COPG : TIME

 

COPG : TIME

 

A/N : Ayasha and Ishtar have yet another conversation. They both feel that they are lacking time. The urgency has pushed them to their worst behaviour and yet in the midst of everything, siblings are trying to find common ground.

Xxxx

 

Ishtar felt the salty wind blow on his face, making his black locks whip it hard. He stood stoically before the wild ocean, witnessing its anger, and taking its waves in full force, perhaps, to feel his departed brother’s “presence” in what was left behind. Leviathan was dead, there was no denying it. His own hubris led him to his death by the hands of the Sin. Yes, Ishtar took this death worse than he wanted to. He hated his brother, but he did not wish him dead by the hands of someone else, especially not by the hands of his enemies.  The ocean was angry, and so was the sky that had covered itself with grey clouds, charged with rain that had not fallen just yet. 

 

The god outstretched his arms from each side of his body, eyes closed as he was picturing his brother standing before him. The meatsuit he was wearing, was wearing a nice black suit that enhanced the otherworldly beauty of the god. He did not mind being soaked with water, for he knew that with a flick of his wrist, the fabric would be dried out. Instead, he only focused on Leviathan, who was standing in silence before him, looking sternly at him, as if he were already pointing fingers at him. What would he have said anyway if he had been alive? He had warned Ishtar about their sister and her devouring ambition. He had forced the god to face his emotions regarding Elpis, his desire for his sister and the jealousy and heartbreak that allowed for him to curse her.

 

Leviathan would have been angry at what Ishtar did with his pieces of advice. He didn’t listen to him, if anything, he did the opposite. How could he have reacted anyway, when most of the pantheon was gone? The action of two, brought the pantheon to the brink of extinction and it was too late to change things. The most Ishtar could hope for, was to have their mother, Gaea, forgive their action and have her come home. How could the Pantheon thrive without their All-Mother inside?  The New All-Father was hoping that his sister Elpis would be defeated -there was no reasoning with her and he understood it now- and he would be able to restore the pantheon to its former glory.  Yet, he could still feel the judgemental gaze of his departed brother on his frame and an anguish that was holding onto his heart. He snarled as he felt the gaze of his sister Ayasha. He sighed and turned around so he could face her.

 

Ayasha was indeed joining him, unfazed by the brutal ocean and the huge waves that were crashing down against the shore. Instead, she had both hands on her waist, her green orbs were darting at him. He lifted a brow, surprised that his sister didn’t even try to hide her anger at this point. He tilted his head to the side, his long black wet locks fell on his shoulders and he snarled at her. She wouldn’t come to him and have demands when he had demands on his own. They had just barely started to reconcile, why would she come and ruin their efforts?

 

“I have been looking for you. I should have guessed you would have spent your time here, close to our dead brother rather than with me.”

 

“Ayasha, your quips won’t get to me this time. Say what you want to say and let’s go from there.”

 

“Luckily for you, brother, I am not looking for a fight. We are running out of time.” -She admitted, her eyes averted from his face to the floor. - “I still can’t find Elpis, but I can feel that she is becoming stronger by the minute.”

 

“What makes you think so?” -He asked, furrowing his brows, and crossing his arms above his chest. -

 

“My minions noticed an unusual activity on Earth. I have investigated myself and could feel the sin’s energy signature and our sister’s. Elpis was there, on Earth and together they caused chaos...”

“Chaos you say?”

 

“Yes… I choked when I stepped into the place. I could feel their power  suffocating me out there.” -She paused for a minute and then looked back at Ishtar, her green orbs lighting up- “Why—why are you here?”

 

“I thought you had it figure out.” -He teased her, walking towards her so he could close the distance between the two of them.- “I needed a moment for myself.”

 

“In front of the ocean?” -She curbed a brow.-

 

“It’s the only place that seems to be in tune with me. The ocean is wild,free, and nobody can possess it.”

 

“Leviathan could.” -She walked towards him and closed the distance between the two of them. “But he is dead now." -He noted the lack of emotions in the voice of the goddess. it was no scret that she didn't like Leviathan and given how he didn't trust her, Ishtar understood why. She resumed talking. " I know he didn’t trust me, he never could but you are not like him, Brother. You are not him. I need to know if you do trust me Ishtar.”

