ASHLEIGH.
The castle stood tall in this gloomy night, but my heart and soul was not in the state of peace. I, the Goddess, or supposed to be the Goddess that abandoned her position, strode inside the castle, being all radiant about my ethereal glow. My presence must have commanded the walls to brighten up the lamps, because all of the flickering lights grabbed their attention towards me.
There was no one who stopped me from striding. It was like a force of nature, and it is one who is beyond the mortal reckoning. My arrival had rippled through the corridors, reaching the King's chambers before she does.
Upon reaching the throne room, the Goddess stopped at the right distance, spotting that the King was sitting there, having his time alone in his coffee, in a table enchanted with charm and was floating in the air. My unwavering gaze looked at him defiantly.
His eyes looked woozy, and when he saw me, he immediately arranged his seat while clearing his throat. He looked down from his imposing throne, full of surprise and defiance. His robes were for bedtime, a royal crimson in shades, contrasting the radiance in her presence.
The room suddenly became intense, and though he held the power of the lands in his hands, his eyes gone soft, as if my presence weakened him on that spot.
"Devi... how come you are here?" He chuckled, as if he was just seeing things. I raised my hand, and his chuckle halted, the room fell into a profound silence.
Both soft and thunderous, I stated, "You have chosen to withhold the rations from my village. The people has been worshipping you, but you tend the land using my name. Do you even understand the reason why I have to give up my role?"
I'm not even the Devi that they know, and yet, I was tasked to do one thing: to change Ashleigh's life. To change the man she loves. To change whoever that life is. And now I am doing it. But whenever I do things right upon that mission, I was the wrong one.
"No, I don't understand." He slacked in his seat once again and reached out for the cup of the coffee.
I can see how much he's slacking this conversation so I crossed my arms over my chest. His gaze hardened once he put down the cup. He wiped it with his robes and nodded.
"I was the one who ordered it. If you want to take it back, still be the Goddess of War. No condition can be made aside from that," he declared. It pissed me off. My head was going to explode with anger, but I remained calm.
"My cruelty will not be forgotten, but those who suffered the most might have cursed you by now. Why is my decision so crucial for their food at the end of the day?" I asked. The King chuckled. He stood up from his throne and mounted down the steps. He walked at a few distance until he reached a safe spot, where I could reach him, but not too close.
But why does his face still looked familiar in my mind? Along with those emotions that was displayed on his face? His face was grim, as if waiting to tell me, "Be my mistress, and I will bring back the rations."
I paused, my eyes never left hers, as if the weight of the words burdened me at the shoulders. He was serious, and there's not even a single drop of smile in his eyes. I blinked twice, asking, "What? What are you saying right now? To be your mistress?"
I don't seem to connect two and two. The King, despite the towering strength on his throne and the symbols of the power around him, felt the pressure of my presence, and he can't seem to find the right words. He is the king, accustomed to bend others in his will, and he has the power to give the decision to everyone.
He is a mere mortal with an eternal force.
His expression faltered for a brief moment, then his lips curl into a calculated smile, and his voice was filled with smooth, arrogant power as he stepped forward while saying, "You demand the rations of your people."
He looked at me with studying eyes. His gaze lingered with beauty, as if he's mesmerized by my presence in his front, and it will change my thoughts about what he really needs to do.
"Surely, you must see, Goddess, that I have the means to give what you asked. Your village will be in abundance gain again, but only with the conditions I imposed, and there is something I truly desire in my heart, and I have to ask it in return."
He took a step forward, but I stepped back, maintaining that closeness between us. If he touched me again, I swore I would think all the spells that I know and cast it towards him. The King was a little hurt with the way I acted, but he looked the other way, and told me, "I offer you a chance to bring back the rations by being my mistress. Bear me a child, one heir from you. Imagine the union of our blood..."
He... was insane. I smirked, and can't believe that the King was offering me such a ridiculous offer. I licked my lips and looked the other way while he still talked, "A child that would be divine and royal, the ruler of both Heaven and Earth. With the child between us, it will also favor the respect for both of us."
I can't believe he's blurting it out in the castle where his Queen would be. She'd be here by now, serving him dinner or serving him in bed, but why does he need me? What do I own that the Queen doesn't have? I swallowed and remained defiant.
The King's eyes gleam with greed, and he was waiting for me to accept the submission.
"Your wish will be fulfilled, my Goddess. You can get stripped off from your role, you get the village to turn to you as their leader, and they get their rations. What do you think?"
His smile widened. But I was not happy with what he's telling. I looked at his waist, and even at this deep of the night, he has a sword on. In just this case, I know I have no defense against him. He's the King of Ashes, and he can cut my throat without even blinking for a second.
I had think of other choices, of saving my face and the village, but I don't think I can do both.
"Deep in thought, Devi. I had think for one more second you're not going to back off from taming me."
That anguish smirk crossing his lips made me competitive. He thinks I am that easy to please?
"If you're going to choose the former, I'll respect that. Even one single grain will be taken away from them. And that is not my burden to feel at all. Their leader has dropped them from the sky and let them die," he mocked me. The king has an art of mockery. I've been tempting to answer back, but he was right.
I am the one who made them suffer.
He smiled at me before turning his back and going to his throne. He was stepping up when I squealed, "Wait!"
The image of the children tolled at me. Their lost faces with their feet stumbling as if they don't know how to resolve this day without the food passing down their stomach. For them, I'll do this.
"What should I do to feed them?" I have the means to help them, but it won't last. Plus, my mother was furious at me. To be honest, I don't even know where my wealth has been stored. Can I even ask her the location of that when I have already embarrassed and made her angry?
The King laughed, and it roared around the dome. His throne was a depiction of his loneliness and the isolation that comes after you accepted the responsibility. His wife didn't even try to change his decision. He stepped towards me, and I didn't move at my place.
I can't even move. Every inch of my body shuddered as he tried to hold in my lustrous hair. I closed my eyes as he raised his hands towards my face, cherishing my skin. I can't help but to close my eyes. It felt familiar on Devi's, but not on Ashleigh. If only this man knows how much I try to fit in their algorithm.
"Why do you shudder now whenever I hold you? The Devi I know will cherish this simple touch, saying how much it is precious for her to be in this place," he questioned. No one can answer that but Devi. But I can't even say that to him.
"The Devi you know must be gone. She knows the importance of people, and not just one man."
Unconsciously, those words came out. The King let me go and chuckled. He must be surprised.
"You're the Majesty, and I highly respect that. In exchange of your good doings, I'll tarnish my name."
And then, I left. The King didn't even try to stop me.