SparkyLT

Ok...this novella didn't make much sense because it was based on a very abstract dream I had, but I sort of whipped it into shape. It was going along fairly well, but suddenly it just ground to a halt...I realized I had no idea where it was going. I knew (sort of) what the end would be...but not really. I stopped making sens to even me...but why not, may as well post some. I took off the prolouge because it doesn't really add anything to the story, and I fear what is here won't make any sense...but I've already said that, haven't I? This a rather large section of it, but I was trying to add any explanation I might have provided.

The summons came in the middle of the night, or at least night as Agni chose to observe it. Nevertheless, it could not be ignored.
Usually Death does not call on you. He just comes. But this time he called. He sent his most trusted disciple Disease for the job.
Of course Agni was disturbed. If he had been given the choice to respond via Disease, he would have told Death where to go, except that Death was already there. But the idea would have no doubt sent him into a rage, and maybe he even would have even vented it on Disease, and that would have been once less infuriating little deity to compete with. Admittedly, Agni was really no better than Disease, not that the squeamish little demon thought that way. And he was no more than a demon, was he? Not really a deity, sort of a, a demi-deity. No, that wasn’t true. Technically he was a facet of Death. But it didn’t make him any less annoying.
At any rate, Agni chose his human form—a black man with dark eyes and chocolate dreadlocks—to see Death, as was customary. Why, he didn’t know. He supposed it pumped up Death’s ego, seeing a ‘human’ kneeling before him and asking what his wish was. That’s the way it was with embodiments and, even worse, gods. Gods! Just because some scantily clad natives somewhere had worshipped them, they thought they were something. But that was the hierarchy. Gods, embodiments, deities, demons, and spirits.
And as a deity, a minor facet of Fire, Agni toyed with one of his dreads while waiting on Death’s secretary to call them into Death’s office. He eyed the other deity who was pacing impatiently with distaste. This one had no class, did he? What was his name? Lewin, that was it. As minor and meaningless as Agni himself. A wind deity? Yes, that seemed right. His form was a paper-white human with waist-length blonde hair and pale green eyes. There were pink and purple highlights in his hair towards the ends. He was tall, maybe a little taller than Agni. Any form, any look he could have had, and he chose blonde hair with pink and purple stripes? At least dreadlocks were fashionable with humans. Agni could slip into the human world and no one noticed. Pink and purple were fashionable with no one.
Lewin stopped pacing and rounded on Agni.
“Why in seven hells does he call us and make us wait?!” The wind deity exploded.
Although he had been having similar thoughts, Agni didn’t respond. He was just out of his demonhood, this one. He had no respect, and no common sense.
As if on command, Death’s secretary Lilith stepped around the corner. She had probably been listening, waiting. And she would no doubt tell Death later how disrespectful Lewin had been. Maybe she would put in a good work for Agni. After all, before she had been elevated to Death’s secretary and had been just a demon, she and Agni had been friends for some time. They had been young together. Been elevated about the same time, too, but went up different paths. They had lost contact. Still, surely she remembered him?
“Death will see you now.” She said, like some recording. Lewin practically ran her over to get to the door. Then he spun around to wait for Agni impatiently. So he wasn’t that stupid. Who would go into Death’s office alone?
Agni took his time. He gave Lilith a slow smile and searched for any recognition, but she gave him a cold glare and left to her desk. Oh well. He drew even with Lewin and the wind deity threw the door open. For a moment they had a silent struggle as to who would enter first, one that Lewin won. Head high, Agni went in first. Lewin was right behind him.
They kneeled in front of Deaths’ skeletal throne. It was mainly skulls. A few femurs and such thrown in for good measure. Maybe there were earbones in there somewhere. Who knew.
“What is your wish, my lord.” Agni and Lewin said as one. Death straightened in his seat, his empty eye sockets turning to them. Agni suppressed a shudder, and Lewin failed to. Death grinned, or at least he probably grinned inwardly. His skull’s expression didn’t change. Agni expected it couldn’t.
“Rise, servants.” He said softly.
The two minor deities did so apprehensively. Lewin’s hair curtained his face from Agni, who would have given anything to see it just then. Likely he had never been in Death’ presence before, except of course during his hearing. When he had appealed to the higher embodiment and gods to make him a deity. Fleetingly Agni wondered how he had made it anyway.
“I have a mission for the two of you.”
Lewin shivered. And it was no wonder. Cold air came from Death’s mouth as he spoke. He collected himself enough to respond with Agni:
“Yes, my lord?”
Death stood and took a few paces towards them. Lewin half-cringed. Agni managed not to. The dead smell wafting from Death made him feel faint.
“There is a deity that wishes to take my place…” Death began, observing Agni. He made himself study the floor, as he was supposed to.
“So?” Blurted Lewin.
Agni was sure he was about to hear some choking sounds as Death wrapped his bony fingers around Lewin’s thin neck, but instead heard Lewin whimper. Nothing else happened. There was a slight, faint creak as Death shook his head.
“Have patience, Lewin,” His voice was hard and cold. “You can rejoin your concubine soon enough.”
Lewin paled, and Agni shifted slightly to watch him. Interesting. Lewin had better hope this woman was sterile. Half-breeds and their sires were put to death—no pun intended—nowadays. Ever since Dyonisus.
“There is a deity that wishes to take my place.” Death repeated, now analyzing Lewin relentlessly. Agni was glad to have the embodiment off his back. Too bad for Lewin. “My mission for the two of you is to capture her and bring her to me.”
“Us?” Lewin said incredulously. Had he no brain in his head?
Death rattled. It was a sigh.
“Yes, Lewin.” He said tiredly. “You. You and Agni.”
Lewin remembered his place, shut up, and stared at the ground. At long last. Agni thanked his lucky stars. At least, he would have if he had any.
“I can tell you nothing about this deity.” Death said absentmindedly. “Except her favored human form is a gypsy woman. And that her preferred place on Earth is a small area of Egypt.”
“Egypt is a large country, my lord,” Agni said tentatively, “How are we to find her, exactly?”
“I trust the two of you will be…resourceful. You are dismissed.”
He turned with a giant flourish of his cloak and sat. Lewin and Agni bowed deeply, and backed out of the room. Just before the door closed, Death called out:
“One final thing. Her name is Twilitdream.”

