Chapter 96

Tyson
“Alright.” I said teleporting.
We were right at his door, and this time when I knocked the door swung wide open.
“Gwen!” He beamed, hugging her, turning a little pink. Noirnamu hugged her too, but the mood wasn’t as bright as it could be.
“I don’t think I’ve Ever seen you this red.” She said with a little concern.
“I’ll be alright. Why’d you come down here?” He shot me a glare.
“As much as I hate to say it… you should at least Hear the Horned One out.” She said being invited in.
I was also reluctantly allowed in, though I stood by the door. 
“To be honest, I should just quit.” He said being handed tea by Noirnamu. “Thank you dear.”
I was also offered, and made to sit on the in a chair, while those three were on the couch. Now that they weren’t so pissed, I was welcome.
“Your work is important papa, and no one else can do it.” She said putting a hand on his.
I could tell they shared knowledge.
“This means *little*. About as much as I’m worth to him.”
“You don’t mean that.” Said grandma.
“He’ll just make another avatar.” He huffed.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I’m a *place* not a person.” he looked at her with blood tears.
Grandma hugged his neck, and he silently rested his head on her lap. “I’m so fucking selfish. I’m sorry.” He said filled with shame that he needed her mending.
“This is my purpose.” She smiled softly. “A purpose I could not carry out had I never lived to learn how.”
“I’m just another soldier Gwen. Don’t look at me as your father.” He said that breaking his own heart.
She petted his hair. “You know I met my birth parents, and I hold no attachment to them.”
“Don’t put a Hole in the Ground over your parents.” He said with a calm voice, but I don’t think I’d ever scented someone so upset.
But I could get it…
He was told by his maker that he was *nothing* but a tool. A Soldier… an object. In front of a whole crowd of other gods and heralds no less. I’m sure there’s gossip a-plenty up there…
“So your worth is nothing?” She asked. “Am *I* nothing too?”
“NO!” he sat up.
“Then do what you used to tell me!” She yelled. “I would not be here without you. Hell would be unregulated, and the worlds would ALL suffer for it!”
“… You’re right.” He mumbled.
“I did not know I brought you tears.” Said the Horned One. He was the maximum height within the herald’s house, having to bend his head down so as not to scrape the celiing.
“You Don’t Care.” The Pit Hissed.
“I do.” He kneeled to his herald. “I do because of all the creatures in this world, even my mate will not tell me ‘no’.” He said honestly.
“And you’re a piece of work.” He hissed. “You *claim* to be better than Arviel, yet you mirror each other so much, that all you have to do is change your hair to white.” 
The Horned One was silent…. But I could tell he was pretty pissed.
“It isn’t so fun when *your* feelings are hurt, now is it.” Apythmenos said with narrowed eyes.
“I suppose it’s not.” He grumbled. “I won’t apologize.” 
“Then why’d you come?!” He demanded.
“Because I Fucking Care!” the Horned One yelled.
“Get out of my house!”
The Horned One opened his mouth, but instead of saying ‘get out of my realm’ I could tell he was having a hard time.
“You are not *only* one who hurts.” Grandfather hissed. “I said what I said…. But it was harsh, and bloated.”
“Then say it like you meant grandfather.” I said, trying to make a little peace.
Grandfather was quiet a long time. I don’t know if they shared anything or not, but his stance was like a father who’d wronged their children, not proud, nor godly. While kneeled, he cleared his throat.
One would think he was about to speak to a toddler.
“Apythmenos… I made you First.” He said looking down at him.
“I don’t feel like it sire.” He looked down, but a clawed finger made him look his maker in his eyes.
“And that is *my* fault.” He said firmly. “You… you hold the *greatest* purpose of any herald ever made…My *finest* work… You convert black, unusable souls to pure energy… matter and magic that flows to *every* world…. *every* afterlife, *Because* of The Pit. Without you, I am *unable* to maintain my end of the cosmos… We do the work.”
“The work that must be done.” He said finishing some motto they share. “If you don’t apologize, I won’t forgive you… I’m not a trash can.”
“You Are a trash can…”
“Gods Damn it.” All but those two complained.
“Let me finish.” He hissed. “You *are* the trash can, and *I’m* the garbage man.” He said putting a clawed hand on top of his head. “Xaxas is waste management. Asanguis is recyclables collection. Bryson *is* the complaints department. I get *garbage* souls Apythmenos. We Stink to the other gods…but without *us* being stinky garbage the others can’t flutter around fucking mortals and Fucking Over Planets **WE** have to fix.”
“But you wouldn’t even name me…” Apythmenos mumbled. “I don’t see how I mean anything to you.”
“I did not name you because I did not want the mortals to start worshiping you. That is truth.” He said that firmly. “I was not so bitter about a blasted name that I would leave my most trusted without.” 
“And for that you’re right…. I don’t wanna be worshiped sire.” He grumbled. “It would lead to summoning or worse… outright torment for the world those mortals would live on.”
“But I admit… I said that much too harshly. I know lately you’ve had a hard time.” He petted the pit’s hair. “Would you come back to me?” He asked softly. “I do not deserve such a fine vessel… if you choose to serve Arviel or Lulliba, I understand.”
“I’ll…. I’ll be back Tuesday.” Said the Herald.
“Be back next Saturday.” He handed him a bracelet. “Wear that, and you should be able to visit whatever world you like without hurting it.”
He vanished.
“I’ll give you some time Tyson. Think of your wish.” I heard on the wind.
“I heard about you and Kaizen’s boys.” Said Noirnamu. “It isn’t that he *won’t*, or that he can’t…”
“It’s that he *shouldn’t* alter nature itself and disrupt all that is for the sake of our mortal children.” I finished. “I know… It dawned on me when he spoke to Apythmenos…. ”
“I think all of you forgot he’s the Void King.” Said grandma. “What he’s doing isn’t within his nature. He is a God, yet he kneeled to look you in the eyes papa, and tell you his folly. He offers wishes, when it is well within his right to simply make unviable children, and mercilessly reap them.”
With that, he became his normal, nearly angelic self.
“You should go home Gwen.” He mumbled. “I can feel this place tax you.”
“I won’t fight that, especially since the whole realm, even the healing waters, are tarnished.” She held out her hand, and I took her to the gates. I could no longer go inside without the key, nor permission.
However, as a resident, she was allowed in without issue. If anything *I* was even *more* of a jackass to Grendal for taking her.