After Ishtar betrayed Satasha she felt guilty doing so to her, but Ishtar had no choice.
During the period where Ishtar was Ananke's apprentice she met Tammuz lord of men in Babylon, she feel in love with him almost immediately.
Tammuz was not only handsome but also very charismatic, his charm was his kindness and profound faith in humanity. Everyone loved him and respected him even if he was human, he got Ananke's respect in rulings Babylon.
Ishtar felt like she could do anything by his side, he was the light of her life during that troubled time, and Tammuz loved her greatly.
They both got married with Ananke's blessing and lived happily for twenty years, but human's life span differs from the other beings and they are fragile.
During an invasion from the east he was badly wounded and beyond healing, Ishtar tried everything she could to heal him but Tammuz told her that it was his time and no being can evade death. His last words to her was to live good, do good, and find herself another to company her in her long life.
Ishtar was completely broken by his death, she entered in deep depression that made her stick to his grave and refuse eating, she wanted to starve herself to death but no matter how much she tried she didn't die.
Ishtar resented this life without him, she had no propose nor will to continue.
When Ananke saw her state she suggested that she visits Sameal, he might help her bring him back or take her to him.
Ishtar rejoiced, she went immediately to visit Sameal who was sulking in the garden and told him that she wanted to bring Tammuz back to life.
Sameal at that time was so bored by how things were going and saw her grief as a new entertainment. He agreed to help her bring him back if she be his loyalist and do everything he wants.
Ishtar immediately agreed to his request and did everything he had ever ordered her, even if it meant to betray those who loved her, if it could bring him back then it didn't matter.
Before the Norse massacre happened, Sameal called her and Pandora to help him find the new vessel, when Ishtar predicted that it would be better to have Angrboda as a vessel she didn't know that she was pregnant at that time. She felt guilty once she saw that poor child being motionless and started to wonder if what she was doing is right, but Sameal told her that this child can bring back Tammuz if she was sacrificed when she gets older. Ishtar's doubt disappeared because she knew that Angrboda could control the dead and thought that her powers had passed out to the child, but to her misfortune Mark took the child and vanished.
Ishtar went on rampage afterwards, she sought her out everywhere, Hell, Purgatory, and Earth, only the Heavens remained. She couldn't reach it no matter how hard she tried, she began to lose hope after so many years had passed she gave up on the idea completely.
Her movement to take control was only part of her scheme to find that child by gaining more power so she could bring Heaven to her doorstep. She didn't care if Tina hated her for taking power from her, she only wanted to achieve her goals.
Then after many years a man came to the temple, he was half human, but to her surprise that man looked exactly like Tammuz except their personality, it differed greatly.
Gilgamish was a brute, he believed in the phrase the strong eats the weak, so he became to most powerful man in central fraction, he killed how he liked, rapped who he liked, and defied everything. Ishtar gave him the ultimate protection and everyone knew why, he is just lucky that he has Tammuz's face.
Ishtar believed that he could be an excellent vessel for Tammuz's soul, he just needs to be by her side till she finds that child. Gilgamish on the other hand never liked Ishtar nor wanted to associate with her by any mean, he wanted to roam the earth and meet new people, he didn't want to be her consort.
Nevertheless, Ishtar never stopped perusing him.
The day that Satasha arrived to the temple, Ishtar thought that life is finally rewarding her for her patience, she carried on with the plan to release The Fallen from her body and then sacrificing her. She just didn't expect their souls to be intertwined that much, nor that his soul was sealed and unaware, so she used the mirrors of truth to help him remember.
She knew that The Fallen would take care of the rest, little did she know that Satasha wasn't going to let her plan go smoothly.
That child rebelled and refused to be a vessel or be controlled by anyone, Ishtar knew that she needed help from the northern tribe to seal her soul away so The Fallen could take control. Her plan was easier after Satasha had exposed herself and was trialled, she contacted with the northern tribe and told them to use their hidden weapon to bring The Fallen back to life, then told Lucifer to take her with him to be under constant supervision because she was concerned that she might lose control again. Ishtar didn't tell Lucifer about her plan, his involvement was a strike aimed at Tina after she made the tribes rebel.
Ishtar's plan has finally successed, The Fallen has woken up and took control of the vessel, all it remained was bringing Tammuz's soul back. However, Zeta and Keno had jeopardized her plan by trying to seal Satasha along with The Fallen. Luckily, Satasha disappeared and none could find her. She thought that The Fallen got away but was struck when the news of the northern tribe being wiped out. Ishtar knew that this was Satasha's doing and she's her next target.
