laugh at that either.

Hekatos took me straight from the hospital to Hell Inc, where I met the proprietor and queen of Hell.

Speaking of prophesy, Hekatos said to Soma, do you still have the creature I lent you?

I put her in Tartarus for safe keeping, she replied. Do you need her back? She was pretty unruly after killing and eating Cerberus.

I just want to ensure she has not found a way out. She needs a short leash. Hate to think she is wandering the streets unsupervised.

Creature? I asked. Does she have something to do with my burns and memory loss?

There are many names for creatures like her, Soma replied. Soul Eater, Vampyr, Flesh-Witch.... She is all these things and more. She has a lifeless origin, and life she hungers for above all else. If she has escaped Tartarus, that would explain a lot of things....