"I understand, sister-mine." He said as he put both hands on her shoulders. she shuddered and rolled her head to the side. She was upset, as clear as day and she needed answer. she moistened her lips and then looked up to his face again. "You are cornered, we all are. I had issues with you, a lack of clarity as well. I saw through you. Leviathan might have been an asshole, he wasn't going around with baseless claims. You manipulated me. I understand Ayasha, but I'd like the truth for once. Why did you manipulate me into killing our father? into cursing Elpis?"

She didn't know what to make of his behaviour, he was serious and she could feel the power of his engulfing her. Maybe he had been waiting for her to come here and maybe he'd casted a spell without her knowledge. She started to panic at first, her eyes glowed even harder and her breathing became more laboured.

"We deserved better than what we had. With everything you were, you would have still been looked upon with disdain and I wasn't even considered. I wanted glory  I wanted to prove the whole universe that I was powerful and so were you."

"That doesn't sound like you, to think of me. I asked for the truth, Ayasha. I need the truth to move forward from now." -He manifested his  scepter, which made the goddess shiver and run her hand over  his chest. She was feeling danger, and realized that he was willing and ready to get rid of her if he didn't get the answer he wanted. what happened to him?-

"I--- I wanted all. I was willing to sacrifice anything and everything to achieve my goal. I wanted all.... I want the whole world, I want the universe and I want the universe to respect me." She furrowed her brows and lowered her head. "Khaos was limited, outdated.He would have prevented us.../me/ from getting what I really wanted. So yes, I did it because I wanted to get rid of anyone who would have dared to stand in my way." She paused and then swallowed a lump. "I chose you because you were just like me, you would not have been hard to convince. I knew of your feelings for our sister and used it to gain your trust, rile you up because you would see the truth." -She sighed and bumped her fist against his chest.- "I used you. I admit. I was vindictive and angry at the universe. I grew closer to you and some of the feelings I have are true. But Since you want to know the truth, I am not in love with you, I am not afraid of you... I think you can crush our enemies and we can be victorious."

"Finally, some truth from your lips. I was nothing but a pawn for you. Leviathan saw your devouring ambition and it took me a while to come to terms with the fact you don't love me."

"Are you mad?" -She inquired, her eyes looked up tohis face and she  swallowed a hard lump.-

"Not anymore. I can work with the truth. You asked me if I could trust you." -She nodded- "Now, I do. I hear you, we will need to ready our troops and prepare for our sister. Since we can't find her, I assume she would come to us, and we will meet her."

"Do you believe we can defeat her?" Ayasha asked, her voice breaking and betraying her fear. Ishtar was calm, calmer than ever and he hit the trident against the floor sending shockwaves after shockwaves "Nevermind..." 

What else could she say, when her brother had demonstrated his power. He was ready to face his opponents and she was unable to see what he was really thinking of. perhaps the god of war and the New All-Father was thinking of punishing her after all was said and done. it was a gambit, to have told him the whole truth, but the blonde goddess knew that she had no other choice but to make this decision. Only time would tell what would happen next... and time was short on their hands. 

Chronicles of the primeval gods: Life and Death of Gaea : Her supremacy

A/N : I'm having a lot of fun diving into Gaea's head. It's no secret that the All-Mother has been fearing for her life. The threat comes in the weirdest shapes lately.

XXXX

Somewhere in the Philippines, at another random orphanage. 

Gaea was still upset at her daughter's visit. For the first time in her life, Ayasha had been honest with her and spat the truth at her face. It didn't sit well with the All-Mother because her image was shattered. She wasn't the benevolent creature she made herself be. There had been love, to some extent. There had been devotion as well. She had loved her children, enough to raise them into the adults they were. She did love Elpis, perhaps in the most genuine way. She did love her husband and thus more than anything. Humans? Gaea loved humans and did her best to protect them but she only loved them as they loved their pets. They were nothing but a source of energy for the goddess since they worshipped her whether they realized it or not. Ayasha was right. If she had another source of energy, Gaea would have abandoned them and hide in a better place.

The realization that her own daughter saw through the mask of love and benevolence, brought the All-mother to her knees. Ayasha was right about something else, she was scared of Elpis' retribution. For millennia, she felt guilty -or thought she did-, she wanted to present herself as the only person who was truly on Elpis' side but facts spoke more than any words could ever speak. The truth, as told by Ayasha, was that Gaea was well aware of what her children wanted to do. A long time before they killed Khaos, Gaea eavesdropped on a conversation between Ayasha and Ishtar and decided to do nothing, to prevent the death of her beloved. She didn't prevent the cursing of her supposedly « beloved » child. She let them do. She let them kill the love of her life and curse her baby. Why was that?

