Lost in Aestia

3. The Bored God and the Cat

Lavarea smiles kindly at Ashir, who raises her glass to invite her for a drink. Any invitation was met with a kind smile as Lavarea could barely give any interest to the festivity. She sighs while brushing a speck of phantom dust on the page of her book. How many times would the God's drink? They can't even taste the wine that the human's kept offering. She sighs, sadly at all the futile drinking and eating.

The Earth rumbles at his entrance for the party. This made Lavarea look up from her book and to the God that literally crashed into the party. She watches the God of destruction greet the King and Queen of the engagement of their only daughter. The royal family of the realm of God is known for its extravagant nature and eccentricity. Heara, the red-haired Goddess of Fire, made the whole setting feel her warmth. Her smile is radiant, and the fire around the celestial palace leaned towards her.

The Goddess of knowledge knew fully well how big a catastrophe it was for Heara to be born in this realm. It's logged on her books. Lavarea always made sure her ledgers were accurate and precise. There were three moons back then when the newborn Girhoe unconsciously pulled one moon to destroy the human realm, which allowed Queen Leah to have another child. A week of celebration was commenced because of it for Heara's existence.

For some reason, she could feel eyes on her. Lavarea rubs her nape and looks up from her book to look for anyone that was staring at her, and she was right. Her eyes met with the tall and handsome God of destruction, Girhen. His ocean blue eyes piercing through her own. Calmly, she looks away. Her eyes landing back on the page she was currently in. It was smarter to ignore him and to not do anything rash. Girhen is known to take a lot of women in a spree in the human realm. Anyone would want to be in those sprees as long as it was with him, but she doesn't find any joy from watching suffering humans.

How could she? When she knows every cell in the human body. She knows how their bodies worked and know their screams were of discomfort. How can she find joy from torture and war when she knows the politics and suffering of it? Closing her book, she finally gives up being in the soiree. She excused herself and congratulated the blooming Heara, who gave her slight regard.

"You're going already, Goddess?" Girhen says to her. Lavarea is often a shy person and would blush whenever anyone talks to her, but she is relaxed when she looks at Girhen.

"Yes, I must do something for my followers," Lavarea bows to the King and Queen, who smiles at her.

"Are humans more important than my engagement?" Heara bristles. Her words cut through Lavarea like an arrow

Coolly, she smiles at the bristling Heara. "No, Heara. But humans need to rely on something dependable in their life. Might it be a God or another being? The same way you rely on your love for Aryo."

As if his name was mentioned, Aryo comes from a group with his usual people that consists of Girhoe, a couple of male Sik's, and Aera to them. Aryo glances at his upset fiancé and then to Lavarea. He looks back to Heara and put his arm on his shoulder. This made Heara less angry but more infatuated by his presence.

"What is the matter, my future wife?"

Lavarea watches as Heara blushed. Something she didn't imagine that can happen just flashed before her eyes. "Lavarea says the humans are more important than our engagement."

"Lavarea, who?" he says. It supposed to sting Lavarea, but she has gotten used to Aryo's antics. He glances at her but does it as if he is pained to do so. "Then, just let her leave what matters is we're here."

Heara coos at his closeness. Lavarea sighs and uses this as an escape. She exits the palace without glancing at her supposed old friend, who has done everything to forget her and then headed for her temple.

"don't you get lonely in your temple?" she jumps and turns to see Girhen. She furrows her brow in confusion. Why is this God following me?

"No" was her straightforward answer before turning back to her path to the temple. Thankfully, he didn't follow her anymore.

All gods have temples that were made by the humans, here in the realm of the Gods. The temples are where they receive the personal gifts, and she could already feel excitement shot through her as she thought of the offering of scrolls and books in hers. She hurries to her temple, which was on the tip of the realm of Gods. She prefers it far and thanked the humans the built it for her with hints of lost histories.

She could go faster, but she also wants to finish the book she was reading. It was about the number of stars in the universe. The book's letters and words kept changing, and the numbers kept increasing as the world is always expanding then so are the details on the paper.

Einith!

She slows and looks up to see a fat black cat running around the meadow. It seems to head to one of the temples on the west, in which most of those temples are from the royalty. "Why is he screaming home?" She whispers under her breath. This is the cat's home.

She shrugs and continues to walk to her temple. She wonders of the solitude and finally found the peace in silence, not giving the cat anymore thought or the strong God of destruction.

Girhoe was finally able to escape the blasted engagement party. He finds no joy in eating something he cannot taste, nor does he find pleasure in drinking wine that the humans made. It was insufferable and useless to those things when there is nothing to get out of it. He is an immortal God who cannot die nor taste. He hovered over the celestial ground but moved as if he was walking. He refuses to touch Ashir's domain after what she did to one of his moons. That woman tried to throw her dirt on one of his satellites. It would disgust him even if it came from the holy grounds of Ashir's temple.

Soon, he sees his grey temple. It was made with the stones of his moon that were responsible for Heara's existence. A perfectly good moon wasted for a temple that only offers food and wine that he cannot even use. He is not allowed to think of Heara's existence as something of a nuisance since she is his sister, but he did wish that he didn't use his third moon. He could enjoy pulling it bit by bit because that is one of the sensations he could feel. The invisible cord that allows him to remove the large moon closer to the world of the humans.

