Welcome to Gaia! ::

Cosine sat on the floor in her room at the inn and read over the letter from her friend. Once, then twice to make sure she had taken in every little detail no matter how insignificant. So Lisana had met with Creation, and had rooms, that was something Cosine needed to do if she had to return to the Pantheon. Sleeping on other people's floors was not much fun.

She placed the letter on her knee and looked around, she would get her Aoide to move the bedding and useful things into the main building, the humans would need those. First she would have to talk to Isra and her family, help them find these rooms in the pantheon, she hoped that there would be space for them.

As she made her way through the old hotel, past its dusty corners and broken fittings, she noticed that it was quiet, more quiet than it had ever been. Lisana must have started informing all of her friends and their families.

Isra's rooms were located on the second floor, down the creaky staircase with its threadbare carpet. She knocked on the door and smiled as she heard the familiar sounds of chatter and children's laughter. After a few moments the door opened and Isra stood on the other side, her daughter on her hip and a smile on her full lips.
"Cosine, it has been too long." She stood back from the door and gestured for the goddess to enter.

The room was just as it had been, full of people and their belongings that had been saved. Cosine breathed in the smells of incense and cooking and bowed her head to them all, smiling at Ziya as he waved to her from his father's lap.
"I bring news." She said, taking a seat on the floor among the caravan and looking to the folded note in her hands. "It is not safe here, those who started this nothing, they are still out there and they might launch another attack. I suggest you move to the Pantheon with me. Our Lord, Creation has provided some rooms for you. You will be safer there." she smiled a little and looked to Isra.

"Then we must go." She agreed, looking around at her people. "Does anyone object? Speak now." A silence of a few moments fell, followed by hushed discussion among those families that remained. Some were reluctant to move, they were tired, exhausted by the constant danger that followed them. No one voiced their fears out loud and soon silence fell once more. Isra nodded, her earings jangling with the movement.
"Then we will move."

Cosine smiled, glad they had chosen to move and looked to the window, it was dark outside.
"Start packing, I will go and find Lisana or her friend and learn the location of the rooms for you." She stood and smoothed her hands over her simple dress. "I will return shortly."

It was late when Cosine returned from her meeting with mystery. As his name might suggest he intrigued her, and she had enjoyed his company very much. His host was lucky that such a noble god had taken his place and would take care of his little son. So new to the world one of those who would shape the aftermath of destruction.

Slowly she made her way back through the pantheon, to the inn, which, if what Lisana said was true was not the safe haven they had first imagined it to be. She wrapped her arms around herself, the night was cold and all she had was one of Echo's pretty but thin dresses to keep the chill out.

Inside the building that had seen much better days there were people and belongings everywhere. Shouting in languages that Cosine did not understand but could tell from tone they were directions and orders. Children charged past, laughing, followed by the stern chastising of mothers, who would drag them back to their family by their arm or their collars. The goddess smiled as she walked into the fray, it was good to be among these mortals, so alive and viberant.

Isra and her family were making their way down the stairs, lugging belongings in any way they could think to carry them.
"Lady Cosine." She tall woman smiled as she reached the bottom, her young son clinging to her skirts, her daughter in a sling across her back. She carried a bundle of clothes and food in her hand.
"We are ready, almost. My husband and the other men are checking the rooms to make sure there is no one left."

"Good, that's good." Cosine nodded as she glanced around at everyone. Turning her eyes back to the little boy she gave him a big smile. He hid behind his mother, resting his head against her. "I have found the rooms, there will be plenty of space for everyone. Come with me and I will show you."

Isra nodded and turned to give a clipped order to one of the younger woman from her caravan. The woman spoke loudly to a few others and soon they had a crowd around them, ready to be shown their new accomodations.

Cosine led them all out of the Inn and up to the Pantheon, there they walked across the grassy space that had been created with the return of Harmodius and into the marbled expanse of the new hall. There were gasps of awe and hushed voices exclaiming as they walked through the peaceful space. If one looked at the world outside it would be almost impossible that this beauty and tranquility could exist. She was sure they would all be happy about their relocation.

Slowly they descended the stairs and made their way towards Laughter and mystery's rooms. A slience fell over the party, they were within the realm of the gods now. Living among them, beside them. Cosine stopped by the door and opened it, showing them to a cluster of rooms that had not been taken.
"You will be safe here." She said, turning back to Isra and watching as the people started to talk amongst themselves once more. "If you need anything you can ask me, or Lisana, her rooms are next door and I am sure she will help you.

