Sanguine hued robes covered the emaciated and twisted forms of the priests as they seemingly glided across gleaming marble, thuribles swinging as sweet smelling incense filled the air. Had they tongues, they would have sung of the beauty of their goddess and chanted praises of her holy name. Had they eyes, they would have beheld her eternal beauty regardless of what form she took, and marveled at the brilliance of her very essence.Sightless and mute, they still found ways to honor her despite their macabre appearances, sacrifices made for their goddess.

Three Aliscowri women cloaked in matching garments as the priests stood silently by a magnificent granite altar located in the center of the recreated temple of Sharay. Souls claimed by war, their incorporeal forms wandering the netherworld, until finally claimed by their ‘mother’. Chaos was Sharay’s domain and it was here in the everchanging void the goddess revived her once cherished temple and priests, and charged the Aliscowri women with maintaining her beloved structure of worship.

Melted candles were removed and replaced. Golden bowls that would hold offerings made by the denizens of Chaos were placed with respect at the base of the dais where an alabaster throne held the form of their goddess who, from the moment she had returned to her domain unexpectedly, had sat in her catatonic state.

A living statue.

***

Sharay had grown tired of the Marketplace, though fascinating and alive as it was, and even more so of waiting around for Valorius to show his face. As was true to her haughty nature, she felt he should have considered himself lucky she felt inclined to do so. Sharay waited for no one.

Yet she had, and in doing so grew angered and annoyed with each passing moment of delay. It was enough she had earlier words with Amunette, or rather Ameerah. Apparently the latter had been rubbed the wrong way over the goddess’ arrival and saw her as a potential threat concerning Valorius. It should have amused her, and in fact did for a few moments until Sharay found herself contemplating various creative ways to harm the girl with the severe mental disorder. Out of respect for Valorius, she refrained and instead ventured off to the Marrakesh where she would wait for him while he dealt with Ameerah and her tantrums.

And wait she did, for quite some time actually until her patience ran thin and she found herself deciding the insult to her divine being was more than enough than she should tolerate. After all, her original intentions for even considering such a backwater planet as Aleris her new playland had absolutely nothing to do with the young prince or the sandpit he called his home. Her plans, her ambitions had not changed. Her goal and drive was still there burning strong. They were simply put on the back burner, so to speak, temporarily, and the goddess found herself questioning….why?

Why had she deviated in her path? Had she lost sight? Focus? Had her purpose changed since her days of soul snares, Nexxus Chambers, and the multiple times she had ‘saved the world’? Thanks to Valorius, she had been washed clean, reawakened with new perspectives. Her full powers had been restored thanks to Blend and his sacrifice, so why had she not put them to use? Why had she not claimed what was rightfully hers? Why delay the inevitable?

Why indeed.

Even as she pondered her next course of action and the repercussions of such, she felt the girl slipping away, fading from oblivion. She felt his panic, his sense of failure and guilt, his remorse even if it was only a touch of what Valorius was experiencing at that precise moment. Such unexpected emotions, however minute they might be compared to his, were not what caused the goddess to experience the period of anxiety that left her unable to catch her breath. She was perfectly capable of feeling, just as mortals were, even going so far as to sympathize should she feel so inclined to do so. It was empathy that she lacked, had always lacked really, or rather...had lacked until now.

Amunette...Ameerah...Sharay had privy to Valorius’ memories of the girl with the dual personalities during her brief imprisonment. As a result, such memories were stored in the goddess’ mind as if they were her own, yet not a single one evoked a fluttering of emotion from her, whether positive or negative, joy or sadness. Sharay remained indifferent to such for in truth, Ameerah/Amunette meant nothing to her. The girl had zero impact within Sharay’s life regardless of whatever time spent with her, whatever memories she carried of her. The Padishah’s failing health and the forced remedy that was to take place in an effort to save the dying girl did not draw tears to Sharay’s eyes.

