Synopsis: Goddess Bless Book One: Lost and Found

Lilith Stevens didn't know what she had been expecting now that her divorce was final, but she knew for sure it hadn't been the imposing woman who swept into her restaurant, annouced herself as the Hindu Goddess, Kali and demanded Lilith become her replacement as a Sister of The Council of Nine.

Not only did Kali expect Lilith to assume her post when she officially retired, but she also expected her to help the Council locate a missing Goddess as part of her initiation. Lilith had never believed in God, much less had any idea about Goddesses or where they might go when they went missing. She liked her life in control, orderly, neat. She had just gotten everything just the way she wanted it and couldn't possibly take on such a ridiculous quest.

But with the help of the gentle Kwan Yin and rambuctious Persephone and under the watchful eye of the Council's powerful High Priestess, Cerridwen, Lilith will indeed set out on the quest demanded of her, whether she likes it or not. Can she help The Council of Nine locate their missing member before Samhain, the last harvest festival of the year? Will a seat on The Council of Nine be her destiny? Or can she just get through this out of control adventure as quickly as possible so she can simply have her life back?
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Excerpt from Chapter One:

The Saffron Lotus was a fifty-four seat vegetarian grill with a lavish, mostly blue interior that gave it a crisp, yet simultaneously warmly comforting feel. Devnath, Saffron Lotus’ executive chef, had created something fairly unique with his menu, using fundamentals of Gujarati cuisine, blended with enough Western influences to make it approachable and eventually quite popular with the Portland theatre crowd. Between his culinary gifts and Lilith’s outstanding business sense, the restaurant had gained in popularity over the last five years and despite the odds stacked against successful restaurant ventures, had really begun to thrive. Although Lilith often preferred to stay out and about in the main dining room, she did maintain a small office off the kitchen where she kept a simple metal desk, a few filing cabinets, a phone, and a fax machine. The walls were the same shade of white they had been when she had the contractors frame out and create the space. She had never seen the need to spend funds on painting or decorating the office in any way. She never met business contacts in the space and only retreated there to make phone calls when the dining room was too busy to be a professional level of background noise. Devnath found her in her tiny office, flipping through vender contract files.

“I didn’t see you come in.” he remarked, his warm Indian accent still framing the edges of his words even after more than a decade in the United States.

“Got your message and one from Sarah about Sam Relagy wanting to host her husband’s retirement party here. Figured I’d just come on in and get a few other items taken care of as well.” She pulled a file folder from the drawer and handed it to him. “Here’s Wes’ contract. You can handle it from here?”

“Yes, I can take care of the matter.” He looked at her intently.

“What Devnath?”

“There is a woman here to see you. When I told her you were off today, she said she knew you were in.” he looked like he wanted to say more, but paused there instead.

“We don’t even open for another hour. Why did you let her in?”

“I didn’t.”

Lilith looked at him quizzically. It was unlike Devnath to be cryptic in any way. “You didn’t?” she questioned.

“No. I didn’t. I walked into the dining room and she was seated at eleven with a cup of Darjeeling. She asked if I would fetch you. So I am.”

“Did you even ask what she wanted?”

“No.” Devnath said simply. He smiled and slid back behind the door as it closed.

“Well that was odd.” Lilith said aloud. But her curiosity was indeed aroused. She checked her appearance quickly to be sure she presented a professional one and once composed she headed out to the dining room.

The moment she caught sight of the woman, her carefully crafted composure flickered for a moment. She paused ever so slightly in her gait and almost stumbled. The woman at table eleven was positively striking. Clearly Indian, her thick dark hair framed her angular face perfectly before falling past her shoulders. Her frame however, was more Amazon than Indian. Broad, strong shoulders, a full figured bosom, gracefully muscular arms and legs and smoothly curved hips where stunningly silhouetted underneath a cobalt blue sari, sprinkled with gold geometric designs that looked vaguely familiar to Lilith. Gold bangles adorned her wrists and a single blue gemstone bindi, the same shade as her sari, shone from her third eye chakra. No wonder Devnath did what she asked. She is breathtaking, thought Lilith.

Lilith reached the table, extended her hand and opened her mouth to speak.

“Sit down, Lilith.” The blue woman commanded.

Lilith paused for a moment and then chose to do as she had commanded. She sat opposite the woman. How did this woman manage to seem so familiar with her? She tried once more to speak.

“We have much to talk about Lilith and a limited amount of time to do it in. I do not have time for those questions. But please have faith that they will all be answered in good time.”

Now the woman had Lilith’s complete attention. She found herself mesmerized by the woman’s gaze and many of the questions that had been flooding her mind, such as how she had known what Lilith was going to ask or whether or not this was some sort of prank the kitchen staff was in on just evaporated before they ever made it out of her mouth.

“Do you know who I am?” the woman asked.

