Where The Dead Ones Go Book 3 -Emirate-

Chapter 13

"Too bad you are stuck with me here greeting the guests pouring in my domain, Vivet. My apologies."

I looked at a dark-skinned strapping young god standing beside me, wearing a sand-colored army tank-top of the Scythian Army that showed off his well-muscled arms and impressive build even for an immortal.

Unlike Zephyrus and Boreas, who have boyishly good looks, he is more akin to the emirate's patron Olympian, Ares.

Severe, well-defined, and beautiful in its striking features.

I shook my head and smiled a little as we saw descending from the blue skies the unmistakable entourage of his eastern counterpart flanked by numerous battle-ready daughters.

"Compared to Boreas and Zephyrus, you alone of the wind gods that I met didn't trick, threaten, or blackmail me into marrying their sons. I take that as huge improvement, Lord Notus," I said honestly that made him laugh out loud while his brother finally landed a few feet away from us, followed by his prized children.

"I will take as a compliment, Vivet. Unlike my often lovesick brothers, I prefer to keep to myself, thank you very much."

The east wind god obviously heard our exchange because after he shook his hand with mine jovially, he lowered down his voice a little and whispered loudly at me, "And you think after thousands of years he would've gotten a man or woman as a companion, eh? I don't know if you still remember this but you have this exact conversation with him the last time you've been here eons ago."

I blinked at what Eurus has mentioned, and true enough, a piece of memory came back to me, and I slowly turned to the blushing south wind god who obviously didn't want me to remember it at all.

"Wait a minute..."

Notus suddenly jumped to the skies abruptly, "I just remembered, I have to meet Aura at the skies, Vivet. You take care of that annoying brother of mine! See you later!"

"Hey! That's no fair! No wonder he is acting uncomfortable and careful earlier! Wait until I get him back. He obviously didn't even bother following my suggestion that he get a nice guy or girl and settle down!"

The daughters of Eurus giggled as they curtsy at me before escorting their grinning father inside the palace.

"It is good to know that you are as still as vibrant as ever, Your Imperial Majesty. That's a relief!"

"Likewise, it is good to know that you are still fathering capable girls. My praises to their obviously solid upbringing as usual. Truly worthy of being called Amazoness."

True enough, the proud east wind god shrugged his shoulders to let me know that he expected my praise before disappearing with his daughters after being welcomed by the usherettes inside the palace foyer.

I didn't have the time to catch my breath when the next wind god landed a few meters away from where I was standing, followed by his familiar forty-nine daughters and a son who quickly ran to my side and give me a warm hug despite his cold lineage.

"Vivet! When I heard from my father that you are finally getting married to Kairos, I just couldn't tell you how relieved I felt!" Boris exclaimed as he let me personally thank his serene daughters again for their assistance at the Parelthon Glaciers, "You can finally take a rest from overly enthusiastic parents throwing their kids at you to marry."

His sisters laughed out loud as their father cleared his throat before bowing a little, "I resent that, my son. Anyways, now I now know why I am so inclined to have my son marry you even before the god of time released our sealed memories. I stand by what I have decided a while ago, Vivet. You are and still one heck of a catch."

I gave them a grateful bow as they entered the large palace doors behind me and prepare myself to meet the west wind god accompanied by his fifty children and their fiances, who are all very dear to me.

"Vivet you sneaky girl, you!"

I laughed when I heard the familiar scream of Eris' daughter the moment she, Mireus, and Ramnus has finally landed in front of me together with their beloveds.

"Don't shout it out loud, Erina," I jokingly warned her that made her laugh out loud, "We wouldn't want other guests to know that I planned this whirlwind romance from the very start, right?"

She nodded and rolled her eyes joyfully, "But of course. I also don't want them to know that it may or may not be I who taught you such underhanded schemes, right, Zeron?"

"Whatever you say, my love," the son of Zephyrus replied before shaking my hand enthusiastically, "I am so happy about this, Vivet. Finally, you now have your very own special someone."

I winked at him before presenting myself to his grinning father, who quickly shook my hand with his own, "You got yourself a husband technically from my dominion. I couldn't be prouder, Vivet."

