Chapter 4 How it all ends

Hundred years ago

The warm soothing breeze of the summer's air caresses our bodies as we lie awake under the billions of stars enchanting us to stare at them longer until we're lost in their beauty.

The enchantress crescent moon is just smiling towards us screaming so much seduction but I can never be lured for I have my eyes on this beautiful lady beside me.

"My love, why does the moon seem to be taunting us?" This beautiful maiden turned her gaze to meet mine.

"She's obviously seducing me," I answered as she laughed and snuggled closer into my neck.

"So, are you then?"

"Adelaide, none of these entities could come at par in your beauty my love, "I whispered and again earned a melodious laugh from her.

"Flattering my heart Elspeth."

I caressed the smoothness of her cheek. Its warmth causes disequilibrium in my system.

"Would you run with me?" I asked unsure with a racing heart and unlabored breathing in anticipation of her answers.

I know I can never give her the life that she is used to but I can give her my all. She is the only child of a wealthy family, the one ruling the law and order of this town. We've been secretly together since we are sixteen. Now that we are both eighteen somehow she can go out of their yard. My mother was the cook for Adelaide's family. I used to be their servant too at a young age. We started as playmates and her brothers strongly disagreed for a peasant like me to get too close to the only daughter of a wealthy politician. Our feelings for each other started when we were younger I guess. I always have that glittery feeling whenever she will ask me to hold her hand, touch her face and sing her to sleep. I knew I have always been in love with her. Until that day I have finally found the courage to confess my love for her and I am the luckiest entity to claim her heart which is also in sync with mine.

"Elspeth," There's hesitancy in her voice. From there I have known the answer to my question.

Silence enveloped us, then she speak softly enough for me to hear.

"You gave me the tender love that I have always wanted. I would rather face death than not be with you." Tears flowed like a river in my eyes with what she said. She caressed my face and claimed my lips and we shared a gentle kiss. 

Our hearts are beating as one, I'll pray for any divine being to let us be, please let us be together. 

 

I waited for hours, it turned into a day and then followed by days and weeks and many weeks and months. I waited for Adelaide to meet me in our spot. But never she did come. We're about to run away from everything and start anew in a far country where nobody knows about our names, our identity. It could have been a fresh start for us to finally be free. The freedom that we longed for in this town that is guaranteed that we can never have even a morsel.  

"Elspeth, there's a mail for you at the door." My mother brought me back to the present as tapped my shoulder.

"Thank you, mother," I said and slowly got up from the floor. I made my way to the mailbox to check for it. My heart started racing the moment I saw the name where it came from. I hurriedly went out to our spot. The barn where the wildflowers grow beautiful amidst of harsh environment.

It was the most painful letter that I have ever received in my entire existence. I clutched the poor paper close to my heart as I've cry in agony. I even checked if it is really for me. I was in denial for a couple of seconds then it sunk painfully, my heart was shattered into thousands of pieces. How can she do this to me? The only question on my mind.  

My brows formed one line with the last phrase written on the back of the paper.    

Om Kreem Kalika-yei Namaha 

She's sorry for she can't disobey her family. She's sorry because she is not that strong to fight for us. She's damn sorry that she was the woman I have fallen in love with. 

Adelaide left the country and was now married to the man that her family had chosen for her. I guess love is really not enough. We love each other so much but we cannot tell the world to fuck off and let us be happy in our own little world. My loud weeping resonates in the silence of the night.   

A bright light blinded my eyes. It scared the life out of me when the leaves started dancing. A strong wind was sweeping all the leaves forming a figure in the middle of the barn. I was about to scream at the top of my lungs but I stopped on my track the moment that the figure resurfaced in a beautiful human form. 

"Bow down foolish mortal!" Her voice is as stern as thunder, I scratch my eyes for I think that I am just dreaming but no shit, I was reading the painful letter of Adelaide. How I wish this is just a dream. 

"Elspeth wake up. shite." I murmured and tried opening my eyes again. 

