No one liked Kenon’s home. It was dark and gloomy yet somehow overly shiny and ostentatious at the same time. Golden statues and chandeliers failed to light up otherwise pitch black rooms, while evil shadows loomed around every corner. Even the more public areas that Kenon would allow others to visit fell into this same trap of black and gold.
“Kenon says that you four have been making bets lately…” Not even Kinisis was that fond of Kenon’s home, but it was a far more stern location. A better place to have a serious talk than the fluffy lands around Kinisis’s own home. “You four know how I feel about making bets. What was your bet about?”
Kairos, Epani and Yisini all stared awkwardly at the floor, but Arkadin’s eyes were focused on Kenon, who was standing to Kinisis’s side. The other deities had noticed something off about the Thantophor, but none of them were really capable of discussing it currently.
“We were making bets on whether we were capable of dating mortals or not…” Kairos finally admitted after a long silence. “I’d been… spending time with a mortal for a while. It had been a refreshing experience, and Yisini believed that Epani and Arkadin would also benefit from natural mortal interactions. It somehow devolved into a bet that we either could or could not convince a very small group of mortals to go on dates with us.”
Kinisis crossed her arms. They could all tell how serious she was being because she was actually wearing clothing to cover her more intimate parts.
“Well?”
Kairos glanced at his siblings, then back at Kinisis.
“Well, what?”
“How did the dates go?”
The Whenvern flapped his wings then tucked them away. “It was nice. Right, guys?”
Epani and Yisini both nodded. “Yes. A simple little date. Nothing special. Getting to better know a mortal.”
“And not every date has to end in sex!” Yisini added.
Kinisis tutted, then turned to Kenon. “You said they were making bets on… dangerous things?”
The Voidborn growled. “I did.”
“I thought you meant they were betting on how many mortals they could kill in one sitting or how many stars they could throw into a black hole or how big a wall they could make in the Membrane without us noticing.”
“Relationships with mortals are dangerous…” Kenon hissed. “Gives them incorrect ideas. Harms them far more than it helps them. When you lose a loved one, you are overwhelmed by pain, grief and insanity. Often with treacherous consequences.”
“Well maybe I wouldn’t be overwhelmed by pain and grief if you DIDN’T ALWAYS MURDER THEM!” Arkadin suddenly roared, leaping towards Kenon with a drawn weapon. The Voidborn ducked out of the way, only for the Thantophor to swing back around, climb onto Kenon’s back and press a bloodied blade to his neck.
“Uh, Arkadin…”
Epani and Kairos had both immediately rushed to Kinisis’s side to protect her, but she pushed them both away. Kinisis knew that Arkadin’s rage wasn’t directed at her.
“What’s wrong with you today?”
“He has lost his mind!” Kenon grunted, trying to hide the panic in his voice.
“Why don’t we SHOW you what the problem is!” Arkadin snarled and snapped, making a very small cut into Kenon’s throat. “Kenon, care to be honest for once in your miserable existence?”
The Voidborn hesitated, then tried to grab at Arkadin, throwing him off his back. The Thantophor rolled back onto his feet. Arkadin hissed and summoned a bladed chain, which he twisted round Kenon’s body, dragging the antlered beast to its knees.
“Arkadin…” Kairos tried to approach his brother. “What has Kenon done?”
“He KILLED them!” the Thantophor screeched. “He disrupted my duties and killed those I had connections with! Killed them before their time! Because I dared feel romance towards mortal beings! And…” Arkadin lowered his voice. “And he keeps them all… on display in a room only I can see… to remind me of what happens to those I care about…”
Kinisis sighed. She shook her head at Kairos, telling him to not go closer. Instead, she walked towards Arkadin, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“He treats me unfairly, mum…” Arkadin whispered this time, loosening his grip on the chains. “I can’t have nice things. He takes them away. I believe I deserve losing it all. But they didn’t deserve to die. Not yet. Not by his hand.”
The Goddess of All said nothing as she left Arkadin’s side and approached Kenon.
“Show me, Kenon.”
Kenon shook his head.
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
The Voidborn relented.
With a weak snap of his fingers, the six beings were transported into a particularly dark room. In the centre of the room were seven glass tubes, one of which had been smashed. Lying on the ground beneath the smashed tubed was a small Panvok being, unconscious but breathing.
Yisini slithered forward towards the tubes. Inside were creatures that she had once created. But there was nothing alive inside the sealed containers. She inspected each one, then slithered over to the living creature, cradling it with her tail.
“Drowning…” Yisini muttered. “One of the… crueller ways to die… This one still lives. I’ll make sure it continues to do so.”
The other deities all stared at Kinisis, not sure what she was thinking. After what felt like an eternity, she wandered over to Arkadin and took the bladed chain from his hands. She immediately jerked at the chain, pulling Kenon closer.
“Kenon, tell me, do you love anyone?”
“I… I love you…” Kenon muttered.
“Do you love my kids?”
“I do.”
“So why do you hurt them?”
“Just him.”
“Why?”
“Because he will kill you one day.”
Kinisis rolled her eyes, then pulled the chain tighter. “Your actions put me in greater danger. You do not contain, you provoke. I want you gone.”
Kenon blinked. “What?”
“I want you to leave this universe.”
“No.”
“I’m not asking.”
Kinisis sighed as she let go of her grip on the chain. The Voidborn instantly retaliated by charging at Kinisis. But with a snap of the Avatar’s fingers, Kenon was gone.