Pherisous' fingers were as cold as the universe she created but had the innate ability to fill empty spaces with light. The goddesses starlit eyes squinted as she focused on her blank canvas. Her finger twirled wistfully in circles and in the midst of space a star was born. The fluttering light grew until it stabilized and shone brightly through the darkness. The corners of her lips curled, the only wrinkle on her face expressed her pleasure in her work.
"I'm happy you're here with me." She said. Her finger danced around a black space and there twinkled another star far in the distance.
I hummed gleefully, nestled my head into her shoulder and said, "The moon belongs in space amongst the stars."
I traced my fingers through the galaxy of freckles on her dark skin, they glimmered with tiny lights. Each star she birthed, she lost a freckle. The cold of the stone beneath us seeped cold through my gown and skin, I felt chilled to my bones. But I welcomed the cold, more than warmth it comforted me.
A flashing light casted large shadows before us. We turned to see who dare bothered us.
"Syas, what are you doing here? I specifically told you to leave me alone." I barked at my angel.
He genuflected, "I apologize, my goddess." His voice wavered as he spoke. "It's Death... he... requires your audience."
"What is it?" A vile taste coated my mouth with disgust at his name.
"He's furious."
"At?"
"Avial. She wasn't satisfied... again."
"She's never satisfied with her creations. I wonder what she did to them this time?" Pherisous shook her head.
"Why are you here for us?" I asked my angel. "If she screwed up why would Death request our presence?"
"I'm not certain, my lady." Syas lifted his eyes and met my gaze. "He sent for all gods and goddesses."
"So be it. We'll be there. Just... give us a moment." I rubbed Pherisous' hand. The angel nodded. A faint light took over his body and he was gone. This summons meant bad news.
Pherisous locked her gaze to mine. My heart pounded against my chest and tears welled in my eyes. I wanted only to grab her hand and disappear far into the universe.
"You're afraid?" Pherisous wasn't shaking, her eyes didn't have water rimming the edges of her eyelids, and a sweet smile crossed her face.
"Remember what Death said last time this happened?" I asked. She sighed and shook her head.
"He can't kill us. We're goddesses!" She spoke with a roar. She squared her shoulders and sat up straight to appear mighty. "We are omnipotent, we are indestructible. Death doesn't even understand how we came into existence. How can we be killed when we're still a mystery to even the most powerful creature in all of creation!"
Pherisous' words of affirmation did nothing to calm the storm rising inside me. I must have made a face because she pulled me into her embrace. We sat in silence, hugging each other until my legs began to go numb. I shifted slightly and her hands slid down my arms, she squeezed as she gazed at me with a solemn expression. Was she scared? Did she know something I didn't? The nagging feeling in my gut worsened.
She leaned in, her lips were as cold as ice against mine. It made my spine shiver and my muscles tighten with joy.
"We mustn't keep him waiting." She said as she gently folded her fingers through mine. We closed our eyes, focused on the patterns of magic around us. A tingle coursed throughout my body as my essences broke apart into tiny particles. I focused on my location-the counsel chamber. The tingling died down as my body took form again. Noise began to grow from disgruntled gibberish to comprehensive bickering. The dark lighting from my moon brightened to an overwhelming whiteness that burned my retinas. I kept my eyes closed until they adjusted.
In a large circular amphitheater hundreds of gods and goddesses gathered around the centerpiece were He stood. The room rumbled with murmuring and talking amongst themselves, some yelled demands at Death, demands to explain himself.
Death wore his usual attire, a dark cloak draped around his boney frame. His tattered hood covered his face in darkness but I've seen his pale and ghastly appearance before. I was thankful Pherisous and I appeared behind him. The sheer memory of the blackness rimming his sunken eyes, the large scar that tore his mouth in half and ripped upwards along the main seam, his wispy and coarse hair that draped across his face like a thin curtain made me shiver with fear.
