Over the next couple of days that Mother was here. It was the best two days on my life. We went for walks, reminiscing our mortal days and on our last day, we went for a picnic. It was just like old times. Mother would read her bedtime stories as I slowly slept on her lap, only this time, I knew she was referring to Dea. There was another character in her bedtime stories, but I couldn’t make that character out. I was just happy that Mother was by my side. On the last day, I took Mother up to my room and she proceeded to sit on my bed. Like a little child I once was, I jumped on the bed and rested my head on her folded legs. Mother caressed my hair and my face lovingly, not saying anything. I had yearned for this all my life, my Mother’s touch, her loving words was all I needed. Now with Mother by my side, I was capable of being who I meant to be.
Just as I had dozed off in her laps, I felt a movement gently pushing my head to rest on the pillow. Dazed and with a blurred vision, I looked up to see my mother leaving, standing by the door.
‘Where are you going mother?’ I asked as I slowly stood up, still dazed.
‘Aidan, I’ll take my leave now. These two days have been wonderful. I’ll come visiting often and I’ll be watching you’ I wanted Mother to say longer. I rose up and walked to the door where Mother was standing.
‘But, why? Stay with me mother. I need you’ I tell her as I now stood by her side by my chamber door. ‘I will always be with you, do not worry, my boy’ mother continued as she cupped my face in her palms.
‘Don’t go! I do not want to lose you again. It was painful back then and now, please don’t do it again’ I look at her as tears began to well my eyes.
She then placed her hand gently on my cheek rubbing a stray tear from my eyes and said, ‘your eyes Aidan, they just flamed red!! It was blue all this while!’ she said, shocked and surprised. ‘Mother! Why are you are changing the topic, please don’t go’ I continued.
‘I’m serious Aidan, take a look at yourself in the mirror, go, you sleepyhead’ mother said as she led me towards the dressing table mirror. As I stood in front of the mirror, with my palms on the table, what I saw shocked me. My eyes had indeed flamed red.
I turned to look at mother, staring at me, in disbelief. She gestured me to come towards her, which I gladly did. Mother then gives me a warm hug and that, at once calms me down.
‘Don’t worry, son. I am always with you, in your heart and now whenever you need and whenever I want to meet you. Let me go in peace and I will return, to be your friend and companion throughout this new journey of yours. I’ll stay with you, just like old times, once you have a place to call your own’ she told me as she held my arm while I still held on to her waist, refusing to let go.
‘Fine!’ I tell her, at once releasing my strong hug on her, gently allowing us to create a space between us. ‘But, you have to stay with me once I have a place to call my own, whether it’s on Earth or on any realm’ I told her as I released my lock on Mother’s waist.
She then says, ‘your eyes change color with your moods. If you are calm and in your element, your eyes flame and smolder in blue, not surprising, since you are the God of Thunder but when you are angry, your eyes flame red, striking red. Son, now that’s an interesting fact!’ she jokingly tells me and we both erupt in laughter.
‘It’s not every day I see my son who has become a GOD has some similar characteristics to vampires!’ she says, still laughing as she makes way to the door.
Just before she vanished, I blew flying kisses to her and say, ‘until we meet again. I love you Mother!’ to which she replies, ‘Be good! I will be watching. Love you too Aidan’ she blows me many flying kisses and I respond in just as many flying kisses. She then vanishes into a cloud of white mist.
It was good having Mother around, someone to guide me and be my friend. However, there was still work to be done. I had yet to meet Leucetius and Ambisagrus and my gut instincts told me that the impending meeting with them wasn’t going to be a good one.
Chapter 6 - The meeting
The next day, I woke up refreshed. I had always slept well. Since I was brought to the Realm of the Gods, I had established a routine which included exercises, having a part time job of being Dea’s bodyguard, having some hobbies such as reading so as to ‘keep up with the times’ as Dea had told me. Reading and watching the news was fun, there was so much to learn about Earth and mankind.