No, what caused the heartache she felt that did eventually cause her eyes to water over, her vision to blur only to trail effortlessly down her cheeks was the knowledge that he was in pain. That he suffered. The desperate need, the wholehearted desire to make things better, make her whole again even at such a cost…

The cost.

The girl would survive. She would be saved.

The price that he would pay.

The knowing.

Unable to handle such a maelstrom of despair, and regardless of the overwhelming urge to go to him, to offer whatever form of comfort she could, to give him some shred of hope that all would be well, Sharay blindly tore her hand through the air and rushed into the portal she created before all who witnessed her acts until she found herself in Chaos.

She was safe. She was home.

She would remain here for quite some time, the living statue of a goddess that sat upon her ivory throne seemingly unresponsive to her servants, her priests. It hadn’t been long before Sharay maintained a firm grip on her mental state and composed herself, but still she had not left the comforts of the illusionary temple she had created in Chaos. Time ticked by and she continued to wait for the smallest indication her presence was required by Valorius, but none came. Perhaps he wondered where she had gone off to, but surely with that thread that bound them would have given him some revelation of her whereabouts? Perhaps he was fully aware of her location and her reasons for her self imposed exile, yet had specifically chosen not to contact her. Perhaps he felt she abandoned him, her only true friend, in his time of need, or perhaps...he had decided his efforts with the goddess were wasted.

These thoughts would run continuously over and over in Sharay’s head until finally the goddess had her fill of the madness she was driving herself into, and without warning, rose effortlessly from her throne. The startled Aliscowri wraiths, so sure that their goddess had been lost, scrambled toward her as she made her way down the steps that led to the dais. Indigo flames burned within those ebony pools as her gaze traveled to each of the women before uttering, “Draw a bath. Lay out my scarlet silks.” When the women hesitated, the raspy sound of their mother’s previously unused voice echoing throughout the temple from her unexpected commands, it took but a look from their goddess to send them running to do Sharay’s bidding.

Her priests were far better trained, had been for ages, and silently formed a line before the goddess as they were accustomed to her ways. “Has Blend been sighted?” When one priest shook his head no, Sharay followed with, “What of the prophet?” She was met with the same response and sighed. “Very well. Continue to search for them. In the meantime, I shall commence without their assistance.” Heads bowed as she brushed past her priests to prepare herself.

I have rested far too long. I must seek out my faithful. Claim what the fallen do not deserve. My time is now. But first…

***

The goddess sat at the edge of an unidentifiable oasis on a small island set in an apparent never ending ocean of sand. Large enough for three date palm trees and a single fig tree, it was way too small to show up on any map. There were a few papyrus growing near the small body of still water that sat in between the trees, and she should hear the wind blowing across them as she looked out over the sand dunes. Waiting. For him.

She was leaned back against one of the palms, her right hand rested upon her silken clad lap as her legs stretched out before her comfortably. Within her left hand was a book, leatherbound and worn, and as she waited she read from it. The book, oddly her most treasured possession, had been guarded fiercely from the moment it had been gifted to her. She read from the pages under the shade of the tree, the light breeze catching her dark tresses to lift them away from her face as she waited for his arrival.

In some sense, what had happen to Amunette/Ameerah was a blessing in disguise. Valorius was now free. No longer was he tethered to her as her protector. He was finally his own man, free to choose, free to live as he pleased. His responsibilities to Heruin had not changed though. He was still Bel Telal, unless he chose to resign. Sharay knew though he would not forsake his duties. Now that the land was minus one Padishah (for the moment), he would have to step up to the plate. Life did not stop because of tragedy. People, especially Valorius, would endure.

She wished to see him. Wanted to see him. Needed to see how he was faring. Felt it was necessary to let him know she had not abandoned him, not truly. That her thoughts had always remained with him. That his pain had been hers, but she held out hope that time would heal his wounds and his spirit. She had faith in him, just as he had in her.

