God's Obsession
VENTUS
I looked disdainfully down on my temple, the offerings were pitiful at best today. I watched with little interest as gold and flowers were brought to me throughout the day.
Then as the sun was setting a plain looking girl approached the dais. Her long brown hair and brown eyes, her curvy hips and large breasts did nothing for her plain face. However, in her hand was a plate of my favorite treats, Cherry cookies.
She set them down and prayed, "Dear Ventus, I only wish for your pleasure at these treats I have made for you. May they bring you joy as making them brought me." She said and bowed respectfully before leaving.
I flashed down from my throne and took the cookies, taking a bite and moaning at the fresh and delicate flavor. She was a baker, so I wondered what other treats she could make for me. I finished the plate of cookies and left it with a note saying how much I enjoyed them.
She returned the next evening, the note made her squeal with glee and she refilled the plate with savory garlic breads this time. Her prayer was just as plain. "Ventus god of home and hearth, please keep my fires burning and my ovens hot." she whispered and then scampered off.
This time I followed her to her home, or rather to her bakery. She hustled in and started preparing dough for the next day. I watched as she worked well into the evening. The care and dedication she put into her craft was obvious.
I smiled and gave a wave of my hand over her ovens, a blessing that they stay at the perfect temperature and none of her goods burn. I watched as she went into the small adjoining room and found a bed and wardrobe tucked away. She undressed and climbed in bed, a small statue of me by her bed.
"A curious one that human." said Zotus the storm god from behind me. "She keeps only your likeness in her home and prays religiously to you. Now these goodies." he said as he put his arm over my shoulders and led me away from her.
We walked through the gods' place of solitude and spoke of her. Zotus told me her name was Lila and she was a true devotee. He had been studying her out of curiosity and said she only prayed to me.
"She seems to have a crush on you." Zotus said and I laughed.
"She can join my throngs of adoring female fans." I said as I settled back in my throne with my treats eating them happily as I watched my alter for her to return.
LILA
My ovens stayed at the perfect temperature all day, no matter what input in them the temperature was simple to adjust and I didn't struggle at all. My treats and breads all came out perfectly and my final batch of mooncakes that I made for Ventus were perfect.
I looked at the round cakes stamped with little bunnies, their exotic filling I hoped would be a treat for the god. The pineapple was hard to get a hold of and I rarely had it in stock. I had used my only one for this batch.
I put on my towel and wandered to the temple, avoiding the people there and sneaking in. I placed the plate of mooncakes on the altar.
"Ventus, thank you for your blessings today, I am forever grateful for my skills and your eternal blessings." I humbly said a single tear running down my cheek.
"Why are you crying, young lady?" A voice said from behind me. I yelped and turned cowering away and trying to cover the cakes.
"No reason, sir. I'm sorry if my presence is a nuisance I'll leave promptly." I said and bowed quickly trying to pass the handsome man who had spoken to me.
However he placed a tan hand on my shoulder as I went to pass and stopped me. I gasped and looked up at him, his bright yellow eyes and dark chocolate hair drew me instantly. I felt heat in my core and blushed then looked away, more tears in my eyes as I pulled away from his searing touch.
"I'm so sorry, you didn't have to touch someone like me." I whimpered and ran out. I rushed to my bakery and collected my till from the day. Gathering the things that didn't sell and moving them to the day old shelf.
I operated in complete isolation, I didn't talk to customers or handle their goods, they came in on their own and paid me accordingly. I just baked, but the customers didn't want to speak with me anyway.
I was a pariah in this town. I had come from overseas and my pale skin and dark brown eyes and hair marked me as a foreigner. I wasn't wanted here, but my baked goods spoke for themselves and I made good money.
It also seemed as long as I kept to myself no one vandalized my shop anymore. At least I hoped that was over with, the last time they had broken one of my ovens. I looked over at the barely repaired clay, it still didn't fire the same way as before.
I sighed as I started prepping for tomorrow, getting my doughs ready to rise overnight in my warm ovens. A figure appeared in my doorway, then another and another. Fear gripped me as I slowly backed away from my table.
"Please, I just want to sell my goods." I whimpered as the men entered my shop. "Please." I whispered as they grabbed me and the first punch hit me.
VENTUS
I paced angrily above my temple, Lila was late. She had always come at sunset to bring me my goodies, last night's had been an exotic treat. Zotus laughed at my impatient attitude and I snarled at him.
"Why would she be late?!" I snapped then saw a figure covered in a cowl limping into the temple; the faint torchlight of the temple barely illuminated them.
"Lila?" I wondered aloud as the figure stumbled and spilled a plate of ginger cookies across the floor. I heard her sob and knew it was the little baker. I flashed down behind one of the pillars and went to her aid.
"Here let me help." I said and she screamed, she cowered away from me with terror in her eyes.
"Please, please. I just want to worship. Please don't hurt me again." She whimpered and her cowl fell away revealing a face that was bruised and cut. Lila trembled as she rose to her feet and ran from me sobbing as she went back to her bakery.
"Heter, was she attacked?" I asked the open air and the nosy messenger god appeared beside me, his mischievous childlike form frowning.