Asherah floated just above the darkness. She had been here for quite a while already, staring at the realm beneath realms and pondering over it’s inhabitants.
There had been a few instances already when she told herself that she should return ho. And yet, here she was, staring without so much as a change in expression.
"It’s improper of you to stand outside like so vagrant."
Asherah felt herself jump slightly as an assortnt of scaly, reptilian heads broke through the umbral barrier.
Her mouth suddenly felt like it was full of sand.
" I wasn’t quite sure that I would be welcod. I understand I’ve made a grave error, but I..." Asherah’s words tailed off.
The goddess’ words beca stuck in her throat.
She didn’t know how to say plainly that she simply didn’t want to be at odds with family right now. Not when she already felt so alone.
It was difficult for her to just openly admit such a thing. A goddess like her still had a level of pride and image to maintain.
How was she supposed to tell Abaddon that she felt even more alone when she was at odds with him and his family?
Saying that made her feel needy like so newborn doe.
As Abaddon wrapped his body in coils, his heads lood over her and stared down with an unreadable emotion.
The silence between them persisted for an uncomfortable amount of ti.
Asherah wasn’t sure what to talk about. So she went with the first thing on her mind.
"H-How is Odessa...?"
A forked tongue slipped past each of Abaddon’s mouths.
"...Bad."
Asherah’s heart dropped. "N-No, but I-"
"She got into a fight with her brother and called him a doodie head. Her refusal to apologize has landed her in the eternal prison. (Tiout)"
Asherah felt her lip quiver. "...You do not amuse, Tathat."
"And I thought I was a regular codian." Abaddon sighed. "Odessa is fine, thanks for asking. I know you didn’t an for any harm to co to her."
Asherah nodded. "I am glad that she is alright. I-I brought so gifts for her, but I wasn’t quite sure what she would like, so..."
The goddess summoned an enormous Easter basket filled with various items.
Coloring books, crayons, markers, chocolate figurines, dolls, stuffed animals, so real animals, balloons, and a card that read get well soon.
Abaddon blinked several tis over.
"How... generous. Thank you."
"It’s not too much, is it?"
"The chinchilla and the baby black bear might be a little much, yeah."
"Drat."
Asherah snapped her fingers and the live animals disappeared.
He was both curious and not so curious to know where in the hell they could have gone. Ultimately, he decided it was best to leave the matter alone.
"You were very kind." Abaddon took the basket and inserted it into his own storage dinsion.
"I owed her an apology and I owed you a bit of thanks. I heard from Shiva that the two of you stopped my son from killing more humans in that shopping mall. I’m grateful."
At the ntion of that unfortunate incident, Abaddon felt slightly uncomfortable.
"...How much did Shiva tell you about yesterday?"
"The full sum, I believe." Asherah lowered her head. "It appears... telling my son about our inspiration was a mistake."
Asherah looked up at the twinkling multiverse sprawling above them.
Her eyes beca unfocused and sad as she watched the great expanse twist and turn in a myriad of captivating ways.
"Even after all this ti, it still has yet to set in with just how much hatred he holds for them. I shouldn’t still be surprised, so I have no one left to bla for this oversight but myself."
Abaddon left his reptilian form and returned to normal. "I wouldn’t be so quick to accept bla. I don’t know that anyone could have predicted that Lucifer’s ntal state would deteriorate this far."
"...Ayaana could have."
"Fair point, I stand corrected."
Asherah suddenly took Abaddon by the hand. "I know it might be presumptuous of , but I wanted to ask you for a favor."
"You cannot have your chocolate back."
His jest finally wrung a dry chuckle out of her.
"No, no... I heard that a young girl nad Odessa Williams will be attending an elentary school on Earth."
"Indeed." Abaddon smiled.
"I have also heard that this girl’s family cos from far outside Arican borders... but I would hope that they would make a move to be a little closer to her while she attends school. It would spare them a lengthy commute."
Abaddon’s three eyes were filled with surprise.
"You’re asking ... to move to Earth?"
"I can’t be certain that Lucifer won’t try to harm humanity again before the end war comnces.
And with him breaching the barrier so easily, I need Earth in constant surveillance. I would ask my new judicator, but with him away on this growth excursion you planned..."
"...Are you trying to say that since I’m the reason he’s gone I have to fulfill his responsibilities?"
"I was not trying to insinuate that. However, if I were, I would have said it a bit more respectfully."
Abaddon rubbed his brow. "Why can’t you be the one to monitor Earth?"
For the first ti in hundreds of thousands of years, Abaddon saw Asherah clam up when he asked her a question.
It triggered all kinds of alarm bells within his mind.
"All I can tell you for right now is that I have to start making preparations soon. I can feel the ti coming."
"The End War?" His eyes sharpened.
Asherah would neither confirm, nor deny his estimation. Then again, he didn’t really need her to.
"What preparations? What do you have to do that the seals haven’t already been prepared for?"
"That’s not sothing you need to know. I’m sorry. But I ask this of you because I have no other alternatives with Lucifer as powerful as he is now. Anyone I sent against him would be slaughtered and that’s the very last thing I want."
Asherah placed her hand over Abaddon’s heart.
"Please. I am asking you to protect humanity because I truly have no other option."
Fresh off the back of his conversation with Valerie, Abaddon was still thinking deeply about his relationship with humanity.
Asherah’s request may have been a simple favor for her, but to Abaddon, it felt like exactly the kind of thing that he needed to do in order to keep going forward. Just as he promised Valerie he would.
"...My family and I accept the responsibility." Abaddon lowered his head.
He heard the breath of relief leave Asherah’s chest.
She looked up at him and smiled.
For so reason, she placed her cool hand on his cheek affectionately.
"It has been my pleasure to see you grow, Tathat. Your journey has been most fascinating to witness."
Abaddon should have noticed right then and there that sothing was wrong.
He should have pressed Asherah for more details and hopefully discovered what was the aning behind her shady words and strange behavior.
But on that day, he didn’t.
Perhaps the reason why was simply that he could feel her desire not to be interrogated.
And because he respected her as family, he left her be.
He had no idea just how much he would hate himself for it later.
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