"OSHUN!" a few deep voices rang out as I hummed a gentle tune. I ignored them, jealous of their exciting adventures, and bent to my feet, jumping from cloud to cloud. I was always bored during times like this when the other gods traveled down to earth to perform their duties; so, while they had fun, I was trapped in the tranquil heavens, busying myself with fun games and silly crafts to pass by the time.

"Oshun you will not believe what we saw!" the booming voices of the six gods rang louder. They traveled up the clouds laughing and teasing each other of their achievements. I quickly ran to the fountain near the foyer of the dwelling and rested at its edge, pretending to be preoccupied with something important as they drew near.

The six of them came and stood over me, chuckling as they saw me relaxing. "Oshun, stop pretending you were busy" Ogun, the god of iron, teased me, picking me up by the legs.

"Put me down!" I hissed, trying to break free before he dropped me in the fountain but his brawny physique was no match for me. The men laughed and reveled in glee as they watched him bother me, tossing me over his shoulders in play.

"Come on Ogun, put her down" Orunmila, another divine of the 8, ordered. He had just arrived to the scene to witness the carnage. Ogun sighed and finally placed me down on the ledge, patting my cheek with the back of his hand. "Why do you always defend her Orun? Just because you're the god of wisdom doesn't mean you're not allowed to have fun" he pouted, pinching my cheek in jest.

I slapped him off and frowned, returning to my fake task of shifting the waters with my hands. Anger filled my core as I observed the 5 of them; none of them respected me. "Come on Oshun; eat with us" Orunmila suggested. He was the more tolerable of the men and always treated me more like a sister than a pest. But even though he always defended me, I was always inferior to them because I was the youngest and smallest.

"Fine" I responded, taking his arm and looping it into mine as we traveled to the dining hall. The rowdier of the men pushed us out the way, running to the table in the dining room to attack the food the servants had prepared.

Laid on the long oak table was an insane amount of food that was destined for powerful gods like them. Tabletops layered with trays of the most delicious food and drinks lined the center. There were pheasants and goose, a leg of ram along with a bowl of roasted root vegetables along with plentiful spread of fresh hot bread and wine.

"We're starving!" Oshosi the god of hunting, reclaimed as he picked up a leg of lamb. They each savaged through the portions, piling their plates with glutton before digging in and not minding their manners.

"I have no clue why since you 6 men do absolutely nothing on earth other than partaking in tomfoolery" I pouted flipping my hair to the side. The 6 of them laughed at my quip but continued to ignore me as they attacked their food.

I was the youngest of them all and even the youngest amongst the female deities and although I was as powerful as them, they still overpowered me somehow.

But today was the day.

The day justice would finally be served.

I knew they had displeased Olodumare, the supreme godhead and divine father of all us gods. I wanted to tell them of their disloyalty to the one so divine but I was just waiting for the right moment.

Not yet Oshun... soon.

I simply sat at the end of the long table and grinned as they shouted amongst themselves.

"And what is so funny?" Elegba sighed as he observed my face, his piercing brown eyes glaring into mine. He was the owner of the roads and doors in each realm; sort of like the messenger between each domain.

"Oh... nothing... just--" I couldn't finish and started to giggle again, covering my mouth with mirth.

"Come on tell us."Elegba stood from the table and watching me as the rest of them waited for my words. I picked a ripened grape from the table and popped it into my mouth. "Well...someone is in trouble" I sang, taking another fruit from the center bowl of the bowl and tossing it into the air.

"Who?" Shango asked, furrowing his brows. I rested my elbows against the table and lifted a brow in mischief. "You" I pointed to Shango, "and you two," I pointed to Elegba and Orunmila, "aaaanddddd" I dragged on the word, tapping a manicured finger against my cheek, pretending to think as I strung them along. "OH! and you Ogun and Oshosi. Actually all of you are in trouble" I shrugged biting into its core with enjoyment. I dropped the pit of the fruit into Elegba's ravished plate and strutted away, leaving them curious for more.

___

"Oshun!" Shango stood, trailing behind me as I left the dining hall but of course I ignored him and continued the route to my quarters. I advanced down the luxurious path of golden marble tile until I came to my curtained quarters.

"Oshun! Hey OSHUN!" Shango called, pushing through the partition that separated my foyer from my chambers. I walked to my bed and rested, pushing my head against my pillows in an attempt to sleep.

"Do you not hear me calling you?" Shango asked, the anger in his voice was palpable.

"I did, but I figured you relish the sound of my name against your lips" I smirked, lifting my arms above my head to stretch. He rushed to where I rested, lunging to grab my arm to pull me up from my bed.

"What do you know?" Shango frowned, forcing me to look into his eyes, "Tell me!" he demanded through an impatient tone. Anger grew in my heart as I watched him hold me. He was every bit of man. Tall and masculine with a prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the strength of his neck that showed the twining cords of muscle that shaped his entire body. His strong arms and chiseled chest invaded my peace. He was every bit of man...mighty and strong.

"I know nothing Shango" I scoffed, smirking with playfulness. His strong hands, slightly rough from his duties, seized my jaw as he stared deep into my eyes, forcing me to face him. He lifted a strand of hair against my nape that had a small ring of gold he had given me and observed it. I couldn't help but blush. "What do you know" he repeated again, refocusing on his task. His thunder trailed in the distance of the sky.

"Calm yourself god of thunder" I seethed, slapping his hand away. He tried to relax but I knew he could never; not after the news I brought.

He knew he was guilty.

He dropped to my bed in defeat and threw his head into his palms.

"What I know is that you 7 have displeased Olurun in some strange way"

"Says who?" he challenged my knowledge, lifting up his head to face me.

"Says Yemayá" I bragged watching him with glee as his face turned blank.

"You don't think he...?"

"Oh, he has" I smiled, gently leaning against my door. He stood up and went to go to speak to Olodumare but I shook my head and chuckled. "He won't see you. He refuses to face you or any other man that betrayed him" I filled him in.

"What do you know" Shango scoffed, pushing me out the way, trying to go up the steps to the higher heavens but it had disappeared. He studied the other men in the distance. They looked at each other, exchanging glances of worry.

"I tried to tell you but of course you men never listen to a woman's influence" I shrugged, standing to leave my room. I was bored with their useless babble.

"You said this would work Elegba!"

"Me! I didn't say a thing! It was Orunmila's fault"

"Well, Shango told us it would be fine! It was his resilience that brought us into this mess" Oshosi yelled, trying to shift the blame off himself.

"ENOUGH!" Shango's boisterous voice rang, breaking my door into two. I leaned against the wall, smiling with glee as his temper flared. He was always a zealot for anger.

"Now what are we to do?" Orunmila asked, finally breaking the silence in the air.

"I don't know nor do I care" I chuckled finishing my duty of planting the seed. I'm glad they had disobeyed. It was payback time for all the times they banished me from roaming the earth or tagging along.

They looked at me as my skirt trailed along the floor. I was glad I was not them for once.

Even Shango had no rath like Olodumare.

He could kill them if he wanted to....

____

Author Note

Lol...I didn't know how to end this chapter.

Going to be switching from Arthur to Oshun until they....meet? I mean you'll see!