DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. All the characters belong to their respective creators(apart from those created by me).

Now this is my first story. So don't go apeshit on me if its not upto the mark.

Chapter 6: The Zero Goddess …(part 2)

We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing. It was the strangest thing. Her passing away ripped the solidity out of the world.

Ben Okri

They say no matter how old, how cynical, and how vile a man becomes, in the end he would always seek the approval of his mother; I agree.

I never had a mother figure in my life nor had I wish for one. But today, at this moment, as I ran towards the voice unknown, I realized just how much longing, urge and desire I had previously buried in my heart for all these years and why my heart always tightened painfully whenever I saw a mother doting on her child.

It's simple really; I wanted a mother figure in my life. One, who would cuddle me, hug me, cook for me, read me bedtime stories, reassure me that there was no monster under my bed and finally keep me company no matter what I did. So today when I had a taste of what it felt like to have a mother, even if it was just a voice, I ran forward blindly to obtain it and I wouldn't allow ANYONE to block my way.

The tunnel seemed unending, filled with an everlasting darkness, twisting and turning like a snake at random times.

Several times I ran into walls….pretty sure my forehead and lips are bleeding. Combine that with torn clothes, dark circles, bloodshot eyes due to lack of sleep and rugged appearance I looked like a complete street urchin in my minds mirror.

Finally the tunnel ended along with its accompanying darkness as well. The tunnel opened into a gigantic cavern cradling an equally big lake at it's centre. The walls were mostly black and looked very smooth, too smooth to even be man made.

The cavern roof was not visible and neither were the usual stalagmites nor stalactites, so very common in such under ground caverns, giving it the appearance of stretching upto infinity.

The monotonous darkness only was broken by large crystal formations jutting out of the roof walls, hanging downwards like those huge, elaborate chandeliers found in some rich dude's ball room to awe the "esteemed" guests. Glowing faintly with every conceivable colour, they bathed the dark cave in a sublime light.

It was breathtakingly beautiful.

A faint mist rose from the stone floor, white and sparkling as it slowly spiraled into nothingness, added to the mystery. Scattered all over cave were strange glowing plants, with crimson leaves, ivory stems and pale blue flowers that seemed to be flourishing even in the darkness. Hibiscus, if I was not wrong.

I have seen them before, generally red even bi-coloured, but blue ones … never.

The lake looked deep; very very deep perhaps even deeper than an abyss. The water appeared so crystal clear, fresh, unmarred by pollution, so pure and natural. It called to me like a siren's song, inviting me to indulge myself to my heart's content. And Like a moth to a flame, I too drew closer to the water and very carefully took a dip.

I felt being drawn into an endless vortex of power, slowly rejuvenating and healing me yet burning me from inside and out simultaneously. I felt like bathing in acid.

Yet I didn't scream…no I couldn't scream, my vocal cords felt like being melted. My eyes had hot iron pokers digging into them while liquid fire seemed to flow in my veins in place of blood. I could feel my skin melting off …well at least it felt that way … and a thousand

I could only wish for the pain to stop, eyes closed, whimpering and clawing at my own skin, trying to rip it off.

Anything to stop the agony. ANYTHING.

JUST as suddenly the pain had begun, it ended and my vision cleared inexplicably. A heavy pressure seemed to have been lifted from my shoulders, like I had been weighed down somehow and now it has been lifted …. kinda like weight training … you know naruto and co.

My entire body seemed so light, fluffy, like I was floating in a cloud….an inexplicable feeling. All the previous feelings of agony seemed to have disappeared completely….like a distant nightmare of the past.

Taking a few deep breaths and mentally debating with myself for about a 1000 times, I opened my eyes. And promptly dropped my jaws.

For no longer was I in a dreary, dark cavern. No I seemed to have been transported at middle of what could be described aptly as a paradise among paradise' in earth.

I was on an island in the middle of a lake occupying a massive valley. All around large water-falls decorated the valley walls, continuously feeding the lake, forming gigantic and vivid rainbows. The lake water was crystal clear and sparkled white in the bright sunlight. It seemed to laugh and play as it flowed merrily downhill through the valley, tempting and calling me to take a dip in its cool refreshing water. Hundreds of blue lotus flowers blossomed in the lake filling the winds with a pleasant aroma.

All around large flocks of multicoloured swans, ducks, storks and other unknown birds played in the lake hunting, swimming or just jostling around. The air was filled with their vibrant calls.

It took me several seconds to process everything….I mean getting ripped into shreds and then put back together, not once but twice in a single day, will do that to anyone.

The island I was standing on was very nice. Filled with lush green trees, flowering plants and berry shrubs, a pearly white sand beach it looked like a resort. Many of the trees hung low with fruits…large, juicy fruits many times their normal sizes. Just looking at them made me salivate uncontrollably.

But before I could act on my carnal desire and defile the trees by stripping them of their fruits, the soft sounds of feet alarmed me. As I whiled around to face my unknown welcomer….. or I hoped he/she was …. I was greeted by the sight of the most beautiful man, no a boy, I've ever seen…. or was it the most handsome man ….. my brain was fried really.

Barely out of his teens, the boy had a very youthful face, smooth and aristocratic with a perfectly trimmed moustache and a goatee enhancing his masculinity. There was small tattoo around his naval; a black sun glowing out.

His upper body was bare but perfectly chiseled with multiple abs displayed proudly. With Hair as black as night, broad shoulders, golden bronze skin tone, muscled arms and a swimmers build, he looked like male vanity given form…Adonis but with exponentially enhanced looks. Frankly as much I loved women I wouldn't say no to dating him.

Sex on legs…yup that's what I will call him from now on.

An open golden crown, studded with diamonds interwoven with platinum threads adorned his head.

He wore a dhoti, like those Indians I've seen wear on occasions at home. Made of expensive looking yellow silk and adorned with sparkling gems it complemented him greatly. A single but extravagantly curved locket decorated with multiple precious stones adorned his chest, while a pair of wrist bands rested on his arms.

The left band was normal sized but the right wrist band stretched upto his shoulders. Made of a non reflecting black material, decorated with pulsating golden veins on its surface it surrounding a large ruby like gemstone, it cut a pretty intimidating sight.

Then I made a mistake ….. I looked into his eyes.

Where his pupils should have been, laid a ball of ethereal red fire, burning like a thousand suns. Suddenly they expanded and seemed to swallow my very existence in a furious vortex of red light. Like an unstoppable tsunami visions of violence, wars, bloodshed filled my soul. Massive armies fighting….men vs men, mend vs demons, deities vs demons … forges filled with terrible fires churning out countless weapons of war, rain of blood and limbs, men sacrificing millions in the name of war.

In the middle of this stood a figure…his figure but it had changed. Even more beautiful than before he had six heads and six arms, each holding a weapon of terrible power. That moment I knew the being before me was no man or even a demon or monster …. he was god ….more specifically a god of war.

"Hail lord Kartikeya, god of war, violence, strategy, weapons, armies, bloodshed and male fertility. The son of Rudra and Parvati, born of Ganga , nurtured by the Kritikays, the dark one, the six headed one, the spear wielding one, the eternal bachelor, the cave dwelling one, the club wielding one, the general of the heavens, slayer of Tarak, protector of mankind", a voice spoke.

To be continued…..

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Sorry guys I'm having my exams and interviews soon. So I can't update too much. Sorry for the length of the chapter as well.

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