She was the one who made sure Elpis wasn't aware of her true abilities. She was the one who talked to Khaos -who was definitely loving his child and wanted her to flourish- into managing Elpis' powers so they wouldn't become out of control. Deep down, she was scared of what the perfect combination between Creation and Destruction would be. A child born out of true love? A child loved by their siblings? A child with the power of this magnitude was a dangerous child. She was proven right when news of the complete destruction of a Pantheon by herself and without god-killing weapons. Elpis was to be feared. She was to be contained and if she were to be killed then Gaea wouldn't oppose it. With power such as Elpis, it only was a matter of time before she wanted to become more...And Gaea felt that time had come.

Now that she was free of her shackles and now that she was upset and filled with rage, her powers quickly grew. Gaea only felt her once, those last few months, but it was enough for her to realize the increased level of power; Elpis was now teasing her levels and if she wasn't careful, she could overcome her. Gaea ran her hand through her long black locks as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her breathing was hard, more labored than usual as she was staring at the piece of glass. Her eyes, green like a leaf, were glowing brightly as the pressure around her frame increased and broke the glass into pieces. She had visions... it was the last nail in her coffin, but she saw her daughter, ruling over the universe with a crown on her head and the sin by her side calling itself « Emperor ». The sight was frightening as her daughter was wearing Gaea's crown and had her hands and feet soaked with blood -the all mother's blood- that kept creating life from the floor it touched.-

The same vision happened ever since Elpis was set free. Gaea couldn't ignore them. She had tried but it didn't work. The dreams became more and more present, more realistic, and scarier. It felt like a warning, and fear was disfiguring the deity. Her features, usually beautiful and soft, turned hard, cold and ugly which made her eyes burn brighter. The glass exploded and she cursed under her breath. Ayasha was right, she was terrified because she saw something she never expected from Elpis: Her supremacy.

-TBC-

Chronicles of the primeval gods: Life and Death of Elpis: The Dark influencer

Pride corrupted the goddess, at least that was the official story. He was the mean weapon built by Hades who took her innocence away. He was the evil who found ways into the cracks of her soul, tainting it with his venom, invading her with his bile. In a way, the Sin was just that. He was the one who corrupted the goddess and brought to the surface the darkness within her. He had her taste blood for the first time and she never could back down from wanting more but Pride never implanted the seeds of darkness inside Elpis. He didn't have to corrupt what was already there. Elpis was so much more than what he siblings expected her to be. Sure, she had a soft side, a loving side who would take care of the gods who lived with her and the human souls she attached herself to. Underneath the surface, there was more.

Pride corrupted the goddess, but not in the ways people thought he did. When he had her taste blood for the first time, when he had her witness the decimation of an enemy, it awoke something within her loins. The blood on his fingers, the husky voice he spoke to her after he had dispatched his enemy, the sensual and electric touch of his sent shivers down her spine. She was awakened at this moment and made aware of her own darkness that lied beneath the surface. Elpis was bloodthirsty, vengeful, with a taste for power and a hunger for domination. Elpis' darkness rose from ashes and engulfed her heart when she was near the Sin. But unlike him, she was balanced. It only was when anger suffocated her that Elpis truly exposed her darker side and embrace destruction. Pride was thrilled, so he encouraged her to let go of her self-control and wrap herself in the veil of lust and anger. He enjoyed the piercing gaze of hers when another one dared to claim him as hers. He enjoyed the most when she went on a rampage against the Sumerian Pantheon and wrecked havoc on them. There was darkness inside of her, and Light a balance made flesh. 

Lust and Elpis : (Thank you solo)

A/N: So. This is a little something, nothing too big, nothing too impactful. Just me musing around and ending up thinking of what we talked about a while ago. It's a potential angle but most importantly, just my way to say thank you for your kindness (it's a one-shot if you prefer). I just hope you will like it and that I didn't butcher too much Lust.

Xxxxxxx

Earth, Amazonian forest, virgin land.

