Hare of Misfortune

Rachel’s downcast eyes lifted to the dark sky as the world melted away, the cracked red stone of the arena solidifying under her feet. She was carried back into the stadium of higher beings, her sober gaze fixated on the two thrones hovering overhead. Izanami’s previous words to Dionysus rang in her mind, yet only oppressive silence met her sharp ears.

The Japanese goddess of the dead leaned against her armrest, legs crossed as her inviting, Infernal vision lingered on her, and a chilling finger slid down Rachel’s spine to her tail, making her shiver. No cheers or screams could be heard as her final trial came to an end; instead, the entire cast had changed, and she felt the charged atmosphere like a howling blizzard.

Izanami’s presence now pressed against her chest with the realization at whose table she now sat. This wasn’t the court of a mad god, drunk on power; no, that ship had been swallowed by the wolf that now proudly floated above.

Run, run, little lamb, but the beasts are in the pen...

”What?” Nia asked, devilish taint leaving to return the frightened rabbit kid.

Rachel slowly spun in a circle, pulling her eyes away from the fallen creation deity to her new audience, filled with entities far stronger than those she’d entertained before. Glorious and terrible figures that put Dionysus to shame now filled the stands, yet the calculating and ominously still atmosphere was on the Assistant Arbiter.

The parents are home, she answered. Izanami has opened the gates, allowing all 6th- and 7th-dimensional entities to join the show. We’re playing a game far above our weight class, Nia.

”What do we do?!”

Listen and learn... she replied, looking at their audience; Dionysus was a rather obscure name to her, but not these gorgeous Greek gods and goddesses seated together in their section. Rachel caught sight of Thalia, Irida, and Aleka beside a well-dressed black-haired man and woman, and she didn’t need to guess who they were. Look closely where we step; this is what Cerridwen wanted.

Her outfit hugged her tighter as the girl’s spiritual arms watched more and more powerful deities make their appearance. ”Didn’t she say you were in charge, though? T-They can’t hurt us, right?”

Cerridwen drew Izanami’s attention for a reason. We’ll see why soon enough, I’m sure. She’s peeling back the layers so we can see the larger picture, but for what purpose?

After several seconds of uncomfortable silence, Izanami’s silky voice spoke to where the Infernal dogs they’d just played with sat. ”Lord Hades, Lady Persephone, thank you for lending me your adorably young hounds; they were quite entertaining and cute.”

The cold-blooded man gave a graceful nod as his wife leaned in to whisper something in his ear, exciting the hounds next to the goddess. On the opposite side of Hades, his two magnificent younger brothers and their wives whispered in response to the dark-haired beauty beside Hades, causing Persephone to give a weary wave and sigh.

Hades’ tone held an arctic chill that was soft yet heard as if right next to her. ”Olympus accepts your invitation to the banquet, Lady Izanami. We look forward to your company.”

Izanami’s flame-lit eyes held delight while drifting to Eostre. ”Wonderful. Now that that has been settled, can’t we all agree that the finale of our little tournament has come far too swiftly? Eostre, shouldn’t we give our contestants time to interact with their Greater Seeds and give our guests time to mingle?”

Hands held tightly against her belly, Eostre forced a smile. ”Maybe...it hasn’t gone by fast enough.”

A gentle chuckle shook Izanami’s chest as quite a few other higher entities joined in the mirth at the tulpa’s answer. ”Isn’t that just like me, though, Eostre...the Goddess of Disappointment?”

She swept her hand outward, opening up the coliseum to the polluted wasteland of Yomi. ”Welcome to my castle, where everything is worthless.”

Izanami’s thumb and middle finger snapped, the sound lingering as the seats elongated, and a banquet of lavish food-filled tables of divine items appeared around the shifting environment.

”Please, help yourself to whatever you want...just get out while your soul is still clean. Hmm-hmm-hmm. No need to be so squeamish,” she added at the discomfort that swept the throng at the offer. ”On my glorious name, position as a host, and Assistant Arbiter of this game, it is safe to consume...after the Seed purified my polluted goods. Enjoy yourselves! Benzaiten, dear...”

Rachel looked at a beautiful, traditionally dressed Japanese woman resting beside many others who leered at their oldest ancestor. There was hate and disgust in the Japanese pantheon’s faces as Izanami brought them into focus, the other pantheons appraising the sparse gathering.

”If you could be so kind as to provide us with your song of luck?”

”I would not be so kind,” she coldly returned.

Izanami’s head lowered with a sad chuckle. ”I thought not... Not even after heavens and Hells have collided together... I cannot give up control. No one can destroy my spirit, so shut me up and roll a rock in front of my tomb. Don’t be tricked by my pleadings, and don’t get caught in my wrath... I’m the ruiner of my own kingdom, am I? I partook of the fruit of corruption of my own free will... And I did,” her gaze fixated on a beyond gorgeous, black-winged angel in the front row, smiling at the Assistant Arbiter.

Only silence met the fallen creation deity’s words, showing the level of distrust and caution those of this higher weight bracket gave the fallen goddess of the old realm. Rachel noticed that no one so much as touched the food, and she felt a spark of pity touch her at the crushing judgment cast upon Izanami by the section of Japanese deities.

The death goddess’ tone was sweet, but Rachel could feel the undercurrent in her voice as she looked upon all those of her lineage who had at least come to listen to what she had to say.

”After everything I’ve done to myself... I can’t take the weight of this crown. So, save your silver and gold offerings... It’s worthless.”

Not one voice was heard from her children.

”I see... I invite you—and I always keep a seat open at my table—yet still, you greet me with silence.”