Until Darkness Ascends

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Cordelia stood on the ornate porch as her entourage of ten prepared the chariot. They had decided that it would be the easiest to travel to the Middle Kingdom and once there, horses could be attached to transport them. She insisted she didn't need it, but they added that the chariot would carry the essentials for everyone involved. Altair explained that the masters of air would wield enough air easily enough to get them to the Middle Kingdom.

He also explained that the Middle Kingdom had already been notified of their arrival and preparations would be made. Whether it was because she was an unmarried female or that archangels were traveling in a large group to Earth, it was apparent that it was a big ordeal.

"What has you thinking so hard?"

She jumped from Zeus' voice, turning toward him as he stopped next to her. "I understand the need for protection, but this much? Seems too much."

"King Cailborne never explained why he kept you away, did he?"

"No, but Altair said that...he said that some men would take me by force if given the chance."

"Yes, within the human world, the male a woman sleeps with the first time is the person they marry. This is why you have so many archangels. Those ten men can take an entire army without breaking a sweat."

"Then why so many?"

"Because an entire army just may try to claim you. But besides the obvious danger, you're an icon, a figurehead, Cordelia. You represent the last of womankind. You are one of the lasts hopes to see a better world."

Oh, Gods, that was so much pressure. "What if I cannot bear children? I may be baren," she said, lowering her head. It was shameful to say allowed. She wanted nothing more than to be able to conceive, but the reality was that there was no indication that she wouldn't be infertile.

"Perhaps," he agreed.

"Is there a but?"

"However," he began.

She chuckled. "Ah, should have known."

"However, do you think women disappeared simply because they're infertile?"

"No," she admitted. "It doesn't explain why Mother Earth seems to be dying as well."

"What do you think happened? What do you think caused The Vanishing?"

"I...I don't know."

"Nay, you have a theory. What is it?"

She turned to him, shaking her head with a resolved shrug. "I think Gaia grew tired of the world hurting her creation. And I think Hera and Aphrodite and all the other Goddesses couldn't exist in a world where they weren't valued. All of this, The Vanishing, the droughts, the food shortages...it's a punishment. It's a reminder to you and all men that you cannot survive without women."

"It's more than infertility. There's something we must fix, something to be repaired..."

"I agree. But I don't know what that is."

He nodded. "You will."

"Cordelia?" She turned toward Altair. "Are you ready?"

She nodded, taking his outstretched hand. He led her to the chariot, but she pulled away to look back at the God of Gods. She went back to him, capturing his hands to read his truths. She wanted to understand what burdened him. She pulled away with a soft smile. "No," she began. "Hera will always love you. And you can learn to deserve her. You can learn to love her in a way that doesn't hurt her. Thank you, Zeus."

She went back to the chariot, climbing into the back. Altair sat beside her, covering her with a large quilt.

"What did you do back there that made Zeus look like he'd seen a ghost?"