Chapter 11 – False Alarm

Anassa, Of Sorcery, got out of bed and dressed herself. This past week had been good, there was something sweet in the air. Even Elassa had come to talk to her about it! She laughed to herself as she brewed a pot of tea.

Who did that girl think she was? They were supposed to be friends now because they’ve been chatting for a millennia? Friends you die and kill for. Anassa’s only friends were long gone. She told her nothing of course.

“Excuse me?” Alice trembled under Allasaria’s gaze like she did for no Divine. “Speak child, I did not mean to scare you.”

“Lady Leona has woken up.” The pen in Allasaria’s hand snapped and she took a deep breath.

“That is good. Take me to her.”

“At once Goddess.” Alice bowed and fled the Divine’s office immediately. It was a beautiful room, all marble and gold, but they all carried a sense of Allasaria’s omnipotence. Alice did not look back to check if the footsteps behind her were Allasaria’s.

Anassa, Of Sorcery, put her book down and closed her eyes. Auras? Four of them? And not Divines? She sipped her tea and smiled. Guests really did make everything sweeter.

Allasaria lowered her head as she followed Leona’s handmaid into the woman’s room. Leona was only as tall as a man, that was very short for a Divine. Her quarters were built with that in mind, entirely ungodly, but rarely did anyone need to visit Leona for assistance anyway. The wide-eyed maid gave Allasaria once glance and then jumped back. Silly girl. “Mistress, I’ve brought Goddess Allasaria.” Leona was lying on her bed, hidden under the covers entirely. It was a bed fit for a king, unfit for Divinity. Leona was always modest like that, that wood was nicely furnished, the sheets simple and unpatterned.

“Good Alice, now make some tea. Something calming. Wait for Alla to leave before you… return.” Leona’s answer was weak, her voice shaky as if she was forcing the words now. A glass of water sat on the bedside table and a bowl lay by its foot. There was vomit in it.

“At once Mistress.” The maid scurried off without even daring to give Allasaria the slightest of looks.

“How are we feeling Leona?” Allasaria finally spoke up when the door shut.

“Not good.” Leona croaked as the covers moved about like a snake. A small, pale hand shot and waved from side to side. “Water.” Allasaria walked over and passed the glass to that hand. The glass disappeared under the covers.

“You know I have to ask.” The glass reappeared, half drunk, and Allasaria sighed. She returned it to the cabinet. “So?”

“Artica. Me.” Leona croaked from underneath the bed. Allasaria crossed her arms.

“What?”

“Cuts off. Nothing… after Artica.”

“Olephia then?” Allasaria had seen the Goddess of Chaos in her prison the day after Leona fainted, the woman still asleep as she had been for the past millennium.

“No. Me.” Leona croaked once again. Allasaria sighed. Leona in Artica? That was the trouble? Why!?

“Is it the sleeping procedure?”

“I don’t know…” Leona said.

“We’ve never…” Allasaria thought for a few moments. “I’ll go with you to Artica on the next recharge.”

“Soon…” Leona began and cut herself off. Her head erupted from the covers, a dirty bundle of messy golden hair vomited the water back into the bowl. She had just enough strength to finish weakly reach for the glass, shakily drink the water and then retreat back into her lair. “Soon. I want to get it over with.”

“Rest for now, we’ll get to it when we get to it.” Leona shook her head.

“A-after that, I’m not returning here.” Allasaria shrugged.

“Rolling dice?”

“Like back then, I’ll take Alice with me.”

“Ring if you’re in trouble.”

“I will.”