“I will only warn you once, bull. Stay far away from Nyx.” Kalona backed toward the mouth of the cave.
It is you who will bring me close to your Goddess. As surely as Mother Earth created humans, your jealousy will create anger. That anger, arrogant godling, will allow me entrance to Nyx’s realm!
With the white bull’s mocking laughter ringing throughout his mind, Kalona fled the cave.
* * *
From the cover of the tall grasses, the Shaman watched Kalona of the silver wings flee the pit, and saw the Darkness that slithered from the maw of the evil place. Snakelike and silent, tendrils followed the immortal. The immortal did nothing to stop them.
The Shaman bowed his head in sad resignation. Often he wished his dreams were less accurate, that he was like the rest of the People, naïve about the life journey unfolding before them. This particular moment, he almost cursed his gift. The Great Mother had shown him what he must do if the Winged One began trafficking with Darkness, and though it would break his heart and perhaps even incur the wrath of a Goddess, he would not falter.
Shoulders stooped, the old man headed back to his lodge to make ready for what must come. The next night would be that of a full moon—the hunting full moon. He would make the sacrifice then, and pray to the Great Mother that what he offered would appease Darkness enough to keep the terrible future he had glimpsed from coming to the People.
9.
MUCH LATER, DURING THE EONS SHE HAD TO REPLAY IN HER MIND THE EVENTS THAT LED TO HEARTBREAK AND TRAGEDY, NYX OFTEN BLAMED HERSELF …
The encounter with the white bull shook Kalona to his core. The creature had been loathsome, and what he had proposed was impossible, but the bull’s words held a despicable truth that the winged immortal could not deny. That truth began to circle round and round Kalona’s mind, an endless reminder of his own fear—his own vulnerability.
He could not share Nyx with Erebus. He would not be able to control his anger if Erebus became Nyx’s lover because he would not be able to bear the despair her infidelity would cause him.
Miserable, Kalona flew to Nyx’s falls, hoping to find his Goddess there. The falls were empty of all but the shadow of her beauty.
He went to the blue lake and sat beside the boat he had carved her, waiting for her to appear. Nyx did not appear.
Kalona even searched for the mad little Fey, L’ota, but even though he thought he caught glimpses of her hiding within the shadows, she refused to answer his call.
He hated not being able to summon his Goddess. He didn’t want to control her; that wasn’t it at all. He simply needed a way to speak with her, to touch her, to be in her presence. Only Nyx could soothe the despair building within him. Only Nyx could reassure him and heal that which the bull’s knowing words had broken.
Kalona was utterly hopeless without Nyx, and from his hopelessness grew frustration.
Where was she? Why was she leaving him alone? Did she no longer love him? Did she no longer desire him? Did she not need him as he needed her?
Was Nyx with Erebus instead of him?
In despair, unable to concentrate on completing the final test he must pass before he would be allowed entrance to Nyx’s realm, Kalona took to the sky, searching the world not for Nyx, but for his brother, the golden son of the sun.
* * *
“There! Is it finally ready? Have I forgotten anything?” Nyx ran her hand over the fur-covered pallet and looked around the spacious chamber she had chosen for Kalona.
Have forgotten the golden one.
“Erebus? Don’t be silly, L’ota. I prepared his chamber earlier. It is there, on the side of the palace that opens to the morning sunlight.”
Not beside your chamber.
“No, there is only one room that adjoins my chamber and—” The Goddess broke off her explanation with a shake of her head. “L’ota, is something amiss with you? You seem not yourself recently. Are you spending too much time on earth? I hope I haven’t over-tired you by asking you to check on Kalona for me and to help ready these chambers.” The Goddess paused to smile at the skeeaed. “It is just that I depend upon you, even more than I do your sisters. You have long taken very good care of me, L’ota. Would you like to join the dryads as they frolic in the mortal realm below? They must enjoy it. They never seem to tire.”
I do not frolic. L’ota fidgeted while she whispered her answer to Nyx. The Goddess thought she looked uncharacteristically nervous.
“Well, it is true that skeeaeds are more serious than dryads, but you might find that a little frolicking is fun.”
Do you command it so?
“Of course not! I don’t command you, or any of the Fey, to frolic. I simply meant that you do look tired and that I am sorry if I have wearied you. L’ota, tonight I want you to rest. Do not be concerned about Kalona, Erebus, or me. Tonight, little one, is just for you.” The Goddess smiled at the Fey and patted the soft tuft of her hair.
L’ota bowed her head and said, You command. I obey. Then she slid into the shadows and disappeared from the chamber, leaving the Goddess shaking her head and sighing. “Though they have been with me for eons, the Fey remain such strange creatures. Sometimes I believe they understand too much; sometimes I believe it is too little. Well, a rest from her duties should replenish her energy, whether she asked for it or not.” Nyx looked around the chamber again and smiled. “And I have been keeping her very busy readying the palace for the presence of Kalona and Erebus.”