Isra smiled as she set her things down and nodded.
"This is perfect, much better than the Inn, more like we are used to." Her dark eyes glanced around the space approvingly. "Thank you Cosine. If you need anything you can come and ask us too. We owe you so much for saving us all, anything you need would be a pleasure."

Cosine smirked a little and shook her head.
"It was no trouble, just make sure you all stay inside the Pantheon and I am sure this will all be over soon."

Isra nodded and smiled.
"We will pray, now that we are surrounded by gods. Hopefully our prayers will be answered, if not, there is no hope for anyone."

XLVI

3.XLVI


Cosine sat on the floor of Ankou's room with her back against the bed. It was quiet, everyone would be out and about seeing to business. Smiling to herself she reached for a large notebook one of the Baadris refugees had given her and ran her hand over the cover. It was leather bound with fragments of their beautiful coloured glass inlayed on the cover.

From behind her ear she produced a pencil and opened the journal. This would be where she would start her record, a diary of progress.


I have taken it upon myself to begin a journal, a personal record of rebirth. I am sure that those dark days following the fall of destruction will have more records than even I will be able to count. This will document these weeks, months, years even that follow.

I have contemplated the numbers, everything that is needed, everything that has been lost. It is overwhelming for one, half goddess to even imagine. Arc is lost and there is only me to keep track.

Today I helped the people of Baadris move to a safe location within the Pantheon. This is a step backwards for progress. I had thought I might spend my time helping architects and engineers with their trade. Rebuilding infrastructure is surely where a deity like myself should begin. However, if beyond the pantheon is unsafe then what is the point? Why build things up if they will only be destroyed once more.

I will seek those out who may help. We can spend our time planning, organising the process of rebuilding. Hopefully safety will come sooner rather than later.

*********

Cosine lay on the soft bed on her stomach, her journal spread before her. She stared at the blank page and drew a pattern in the corner with her pencil. She wanted to write but her mind was on Echo and of course Ankou. She wondered where they were and what dangers they might have to face. She also, in moments of depression wondered if they would ever return. Would she be left to pick up those peices. Tell the children, take care of them.

On the other hand she was envious of them, their freedom, their strength. Would she have been brave enough to venture into the unknown to find a loved one like they had. She had yet to go in search of her twin.

No one had heard from Arctang since Gehenna and she had yet to even try to find him. Why? A question she had not been willing to ask herself. She could try and tell herself that it was because finding him would be impossible, he could be anywhere, in any world. Though then there was another answer, a darker one that she would not even admit to herself. Maybe she prefered him out of the picture.

She could not remember her past life but she was sure she would have spent it in his shadow. Treated like a little sister, not a twin, an equal. With Arctang gone she was free to be whoever she wanted, do whatever she wanted. She was Number, not a fraction. Half of a whole.

The goddess chewed on her lip and looked out at the darkness outside the window. What did that make her? Happy her brother was lost to all of them. Selfish, evil .... it was strange to think of the potential. She was not fully herself yet, would she change for the worse?

She sighed and closed her journal. Folding her arms on the bed spread and resting her forehead on them. She really hoped that they would not take too long. Nergal too, she would like to see him again, speak with him and ask his advice.

She could feel that this wait, for her family to return was going to be long, very long indeed.

Another day had passed and yet another sleepless night. Cosine lay in bed and stared up through the darkness at the ceiling. This was great, she could see that she was going to have to visit Isra and her husband and find out if they had any good remedies for insomnia. Otherwise she would be no use to anyone.

Sighing heavily the goddess turned over and pulled the covers up over her head. Maybe if she closed her eyes she could trick herself into falling asleep. She thought, closing her eyes and lying there in silence.

Somewhere across the room there was a crash. Cosine jumped and sat upright, the covers falling to her lap. What the hell was that. She glanced through the darkness again, her eyes falling on the curtain that divided the bedroom up into a study space. It moved and there was a cough. A slightly wheezy dusty type of cough.

Slowly the goddess slipped out of bed and made her way across the room. It would not be the aoide and she could not imagine what else. One of the children perhaps? Though wouldn’t they have made themselves known.

The … whatever it was coughed again. She paused and stepped closer to the curtain, readying herself to run she grabbed the edge of it and yanked it back hard, giving a yelp as she saw a rather unfamiliar creature sat on a cushion, watching her.

