Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Taika
The council of the Gods will never not weird me out. What I find even more weird is that have managed to become a part of it. I still don’t know how I did this. Just sort of got a magic letter telling me to show up, it had practically thrown confetti in my face in celebration of my new found responsibility. As if I want more than I already have. Even over time I don’t really say much here. The mortal world is much cooler than sitting around in cold chairs looking at gods sighing and waving their dicks around. Figurative waving anyways.
Those of us who attend the council nearly always show up, we’re not too dramatic that we just leave our empty chairs, waiting for someone to remove them with a shady glance or two across the way. To be honest I don’t pay much attention to who attends these councils anymore.
Either way, imagine, a one roomed temple full of beings that have their own gravitational pull, beings that can perform tricks of all measures, entice natural disasters, and wipe out civilizations with the snap our fingers. Now imagine them all trying not to fall asleep in chairs with one table and one God at this table monotonously talking for however long he talks for.
Sometimes I think the reason we don’t have walls in the temple is so we don’t blow them off. In one way or another. Only with a portion of us gods here, I can only imagine how this would feel to a mortal being. We don’t even need to focus on staying in our tangible human form. Just projections of energy that we see fit, that captures our essence. Whether we are to be considered flashy or not, we fill the spaces we occupy.
This council of the Gods meeting is largely about some natural disasters that occurred in the mortal world of course. Some of us have grown paranoid over the centuries. Even careful of challenging mortals who have lost loved ones and loved spaces. I swear the moment Malik feels threatened he calls a meeting to make sure any and all forces opposing the gods don’t make it past their larva stage. It’s nothing too new, nothing we can do too much about either. Unless some gods get into an argument or competition, we like to stay out of things. We tend to make each other suffer more than the humans though.
They say that humanity represents the fool. I’m not too sure if this is exactly true, humanity can be unexpectedly clever. As for gods, I can’t quite say.
I play with some of the drink in my chalice to amuse myself.
“Taika, are these matters boring to you?” I hear Malik call to me from across the temple.
Malik, the first son of the creators. He glows a harsh earthy red glow around him. The domain of mortal security and earthly control, he and his twin sister help keep things in balance there. Above his head, in the red glow there can be an outline of ram horns on either side of his head, when he grows impatient, they glow brighter and grow more coils. Mortals depict him as a stern and calm father of earth. Likened to red clay rocks and strong scents.
When I look over to him, I see more coils in his horns than before. I especially try his patience. What can I say, I suppose I happen to be just that charming.
I rest the drink back in my cup with a soft plop. Of course, he’s making me stand up. Gripping the sides of my cold ass and incredibly uncomfortable chair I rise to my feet.
Some of the other Gods sit back in their chairs, exasperated. There is a rumor floating around that in recent centuries Malik may be turning to a reversed state. When a God turns reversed, their ability to reason is blocked and they generally have a difficult time. Trust me, the mortals know this just as well as the gods. It seems most of the councils lately are called by Malik. He’s paranoid that he is losing control of things and demonic forces are going to doom him or something.
I lean on my cane for support, glancing at the unamused yet inquiring faces looking right at me. As another immortal I am only lightly intimidated by having the attention of a whole council of gods. Wow, I am on this council too, cool.
“Look, these things tend to happen, pretty much all of the time, an earthquake takes a chunk of land and a flood washes the rubble away, we don’t really have much to do for the people while we are up here.” I speak, casting an illusion to keep my face looking calm and engaged. Really, I’m rolling my eyes and stretching my hips out.
Malik raises an eyebrow at me.
“I agree, you are especially close to the mortals, Malik perhaps things can simply run their course and if you feel so inclined maybe you can help them make new mountains into cities.” Another god speaks from their seat.
I glance over to where the voice came from, Abel. Ugh, this guy never shuts up.
He’s a god of justice or whatever. There is something about him I don’t like very much. Maybe he is just reversed, but he never seems to actually solve problems using justice. Though, he is agreeing with me so I’ll leave it alone for now.
Malik seats himself once again, horns uncoiling as he starts entertaining the idea. If the idea is worth anything he will spin silk from straw. Figuratively, again.
“Jain, what do you think of inspiring an inventor in the mortal world?”
Jain throws a thumbs up in Malik’s direction, tinkering with gears. They seem to be making small toys and even toss one my way. When I catch it, I see a small bronze tree. I nod in their direction, raising the tree up in thanks. They wink and the tree starts growing small leaves and feels warm in my hands. It reminds me of summer.
“Taika, you can sit now.” Malik looks up at me from his seat, one eyebrow still raised.
“Thank you.” I bow before plopping back in my own seat. A couple of the others let out a snicker here and there.
I look at the tree Jain tossed to me, a little thunderstorm wets the leaves before moving on to more warm and sunny weather. When I look up, I see Jain grinning at me. A real bird who ate the canary expression. They look at me for only a second before going back to tinkering with their gears and spilling oil. You can tell which seat is Jain’s due to the dog hair and stained floors from oil spills.
“I actually, have been quite successful in my domain, people are using the illusions I have given them to not only take care of each other and survive, but to thrive.” I add.
Heads turn my way again.
“Yeah, clever little things are actually preventing wars and keeping peace by using all their tools, so less needless deaths for Morana to file and sort.”
Morana nods, making an affirming sound. A gust of cold wind blows through the temple just to leave as fast as it came. If I needed to breathe, I would say it knocked the breath out of my lungs. I just don’t need to breathe, so instead it reminds me to sit up straight. I look down and see her grin at me. This kind of creeps me out. Her skin is a marvelous dark indigo, her grin reveals her long and sharp red teeth, and large, winding antlers arch high and wide from her head. Everything about her is creepy yet strangely inviting. Like she would laugh at your jokes before slurping up your intestines. I respect her for this quality.
The temple goes quiet for a moment in response before gods start talking once again.
Next time I speak, instead of standing from my seat, I walk over to who I am talking to. Or who I am talking about. My hobbling saunter and light click of my cane against the floor seems to capture the other’s attention. Even if I don’t have much to say, I am trying to encourage everyone to engage with each other.
In total, there is twenty-one of us, yet there is never this many of us at the council meetings. Some of us Gods do not care, partake in mortal affairs, or like leaving our domains. Over time these meetings have become stuffy and uptight. Almost like strategy and planning meetings. Like a General instructing their army. I personally have had enough of war, though I do see the use of these meetings.
Maybe if I could just get them to become more of a gathering, something to look forward to in the wide and never-ending wake of eternity. So, I get up and speak, usually, just to counter a point or try and liven things up. Eventually some other Gods start to stand up and walk around as well. Like I said, we can be competitive.
