Dark Goddess

room was dark now, only lit by a few torches hanging on the walls, adding to the medieval look of t

t, eeril

to wonder along the walls, admiring the weapons as I passed them, picking up

an up my back but not from fear, rather, anticipation rushing thru me, as if my bod

hed voiced, it was many ants one. Old yet young, f

ll into the darkest shadows of the room. The

head, startling me as it lit the darkened corner to reveal a set of weapons on a dusty table. The weapons themselves looked both

ack leather whip with silver embroidery in the handle and a short bow with silver tipped arrow

felt as if it had always belonged there. As if a small piece of myself had been reattached to my body. I then reached for the dagger and the whip, the same reaction washing over me as I attached them to

eld house. The room was silent again, the way it had been before. Only a content vibration was felt from my weapons as they

hena stood with a long bow, aiming at targets. Evander and Alaric each with sword in hand, sparred at a

boy who was throwing daggers at a pr

as I moved toward Coach Mars, hushed whispers began to replace the sounds of combat. Coach Mars, no doubt noticing the change in the air, looked around

y weapons with a smile. “He claimed they would be wielded by his queen. Of course, he is long gone now, killed by his wife when she was unable to lay claim to the weapons, she saw it as a sign of him being unfaithful to her and she was a very vengeful goddess.” Coach chuckled as she pointed to

vander begin to bicker over their bet. Chuckling as I heard A

m my belt and whipped it out with a loud clap before intuitively spinning on my heels and flicking my whip at the du

ar up my field!” Coach Mars yelled at

to pack the dirt back down. Then with a little spark of my life force, I attempted to regrow the grass, only to end up growing a

made it over to me and frowning at the over grown grass surrounding me. “You’re going to stay after cla

o heavy but not too light in my hand. I took a fighting stance like in comb

the hilt, showing me how to hold it. “Listen to the sword like you were doing with the whip and daggers. It will tell you how to move it more

pt quickly to the bow and arrow much easier than the other weapons. I hitting bullseyes and near bullseyes the entire rest of the c

oining my body I recognized it as similar to when I pull my life force into plants to help them grow. She had me practice summoning and dismissing ea

. It took me about thirty minutes to get the area mowed back down and I cursed at myself for over doing it again. I didn’t understand why

easuring the grass with it. Looking between me and her

esk, grab it and have it read by next class.” S

he book. Rushing back through the armory and out to the hal

ched down to help me up. “I guess I win, that’s me kn

dn’t see you there. Were you waiting for me?” I asked b

She scoffed, hugging onto his arm.

ag. “My mistake.” I said, moving around them to head to my dorm with the ho

his arm from her grasp. “I wanted to hear about your weapons. I’ve never seen anyon

d for the history book in my arm. She didn’t seem to let that deter her as sh

ner. Weapons only accept one god or goddess in all eternity, but since he claimed to have forged them for his quee

I chuckled rol

onversation and giggled. “She doesn’t even look like

irritated me. “Well, I better get back to my dorm. Tamera will be gett

head, “Tamera? Tame

ea

ds with her. I just wasn’t sure with how Lily seemed to

ut I’m not so sure. Anyway, I’ll catch you later.” I tell him. Anne taking the opportunity to grab his arm after he gave me back my book

ickly entering the Fertility House and rushing up to my room rea

esk next to the door. The warm water relaxing my body and the itchy feel went away as I scrubbed myself

ing it was specifically made for drying hair. Once dried off, I threw my hair up into a bun and dressed myself in so

nd war. Like both Evander and Coach had stated, she was unable to wield the weapons her husband had forged for is queen and became enraged that he must have made them for another woman. She then took he

e drop of it. I read on and learned that the goddess sent the weapons away, demanding they never see the light of day, but s

in hopes that in their realms the wielder of one of the weapons would be found. Only, the weapons never made it

ed over the other appearances and disappearances of the weapons over the centuries and wondered what the pattern of their return and disappearances co

voice of Tamera telling me to open up. I groaned, dreading the photosho

ce bare of make up. She was dressed in sweat pants and a tee shirt

o dress up. Let’s go. The car is in the fro

u aren’t…huh?

toshoot?” She laughed, grabbing my bag for me and pulling me out the door. “Girl, they dress you, do

of the academy where three black SUVs were parked. I noticed Anne standing beside one of the SUVs laughing with another goddess from the House o

