Cientiam silently followed her mother. The darkness around her provided a welcome veil of secrecy. Ephealia led her to the gardens, where she crouched behind the tall shrubbery. Ephealia stood quietly looking around the vast courtyard. A glimmer of satin fabric moved through the evening pulled along by the long stride of Ev’rvessa.
A basket swung in the cradle of her arm, covered by a black cloth. The woman pulled off her hood, confirming her identity to Cientiam. The young goddess stalked around them, moving closer to overhear their conversation.
“Did you bring what I requested?” Ephealia questioned.
“I did. Do you think this move a wise one Ephealia? Seeking the aid of the man who seduced and killed your daughter seems foolish.”
Ephealia surveyed the area before continuing. “Dovium is my brother in marriage. From what i saw he gave my daughter happiness. It was Plexous who took that from her, Plexous who killed her. A child grows inside that witch. I would see it and its mother to their end before she learns just how powerful she is.”
Cientiam shivered. Her mother had gone so mad that she was considering the council of her uncle, the ruler of death. The thought of the tormented soul of Drathell chilled her bones. She sank onto the ground and covered her mouth to muffle the stifled whimper passing her lips. As her worry calmed she regained her senses and continued to listen.
“Soria is with child?” Ev’rvessa gawked. “I had no idea when did you find out?”
“A few days hence. I am surprised you could not hear the commotion. Both Plexous and Cientiam protected her. I seem to be a rival they will not allow to challenge the woman.”
“There were rumors of a clash between you and Plexous but everyone thought it nothing more than your usual arguments,” Ev’rvessa leaned forward kissing her friend’s cheek. “You know I support you and your cause but…I must speak on my worry against it. Killing Soria is one thing but murdering the unborn? That is something entirely different. Audulis Mundis gifted and trusted you with the gift of protection. Going so far against your duty to this world will cause great instability. It will not come without consequence.”
Ephealia snatched the basket from Ev’rvessa. “The universe has done nothing but curse me. It grants me the power of protection but fails to allow me to grant it onto my own daughter. I don’t care what misfortune befalls the world, as long as order is restored,” She looked up to the vastness of the sky. “Dovium has desired me for eons. It is time the heat between my thighs grants me more than misfortune and heartbreak. Our bodies are temples, places of power to persuade men. I intend on using mine to do so.”
“You would let that foul creature climb inside you? You do realize that whatever sliver of opportunity you will have left with Plexous will fade once he finds out you fucked his brother right? He may kill you or worse, condemn you to be imprisoned in his brother’s realm for all eternity.”
“Don’t you dare judge me Ev’rvessa. I know all to well how you got this,” Ephealia pulled a wand from the basket. Black wood wove around it’s obsidian shaft. Golden runes began to light a path to the wand’s tip. Ephealia placed it between Ev’rvessa’s thighs, dragging it’s jagged edges through the lips of her womanhood.“The only reason this key lingers in our realm is because you smuggled it in your cunt. One freshly beaten by the god of death himself. I know what you use it for and it is not for the good of this realm.”
Cientiam’s eyes felt dry. She couldn’t blink or breathe. “This cant be true,” She thought. “I have to tell father and get Soria out of here.”
“You overstep Ephealia,” Ev’rvessa snapped. She carefully dismounted the wand and grabbed Ephealia’s wrist. “Everyone is right, you have lost all reason. May I remind you why I had to endure being raped by that grotesque form of a being. It happened because you came to me, your eyes heavy with tears pleading for my aid. Have you forgotten that it was you who begged me to sway him in pointing out where your dead daughter was. I gave up my virtue as a goddess by laying with a beast for you! What did my sacrifices present hmm? Nothing more than what you already knew. That Plexsia was dead and it was your fault she perished!”
The sharp snap of flesh connecting with skin made Cientiam jump. Ephealia slapped Ev’rvessa so hard her cinnamon complexion turned crimson. The woman brought her palm up to cover the welt left behind by the blow.
“If you turn all your allies against you there will be no one to protect you Ephealia. You need to stop and look at every possible outcome before you make another grave mistake.”
“You are never to speak my daughter’s name again. What happened to her was a tragedy one I tried to stop. Everyone places her death on my shoulders when I was innocent. I did everything I could to protect her, to save her. I do not need protecting I need understanding and I will not get that while Soria continues to outshine me!”
“When you dig one grave be sure to create another for your own future. You are not of sound mind to be making these types of choices right now. Take a while to truly think this over. Once you dive in to deep you will drown if things do not go as you wish them too.”
“Things will go as I plan them. I am a god she is not. I have paid plenty now for fate to move in my favor. With Dovium’s aid my plan will bloom and shade me from her wickedness forevermore.”
Cientiam heard enough. She crawled behind the shrubbery and made her way into the nearest temple. From there she ran to find Soria and her father, hoping they would be in the same place.
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