How am I supposed to…”Yes.” Lilith found herself saying. And she did. All at once she knew she was sitting with Kali, Goddess of Time and Change, Bringer of Life and Destruction, Sacred Mother and Fierce Warrior. Devnath recognized her too. Lilith realized.

“Good. That confirms my impression that you are a quick one and I will not have to waste extraneous time explaining easily graspable details to you.” Kali set down her tea cup, reached across the table and took Lilith’s hand in hers. “Ordinarily, there is a much different and much more lengthy process for this. But circumstances have changed and I have been forced to take accelerated action on my own this time. Lilith, I am going to need you to accompany me this Friday evening. Your presence will be vital at the Harvest Moon meeting of the Council of Nine. You will be able to review our full proposal at that time, which I strongly suggest you accept. Much more than you realize hinges on this moment.”

Lilith blinked. She was still absorbing the concept that the figure before her, who was solid flesh, since she could feel her gentle, yet firm grip on her left hand, was a Goddess. A Goddess, from myths and legends she was somewhat familiar with, was sitting in her restaurant. A Goddess. Lilith mentally shook herself.

“Um. Friday?” she repeated questioningly.

Kali looked amused and annoyed all at the same time which somehow managed to make her features more terribly beautiful than before. “Friday.” She said firmly. “Be at your apartment and ready to go by moon rise. I will escort you.” Kali stood, kissed Lilith on the forehead and swept out of sight.

Lilith was not sure how long she had been sitting at table eleven by herself when a hand came to rest upon her shoulder. She looked at the calloused fingers resting near her right collar bone with puzzlement. Following them up the arm they were attached to, her slightly blurring violet gaze came across Devnath’s face. She shook herself and refocused.

“She is gone.” Said Devnath. It was a statement, not a question.

“Yes.” Whispered Lilith. She cleared her throat. “She was…..” her voice trailed off as she realized how ridiculous what she had been about to say sounded.

“She is.” Devnath confirmed. “And she sought you out, Lilith. Whatever she asked of you, you would be a fool not to do her bidding.”

Lilith stood and looked him square in the face. “That is absurd. I don’t believe in God, much less Goddesses.”

Devnath laughed “Just because you don’t believe in them does not prevent them from existing anyway. She is who she says she is. What did she ask of you?”

“Uh, it happened quickly. I was sitting here still trying to decide if she was real or if finalizing my divorce pushed me over the edge of sanity.” Lilith paused. “Friday.” She said, “She wants me to go somewhere with her Friday. Some sort of meeting I think.”

Devnath sucked in his breath so sharply, he whistled. “The Council of Nine!” he breathed reverently.

“Wait just a minute.” Lilith said, not believing what she had just heard him utter. “How do you? I mean, what is going on? The Council of what? And how do you know about any of this?”

He smiled at her understandingly. “Let me make us some tea. The staff has everything under control in the kitchen and I can spare a few minutes before our first table arrives. I’ll do my best to share with you what I know. But, Lilith.” He looked at her. “Lilith, this is epic. You’ve stepped into something here and you’re barely going to believe me, but you shouldn’t share this with anyone else. The Council of Nine keeps their presence shrouded in myth and mystery for a reason.”

Lilith sat back down. “Who would I talk to about this anyway?” she said with a slitghly bitter edge she hadn’t meant to let creep into her voice.

“Indeed. I’ll bring the tea.”

Once the two of them were settled at the table with two steaming cups of dark tea, Lilith cautiously asked Devnath to begin with The Council of Nine. He started to speak, but she then changed her mind and interrupted him.

“No, wait. Explain how you knew who she was first. You’re not much more than culturally Hindu, right?” she realized how that might sound insulting and reworded her question, “I mean, you don’t actively observe the traditions of the Hindu faith these days.”

“You are correct.” Devnath replied with a soft, patient smile. “I’m not much of a Hindu these days. But I knew Kali by sight because I have met her once before, many, many years ago as a young boy in India. It was a brief encounter, but it was she. The same she, in fact.”

“The same she?” Lilith repeated, puzzled.

“Hmm. Let me see if I can put this all together as logically as possible. In the world of mysticism, there have always been rumors of a council of goddesses that was composed of cross-cultural archetypes, goddesses from a variety of world cultures and religious traditions. They attend to many world affairs and do what they can to keep the human race moving forward in the direction of spiritual development.” He sipped his tea, “Not that we make it easy for them.”

“So that’s this Council of Nine?” Lilith asked.

“Yes. The Council of Nine. There are nine Goddesses that serve at any given period of history. Not always the same nine and each Goddess chooses her aspect when she accepts the post. I heard stories of the Council and their works as a child.”

“But why did you hear stories of them? I mean, if they keep themselves, well, to themselves, why did your family tell you stories of them?”

