Goddess In Training

Chapter 5- Gaurgon

The moments of life passed by slowly. The Draken's head inched closer toward Ambrosine. A single tear slipped down my cheek, I couldn't believe it. We were going to loose another goddess and once again I was powerless to do anything about it. 

The razor sharp teeth neared. Feet turned to inches. Ambrosine's death hovered seconds away. 

Just as the head of the beast was about to impale her, Ambrosine flicked the palm of her hand toward the beasts nose. The Draken halted suddenly. She pried herself from in between the Drake's talons and smacked it right between its' nostrils. 

"Bad Gaurgon! Bad! Have I taught you nothing? You know better!" Ambrosine scorned with arms crossed. 

The Draken coward beneath Ambrosine, laying its head on the ground in utter submission. The once massive horrifying beast was acting like a puppy. 

"That's more like it." Ambrosine sniffed as she casually dusted off the hem of her sleeve. 

I realized my mouth was wide open. Shaking my head, my muscles began to unfurl. I suppose they relaxed a bit too much. At that moment my legs turned to jello and I collapsed into a sitting position on the floor. 

"Ambrosine? What just happened?" I asked with a shakey breath.

Merlander and Lonot snapped out of their confusion and turned to look at her. 

She shook her head, "You don't remember?" Ambrosine pointed over at the Draken, "This is my Companion, Gaurgon. Has it really been that long since we've seen each other?"

"A few hundred years will do it..." Lonot grumbled under his breath. 

Merlander jabbed him in the arm and drew a finger to his lips. 

"I'm really sorry, he always love's a dramatic entry, his people skills haven't needed to be in place for quite sometime now. Its just been the two of us. But it won't happen again, right Gaurgon?"

The Draken whimpered pathetically as it drew its tail under its body. 

She nodded in approval, "That's what I thought."

Merlander leaned uneasily on his staff, "Ambrosine...mustn't there be a reason for his being here?" 

She turned back towards Gaurgon, "I believe there is. But I need a short time to talk with him first." 

Merlander nodded slowly and Ambrosine placed her hand on Gaurgons nose. 

Both Ambrosine and Gaur's eyes closed as she chanted a few words of a strange tongue. A faint blue aura surrounded the outline of their forms. It grew stronger and brighter until the air buzzed with mystical power. 

My gaze fell upon Lonot and Merlander, their eyes reflected the blue hue of the goddess and the Companion. What was the purpose of Gaurgons arrival? There was something Ambrosine knew that she wasn't telling and I would find out.

Thin ribbons of mist snaked across the floor as a small breeze determined their path. I knew that when a god or goddess melded with their companion to  share information it would be like watching a movie straight from the others memory. You would see everything the other saw. A god or goddess can talk with their companion anytime without having to repeat this process, the god can hear the voice of their companion in their head, but for something this important a meld was certainly necessary. 

The aura began to fade, the mist dissipated and the breeze ceased. As the two were released from the meld, Ambrosine took a few unsteady steps backward. 

"Ambrosine!" I yelled and ran towards her. 

I took hold of Ambrosine's shoulders to steady her, "Are you alright? What did you see?" 

"Oh gods..." she whimpered. "have mercy." Two tears darted down her cheeks. 

Merlander and Lonot ran over with a wild look in their eyes. 

"What happened Ambrosine? Are you ok?" 

"I understand now..." Ambrosine replied distantly, "Five must give the heart away...where the gold will forever lay..." 

She looked back up at Gaurgon, "Did you find it?" 

The beast gave a rumble that made Ambrosine's face pale. She nodded.

"I must see it now Gaur." Ambrosine said with draining confidence. 

I laid my hand on her cold shoulder, "What is it?" 

She gave no response or sign that she heard me, but stared intently at her companion. Gaurgon tilted his great white head then took his his hind leg and pulled it forward. In his talon was a large black canvas bag. It rolled to the ground with a sickening thud. The Draken took a step back from his cargo as the four of us approached with great caution. 

I looked over at Merlander, "Do you have any idea what this may be?" 

He shook his head, "I have learned of the prophecy just today, same as you."

As we got closer the smell grew worse. A metallic scent hinted the air and a chill ran down my spine, making my hair stand up on edge. Whatever it was, was a dark remnant of our past, that I was sure of. But why it was here was a mystery. 

Ambrosine knelt in front of the bag, "I figured out what part of the prophecy meant when Umay left our company. A human would need to fill her place in order for life to survive. She would need the pure heart of a goddess to fill this cavity that cannot be cleansed. The heart of one we lost..." She took a moment to re-gather her strength, "Once there was a phrase, "the heart of the gods are as pure as gold". This sentence is likely the key to a piece of our puzzle." 

Our gazes met the ominous wreaking black bag.

Ambrosine's fair bony fingers touched hem of the bag. She drew her hand back in fear, the tips of her fingers were stained red. 

The bag was wet.

With blood. 

Lonot laid a hand on her shoulder and whispered a vote of confidence into her ear. She took a deep breath and with quivering hands, continued. 

She fingered the zipper at the bottom of the bag. The time was now. Slowly the rows of black plastic teeth parted until the click at the end of the bag signaled that it was open. I was barely breathing, eyes fearing what they would see. Ambrosine grabbed the top corner of the bag and slowly peeled it away. Ambrosine choked as she saw an image no one would ever forget. 

White hair streaked with red. 

A pale lifeless face. 

Glassy eyes searching for one that did not exist. 

Lips bearing words that will never be spoken. 

Umay. 

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Authors note:

Thank you all for hanging with me! It's probably been a month since I've updated, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to make it up to you! Since my weekend mostly free I will be writing another chapter just for you guys! <3 I know this was a bit more on the dark side of this story but I hope you'll all hang with me. It was necessary to the plot. Thank you all again! I love you so much!

~Lavish