Goddess Complex

Most of the train tracks were covered in a single, thin layer of frost. I waited at the platform, and beside it, the aroma of coffee diffused toward me, and I turned around to see the snack counter behind me. My stomach rumbled as I saw the powdered doughnuts in the glass case.

There was an announcement.

The 10:30 AM train to Saphyr has been delayed.

I sighed and mouthed, “Oh no.”

My eyes scanned the grey paved floor, the women in a circle who all had matching t-shirts, and finally, I saw a bench. Sitting down on the hard, wooden bench, my legs felt stiff like blocks of ice.

“Is the train delayed, Janessa?” asked Comet.

“Well, it looks like it. What can we do now?”

I straightened my back against the brick wall.

“It is a normal occurrence, or so I hear.”

“Yes, but I want to see the Prince already,” I said, fiddling with my own hair.

“You must wait.”

“I’m trying.”

I closed my eyes for two seconds. Soon, I heard the sound of chuffing as wind swerved against me.

“Janessa, wake up! Is this our train?” asked Comet.

I got up, blinked, and checked the display.

“Yes, yes it is! Let’s go,” I said.

We boarded instantaneously, and I kept my belongings overhead. It was then I remembered my promise.

“Dear Cass,

We have boarded the train. Keep us in your prayers.

With lots of love,

Janessa.”

I sank into my chair and stared at the cloudy sky outside. People rushed into the compartments. As soon as the train began to travel, I saw the fleeting scenery, and my blank mind was alerted by the beep of my phone.

“Janessa! I will see you at last. The last six months have been painful despite your constant messages, calls, and photographs. Safe travels, my love. I pray that God bring you close to me.”

I reacted to the message with a heart and closed my eyes.

“Janessa, look at the dress that Hazel made for me. Please convey my thanks to her,” she said.

I opened one eye and saw the pink, frilly, sleeveless ballgown that Hazel had handstitched.

Her major is 3D art. I never imagined her to be good at this stuff.

“It’s wonderful, Comet.”

She held onto the dress and spun around with it in swift circles. This led her to lose balance, and she fell into the packet where the teddy bear was.

“Ouch,” she said, climbing up.

“Careful, Comet.”

I kept sending the prince photos from the window, and of myself.

“That’s splendid, Janessa, but do preserve the charge on your phone!”

I left him on read and shut my phone off. After taking out a book from my bag, I skimmed through the first couple of pages. It was a fairytale reimagining of the Goddess and the Cursed Prince. However, the more I read through, the more I felt like slapping the Goddess because of how she abandoned the Prince because of his curse. If she were such a powerful Goddess, why couldn’t she defeat the villain in one go? The questions never ended.

I closed my book and saw that the sky was dark, and I was the only one who wasn’t asleep.

The next morning, we arrived at the station where there was a sign that read WELCOME TO SAPHYR.

I stuffed Comet into my packet as I left the train. There was a group of royal guards who stood near the exit. I looked out the window as snowflakes drifted down gently. I took out and wore my warm gloves over my freezing hands.

“Right this way, Lady Janessa,” said one of the guards.

As soon as we left the gate, the open sky cast light on the red tiled floor. A crowd of photographers stood outside, and each one of them flashed with their cameras at me.

Am I dreaming? This feels like the one time I had fallen asleep at a con. Hold on, I might be a celebrity now.

One of them came forward with a microphone.

“Janessa Drexel, do you expect that the Prince will propose to you in the future?” he asked.

Before I could say anything, Jim called me.

“Lady Janessa, pay no heed to them. Please board the carriage,” he said.

“Okay!”

The guards stayed at their post.

Jim sat next to the coachman. I entered the carriage and sat down, closing the curtains.

When has this happened before? Ah, yes, I told his highness that I could not see through the curtains, and he said he must keep me safe. It wasn’t even that long ago. I just hope that he hasn’t changed one bit.