Like a frail old man he leaned on an odd cane. I had not seen this cane before. The heel was sharp and pointed, the staff long and skinnier than a normal cane, and the handle had a dark eye that webbed around an oval opening. The pupil darted around the room against an iris that changed color as it stared at different gods and goddesses. Glancing at Avial it turned pink, then changed vermillion when it shot towards Dias. The pupil frantically glanced around the room like a ball bouncing against walls... Until it saw me. The eye stopped and stared. The loud squabbling faded into white noise as the iris grew dark blue then darkened into pitch black. I couldn't stop staring at this odd creation. I wanted desperately to turn away but it held my contact. The darkness was entrancing I wanted to go to it but my heart raced rapidly like a harris of horses, warning me to turn away.
Sound seemed to shatter and noise returned to normal when my focus was turned to Pherisous' hand firmly grasping mine. I breathed deeply, I was relieved to be out of that trance. I rubbed Pherious' hand and memorized the small wrinkles in her knuckles and the way her nails sharpened, my eyes traveled to her arms, up her chest then to her eyes. She was locked in the needles gaze. I scanned the room, she wasn't the only one fixed in a trance. A few others that even dared to stare at Deaths cane were also caught in its captivating glare. Other gods and goddesses must have fell victim and broke free; they stared at their feet, played nervously with their fingers, and some focused on the skies in an obvious attempt to avoid it. Did they all see a black iris, or was it something else?
I woke Pherisous.
"What did you see?" I asked. My brow furrowed with concern as her eyes were filled with horror.
"Darkness. Just the blackest black you could ever imagine." She spoke in breathes. "I don't know why, but it felt like I was looking at myself..."
"We're all here, now state your business!" My brother, Godius spoke with strength. His chest puffed outward and his bright glow from the sun turned the entire room orange. I was thankful to my brother, I desperately needed to direct my focus elsewhere.
From where we sat I could only make out the slight tilt of Deaths hood. Their eyes must have met. If I stood where my brother was I would have cowered; Godius didn't even flinch.
"No mercy." Death spoke, his voice echoed throughout the room. The crystal pillars rang as they quivered. "I warned you."
He stood, lifted his cane and pounded it on the floor. His cloak levitated above his head and shot out in thick strands like thread being sewn into fabric. The threads of darkness consumed us all. Even Godius, the brightest sun in the entire universe couldn't overcome the blackness. I wrapped my arms around Pherisous and held her tightly. But Deaths magic was dense enough that I couldn't see my own nose before my face.
Screaming echoed across the amphitheater, the Angel's wailed, and the gods cursed Deaths name. Pherisous dropped her weight into me. I held strong for fear she fell or worse - that Death would rip her from my grasp. My fingers dug into her soft skin. I kept squeezing until the darkness faded to mist. Ezra, the god of wind, expanded with air. His face inflated and became royal blue, he huffed and puffed until there wasn't a single sign of the darkness left.
Death was nowhere to be seen, confusion marked the faces of us all.
A shrill wail quickly struck panic into the gods and goddesses. Panic overcame confusion as they scrambled out of the room like humans, pushing each other down the stairs just to get a head start. I shielded Pherisous from the trampling maniacs. A foot whacked me in the head as someone tried to jump over me, another pushed on my shoulders to lift themselves up. I was beaten by frightened and weak gods and goddesses.
After the chaos died down and the mob had left, a few remained but were gathered in four groups. Gods and goddesses surrounded together staring at something on the floor, their eyes wide, Jestious raised his hand to his mouth and Frya moaned and lamented.
I turned to a smaller group that had a gap for me to see Avial motionless in Dias' arms.
"Avial, no! Wake up! This isn't funny!" He shook her. "No, no... no!" He screamed. Her essence seemed to unravel like a careless child pulling at the threads of an old sweater. "Godius do something! You're the almighty head god!" He spat at him. Godius stood there with no advice to offer. He turned to me. His expression blank but his shoulders softened and his head tilted. I knew that look, pity.
"Pherisous?" I called. Her face was placed in my lap, my steel grip never loosening. I shook her limp body.
"Sister..." Godius flew to me and perched his hand on my shoulder.
