Chapter Seven

Cora was sitting on a log while she looked around, and took in all of her surroundings. As she closed her eyes, she breathed in the fresh air. An array of fruits, and floral scents filled the atmosphere. The birds were singing in the background, as she listened to their enchanting melody. The babbling brook, and the warm breeze, added its own harmony to the bird's captivating song.

She smiled as she opened her eyes, and watched as the trees blew within the wind. The sun's rays shone through, as if the sun was actually blessing anything that its light touched—while a rainbow of different flowers adorned the forest. This must have been what the Garden of Eden was like.

"Are you hungry?" Pan asked

"Are you hungry?" Pan asked. "Would you like something to eat?" Cora looked up, and saw him smiling—while holding a bowl, overflowing with different kinds of fruit.

"Yes, please." Cora answered, returning his smile. Pan then sat down next to her, and presented her with the bowl of fruit. It all looked delicious, as she saw many types of fruit that she had eaten before—and others she never even knew existed.

Cora took a nectarine, and bit into the succulent fruit. It tasted amazing, as she felt its sweet juices run down her chin. Feeling embarrassed, she wiped the juice off of her chin with her fingers.

"Sorry." She said with a mouthful of nectarine, and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

"There's no reason to be sorry." Pan said as he smiled. "As long as you like it, that's all that matters."

"Yes I do." Cora replied as she swallowed the fruit. She then looked down, and became uncomfortable as Pan's erection was practically staring at her. Feeling embarrassed, she could feel her own face turn red, as she looked away.

"What's wrong?" Pan asked.

"Look." She sighed, as she refused to look at him. "I don't want to come off as rude, especially since you are giving me food and shelter. But it's hard to eat, or even have a conversation with your massive boner practically staring at me.

"You mortals, and your ideals about decency." Pan chuckled. "I'm surprised you are even able to procreate anymore. I know it may seem odd to you, but this is just how I am. However, I have ventured into your world from time to time—disguised as a human. I'm not going to transfer my lower half into that of a human male. But I can cover up, my 'boner', as you call it with some of my fur."

Cora then heard what sounded like he was adjusting himself. "Is this better?" Pan asked. She then turned around, and saw that his erected penis was no longer visible.

"Thank you." Cora replied, as she gave him a smile.

"You're welcome, my dear." Pan answered, while he returned his smile.

"So, you've left this forest disguised as a human?" Cora asked, as his telling her that—had peaked her curiosity. "Why?"

"Because I am the last of the Greek gods to remain here in Earth's realm." Pan replied, as his face saddened. "That can be rather lonely. So I sought out companionship from time to time. Nothing permanent, just a few intimate rendezvouses. I had never really seen anyone, with whom I wanted to share my forest kingdom. That is, until I saw you."

"Um.."Cora began, as she tried to avoid the subject. "Why did you have to stay behind?"

"To protect both mankind, as well as the Earth." Pan answered.

"From whom?" Cora inquired.

"Typhon." Pan answered.

"The father of all monsters?" Cora asked. She couldn't help but notice how strange it was, that she could remember so many facts about Greek Mythology. But she couldn't remember how, or why she seemed to know so much. Had she studied it somewhere?

"Yes." Pan replied. "After I helped Zeus to defeat him in battle, Zeus then had cast Typhon from Mount Olympus. Typhon then fell into the fiery depths of Tartarus, where he has been imprisoned ever since. After some time, mortals no longer needed the guidance of the gods. So it was decided that they would leave Earth's realm. That way, mankind would be more likely to thrive. But since I was the most powerful of the lower level deities, and I would have the power to instill fear in Typhon—I was tasked to stay. Someone had to make sure that Typhon could never escape. For if he does, it will be bad for both the Earth, as well as all mankind."

"What exactly would he do?" Cora asked.

"All I know is that he wants revenge." Pan replied. "Revenge against the gods for defeating him in battle. Revenge against me, for installing fear within his forces, and revenge for the death of his wife Echidna—the mother of all monsters. Hera had the hundred eyed giant, Argus Panoptes destroy her. And unlike Typhon she had faced complete oblivion, there is no way she can come back. But the gods didn't have a choice. Echidna was going around killing humans out of vengeance for Typhon's imprisonments. But if Typhon does escape, it is likely he will find another mate—to breed an army of beast to destroy the world."