“Because Kali is my Great, great, great, well, let’s just say, a lot of greats Aunt.”

Lilith just stared at him. Now she was beginning to lend credence to her whole insanity theory. Had Devnath just claimed to be directly related to a…. to a Goddess?

“Crazy, I know. As a child, I took them for silly stories until the day I met her. And then when I saw here sitting in the dining room, I approached her because I thought she was here for me, for some reason. But she asked for you. So you see why I did her bidding without asking. Lilith, you’ve been asked to attend a Full Moon meeting of The Council of Nine. You must attend.” He said firmly.

“What should I wear?” Lilith said laughing at the absurdity of the notion.

Returning to his tea, Devnath reciprocated the laugh, “I have no idea.”
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Excerpt from Chapter Two:

Persephone reached the Council Chamber before any of the other Sisters. Slipping through the heavy doors, she stood, hands on her hips and surveyed the room. The lanterns were all already burning and the scent of spice filled the air; nutmeg, clove, and sandalwood. Must be September, thought Persephone. Cerridwen was a very traditional High Priestess. Colors, scents, stones, etc, all had to correlate with the most recent Sabbat for her. Everything had to match up perfectly. In a few months it would be time for Persephone to fulfill her duties as Queen of the Dead and the scents of the Autumnal Equinox reminded her that time was once again close at hand. Persephone actually didn’t mind that half of her duties. It gave her a break from Avalon for one thing. And from Demeter’s watchful eye. Actually, from the whole Council’s watchful eyes. Occasionally, Kali would pay her a visit in the Summerland, but for the most part, she got to be on her own. And the dead were actually great company. I’ll be glad to head out this year. It’s going to get rough around here once the other Sisters find out what’s going on. She found her chair and plopped down in it. Persephone had traded her pony tail and jeans in for a simple, burnt sienna smock cut in a somewhat traditionally Greek silhouette. Persephone knew it would please Cerridwen to see her attending Council in formal, traditional attire. The shoulders of the smock were bound with gold ribbons. The material criss-crossed across her breasts, was bound by another stretch of gold ribbon and then fell stylishly to the floor. Her ratty black flip flops had been replaced by gold thong sandals with laces that wove their way around her perfect ankles and vanished underneath the swaths of material that were her skirts. She hung her legs over the arm of her chair and leaned her head back over the opposite side. The Council meetings convened at moon rise on each full moon, but once convened, they took place outside of time and space and could last an absurd (in Persephone’s opinion) number of hours. During the meeting, she would be expected to sit up straight and pay attention, so goofing off now was they only time she could get it in. The doors of the Council chamber swung open and Persephone scrambled to right herself.

“You’re here early.” Scoffed Cerridwen.

Persephone ignored her. Speaking of traditional… she smirked internally. Cerridwen set down an arm load of scrolls, The Council of Nine’s agenda for the evening, and began to organize the paperwork. Like all the Sisters, Cerridwen cut a charismatic figure. She was striking in her plum wine garment; a medieval dress trimmed in brocade embroidered with tiny images of autumn foliage. The long sleeves skimmed her thin arms to just past her elbows and fell away in elegant folds that hung past her finger tips when she straightened her arms. A stretch of the brocade trim circled her brow and tucked under her impeccably straight, deep chestnut hair.

“You didn’t arrive with Demeter today?” Cerridwen asked, without looking up.

Persephone opened her mouth to shove a hastily concocted dodge out of it, but was saved by the arrival of another Sister. Freya always made an entrance. She just couldn’t seem to help it. Or she didn’t care to help it; both were equally plausible possibilities. Persephone loved Freya’s hair, which hung down past the Goddess’ hips and almost always contained at least two braids, tying up each side neatly underneath her headdress which was equal parts crown, helmet and adornment. Her brown leather chest plate was studded with impressive brass metal work and extended in a narrow apron all the way to the floor over her deep green velvet gown. She removed her sable cape from its shoulder clips, released the sword belt at her waist, wound them around her shield and threw the whole bundle of them, wrapped up together into her seat to the left of Cerridwen’s chair.

“Are we ready?” she said addressing Cerridwen.

“I believe so. Starting the replacement process is always so time consuming. Why can’t we all be more like Kwan Yin?”

Freya let loose a hearty laugh. “It takes us all to turn the Wheel, Sister. Besides, can you imagine me as the Goddess of Mercy! Ha! Outlandish notion. I’d fail miserably at that job.”

Even Cerridwen had to smile a bit at that idea. “I just mean that she’s the only remaining original Sister. No one’s ever had to replace her. I’m just not looking forward to this process.”

