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earlier. Remorse started to overcome me as he pulled into a parking space near the beach.
    “I’m sorry I offended you earlier,” I said analyzing his face for a reaction.
    “Under the circumstances, I suppose I should have expected it. I just never thought to hear those words spoken by you.” He paused to shut the car engine off. “Thank you for the apology.”
    David was starting to seem more of the gentleman type than the psychotic killer type to me. My nerves eased a little, but my guard was still up. He was, after all, the reason I didn’t sleep for three months.
    “Isis, I would like to share with you who I am, where I come from and why I came to be here. But if I do this, you must swear by that which you cherish the most that you will not repeat any of the content we discuss today to anyone.”
    He lowered the car windows, which I discovered were ridiculously dark after seeing the sky peak through the crack and waited for my response.
    “I swear,” I said lifting my hand, as if under oath.
    I turned my body toward him, crossed my legs and arms, and rested my back against the car door. I figured, if I wasn’t going anywhere, I might as well get comfortable.
    “I’m listening,” I prompted him to begin his account.
    “My history is long lived. I am descent of a divine lineage of immortals long forgotten by mortal man. We are many, yet few compared to mankind. Our history and names have been misconstrued throughout the centuries. I am one of those immortals.
    “Your people referred to us as ‘gods’”. He briefly sought a reaction from me, but, instead of questioning him, I let him continue.
    “Deities were once worshiped by every culture in ancient times—even before the age of the Greek and Roman Empires, before the age of the Neanderthal, and from the very moment in which mortal man was birthed on Earth.
    “We lived in harmony with each other—the mortals and deities—, that is, until the age of the Roman conquest.
    “Two problems arose during that time period: First, a small number of deities became egotistical with their power.
    “You should be aware that most humans are easily consumed in the mere presence of a deity.
    “A fair number of unscrupulous deities utilized humans for their own pleasures. They conceived half-human, half-godlike creatures, which, more times than less, resulted in abominations. They were evil and uncompassionate beings—savage beasts. The Creatura, as they were called, caused humans to despise gods.
    “T’was this time when humankind rebelled, claiming the gods had cursed them when all they ever did was offer them praise. They saw that abhorrences were being born of these relationships that were strictly prohibited by Deus, the Creator; this created verbal feuds between deities and men.
    “Secondly, man began to accept other faiths, opening the door to religious warfare.
    “A war ignited among men, gods and Creatura. The Creatura were slain. Man, however, was spared by the mercy of Deus demanding deities to retreat after he saw the tragic bloodshed.
    “The Oracles, those with the gift of foresight, saw that man and deity would destroy themselves if this continued. There was only one option that could be deemed rational; the gods were instructed by Deus to become oblivious to man—all, except for He who was the Creator.
    “It was not for hunger of worship or conceit from which He placed this law in order; but because, you see, man cannot exist without faith. Faith cannot exist without man, for it is faith that keeps the soul aflame… even His.
    “As time progressed, some deities were forgotten and others became fictional characters—their purpose, names and adventures were continually altered by man through generations. So it came to be, that deities became myths and legends for the children of men to tell.
    “There have never been any humans in the lands of gods—none, except for you. You are the reason why I am here now.
    “The land you enter in your