"My gratitude, Lord Zephyrus."

"Also, it goes without a saying, but I am fully behind my children and their fiances on pledging their lives to your cause. It is my dearest wish for them to be of use to the empress, of course."

I looked at his daughters and their boyfriends, who loyally bowed to me, "My memories have returned but nothing changed. I am and will always count on you all."

"To think that I am a personal tutor of the empress just make my tender heart flutter!"

I raised an eyebrow at Erina, who let out a peal of laughter before sending me a flying kiss as they began to proceed to the palace.

"We leave our parents to you, Vivet," Ramnus said happily as if he didn't want the task for himself.

Mireus grinned and patted my shoulder, "All yours, Vivet. I bet Morris is getting overwhelmed by now and he is just acting as their guide."

"Overwhelming is a terrible understatement, Vivet!"

I winced when I saw what my cousin is facing right now and sighed at the two, "I don't think our cousin could last any longer, Wish us luck."

They gave me a peace sign before disappearing to the doorway and leaving me all alone again to meet the King of the Winds and the goddess of breeze accompanied by Notus.

Surprisingly enough, the Headmistress of my school, Ruth and Deputy-Headmaster Airon is with them.

"It has been eons, Lady Aura and King Aeolus," I said reverently as I genuflected at the two patron deities of Auralia and my empire as well, "You don't know how much relief I feel right now to be at your presence."

The ever eccentric king waved his hand as he pulled me up, unceremoniously, "Likewise, I am relieved to see you once more, Empress Viera. Not to mention surprised to hear you will get married! I am shocked! Shocked, I tell you!"

"Well, not as caught unawares like Aeolus, I am likewise pleasantly amazed to hear about the celebration in the next few days," the serene Aura said to me as she gave me a cool hug, "I would also want to take this opportunity to reaffirm our support to your cause, Your Imperial Majesty."

I bowed in response as the two let me talk to the leaders of my school.

"This is actually the first time in history of our esteemed institution when a student will get married while still enrolled at the Hellenic Citadel," the Deputy-Headmaster said in an amused voice, "There is always a first for everything, right, Ruth?"

The kind Headmistress nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Mr Airon. But to think that not just one but two of our students will elope while still under my care is really something."

"I think elope is a rather strong word, Headmistress..."

The two chuckled and obviously just teasing me as they let Notus escort them inside, "It's a jest, Vivet. Or should we address you from now on as Her Imperial Majesty, Viera the First of the Vieta Dynasty?"

"As far as my educational papers are concerned, I am Vivet Vivier, a demiurge student of your esteemed school. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Nothing short of answer I am expecting from Ms Peregrine's prized advisory class," the Deputy-Headmaster replied approvingly before making themselves scarce as they finally felt the looming sense of absolute gloom and dread coming from behind them.

I quickly saw my cousin absolutely quaking in fear as he leads a large group of seemingly harmless tourists dressed in colorful flowery clothes commonly seen in Anoixi.

If not for the absolute danger they are exuding, I would've dismissed them as another gaggle of curious sightseers.

"Please, take it from here, Vivet. I can't do this anymore!"

Answering Morris's mental pleas, I quickly walked towards them and stopped just a few steps away before kneeling on both knees and bowing my head.

"Honored relatives, I am eternally in your debt for deigning to attend my wedding ceremony..."

They all fell silent when I made that proclamation as if they are not expecting it at all.

"To think that the empress is from our own flesh and blood, how utterly delightful is that?" asked a sultry and devious female voice, "Our sister is all about secrecy and demurity since practically forever and when she finally have a mortal child, it is with the emperor himself!"

"I am against Elpis and everything she stands for just as much as you all my siblings but even I can't deny that she outdid herself on this one," a rather fearsome woman piped in that made a man laugh.

"Same, sister. Go big or go home, eh? For eons I am wondering if she really is our sibling at all but the way she successfully pulled off this crazy stunt reminds me so much of mother's proclivity with grand spectacles."

I heard soft, barely heard footsteps that stopped in front of me, and I saw gorgeous ebony feet in shocking pink slippers tapping impatiently at the ground as it exudes wispy dark smoke seemingly made of pure darkness.

