“Thank you for calling the Great Temple of Eredu, how may the Blessed Divine help you today?” A female with a hint of unease in her voice asks over the telephone. GiGi, a recently married young woman picks up the cell phone that had been sitting beside her. The call had been in queue for some time, and she had almost forgotten as the waiting music was quite soothing to listen to.

“Oh hi, yes, thank you for taking my call. My name is GiGi, and I have been a devoted follower of Eredu my entire life, Blessed be He, and He has always answered my prayers and given me his blessings every day. But today, I don’t know what I did wrong, but I haven’t received His blessing. I don’t think I have done anything different or wrong lately, but I am really worried” she says with a tremble creeping up her back.

“Miss GiGi, know that you are loved and He is always watching us. Sometimes we may do things one day that He disagrees with, but the next day we are forgiven and life continues on just as ever. Do not fret, just keep your prayers flowing and your mind a fortress, for temptation lies within. Blessed be He, and have a lovely day” the woman replies, still trying to hide the nervousness in her voice.

“Okay, thanks… Bye bye” GiGi replies casually before hanging up. “Okay, Lord Eredu, I apologize for whatever mistake I have made, and I ask for your Blessing once more. I will forever strive to live my life the way you want me to.” And with that, she returns to her computer screen, continuing the company work she is so heavily relied upon to complete.

Meanwhile at the Temple of Eredu, the phones are ringing off the hook and everyone behind closed doors, away from the eyes and ears of the public, are quickly turning to panic. Thousands of calls from their patrons, all saying the same thing: The Blessings of Eredu have stopped. Everyone, everywhere. Prayers are going unanswered, and no one at the Great Temple of Eredu knows why. The Eredu high priests have even lost all communication with the Heavens.

A few calls here and there to temples of the other gods, nineteen in total, and they all confirm the prayers are being answered and the patrons are receiving their Blessings. But what can this mean? Why has Eredu stopped? The immortal gods and goddesses have always granted Blessings, if not always answered prayers. Soon, everyone not communicating with the patrons is scouring the texts looking for any sign of why this may be happening. Since the people rarely share the fact they are not receiving their deity’s Blessings for fear of being ostracized, the Temple can keep a lid on this for a while.

Seven days later, Daniel, husband to GiGi, is standing at the watercooler of his business talking with his fellow workers. Several people who normally look on top of the world are today looking like they’ve pulled double or triple shifts. Daniel himself feels a bit under the weather, but he’s still got his life by the reins. Today is just another day.

And then, some murmurs in a nearby cubicle catches his ear and he glances their way.

“Sheila and Robbie have told me the same. They haven’t received their Blessings today. That’s why they all look so tired.” A soft male voice whispers as the chorus of voices across the workplace continues unabated. “I don’t understand, did we do something wrong” another voice, a female asks just as hushed.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Daniel thought about it, both he and his wife haven’t received their Blessings in a few days now. Seems like somethings up with Lord Eridu.

“If we did, I can’t imagine what it would have been. I have always been faithful to Lizaera. My daughter Liz was born in honor of the goddess. I don’t know what I could have done to offend her…”

“Wait, what?” Daniel thinks to himself. “They follow Lizaera, not Eridu? And Lizaera’s not Blessing them anymore either?”

A loud male voice calls out to silence the room, and everyone stands to look in his direction as he turns up the volume to the wall mounted TV. A broadcast from the city’s news company with two news anchors shuffling the papers in front of them and looking shocked before they look up at the cameras.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this coming to you live from the Highstaff News headquarters: Temples of worship all over the world have announced a shocking revelation- the gods have gone silent. I repeat, all twenty known gods have stopped giving their Blessings to anyone. The Great Temples have lost all contact with the Heavensgate Network, despite numerous attempts to get it back. We don’t know what this means for humanity, but we will try and keep you covered as events continue to unfold.”

The room erupted in panic and chaos as everyone tried to discuss and understand what they just heard. Cell phones and landlines began to ring as loved ones tried to make contact and the situation only deteriorated from there. In the streets, while there was still panic and upset, commuters continued to show restraint as they moved about the city.

Standing at the window of an old fashioned TV store that to this day continues having various 50’s style televisions playing broadcasts out their main window was a long haired redheaded woman in a long slender silver dress standing next to a blonde short haired man in a white suit with a purple shirt sporting white leopard print across it.

“Their first time without gods or Blessings, how do you think this will play out?” she asks casually with a smile. The man turns around and gazes at the city and the people. “Everything will be alright. Humanity has always had what it takes to make their own way. And I will finally get to see it the way they do.” he replies with several nods.

The woman lightly elbows him on his side before raising her voice only slightly, “why didn’t you tell me you were going to abandon the Heavens and become mortal? You knew I was going to follow you wherever you went!”

The man chuckled and looked down into her turquoise eyes. “Because I knew you would follow me wherever I went. The others were a surprise though. Didn’t think they would follow my lead as you did.”

Lizaera looks around at all the people going about their day and smiles wider. “Yeah, I was shocked too. Huduun and Jhirra especially; they always like to rub their power in everyone's faces every chance they got. I mean sure, they had more followers, but that hardly made them better.”

Eredu nodded in agreement. “Truth is, I have wanted to do this for a long time. A long time. And I am glad you are here with me.”

Lizaera blushed brightly at his sudden comment and leaned into him, placing her head on his shoulder.

“Liz, I want to have children. Would you be willing to be my wife and mother to my kids?” he asks, gently wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her in closer.

A dazzling sparkle bursts forth from her eyes and she just can’t help but smile.

“‘Till death do us part.”