I had learnt that Earth had changed a lot. Development was coming in all forms, horses were replaced my moving boxed vehicular objects known as cars and I learnt that there were a variety of those. There were now cars, bikes, trucks, planes, helicopters and a whole lot more. It seemed to me that man wanted to conquer the land, sea and sky with every new invention that was made. I realized that some were good and some were not so good. Fashion had also changed. Man seemed to be dressed in their finest as high heels were born for woman. I read that woman were becoming going into the working world. Working to support a family and raise one at the same time. After seeing and reading all this, I realized that mortal woman did a lot, but were not always appreciated for it. I gained a new-found admiration for Mother and Dea at that point in time. With every word I read, I gained an insight on the latest happening on Earth, I was eager to return to it, a place I called home.
That day, as usual, I went on for my daily exercise routine, which included physical and mental exercises, running the diameter of the estate, several times. I went to the Eastern side of the estate a lot as that place brought me calmness. It was there that I practiced my powers and shield so that I knew where my strengths and weaknesses lay. I would work on the weakness and turn it into my armor. Things were good now. I was now God, though it was not official yet. Dea had not mentioned it to the other Gods as yet and I didn’t want to push her. She would always tell me, ‘I will tell you when the time is right’
On the way back from my exercises, I sensed an uncomfortable presence within the estate and a meek presence. The senses became stronger as I entered the palace. Dea and I had become immune to each other’s senses. We had no issues with that but these two were new to me. At the living area, I was greeted by the sight of two burly men, having a conversation with Dea. One man looked aged, about seventy human years with a receding hairline and looked extremely tired, even for a God. However, the aged man shone as bright as a light, a pale gold. The other man was much younger. He had jet black hair which was tied into a ponytail. He placed his dark sunglasses above his head. I pinpointed the uncomfortable aura coming from the younger man. I didn’t think we would be friends at all.
‘Ah! Taran has just returned. Come join us’ Dea said the three of them stood up and Dea waved her hands for me to stand beside her. I humbly stood beside her, as I was accustomed to doing as her bodyguard.
‘Taran, meet Leucetius and Ambisagrus’ she said while introducing them to me. It was clear from my senses that there was an air of suspicion and jealousy. ‘Hello’ I say to both of them with my right hand extended for a handshake.
Both of them rejected my handshake, Dea didn’t mind as she felt it could have been because my hands were sweaty from my exercise but I sensed something sinister with the two of them. Leucetius answers with a nod while Ambisagrus replies, ‘Welcome to the Realm of the Gods, mortal … Ooooh!! Taran’, Ambisagrus said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, something which I was expecting. I kept quiet and calm throughout their attempts at provocation.
I smiled and looked at both of them, thinking to myself, ‘Henceforth, Lucy and Bambi’ I thought to myself with a smirk clearly visible on my face.
Ambisagrus notices the smirk and in an irritated tone, says ‘What’s so funny?’
‘Nothing’ I say as Ambisagrus began throwing arrows at my mind shield. I felt that they were trying to read my mind and failing miserably at it. Dea, unlike the other Gods, didn’t mind read and stuck by her words.
‘Your mind is unreadable, do you mortals ever think?’ Ambisagrus continued as he hoped to provoke me in some way or another, b
ut I wasn’t going to let my guard down until I knew everything there was to know about them.
‘Enough now, Ambisagrus! I would not have invited you over if I had known you were going to behave like this! Why can’t I have men in my home talking like matured adults and not kids’ Dea said in her stern tone. We both looked at each other, sensing the tension created by Ambisagrus. Ambisagrus apologized to Dea and looked at me with an evil glint in his eye. I ignore the look and take my leave from the three of them. ‘I’ll take my leave now’
Leucetius then turns to me and says, ‘you know, boy, you can’t take my place. I come from a lineage of Gods. It is unimaginable Dea agreed to install you as the next God of Thunder, it’s ludicrous! But, somehow I feel I am connected to you’ he says as his eyes flamed navy blue. ‘Leucetius, for your information, no installation has taken place, you are still the God of Thunder’ Dea says as she held Leucetius hand, which calms him down.