...
Ishtar lost hope completely after Gilgamish accused her of harming Enkidu, she knew that in this life she'll never see her beloved again.
Ishtar didn't know about Sameal's awakening, she thought that everything was Satasha's doing just to revenge, and for some extent she was right.
Enkidu's sudden illness was Satasha's doing, as well as famine, and the whispers of replacing Ishtar with Keno. Satasha lurked in the shadows and influenced the masses by mind controlling and manipulation. She was the one who planted the idea of taking the western temple to Tina, as well as her idea to blame the northern massacre on Enkidu.
The fact when Satasha was able to manipulate Tina's mind and the counsellors remains unknown, she made it seem like it was their idea, and once it became evident that her plan had succeeded, she pretended to need Zeta's help in that matter, it was under the pretext of drawing The Fallen out of his hiding.
And as she planned, the war was nearing all thanks to Lucifer, the same person who sold her out. Her encounter with The Fallen back in Busiris was the cherry on top, it made her actions justified and their trust in her deepens. As for Keno, she had him wrapped around her finger due to his gratitude. She only needed to do her final strike against Ishtar and the war would break instantly, and Tina is the perfect person to do that.
...
Tina had many spies in across all temples and Babylon was no exception, she gave the order to kill Enkidu and pin it on Ishtar.
Tina's spy was none other than Untar.
Untar was in conflict, after years of serving Ishtar he had fallen for her, he was there when she was at her lowest, and was the one who got her out of the underworld. He couldn't bring himself to see her dead, so he wanted to come clean with Ishtar and tell her everything.
While everyone thought that Satasha was healing after she helped Keno get his powers back, Satasha was in Ishtar's temple.
She knew that Untar won't have the guts to kill Ishtar, so she made a move before Tina gave him the order.
...
In the second floor, Enkidu's room was down the hall to the right, he was bedridden.
He was alone glaring at the moon when Satasha emerged from the shadows.
Enkidu smiled like he was greeting an old friend "You came back! How was your travelings?" he was dazed and thought that the one before him was Gilgamish.
Satasha smiled faintly as she caressed his beard, it was shame for him to be dragged down into this mess, but things needed to end once and for all.
Enkidu " What's wrong? Did something happen?" he began to worry
Satasha placed her forehead on his and whispered "Ishtar did this!" as she tampered with his memories.
Enkidu repeated it then shrieked because Satasha had stabbed his heart with poisonous needle made from Ishtar's hair that she obtained from her brush while ago.
The poison was slow and brutal, she made it so he could live longer but rot his blood with time, after she stabbed him he entered a long coma. The poison can be accelerated if Ishtar used her power to heal him, once she did so Enkidu would die a painful death.
For the next months Enkidu would suffer from the poison, it slowly consumed him till he begged his friend Gilgamish to kill him and end his suffering. Gilgamish didn't want his only friend to die and for the first time in his life he begged Ishtar to do everything she could to save him, and for the first time Ishtar refused his request.
Gilgamish "You just want him dead! You want him out of the picture so you can have me!" he cried
Ishtar unbothered "Don't flatter yourself! I am only keeping you around just because you look like my husband! If you think that I mean harm then be my guest and leave! Don't bother me again"
Gilgamish strode enraged, he carried his friend out of the temple to find him a healer, but once he stepped out of Babylon Shamsh appeared in front of them and killed Enkidu with bull headed staff.
Gilgamish was consumed by wrath, he killed Shamsh in a long fight that lasted for two days.
After two days Enkidu body began decomposing, and when Gilgamish tried to carry him his chest collapsed revealing the tip of poisonous needle out of his chest.
Once Gilgamish pulled it out he knew immediately that this was Ishtar's doing, her trace was all over the needle.
That day after Gilgamish buried Enkidu, he went to Babylon and massacred every single person there, the poor, the rich, women, children, then he arrived at the temple drenched in blood and carrying Shamsh's staff.
Untar fought with him giving Ishtar and Aiva time to run, but Untar was no match to him in his current state, Gilgamish stoke him dead after minutes then went to kill Ishtar. Aiva stood between them but was hit in her head and fell unconscious.
Ishtar couldn't fight against the man who looked like Tammuz, she couldn't bare to see him hurt again so she summoned Lucifer.
Lucifer came and rescued them, his fight with Gilgamish shook the earth producing an earthquake that reduced all buildings to ruin.
Within five hours Babylon was gone, buildings with its people were wiped out, only parts of the temple remained.
