Sally was, once again, worried. Her daughter had left again to God-knows-where, she was still claiming to be a goddess from myth, and this thing about another mother... It was unbearable.
There was a knock on the door.
Sally went to open it, careful not to let the sunlight touch her.
"Yes?"
It was a man in a toga with winged shoes.
No. Strike that. It was Hermes. Somehow she knew. She took a moment to appreciate the possibility that she was going insane as well.
"You are in perfect command of your bearings. We need to talk. I am here on Selene's request, and I, too, believe you are entitled to an explanation." - Said Hermes - "Your name is Sally." - It was a statement of fact. The god of messages would not err on such matters.
Sally nodded. "I... Er... Why do I know you're..."
"Well, I am the god of persuasion and language. Among other things. So it isn't hard to get that point across, even without speech. May I come in?" - Said Hermes.
Sally let him in. He began.
"Selene first sends you her apologies. Per our rules, she cannot come in person. She also wishes me to tell you you are still Harriet's mother, and that Harriet and Artemis are one and the same now. After a fashion. She is still your daughter and her claims are true. Selene is Artemis's mother, but that was done by the Sun. Harriet is your daughter, and that was done by you. And the latter is much more important than the former."
"But she told me to call her Artemis..." - Said Sally.
"That she did. However, I doubt she realized it at the time. You can call her both names, really, and she will answer. The Sun changed people into, among other things, myths, Sally, and gods are myths. Though some gods are also full gods, awakened, never having been human..." - Hermes knew that talking to people by their first names made it easier to interact with them in stressful situations.
"But... Does that mean that... I mean, I'm a Methodist..." - Said Sally, confused.
"And not even the gods know what lies beyond them, so, for all we know, your religion or any other belief system may well still be correct. If you will, sit down and set a while. I understand you would need the time to digest this information. As do I suggest that, after I fully explain things to you, you bring your husband here so it can be explained to him." - Said Hermes - "I will help you explain, as it is rather convenient that he does not believe you are insane."
Sally actually laughed a bit at that quip and nodded. This was still all very new and confusing, but at least now she was getting somewhere. She felt... safer.
She went to get her husband, Harry.
"Thank you..." - Said Harry - "You helped us a lot... Uhm, curious. Why do we feel so at ease when dealing with you? You're a god..."
"Of persuasion, among other things." - Said Hermes - "So, it is self-explanatory. And at any rate, you were due this explanation, as well as an apology for the lack thereof. It was actually that human I told you about that convinced Selene to send me, as she had assumed the issue would solve itself. She wanted to make sure you knew all was well after giving your daughter that DVD as a gift."
"By what you told us, our daughter can take care of herself." - Said Harry - "So, I'm not worried."
"She can take care of herself. But Harriet still needs you to care for her. Being a deity is a huge responsibility, and she still feels estranged from you. If I might meddle, might I suggest, and please do not take this as an order, you offering to have her friends over, watch the DVD and do some other such activities?"
Sally nodded. "I actually like that idea. Might help things with that squirrel girl you told us about, Lilly, right? We'll do it, I think, we'll just have to get permission from the parents. But... Why are gods doing so much for so few people? Us and Lilly, for instance..."
Hermes smiled.
"One, you got involved with us, for better or for worse. Two, I, personally, like mortals. Three, even gods can care for some specific humans on a whim. I bid you adieu, Harry and Sally. And by the way, the parents will allow it." - Said Hermes, smirking - "For this one time, you will be a bit more... persuasive when asking them. Keep it a secret, gods don't like it when I give these little gifts to mortals, even for just one moment." - He winked, and disappeared.
