Arkadin breathed a sigh of relief as both life and consciousness returned to Kayen. A few seconds later and he might not have made it.
“W-where am I? W-what h-happened?” Kayen shivered. The Thantophor wrapped his arms around Kayen, trying to warm him up.
All around them, everything was dark, except for six glass tubes. A seventh glass tube had been shattered, spewing sharp shards and a strange, gooey liquid all over the featureless floor.
“My own… personal hell…” Arkadin finally spoke. He summoned several towels out of nowhere and began wrapping Kayen up in them, cleaning him up and scrubbing off the clingy goo. “My hall of mistakes…”
Kayen wriggled free from the Thantophor’s grip, trying to sit up straight. But dizziness and nausea forced him back into Arkadin’s arms.
“But…” Kayen tried to focus on the glass tubes. Each one contained a creature, cold and unmoving. Inside one of the smaller tubes was a being Kayen recognised. A red and gold Skyavok who had apparently died a good twenty years ago. “What is going on? Were you trying to kill me?” There was panic in Kayen’s voice, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
Arkadin shook his head. “No. Kenon tried to kill you.”
“W-why?”
There was no answer. Arkadin looked away, wiping a year from his eyes.
“I k-know w-who that is… Psikay, the former… leader of the K-Class…”
“And the last vok I had genuine feelings for, romantically…” Arkadin finally spoke. “Kenon killed her and sealed her inside that glass cage…”
“Why?” Kayen shook his head, trying to clear his mind. It was hard to concentrate. “Why w-would… K-Kenon’s like your dad, r-right? Why w-would he k-kill her?”
“He always claimed it was to spare me from killing her myself. That it was for the best. But really, it’s a punishment, a reminder that everything I touch dies, and that I shouldn’t bother with emotions.”
Kayen blinked. Nothing made sense. “I don’t follow… They were killed because you loved them?”
“Basically, yes.”
“And Kenon tried to kill me because you love me?”
“You’re one of the most beautiful, kind and caring Skyavok I have ever laid eyes on…” Arkadin sighed, staring off into the darkness. “You make me happy. And for that, Kenon thought you deserved to die. I saved you. Just…”
“Thank you…” Kayen shivered again, then tried to look around some more. He couldn’t see what Arkadin was staring at. In fact, it was all just… dark.
Arkadin rubbed his eyes, hiding tears. “I know we haven’t even started a relationship… but we have to end it. Before this happens again…”
“C-can’t you… stop it from happening?” Kayen asked. “You’re the Thantophor… surely…”
“No. It’s not worth the risk. I’m not meant to be happy. I’m not even meant to be sentient…” Arkadin stood up and wandered over to the other glass cells. “I can’t let this happen to you. You’re loved. You have family. The heartache caused by your disappearance would be unbearable…”
The Thantophor fell silent again, gazing at the creatures trapped in the glass, his own mind trapped by painful memories.
“I have to go back to being a monster. Maybe then the other gods will stop tormenting me. The body count would remain the same, but at least I’d be spared of this eternal suffering.”
Kayen shrugged, then struggled up to his feet and wobbled over to where Arkadin was standing. He propped himself up against the Thantophor’s shoulder, weakness slowly taking over.
“Well…” Kayen frowned. “I don’t like that. I don’t think it’s good for you to not have feelings. But I respect your decision. On one condition.”
“Conditions?” Arkadin spat. “What are you on about?”
“This is the second time you’ve saved my life, the first time was when you saved me from Epani. Maybe it’s the third time, when you saved me from kinda getting turned into a death god. Whatever…” Kayen’s mouth felt weirdly dry, but he continued explaining. “Either way, you’ve saved my life at least twice. Skyan etiquette says that the saved must repay the saver. I have to do something nice for you. Better to repay you now while you have emotions rather than try and repay a feeling-less death monster later, right?”
“I… I do not follow…” the Thantophor admitted. “Are you suggesting that you ask me on a date, in repayment for me saving your life?”
“Yep! Two dates even! Maybe three!” Kayen smiled a little. “Also I really want to see that sword of yours. You did promise me that…”
Arkadin smiled back. It was an awkward, uneasy smile, but a smile nonetheless. “You’re right, I did promise… Very well. I accept your offer…”
The Thantophor summoned a portal for the two beings to return home. He lifted Kayen up and held him in his arms.
“Let’s go home. We have promises to keep…”