Aby sighed, they had successfully exorcised the ghost, but her mood didn't lift in the slightest. She had this deep nagging feeling in her chest, like she was worthless.

And perhaps she was.

After all she couldn't help keep the store running, she was always breaking things, and she couldn't help keep Dan safe, she had just stood back and watched him fight. She remembered that scene well…

***

The demon twisted in his grip running the blade through Dan’s stomach.

“Dan!” Bastet cried out, Abyzou was to frozen with fear to move, blood seeped out around the blade, the bright red color reflecting off the unearthly bright sun in this gods forsaken realm. She tried to move, tried to call, but she found she couldn't , no matter how much she begged herself her body would not respond.

“You fought surprisingly well you even hurt me once not bad for a mortal.” Richardson growled, pulling the blade free of Dan’s stomach.

Dan stumbled back desperately holding his guts in place as they threatened to spill out of the gaping hole that had just been added to his person. He ungracefully sat down on the ground, a look of pain twisting his face.

And he closed his eyes.

She could see it, the resignation, he was giving up, he had pushed as far as he felt he could and this was the end for him, he had that look, the look they all had before death.

The look of a dead man.

No fear, just simple resignation.

But before that blow could land she saw his face contort, a burning rage, anger, and many other emotions twisted his face. He opened his eyes and this time, instead of the blue that normally shone there they were solid gold, with a diagonal slit like a reptile's. The blade coming down from above almost seemed like it was in slow motion. Dan threw himself to the side rolling to get out of the way, leaving a trail of blood in the sand.

Richardson looked over, surprised Dan was even able to move let alone throw himself out of the way like that. Even Abyzou was surprised at the change in his demeanor. He held himself like a god of war, and he had the Aura to match.

“How?” Richardson asked, his grotesque face twisting into a snarl.

Dan never answered, he simply attacked…

***

A rustle of cloth broke her out of her memories, she looked at the source of this disturbance and it was none other than Dan himself. He looked at her, his eyes no longer gold, but a striking blue, they had however retained the reptilian shape about them. It had confused her at first, why had his eyes turned back to their natural color? The answer was actually fairly simple to figure out.

With Divinity comes power, there is however limits to even a god’s strength. And Dan, no matter how much stronger now then what he used to be as a mortal, was still only a demigod, meaning the depths of his strength were much lower than her own or someone else more adapted to the life style. Meaning instead of using his divinity all the time, like she or the other gods, he only used it in short bursts, thus the different eye colors.

He didn't say a word, and she didn't volunteer one either, at least not for a long while. “Hey Dan,” she said, he simply looked over at her and nodded, giving a small grunt that did its utmost to not disturb the silence the two of them had planted. “Do you love me?” she asked softly. He looked at her his face surprised for a second, before a smile bloomed on his lips.

“Aby, you know the answer to that.” he said.

“I want to hear it from you,” she said, there was a pleading look in her eyes.

“Fine,” he said, he leaned forward and grabbed her on either side of her head and pulled her deep into a kiss, her lips felt like they could melt into his as he pressed her into himself, running his fingers through her hair, making the already tangled mess even more convoluted and difficult to comb out. They stayed there exploring each others mouths for what seemed like an eternity before he pulled back, and she opened her eyes. “Abyzou, I love you, with all of my heart and soul.” he whispered to her, and as he did she felt a shiver go through her body, and the scales on her lower body twitched and rustled ever so slightly.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, and brought her tail around to wrap around him.“But you are going to leave me aren't you?” she asked, and before he could answer she spoke up again. “Death will come and wring you out of my grasp,” she smiled sadly, “This right here,” she brushed her hand against the symbol on his arm, “This is all that is keeping you here isn't it?”

“It is,” he said softly, looking at the black mark on his upper arm.

“And how long does this last?” she asked.

“According to Ashy I could remain this way for a little over a thousand years.”

“Such a short time...” she said softly, not moving her head off of his shoulder as she softly traced the mark with the tips of her fingers. “Which is why I never wanted to be in a relationship that would end like this.” she answered, tears running down her face softly, striking the golden tail and leaving behind shining lines that reflected the light.

“All good things come to an end.” he said softly, “If they didn't they would simply sour or stagnate, a fate worse than death.” he whispered back to her, wrapping his arm around the Lamia and pulling her closer to himself, “I can't be here forever, but I can promise that you will be able to look back on these memories and smile even when I am long gone.” he said softly. “And I can promise you that no matter what happens I will always love you, Ok?”

“Ok, ” she nodded, wiping a tear away with the hem of her dress before snuggling up closer to him. “No matter what...” she whispered softly...