The Goddess of Death and Her Empress

"They've been asleep for the last week." Valina said with a small pout. "It's like they are joined together."

"What do we do? The rest of the Elorshin have appeared, and the Vhaac are on the way." Valyria said. She pursed her lips, and decided to go in close.  She climbed onto the bed, and lowered her lips to Lena's ear.

"Empress. The rest of the Elorshin are here. The Vhaac have been spotted. We need instructions." Valyria said. Before anyone could move, Valyria fell forward onto the bed, her body limp, and laying right on Lena. Valina was shocked, and about to move when Valyria groaned.

"Empress, that was so mean." She groaned. She slowly stood up.

"Lyria? What happened?" Valina asked, the nickname fell off her lips easily.

"She reached out and pulled me in. It was a black space, but I heard her voice. Get someone from Haven who was a High Priestess, and Temple Priestess. Use Sol, who was a guardian, to help settle the Elorshin, but have the priestesses organize things according to what used to be, and what the Empress has given instructions for." Valyria held her head.

"You seem like you're weakened." Valina said with a frown.

"It was quite heavy in there. Her voice was soothing, but strong. It was pitch black too." Valyria shivered. "I didn't know she had that much strength. She pulled me in like it was the goddess who reached for me."

"She might not be as strong as the goddess, but she's strong." Valina said. She smiled down at the Empress, and their goddess. Both Nuri and Nadya quietly watched the Shadows from their place as they sandwiched Lena and Kyrie between them. They could hear Valina's words, as it also resonated within them.

"She's a perfect partner for the goddess."

* * *

Nuri kept Lena nestled in close, her head rested on one breast, while the other kept her head, cheek, and neck warm. Her body was right against her belly, and her legs had squirmed to the point that Nuri had to accept them between her soft thighs.

Lena would unconsciously protest every time Nuri seemed to move away from her. She would murmur, and her hand would reach behind herself to pull Nuri closer, so she hugged her without restraint. She allowed her to sink into her soft belly a bit as well.

"She likes you, Nuri." Nadya said as she did the same to the goddess.

"But why? I'm not as attractive as Sol." Nuri said softly.

"Sol has her own type of beauty. Even Valina does as well, but do you see her making a fuss over the different body types? Sol is softer than Valina, larger chested, and with a larger butt." Nadya said. She smiled a bit. "Like us. We also are bigger, softer, and with larger bodies, but she likes us being near."

"I guess so." Nuri said. "She really doesn't like it when I move away from her. She even reaches out to grip my belly and pulled me in."

"Would you let her be cold in the Winter?" Nadya asked. Nuri shook her head, looked down between her breasts, and smiled gently. She rubbed the top of Lena's head with her chin.

"I like keeping her warm."

"Would you let anyone get close enough to harm her?" Nadya asked.

"Who would do that?" Nuri's eyes reflected an inner anger at those words.

"In that kingdom, there were lots of them. The concubines of the king tried to poison her hundreds of times." Nadya said. "There were assassins that the Shadows turned inside out. Chefs were beheaded on their way to deliver poisoned food. One guard captain and his squad were ripped apart in the courtyard by the Shadows, as they had intended to dispose of the Empress for the consort." Nuri growled.

"Did the goddess do anything to them?" She asked through grit teeth. Valina appeared in the room.

"She permitted the tribes of Jie to take vengeance for her." Valina said. "That kingdom still stands, but the damage is extensive." Nuri growled.  "You have to remember that she is a goddess, and the daughter of Imera.  She has her mother's words to follow, and can't act as though she were the highest of authorities."  Nuri sighed a bit, but her eyes now reflected a determination.

"May I ask for some Shadows to go execute those who tried to harm my charge?" Nuri asked, as she hugged Lena tightly, and protectively. Valina smiled wide at Nuri's words.

"You've been given the privilege of caring for the Empress, and to protect her with your own body." Valina made a short whistle, and several Shadows appeared in the room. "Sisters, the one with the privilege of caring for the Empress's needs has requested for the Shadows to go take revenge on the ones who tried to bring harm to her." Valyria pouted.

"Oh damn, it's my shift!" She groaned. "Sisters, make sure it's painful! I wanted to shred that bitch's intestines for what she did to my Empress!" The Shadows all smiled.

"Caretaker of the Empress, the Shadows shall obey." They all grinned wickedly. "With absolute pleasure." Nuri didn't see the goddess's eyes open for a brief second, then close.

The smile on her lips said she was quite pleased with Nuri's behavior.

* * *

"Things certainly have changed." Valina said as she led the Shadows into Krov, now barely holding on to its cities.

"Their tall walls hold out for a while, but the tribes of Jie are not interested in those places yet." Valthyria said. "If they were, those walls would have been pulled down already."

"True enough. They want the food, the livestock, and the accumulated wealth these people hoarded." Valjhana said softly. "Come on. These things don't interest me. Nuri wants those bitches dead." She licked her lips.

"We all want those bitches dead. They may not taste that good though." Valina said. "Nothing like our sisters from Haven. These things have been marinated in perfumed oils for a long time. We may need to skin them to get to the good meat." Valjhana pouted.

"It's fine. I don't want to ruin my appetite. Some of the Asmarian guardians and priestesses from Haven have come to the temple." Valjhana said and grinned. "Their bodies have always been robust, and delicious." Valina growled her way.

"Not until the goddess allows us. We have to go home to eat. They have a duty to do. Sol has been allowed to mingle with us, but not them." Valina said firmly. "If the goddess or Empress allows it, then we can feast. For now, control yourself. You've already seen what happened to Syl." Valjhana shivered and became visibly pale.

"Yeah. Syl. Taken to Gallae after the Empress weakened her core to the brink of true death." Valjhana shivered again. "Gallae. Stronger than the goddess, and even Imera herself." To the Others of Haven, Gallae was an unknown entity, and a terrifying existence. Valina pondered for a few seconds.

"I wonder what Syl is going through now."