Sacrifice

It was a mistake. I was new to this village. Always heard of their God who protected them.

Keigo Takami. Better known as Hawks, was a God with a temple here. With a small sacrifice of chicken and some shiny things, he promised to keep their land safe. I didn't believe in such gods but was interested in the art and culture of the people.

Like any traveler I was naturally curious.

I entered the temple looking around in amazement. The ornate carvings of their temple and artwork was extravagant. It was the next day that misfortune struck.

"He has spoken!" The man yelled

"Let me go!" I huff pulling away from the men who packed me here finally releasing me.

"My young woman. Do you know what you have done?" An older woman came up to me. A priestess no doubt.

"No! But I promise I'll fix it!"

"Sssh child. You need not worry as long as you have caused no offense. You have simply been requested"

"By who" I look around

"By our God, Hawks himself left a message requesting you to join him in the temple"

"What?" My eyes widened

"She must be a sacrifice" I heard a man whisper in the crowd

"What did she do?" Another spoke

"Shell curse us if she leaves" the first muttered

"I-i promise I didn't-" I try

"Shhh. Hawks is a fair God. I'm sure he will be as just as he has before. But just in case we wish to prepare you"

"What...what could I have done? Have I offended a God" I speak more to myself

"You need not worry. We will help you try to sway his opinion in your favor if he wishes his wrath upon you" the woman smiled softly

It was an hour later I felt even worse. A white dress, as not to offend. I was decorated in glimmering jewelry. Shiny necklace and bracelets that softly Chimed paired with matching ones on my ankles. Earrings that sparkle and shiny beads are woven into my hair.

"How will this help?" I question still shaken

Gods are wrathful. He could kill me...or worse. I could be tortured for eternity. Could I have worn a bad color into the temple? Maybe I said something wrong? What if I stepped into a restricted area? Surely one of the priestesses would have said something though!

"He loves things that sparkle. These ornaments will be like a showing of peace. As well as a saucer of fresh fruit"

"Is...is he usually kind?"

"You will be the first to speak with him directly in a hundred years"

I gulped down my nerves, it's fine. Everything's fine. Maybe this is actually a prank, a really elaborate prank.

Before I knew it I was in front of the temple. I felt awkward as I walked in for the second time. The soundproof door shutting behind me. Leaving me alone in the temple to my thoughts. The sounds made seem to echo off the marble. Very little in this space to dampen it.

It's ok. Just be respectful. Respectful. I place the saucer of fruit on the altar and start to kneel when something pressed against my back. A hand reached around me plucking a strawberry from the saucer.

"Fruit? Quite fresh too" I contain my flinch when it was raised to my lips, "Tell me, is it sweet?"

"I-im sure it is-"

"Taste it" his voice is smooth. I can see vermillion feathers in my peripherals.

It strikes me no one has ever seen Hawks. Always been assumed he is a bird yet it's a man's hand that holds the fruit to my lips.

I take my bite and nod, "It's very sweet"

"You mean berry sweet?" He chuckled.

His hand pulled me around instead to face him. I quickly shut my eyes panicked. If I look him in the eye will he kill me? Or Will he simply scoop out my eyes?

"Aw, come on. Look at me" a hand pat my cheek

I peeked an eye open before opening both to lay eyes on the beautiful man. The wings from his back were a vermillion red that stood out from his golden hair. His eyes a bright amber.

He wore less adornments than most gods I'd seen drawings of. Earrings his only jewelry.

"There we go. Look at you, all dolled up for me. The village do this?" He inspected one of the golden beads woven into my hair

"Yes Hawks sir. They said you'd enjoy it" how the fuck do I address a god?? Sir? Lord?

"One, drop the formality. Call me Keigo. Second, you flatter me" he chuckled, "You're much more beautiful than I remember"

"Thank you ,h- Keigo but if I may ask, what did you want me for?"

"Well" he hummed. Hands met my hips lifting me briefly to sit me on the altar, "If you don't mind I was hoping you to be on my altar"

Fuck, is he going to sacrifice me?? Eat my soul?? Or am I forever going to have to stay here and-

Lips met mine in a tentative manner before he moved back, "Out of your head yet?" He hummed

"Why?"

