Chapter 135 The Land of the Goddess

Chapter 135 The Land of the Goddess
ERINA

Kai's blue smoke fell around them and tickled the hairs on the back of Erina's neck.

It didn't take long for them to reappear in the same grove they'd been in before when they spoke with the Spirit Goddess before.

It was the same colorful mushrooms and trees, with the same interesting looking animals.

Kai had his arms wrapped around Erina when they teleported, but when they arrived, he reached down and slid his hand into hers.

Then he moved forward towards a large tree that looked eerily like a chair had been carved into it.

The dark wood angled around a high back and the arms came out in petite curves.

Erina looked around the small clearing and scanned for the Spirit Goddess, but she was no where in sight.

"What do we do, if she isn't here?" She asked, gently rubbing her thumb over the smooth cap of the small mushroom still tucked in close to her chest.

"We wait. She governs many realms, and while I believe ours is the largest, it's not the most important. She has to also govern parts of the Under World as well."

Shock swam through Erina. She knew of no magic within the Under World, so why would the Spirit Goddess have anything to govern there?

She asked as much to Kai.

"I've only ever been to the Under World once, and my mind wasn't anywhere near the workings of the gods." He bent his head to take in her eyes. "I was more focused on finding my wife, if you remember."

"That was your first time?" She remembered the look on his face when he came out from her mother's office and slammed his fist into Richard's face.

Even Nibblenook seemed surprised.

At the thought of him, her heart grew heavy and she squished in close to he Walker she held.

Noticing her mood, Kai wrapped his other arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

"It was. I had no idea I could go there and I suppose that's for the best anyway. There's too much there to distract me, not to mention there's things I'll never understand. Either way, whether the Souls there understand it or not, she blesses and governs things that happen there. So, much of her time is spent handling things."

"Who, me?" The voice tinkled across the air from behind them.

Both Kai and Erina spun to her before Kai bent to his knee.

Not knowing what to do herself, but remembering the Red Queen, Erina curtsied and smiled.

"Spirit Goddess." Kai murmured.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to bow to me, Kai. Do your people bow to their parents?"

Erina looked up at him and couldn't stop her mind from questioning things herself. She'd grown up Christian, and she'd never asked herself if praying and bowing to God was something he wanted. They don't bow to their parents and she couldn't help but wonder if they felt the same.

"And as always, I tell you that I bow with respect because you deserve it."

She smiled softly at him, and clasped her hands together in front of her. The white flowing gown she wore blew in the breeze and Erina smelled cinnamon in the air.

Then the Walker started to somewhat thrash in her hands as before her mind filled with the image of her setting it down so it could run up to the Spirit Goddess.

Not wanting to drop it, she hurriedly set it down and watched as it moved faster than she thought possible up to the Goddess.

A light laugh fell from the Goddess's throat and Erina couldn't help but feel lighter somehow because of it.

"You weren't supposed to leave yet. What if she wasn't ready for you?" The Goddess scolded the Walker, surprising Erina.

Coos and murmurs came from the Walker, sending more heartache through Erina.

"He saved Kai." Erina supplied, grateful that the Walker had arrived when it did.

"Did you now? I suppose your leaving may be forgiven then." She was quiet a moment before saying, "I'm sure he'll be fine. The Syrup does many fantastical things. Hmmm?" She said before going quiet once more.

Then, surprise filled her face and the Goddess's eyes flicked up to meet Erina's.

She couldn't help but shuffle in place as she took in the piercing gaze of the Goddess.

"He says Kai isn't his Father. Is that true?"

Erina's eyes went large and she froze. What did she say? Would she be in trouble if she confirmed? Would something bad happen if Erina was the Walker's caretaker and she wasn't supposed to be?

Kai responded for her. "It seems so. It wanted nothing to do with me." He laughed as he said the last.

"Can I be assured that you'll teach her what she needs to do in order for her Walker to be successful? We've never had a human Parent before, let alone a Mother."

"You can." He said as he rose to standing and then he stepped away from Erina. "The Mother Tree..." He let the sentence fall unfinished.

"Yes." The Goddess said. "You both did very well. You especially, Erina. We've always known Frank's future would be the new Father Tree, but we can't decide someone's adventure for them. Had he simply listened to his inner self, he'd have seen what called to him so adamantly."

"You knew the Mother Tree would die?" Erina asked, unable to hide her frustration.

"I knew it would be reborn. Just as I know Nibblenook will be reborn." She said, as if knowing that Erina needed to hear it.

A gasp left her. "We'll get him back?" The question hurried out before she could stop it.

"No. You have other things you need to do, but he will be back, and he'll be bringing someone with him that will bring you much comfort." The Goddess looked into the sky and Erina watched her eyes turn pearlescent like the inside of a clam shell before she lowered her gaze back down to them. "I believe her name is Rhea?"

"He's with Rhea?" She asked, confusion and anxiety rising. "I tried to reach them when I went back home but none of them responded. Are they okay? What happened?" The questions fell from her in a rush.

The Goddess smiled lightly. "They're not in the Under World, Erina, but that's not my story to tell. For now..."

She walked over to them and handed the Walker back to Erina before she continued. "You two are needed by Chronabel. As you've held up your end of our bargain, so shall I."

She turned to Kai, "Return to your kingdom. Once Chronabel releases the curse, I'll turn his Soul into a Pure one and he'll live out his life as a Cheshire."

She lifted her hand up to rest it on Kai's shoulder. "He will not like taking orders from you but I don't foresee hate or harm in his future. It's Chronabel I have concerns with."

"I understand." Kai said, bowing.

She turned from them as rainbow like smoke swirled around their bodies.