Lewin ignored Agni once they were away from Death, which was fine with him. To think he was going to have to work with this imbecile. He sneaked a glance at Lilith as they went past her, and she looked up briefly to acknowledge him. It wouldn’t be so bad to re-kindle that friendship, now would it? Not every deity had friends in Death’s office. It could work in his favor someday.
Outside, in the Ether, both deities assumed their true, pure energy forms. Always welcome. No creature enjoyed being encased in flesh, did they? Except for humans, of course, but they were quite obviously insane. Perhaps that was because they couldn’t escape their bodies until they died, and then it was just too late.
Lewin’s smooth, liquid form beckoned for Agni to come closer, and Agni consented.
Agni, right?
Yes.
You’re an older deity. You should know. Why did Death choose you and me for this? Why not send some of his own facets?
Agni detected confusion and underlying fear and even annoyance as Lewin said this, but then the wind deity closed his mind off.
Will you not do that!?
Habit, I suppose. Sorry, Lewin.
You are not. Answer my question.
Agni considered.
You’re right. I’m not sorry. As to why Death chose us over one of his disciples, Disease or Famine or Weaponry or some such, I only have one answer. And that is because we are not one of his disciples. Obviously he believes this Twilitdream is some danger, and he sends us, who he does not mind being destroyed.
Oh.
Did I burst your bubble there?
Sort of. I thought maybe he was trusting us with an important mission because he thought we were the only ones who could do it.
Agni snickered. Dream on.
It was just a thought.
Yes, and it’s clear to me that you don’t think them often, so I suppose I should just congratulate you here and now. I may not hear another one.
Will you shut up! I’m leaving. Will you contact me when you’re ready to assume human form again and go to Earth?
Of course.
Lewin drifted away, and Agni made purposefully for his own pocket of Matter. It would take him some time to be ready to change form again. It got harder every rotation of Time. Lewin would no doubt be ready by morning. Though he probably didn’t observe night and day as Agni did. Wind and Flame were just a step away from mortal enemies, and the embodiments did all they could to be different. And of course their underling deities went along for the ride, ever hoping that one embodiment would kill the other, and a deity could assume the place.
The small spirit Agni had chosen as a slave, Icarus, waited on him nervously. Agni forced himself into human form while he was in Matter, so as not to overly disturb the old young spirit. He had really been just a boy when Heat had claimed him so long ago, but Heat didn’t want him. As an upper deity, Heat had the choice and tossed Icarus into Limbo. Agni had wanted the boy as a servant when he became a deity, and Heat had after all taught him some discipline.
Now Icarus chirped to ask if he could do anything for his master, his eternally half-melted wings hindering his bow somewhat. Agni smiled. He was comic relief if nothing else. He told the boy to rest and painfully moved his human body toward his Ether pool. After Icarus had gone he sunk down into it and shed the flesh, soaking the warm Ether into himself.
Lewin. He may well still be going about in his human body. Well, let the young fool enjoy it while he could. Agni shifted. There had been a time when he had been so foolish, burning up his energy with all sorts of forms and pranks on his fellow Flame deities. When he was young.
He was alone now. He spent his time brooding and watching the humans kill each other. Thanks to them and their bombs and such, more and more facets of Flame had become evident. The Flame barracks were crowded, and some of the older deities had made their own bubbles of Matter to drift about in. Agni was one of them. He was sure he was nowhere near the Flame barracks, or any of his old friends. If one could force the Ether into some semblance of near and far.
Agni’s mind drifted…
Time rotated…