"No... She just passed out from fear. She's ok." I rubbed her head and ran my fingers through her braid and played with the little stars at the ends. "She's been working for a millennium, she's tired."
The lights at the ends of her braids began to die out, her starlight freckles trembled then went black as a darkness peeled her threads of life from her essence. The warmth of Godius' hand grew hot against my skin, acid tore at my throat, and my eyes burned as tears burst from my eyes.
"Why... Why her?" I wanted to scream but they came out as gasping sobs. I tried to breathe but my breathe was suffocated by the cries.
Her essence didn't feel cold anymore, there was nothing but a dark hole in my heart and only her robe remained. I felt alone. I was a moon wandering through space without any stars to guide it.
~~
Avial the goddess of love, Jaxious the god of earth, Syra the goddess of luck, Darion the god of hell, Fernin the god of fortune, and my dear Pherisous, goddess of the galaxies and stars were all victims of Deaths slaughter.
Avial and Darion got what they deserved, they constantly disobeyed Death and fought over the smallest and foolish reasons. Darion created hell just to spite them. Life and Death believed karma should punish the wicked, furthermore allowing a chance at redemption. But why Pherisous? She was sweet, loving, and all I had in life.
Without Pherisous I didn't have reason to stay. I wanted to escape and visit each star she birthed, but without her they would eventually die. I studied space and counted each star waiting for them to flicker into nothingness, destroying any proof that she ever existed. Isolation didn't scare me, the infinite idea of space peeked my interest and avoiding the drama of gods and goddesses was enough reason to desire solitude. Why did I stay? I stared at the earth we created, Chara. A pact between gods and goddesses, a pact that Life and Death could honor. We gained our powers from our followers. As long as we treated them with love and respect they loved and respected us back with prayers. He or she who was head god had the most followers and the most prayers. That was how we settled our disputes over power. Even the gods and goddesses that were naturally destructive had incentive to keep their followers alive. But Avial messed up. She wanted to be head goddess and risked destroying her creatures. She desired her faithful to be beautiful and completely obedient. Goddess of love, ha! My mouth twisted with disgust at her name. She wasn't lovely or lovable, she was deserving of a brutish husband like Dias and a fate worse than death. It was her fault Pherisous was dead.
~~
All the long days, the hours of suffering and loneliness blurred together. Years have passed, I know not how many. The guilt of neglect drowned me. My followers begged for my blessings during the cold winter months and I didn't have the strength to help them. Is it possible to overcome such sorrow when guilt and depression piled on top?
"Sister?" My brothers voice made me jump. Wallowing in my own self pity made me unaware of the bright sun light that covered my moon. "How do you fair today?"
I returned my gaze to the stars.
"I understand why Death destroyed Avial. But why Pherisous? Why did he take her? She was loved by everyone and she never destroyed anything." Tears trickled down my face and into my mouth as I spoke. They were salty but I didn't even have the strength to wipe them away.
"It brings me joy that you're well enough to talk again." Godius paced in a small circle. "Death is mad with power. He did it because he wanted to."
I shook my head. "He warned us."
"What does it matter to him? It's not like we destroyed souls. He's being dramatic. The souls of her followers won't even remember their past lives. If Death cares so much then he can beg Life to give them luxurious, full-filled lives through karma." Godius' sun radiation grew bright enough to smother the stars. I scoffed as the last diamond light faded. "Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting your five year long star gazing? It's time to move on, Goddessa."
Godius' footsteps boomed as he paced back and forth and his golden rings clinked together while he fiddled with his fingers. The silence between us seemed to amplify his irritating noises. I silently begged for Godius to stay still for two seconds but refused to speak.
"You could be of some use to my quest." He finally spoke. Relief washed over me as his little ticks seemed to quiet down at the sound of his voice. I haven't felt anything but uselessness since Pherisous died, I could do with a purpose.
"What if I told you that even Death could be killed." He said.
"Absolutely absurd!" I blurted.
"Not entirely. If we could be killed why can't he?"