"The minute you entered my temple I couldn't let you leave. Your beauty initially caught my attention and your aura being my downfall" he smiled fondly, "You are the other half I have spent centuries searching for. Yet it is you who found me"

"I don't know what you're talking about" I panic a little more confused

"You're my destined one. You have returned to me" he chuckled, "Years ago another God DARED to kill you but I vowed to find you again. And this time I refuse to let you go. I had given up on your reincarnation a millennia ago, yet you have finally returned"

His hand traced my jaw as he spoke. He is being so gentle. I feel myself melt at his touch. I only flinched when I heard the saucer clatter to the ground.

"Keigo" I panic as he laid me back

"Shh. You're mine now sweetheart"

What the fuck! I panic more but freeze. I can't run, I CANT RUN. He is a literal God! He's real-

"Breathe" he murmured lightly stopping all advances, "You're safe" he simply laid over me in a surprisingly comforting way.

"What are you going to do to me?"

He hummed in thought, "Maybe I'll gobble you up, take your soul to keep forever" I tensed but he only seemed to chuckle, "Calm yourself. I want desperately to take you home"

"That's, all I want, I just want to go home"

"Well...not your home, unfortunately" he slowly got off me, "Now I need you to stay calm, ok?"

I sit up and nod slowly. He made his way to the temple doors opening them but outside the temple wasn't the lovely mountain town. Out there was a whole other world. A bustling city lay beyond those doors.

"We are in the spirit world now, the world of gods, demons, and spirits" he smiled all too wide

Gods??? Demons??? Spirits??? The spirit world!!!??? Sound turned into a high pitch ring as the world grew fuzzy. I only saw a mass of red before the world went black.

I awaken with a start, a melody of soft chimes as I moved. I'm still in the white robes. The Jewelry that adorned me also still in place causing the noise with my movement. I take note of my area to realize I'm in a soft bed. Looking out the window I can only see a green field.

I must be back on the mountain. I must have fainted in the temple and dreamed that the God came to whisk me away. I shake my head fighting a chuckle at the idea.

I must be dumb. I'm definitely not special enough to get picked up by a GOD! I'm just some nobody who thought visiting some wack village would be fun. This will be a good story I guess.

I get up and start heading towards the door when someone beat me to it. The great winged God from my dream entering the room, "You're awake"

The noise that came from my throat was what could only be called a confused shriek.

He flinched looking confused and dazed, "Never heard that reaction before"

"Where am I??" I stumbled back as he took his step forward

"This again? We are in the spirit realm. You fainted in the temple so I packed you home" Keigo shrugged closing the door and setting a bag down

"But I'm human!"

"Humans are in the spirit realm all the time. Human bodies not as much as souls but I wouldn't call it super uncommon"

I try to calm down. He's a God but can still be reasoned with right?

"Look, I am (Y/N) and-"

"Yes yes, I know. You are (Y/N) you like (Insert hobby here) and (insert guilty pleasure here). You are my wife"

"Wife!?" I freeze

"Well yes, we were married for many years" he looked a little irritated

"Look, just cause I'm the reincarnation of your dead wife doesn't mean I'm her! It's till death do us part right?"

His wings hit the floor with the thought, "Shit...you are right. I guess we will simply have to renew our vows" he mumbled starting to pace

"I don't know you" I huff

He stopped with a heavy sigh, "But I know you. I've waited for a millennia for you to come back to me. I love you"

"You don't know me"

He huffed walking over to the shelf of books, "These are all your favorites. I kept every one"

"I haven't read those"

He whipped around confused, "What do you mean you haven't, you love them"

"That's what I'm saying, I'm not her"

"You look like her, you sound like her, you even smell like her. I'd recognize your soul anywhere"

"But I've grown in the modern world" I pull out my phone showing my photos, "My family is back in the human realm"

He drew his brows together looking confused, "You were a priestess though. Abandoned at the temple?"

"That's what I'm saying. I am not that same woman" I sigh exasperated

He tapped his chin in thought, "Ok. Fine then" he started digging through the room.

I watched until he seemed to have found what he wanted. In a blink, I was on my back on the bed as he held my ankle tying a golden cord.

"What's the deal" I try to pry my leg away but he held strong until the string was tight.

"So I never lose you again. With this cord, you're mine" he smiled before snapping his fingers.

The world around me went up in smoke as I found myself back on the altar. The doors to the temple slowly opened as the villagers peered in with curiosity.

I look down at my ankle looking at the golden thread. Looking for a knot it was a round loop with no tie, I tried to slip it off my foot but it was much too small. Finally, the thin thread could be broken right? Though all it did was cause pain when I yanked.

What the hell did I get myself into?

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