Closing the book, Sharay set it gently upon the sand and drew her knees to her chest, the silken skirt shifting against her legs from the movement. Valorius would come. She would be patient and wait. How he would react upon seeing her in Heruin again? The corners of her mouth upturned slightly. That, she surmised, was anyone’s guess.

Times Change, The World Turns, And Life Goes On. That Was The Easiest Way To Explain Away What Was Happening. The Life He Had And The Woman He Shared It With Were Gone, And Now There Was Just Uncertainty. Born A Guardian, A Protector Of Someone Who No Longer Needed Protecting Left Him With A Confusion That He Didn't Know How To Remedy. So He Did What Most Anyone Would Do In His Position.

He Focused On His Work.

Part Of Him Still Missed Amunette, But It Wasn't The Same Type Of Longing That A Husband Or Partner Would Feel When Losing Their Significant Other. It Was More The Sense Of Loss One Felt For A Dear Friend Or A Trusted Comrade. No Doubt He Had His Mother To Thank For That Small Courtesy. He Still Loved Amunette, Still Remembered Their Years Together, Only Now The Unbreakable Link That Bonded Them Was No Longer Present. It Certainly Lessened The Sting And Made Adjusting Easier. Not Easy, Just Easier. That Was Something To Be Thankful For.

However, What He Had Been Shown, Or Rather Told By His Father Was That While Amunette Could Be Saved, It Would Be At The Cost Of Many Things Which Defined Her. Namely Her Memories Of Him. While Fragments Of Their Past Might Remain, Perhaps A Few Scattered Echoes Of Moments They Shared, For The Most Part He Would Be A Stranger To Her Should She Ever Return.

But He Would Remember. He Would Remember Everything.

That Was The Responsibility Though Wasn't It? He Was Her Protector And That Meant Keeping Her Safe From All Things, Even If It Was Him. It Meant Guarding Her From Herself And The Chance That She Might Repeat The Same Path Of Self Destruction Should They Become A Pair Again. He Had To Lose Her To Save Her. It Was The Only Way.

At Least That Was How He Made It Make Sense. It Was How He Found Closure In Any Of What Had Happened. So It Begged The Question;

What Now?

Without An Acting Padishah To Rule Over Heruin The Task Was Left To Him. Taking Over Duel Roles As Guardian And Guide Of The Continent He Worked Without Rest. Scouting Parties, Containment Crews, Defensive Measures, It Was Enough To Keep Him Occupied And Prevent Him From Dwelling On What Couldn't Be Changed.

At A Time When Humans Would Be Seeking Comfort In The Presence Of A Friend Or Their Chosen Vice, He Was Burning The Midnight Oil In The Command Post Set Within The Protectorate Encampment. A Constant Flow Of Intel Coming In And Orders Going Out, Trying To Stay Ahead Of The Illness That Was Tearing What Remained Of The World Apart. Such Intense Labor Kept Him From Ever Feeling Sorry For Himself. Oh There Were Brief Moments Of Loneliness But They Were Fleeting At Best, Chased Away With Each Soldier That Came In To Offer More Information About What Was Happening Across The Desert.

It Went On For Days Like That, Weeks In Fact, Until A Familiar Twinge Of Awareness Passed Through Him. It Was A Brief But Furious Sensation, One That Only A Single Person Was Able To Cause. And That Person Was Someone Whom He Believed Had Fallen Off The Face Of The Planet Quite Some Time Ago. Had It Been A Human Or Even A Supernatural Being Who He Was Familiar With That Had Crossed Over He Would Have Been Too Focused On Duty To Notice Them. Though, When A God Phases Into The Same Realm Of Space It Sends A Ripple Of Energy Which Was Impossible To Ignore.

It Was Enough To Halt His Words Mid-Sentence As He Spoke To One Of His Elites. Sparing A Few Seconds To Be Certain Of Who He Felt, The Need To Know Where And Why Came Immediately After. Quickly Finishing His Dialogue With The Soldier He Made Sure His Orders Were Understood Before Placing One Of The Higher Ranking Elites In Charge Until His Return. Within Minutes He Was Exiting His Tent For The First Time Since Heading To The Market, His Destination Clear. A Familiar Oasis That Had Become His 'Thinking Spot'.

