11 Chapter 10

Marie and her small group had been making good headway as they distanced themselves from the encampment. The soft tremors that Casey made before leaving vanished as he and Eric remained close to each other.

"Major..." Casey spoke, Marie looked at him, not showing him her own anxiety that had risen as they marched.

"Yes, Casey?" She asked. Casey looked away. Eric smiled at his partner.

"He wanted to apologize but he can't bring himself with those eyes of yours Major" Eric explained with a soft chuckle in his voice.

"It's fine Casey," Marie said looking at the nervous man. He glanced over at Marie for a second but hid behind Eric again.

The group had already made it halfway from where Casey had said the camp he'd been a prisoner in was, the distance they traveled was easily cut in half thanks to the magic users. Whilst Casey was a non-magical user many of the group had used some of their elemental magic to smooth the process of the journey.

"A storm coming Major a bad one too," Martinez said his gaze cast towards the dark grey clouds billowing nearby.

"Then let's set up camp for the night," Marie said, the men all beginning to prep

Jackson, one of the earth elementals had started to make a small cave underground. It was large enough for the group so that everyone could change and sleep without bothering others.

Marie then felt the rain before it started coming down, it was, odd. She had rarely felt the rain and usually would go out to feel it since the Castle rarely had storms due to some weak mages. Resulting in a chaotic landscape of dried grass and nearly dead flowers to her brother's heartache. The land was new to her.

As the others began to enter the small cave Marie stood alone. Silence enveloped her like a blanket she knew all too well. That silence that filled her head and that slowly was filled with the drumming of the rain against the clay soil. She smiled softly to herself. The rain was good.

The scent of rain felt cooling, calming, as she felt the drops touch her face the men already in the cave hidden from this cooling feeling. She felt something in the water as it hit her again and again, some magical presence. Something, godly.

"I sensed someone was out here, but I didn't expect another god would talk to me," Marie voiced to the pouring rain. She closed her eyes for a moment then felt a hand brush against her cheek.

"I wanted to see what Hasul saw in you my dear," the voice said, it sounded soft like a mother, with the coolness in her hand and the warmth in her voice, Marie opened her eyes. Meeting stormy grey eyes, the small droplets of rain on the woman's face and jet black hair seemed so natural as if they were diamonds against her skin. Permanently set against her dark flesh.

"My goddess," Marie said bowing low before a hand pulled her to look at the goddess.

She gave her a smile, signaling her to rise. Following the goddess's command, she did.

"I am Kani, the goddess of the Rain and Storms, my brother Hasul speaks highly of all his wards, but you, my dear he speaks so little of, tell me why is that?" She asked, the thunder resounding from her delicate voice. Marie made a small smile. Hasul, the god of death spoke of his other wards to the gods like his children but not her.

"I assume he doesn't want to brag that his newest ward is the daughter of Lilith, my goddess, I'm known as Marie," Marie said, her voice cool and calm, despite the slight shaking of being in the presence of a deadly goddess known for her benevolent nature.

Kani smiled, her teeth a sparkling white.

"I see, an Elemental like you would be a well-kept secret between you and him, very well, well I wish to bless you with a gift since you hold his interest, he is a chatterbox that brother of mine. I believe this shall be a suitable gift for you, I have high hopes for you, Marie Heart, do try not to disappoint," She said, sliding a necklace onto Marie's neck, the clasp clicking, Marie bowed, and then when she rose the Goddess, Kani, was gone. Marie's hands instantly went to touch the pendant on her necklace. A droplet with a grey and blue swirl moved as she examined it as if it were alive in its glass cage.

Then she realized what the goddess gave her, the eye of the storm. One of the most deadly talismans known in demon history.

And the goddess charged to protect it just gave it to Marie, a soldier, an Elemental soldier.