"Because it's part of who he is. Death is his name."
"All the gods and goddesses are made up of tiny strings of power, each weaved of hundreds upon thousands of strands that define the type of power we posses, our build, our essence and mannerisms, it makes up our souls. What if it's the same for him but he's just been around longer, he's had more time to hone his abilities?"
"H-how do you know this?" The question of our existence has never been answered. Did Godius finally figure how we were made?
Godius rubbed his ear, took a step back then said, "I have discovered things..."
What did he mean by that? A pang of fear shot through me. I didn't want to know what he meant. Godius has done unspeakable acts in the past that made me cautious of him but he always acted on my behalf. He's made many sacrifices for my happiness. The least I could do is help him.
My silence was too drawn out. Godius grew impatient, "After everything he's done you want to protect him?"
"Protect him?" I gawked at the thought.
"Then why not join us?"
"Us?"
"Dias, and a few others..."
"You and Dias? Why doesn't this comfort me?"
"I know Dias and I have butted heads over status of head god..."
"Butted heads? Is that what you call your war?"
"Dias can't fight Death alone."
"You mean you can't fight death alone."
"Why do I deserve your snark, sister? What did I do to you?" He was right. My brother always looked out for me, he deserves a better sister than I.
"What can I do?" I said with my head hanging a little, my eyes focusing on the crystal floors to my castle. They appeared to bend and shape to geometric shapes against Godius radiant light. Small triangles glimmered with different shades of reds and oranges against the flat surface. It wasn't until then that my feet began to swell from the heat.
Godius smiled. "He wants to talk to you."
"What!" My screech echoed throughout the halls. My guard of angels burst through the door with worried faces. I held my hand up, shook my head, and they returned to their guard.
"Death has something he wants to talk to you about. You, go to him, talk to him, try to draw out the conversation long enough." Godius talked like it was an easy task. My knees shook, with the raising of my palm I summoned furniture from nothing. The magic in the air worked quickly and constructed a cyan colored chair with soft cushions. The chair screeched against the floor when I dropped my weight into it.
"I can't talk to Death!" I said.
"You have to! Please? For me?"
"And why is this task so important? Why do you want me to have this conversation with him?" Godius got on his knees, he placed his hands on my leg and stared at me like a starving dog.
"To distract him. I have to do something I'm not very proud of doing... Death will find out. But if he's distracted he won't notice until it's too late."
"I don't know, Godius."
"I know he scares you, Goddessa." He rubbed my leg soothingly. The satin of my dress was soft against my skin but the goosebumps seemed to feel pinched with each stroke. "But think, you won't have to fear him once he's gone."
"And if we fail?"
He paused. For the first time since I've known Godius he stood still for the two seconds I desperately begged for and it was unnerving. I could tell he wanted to lead with a positive note, but he couldn't.
"Then he kills us." Godius said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"How can you act so carefree?"
"It's worth the risk. I'm willing to fight for my loved ones..." He took my hand in his and squeezed. "You deserve vengeance, sister. He wronged you, he killed Pherisous. Why should we be punished for destroying things when he's being a hypocrite? His name is Death, his whole ordeal is rot, decay, and destroy! He's pissy because he wants all the control."
"You're right. It isn't fair. For someone as innocent as Pherious, she didn't deserve that end."
"No, she didn't. Now, will you help me?" His head tilted to the side, yet again reminding me of a puppy.
"Of course. All I have to do is distract him, right?"
"One other thing. Death will eventually figure out whats going on, when that time comes he will look for me, he will find me. It's part of the plan. When that happens meet us at the counsel chambers." He said as he stood and began to walk away.
"What happens after that?" I asked.
"You need to take the needle from him."
~~
I couldn't stop my legs from shaking, or the sweat from coating my hands. I wiped them on my dress but they still felt wet, I wiped again but it wasn't sufficient. I focused my essence on the center of the moon and drew energy from it. My essence disintegrated into hundreds of light particles then reformed again. Instead of being on the moon surrounded by the stars I stood amidst four trees placed perfectly in a diamond. These were the Four Trees of Life that connected the underworld to the real world.