Gilgamish was killed by Lucifer and buried beneath the ruins.
Lucifer then took Aiva to the red palace, he offered Ishtar to take her to his house but she refused. Ishtar had lost everything now, she fell in an incredible emptiness, she began walking aimlessly trying to meet her end.
No one could find Ishtar, she didn't stay in the same spot for long, she kept walking till her shoes wore off and her feet bled, and she didn't stop until she reached the ocean.
There she sat down on the beach waiting for her death.
Soon after Satasha sat down next to her, Ishtar didn't seem bothered by her presence, she was rather happy to see her, it meant that she was finally going to die.
"You are late!" Ishtar scolded
Satasha didn't answer
"You could've killed me after attacking the northern tribe but you chose to torment me" Ishtar continued "Was it because I betrayed your trust?"
Satasha didn't answer.
"You played it well" Ishtar wiped off her tears "I taught you well" she went silent for a while then asked "Why did you made him kill Untar? He had nothing to do with it"
Satasha "He was Tina's spy"
Ishtar was baffled, she sneered "Is this your way of payback? That's childish"
Satasha calmly "I am not lying, you can ask Tina if you want"
Ishtar scoffed "Yeah, like you are going to let me walk away from here!"
Satasha pointed back "No need for you to leave, she's here"
Ishtar turned back and saw Tina standing few step away, she finally got it, Satasha had made a deal with Tina so they can take her down, she chuckled "You are here to kill me? Both of you?"
"Three of us" Satasha corrected
When Ishtar turned to Satasha she fell on her back aghast. Behind Satasha stood a deformed man who she immediately recognized, it was Enkidu. She thought that she was hallucinating from hunger and tiresome but Satasha clarified as she stood next to him.
"You see Sameal was right about one thing"
Satasha smirked evilly "I can control the dead"
Ishtar was baffled, she didn't think that this is what he meant, she thought that the dead could be brought back to life and not as a puppet "This is all a dream right?" she questioned her reality.
Satasha chuckled "No! This is very real!" she pointed ahead "See I even brought you a gift"
Ishtar turned to the direction that she was pointing at and saw a rotten corpse dragging itself on the shore, Ishtar's eyes widened when she saw who it was. She began screaming in agony, that deformed corpse was none other than her late husband Tammuz.
"I patched him up for you" Satasha sneered
"Please stop!" she begged "Don't make him come near me" she crawled back but her body failed her "Get away!" she shouted
Satasha gently "Isn't this what you wanted? You're husband?" she leaned closer "Isn't this what you've killed for? Why are you being ungrateful?"
Ishtar sobbed as the corpse crawled closer "I beg you to stop! This isn't what I wanted!"
Satasha yanked her hair hard "I don't give a shit about what you want! You get what you deserve"
Satasha waved her hand and both of the corpses began tearing her apart, she stood not far from her watching her scream and wrestle with them to break free.
Satasha felt disgusted by how pathetic Ishtar was in this state, she was easily fooled by this illusion and thought that there were real. She stood there watching her wrestle with herself and scream in pain, Satasha stood there till her screams toned down as she died. Once she made sure that she was dead she erased all traces that led back to her and left.
Week later...
Tina's sniffers found Ishtar's body curled up with stiffened limbs, wide eyes glaring fearfully upward, and her mouth ajar. Satasha had preserved her in that state to humiliate her even in death.
No funeral and no mourners, Tina ordered her body to be burnt in it's spot once she got there, she watched her body reduce to ashes then she left feeling bitter toward whoever did this.
"No one deserves to die like that and whoever did this was psychotic" Tina told Zeta once she got back
Zeta didn't know if he should believe his mother not being involved in Ishtar's death or not "Who do you think did this?"
Tina pondered for a bit "I don't know, there are many who wants her dead, but I don't know someone who hates her that much to let her die like that"
Zeta questioned "Was she tortured? Perhaps we can trace it back"
Tina interrupted "I found no trace, and she didn't seem to have any bruises other than her feet from walking. Whoever did this knew what they were doing"
Zeta fell silent thinking about who might be the murderer, Gilgamish had the strongest motive but Lucifer killed him so it leaves two people who can do something this brutal; Sameal and Satasha.
Mika had confirmed that Satasha was healing in Helheim and never left so the only one left was Sameal, but why would he kill one of his loyalist, he needs her at the moment, then again his strike in Busiris was rather unusual. Given the fact that Osiris was devoted to him and has met his demise as well strengthened Zeta's suspicion; the Fallen has another motive that no one knows about.
