Pawns

"You need to hide, Dhara. He can't touch what he can't see..." it took a moment for her to realize Dhara had grown cold. His stuff hands were still wrapped tightly around her. "Dhara!!" she let out a gut wrenching scream when she saw the decay creeping up his neck. When did Inke touch him?

Hot tears pooled, blurring her vision as she wriggled herself out of his embrace. His arms hung limply as she laid him on the bed. He was cold but he was still alive, barely and wouldn't be for long if she didn't find Inke.

KAOS

I felt a nudge and I turned around. To my surprise, Dahime in the flesh was standing right behind me. I didn't hear the usual ticking that sounded whenever he was around and it was when I noticed everything has come to a stop and I was faraway from the ground.

"Kaos, I saw what happened and normally I would not interfere in mortal matters but gods are involved, if anything goes wrong, it could jeopardize our existence"

"Inke has made his move...I am still shocked to counterattack right now... I do not want him touching what is mine and he has..." I could feel tears fighting their way forward

"and Dhara?"

"he is sick... He touched him...Inke would pay for hurting him..."

"He cannot sleep forever, you know..." he has a point there, he could end up becoming caught up "and the girl he possessed?"

"still possessed, I am going to try to talk to her...of all the victims he has possessed, Neema is complicated. It is a love triangle, Dahime...To Inke, it is an opportunity he cannot pass up"

"Yes, I know" he held my hand, pressing a strange token in it "you will know when to use this, I have seen great harm coming your way" he looked like he had more to say but he is the god of time, he has helped enough and doing more would mean the abuse of his power.

"Thank you, Dahime." he nodded and disappeared and I was back on the ground again.

I kept watch over Dhara as he slept. He did not want me to put him to sleep but he understood it was for his own safety and he did not want to get in the way. what does it take to find happiness here on earth and why was it so difficult.

"Mistress...I scouted the entire area, we are safe" Nikil, one of my forms reported to me. He represented vigilance and caution, getting me out of trouble on the battle field right before they happen. He was calculative and a very strong character.

"Thank you, Nikil. Keep guard" I smiled at him, he always wanted to impress me. Dhara stirred and I noticed how beautiful he looked, his flawless face lined with occasional worry as he slept, he was probably having a bad dream I thought with a renewed resolve, I was not going to let this human suffer any pain or strife, he was going to be happy, I was going to do everything in my power to protect him.

"Mistress, goddess Strife is here"

She was clad in human clothes, her jeans were fashionably ripped, she wore brown boots and a white shirt. She looked like an average human but her godly aura was still present.

" goddess" she bowed "you requested to see me"

"yes, Strife. How have you been?" I could notice something different about her...

"I am happy..." she beamed

"You did it...you left...Amazing!" I reached to hug her.

"Turns out when I am happy, humans prosper...the ones nearby at least but it is still something. He told me he knew I was longing for something else so he would let me live on earth but when it is time for work, I must obey...it is a fair bargain..." I could see something else was bothering her.

"But it is not enough, is it?" I frowned

"I don't want to be his weapon anymore...I want to be my own goddess...I hate serving under under him is what it is...he is an ungrateful arrogant god, without us, his weapons, he is nothing and he knows it...everyone else thinks so too"

"Oh, Strife... everything is going to be fine, alright?" I tried my best to comfort her before promptly shifting my gaze back to Dhara.

"ahh," she sighed suddenly "look at me complaining about my horrible Boss...what is it you need me to do for you, goddess?" she traced my gaze to Dhara's sleeping form

"oh, what happened to him?"

"Inke has possessed another human... unfortunately this human is a friend of his and apparently she is in love with him"

"a love triangle, Inke loves them..."

"yes, this is going to be hard to deal with, I am involved with this human" I caressed his hand and he stirred again "I do not want him to get hurt ever that is why I put him to sleep, he is not going to wake unless I say so"

"is that not dangerous? what if something happens to you? leaving him like this for a long time...he could die..." She had a point but there was no other way.

"I know... I want to kill Inke so bad... I am not letting him touch what is mine again and that is that!"

"what do you need me to do then"

"I want you and Nikil to protect him, I am going to find his brother"

"Do you know where he is?" she good her protective stand by Dhara's bed.

"Yes and...do not under any circumstances let Inke come close to him." I was sure she could read how disastrous it would be from my tone. "I will be back"

DHARA

I jolted awake, springing up from the bed. I am alone...where was Kaos? My lungs burned so much when i tried to speak.

"Na...ahhhh" the burned with vigor. Despite the pain I tried again but it only intensified. My eyes welled with tears. I need help

"Speaking her name is forbidden in here..." I could recognize that voice anywhere.

"What did you do to me..." I rubbed my neck in a bid to sooth it but it just burned more.

"Let me help..." I couldn't see her but her voice sounded hesitant "...I can only do that if you agree to be with me...I can't help you unless you say so and I'll gladly help you"

"you have...finally gone...insane..." I managed to say.

"Inke promised me, you'd wake up all better in the waking world if you pledge yourself to be with me...He gave me the power to cure you...don't be stupid, Dhara"

"You are sick, Neema" I spat "you need to be cured more than I do..." I looked around to find an escape but everything immediately became distorted

"You can't escape" she laughed "He made sure of that"

"then stop hiding like a coward!" I didn't care much for the burning anymore.

"who says I'm hiding?" suddenly her voice was much closer, I felt her hand run through my hair.

"You know I still think about the night we spent together...it still gives me the butterflies"

"I don't remember... we were drunk" i retorted flatly

"I wasn't...you came to me, drunk as fuck, crying about your department was frustrating you... I laughed at how silly you looked...and when you kissed me...how you touched me...with want in your eyes..."

"I was drunk as fuck....Neema. you're a grown woman..." I coughed in pain "you should have pushed me off, I wasn't thinking straight"

"Why should I? I was in love with you but you wouldn't look at me...no matter how hard I tried and then I get the chance to be that close to you...even if it was one night, I wasn't gonna waste it" her unsettling laughter resounded the space we occupied. "but then i found myself wanting more, Dhara...you were so intoxicating and I just couldn't stop thinking about you..."

"Neema, look...you should know... I don't feel the same way...I love Naga!" my chest tightened

"I said her name is forbidden here!" her voice distorted as she yelled. "You don't love her, you fear her!"

"Maybe I do...it's called respect. She saved my life! I fear her because she is a god and she could easily erase me from existence if she wishes but my love for her out weighs my fear...of course I have a good reason to be fearful...if you've experienced what I experienced with her!"

"...wait, she is a god?"

"I'm guessing Inke didn't mention that" I shook my head "we're just pawns in his game...but the difference between us is, you are on the wrong side...sooner or later, you'd be sacrificed and there would be no one to save you"

"Liar!" her hand made contact with my chin "you can't escape unless you yield to me...you can use all the manipulative ways in the book...you can't leave unless you tell me what i want to hear"

"and then what?" i spat out crimson liquid "you think I'm going to be happy with you? you think you're going to be happy?"

"you don't need to worry, your little head about that...He would make everything right as soon as he gets what he wants..." she giggled "you made me hit you...don't anger me like that" she tutted and wiped the blood from my nose.

"and what is that?"

"he said he has a score to settle with Kaos...i don't know who that is but he's anchored to me for that... I share his power... unlike you...don't be a fool, Dhara"

"ugh..." a sharp pain resonated through my body, forcing me to the floor. "Naga..." I blacked out.