« My My My...I have never seen you in such a sombre mood. »

Elpis felt the change of atmosphere prior to Luxuria's arrival. There always was a sparkle in the air, something electric that announced the arrival of the sin. She, who usually was cheerful and kind had a face akin to those worn during a trial. She was angry. Lust noticed the difference in the atmosphere as well when she appeared in their usual meeting spot. Instead of warmth and kindness, the air was cold, the plants were withering away and Elpis's face was...sinister to say the least. It made the sin lift her blonde brow and cross her arms over her chest. She never saw Elpis like this before and didn't know what to make of it. The elder goddess glanced at her. Lust was extremely beautiful. Her vessel had luscious blonde hair that teased the small of her back, a fit and curvaceous figure that would make any soul quiver at her sight. Her eyes flashed pink light when she was excited or annoyed which always attracted the gaze on her. She was always dressing accordingly to her mood and today, it was a short skin-tight white sleeveless dress that caught her attention. Elpis couldn't deny the beauty of the sin, it never occurred to her to think of her as anything less than exquisite but something was twisted.

She embodied lust...something that Sitaa, the elder goddess of Love called a twisted version of Love. She was desire made flesh. The desire to own, to take, to have. Primeval gods, save some of them, hated the Sins they saw as an abomination. They were Hades' creations meant to slay the gods and allow him to rule over the Olympian pantheon. As long as it was contained within the Olympian pantheon, the primaeval gods didn't consider the Sins as to be actual threats but as soon as Hades was killed by Pride, everything changed. Suddenly, the Sins became the enemies they had to eliminate. Primeval gods were the first gods, the first of all creation. Chaos was born someday and created Gaea. Together they created life, planets, offsprings who embodied an elemental aspect of everything. Elpis was their last born. Naive, innocent, kind and warm. She wasn't aware of her power, of how much it impacted on the primaeval gods and humans alike. She indiscriminately gave hope to criminals and saints alike, worked together with the gods of wars of all the pantheons to induce Hope in the heart of the soldiers who fought wars in their names. She was the light.... until she wasn't. Lust witnessed the destruction of the Sumerian Pantheon by the hands of that former shy goddess. She somehow.. encouraged her to let her anger flow.

How did their relationship start? They were an odd pair. The goddess and the sin met one day on Earth while Elpis was walking among men and noticed an unusual energy signature. She knew she was facing a so-called enemy but curiosity took the best of her. Unable to hate without having a solid reason to do so, the curious goddess took it upon herself to befriend the sin. Her bold move towards Lust caught the sin's curiosity. She had been in front of gods before, made them submit to her will but never before had she met a primaeval god. She felt the raw power inside of Elpis and was wondering why she didn't tap into it. She sensed the darkness kept deep inside and how unaware of it the goddess seemed to be. Luxuria realized that there was a potential benefit to have from knowing such a powerful being. So they started to meet regularly, at the very same place, isolated from mankind and gods alike. Lust would never admit that she enjoyed the goddess company, let alone that she enjoyed watching her blossom into a more mature woman. It became obvious that the primaeval gods groomed Elpis into becoming obedient and being gullible enough to do their bidding. Hope was a powerful tool... but even more powerful than Hope was despair. And Lust decided to unleash it and see how truly powerful her new friend was.

Did she do it to defy the primaeval gods or did she do it in order to set Elpis free from their control? She couldn't tell and didn't want to think about it. Maybe she truly felt affection towards her friend, maybe she didn't.. it didn't matter. However, what mattered was the spectacular result of a free Elpis wreaking havoc on the Sumerian Pantheon. Lust relished in the sight of her friend bringing the pantheon to its knee. She relished in the pleasure Elpis took in destroying them and even more to the sight of Elpis fighting and slaying their All-Father. Elpis' raw power was on full display and it was glorious to witness. Even more so when she came back to their secret hideout and told her the reactions of the other gods. Some were supportive of her like Ishtar the god of war, but most feared what they saw. They feared the sight of her blood-covered body walking towards the All-Father chambers with the heart of the Sumerian All-Father in her hands and they forbade her to ever use this form again, like Leviathan, the god of the Ocean did. Elpis lamented that she would never fully be herself if they weren't able to accept that side of her and Lust told her that if they couldn't, she would. So what was happening today? Why would the usual sweet and kind gorgeous goddess of Light feel so gloomy and dark?

« Quit pretending you care Lust. I know you. I know you very well. You only care about yourself. Your plans.. your desires. » -She didn't even look at her and kept holding the whithering flower in her hand. She tilted her head, her pink locks falling onto her shoulders, her eyes glowing brightly but instead of a warm light, it was cold as the coldest places in Hades. Lust furrowed her brows.