There were great posts, and the door was taller than he was. His door was ajar as he left it that way. He wanted some animal to eat the offering or let it rot since he finds no use for them. Fahira could've ordered some of her creatures to do that, at least. He snaps his fingers to lit the blue flames on the torches. He looks at the throne and barely pays heed to the gifts littered around it. He sighed and moved the items aside like the red sea in Earth's religion. He steps to his throne and lands on it unceremoniously. His temple had a large awning, which he just swiped away with his powers and showed the moons.

The only thing that gives him any feeling in this wretched realm. He could make another moon, but he'll do that after he has no moons left. He slumps and stares into the sky again. His hand is twitching for a fix of the sensation. He doesn't know how his family can just live and be alive when they rarely feel anything.

He hears footsteps. He could sense someone stepping on the steps of his temple and even the door opening. He barely makes an effort to know who it is. The person that was stepping closer to him was heavy as he hears the thud of its heavy footfalls. It's breathing ragged as it comes in.

"Moon God," Aryo grins at Girhoe's pet name. "You've escaped again."

Girhoe internally sighs while just staring at the moon.

"I know you want to be alone, but I found you have cat infestation" Aryo points to the obese black cat near the steps of Girhoe's throne.

Girhoe was trying hard to ignore the feline, but now that Aryo has addressed it. The feline looks up from the meat it was eating and glances at the two Gods. The tall and well-built gods that can crush it's the neck. He licks his nose and sniffs them.

"Fahira must be looking for you," Aryo says to it. Girhoe tries his best to ignore the two

Who's that? The cat says. His eyes glaring into the Gods. Why are the flames of your soul not there?

Aryo laughs, "What do you mean 'who's that'? don't be silly, your little cat."

I'm not little, The Cat says. His eyes scanning the room for escape routes. He looks at the basket of foods and is transfixed to where he was, Who are you?

Aryo furrows his brows in confusion. "You really don't know who we are, do you?"

No, you must be those people who tried to take my owner

"Owner? You don't have owners here," Aryo squats to the cat's level, but it seems to alarm it. It hisses, and its hair stands up. "calm down, I won't hurt you. My sister will kill me if I do."

I'm looking for my girl, have you seen her? The cat moves back for good measure.

"Fahira must be in the forest."

That's not my girl! Where is Einith?

"Home? This...is home," Aryo implores slowly. Is this cat crazy?

No! The cat hisses and growls. Are you Gods?

"Yes...and do you know you're a cat?" Aryo says, testing him.

Of course, I do! I can't believe you're awake the cat says but is devoid of any surprise or joy. You're a God, so help me find my girl.

"You're really are not from here?" Aryo says.

Why would I be in this lonely and horrible place? Gods help everyone so help me find my Einith

Girhoe still doesn't make any sort of interest at the matter while Aryo glances unsurely at him. he looks back to the cat "I don't know what's wrong with you but—"

Forget it! The cat cuts him off as it takes a piece of meat from the side I'll need this, and I would find her by myself. I remembered how useless Gods are. I don't need your help. The cat was about to leave when Girhoe stands from his throne. Interest fueling his eyes.

"what does your girl look?" Girhoe asks. Aryo smiles in surprise at him.

"look who's interested."

Girhoe ignores him "What does your girl look?"

I'll find her myself. I don't need God anymore. The feline walks out without looking back

Girhoe suddenly burst out laughing. There was something laughable at a being that refuses a God and not to mentions the feline was throwing him away like dirt. Aryo raises his brows, confused. Girhoe smirks and follows the feline through the woods. It has been a while since he laughed and took any interest other than the destruction of man.

"Why are we following him?" Aryo says while Girhoe envelops himself with a shroud to keep them hidden from the feline.

Girhoe glances at him "I'm following him. you go back."

"Oh come on, I miss my old adventure-filled friend," Aryo says patting Girhoe's back.

Girhoe only sighs at that while they hovered just a few feet from the feline.

The feline went everywhere through the celestial realm. It went past the clear waters of Leah's garden. It even ignored the golden meadow that most cats and animals were entranced with. Fahira made those meadows for her little beings that she is so much fond of. But the feline was determined. It follows some sort of scent which probably is of her girl.

"Where's Fahira?" Girhoe asks

"In the party, she wouldn't miss her brothers engagement" Aryo answers, "Why?"

"Then this one is going way off track," Girhoe says, "It's not Fahira he's looking for."

Aryo scoffs "yeah, stupid, he's looking for his girl."

"Then who else could this feline be close to" Girhoe snaps. Aryo gave him an easy-going smile and points

"We're about to find out."

I scream and sit up. I touch my head and arms to feel for a bump, but there wasn't any. What the hell is happening? I look at my hands, and they were filled with soft, dry dirt. I look around, and I'm in an even stranger place. The sky was filled with stars and is purple. It couldn't be night since the sun is shining, but it released a purple light. I furrow my brows and dig my hands in my hair. What drug am I on?