Horses, Portals, They All Had Their Benefits, But Nothing Was Faster Than The Natural Abilities He Possessed. It Used More Energy But At The Moment He Was Beyond Trivial Details Like That. Besides, Traveling Under His Own Power Helped To Clear His Head -- It Always Did.

Only When He Had Walked A Mile Or So From The Camp Did He Tap Into His True Energy. Skin That Was Like A Billion Microscopic Solar Panels Collected The Energy That Surged Through Him, Stored It In His Legs, In His Muscle Tissue. It Felt Like Lightning Inside His Body, A Jade Lightning That Ignited The Pupils Of His Eyes As His Heels Pushed Against The Sand. He Raised His Scarf Over His Mouth And Nose, And All It Took Was A Push Against The Earth At His Feet. It Took Only A Matter Of Moments To Reach A Speed Which Ripped Through The Sound Barrier.

The Energy Didn't Just Need To Be In His Legs, It Had To Flow Throughout His Entire Body So As To Endure The Harsh Friction. Drawn From The Concentration Of His Left Arm And Into His Carbon Based Flesh It Made The Skin More Dense, The Muscle More Durable, But Such Speed Left The Senses Fairly Useless. The World Instantly Became A Narrowed Tunnel Of Light, A Tunnel That Only He Dwell In. Unlike A Vampire's Windstep Ability There Was No 'Magic' To It, It Was All Based On Tangible Energy And Matter. Yet The Experience Was Something Universally Unique. There Was No Sound For Him And The World All Around Seemed To Stand Still As He Moved. A Series Of Rapid Leaps That Were So Fast It Resembled Long-Stride Running. The Gravitational Force Upon Him Kept His Clothing In Place And Prevented Articles From Being Ripped Off By The Air As He Moved Across The Sands.

It Was As Close To Pure Energy As He Ever Felt, And It Felt Much Like A Human Must Feel In That Space Between Wake And Sleep. To Be Conscious And Aware But Apart From The World. The Only Problem Was It Was Always So Very Brief. A Trip That Might Have Taken Half A Day By Even The Quickest Means Took Less Than 15 Minutes At Most, And Then The Oasis Was Coming Into View.

He Began To Slow About 300yds Away And Used The Momentum To Kick Off The Ground. The Leap Threw Him Over 125ft Into The Air But It Served To Lessen The Speed As He Opened His Arms Out And Used The Air To Help Slow His Pace Even Further So That As Came Down With A Resounding 'Thump' Against The Harder Soil Of The Oasis, It Crushed His Booted Feet About A Foot Down Into The Earth.

His Right Hand Held Over His Hat As He Stepped From The Holes And Began Walking Towards Where A Lone Goddess Sat, Her Knees Pressed Against Her Chest As He Approached. Seeing Her He Was Filled With So Many Things;

Questions. Where Had She Been? Why Had She Not Been There? Why Had She Left?
Anger. She Hadn't Been There. She Had Cut And Run. She Disappeared When He Could Have Used Her Help Most.

But Mostly -- Relief. She Was In Fact The Last Friend He Possessed. The Last Person He Had Any Real Connection To.

It Was All A Maelstrom Inside Him, Each One Battling For Dominance In How He Should Feel And How He Should Greet Her After Not Seeing Her For Several Months. Yet, When He Was Finally 10ft Or So Away He Sighed While Reaching Up To Pull His Sand Coated Scarf Down From His Face.

"No..please, don't get up. Why would you? Bitch." The Words Were Followed By A Grin, One She Would Be All Too Familiar With.