"Foolish indeed." I heard the entity talk again. It is really talking. My go will I die out of a heart attack? 

"Who are you?" My question angered her more. I trembled when her eyes flickered in grave   anger. 

"Pay your respect!" The entity screamed and the wind harshly formed into a tornado that started walking in my direction.

"I- I am sorry your highness or whatever." I stuttered out of fear. I fell to my knees. And it seemed to satisfy her because the tornado magically dissolved out of nowhere.

"I am Mahakali. I am the goddess of destruction and rebirth." Her voice is as thick as exuberant ice. 

"I uh. don't understand." I am literally confused right now.

"You summoned me you foolish mortal." I feel like I'm going to faint any moment from now on. And she has been calling me foolish, goodness!

"I am not dead, right?" I asked for a confirmation. The goddess laughed, a really loud one then her face turned stoic again. I can't help but to admire the arts on her body. I just can't stare long at her third eye. It is literally moving like criticizing my whole being. I was never a believer in such things. My mother has a Hindi descent. I think they believe in these powerful entities like the one in front of me. 

"You are not, but the one who writes that is now sleeping peacefully in the underworld,   waiting for her rebirth." She said and looked at the letter on my lap. 

"What?" I gasped and covered my mouth.

"You are really loud,"  Mahakali yawned like she is so bored.

"She's not even a believer of anything how come she's in-

I reasoned out. 

"Fine watch this carefully." Her accent was heavy. She said something that I don't understand and the wind blew grimly. I am astounded by the next thing that she did, she was commanding the tornado to show me what was happening to Adelaide.  

 I thought I have already poured my tears a while ago. But no, there she was, the woman that I love with all my heart, handling a sharp blade in one second of staring at its sharpness she has taken her own life. 

Om Kreem Kalika-yei Namaha 

 I figured it out now. Adelaide uttered those weird words as she gasped for her last breath, and she has written it down in her letter. Woman what did you do! is this some kind of sorcery?

"Adelaide," I sobbed. I looked at the weeping Goddess too. She wiped her tears and eyed me seriously. The kind of look that nobody will ever have the guts to mess with, her third eye was also producing tears that I wanted to ask why, but I just kept it to myself to avoid getting her punishment.   

"The woman pleaded to have another lifetime to find her way back to you." Mahakali started.

"She could have run away with me! instead, she chose to be selfish and just wasted her life! how about me, she didn't even consider me." I said out of breath.

"That's what love does to you mortals." 

"My utmost apology your highness, I never knew about the spell or whatever it is, I am really sorry- 

"Do you know what you're saying huh mortal?" I think the goddess is angry again, damn she has one heck of a temper.  

"I did not come across the god of the underworld and encountered countless bickering just to grant your summons!" She raised her hand I thought she was going to slap me. 

"I don't know what I'm going to do, your highness." 

"I am a powerful god, it's disrespectful for you to not properly address me." I ran out of words again. 

"Hurry and live another life to the next and rewrite your story." 

"Is it really possible?" I asked a bit scared. 

she smirked and showed me her other six freaking arms. I stepped back because of that.

"Still not convinced mortal?" I shake my head repeatedly. 

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed. 

"Now listen to me carefully." 

"Everything will not be easy for you. Just a hundred lifetimes for you mortal, a hundred chances is enough." 

"Help me clean this world in return." I am really not getting her, but the fact that I will have too many chances to find her is enough.  

"But how will I know if it's her?"

"The heart of yours will guide you." 

"Thank you, Mahakali." 

"Don't thank me yet." She smirked and hid her arms.  

That very night right in front of my eyes, Mahakali disappeared and since then she has never visited the world of mortals. I guess she was right. I am really foolish for not asking her every detailed part. And now I am wandering timelines foolishly saving people, cleaning every speck of dirt in this world, meeting new faces, yet our paths haven't crossed with each other.

Should I be giving up right now? 

Om Kreem Kalika-yei Namaha   

Were you just playing with me, with us? Goddess of destruction and rebirth?