Aphrodite stood with her back against the far wall of the large chamber. A blood-red cloak, made of the finest silk, hid her face from the other occupants. Her shining eyes set upon the chained figure in the center of the room. Her friend stood erect and proud, even as the cruel eyes of her fellows looked down on her.

"Evdokia, you have been told countless times to control your power and yet you did not seem to care for the word of the Gods, nor for their generosity. Now you have sent the human world into disorder!"

Aphrodite's delicate hands clenched into fists at Zeus' words, but she could do nothing but listen.

"My patience has run thin for you have proven to be a threat to the order of our world and for your actions, you must be punished." The King of the Gods maintained an image of reassigned authority, like a father chastising a troubled child. But she could hear the glee in his voice and knew that he relished every moment.

This was a facade, an excuse to rid himself of the troublesome Goddess. None of the Gods truly understood her power or where she had come from. She was old though, older than most, and that scared Zeus. He knew that if she chose, she might even be able to overthrow him. Such a threat could not be tolerated.

"For your misguided actions, you will be sent to the lightless prison for all eternity." He let the words echo in the still silence. Nobody could have predicted such a punishment. The gathered Gods began to mutter, this was too much, even for Zeus.

Aphrodite was numb. It wasn't fair. Surely someone would say something, surely they would not allow such a thing. But they were too scared, and she was the biggest coward of them all. A black hole appeared in the back of the hall and Evdokia let out a howl of pain as she was sucked into the dark abyss. Aphrodite watched as the swirling mist closed around her and she could no longer feel the comforting presence of her friend.

--------------------

There was no light in this prison. She was left blind and breathless. At first, she screamed, screamed in rage and terror and frustration. Screamed because of the pain and screamed because she was afraid of the silence.

Eventually, she stopped screaming and focused on her anger and thoughts of revenge. Evdokia began to use her magic to chip away at her prison. She threw spell after spell, and when that failed, she resorted to using raw power. However, it took all her strength just to make the smallest dent in the prison’s wards. Unable to continue her attack. She began to search for alternative sources of Mana.

What she found was something unknown to her. A dark intoxicating power that was like nothing she'd ever felt before. Broken and drained, abandoned and helpless, Evdokia welcomed the mysterious source of power into her core. The black mass crashed into her like a tidal wave. It wasn't Mana, but it was similar enough that she could construct her channel her magic through it. There was something wrong with it though.. It leaked into her mind, spilling its darkness and pushing against the walls of her sanity. Evdokia collapsed and did not wake from her battle with the toxic power until many moons later.

~After A Very Long Time~

Memories flash through Evdokia's mind as she continued her work. From the great Dragon race to the small and peaceful Zalarks, she remembered their creation and she remembered raising them into the world and teaching them how to survive. She remembered a bit about the humans and how they had both feared and honored her. She remembered drinking cherry wine with the Goddess of love. She thought of lovers past, and wars long ago won. Destruction and disease, and the ever-present faith of the humans that one day the blind would see and the mute would sing and that all the impossible things were right at your fingertips.

She fought harder.

So close.

She was so close to finally being free of the wretchid place. A crack appeared and gray mist floated through it. Curling around her as if to embrace her. As she was pulled out of the cold darkness, black chains lashed out. Grabbing at her wrists and ankles, dragging her back in. The chains dug into her skin and she reached out for a semblance of magic that could save her. A sound came from above her. It was the first sound to have touched her mind in a very long time.

Out of the corner of her eye, Evdokia saw a white dove dive straight for the black steel that held her. it severed the prison's hold on her and she was once again wrapped in the gray mist, being pulled away. Leaving the snow-white bird to fend off the old black magic. A dove that could only be from one Goddess.