The Artifact

Witnessing the Pale Lord turning in for the night, I glanced at the silent Melinoe gnawing on a piece of lamb.

"You like it?"

"I love it. One of the joys of life." She answered freely. " Not a fan of wine, though."

"It's an acquired taste. The older one becomes, the better it tastes. Life is hard. Even for those with perfect ones." I smiled, lifting my glass, and looked through the various windows to the immaculate view of Nocturne. "I don't know how this ends."

"That's how everyone feels. It's called being normal."

"When did you become wise?"

The smile over Melinoes tender lips deepened. "I'm older."

Bitterness spilled over my lips as I stared at her. " No. No Melinoe. No, your not."

Leaving those words sit for a bit, Tenebrae suddenly giggled. " Mel, how long has it been? Has your Father contacted you since his ascension?"

"Aunty Tenebrae. It has indeed been too long since your last visit. And Father has contacted me. The Pale Lord helped with that. He's living quite well doing what he loves. Two wives will do that to you."

"They're getting along? Nyx and…"

"Your aunt? Yeah. They're getting along." Melinoe said, reaching for another lamb chop. "The Silver Devil kept his word and rewarded Father with such resources. He's about to enter the Origin Realm. It's not a big achievement, considering the many Heavens. But Father is happy."

"Well, he better watch out," I remarked, recalling a peculiar Fallen. " There is a strange Fallen with his eye on Nyx. He's harmless. Well, as harmless as a Fallen can be. He wants Nyx."

"Who doesn't?" Both Tene and Melinoe stated.

"But I see your point," Tene said. "And I've been thinking of making Nyx a more prominent member of my inner circle. She has that right. No. She's earned that right."

"Has she? She is only a Fourth level Deity. What makes her worthy?' I couldn't help but ask. I wasn't trying to sound like a dick. But what could she do to garner Tene's attention?

"I am very intimate with my people. Simply knowing Mel here proves this. I make it my job to seek people out. No matter how small. No matter if they will grow into anything. It doesn't matter the Layer of your heaven. You'll realize that later on. Power can always be attained. It can always be stolen. But loyalty. True loyalty isn't something that can be earned without work from both parties."

… Is this what it means to be a king? A ruler of a kingdom since the beginning?

"Why are you so kind?"

"Those born of darkness are my children." Tene blissfully said with a warm smile. I froze. I should be disgusted. I really should be. I hate kind people. I never understood them. But Tene is so far from Kind at times one would think she was a devil. How can she have such a balance?

It's the same with the Pale Lord. A bitch, for sure. But she is so aware of herself. It makes it hard to actually hate her.

"You aren't a very cathartic person Sene. So I know you'll struggle to understand my ways. But–"

"I'll support it," I said to Tene. "You aren't a stupid person. And I'm sure most of the time you don't benefit. But as long as it's what you want, I'll support it."

"Disgusting." Melinoe snapped in just as my gaze focused on Tene. " Stop looking at each other like that."

"You're in my kingdom, you know."

"And? Ever seen an entitled person before? I do what I want."

My eyes couldn't have rolled hard enough as Melinoe laughed at me. " Yeah. Yeah. Keep giggling. See if I don't marry you off."

"What a wonderful idea!" Tene clapped together. " Mel? Are you finally looking for a mate?"

"Mate? Why would I do that?" She replied with the oddest look.

"Children are so wonderful."

"Are they? They shit themselves twelve times a day. Cry constantly. And based on all the people that die due to their kids. Dangerous."

"You should have known better than to use logic with this crazy woman," I remarked, shaking my head. Not that Melinoe was wrong. Those are facts.

Now that I think of it. How the hell did I ever fall for Lilith? Now she is pregnant with two of my kids.

"I'm going to call it a night. Shall we discuss policies tomorrow?"

"We're spending a week here. I'll have a few documents sent to Mimir to review. Cleo is my point of contact."

Lifting Tene up by the hand, I gave Melinoe a nod before taking my leave. I was tired.

…

…

…

Dropping face-first onto the bed, I groaned. "I want to sleep."

"Really? The night is still young."

"The sun never rises here," I mentioned turning to Tene, resting her shoulder over the banister overlooking Nocturne.

"I know. But it's night. I can tell. And it's beautiful."

"Weirdo." I teased, but I understood her. The sun was overrated. It takes something else to truly appreciate the darkness.

"Well? What do you think of the Pale Lords' story."

"I think it's tragic. But I also think she left out a lot." Tene answered without looking back. "I think she might be a good ally but a terrible enemy."

"Are there any enemies at her level that aren't terrible?"

Tene turned to me with a deadly stare and shifted her gaze back to the moonlit city. " There are. Despite her hatred, that woman has been able to keep herself together. Has been able to control her emotional state to a level not many can attain."

"Could you?"

Tene turned to me again and slowly made her way to the bed. She took a seat, and her fingers ran through my hair, warming my soul with her ethereal touch.

"I've experienced loss, Arsene. I've lost plenty. It's not something you ever forget." She said, raising a bitter smile. "I've failed more times than I can count. Lost so much… I understand her."

"The curse of immortality." I mused. "Time is a bitch."

"True." Tene softly mentioned. "But it's necessary."

"Perhaps," I said as she brushed my hair.

Lashes fluttering to keep away the darkness from filling my eyes, I looked up at Tene and smiled. " That artifact… what was it?"

"... It might have been a fragment of the Monolith of End."