Love Through The Dark

The Heart of Libra

"So why a male cat?" The spirit of Jundiin asked as she was being led down into the underworld by the goddess Bastet who had previously been her cat and companion Ziare. "The true form of a god is impossible for a human to comprehend. When the people of the old world first learnt of our existence they painted us in their image. We chose to portray ourselves in their image. Mine happened to be a woman with the head of a cat. So being stuck as a woman for hundreds of years I decided to make a change and be a male." Bastet smiled with an unnatural feline grin. "So why did you choose to be my companion?" Jundiin asked as the pair walked through a long hall decorated with statues of what must have been other gods and goddesses. "I believe that your mission is much more important than you realise my human friend. You set out on a quest to save your lover but your coming has been predicted for a long time." Jundiin thought about this for a moment before simply responding with "why?" Bastet laughed and then turned to look Jundiin seriously in the eye. "Jundiin I think you are destined to become a Goddess." Jundiin's spirit stumbled and regained its composure with a cough. "A goddess? But how im nothing but a human, my parents were both human." Jundiin couldn't believe what the goddess was saying it simply just didn't make sense. Her? A goddess? Why? "Look around Jundiin what do you see here?" Jundiin did as she was asked and looked around seeing nothing but marble statues. "I see statues everywhere." Bastet nodded "look upon them see this one?" Bastet pointed to a human looking statue. It was in the shape of a woman. "Who is that?" Jundiin asked intrigued. "That is Cleopatra. In the old world she was a Queen of a land called Egypt now here in this realm she is a goddess. Once human now goddess do you see now?" Jundiin nodded understanding how humans could become gods.

As the pair walked deeper into the underworld past the hall of statues. They entered a cavern full of boats with golden sails. Bastet stepped onto one of the extravagant rowing boats and held her hand out for Jundiin to step on. Once she did the boat began rowing itself towards its destination. "So will I become a goddess once I die? Am I a Queen like Cleopatra?" Bastet laughed at the amount of questions she was being asked. "You won't be becoming a goddess because you are a Queen you are becoming a goddess through trials much like our friend Heracles." Jundiin rolled her eyes at the name. "He is no friend of mine." Bastet laughed again "nor mine but the point remains. He earned his godly hood and so will you." Jundiin looked upon the goddess ahead of her and felt as if she had been friends with her for her entire life. When the goddess was Ziare they had shared adventures they had gotten here together. Jundiin thought back to when she had first met Ziare.

"Well was it worth it?" Jundiin's Father pressured on. The teenage Jundiin wanted to do nothing but hide from her Father and from her feelings. "Jundiin Alwarda I expect an answer!" The man said angrily as his daughter looked out the small window looking on to the street. Jundiin's eyes caught on to a small sandy coloured cat the way its light fur met the darker fur felt like a visual metaphor for the girl. Everything held a light side and a dark side. Jundiin turned back to her Father. "You know what Alab do not call me Alwarda anymore. It is nothing but an insult. I am no flower soldier." Jundiin's father raised his eyes in horror. "So what I kissed another woman? My mother would be ashamed of me? Really is that the best you can come up with? I know my mother and she would do nothing but love and support me. I am leaving." Jundiin looked over at her younger sister. "I suggest you do the same." The Young woman stormed out into the street ignoring her Father's shouts. The small cat ran over to the girl meowing happily. With a tear in her eye Jundiin stroked the cats forhead. "Well aren't you just handsome. I shall call you Ziare because that is what you are. Ziare the handsome cat."

Ever since that day Ziare had stuck to Jundiin like glue. "Ziare is still inside me Jundiin" Bastet broke the silence between the two as the boat pulled into shore. The young woman looked up at the half cat woman and gave a sad smile. Could Ziare as she knew him be truly gone? As she tilted her head back down Jundiin caught a glimpse of the charm bracelet around Bastet's wrist holding the hearts. Bastet was right Jundiin thought to herself, part of Ziare was still there within this goddess. "Bastet you old dog." A booming voice came from the shore. The goddess laughed as she climbed out of the boat. "Why Anubis you pesky feline what do we owe this pleasure." The cat headed goddess and the god of the dead gave each other a small nod of respect. "You must be Jundiin?" Anubis turned his attention to the woman in the boat taking her by surprise. "I see you are not holding an ankh this means I may harm you if I so wish." The god smiled a wicked grin through his sharp canine teeth. "Oh stop it, do not worry Jundiin he is just teasing" Bastet glared at Anubis and the god of the dead reached down and helped Jundiin out of the boat. "We all know of your quest to save your lover Jundiin. I must say I am a little disappointed you died so soon but never worry it isn't the end in fact I have something you may need." Anubis led Jundiin and Bastet to a golden weighing scale. The scale held a large white feather on one side and was empty the other. "Usually these scales would reveal if you are reborn or not but allow me to spoil the result for you. Jundiin you have to be reborn. Your quest is too important." Anubis ripped his heart from his chest and placed it on the scale. Jundiin was horrified to watch the god tear his own heart out. The scales balanced showing that Anubis's heart was as light as the feather. "My heart I give to you. To help with your journey. It will substitute for The Heart of Libra" Anubis turned his heart into a small Libra symbol shaped charm with the wave of his hand. "This charm will gift you the power of judgement a power which im sure you will agree is important." Jundiin nodded and accepted the charm which she gave to Bastet to place on her wrist. "That is not all." Anubis said now holding out the book and quill Jundiin had thrown away weeks ago. "How did you?" Anubis winked "sometimes it is good to accept help. Having the ability to cut corners is better than dying in the desert. Would you not agree." Bastet and Jundiin both nodded as a door opened behind Anubis.

"This door will return you to your body. You will remember nothing of this. You will awake with the book, quill and charm with no idea how you retrieved them." Anubis warned to Jundiin's shock. "Wait so I won't remember anything? I will forget I am to become a goddess?" Anubis nodded "what was the point of this?" The woman snapped at the god. "You had poor judgement walking off into a desert to die so I gave you good judgement that is all." The god of Death smirked. "You will also forget about me Jundiin." Bastet said regretfully. "I will become Ziare once again." Jundiin scoffed at the goddess. "Well at least I won't have to look upon the face of a time waister." Bastet frowned as she clicked her fingers.

Ziare nuzzled up to his humans face and Jundiin woke up groggily in the desert holding her travelling book and replenishing quill under her hand. "Where are we Zi?" The woman asked looking at her cat. Who just meowed in reply.