Little specks of souls shining shades of grays, blacks, and whites fell like snow past the invisible floor that I floated on. A black speck drifted towards me. I ducked so the soul stained by evil could not graze my head. Such evil may never touch me.
I searched my surroundings trying to find Death but instead saw a large black castle a mile in the distance. It stood on a floating island. I grew hot in the face.
"I can't believe they let that horrid race of savages stain this world…" I said with anger, that castle defied the gods and goddesses.
"I do not concern myself with the failures of gods and goddesses." Death said with a deep voice. I turned to look upon Deaths large stature. His essence glowing with evil powers. White sclera covered every corner of his gaze but I knew he stared directly at me.
My powers wavered, and my essence shook as I stood before him.
"Those creatures are evil! You and Life made them pure from the very beginning and they curse your existence by staining their souls with sin!"
"Is it my fault you only understand destruction instead of mending?" His scarred face became even more ugly as the wrinkles creased around his eyes in anger. My mouth opened to speak, I breathed deeply to state my case but Death held his hand to silence me. "I will not have this argument again. You steal mine and Life's powers for your own selfish desires and dare to talk down to me about what they did to you."
Death never listened to any of us. There were many gods and goddesses with insight to improve this universe, to eradicate sin and suffering. He never cared about our plight.
"What do you want?" I spat. I focused my gaze to the tree on my left, an oak tree that twisted in every direction and was knotted at every inch.
"I want to mend." He said. There was no furniture about the area, but he sat. The darkness from his cloak twisted into a fabricated chair with lightning speed.
"What do you know about mending? You're Death, all you know is rot and decay."
"Rot and decay feeds soil which creates life. A coyote might kill an adorable rabbit but he feeds a family of nine innocent pups. I understand death more than you Goddessa. Try not to lecture me."
I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. "Since you already know everything what's the meaning of this damn conversation?"
"I want you to try and understand what I did."
"And you waited five years to talk? I'm sorry but I'm just not interested anymore."
"You needed time to mourn. I sense you're not finished either."
My heart felt as if it was drowning in emotions. I couldn't speak or else all my feelings would burst out of me. I couldn't appear weak in front of Death and amidst a ploy to destroy him.
"She's not dead." Death said. My heart stopped beating, my arms unfolded and I stared at him like I could find the answers in his eyes. Was he playing a cruel joke on me? Death placed his needle like cane across his lap. "This needle is an extension of my essence, just as you are. It can unravel and sew together any threads of magic. It has no limitations. Pherisous paid me a visit. She confided in me."
"Lies!" I blurted.
"Pherisous was hurting. She couldn't find contentment."
"You lie! She was happy with me!"
"You have felt the cold icy touch of depression, Goddessa. Nobody is exempt of sorrow, or any dark emotion that you gods and goddesses pretend to be free from. I know you saw the eye, I know you saw the darkness. That's the side of yourself you're scared of. The depression, the emotions that you claim only humans have. All the gods and goddesses think that being the brightest light is the best form of goodness. But good and evil are a construct you fabricated because Godius and I had a falling out and now he abhors everything that makes me Death. Pherisous was happy, but there was always something missing. She had a purpose but felt saddened that she too thought of destroying her creatures to full-fill her desires. The only thing that separates her from Avial is she sought my help."
"I can't believe any of this... Why wouldn't she talk to me?"
"Because you allow yourself to be manipulated by your brother."
"Manipulated? Godius doesn't manipulate me." Saying that seemed to hit a funny bone with Death. He shook his head as he finished chuckling at me.
"Goddessa, your darkness could be so powerful if you weren't submerged in sunlight. You could eclipse your brother forever. But he talks you down, makes you think that the darkness is evil, therefore forbidden. This is why Pherisous never talked to you. She knew that if you saw even the slightest hint of darkness in her that you wouldn't love her anymore."
"Where is she! I want to talk to her." I paced around the trees as if she was hiding behind them.
