Asher the Insane

68 - Ioine the Goddess of Jealousy

He started to laugh without hesitation. "YOU'RE a goddess?"

Did he WANT to provoke me?

"And what's so funny about it?" I asked angrily.

"Oh gee, I don't know. I thought gods and goddesses are supposed to be graceful and radiate a commanding aura. The only thing you radiate is heat because you're so hot-headed. So, whatcha want, Miss Goddess? Tell me and I'll do or give you anything in exchange so that you won't kill me. Deal?"

"Anything?" I questioned him while hurriedly attempting to cover up a smirk on my face.

I'm hoping he missed it.

"Yeah," he quickly replied.

I turned a section of the grassland into a comfortable parlor and invited him to join me there.

I attempted to gaze intently into his eyes, but with no success. He was unable to focus on anything for more than a moment, eyes darting all around the surrounding landscape.

Crossing my arms and legs, I ordered him, "I want you to stop hogging away all the attention from my dear Lexi, in addition to all the other guys."

"Who's Lexi?"

"You take her away from me and you don't even know? Alex, Alexandra, Redemption Goddess Alexandra. My dear, DEAR, Lexi. And mine alone."

Even saying these words made me want to start punching him.

He winced. "Hold on, hold on. I'll gladly give up all the attention I'm supposedly getting from her. IF you don't hurt me, lady. I'm sure some 'people' would love to get pummeled by a woman, but I'm not one of those. Well, not you anyway, not really my taste. Well, not too far from what I like, but if you start swinging, I don't think you'll stop, so I'll put a stop to the idea instantly.

And to make it clear, yeah, I must admit that Alexandra got some properties that I like, especially two of them, if you know what I mean, but she's not someone I would want that kind of attention from. We're from two different worlds, more than just literal."

This disgusting mortal... At least he appreciates her beauty, although in its most basic form.

"Anyway, you're a bit late, don't you think? The first time I met Alexandra was about two decades ago and since then, I only met her once more, and that was just for a brief moment."

"That's more time she spent with you than with me recently," I smashed the table we were sitting by in the parlor, then began sobbing into my hands, "It's been so long since it was just the two of us. It's true that I sometimes annoy her, though I didn't think it would strain our relationship that much. I did a bunch of things that were rash at the moment and I apologized for them, but she still rather spends time on you than with me."

"Strange, I thought time doesn't mean much to the gods," he said.

He patted my head, "There, there. Now listen, here's the deal. You do me just a small, little, tiny favor then, I dunno. I'll publicly declare that I no longer desire any attention from your beloved Lexi or anybody else you want me to. You can tell personally them that. What do you say?"

The man's arrogance was insufferable. He seemed to relish in the power he held over me, his smug grin only fueling my anger. I wiped away my tears and glared at him. "What kind of favor?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Show me who Aini, the ruler of Alaran, is and the events that led her up to being queen."

I hesitated. Why would he want something so banal? I was unsure if I could trust him. Had this mortal ulterior motives? Their hearts were usually much darker than the ones of the gods and always sought to claim the little they had in their world over others.

But the thought of him never bothering Alexandra again was too tempting to pass up.

Finally, since countless ages had passed, she and I could be like we had been so long ago, uninterrupted by petty dealings with the trivial matters concerning everything and everyone outside the godly realm, this mortal included.

"Fine," I said finally. "I'll do it."

"Excellent," he said, his grin widening. "You won't regret this, I promise."

I procured a mirror on a new table I created, replacing the broken one.

"Look deeply into it, mortal, and do not avert your gaze, for the act could harm your mind."

"Ah, pish-posh," he answered. I didn't exactly know what that meant.

"Let's get this over with."