It looked like a cat, though it was sat as a person would sit, its legs crossed and its arms folded, watching her with wise eyes. She blinked, holding its eyes and could not help but get a feeling of familiarity. Something about the creature …

“Who are you?” She asked, relaxing a little as whoever he was he did not seem to pose a threat. “What are you doing here.” Her eyes went to the balcony, had he climbed in … or was she just delirious from lack of sleep.

The cat like creature smiled a little, or was it a smirk and stood. He was not very tall, shorter than her and she was short enough.
“I am Phirren of Yggdrasil. The world tree.” He said, very matter of factly as he watched her. “I should ask who you are? You must have summoned me here.”

“I’m Cosine, Goddess of Number. I did not summon you.” She looked to the mess in her usually tidy work area and raised an eyebrow. She had a box that she kept special things in. It was broken and the contents over the floor. Her keen eyes went from the mess to the cat man and she remembered the charm Destruction had given her all that time ago. Phirren. “Or maybe I did?”

“You cannot remember? That cannot bode well for a number goddess.” His tone was jovial, teasing even. “I must have been asleep for a long time,” He scratched his head, a bemused expression crossing his features as he glanced around. “Are you all that is left?” He could remember them fading, though his own memory was shattered, like a jigsaw with missing pieces.

Cosine shook her head.
“No, we have begun to return, some of us. Harmodius is back, slowly we are finding our way, following his power and strength. You come from the World Tree?”

Phirren nodded and walked past her, out into the main room. It was rather small, for a god’s abode. Not that he had ever seen one, he just imagined that they would be somewhat grander. Them being gods and all.
“Yes, that is where I am from, where I was born, my clan. You’ve never met one of us?”
“No, I cannot say I have, though I cannot say that I haven’t either. I have no memory of life before the fading, not much memory anyway. It may well be that our paths have crossed.”

Phirren nodded to himself and picked up one of Ankou’s trinkets.
“You have a strange collection of things for a Number Goddess.” he held up something and then placed it down on the side. “Bone things.”
Cosine smirked a little and followed him.
“This is not my apartment, it belongs to the Spirit Guide, Ankou.”

At the name, or maybe the title the cat man looked up, his features a little more animated than before.
“Ah, him I know. He can move between worlds, like us, he knows the way. We are guides you see. We take people through the mazes inside the centre of all universes.”

“An important job I am sure, one that will be useful in these times.” As the words left her lips she realised that he would have no idea what she was talking about. “Would you like some tea? Something to eat maybe?”

“Some tea would be very nice indeed.”
“Follow me.” She led him through to the living room and gestured for him to take a seat whilst she gathered the kettle and tea leaves. “We have had much trouble in the past year. The twin crown became unbalanced, destruction reigned and then, even he was nearly destroyed, the world with him. I think you will be shocked at what lies beyond the pantheon.”

Phirren watched her, the half goddess. He could tell that much, there was very little power there. Not much baring and arrogance. They were all arrogant. Wasn’t that what made them fade in the first place.
“Shocked, maybe. Though not surprised, if you have been there, towards the end of the gods. You would agree that it was on the cards. You do not learn lessons well. If you do not mind my speaking frankly.”

Cosine looked up from the kettle and shook her head.
“No I do not mind.” She smiled a little. “I do not know what state the World Tree is in. I have not been there. It would probably be best for you to stay here for the moment. I can find you some space here, find out if it is safe or not to venture there.”

Phirren looked around him once more. He had spent a lifetime dormant, like her and the rest of them. Could he spend a few more days stuck in this tiny apartment. His heart was itching to get back to his home, to his place as a guide and wandered. However, if, as she said it was not safe it would be fruitless to return only to die.
“I think I could bare that.” He decided, looking up at her. “When we discover the situation surrounding the tree I will take you there. It is a wonder you must see.”

One month had passes since Ankou and Echo had left the Pantheon. Days, for Cosine, laboured by full of worry and wondering. Routine was good for Numbers, order, some way to pass the time that constantly clocked away in her head. She would wake, eat work on some of her plans, write her journal, check on the aoide and children. Afternoons were filled with wandering the Pantheon gardens and people watching. Evenings meant dinner, reading and then bed where she would pretend to sleep until it finally took her.

She counted the days and time. Minutes ran through her mind as she went about her day. Though there was no sundown and sun up she knew implicitly the passage of time as she had since mortals had first put numbers to the passing of the days.

Day 28, month 10. 11th hour, 5th minute and 10th second.