I took in a deep breath as Comet flew out of the paper bag and sat on my shoulder. The carriage bobbled up and down as we passed a considerable distance.

“No, it is that way!” said Jim.

“No, I know where we are heading,” said the coachman.

What’s going on? Are they lost?!

All of a sudden, the carriage halted. I opened the curtains, but we were in the middle of a clearing.

A hooded man knocked at the door. My heartbeat froze as I looked in the direction of the sound. Soon, he pulled on the knob of the door.

Jim yelled, “Lady Janessa, be careful!”

He banged on the door once again, and we opened the door from the other side. Jumping out, I watched as Jim parried against a hooded man as they clashed their swords.

“It’s cosplay time!”

I entered the royal dressmaking room once again. My sketchbook was oversized as I turned the page to a design.

Pixies traced it onto the red fabric. It wrapped around me snugly. The seams formed with glowing, golden thread. I grew red, oversized, webbed wings. Afterwards, I took a PVC pipe and fashioned it into a grand staff, taller than me, and attached an acrylic orb on top. It lit up on the inside of the orb with flames. The remaining pieces were a pair of red heels and a bejeweled headband.

“Fire Dragon Princess. Perfect,” I said.

As soon as I flew up, Jim pushed the hitman’s sword away, but he soon fell to the ground.

“Where is the girl?” he asked.

“Over here! Let him go.”

“Lady Janessa, you must run away! I promised the prince…”

He grabbed Jim by the collar and said, “If you do not…”

I’ve got to act fast!

“Burning red energy!” I yelled and aimed at his arm.

A fire covered the intruder's arm. The man yelled as he dropped his sword.

“Stop it at once! Please, I beg you.”

“Jim, grab the sword. I’ll put the fire out.”

He nodded, took the sword, and ran off a short distance.

I spun my staff 360 degrees and said, “Healing blue energy!”

My costume glittered as it transformed from red to blue. My staff sprayed water onto his arm.

“Argh, I suppose I should thank you.”

Jim crept behind him and took the hood off.

He exclaimed, “My God! Phil, the Captain of the Royal Guard! Why would you commit such treason?”

Phil sighed and said, “I have nothing to say. I was blackmailed to do it. The person who did so has a great hold on me and my kin.”

“You must answer to the royal family. Argh, the coachman has abandoned us, too! They are all involved. Moreover, we are far from the castle. I do not know this place.”

“Heh,” said Phil.

I placed my hands on my waist and said, “Couldn’t we just teleport to the castle?”

“You must be jesting, Lady Janessa. Only God would have so much power to do so. We are lost, Lady Janessa. Perhaps, if we wander around and seek help, it may be of use.”

I pouted and looked down.

“Don’t underestimate me. Elemental Goodness, I will now complete your sacred attire and view the world with your eyes.”

The royal dressmaking room panned out and led me to a different door. Inside, my sketchbook popped up in an oversized form, and it merged with the book I was reading. Swirls of light danced as they overlapped each other.

A wardrobe formed. It was pale, blue, and sparkling, encrusted in gems and glass details. Opening the door, my eyes set on a glittering, lavender, tutu-style dress with crystal-adorned stockings, a pair of holographic combat boots, a sash, a short cape, and a gold tiara.

Beside the dress, there was a four-leaf clover staff with blue, pink, green, and purple leaf-shaped gems. I took them out, and they magically adhered to me as I walked into them. My long, curly, reddish hair twisted itself into a French twist bun. At last, my cape grew enormous holographic wings.

Jim shivered as snow began falling from the sky once again. It was cloudy, and I could barely stay afloat because of all the falling lumps of snow.

“Elemental teleportation!”

A chime sounded as the carriage, Jim, Comet, and I zipped through the air at lightning speed.

It’s so cold and we’re moving so fast!

Soon, we smacked onto the ground. I was so dizzy that I couldn’t see anything but darkness.

“Janessa? Janessa!” I heard, before I passed out.

My last thought was, “What good is it being a Goddess if I faint so easily?”