A fine spray of sand settled upon the scarlet colored gossamer fabric of the skirt she wore. Onyx hued eyes focused upon the pale granular substance, though not in particular annoyance. Sure sand was quite the bother when it managed into infiltrate itself into clothing, but for Sharay, it served as a purposeful distraction to keep her gaze from meeting his. As it was, she was maintaining her carefully constructed wall to shield him from any emotions that threatened to surface, just as he was with her. The grin, though heartfelt and pure, was the perfect mask as was the playful banter that forced the barest of twitches from the corner of her mouth.

Seconds turned into the minutes, awkward moments of silence and still Sharay had not stood, had not spoken a word, had not even looked at him.

Say something...At least lift your head and give the man your eyes.

It would seem that with deliberate unwillingness, the Goddess inched her head higher, just enough to meet those abnormally colored jade eyes that Valorius boasted. Just enough to scan his face to see that although he appeared somewhat content, fine lines decorated the corners of his eyes, and there was a hint of hardness that she had not seen in his features before. His youth, the health and vibrant nature he radiated had not diminished entirely, but the glow had dimmed.

Say something...Offer your condolences or at the very least some words of comfort. Show him that you care, even in the smallest of ways. You claim him as friend. Give him the respect he deserves...has earned.

Sharay blinked once before lazily turning her head aside and brushed a hand against the skirt to sweep the sand away.

“I dislike being kept waiting. I suppose you could say it is a ‘pet peeve’ of mine,” she intoned in a bored voice. “I forgave your tardiness in the Marketplace considering the situation, but I have been sitting here for quite some time now, perhaps ten minutes? Surely with your upbringing you were taught the concept of time and the value of it?” Sharay let out a small sigh and finally stood. “Considering my generous nature, I shall not dwell upon your infraction this time, but I would advise you not to make a habit of it.”

Bitch.

If the coldness of her words had any effect on Valorius, the Goddess did not bother to ascertain. Her chin tilted in that haughty manner of hers as she raked the man standing before her with a contemptuous look, delicate hands resting upon her hips.

“And truly is this how you greet me? I am a Goddess, not some field hand or one of your Elites. You think dropping out of the sky, showering me with this disgusting dressed up dirt is the proper way to pay homage to me?” Her lips curled into a sneer and she shook her head. “You were born into privilege. You are a Prince, and therefore should have been taught the proper way to present yourself to others in welcoming them, especially to someone such as myself.” Sharay stepped closer until she was perhaps less than a foot away. Quick as a viper, her arm shot out and she hooked her index finger around the scarf that hung loosely around his neck, pulling him toward her.

“Pay attention. I’m about to educate you here...boy.” There was dark laughter in her words as her free hand snaked around the back of Valorius’ head, her fingers threading themselves through his hair as she forced his head to lower, crushing her lips against his.

Not for one moment did she doubt that should Valorius wish to, he could easily free himself from her grasp, and would do so should he feel inclined. Not for one moment did perhaps Sharay ponder that her actions might be a tad inappropriate considering the circumstances as of late. Not for one moment did a twinge of guilt or remorse pass through her as she kissed him, forcing his lips to yield against hers while keeping her vise-like grip intact.

Regrets. Apologies. Shame. Those she left to the pitiful weak and powerless who were too pathetic to seize the moment of opportunity, no matter the ramifications of her actions. There was the chance he would be disgusted or angered by the unorthodox methods she took to express her sympathy and offer her support, but hey...nothing ventured, nothing gained. She was a Goddess. Her will would be done.

Air. This body does require air. Might want to stop devouring his face and take a breath or two.

Sharay relaxed her fingers and eased the grip she had on the back of his head, her hand sliding down to rest upon his shoulder. She lifted her mouth from his, but did not entirely step away from him, her dark eyes shining brightly with merriment.

“Now -that- is how you greet your Goddess, Valorius. Do you think you can keep that in mind for future reference, or perhaps another demonstration is in order?”

The grin that spread across her lips was twin to the one he previously offered her. "I would be happy to oblige if you require a bit of 'higher learning', Valorius. After all, what are friends for?"