The Winged Warrior Two Quest for the Black Rose
The Winged Warrior
of the
Gods Two
Quest for The Black Rose
By: Pamela J. McConnell
Chapter
One
Bitter Sweet
Blessings
Caseama spent several weeks among the Amazon women, answering their prayers, showering her blessings upon them. She called out to Zeus, petitioning him on their behalf, asking him to remove the curse from the people of the Black Mountains.
Zeus didn’t remove the curse, but he did bless them with the freedom of leaving the valley in peace if they chose. The women could come and go at will, but once a man left, he could never return or he would surely die.
One day while walking through the meadow near her earthly temple the Amazon Women had created for her, she heard the spirit of the wind calling to her.
She lifted her arms, allowing herself to join with the wind as it passed through the valley. Within moments, she found herself drifting high above the landscape, feeling her spirit being drawn upward. She didn’t resist. Instead, she let herself continue to drift on and on upward; higher and higher, until off in the distance she saw a glimmer of light. Caseama searched her mind for answers. What could this be?
As she drew closer, whatever it was grew larger and larger, until finally, she was able to see it clearly. It was the most unbelievably beautiful sight she had ever beheld. Nothing she had experienced as a mortal or since becoming a goddess had prepared her for this.
The sky before her was a mass of large, white, gold lined clouds as far as the eyes could see. Upon each one was a temple. Caseama knew it must be the wondrous abode of the gods, known as Olympus.
Her spirit continued on until it came to rest upon one of the clouds. On this cloud she found nothing more than a large mass of puffy, white vapor, drifting through the sky.
She looked around herself, wondering what had drawn her spirit to this place? As she pondered the question, she slowly became aware of a sweet sound filling the air as it was carried on the breeze. The spirit of the song filling her spirit with joy and her soul with a peace only a god could know, then continued on filling her aura until her radiance shone like the sun.
Then one by one each god appeared around her, welcoming her with great warmth, causing her heart to overflow with the peace and love they each offered to her. All celebrated her in all her glory.
“Athena!” cried Caseama, seeing her coming toward her.
“My child, my child! It warms my heart to welcome you. We have all awaited your choice to join us here.”
“It was the whisper of the wind that called to my spirit, drawing me to this place. I am blessed to be in your presence, Great One,” she replied humbly.
“You need not humble yourself before me child, for I am no greater than you,” she replied her graceful arms spread wide, across the now gold lined cloud they stood upon. Athena smiled warmly. “The abode you will create here shall be a beacon of your great glory.”
“How can this be? I know nothing of things such as this!”
“You are a goddess blessed with all heavenly powers. No challenge is too great for you. The abode you create will give comfort, peace, and honor to your spirit and no other in Olympus shall be as yours.”
“How shall I begin?” Caseama questioned in wide-eyed astonishment, looking at the massive cloud.
“First create in your mind the most beautiful temple you could ever imagine. Then just close your eyes, and blow as hard as you can, and it will be.”
Caseama did as Athena suggested. Closing her eyes, she pictured in her mind a temple of gold, silver, pearl, and ivory. All was surrounded with waterfalls and abundant gardens in all directions. Life was everywhere. Exotic birds filled the air, as did the pungent aroma of rain-soaked jasmine and lilac. Her temple she pictured with great detail, inside and out.
She searched to the greatest depths of her soul bringing forth her most treasured memories and with one deep breath she blew out all the love, mercy and compassion she contained onto the cloud; just as Athena had told her. When she opened her eyes, she found herself on the steps of her temple just as she had imagined it, surrounded by all the waterfalls and gardens just as she had created in her mind.
“Oh my dear,” whispered Athena as she and all the other gods watched Caseama’s cloud transform from a misty vapor to a place of peace and beauty. She gasped in awe at all the life, that surrounded them. “I need not tell you more. For now you know the power you hold at your will. Use it wisely my child. For with such power, comes great responsibility.” With her words, she and the others slowly faded away.
Caseama first let herself explore the lush green gardens she had created, each one abundant with all her favorite flowers and fruit trees hanging heavy with ripe luscious fruit. All was fed by waterfalls filling streams flowing in every direction.
She turned back to the temple and proudly walked up the steps disappearing inside. She was delighted to find everything just as she had imagined. Her sleeping chambers were filled with rare birds and plants. Her bed was made of golden goose feathers and fragrant rose petals.
Each room emptied into one of the lush gardens surrounding the temple. Her throne sat in a large room to itself. When she entered, she was surprised to find something she hadn’t created in her mind. Sitting on the right side of her throne was a large pool of crystal clear water.
She slowly walked to the pool, peering inside. “The Pool of Prayer, as promised by the Spirit of the Water,” she said to herself. Curiously, she reached out, lightly brushing the tips of her fingers over the surface of the pool. Then with a jolt, she drew back her hand. Her spirit suddenly cried out in great pain, as her blood ran cold as ice, causing her to quickly recoil from the pool. While she was still recovering from the shock of the overwhelming feelings of pain and torment coursing through her very being, the water came to life and the face of the Spirit appeared to her.
“The prayers of many await your blessings, dear goddess,” said the spirit shimmering across the face of the water. She looked down at her hand then back to the pool.
“Why does the water cause me such pain and torment?” she questioned.
“It is just as the pool in the meadow, filled with the pain and torment of those you have vowed to serve.
“Will I never again know the soothing peace of water caressing my body?” she cried.
“As long as those you serve are plagued with suffering; so shall you be,” whispered the Spirit.
“Then show me those who sufferer, and I will ease their pain and shower them with many blessings.”
“As you wish,” replied the spirit of the pool. The water churned for a moment and the face of the spirit was replaced with the vision of a woman sitting on the banks of a dry river bed. At her breast was a fragile infant. She gingerly tried to rouse the child to suckle what little milk she might have left, for she had been many days without nourishment herself. With a lifeless, empty gaze, the infant attempts to feed with her help, but was far too weak to continue. The mother did the only thing she knew. She pulled the baby to her heart and cried out to the gods for mercy.
Caseama’s heart filled with sadness as she watched the woman cry out.
