Chapter 3: Flowers for her

1,000 years ago…….

Axel watched the pretty girl in fascination as she ran in the garden, and bent down occasionally to smell the flowers. Her eyes would sparkle, and the corner of her lips would curve into a beautiful smile. He was mesmerized, she was the most charming and graceful being he had ever seen. In his excitement, he decided to go close. The celestial god had permitted him to walk the earth for a month because his grandfather had requested it on his behalf as a birthday present. His grandfather was someone the celestial god respected, because he was indebted to him to an extent.

The girl ran towards the daffodils in the garden in excitement. She was about to smell them when she heard her name. “Miss Penelope!!” Her servant yelled at the wind in worry, holding the hem of her dress and running towards the beauty in the garden. Penelope looked startled. “Miss Penelope!” She screamed again, she was already getting closer now. Penelope ran towards the direction of the voice, it was her nursemaid. “Your father asked you to come and sit for dinner, he'd like to introduce you to a friend's son. “Okay.” Penelope replied without questions and went with her nursemaid to get dressed.

Axel watched on from a distance. After they had left, he went close to the flower the girl was about to smell, and picked a fist full. He gathered them and arranged them into a bouquet. He was going to present them to her when next she comes to the garden. Three days went by, but Penelope was nowhere to be seen. He wandered around the garden, anticipating her visit. On the fourth day, she finally showed up. Axel could feel his heartbeat race abnormally. A god with no emotion was having a strong spark for a woman. He knew none of the other gods would be pleased to hear it. The celestial god had bridged a gap between gods and humans a long time ago.

He watched her run in the garden like a three years old child with no care in the world. Her laughter rang in the wind like soft bells. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Adjusting the flowers, he walked toward her confident. His mind was made up, he was going to talk to her, and they were going to be friends. Soon, he got to where she stood with a white grin plastered on his face. He extended the flowers to her. But to his dismay, she walked past him. He followed her, hoping she’d accept his flowers. But it was almost like he wasn't there. He realized she could not see him. She had no idea someone stood there. Downcast, he tossed the flowers on the ground and disappeared back to his home in the sky. He was moody and refused to talk to anyone. Being a god was cool, but he never knew they could not talk to mortals. All his life he had never left the sky. It was his first time conceiving such an idea.

He walked to his chamber and sat in silence to observe his loom. It was no ordinary loom, it was made from various elements including bones of titans. He watched it weave and unweave destinies as it spun blue love threads, gold birth and death threads and red threads for other gods. His throne was carved from onyx and veined with pulsating veins of crystalized time. Axel sits here in silence, surrounded by floating parchments and living quills that write the ever-changing stories of the universe. Waterfalls of liquid light descend from invisible heights, forming quiet pools where memories and possible futures drift like leaves on still water.

Just then, his grandmother walks in. She was clad in all white, despite her grey hair she had a young appearance. Kind sparkling eyes and a warm smile.

“Why do you look so troubled, my dear?.”

“I have no time for your questions, Nana Lulu.” He snapped.

“The only thing that can make you visible to the human eye is the celestial god's gold elixir.”

He looked at her, he was all ears, she had caught his attention.

“Seems like you want to try it out. I see….

“I don't Nana Lulu, I have no reason to. The celestial god needs his elixir, besides grandfather can only make one for him every year ten years. I've always wondered what was special about the stupid elixir. I had no idea it'd be that powerful.”

“Well it is. Don't get fascinated by the human world my boy. A god interacting with a human never ends well. Humans are not good people.” She flashed a warm smile and left.

Axel found himself thinking about doing the unthinkable when she was gone. He was going to steal the celestial god's elixir from his grandfather's chamber and approach the beautiful maiden once again. Not as an invisible spirit this time, but someone she could see and touch.

For the most part, his plan worked. Axel broke the orb his grandfather usually seals the elixir and made his way to earth. He drank it once he was close to the garden she usually goofed around. His hands assumed flesh immediately, his entire body had skin and other organs as well, but they felt heavy. He didn't mind, as long as he could see her and she'd acknowledge his presence, he was fine.

He picked some of the same type of flowers he threw the last time and watched in wait, hoping she'd drop by. Just then, he saw her. She was as radiant as always as she ran amongst the flowers. His expression brightened as an unusual calm descended on him. Her smile was beyond powerful. He could feel the new organ in his chest thumping faster than normal against his rib cage. He quickly placed his hands over it. But the next sight he was met with made his heart stopped. A young man emerged from behind the girl, he was just as happy as she was. He took her hand and led her toward the willow tree in the garden. None of them seemed to have noticed him yet.

He was pissed, he could not stand another man making moves on her. It was now or never. He briskly walked up to the pair — as bold as the god he was, and handed the flowers to the surprised Penelope. The young man was as surprised as she was.

“I got you flowers, I saw you admiring them earlier but you didn't get to pick them.”

“Thank you.” The startled Penelope replied, taking the flowers. She was trying to be polite to this daring gentleman she had never laid her eyes on before. He had striking handsome facial features and an insanely powerful aura. His presence was commanding. In a bid to please him further, she raised them up to her nose and inhaled them. In a flash, she broke out in hives, she quickly tossed them away as she held her chest in panic. She was struggling to breathe, her eyes were bloodshot, every breath became more difficult than the previous one.

“Penelope!!.” The young man called out in panic as he shook her shoulders frantically. Axel watched in confusion and worry, what had he done? The flower was harmless. Why then did it want to take the life of the girl he had been obsessing over.

Furious, the young man who was with Penelope stood up and pushed Axel. “Get lost!!! Never come near Penelope again. I don't want to see you ten feet around her or else, I'll ask my father to butcher you limb by limb and feed you to the wolves.” He threatened angrily — grabbing Axel's collar.

Defeated, Axel stood aside and watched the young man carry Penelope away. He was too confused and scared to speak. His first attempt to speak with her had turned to an assassination attempt. So much for stealing the celestial god's elixir. He had failed to get what he wanted, and he was also going to get punished when the celestial god finds out what he had done. He shook his fist in rage, it was unfair how that human had just treated him like a monster, it was not like he'd intentionally do that to Penelope. Angry, he returned to the sky. He was going to come back and clear every misunderstanding. He succeeded, he and the mysterious human became like two peas in a pod. They became very close, and would sit beside each every evening in the garden. No names or identity was exchanged. Penelope was worried about the demand her pack had placed on her shoulder. But she'd do anything to save her father, even if it meant betraying her new friend. She made him promise to meet her at the same spot the following day. Axel, who was clueless, agreed. They were just two people who loved each other's company. Their love story would have been a happily ever after. But her betrayal made it impossible.