"On your feet, Vivet."

Chills run down from my spines when I heard that deep, commanding, and primal feminine voice that I almost fall over hurrying to follow her order.

The moment I looked up, I saw a gorgeous six-foot woman of utmost beauty and power.

Her skin is made of pure ebony color, and her face is astonishingly similar to my mother's but entirely on the flip side of it.

My mother's face evokes hope, faith, and quiet perseverance.

Hers exudes fear, despair, and anguish. Everything a mortal, or maybe even immortals, is afraid of in the dark.

I know her.

No...

To say that I know her is terribly wrong.

I am from her. My heritage, my powers, even my own existence, are born from this very goddess.

In front of her, my mother and I will stand at the same level.

Beneath her as her property.

"Grandmother..."

I quickly regret saying that word when she imperiously looked down on me, "How dare you call me that you insignificant child!"

"My deepest apologies, great mother," I quickly said as my cousin supplied me with the proper title as he made the same mistake as I did now and rue it thoroughly, "Please, forgive my pathetic ignorance, exalted progenitor."

Thankfully, she seemed satisfied with my honest words and nodded curtly, "Good. Not as completely unsalvageable as detestable Elpis. Acceptable."

"Now, now, mother. Don't be like that. After all, aren't you here because dear Elpis begged you to attend the wedding in her stead?" a surprisingly gorgeous woman dressed in the same gossamer clothes my mother usually wears albeit golden and stand in stark contrast with the primordial goddess, "Why, you haven't even properly introduced yourself to my niece yet you expected her to get your title right on the first try? Unbecoming of a woman of your position, is it not?"

It looks like she knows how to push the right buttons with the dreadful goddess before winking at me.

"I am Hemera, goddess of day and one of your many aunts here together with your uncles," she introduced herself and not missing a beat, "We are here to attend your special day as your relatives. Thanatos urged us to do it since they won't be here. Anyways, your turn, great mother."

The fearsome primordial goddess grunted in annoyance but nodded nonetheless, "Very well. I might as well educate her myself since Elpis painfully forgot to tell her where she came from. Puny spawn of mine, it is I, Nyx, the primordial deity of darkness, the great mother of the gods and goddesses before you. Yes, including this annoyingly bright Hemera and your equally despicable mother. I care not for your royal title as a mortal for I even couldn't care less for Olympians as well. Rejoice that you have the honor of calling me your exalted great mother. That alone is enough for you to stand out amongst the mortals and immortals themselves."

I would've called her words overconfidence and boasting in normal circumstances—even hubris and disrespect against the Olympians and Zeus himself.

But looking at her right now.

Feeling her absolute sovereignty over darkness and nothingness together with the primordial power she is emanating that made my mother's powers look like cheap party tricks, I know she can back her pomp.

I have read stories before about how even the king of the gods is afraid to incur her wrath.

"I am honored beyond words and deed, great mother."

She nodded and offered her right hand to me, which I quickly put on my forehead as a sign of my absolute fealty to her powers.

"As you should, Vivet," she said curtly as she flipped her wispy and smoky dark hair, "Make no mistake, I am only here because Elpis groveled, begged, and cried at the foot of my throne in Tartarus for several days non-stop, I am getting sick and tired of all the moaning she is making. Not to mention the stains of her tears at the brand new carpet I bought. I will bring you to the altar in her stead and you will not make me look bad. Are we clear?"

"Clear, great mother. I will not ever imagine sullying your name," I quickly replied as she gave me a dismissive nod to state that my audience with her is over and successful in my book.

Hemera laughed wryly as her siblings, my aunts and uncles introduced themselves to me cordially.

Hypnos, the god of death and twin brother of Thanatos, Geras, the god of old age, Momus, the god of satire, Oizys, goddess of depression, Dolos, the god of guile, Moros, the god of doom, Aether, god of the atmosphere, the Hesperides, goddesses of sunset, Keres, goddess of a violent end, the Oneirois, gods of lucid dreams, and Charon, the god of underworld passages.

Together with Nyx, they all proceed inside the building led by the thankful Morris, who is now relieved that his duty is over except for the three familiar deities who decided to stay behind with me.