Then it occurred to him "Do you think Zeus has a hand in this?" he asked Tina
Tina stared at him thinking about his guess "If he did something like this behind my back then he'd do it again, we'll wait for now and observe. Whoever did this will make the same mistake again thinking that he had gotten away unscathed. Comfort make people let their guards down and make mistakes, remember that"
Zeta nodded, he left soon after back to the cabin to tell the rest the news.
Mika had just got Satasha from the port gate to the cabin, Zeta noticed that she was in bad shape and Mika later conformed that she wasn't healing properly as she did before she broke Keno's seal.
Mika "If she uses her abilities again she might end in worse state than this" he informed Zeta.
Even though Mika kept defending her by being her alibi Zeta remained uncertain, things are strangely happening from the moment that they fought back in the Abyss till now, and all leads back to either Sameal or Satasha.
Zeta had two theories 'She might be pretending that The Fallen has broke free and this is his doing in her body' or 'Satasha was never against The Fallen but they pretended to be while working together'
Either of his theories made one thing certain to him 'Satasha should never be trusted' that what his hunch was telling him, but till now nothing that happened affects either his business nor related to him. What puzzled him was her persistence in making Keno the emperor, she either wants him out of the picture by doing so or she truly wants to help him become one. Whatever her reasons he allowed her to act as she liked, as long as she does her job he won't be against her.
...
Three months after Ishtar was declared dead attacks among tribes started to happen. Those who fortified their cities remained unharmed, the attacks occurred in small villages, those who couldn't help themselves.
Not soon after Keno started leading army of both humans and dragon tribe members to stabilize the east by eliminating the enemies.
The east had became the refuge for the weak and the sick since their medicine was proven effective in healing the disease.
Mika was the one who came up with the formula and Satasha sold it in the east, she sought Yuru specifically for business proposal.
[When Keno and Fuji left the capital to eliminate the enemies Satasha visited Yuru in Keno's residence]
Yuru was checking the shops ledger as she always do in late evening in her room, when suddenly Satasha appeared in front of her desk.
Startled Yuru dropped the ledger on the desk "Dear Heavens!" she patted her chest to calm herself "Can't you walk in like normal people? What if I was undressed?"
Satasha smiled brightly "I don't seek girls, rest assured. I wanted to have a private chat with you behind everyone's back"
Yuru squinted her eyes "That's suspicious? So I can't reveal to Keno that we met nor what did we discuss?"
Satasha shrugged "That's up to you, till he comes back you have time to think and decide what to do, I have a business proposal, I'll lay my offer with its risks and benefits, and you decide if you'll take it or I go to another"
Yuru felt her seriousness "Let's sit down and talk, if I like the proposal, then we'll start business partnership"
Satasha clarified as she sat opposing her "There won't be any partnership, what I am offering is for you to take the sole credit and glory, but that would make you a threat to the system and might lose your freedom or part of your businesses"
Yuru confused "It's that serious? If that's the case then why shall I risk so much for fleeting thing like fame and glory?"
Satasha "Because it would help making Keno the emperor. I am giving you warnings first because I know that you'd immediately accept. Ask yourself first, is Keno worth dying for?"
Yuru answered without hesitation "Yes, and I shall see him seated in the throne if it meant sacrificing my soul for him"
Yuru's determination made Satasha hesitate, she pondered for a minute feeling pity that she'd risk it all for a guy that doesn't love her, so she had to ask "Why?"
Yuru smiled faintly as she spoke, like her reminiscing made her heart ache "His grace had saved me when everyone turned their backs on me, because of him I can do whatever I want"
Satasha argued "But he doesn't deserve your devotion nor your love!"
Yuru "It may seem like I am doing so because I love him and I would lie if I said I didn't want his affection at some point, but you see I was married to someone else and no one could replace him, in my heart there's only him"
Satasha insisted "But he's using you! Sacrificing yourself for him won't matter to him, he's taking you for granted, such man doesn't deserve you"
Yuru interrupted "If so then why are you helping him ascend the throne and took deep damage just to protect him? You're no different from me, we both are helping him for our own personal reasons, and mine is vengeance, what is yours?"
Satasha was taken back, she scoffed "Yeah you are right. I am helping him ascend the throne because I believe that he can change the current system"
Yuru held her hand "See! We aren't that different. Now tell me what you came here for"
Satasha took piece of parchment out of her bag and placed it on the desk "This here contains ingredients and how to prepare a medicine"
Yuru intrigued "For what purpose?" she opened the parchment to read it.