"Pherisous isn't dead, but she isn't an ethereal being anymore. The magic that made up her body has been released to the universe. She is the stars, she is now the universe, she is one with her creations and because of that the stars will birth themselves and die naturally without being governed. She asked me to talk to you, hoping that you would follow in her footsteps."
"I can't believe you. You lie. Pherisous would never abandon me." I fought my tears but one managed to seep out of my eyelid. It was then that the damn broke and the floods began. I couldn't control what I felt.
A softness touched my shoulder, the cold relaxed my swollen eyes and everything felt calm. I was pulled into an embrace with Death, his cloak oddly soft and his boney arms seemed to fit in the small spaces around my neck. I considered for a second that maybe Death wasn't as cruel as I believed.
Then an uncomfortable, eerie feeling caused my spine to shiver. An uncomfortableness ached in all my muscles and bones. I knew Death could feel it too. He gently pushed me off him. His eyes had a haunting expression that added to his already daunting facial features. Poof, nothing but a cloud of black smoke was all that remained of Deaths teleportation. Was this when I had to return to the counsel chambers?
I teleported back to the amphitheater. Twenty-six gods and goddesses all took a stance around an alter that had a sacrifice on the middle. Before I had a chance to think Godius struck Death with his magic, then another god had followed suit, then another until all twenty-six of them had their magic confining Death.
"Goddessa! Help us! Grab the needle!" Godius spat as he strained to hold Death.
I took a step forward but hesitated. What was I to do? Was Death telling the truth about Pherisous? I couldn't help but feel like I was wrong about him, that we all were. Would unraveling my essence rejoin me with my one love? My head felt like it would explode with all the thoughts piling on top of each other.
Death was surrounded, but he fought vigilantly. With a jerk of his shoulder he broke the magical bind with Serhac. The god was overwhelmed by Deaths force that he dropped with fatigue. Another sharp turn to the left and Deaths cape swung in the air and fell upon two gods. The darkness clung to them and sucked the magic from their essence until they fell to their knees.
Deaths boney fingers raised towards Godius and dark matter in the shape of spears shot out of his cloak. My heart jumped, I wanted to stand between Godius but my feet wouldn't move. I could do nothing but watch as Godius broke his binding spell to flex his arms, puff out his chest and emit a bright light that burned the darkness into nothing. He recasted his binding spell but the oppurtunity gave Death enough strength to throw his needle at a goddess. It impaled her in the chest. The area surrounding the needle turned black and shredded her essence into a million little threads until there was nothing left of her. When she was gone the cane returned to it's master.
"Goddessa! What are you doing! Grab the needle!" Godius barked.
"You don't have to do this." Death spoke with softness in his tone.
I looked to my brother, the anger radiating from his sunlight made the entire room hotter than an oven. How furious he'd be if I sided with Death.
The weight of my decision was heavy enough for my chest to drop in my stomach. In that moment I thought of a star, one that Pherisous named after me. It shone blue and was brighter than all the others. Would the surface burn with blue flames? How I desperately wanted to find out. I desired to be with Pherisous again. But... If Death was right, and Pherisous really was a part of the universe then why haven't I felt her presence? He must be lying.
Death tumbled as I snatched the needle from his hands. I held onto it like my life depended on it. The expression in Deaths eyes pains me. I didn't understand the feeling but I betrayed him although I never stood by his side. Why did this hurt so much?
I didn't want to feel this way, I thought of the day Pherisous left me. The anger rushing back. The hatred I had bottled inside burst open and before I could think another thought I blacked out. When my mind had regained focus the needle was sticking two feet out of Deaths face. His eyes rolled into the back of his head, the white of his skin turned as black as his cloak. His entire essence writhed and crinkled into a ball then exploded. I was hit with such force I flew backwards and slammed against the seats. My entire body felt weak as if I had my essence sucked away.
"My dear sister, how do you fair?" Godius ran to me. His warm hands gently held my own and helped me to my feet as I was regaining my powers. The needle in my hand unraveled into tiny threads of magic and became one with the universe, as Death had called it.
