Abraxas stood on the shore of Northumbria and watched, briefly. He did not want Flesh Eaters around to mess up whatever plans he had in mind. He reduced the two fighters to dust. He put a hole in the bomber so it crashed into the sea. Finally, he destroyed the shuttle’s engines and it exploded before it hit the water. No doubt Abraxas felt very pleased with himself. Elgar was not happy. He got his friends Osfirth of Devon and Gwyn to take the men home.

“I will no doubt catch up with you before you get there. In fact, this might not take long at all.”

“Where are you going?” Gwyn asked.

“Flesh Eaters?” Osfirth wondered.

“The last of the Flesh Eaters,” Elgar answered. “Get the men home safe and don’t let Athelred or Burgred screw that up too.”

“This was a long way to go for nothing,” Osfirth agreed.

“Not for nothing,” Elgar said. “We got the Danes to leave East Mercia for good.”

“If their word is worth anything,” Gwyn agreed.

Elgar traded places with Danna, the mother goddess of the Celtic gods, but she kept up a glamour of Elgar so Gwyn and Osfirth did not notice. They noticed when she vanished, but Gwyn merely nodded and Osfirth only shrieked a little.

~~~*~~~

Danna dropped the glamour and appeared on the shore of Northumbria. She compelled Abraxas to be there. He appeared startled. It was something she knew she could do as long as he remained in her jurisdiction, and presently he could not go anywhere else. He figured it out soon enough before he shrieked a bit more than Osfirth and made sure his feet did not touch any of the water. In Margueritte’s day, Abraxas was banned by various gods from any land where he might have staked a claim. He was supposed to be giving up his bit of flesh and blood and going over to the other side with the rest of the ancient gods. He had been given several chances but had yet to find the courage.

“Amphitrite took the water away from you,” Danna said. “All water, fresh or salt. on this earth. You said at the time you would die. You are made of fire and water, you said, and without the water you would burn up, but I see you are still here.”

“Still stuck on this one rock as the only place that is safe,” he groused. “I have had to survive on beer and wine.”

“No,” Danna answered. “You can drink fruit juice, apple juice, or milk if you would rather.” Abraxas made a face of disgust. “Besides, you can always go to the other rock, Ireland, and complain over there.”

Abraxas shook his head. “That whole island is full of Irish…and your children who should not be there.”

“My disobedient children are not your concern, except to say they are leaving the human race alone and not interfering with history. The day of the gods is over. The new way has come. You will not be permitted to have worshipers or whatever you may be thinking. And creating hags as personal slaves is cruelty to the human race on many levels. Presently, since the water is death to you, there is no point in getting you to clean up your mess.” Danna frowned. He ignored her. “You were told to stay away from the space aliens.” She did not scold him, but she was tempted. She took a breath and called. “Manannan.” She did not compel her children, grandchildren, or whatever, that is, those who called her Mother. But it was polite to come when Mother called.

The sea began to boil. Big breakers crashed against the rocks and the foam splattered everywhere. Abraxas jumped further back, but he was unable to leave the area entirely because Danna compelled him to stay. The British Isles were part of the ancient land where she had the final authority on this earth.

A tall, skinny, slightly green-skinned man covered in seaweed rose out of the water. Anger was etched across his face and he showed death in his eyes but it was all directed toward Abraxas who took another step back.

“Mac Lir, attend,” Danna said. “Our guest has scattered a Flesh Eater shuttle, bomber, and two fighters across the North Sea. No Flesh Eaters are allowed to survive and it all must be cleaned up so no part of it will be found in the future. You know what to do. Take it to Lady Alice on Avalon and place it where she tells you. I am sure Vingevourt, king of the water sprites of the North Sea will help.”

Manannan stopped giving Abraxas the evil eye and turned to Danna. “Why me?” he asked.

“Because as long as you have refused to join your brothers and sisters and go over to the other side, some effort will continue to be required of you from time to time. Gilla de, be a good boy and clean up this mess.”

Manannan nodded his head slightly, said, “Mother,” and vanished. Danna turned to face Abraxas and let out some of the steam that built up inside her.

“You have been given more than enough chances to find the courage to go over to the other side. You have been reduced to these islands. To place your foot anywhere else on this earth will be death to you, and it is your own doing. You have been told repeatedly not to interfere with people or the development of the human race or with the new way. The old way has gone. The day of the god is ended. Get that message. And you have been told over and over to stay away from space aliens or any non-human people. I swear, you are like my little ones. They hear well enough but the minute my back is turned they go right back to what they were doing that got them in trouble.”

Abraxas stared at her like a scolded child, but he said nothing, so she finished her thought.

“Take care, lest you find even these islands taken from you and you have only the Second Heavens to wander filled with regret.” she waved her hand releasing him from the compulsion to attend her and he instantly vanished. Danna shook her head and went to several places in the islands and on the continent to watch and mind her own business. It took a week before Elgar returned to Osfirth, Gwyn, and his men marching across Berkshire, about halfway home.