The Dark Goddess

Chapter 2

Meanwhile in another realm where the gods dwelt, a mirror-plane  of the earth.

Oya the warrior goddess and sorceress moved in an otherworldly speed as she thought about the implications that the issue bothering her could bring.

She was frantic as she moved through the forest heading for the river goddess Osun's main river. That is who she needed to see to know if there is a solution to the issue.

She got to the river she was targeting and without slowing or faltering, she dove straight in.

Diving deeper and deeper to the region she knows her godly colleague dwelt, they don't really usually regard themselves as family or friend (well she doesn't, others like Osun might).

She landed deep in the river bed hard on her feet with a thud that riled up the river floor and blew sand and pebbles everywhere obscuring her vision in the process.

When the sand settled and she could see clearly once again, she found out that she had been surrounded by about seven river maidens, Osun's acolytes, these ones would be warriors coming to check out the threat Oya surmised.

They were all dressed in all-white flowing robes and pearl accessories; earrings, necklace, bracelets and anklets, all pearls.

With hands placed in front of their waist, they had their heads bowed as they realized whose presence they were.

"Great warrior goddess, we greet thee" they said in unison but their mouths were unmoving, they seemed to be sending their words in waves straight into Oya's head.

"Take me to Her, fast, its of utmost importance" she said to them, then they closed in on her and each placed a hand on her.

As they did everywhere around where they were in the river bed started shimmering and bubbles floated all around them, when it stopped and cleared they where now in a huge sparkling palace of white and gold.

The palace had the vague shape of a conch sea shell, beautifully adorned and magnificent to behold.

more of the river maidens could be seen moving here and there going about their businesses from tending to the underwater creatures and plants to delivering messages or parcels.

The maidens that brought Oya all dispersed except one who led her forwards into the palace and towards Osun's main chamber.

As Oya approached the chamber she could see Osun lounging, stretching and yawning, getting so bored at whatever the river maiden with her was telling her from what she was seeing in a scrying bowl.

Osun's beauty always marvelled Oya, but she'd learned not to be intimidated since Osun is the goddess of beauty after all.

Osun unlike all her acolytes was in a shining light and transparent robe of white and gold rimmed with black, she was adorned in pearls of said colors as well,

her full lips was painted, her long silky hair was braided in some parts and the unbraided parts kept flowing about her,

her face kept shimmering to keep on alluring the viewer so she would be seen as whatever is most beautiful by the person looking at her -typical of the goddess of beauty.

She had a sleek, sexy curvy body that could sometimes be compared to that of a feline predator, especially seeing her in the current position her body is at the moment, she looked like a beautiful saber-tooth tiger.

On seeing Oya, she rushed to her feet and ran towards her with the glee of a child,

she hugged Oya tight and burst into a barrage of questions and chatter that Oya couldn't follow.

Oya place a hand on her shoulder to stop her from chattering on after the hug,

"What I came for is of great importance and dire consequences" she said to her.

Hearing that calmed Osun down a bit, "ok ok, sit first then, and have something to eat then we will talk, your aura is all messed up at the moment" she replied and waved her hand to dismiss her acolytes, also a tray of covered food shimmered into view on Oya's lap as she seated.

Oya knew better than to open it because if she did, she would find whatever she loved to eat most or what she wanted to eat at that moment there and she won't be able to resist, courtesy of Osun the seduction goddess.

So she placed the food aside and pulled Osun to herself, "it's her, her powers have awakened" she said to her in a deadly whisper.

Osun visibly shrunk away from Oya, clear on her aghast face that she knows of who Oya speaks and the very implications of her words.

"Are you sure?" Osun asked in a controlled but strained voice.

"She is my offspring, she came from my belly, of course I'm sure, I felt a great tug in my gut immediately the latch we place on her powers opened, its been a few months now though and I had to be sure before I came to you, so I'm very sure", Oya replied with certainty.

Osun seemed to stare off in thought for a while then she responded as a realization hit her "wait you said the latch opened, it did not break?".

"No I'm pretty sure it opened, my response to its breaking would've been more gut wrenching than what I received" Oya replied her.

Osun seemed to cool visibly, "then that's good then, her powers will still be able to be shut in, she won't go berserk" she said to her still worried companion.

"I'm not satisfied, with her powers out now, she'd be in danger, she'd be targeted and if the surges continue I fear even her father and the other gods will start to feel it, she could as well really be a danger to herself, I don't know what to do seeing as far away as she is", Oya brimmed up with worry.

Osun stared off for a while again before replying "you know it was necessary to send her as far from her birth nation as possible, else she would have been identified for what she is power latch or no, what I would advice though is simple, let's send her help, should in case she'd be targeted as you feared"

Oya opened her mouth in disbelief "What are you saying?, you want me to risk exposing her the more by sending her help?" She replied in a strained voice,

But Osun only raised her hand to pacify her and then said "Not help in person form, send her one of your hunt hounds for protection, besides if the latch we placed on her powers is open then sooner or later she's gonna be fully exposed, best to be prepared for that, with an hound with her, she'll have protection and you'd always know where she is should you need to get to her"

At that last part Oya frowned a bit even while considering all of Osun's words.

"You know I can't physically get involved with her, I can't dare to incur the supreme God, Olodumare's wrath, but you are right, an hound would  very well do" she said to Osun.

Osun in turn took Oya's hands in her own and looked her fully in the eyes "I'll try to keep a close watch on her from here as well, I'd have a maiden scry on her every now and then, you know things done here are obscured from other eyes" she reassured Oya.

"Yeah that and the fact that you are the only one Olodumare still favours the most, I also wouldn't want you to loose that favour so please be careful" Oya said to her.

Osun nodded then smiled at her.

Oya looked around one more time, regretting a bit that she couldn't wait some more and revel in the beauty of Osun and her palace.

But No, she had things to take care of as soon as possible,

As Osun watched Oya, she knew of the turmoil in her friend but she also knew that one way or the other she would definitely scale through, Oya was that tough.

"I'll take my leave now so I can go get things set in place" Oya said to her.

Her brows furrowed a bit at the thought of Oya having to leave her, she loved her company the most but she as well also knew the "urgent matter" really had to be attended to as soon as possible.

"Very well then, I'd wish you safety but that's like the total opposite of you and what you stand for so I'd just wish you well dear friend" Osun said to her.

Then they hugged and without calling for them a couple of river maidens came to usher Oya away from their realm.

After they had left, Osun snapped her fingers and a maiden appeared before her bowing,

"The assignment I'm about to entrust to you isn't gonna be easy, but I want you to do it to the fullness of your capacity" Osun said to the maiden.

After she got a nod of acknowledgement from the maiden she continued "You'd be scrying on a form of *'Iji' so the scrying won't always work but whenever it does I want you to get all details and report accordingly only to me, do you understand?"

"Yes *'Yeye', I understand, but who is this *'Iji' that I'll be scrying upon?" the maiden asked,

"Oya's offspring" Osun answered bringing wide eyed, opened jaw shock to her maiden "Oya is one of the very few deities that can spawn an *'Iji' and this time around she actually gave birth to one, if you fail at this job and something untoward happens to your charge I'll have your head before Oya can take mine" she finished matter-of-factly and with that she left her shocked and surprised maiden and retired to her inner chamber.

Glossary

*'Iji' - Literal meaning 'Storm' a few deities can produce these entities mostly as messengers, omens, acolytes and warriors, but very few can produce them as offsprings which is their most powerful state.

*'Yeye' - Literal meaning 'Mother'.