« This isn't funny. » She said walking closer to Asma who was still baring her back at her. « What is happening? »

« You want to know, don't you? Rest assured, I am not angry at you. If I were, I would have unmade you and you would have to wait until the only sibling who tolerates you makes you again. » She sneered between her teeth.

« Are we going to do it again? Argue until you finally tell me what's wrong with you? I don't have time to play Elpis. »

« This isn't a game! » She yelled before she turned around. « This isn't a game Luxuria! I am angry.. and...upset.. and grieving. » She said crushing the flower with her fist. « But I have to be smart about it so the only place I could go to was this one.. our safe haven. » She said furrowing her brows. Lust uncrossed her arms and walked towards the goddess.

« Look at me. » Elpis shook her head. « You need to calm down. I can help you with that. Look at me. » The goddess looked away for a minute before she resolved to look at Lust. The Sin grabbed her cheeks with her hand and her eyes brightly flashed pink. « What is it that you desire? »

« Revenge... »

« What happened? » Curiosity was taking the best of the Sin who realized that something huge was happening and if she played her part well, it could end up benefiting her and Pride. « Talk to me. »

« There is...The All-Father was killed and the All-mother Gaea was exiled on Earth. Ishtar, the god of war and new All-Father wants to wage a war on you and your siblings...They know...I have been seeing you and I have been... » She swallowed a lump. » I sense a civil war...Most want to avenge our fallen All-Father, most want to punish me for being your friend. Isthar tried to... » Lust noticed the torn clothes, the dishevelled hair and the bruise in both Elpis wrists and on her cheek. « ...make me his wife. I want to avenge myself. I need him to pay for what he tried to do. I just... » She bit back a sob and pulled away from Lust whose eyes were wide open.

She felt it, the anger and fear Elpis experienced. She realized that the manifestation of the primaeval goddess of despair was due to her fear, as a defence mechanism and usually Lust wouldn't care. She wouldn't care about anything or anyone else but her and Pride. They never really talked about how the pink haired goddess felt about the sins, or about Lux in peculiar. They bickered at times and enjoyed calling out each other but was it friendship? Was it true friendship? Lust saw her as a means to an end, at least that was what she kept telling herself. She would use Elpis until she got the upper hand. The primaeval gods were a much bigger target than any other gods and she believed that if she could get rid of the threat they posed then she would have earned her place in Pride's heart, or mind.. or at least, his approval.

Elpis was a lonely goddess, not lonely as in she had family and they cared a great deal about her most of the time. She never had friends, never had anyone to care fo her and did consider Lust her friend. Their friendship was peculiar to say the very least, but the goddess genuinely cared for Lust. She believed they were friends and while she wouldn't help her destroy the World or eradicate mankind -if that was what she wanted to do- she would help protect her. It had never been said out loud but Elpis felt this way for her even though she was convinced Lust didn't see more than an asset in her. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she wasn't. Now that Elpis world was crumbling down with nothing but war and violence, she was lost, confused and afraid. Now that her only friend and Lust's family was also in danger, Elpis was wondering where she had to stand and what she had to do. She didn't want the sins to be destroyed for she believed they had souls. They weren't the mindless tools her pantheon made out of them. They were more than that. She believed so.

« Elpis... »

« I am afraid Lust... I feel like I am walking on a minefield. Anywhere I look is a potential threat. I don't have many members of my family I can. trust. I don't have friends aside from you...I don't even know if you feel the same way about me. You don't have to. But...I'm confused and..scared. »

Her negative aura dramatically changed into her usual soft and kind aura. Now that Lust made her admit what was bothering her, she couldn't hold that form. She couldn't stand up either and fell but Lust caught her in her arms and sat on the grass. Elpis passed out, which made Lust sigh and run her fingers through the gorgeous goddess pink locks. Her pink eyes flashed brightly as anger overwhelmed her. She could care less about the primaeval gods and what they thought of her. She could care less about them trying to destroy the sins but she cared for Elpis. She cared for the goddess safety and the realization of what truly happened hit her in the head like a slap in the face.

« You are my friend... » She hesitantly said., her blue eyes shifting from left to right. Truth to be told, Elpis was probably an oddity in the sin's life. One of the very few people she could tolerate. She didn't know why she was fond of the goddess but would get to the bottom of it. « Don't fret, I will watch over you. » And for the time being, she would be safe as well.

-End-