‘Well, that’s not for me to decide’ I tell him while looking at him, surprised that he should feel connected to me. Ambisagrus looks at him, shocked and surprised, ‘you FEEL connected to him? That’s a new one, Ambisagrus said sarcastically as he adjusted his overcoat and made himself comfortable on the chair.
‘Dea, if I may?’ I asked Dea for permission to leave. After all, I had just completed my exercise routine and was dripping in sweat. Dea stood up and took me aside and says, ‘you may leave Taran, but do meet us at the patio. I would like you to get to know both of them better’
‘I would love to get to know them but I don’t think they are interested in getting to know me. But, for your sake, I will be there at the patio in an hour’ I tell her as I make my way to my chambers.
After freshening up, I come down to meet them in the patio. Dea greeted me and calls me to sit beside her, ‘Come sit here Taran’
The meeting between the four of us proceeds uneventfully. Leucetius and Ambisagrus were called for a meeting to update Dea on any new updates as there were rumors that the demons were planning a major strike against the Gods. The meeting with me was only secondary in their agenda. As I listen to their conversation, it becomes obvious that Ambisagrus is eager to break my shield of thoughts. He continuously threw arrows at my shield but faltering at every attempt. I, on the other hand, read his mind and what I read next shocks me ‘I will butter up to these Gods, I’ll kill Taran, somehow, somewhere, claim his throne as mine and with the demons, we will conquer and rule all three realms!’ Ambisagrus and I lock eyes for a moment, as if he knew I read that clearly. Ambisagrus was frustrated, as he had made no progress in breaking my shield and reading my mind. ‘Taran, this one’s for you! Be prepared as your end is near!!’ That sent a chill down my spine as I read that threat in his mind.
‘So, Taran, how do you find the Realm of Gods, thus far?’ Ambisagrus asked politely and sweetly never once stopping his inquisitive arrows into my mind. His thoughts were more dangerous than his words.
‘It has been great!’ I answered calmly, bouncing off his arrows at my shield continuously.
‘Do you have any plans of returning to your motherland, Earth, back where you belong?’ he sniggered as he thought ‘the fun would start once he is back on Earth!’
I answered nonchalantly, ‘Earth is my home and where my heart is. I will return someday’. I was unsure what to make of the thoughts in his mind that was more of a concern to me. Being a new God, I had to be prepared for anything. ‘Looks like more practice is in your schedule from now onwards’ I thought to myself as I stood behind Dea with my arms crossed.
Eventually, our conversations ended and Leucetius and Ambisagrus take their leave. After they had left, I turned to Dea and asked, ‘Dea, I would be grateful if you could tell me more about Leucetius and Ambisagrus’ to which she nodded in agreement and we proceeded to the sofa.
‘Leucetius comes from a lineage of Gods. His forefathers and fathers were the previous Gods of Thunder. All were good men, I can assure of that. When Leucetius came, everyone hoped that he would carry on their legacy. As he grew up, his powers became immense as he had the blessing of his ancestors. As he grew older, he fell in love with and married Selene, the original moon goddess. Leucetius was married, briefly, to another woman, whom I can’t remember now. Anyway, after Leucetius and Selene married, Selene gave her powers to Aura. Aura is the wife of Asus. You will get to know them later. Leucetius was pressured to produce an heir but failed. He has four lovely daughters but no son and because of that he became a bitter old man’ Dea told me. I felt sorry for Leucetius as it was not his fault that he could not produce an heir. For once, I felt sympathy towards that proud bitter old man.
