The Sanctity of Knowledge

Chapter 8
Chapter 8

When Alexa opened her eyes, she found herself back in Athena’s lap.  Athena had returned to her human form and was smiling down upon her. 

Alexa looked around and realized that the previously empty room was now completely decorated as a little girl’s nursery.  The walls were painted light pink and the scent of baby powder permeated the air.  A crib with high bars rested in between two windows, filled with stuffed animals.  A diaper changing table stocked with baby powder, disposable diapers and wipes stood near a toy chest which was painted pink and white. 

“Well, what do you think of your new bedroom, Alexa?” Athena asked.

Alexa remained silent, wide-eyed as she took in her surroundings.  Athena, true to her word, had begun to re-write Alexa’s life, starting with what used to be her bedroom.

“I’ll take your silence as a compliment!” Athena said, chuckling as she watched Alexa struggle to come to grips with her new reality. 

“Now, then.  It’s time for you to begin your punishment!  You can begin to forget now, baby girl!” she said, lightly pressing her index finger against Alexa’s forehead.

The years of accumulated knowledge that Athena had temporarily restored to Alexa now proceeded to drain back out of her head again as she attempted one last time to sway the goddess to mercy.  “No!  No!  Please, Athena!  Please don’t let me forget everything!  I’ll be good!  I promise!  I’m sorry I upset you, Goddess!” 

Athena merely smiled, watching the child’s face as she struggled to remember words that were slipping out of her head by the second.

“I swear to be a good girl for you!  I don’t wanna forget how to talk good!”  Athena began to rock Alexa in the chair, putting her finger to her lips and mouthing “shhhhhhh” as Alexa’s mental capacity reverted back to that of a four-year-old.  “No wanna be baby again!  Pwease!  Wanna be big guhl!” Alexa begged, her speech once again matching her age.

Athena brought Alexa closer to her bosom, looking down at her and cooing as Alexa fought against the inevitable.  While she had indeed been satisfied in issuing her divine retribution, it was now time to bond herself to her new daughter so that she could one day serve her temple. 

 “You will call me ‘Mommy’ from now on, my child.  It is time for you and I to be bonded as mother and daughter.  Drink, little one.  Drink of my bosom and take your fill…..”

Alexa watched as droplets of milk formed on Athena’s nipples, growing larger and larger until they spilled from her nipples and ran down her breasts.  The faint aroma of vanilla emanated from Athena’s chest as Alexa struggled to resist suckling from the swollen breasts that rested inches from her face. 

“N-no……..I no wanna……..” she whined, attempting to turn her head away from the temptation before her.  Despite her resistance, something primal and instinctual within her was urging her to accept Athena’s teat.  

Athena brought Alexa closer still, allowing her nipple to brush against the child’s mouth.  Alexa licked her lips and tasted the sweet milk for the first time.  This proved to be all that was needed, as Alexa almost immediately latched on and began to suckle.  As she nursed, her defiant, resistant attitude towards her new mother seemed to shrink away, while her acceptance of her new station in life seemed to grow. 

Alexa suckled, her stomach intermittently gurgling as she drank from Athena’s bosom.  “Poor thing, her stomach isn’t used to breastmilk” Athena thought, patting Alexa’s diapered bottom as the little girl passed gas, then whimpered in relief.  After switching Alexa to her other breast, she placed her palm against the front of Alexa’s diaper and realized she had wet it. When she was done, Alexa looked up at her mother with the vulnerable expression of a little girl.  Athena had seen that look before.  Their bonding was complete.  Her divine retribution had been satisfied and now it was time to administer Alexa’s punishment not just with firmness, but also the loving care of a mother.  The Horai had made their conditions clear as they had countless times before: the infant that Alexa was to become would be cared for and nurtured like any other.  Now, having finished nursing her child, she began to sing to her. 

 “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are……….” Athena began as Alexa stared up at her with eyes that were showing signs of sleepiness.  Athena slowly rose from the rocking chair, continuing to sing as she carried Alexa to her changing table. 

“Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky……”

Athena gently laid Alexa down on the table and began to change her diaper.  She removed a few baby wipes from the nearby package and gently cleansed her bottom before powdering her and putting her into a Pampers Overnight diaper.

“When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon……”

Alexa, now half-asleep, sucked her thumb as Athena picked her up from the changing table and carried her to her crib.  After gently laying her down inside, she placed a stuffed animal beside Alexa and raised the bars to her crib.

“Then you show your little light, Twinkle Twinkle all the night…….”

Alexa looked up at Athena from the confines of her toddler bed, clutching her stuffed animal and bringing it close to her.  She saw Athena raise her hand in the air and wave it in a slow, circular motion.  Faint, soft sparkles began to flicker in the ceiling, their rhythmic pulses of light lulling Alexa further into sleep.  As her eyes closed, Alexa fell asleep under the stars.