"To cure the plague" Satasha answered
Yuru was stunned, she stared at Satasha then the parchment asking "Are you sure it works?"
Satasha nodded "Thoes who took it were healed"
Yuru smiled excitedly "That's wonderful news! How come I never heard of anyone being cured?"
Satasha coldly "Because I've killed them"
Yuru's smile dropped, she was perplexed "That's brutal!" she objected
Satasha with no sign of remorse "No, it's crucial"
Yuru carefully placed the parchment on the table as if holding it was dangerous "Then how can I be certain that this isn't a scam?"
Satasha "That's the tricky part, if you start using this formula and people got better then you'd be the one who discovered the cure and make you everyone's target, and if you don't then I'll give this formula to Satan and he'd have the glory and everyone's favor"
Yuru completed as she understood her point "And giving this to Keno would gain the favors that he's lacking at this moment"
Yuru fell silent for a while thinking about what to do, it was indeed a risk. If she succeeded then it would be matter of time before they start attacking her so Keno would lose favor, but if she fails then he'd be laughing stock and lose everyone's trust.
Satasha added "This won't make him gain favor in other fractions but it would make them submit once they are cornered by the Humans and other minorities of tribes, their rejection would cause an uproar"
Yuru pondered "Why didn't you give this to Zeta or Lucifer?" she questioned
Satasha smirked "That's the part you should keep secret from Keno, it was Mika and Zeta who told me to give this to Keno"
Yuru was baffled, from what she had heard from Keno, both Zeta and Lucifer hates him so their sudden change of heart made hers restless "Why?" she asked
Satasha "It's obvious isn't it! Zeta never wanted to rule, he wanted control. If he openly supported Keno then war would break between the Goblins and Demons. Doing this behind curtains is better for everyone"
Yuru argued "Then why doesn't he support Satan? He's his cousin after all"
Satasha explained "Satan is Marvok's puppet! Giving him the throne won't change the system, it won't change anything"
Yuru "Why does he want to change the system?"
Satasha shrugged "I never asked him why! I just know that he doesn't like how things are going and what to change it for his liking"
Yuru confused "Won't Keno oppose him in the future? Why he's helping his enemy?"
Satasha explained "For now all of us are allies! Until The Fallen is sealed and the system changed, we'll be allies"
Yuru arched her brows "So you are on their side?"
Satasha chuckled "I am on no one's side! Like I said, I have other motives that affects neither sides and with their help I can achieve it"
Yuru "To seal The Fallen?"
Satasha "Yes, I need everyone's help and not just Zeta and Keno, everyone. That's why I helped him restore his powers, that's why I am helping Zeta and Lucifer"
Yuru finally understood, she placed her hand on the parchment slowly "I'll try to help you with what I can"
Satasha "You don't have to"
Yuru "No! I want to help, when I am only fixated on something as trivial as the throne, you are doing everything you could to seal The Fallen, even if it meant losing their trust"
Satasha smiled faintly, Yuru continued "It's just one thing that I don't understand"
Satasha "What is it?"
Yuru "Why have you chosen me to do this and not directly present it to Keno?"
Satasha "Because I wanted to see how much are you willing to give up for him just to repay your debt"
Yuru glared at her for a moment "That's a lie! What's the real reason?"
Satasha intentionally lied first, she shyly smiled after she scoffed "Because you are disposable if everything went wrong"
Yuru opened her eyes widely struck by the truth then laughed "That's more like it" she presented her hand for Satasha to shake "It's pleasure to finally be able to chat with you, you've enlightened me with so many things"
Satasha shook her hand surprised that she took the truth well "How so?"
Yuru "Now I know why Keno is obsessed with you" she winked
Satasha pulled her hand almost immediately after she hinted that "Please don't joke about this, it gives me the creeps"
Yuru delighted "Oh but I only spoke the truth! Even if he can't see it I do, he cares deeply for you"
Satasha corrected "No he doesn't! He just wants to use my power like everyone else"
Yuru shrugged "The future will reveal everything to you, I am never wrong about people's feelings, that's how I grew my business"
Satasha brushed it off "Yeah, yeah! See you later"
Yuru waved at her with a smile "I'll start using this formula soon, heed the news"
Satasha smiled "Be careful and don't overwork yourself"
Yuru teased "Coming from the person who thinks that I am disposable"
Satasha scoffed "We both are disposable for their goals! I like you Yuru, try to stay alive"
Yuru gently "You too, stay alive and try to stay safe"
Satasha nodded then vanished.