Agni. Agni, have you ended? Wind. AGNI! Old fool.
…Lewin. You woke me! Get out of my mind, you young idiot.
Sor—
“Icarus! You will find that there is a wind deity outside the bubble. Let it in.”
“Yes, master.”
Agni rose from his Ether pool and let himself flow into his human form. The tips of his fingers were twisting themselves together when Lewin came in. Still tall and blonde (still with pink and purple highlights), still impatient. In the reddish light of his Matter pocket, Agni though Lewin looked slightly delicate. His pale green eyes seemed a little too large for his face, his hand and fingers were long and thin. Agni could see ribs under the black T-shirt and emerald green jacket.
Not that it made Agni pity him. Rather, he felt even more despair. A thin pixie-like creature was his help. He felt sure he would see Death again soon, though perhaps not in such good health.
“I thought we agreed I would call you when I was ready, Lewin.” Agni said coldly.
“Yes, I know that, but I waited forever.” Lewin sat easily in one of the black leather chairs Agni had always admired, insolent. “I was beginning to think Flame had killed you for some fiery unknowable reason. Days, Agni! I have been waiting on you for days. What in seven forms of hell have you been doing?”
“Someday,” Agni replied stiffly, “When you are not so young, you will understand.”
“Don’t even start in on that.” Lewin growled. “Are you ready to go now or what?”
Agni sulked. Ready to go to Earth? Never. Flames knew how long they would be there. Agni would probably end simply because he had been cramped into a tiny human form for too long. And wouldn’t Lewin be shocked then!
“I suppose.”

Agni and Lewin traveled through the Ether in a small pocket of Matter. It was mainly for Agni’s benefit, so that he wouldn’t have to switch back and forth, and he hated Lewin for thinking to do it. Presumptuous young fool…
Agni had been surprised when there was a small humanoid demon—at least he assumed it was a demon—was waiting in the bubble. Not but maybe four feet tall, black hair, misty blue eyes. It looked up at the deities woefully when they entered.
“What’s this?!” Agni spluttered.
“My servant.” Lewin said defensively. “Manikin. No one said I couldn’t bring him.”
“If I had thought like that, I would have brought along Icarus.” Agni grumbled, though Icarus was a spirit and wouldn’t have even been visible to most on Earth.
Lewin ignored the comment and absently told him not to try to converse with Manikin, because he couldn’t talk. Agni made no inquiries. Maybe the boy was simply mute. Maybe his former master has cut out his tongue. Maybe Lewin had. Agni didn’t want to know.
The trio descended, in their bubble of Matter, through the Ether and toward Earth. After a few minutes had passed it could be seen in the distance, and a little while later they had touched down in the sandy desert of Egypt.
“I still want to know how we’re supposed to find one woman—even if she is a deity—in all this trash?” Lewin said, kicking at the offending sand. Manikin looked around, then pointed.
“I would guess that’s a good place to start.” Agni observed.
In the distance was a train of wagons, gypsies by the look of their colorful flags.
“Wind!” Lewin swore in amazement. “Maybe this won’t be so hard after all.”
“Sure.” Agni began limping towards the wagons. “Don’t go getting sunburnt, by the way. I don’t want to hear your whining.”
“Hey!” Tall, pale Lewin strode past him, Manikin in tow. “Just watch yourself, old man.”

SevenWritez

Abstract or not, there is a very good idea brooding here. From the moment I began to read I started to relive cherised memories of reading the Bartimaues Trilogy for the first time (a series of books I highly recommend if you have not already read them). I can't really say much other than that despite the faults, your idea is one that could be taken to a great level with the right amount of dillgence and commitment.

In dreams begin responsibilites. Stay loyal to this one, at least for the while.

SparkyLT

Heh, yeah, I have read the Bartimaeus Trilogy.

This book has gotten further than what I have posted here, but it's ground to a halt and I'm thinking about giving up on it. Besides, I thought it might be too confusing for some people, like I said. But I'm glad somebody thinks it's interesting.

Protecar

Well I got to say, I think this actually started off quite interesting. Admittedly, some of it came off a little convoluted, but the foreign terminology of the reality came across, for the most part, quite conceivable even if it leaves some questions. Maybe you don't want/can't finish this now, but I definitely think this would be a very nice project to come back to and I would be very interested in reading more of this just for some of the other world/our world dynamics and how everything works in the story. A nice start I'd say!