There were two moons in the sky. One was more significant than the other and lighter in colour. I look around me, and I'm in some sort of forest. I stood on my feet and remembered. BIE! I touch my chest, and he wasn't there. How could I lose such a big fat cat?

I look around and run around. Where could that obese cat be? I hear a meow, and there he was. He runs to me, and I open my arms. He jumps, and I catch him. "My God! Where do you keep running off to?" I kiss his head and see that he has something in his mouth. "What's that?" I take it, and it was grilled meat. This made my stomach rumble. "Is this mine?"

He meows, and I took that as a yes. I bit and chew it and in no time. It was gone. I sigh in relief before I assessed where we were. Some trees were four stories tall, and the smell of sweet fresh air made my mouth drool. Why would the atmosphere make me drool? I carry Bie with me. I know his small paws hurt to take that massive weight of his.

"Where are we Bie?" I whisper as I look around. I sigh when I felt a cold breeze run through me. It made my hair block my eyes, and I pull it back.

I hear someone say something, and I turn to see two good looking men staring at me. their hair was weird and strange-looking to me, but they seem to suit them nicely. They repeated something, but I couldn't understand so I move back. "Don't come any closer!"

The red-haired one comes close. His hair reminds me of blood for some reason as he tries to touch my arm, but I move back, and Bie even tried to claw him away. The guy with the grey hair suddenly waves his hand, and flying dust flew at my direction. I was too stunned to move as I tried to figure out why is there dust following his orders? The particles hit me and went into my nose. I coughed and tried to brush my face off it.

"Do you understand us, now?" his words weren't English, but I understood them. I froze and slowly turn my head to look at the two. The red-haired grins at me. "you're human."

I swallow a lump in my throat ", and you're not."

The grey-haired guy furrows his eyes and sighs as if losing interest and is bored. "she looks strange."

"you look stranger" I countered.

The red-haired man laughs "I like her, but you do have such strange hair."

I close my mouth and pull Bie closer to my chest "You're one to talk" I point to their long and shaggy hairs. I never imagined long red hair can be attractive, but the grey one has shorter hair than the other. "you have such vibrant hair colour."

"Thank you," The red-haired one says as if it was a compliment.

My head starts to ache. "Who are you?" I clench my teeth as an effort to not hurt.

The red-haired guy tilts his head. Giving me an amused and curious look "You're not from here..."

I'm in a weird and strange place. I don't know what world this is or if this is even true. I should be using my head as I talk to these two. I clutch on to Bie and look at him. He is still glaring at the two watching the two. "I'm...lost and not entirely from here."

"That's obvious," The grey-haired guy says. "were you born with that hair?"

is my hair that off to them? I glance at my hair then nodded "I'm born with it, are you born with yours?"

"don't throw our questions back to us," The grey-haired guy says it with such monotone finality I just kept my mouth shut. I understand how annoying it is.

"Sorry," I say while looking around and sighing. "Where am I?"

"you were offered to the Moon God," The red-haired guy says.

"I don't...know. I haven't heard of that God" I say, honestly. I feel Bie flexing his claws out.

The red-haired guy suddenly laughs. He laughs so hard that he has to lean on the other guy to stand. He clutches his stomach and sighs. "We're sorry, we're rude. I'm Aryo the God of Pain and Pleasure, and this is Girhoe—"

"The Moon God" I cut him off. Not that I know but I assume since he finds this so funny. I wanted to douse that amusement back into something serious and into something I can use to get home. I don't believe they're gods, but it would explain the dust and their hairs. Though, they could just be crazy, which honestly, my crazy meter is blowing up, right now. I don't know how to react normally anymore. "I'm offered to him, so what now?"

"yeah, Girhoe, what now?" Aryo looks expectantly at Girhoe. I waited for Girhoe's reply too as I see his unchanging face.

"humans and the things they stoop to. I don't need a human sacrifice" he waves his arm, but Aryo grabs it before he could go any further.

"my friend, she is an offering to be a bride," Aryo says, making a pointed look at me. "she was dropped into your sacred water temple and look at where she stands."

I look down on my feet and just realized that the roots of the trees were glowing. How could I have missed that? I saw a purple sky, two moons, two suns, and two Gods, yet I missed the glowing forest floor. The roots of the trees seem to move and grow. Moving and inching up to my feet. It was a weird sensation as I jump back. What on Earth are these?

"She's a sacred offering," Aryo says

"I'm not interested in a bride or a sacred human offering." He was unfazed, and before I know it, he waves his hand, and I was fell on some familiar ground.

I stand back up and cough. Why am I being dragged and pushed everywhere? For God sake. I stand on my feet and see that I am outside in that little cave again. This is where I first saw the kids and where I ran to the village. Hell, I won't be making that mistake still. I look around, and Bie wasn't with me anymore. I gasp and look around.

"You took my cat!!" I shouted at the sky. The sky is blue now, which means I'm in a different world or something. I'm not even sure those so-called Gods are also in a different world.

The least they could've done was give me back my cat. I hear the sky rumble, and I see black lightning shot through the clouds and to the Earth. I gasp and move back in the cave. I just saw a bolt of f*****g black lightning. The f**k is this?