Alexandria and the Slavic Myths: The Wheel of Rod (Volume One)

Chapter Two - The Demigod

Her eyelids failed her, for a drop landed in her eye. Alexandria screamed in pain...but then it stopped raining. The air was still again. She felt more at peace. She opened her eyes, and for some reason, they didn't sting. Neither did her skin.

She looked around. Where was she? She was in the woods, only fifty feet from her mother's grave. She thought to herself, No! I have to get back and guard her! So, Alexandria tried to escape the forest and run back out into the valley, where it had stopped raining. As soon as she crossed into the valley, it started pouring again. Suddenly, something grappled her waist and she was pulled back forcefully. It pulled for a long time, and Alexandria fought it. She clawed at whatever was holding her hostage, but to her own amazement, she realized that it was thick tree branches. As soon as she understood what was taking her, the branches dropped and Alexandria fell to the dry floor. How did it not rain here?

"I am so sorry for your loss," a voice said behind her.

Terrified, Alexandria whipped her head around. No one was there. "Who are you? Where are you?"

"I am the rain. I have already come and gone, but I have left a message behind."

"What? That doesn't make sense. The rain doesn't have a voice. Especially rain that burns your skin off."

"I apologize for its sting. My rains are sometimes cursed with sorrow, when they come at funerals."

"Then why do you only rain at funerals?"

"Because it is in my name. I am Karna, the goddess of funerals."

Suddenly, all of the water that had soaked Alexandria's skin and clothes was sucked from her body, whooshing around and forming the shape of a woman only three feet away from her. The woman was faceless, but appeared strong...and sad.

"Your mother's passing makes me so sad, my tears turn to pouring, acidic rain. And how shameful I am! My responsibility is to protect every funeral, and I ruined it! Look at all your family and friends that have disappeared indoors!"

"It's alright. I don't think they cared much anyway," Alexandria mutters. "But you said you were a goddess...that's impossible. Those are only real in books."

"Oh no, they're very much real," Karna said. "We are everywhere, and in charge of everything. And I work funerals. Even if I don't do a good enough job." Karna started breaking down, and all of a sudden the valley outside of the woods started flooding with more rain. My mother's grave!

"No, it's okay! Stop crying! You are doing an amazing job," Alexandria lied.

"I am?" Karna stood up, sounding more confident. The rain ceased.

"Yes. But I still have questions."

"As your mother's protector, I will guide you to the truth. Ask away, Alexandria." Karna replied.

"Well, for one. How do you know my name?"

"Well of course I know your name! You are your father's daughter, aren't you?"

"What? You know my father?"

Karna walked over to the curious Alexandria, leaving a trail of water behind her. "Yes. He is a great god, who loved your mother very dearly."

My father! She knows my father! And he was a GOD! So that makes me... "But then why the hell did he leave her to care for me, fatherless?" Alexandria challenged Karna.

"He had to. If he never would have left, Nemiza would destroy every soul to exist." Karna's clear figure turned a transparent red. She was furious.