Prefect for the House of Love and Beauty so you probably saw her at your ceremony before you were assigned to F

ng into the school life okay? I was so happy to hear Tammy say she was bringing you along.

n, “Wait, I’m not j

to sit on the side lines. I told you, you need

he SUV I heard a s

ere? This is for Bea

She turned to Aine and raised an eyebrow. “Are you seriously allowing Ta

death goddess, and even a creator goddess. She marks all the boxes and as she is a new goddess of beauty is only fitting she be in

atement and at the same time as

owed after us, shutting the door on Anne. “I hate that girl.” A

?” I repeat

terview. Just some questions to introduce you to the world as a goddess. Normally we don’t do this for new goddesses but since we don’

e Anne. She is very jealous and shallow, even for a

s had been raised in the human foster care system? How would that look? Gods were all portrayed as being perfect, and when they were

ts continued. As if sensing my fears, Tamera took my hand and squeezed

ine and I will be with y

ed security a badge and the yellow and white bars blocking the entrance drop down into the floor allowing us entry. I watch as he drive

security stood guard as a petite woman in a black pantsui

f todays shoot. We are running a bit late so please follow me this way and w

rs and a second woman with a clipboard approa

their own umm assistant?

ing her blonde bob around as she led us at a fast pace to the nearest elevator. “Right this way.” She gestured for us

lding above ground. Tamera chuckled and Rachelle looked at me with concern. I smiled at her in what I hop

wn shoots. After that we will do a couple more shots of you and the night sky before we call it for the evening.” She explained to me before turning to Ai

props? What is the look that the editors and photograp

oard. “Oh wow, she’s a goddess of a lot. Well we were wanting to add a prop for each of her gifts. Fertility can be the usual flowers, love and beauty… we

have

could make for a cool sho

weapons.” I state, gaining surprised looks from both the other goddesses and an excited expr

your weapons history. People eat that stuff up with war deities.” She stated excitedly as she continued to send messages on her phone. At the sound of a message recei

mbarded with people ushering us out and into a room with th

nd telling them I need something to accommodate weapons. I tried to look around but the guy who

e applied it before picking up another produc

shing it through evenly as they heated up a curling wand. It felt so odd to have all this done to

pout my lips. I wasn’t sure what exactly that meant but I must have done it because he didn’t say

r. Before I could even look at myself in the mirror behind me Rachelle was leading me quickly to the door and up some metal, industrial style stairs to the roof. I barely

s meant to be the changing room. Rachelle led me over to the Photographer who g

ushing me behind the sheet, telling m

arls around the waist band and the bodice. The lady helped me into it without messing up my

ver before nodding approval and asking me about my weapons. I let o

Rachelle led me to the spot they wanted me on. “Yes! Like that! Show me a fierce look. I just sto

d they wanted and it seemed to be working as

unish me. Show me the true meaning of being a Goddess of love and war. Giv

sheet and handed me another costume. This one looks like something from the old Xena s

izon and I was led back down the metal stairs and into a den where

he interview with you tonight. Go ahead and have a seat

the chair. As I sat, another girl with a headset on g

e, four, three, two…” The girl pointed to us s

ther one or two specialties, you are a deity of all. What exactly is your b

When I was found all I had was a white gown with the name Hadria stitched into it. I was only a few weeks old at mos

And this

ta, Ka

ster care? Did you have good foste

as a shortage of foster families and I was placed in a group home with other girls. It was only supposed to be there till a new family

ould you have to say abou

ed a safe place to call home. And if you can, adopt and make the home permanent. I know that a few of my foster p

n your photoshoot that you have some we

y intentions of visiting the underworld since my weapons came from there. I didn’t exactly know how to answer that questio

y best with the second portion of my shoot with the night sky. Once I was done I was exhausted and ready to g

evator with Aine and Rachelle. Rachelle was on her phone

cited. The interview went well and the whole foster care thing, GOLD. We are already t

er?” I aske

some questions and fawn over you just to say they met with a goddess. If I can’t come with you, I’m sure Chloe

t me. I never realized how much publicity deities went through. Then again,

ng to bed. I didn’t even bother to wash the make up off my face befo