The Void

Royalty versus Loyalty

Words might sound alike but that doesn't necessarily bound them to each other

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Athena sat on her throne perfectly still.Her blonde hair was all flowy as her seer grey eyes  were focused on the "beyond" As a goddess of wisdom and war,Athena was able to explore both sides of the coin--being calm and acting on impulse.Her companion,Little Owl, was sitted on her lap as if also he was deep in thought.

She had to tread on this particular rope  real carefully.As Zeus' favourite daughter she had many gods against her.She knew all to well they were waiting for one wrong move so that they would disgrace her--not that they would stand a chance against her father.Ruffling Little Owl's feathers often soothed her but today it was as if both their fears  were catalysing each other.

Athena was in a fix.As a goddess she was expected to portray perfection but deep within  jealousy was eating her up--a most foreign feeling but it was definitely there.How could her followers regard her high priest as more beautiful and graceful?Athena felt the need to get rid of her but how could she when the priestess was growing loyal by the day?

"Little Owl,I have to come up with something but what can I do without tainting my image?"

To some extent Athena wished she would be as manipulative as  Artemis then she would have done away with the priestess in a blink of an eye.

Little Owl just stared at her with his large eyes that seemed to hold and nurture great depths of wisdom.

"If only you  could talk friend but  I bet you would play oracle and witty with me."Athena said and let out a sigh.

The balance of power kept on fluctuating  in Olympia with gods fighting for greater power.She had lost an amulet in such a battle and now she was intrigued by who held it.Probably the amulet would provide a loophole and so would the lust of flesh which affected the greek gods.Smiling to herself she got up from her throne and decided to grace her father's presence.How she loved the politics for she always won--always and nothing would change that.

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Sometimes we demand answers only to regret why we did.

Mogan,

I had never lost control like I did back there.She had made me use all the four elements on her but still she was unharmed.Was I growing weak?Had she been sent to destroy me?What was she and why would my so called master use an obscene way to get me out of there?Once I had worried of hurting her but right now I was curious of whatever power she seemed to possess.I needed answers.

My body was spent out after l had amassed such power.Okay,it always frightened me to be used as a vessel of such weapons of destruction.My insides were all burnt down that I could feel.I was strangely weak and my body was taking long to heal up.I wanted none of this.All I ever wanted was some sort of explanation of why me.Stretching my hands out in distress made my  muscle flesh ripple in pain but still I  reached out as if by so doing i would get what I sought.

I knew not my surrounding but it felt as an island or something close to it.Had I not done my master's bidding whenever I was summoned? Not that I had a choice in the matter anyway.Somehow, my encounter in the forest made me curious to know if there were others like me.

"Son why have you called out to me?"A rumbling voice asked.

Son? Me?The longing of belonging hit me real hard but no I was no son of anyone.But those words had been clear as daylight.

"It seems I was not loud enough or you prefer I call you human?"The voice asked on.

I was a little bit bitter.Okay a lot of bitterness was in me.Why now in over a century?A foreboding feeling settled in my stomach.Did I really want to know the answers?But ofcourse you do Mogan.Maybe it will help fill that little hole in your heart.My mind sort of told me.

"Who are you?What am I?Where is you?"My questions trampled on each other as I  asked them.

"Call me Poseidon and you are what you call yourself.You are meant to serve me.I must say your complaints have disturbed me over the century.Don't you humans want power?"The voice asked impatiently.

Those were no answers.I was a slave to uuum a greek god?And what would make him think I  wanted power?On second thought did I want it?

The word "son" kept on ringing in my mind.It had to be an illusion or something.

"It seems you dumb reeling in your thoughts anyway I will relieve you of your services real soon.That is of course if you do one last thing for me servant."The voice I so wanted to silence said.Where was this Poseidon?

It sounded all bittersweet.I felt like a dog on a leash being forced to do whatever the "master" wanted. Here  he was  holding a juicy bone in his hand--my freedom.Did I really want it?At what cost?I was a monster but why did I care of what the last "favour" would be?

Somehow I was at the hands of the so called Poseidon.I regretted asking who I was because the answer was no better than not knowing.I was some dumb play thing to a master I couldn't see.Everyone knew how these gods were messy in letting go of what was theirs?Don't get me wrong but their royalty felt all tainted.

"You will be directed what to do
by the power entrusted to you.If you badly need your freedom you will know how to get out of my service.So long Mogan."

I knew I was alone at last with what seemed like a lady's well toothed gold comb lying next to my frail form.Instincts told me to take it or was it Poseidon making me to?

In a very long time I felt lost.I had been given a" key" to what I had craved most but now doubts assailed.

Slave to fear as you stick to the rear?

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Don't mind the excessive use of "burnt toast"in the last chapter I totally love using  puns and riddles....not to worry won't toast you guys with 'em.
Love J....