"Did we succeed?" We looked where Death was trapped and saw only a small fraction of Deaths essence. A small glimmer of darkness laid on the ground in the shape of torn cloth.
"Is that it?" I asked.
"I don't feel his essence anymore." The goddess of beauty Vanai said as she lifted herself from the ground.
"It's not over yet. We've only reset his powers." Godius said. He scooped up the darkness and held it over our sacrifice, the darkness descended as he separated his hands and it floated a few inches above it.
Godius chanted the remainder of the spell: "With the power of the sun at my command. I bind Death, an indestructible being to a destructible sacrifice…" Deaths faded essence disappeared as it merged with the sacrifice. The final steps. It was almost over; we were almost free of Deaths tyranny. "By my blessed blade forged by the sun's lava and the moons rock, I, Godius, the sun god will destroy Death!"
He raised his hands high above his head. His blade glimmered brightly as my anticipation increased.
"Kill it! Destroy the sacrifice befo-"
A flash of light dropped us to the ground and shoved Godius away from the alter. A voice screamed with pain as she witnessed what we did to Death.
"What have you done!" Life screamed. Her essence weakened without Death by her side.
"Life, back away. Without your counterpart your powers cannot handle the combined strength of us all!" My brother said to her.
"Undo this and we will spare you!" She attempted to bargain.
"No! You must be vanquished with Death, we have no use for you anymore."
Her horrified look turned to anger. She snatched the sacrifice, lifted her hand and combined the weaves of light magic to force our essence to waver again. We were stuck in our spot for a single second, but it was all the time she needed to escape.
She disappeared with the sacrifice cradled in her arms.
"Where did she go!" I screamed at the blank spot on the alter.
"Patience! We can find her, we must track the pattern of white magic that her essence creates!" My brother said. We all stood still and calm, focusing our magic on hers finding any pattern of light that would give away her location.
"I don't sense her anywhere, what if she's in the underworld!" Dias said with frustration. "I'll go there and find her!"
He concentrated his recovering essence to teleporting. I grasped my hands together with anticipation. I waited for him to leave but he never did. Dias opened his eyes with horror.
"I-I can't. It's almost as if there is a barrier preventing me from entering the underworld."
"That's impossible, I was just there." I said.
Godius closed his eyes to focus. His essence wavered as if he made contact but was forced back immediately.
"I can't either." He said.
"What do we do!"
"We'll have the church investigate with our angels leading my saint in the right direction." He explained.
"You'll place your hopes in a human? What can a mere being like her do what us gods can't!" Dias raised his voice for all the other gods and goddesses to hear. Their attention now fixed on us.
"That's mighty talk for a god whose power derives from human prayers." I said to Dias. His armor was a dark shade of red, covering him from head to toe. When he was angry or felt threatened his armor glowed a bright vermillion.
"The underworld was created for their sanctity. Not for gods and goddesses. If anyone can tap into the underworld it would be a being with a strong heart and pure soul." Godius said.
"I don't agree with humans interfering in a gods business!" Dias unsheathed his sword for a battle.
"Typical Dias! Always wanting a fight. You were one of the few to assist with the spell, but don't mistake us for fools. You did this for yourself. You've desired the position of head god for centuries. How many times do I have to beat you into submission?" My brother roared at him.
"Don't underestimate me, Sun God. The Grim Reaper is gone. I can destroy you without Death threatening to annihilate me!"
"No!" I interfered. "Death is not gone. Life stole him and the sacrifice. If we don't act now his powers will grow. And his rage will be unmet by all of us!"
"My sister is right. Do what you must Dias. But my guard will not lower. If I must I'll rain fire upon your realm, obliviating the prayers that give you power."
Dias announced his defeat by sheathing his sword. His armor still glowed with rage. I turned to my brother and grabbed his arm, needing his warmth.
"Shi Fira won't fail us, brother." I said hoping that I could give him the same warmth he blessed me with.