Matthew rubbed her head. She, her aunt, Callingenia, and Ardaniahna were in her room. They were talking about what had happened between Callingenia and Ardaniahna. Mathew thought about giving those two nicknames. Otherwise, she might tie a knot in her tongue. Especially with the mermaid. “Let me get this straight,” she said. “The both of you were sent to be my bodyguard, but, by different gods?”

“Yes,” Callingenia answered. “The Greek goddess Nyx sent me.”

“And Chalchiuhtlicue sent me,” Ardaniahna said. “It wasn’t a request I could refuse.”

“I can understand that,” Callingenia said.

“Indeed,” Carol said. “It’s really hard to say ‘no’ to a goddess of water.”

“Don’t forget children,” the mermaid said. “She’s also the Aztec goddess of children. That was another reason why she wanted one of use to come here.”

“I’m not exactly a child,” Matthew said.

“But you’re not an adult yet either,” Carol said. “In the eyes of the law, you are considered a child. As far as your uncle and I are concerned, you are in transition. We treat you how you act.”

“Oh,” Matthew said. She had not noticed that her aunt and uncle had been treating her like that. But it did explain a lot of things. “Very sneaky.”

Carol shrugged. “It helped you grow up to be a responsible young man, uh, woman,” she said. “I just wished more parents treated their children the same. We’d probably have less stupid adults now.”

“Never underestimate the stupidity of humans,” Callingenia intoned. “Then you will never be surprised at how stupid people can be.”

“I hate to admit it, but you’re right,” Carol sighed.

“Aunt Carol,” Matthew said. “What about them? What are they going to do?”

“Be your bodyguards,” Carol said. “I thought it was obvious. There were sent here by two goddesses. Neither of which I want to cross. Especially since I know they’re coming back.” Both of the non-human women nodded.

Matthew studied the two strange women. She wasn’t sure she needed bodyguards at the moment. Those who wouldn’t believe she had been chosen by the gods would take some time to organize themselves. And, unless the various gods told their followers where she was, they would take time to find her. Then she remembered all the gifts she and her family received today. Some of the gods had told them where she was. “So, how are we going to do this,” she finally asked.

“We can’t really make any plans until we know of your status,” Callingenia said.

“I’m working on that,” Carol said. “The first thing we need to do is establish her identity. I have a friend in the DMV who should be able to help us. She’s only a clerk, but she does know all the correct forms. Or, at least, who we should ask about the correct forms.”

“That’s good,” Callingenia said. “Is she coming here?”

Carol nodded. “Yes. I believe she’ll be easier to convince once she sees Matthew.” She studied Matthew for a moment. “I just hope she doesn’t have a fear of snakes.” Everybody nodded at that. “Ardaniahna, do you have any special needs?”

“No,” the mermaid said with a shake of her head. “I can naturally change my tail into legs.” She held up her legs. “Otherwise, I’d need to submerse myself in water every so often.”

“Okay,” Carol said. “But if you think of anything you need, don’t hesitate to tell us.” She turned to Callingenia.

The succubus was ahead of her. “I have everything I need,” she said. “If something comes up, I’ll tell you. But I should be able to provide for myself. And that includes any ‘meals’ I may need.”

“I didn’t want to bring it up,” Carol said with a grimace. “But since you mentioned it, what do you eat?”

“The same foods as you do,” the succubus answered. “The sex my kind did, all nymphs actually, was to clean a person’s soul of sin before marriage.”

Carol and Mathew blinked.

Callingenia sighed. “You’ve never heard of that before,” she asked. “Of course not. Where do you think the ‘bachelor party’ came from? Or the ‘bachelorette party?’ Before the Church got involved, nymphs were summoned the night before a wedding to cleanse a man’s soul of sin. The same for women. But that was kept a lot quieter than those for men. The Church has kept that fact from public knowledge for centuries.”

“I never thought about it,” Carol said. “Now that I think about it, I know that tradition had to come from somewhere. It never occurred to me to think about it. It was just one of those things that seemed to always be there.”

“Not many people think about it,” Callingenia said with a shrug. “But that’s not what we should be focusing on. We need to focus on Matthew here.” She stopped for a moment. “The first thing she should do is pick a new name.”

Carol shot a worried look at Matthew. While she knew her new niece would need a new name, she wasn’t going to push it. She had been a boy just a few hours ago after all. She had planned on using her friend to get Matthew to start thinking about a new name. One more appropriate to her new body. But his name was the last thing he had from his parents. She did not know how he will react to changing her name.

“Yeah,” Mathew said without looking at anybody. “I was thinking about that. I know I don’t look like I did before. I also know that people will be expecting a girl’s name. So, I thought I’d pick the name my Mom would have used if I had been born a girl.” She turned to her aunt. “Do you think that would be okay?”

“I think that would be wonderful,” Carol said with tears in her eyes. “Mary is a wonderful name for you.”

Matthew, now Mary, started twisting all four of her hands. “I’d also like to take her name for my middle name.”