‘As for Ambisagrus, honestly, I don’t like that man. He comes from a lineage of Deargs. He is the son of a human and a female blood sucker, which makes him a lower level demon. The Deargs were female demons that lure men and then drain their blood. Ambisagrus was never welcomed in the Realm of the Gods, he is known as a crazy maniac, who wanted to control the Otherworld, with its three elements intact. The three elements which made up the Otherworld were Magh Mor (Sky), Mide (Land) and Tir (Sea). It is believed that each of these realms overlapped in such a way that the Realms of the Sea and Sky would have an impact on the Realm of Land, as the cycles of the ocean are directly affected by the cycles of the sea and moon. It is a known fact that he forcefully robbed the throne from Leucetius and given a chance, he would be coming after my place next’ she said in a cautious tone, as if she didn’t want Ambisagrus to know that she feared him.
‘Excuse me, Dea, you are the Mother Goddess, no harm can come to you. Why the unnecessary fear?’ I asked, really curious this time. If someone could make a Mother Goddess fear, then I had to be on my toes as well. ‘But, why didn’t the other Gods do anything when he robbed the throne? It doesn’t seem right that the other Gods just stood and watched’ I asked Dea who answered, ‘there were a few Gods and Goddesses who fought for the throne to remain with Leucetius but Ambisagrus killed them all and this has caused fear among other Gods in all realms’
‘Ambisagrus has links to the demon gods and demon world. Last I checked they are all at his disposal. Be careful of him Taran, I sensed hate when he saw you for the first time’ she continued.
‘Taran, we all live in fear that one day Ambisagrus would unleash his army on the Realm of the Gods and destroy this beautiful place’ Dea said sadly as she looked out the window towards the northern gardens.
‘I sensed that too Dea, and I will be careful. If anyone does want to mess with you, they would have to come through me first!’ I reassure Dea. ‘As for Ambisagrus, there has to be a way to defeat him, this can’t go on forever!’ I said as I placed my hands on my waist.
‘Thanks Taran. You are and will always be blessed’ she said as she placed her right palm facing outwards to bless my head as I bowed down in respect. That meeting was the first and last time I saw Leucetius and Ambisagrus but it was also the first meeting where Dea had been open to me about the matters that affected her duties and all three realms.
Chapter 7 - Fast Forward
It had been close to twenty centuries I had stayed in the Realm of the Gods. I was now living in Dea’s guest house. It had been my home. I didn’t find it necessary to obtain a place of my own as I longed to head home to Earth. I had missed Earth and everything about it, the people, the energy, and the mortals. ‘God! I miss living the life a mortal!’ I thought to myself. I decided to speak to Dea and to my amazement; she agreed to let me return to Earth, with several conditions. Within no time, it was soon time for me to leave the Realm of the Gods. I had seeked permission from Dea and it was granted. I loved the Realm of the Gods for its serenity and peacefulness but Earth was home. Dea consented to my departure.
‘Taran, I have agreed that as God, you may walk among mortals, as that was what you once were. However, there are several conditions which you must agree too before I transport you back to Earth’ Dea said before bidding me farewell.
‘What are t
he conditions?’ I asked curiously as I prepared myself. I had worn my best brightly colored tunic and my prized red cloak with a gold buckle. I creased the sides of the cloak and my tunic.
‘Firstly, you will be transported back to the place where you passed on. We call this the circle of life as your new life as God should start at the place where your soul departed from your physical body. Secondly, as God, you are not allowed to attract attention to yourself. You should use your powers for the good of mankind and discreetly too. Most importantly, you are to avoid attachment, to anyone or anything. Attachment is for mortals who are unable to see beyond their bodies and fail to look deeper into the soul. However, should you find true love, there is a solution. Marella would remain with you as I see she has a positive influence on you as she has provided you with strength and has become your guiding light. Make her happy always’ she continued in her stern motherly tone.
‘You will also meet our friends and our enemies, in various forms and from different cultures. Make peace with our friends you meet and you have the powers the obliterate demons just by your mere presence. However, be aware, that, just like Gods, some of these demons, are powerful and more measures would be need to handle them. Alone, your powers are limited but as one God entity, evil can be vanquished’ she continued further. ‘Oh yeah! If Ambisagrus does mess around with you or anyone for that matter, just call my name, I’ll be there!’ I assure Dea as she wipes off a flicker of dust on my gold buckle.