Persephone made a sort of choking noise across the table from Cerridwen which garnered her a puzzled glance from both elder Goddesses. As the last embers of the sun slipped from the room and the fertile moon began to rise, the remaining Sisters arrived and took their places around the glossy, round table. At Cerridwen’s right, sat Kwan Yin, quiet and demure as always. Next to Freya, on Cerridwen’s other side, Isis, Sarasvati, and Brigid closed the gap to Persephone’s seat. To Persephone’s left, Demeter’s chair remained noticeably empty. Persephone realized she had been hoping against hope that five days would have been long enough for Demeter to feel she had taught the younger Goddess a decent lesson and that she would have appeared to take her seat at the Council table. Tonight was indeed going to prove to be bizarre even by normal Council standards. Kali’s seat between Demeter and Kwan Yin also remained open. Persephone wondered what was keeping her.
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Excerpt from Chapter Three:

Lilith paced back and forth in the stone hallway outside the imposing chamber doors, her soft shoes moving inaudibly across the slate floor. Kali had assured her, she would be called when the time came for her to enter the chamber. Meeting one Goddess had been intense enough. Yet here she was, about to walk into a room of nine, No wait she corrected herself, Nine minus one. It was just beyond peculiar. A part of Lilith was confident she had indeed lost her mind and was actually trapped in her head and had most likely been institutionalized in some sort of special hospital for the post-divorced insane-o ladies. She wondered what her poor deceased mother would think of all this. She’d probably pray about a hundred rosaries for my immortal soul or something. Lilith thought bitterly. Just like she did the day I told her I didn’t believe in God. Lilith wondered which would have freaked her mother out more, Lilith’s adolescent atheist declaration or her announcement that a decade and a half later, she had been chosen to join a sacred council of actual Goddesses. She stopped pacing long enough to tuck a stray wisp of hair behind her ear and caught a sudden rise in volume from behind the closed doors. It sounded a great deal like a lot of upset deities which Lilith was going to go out on a limb and say, was probably not a good thing under most circumstances. It occurred to her that once she was inside that chamber, The Council of Nine was going to want an answer from her, unless they just assumed she was going to take the job. Was she going to take the job? She had been so focused on there being a job like this for her in the first place, and then with Devnath’s insistence that she follow Kali’s bidding that she had yet to actually stop and think for a minute. Did she even want to be a Goddess? Could she even say no? She stopped pacing. Was saying no an option? She suddenly realized she wasn’t even sure she had an option. It was all too fast. Too fast and too extreme. She needed to regain control of this situation somehow. But how?

The door to the Council chamber began to open. A striking young woman with hair the color of orange blossom honey stuck her head around the edge. “You ready?” she asked cheerfully. Lilith managed a weak nod and tried not to stare at the dazzling Goddess. She looked incredibly young, barely in her twenties perhaps, but remembering what Kali said, even if she was Persephone, the youngest Sister on the Council, she was still at least eighty two years old. She pulled open the door and crossed the Council’s threshold.

Stepping into the chamber was almost sensory overload for Lilith. A ripple of pure golden power washed over her as she passed under the lintel of the doorframe. She tried to take in the whole room, but just couldn’t. The room was balmy to Lilith, but none of the Goddesses seemed to notice. Every woman in the room seemed to Lilith to be radiating humid energy. She watched as the woman who had beckoned her inside, moved around the circular table and settled into her seat on the far side of the room. Scanning around the table, she saw Kali waved her closer to the group.

“Come in Lilith.” The woman seated in the largest chair to the right of the room, in front of a series of tall narrow windows called her forward.

“Where should I….” Lilith’s voice sounded hoarse and uneasy.

“Seeing as we are fairly unaccustomed to having guests at our full moon gatherings, take the empty chair at the table. It is Demeter’s, but since she’s declined to join us this evening, I see no reason why I cannot simply loan it to you this evening. I am Cerridwen, Goddess of Magick and High Priestess of The Council of Nine. Thank you for joining us tonight.” Her voice was equally uneasy, but with dramatically tense undertones as if she did not actually mean the last sentence she had uttered. Lilith did as she was told and sat down between Kali and the Goddess she had correctly guessed must be Persephone. Cerridwen began introducing the rest of The Council of Nine to Lilith. “This is Freya, Goddess of Love and War, who is in her second millennium of service to the Council.” Freya’s warrior ethos vibrated clearly as her gaze connected with Lilith’s. She nodded in cool acknowledgment of Kali’s invitee. “And Isis, Goddess of Motherhood and Protectress of Children, who has held her post for over four hundred years now. Sarasvati, Goddess of Wisdom and Learning, also a Sister for over four hundred years. And Brigid, Goddess of Healing and the Hearth, who is about one hundred years their junior.” The three Goddesses gave her smiles of varying temperatures and nodded in turn.

“I’m Persephone” the woman next to her said cheerily, turning to extend a hand. “Goddess of Fertility and Queen of the Summerland. I’m the baby of the group. Well at least for a tad longer, I guess.” She winked at Lilith. “Pleasure to meet you!”