The Goddess of Death and Her Empress

"You will not be able to meet the Empress for a short period of time." Valina said with a small smile. "She went to sleep about a month ago, and assimilates the mist of the goddess while she sleeps." Bryn frowned slightly.

"For a month? She assimilates the mist?" Bryn thought for a few minutes. "She was a child of a merchant, if I remember correctly. Isn't the power of a goddess far too much for a human to absorb?"

"You are correct." Valina said with a grin. "The Empress surprised our goddess when she was just over five years old. She absorbed her power, and grew a bit stronger. Since that time, the goddess has carefully invested her power in her, and protected her while she grew up." Bryn thought for another moment.

"She is mortal, but does things only those who are not mortal can do." Bryn said, and sighed. "I have only heard stories about her. Always attacked and poisoned, but nothing was successful. Guards were turned inside out, beheaded, and the ones who tried to hurt her were executed in horrific manners."

"The goddess protects her with extreme prejudice, and jealousy." Valina said with a grin.

"So why was the king able to take her like that?"  Bryn asked.  It was a question that had been on her mind ever since the goddess showed how she protected the Empress.  Valina's cheeks colored.

"We were instructed to allow her to live her life, and protect her from other humans.  When that bastard killed her parents, and took her to the palace, the goddess nearly lost her mind."  Valina shivered.  "If not for Imera's instructions to not interfere in the Empress's life too much, the goddess would never have allowed that crime to occur.  However, judgement has been reserved for a future time.  The tribes of Jie will not be the ones who kill him."  Valina growled again.

"She is also the only one, other than the goddess, and Imera, who can kill one of the Others." Bryn looked shocked.

"She can do that? Why didn't she protect herself if she had so much power?" Bryn asked.

"No one knew until recently." Valina smirked. "Some rebels disobeyed the goddess, and were eaten by the Empress. Consumed their entire body, like an Other, but even beyond that." Valina leaned back against the cushions. "We can not bite through the bones of the Others, but the Empress can."

"I see. So she grew stronger over time, and now is stronger than an Other?" Bryn asked.

"In some ways, she is stronger. In the ways that matter to the goddess, she is much stronger." Valina closed her eyes. "We greatly desire to be in her presence, Bryn. All the Shadows who were sent to execute the harem are out of sorts for being away from her. As she instructed us to bring you to the temple, we will obey her word."

"The goddess's word?" Bryn asked.

"Oh no." Valina said, her eyes opened, and flashed into a black color. "The words of the Empress." Valina leaned towards the former concubine, and grinned.

"The Empress gave us her orders, and the goddess verified her words. You belong to her alone."

* * *

"Please." Kyrie said as misery engulfed her. "Don't take her away again." Gallae stood at a distance while a child reclined in Kyrie's arms.

"It is not time, little Kyrie. She can not handle the flow of power she contains yet." Gallae said softly.

"I mean, don't take away my memories of her. Please. I need to know she's still alive, even after all these thousands of years." Kyrie said as she cradled the child to her chest. Small teeth sank into her breast.

"These are memories, little one." Gallae said. "Shared memories." Kyrie closed her eyes and sniffed.

"When will she wake up and be able to remember us?" Kyrie said, and had her head pulled down. Kyrie's lips covered the young girl's eye, and gently kissed her eyeball as she slowly pushed down. The girl only slightly grimaced, but smiled wide.  She was able to speak, but not alter the way the dream played out as it was a part of her past.

"Eat my jellies, goddess! I've missed you so much!" Tears dropped onto the child's face as she moved Kyrie's lips to her other eye.

"These shared dreams are slowly being sealed again, little Kyrie. If you do not forget, she will remember. If she remembers, she will die." Gallae said, and knelt down on the ground beside her.

"Do you think I don't feel this same pain that you feel?" Gallae said and lightly caressed the child's cheek. "I have protected her for thousands of years, slowly strengthening her spirit. This is the oldest she's been able to live to." Kyrie lifted her lips, and smiled down at the eyeless child. She blew a gentle red mist onto her face, and let her eyes grow back.

"Goddess, don't cry!" The girl said with a grin. "I love your kisses! Do it again!" Gallae held Kyrie's hand.

"It's time to seal them back up, little Kyrie. Let her absorb it slowly." Gallae stood up. "Next time you fall asleep beside her, you can return to spend some time with her. Right now, she can not handle it. Her spirit is still unstable." Kyrie pulled the child close, and hugged her tightly.

"Go back to sleep, little Jhana." Kyrie said. "I'll see you again tomorrow night." The child yawned, and smiled.

"Promise?" The girl said and snuggled in to her chest. Jhana yawned again, before opening her eyes. Her eyes were perfectly round red orbs that gave off a faint light from deep within. The reflection showed a more mature woman whom Kyrie recognized easily.

"I promise, my little Jhana. We'll spend many nights sleeping, and sharing in Haven." The girl smiled and disappeared into a red mist, just like a dream.

Kyrie groaned a little. Jhana. Jana. Jane. Janey. Dozens of names floated through her memories, all to disappear as a white light touched her spirit.

"Everything is up to her, Kyrie." Gallae said firmly. "She has to pull herself together, and wake up on her own. She enjoys the dream far too much, as that is where she can spend more time with you." Kyrie closed her eyes.

"So I just have to make her want to be awake? That's going to be difficult when she loves being surrounded by Nuri and Nadya's flesh like that." Kyrie said with a slight groan. Gallae chuckled.

"Then give her a reason to stay awake." Gallae said, and smiled. She snapped her finger, forced Kyrie out of that dream space, and made Lena appear.

"As for you, my little Lena, you have to grow strong enough to keep her by your side. You can't do that while you sleep so much." She poked her cheek a little, and chuckled when Lena reached up and grabbed her hand. She rubbed her cheek on that hand.

"You always did like to cuddle, no matter the name you used, or the life you lived." Gallae sent a stream of white light into her ear. "Your body now has water, and an occupant. You must grow stronger, Lena. It is time for you to wake up, and take your rightful place as the future consort of Kyrie."

"Imera would be so proud of you."