Carol couldn’t stop herself from crying. “She would be proud for you to do that.”

“So,” Callingenia said once Carol had straitened herself up. “Now that we have a name, what else do we need to take care of?”

“School,” Carol firmly said. “Emissary or not, she is still only 16 years old. She needs to finish her education.”

“While I do agree with you,” the succubus said. “I can’t guard her when she’s in class.” At Carol’s puzzled face, she continued. “Not all things about us, and nymphs in general, are true. But some are. Putting me in a building full of hormonally charged teens is not a good idea.”

“I was hoping that wasn’t true,” Carol admitted. “But we still need a bodyguard for her.” Carol and Callingenia looked at each other for a moment before turning to stare at Ardaniahna. The mermaid did not like how they were looking at her. She suddenly thought she’d be safer swimming with sharks while they were in a feeding frenzy.

“Shouldn’t we make sure I can actually go back to school,” Mary asked. “None of this matters, if I can’t.”

“That is a good point,” Carol said. “No use in making plans if you can’t attend school.”

“I can see the problem,” Callingenia said. “Do you think we can get around it?”

“Maybe,” Carol said. “If nothing else, we can ask the gods to influence their followers.”

“Why would there be a problem,” Ardaniahna asked. “Don’t humans follow their gods?”

“Their gods,” Carol said. “Not other peoples’ gods. As far as most people, um, humans, are concerned, their religion is the only true religion.”

The succubus nodded. “And a lot of them will see Mary as a demon,” she added. “They won’t listen to anything she has to say. Instead, they’ll try to kill her. Just because she’s alive. In fact, if they knew that you are a mermaid and I was a succubus, some would try to kill us.”

Ardaniahna stared in shock. She knew that humans were dangerous, but this? She wanted to think that the succubus was joking, or mistaken. But her face was serious. She turned to the humans and saw that they agreed with Callingenia. She truly did not know the dangers of this when she was told to do this.

“In your case, things may be different,” Carol said. “Government scientist may capture you for study.”

“Is that supposed to be better,” the mermaid asked.

“No,” Callingenia said. “Because they may dissect you. Unless you’re unlucky, then they’ll vivisect you.”

“Vivisection involves cutting the creature open and studying how their body works while they’re still alive,” Mary said with a shudder. “That may happen to me to. But with me, it won’t be the government. It’ll most likely be some religious group bound and determined to prove that I’m not the emissary of the gods.”

The four fell silent. None of them wanted to think of the all too likely possibility of the gods’ announcement. Every few moments, one would open her mouth to say something, but then change her mind. They were saved when the doorbell rang.

“Were you expecting any more deliveries,” the succubus asked Carol.

“I wasn’t expecting any deliveries,” Carol answered. “None of what happened last night and today was expected.”

“Well,” Callingenia said as she stood. “I guess my job starts now. Let me show you a way to check the door without looking through a peephole. Later, I’ll have you extend your wards beyond the house. It’s best to know who’s on your property before they get to your door.” Carol quickly stood and followed the other out the room. Ardaniahna and Mary looked at each other for a moment before following themselves.

“Here’s a spell I found useful over the years,” Callingenia said as they approached the front door. She formed a couple of hand gestures at the door. The door then shimmered then became transparent. Standing on the other side of the door was a sixteen-year old girl. She was wearing jeans, sneakers, and a pull-over shirt. Her long brown hair was in a loose braid.

“One way,” Carol asked.

“Of course,” Callingenia said. “You can’t have the people snaking up on you know that you know they’re there.”

“That’s Meagan,” blurted Mary when she saw the door. “What’s she doing here?”

* * *

Somewhere under the Vatican

A group of priests were gathered together. They were standing in the secret vaults under the Vatican. Not many had access to this section. None of them were among this group. But not a single one would have voiced any complaints about them being here. “Stephano,” one said. “What do you make of this ‘announcement?’ This emissary they say is from God.”

“I do not know, Cardinal Lucca,” answered Stephano. “There is much talk but nothing of substance. All that anybody can say is that the emissary is supposed to be in America.”

“Bah! Americans,” another scoffed. “If this truly is an emissary of God, then he would have been chosen among the faithful!”

“Careful, Emesto,” another warned. “And there are good, Catholic people in America,” another said. “They spread the word of God. It’s not their fault they’re surrounded by pagans and heretics.”

“Arnaldo is correct,” one said. “And the Pope himself accepts this emissary. He said God revealed the emissary to him in a vision.”

“But how can we know that the witches have not tricked us all,” Emesto asked.

“Emesto has a point,” Cardinal Lucca said. “We can not tell if the pagans have fooled us. At least, not without examining the emissary ourselves.” He looked at the others. “I have suggested, and the Pope agrees, that one our priests should meet this emissary. I have taken steps to have one of our order be chosen.” He touched his lapel where a pin of a crimson Fleur-de-lis was.

The others saw his gesture and smiled. They all had the same pin on their lapels. One way or another, they would know the truth of the emissary.