Cosine wandered through the pantheon halls to the door that lay between Mystery and Laughter's rooms. She pushed the door open and wandered in, sounds of laughter and chatter seemed to eminate from the stone walls. Women stood in groups gossiping, children played, there were even animals wandering. It was like a new world, far removed from the one they had left behind.

She squeezed past the congregations and through to those she had found in Baadris. They too were outside of their rooms, sat in a circle, laughing and talking. Women sewed and prepared food, men told stories to entranced children. The air smelled of rich perfumes and spices. Cosine smiled and flexed her wings.
"Good morning." she said, addressing noone in particular.
The women looked up, her twin aoide Zeta and Zero among them.
"Lady Cosine." Zeta said with a broad smile. "What a pleasure, come and sit with us.
Cosine returned the smile and took up their invitation. There was a fire in the middle of the group, though it was not an ordinary fire, there was no smoke and it glowed a deep purple colour. She sat down and reached her hand out, feeling the warmth of it on her skin. 100 degrees, her mind told her.

"What brings you down here?" Zero asked, toying with the trim on her pink sari that sparkled in the firelight.
"I was in need of some company. It is rather lonely up in the apartments." She shifted to cross her legs and smoothed her silk skirts over her knees. "Are yo enjoying you new rooms?"
The twins nodded in unison.
"Yes, especially now we are out of direct danger."

Cosine smiled and leaned her arms on her knees.
"Good, I hope soon it will be safer out there. It would be nice to find a proper home."
The twins nodded once more in agreement.
"One day." Zeta smirked, looking over the top of her glasses. "Though I fear that day may be a long time coming."

"Cosine, welcome." Isra's accented voice drifted between the three of them and caused them all to turn. Cosine smiled to see her friend and shifted to make room for her.
"We were discussing the state of the world."
Isra gave a low laugh as she arranged herself and shook her head.
"A topic much too depressing for my circle." She declared, reaching for a silver tray that sat to their left. "You look tired, Number. Maybe you should stop worrying about the future, we exist in the present. That is where we should live." On the tray was a jug, slowly and elegantly Isra poured them each a glass of tea.
A small smirk formed on Cosine's lips at the words of her friend.
"The present troubled me also. My family and my closest friend are travelling, searching for the Underworld." Her smiled faded a little. "It has been a month and no news yet."

Isra handed the goddess some tea and placed the jug back on the tray.
"It is difficult when loved ones are absent."
Cosine nodded and cupped the tea in her hands.
"I cannot sleep for worry. I wish I could be doing something more to help them."
"Yes, I have often felt that way when my husband is away gathering herbs and potions." She smirked a little. "Though that may be because I know how he likes to get himself into trouble. Come with me to our rooms. I have just the thing for you." The woman stood, her jewelry making a musical sound as it jangled with her movements.

Cosine stood too, following after her to one of the plain doors and through into a cosy room. There were hangings on the walls and makeshift beds made from cushions and blankets that they must have taken from the hotel. In one corner Isra's husband sat with a book on his lap, their daughter sat next to him, shaking a home made rattle and chattering away to him.
Ziya, their son was asleep on one of the beds, clutching a ragged stuffed toy under his arm.

"My love, do you have any of the ingredients for your sleeping tea?" Isra asked, crossing the room to swing her daughter up into her arms. "Cosine is having trouble sleeping.

Azhar looked up from his book and smiled at his wife.
"Well, that is no good is it. Goddesses need their sleep." He walked past the goddess with a smile and over to a large box, one they had carried with them all the way from Baadris. The tools of the healer's trade. "I am sure I have everything." he said as he moved to his knees and started to rummage.

Cosine watched him with a smile and stepped closer to Isra, she took her daughter's little hand and shook it with a smile.
"You are a skilled healer." She mused, looking back to the dark haired man. "Have you thought about teaching your trade to others?"

Azhar pulled a cloth bag out of the box and straightened up.
"I haven't really, well my son of course." He smiled and walked over to the three of them.
"I am thinking about starting some lessons for the children in the pantheon. Reading, numbers, things like that, but healing, that is a very worthy skill that they all should learn." She nodded to herself and smiled.
Azhar handed her the bag and stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I think that is a very good and noble idea. I think I would be happy to teach others."
"Good, I am asking some others, when I have my final plan I will let you know."
Azhar nodded and smiled back.
"I would be glad to help, now, this you should take an hour before you sleep. It will knock you out cold."

Isra laughed and nodded.
"It's true. I swear by it." She shifted her daughter up on her hip and glanced to the door. "Now, I hope you will stay for dinner with us."