"I can't believe this." Cora told him. "I thought all of this was just a myth. Again, I don't remember anything about myself, but I know that I have Christian beliefs, but I don't know why. Does this mean that my faith is wrong."

"No." Pan replied. "In actuality all religions, and beliefs are intertwined. It's just too complicated to explain. After the other gods left, I traveled the world. The Celtics worshiped me as the god of the hunt—Cerunnos. And the Romans had called me Faunus. I have been called many names in different cultures. But even though I know of your God, I am not affiliated with him—even though the early Christians used my image for the devil."

"Why?" Cora asked.

"To scare people away from paganism." Pan answered. "To be honest, I don't like it. I have no desire to be affiliated with a being even more horrific than Typhon."

"I'm sorry that happened to you." Cora replied. "I never realized that the image, that everyone knows as the devil, was wrongfully based on you."

"It's fine my dear." Pan replied. "I am a god after all, I am above such petty things. The only thing that saddened me, was the loneliness that has plagued me all of these years. I'm just glad that you have finally come along. I have been waiting for someone like you to share my existence."

"Um.." Cora said as she began to feel uncomfortable. But before she could say anything, Pan place his finger to her lips.

"Don't worry." He said as he smiled. "I know you need more time, and plenty of time is one commodity of which I have."

"Thank you." Cora said, returning his smile.

"Oh by the way, I have something for you." Pan said. "Now cup your hands, and close your eyes."

Intrigued, Cora immediately did as he asked. She had no idea what was coming, but she knew that with Pan—it could be anything. She soon felt him place some sort of a large bloom within her hands. As the soft petals lay against her skin, the bloom was giving off an amazing fragrance.

"Okay, open your eyes." Pan whispered in her ear. As she opened them, Cora couldn't believe what she saw. It was the biggest flower she had ever seen in her life, even bigger than a Peony. The flower's petals were bursting with almost every shade of red.

"It's beautiful!" Cora declared in absolute astonishment. "I've really never seen a flower like this before, what's it called?"

"I'm sure you haven't seen any other flower like it." Pan replied. "It is a an extremely rare, and uniquely beautiful type of blossom. It's called, a Cora."

Michael nervously waited for the mysterious woman who was on the phone. Did this woman actually know what happened to Cora, or was she in on Cora's disappearance? A part of him wondered if this was all a hoax. Perhaps this woman knows nothing about what happened, and she's planning on robbing him. Maybe she's part of a gang that preys on desperate people?

This is stupid. Michael thought. What am I doing out here at midnight, by myself? I'm probably about to be robbed and murdered. But I don't know what else to do, I have to find Cora.

"Michael Wilson?" He heard some woman ask. Michael turned around, and saw a beautiful young woman with black hair—as she was being illuminated by the full moonlight.

"Yes

"Yes." He replied.

"Hello, Mr. Wilson." The strange woman said. "My name is Cassandra."

"Look, it's nice to meet you and all Cassandra." Michael replied, as he felt both scared and frustrated. "But please, if you know where Cora is, you have to tell me!

"Do you consider yourself an expert in Greek Mythology, Mr. Wilson?" The woman asked.

"What?" Michael cried with disbelief. "What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"Because your wife is being held against her will, by the Greek god Pan." Cassandra answered.

"This is ridiculous!" Michael proclaimed. "I'm out of here!" Michael was furious, as he turned to walk away. But as soon as he did, Cassandra was standing right in front of him.

"What the Fuck? How the hell did you do that?" Michael exclaimed, he was now afraid as he had no idea what was happening.

"I'm afraid your not going anywhere Mr.Wilson!" Cassandra replied with a look of stone cold determination in her eyes. "I'm afraid that you're now the key."

"The key?" Michael asked. "To what?"

"The key to finding Pan." Cassandra answered. "And to Pan's eventual destruction at the hands of Typhon!"

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