70. The Thin Gold Shell

        Taking time off work without prior authorization was a criminal offence in Atlan, even with an official invitation to have luncheon with one of the gods. There was a heavy price to pay for such a violation, once again, Zara learned the hard way.

         SPLAT! She clenched her teeth as the whip sliced through her skin, stars splashing before her eyes as the pain dug into her flesh taking her breath away. This time her lashing took place in the Grand Courtyard, lashings in Atlan were an event that everyone attended, from simple construction site slaves to the very gods themselves, right beneath the most powerful eyes of all, the eyes of the great and all mighty, Medel. Being lashed in the Grand Courtyard in the presence of peers was one thing, but being lashed in front of the full assembly of gods, in the presence of the Mighty Medel Himself was the end of a reputation she had fought so hard to earn, regardless of the physical torture she would have to endure. Tonight she was being lashed in front of Nolan, now he would think she was the biggest loser he knew!

         SPLAT! Stars blinded her eyes, tears streamed down her cheeks, the crowd a mere blur cheered and whistled in delight, throwing garbage at her with unrivalled enthusiasm. The noisy applause drifted in and out as her consciousness began to slip in and out of reality.

         SPLAT! 

         "SECURITY CHECK…" Torus, god of the Underworld made his rounds when the world was sleeping. Slowly he made his way through the bowels of the Temple of Medel, checking doors through the labyrinth of hallways leading to Panther dens, treasury rooms and libraries, when he noticed a dim light on, after hours, coming from the Art Studio.

         "Hellooo..." He opened the door, only to find Halki, god of Intelligence pouring over the latest revisions to the Book of Life.

         "Torus!" Halki wasn't displeased. "Come, look at this!"
         Torus made his way over to the desk, Halki had the book open to the image of a Phoenix with outstretched wings, clutching a golden egg.

         "Halios thinks the Golden Egg is the gold inside Mount Ekar and that Atalon thinks he will be the Phoenix once he has control of it. This is where that lunacy comes from!"

         "Wow..." Torus saw what Halki saw now, Halki was the god of Intelligence for a reason. "That's why Atalon doesn't like the Original Myth!"

         "Exactly! Because according to that theory, the so-called Golden Egg is only a thin golden shell if there's a Phoenix inside!"

         ...The tunnel opened up into an ancient Aquillan cave, lit by a blazing fire crackling in an ancient oversized fireplace, donning a Crystal Skull on a well worn brick mosaic hearthstone. Ornamental chairs from Dion's Salon were among an eclectic assortment of antique furnishings in the room, dusty and mismatched they seemed out of place against the rough sandstone walls, damp from the moisture of the sea.

         Zara tried again to break free, she was trapped in the chair, arms tethered by red ribbons. She was feeling sick, drummers swarming around her, beating their drums, summoning the goddess of the Earth were inching closer, making her feel worse. Eventually the goddess emerged from the shadows and the dancers retreated, making space for the largest, slimiest most tentacled creature she could imagine!

         Zara tugged at her tethers, but the harder she tugged the harder the red ribbon tore at her flesh, she couldn't tell if her wrists were bleeding or not, her eyes so blurry from tears she could not distinguish blood from red ribbon. She closed her eyes tight as the smiling goddess approached her. Once again she struggled to free her hands but it was no use, she screamed but she had lost her voice.

         "Hello my lovely Sugar Cheeks…" the Goddess hissed as she ran her moist tentacle around her face, lifting a lock of hair, twisting it, smelling it.

         Zara leaned back as much as she could, her breath was unbearable...

         "Ahhhhh..." The goddess breathed out satisfaction as she ran her tentacle along Zara’s neckline, leaning closer to smell her skin...

        

         "AAAAA-GG-GH!!!!" Zara bolted up, but the sheet ripped her fresh scabs off her back, ripping them open once again.

         "AAAAA-GG-GH!!!!AAAAA-GG-GH!!!!" She screamed in agony, then broke down into tears as she woke up to the real nightmare; her life. Nolan was there? She had been lashed… In front of Nolan… If only it had been a nightmare! The reality of that morning was too hard, it was worse than any nightmare of Earth Goddesses.

         A hot tear slid down her cheek. She wiped it away, and tried to sit up but the pain in her back was unbearable, she fell back into her pillow in tears, unable to stop the sobbing flow, the heaviness of reality was just too much, it was everything. The Foreman, the Salon, the stupid job... So much for her big break in Atlan! Nolan was there? She skipped work while everyone was slaving to clean up after the Culloom Disaster, to eat Lobster with the Vine Goddesses? Then they all watched her get a lashing too? She would never live it down, she would never get a break now, she was so ashamed, she would have to wear this forever.

         Another hot tear slid down her cheek followed by another, and another. She wiped them away with her sleeve, so angry at herself. Why had she been so stupid? How could she have averted this disaster? It was all over for her now. She knew now, Nolan would never marry her after this. Never.

         Would they hate her at work now? She really didn't want to get up, the thought of facing them all was terrifying, what if she ran into Nolan again?

         The Temple bell began to toll reminding her it was soon time to leave for Morning Service. The sounds of hope gave her the strength to face her day, perhaps she would feel better if at least Medel forgave her. Bravely, she crawled out of bed and went into the bathroom to wash the blood off her back, she turned on the hot water but the water was cold.
         "NO!" She began to cry again, it wasn't fair, how could this bad luck happen to her a second time? What were the chances? It had to be a sign from Medel, a test of her faith. She pinched herself hard and repeated her affirmation, Hedena had given her the skills to deal with these challenges for a reason; These things happened.

         "I never let my past mistakes shade another day" she uttered to herself in the mirror, convincing herself, straightening her posture. There was no time to heat much water on the stove today, not now. Now she had to be brave and prove she wasn't the loser she appeared to be.

         She filled the sink with cold water, and using the cup of hot water for her tea, gently sponged the wounds off as best she could reach, got dressed, reminding herself that the lashings were for her own good, that she could relax once she had been forgiven by Medel. It helped to know He would forgive her. If He forgave her, then perhaps the other aribu could forgive her too. Perhaps even Nolan would forgive her?

         She took a deep breath, pulled herself together and slid into her Temple robe, grabbed her bag, remembering her place. There was a war about to break out and regardless of her crime, her service to the Empire was expected and depended upon. And surely, to the Great Medel, she was still a valuable Cog in the Great Machine, no matter what reputation she had!