Acheni Me Si

Chapter Five : Meeting with Victory

Leilani strode into the black onyx cave, "Nike! "

"I am here...I know what you desire. Come here."

She slowly walked across the floor; now that she stood on it she could feel the heartbeat of Gaia.

Nike held out her hand it was seemingly empty. "Take it."

Leilani held her head to the side quizzically. She reached out her hand and grasped his. Immediately she fell to a knee.

She felt the slash of sword from one side of her neck to another. She felt arrows pierce her back. She felt the tug of her limbs in four opposite directions. She felt and smelled herself burning alive, the sickly smell of burnt flesh. Blood ran down her mouth and nose. She felt herself being scalped. Poison raced through her veins, burning and acidic, it was a deadly trail through her. She feels her body being dragged across scorching sands; she felt her lungs fill with water. She was dying.

She couldn't breathe. And then everything shifted. She felt, joy and relief. She smelled the many aromas of a celebratory feast. She heard the cheers and thanks roar in her ears.

"What is it that you are doing to me?"

"I have given you victory. In your most important battle you will not be able to win off of your skill alone. I have shown you the fate of a victor and loser. "

"So does this mean at the time of this impending victory I may still lose?"

"No you bear my mark as well as the mark of Athena."

Puzzlement was clear on her face, "Athena? I have not spoken to Athena for three moons"

The goddess of victory chuckled. "Her sign was to not be made visible until you came to me and received my blessing also. See for yourself."

Leilani walked towards the reflective crystal against the cave wall. She shot a look of venom at the goddess of victory. This time her laugh was full and bellied amusement. She shot him the poison filled look again. She turned her head while still laughing. She exhaled a huff of frustration and spoke "Oculi tui, et tenebræ operient."-Darkness covers thine eyes.

A cloud of butterflies to thick to see through, all the color of midnight swarmed into the cave, straight into the eyes and vision line of Nike. Leilani laughed at her very non-godlike squeals. She turned back to the mirror and shed the dress she had on, she undid the covering spell that hid her scars. She quickly adverted her eyes away from the mirror. With a sigh she lifted her head and looked back into the mirror, she saw nothing on her front. She rotated slowly and was shocked. A winter owl with spread wings covered her upper back. It was clearly imprinted with something more than just ink. She ran a hand along the very lifelike creature. She shuddered from the feel of power it gave off. Quickly she recast the spell of coverings and slipped on her dress.

She looked over to the goddess; she was ripping at the beautiful creatures and still squealing. It was her time to find amusement, she couldn't belly her laughter. She pursed her lips and whistled, the swarm dissipated and circled towards her. They settled into her skin like tattoos, covering her arms, stomach, calves and lower back.

She hugged the fuming goddess and walked out calling thanks over her shoulder.

*NIKE (or Nicé) was the winged goddess or spirit (daimon) of victory, both in battle and peaceful competition.

*GAIA (or Gaea) was the Protogenos (primeval divinity) of earth, one of the primal elements who first emerged at the dawn of creation, along with air, sea and sky. She was the great mother of all : the heavenly gods were descended from her union with Ouranos (the sky), the sea-gods from her union with Pontos (the sea), the Gigantes from her mating with Tartaros (the hell-pit) and mortal creatures were sprung or born from her earthy flesh.