At a clear night were stars shone bright and a crescent loomed, Zeta poured himself a glass of wine and sat on the porch in his favorite chair that was adjusted so it overlook his garden that he carefully tended.
He rocked the chair a bit as he placed his feet on the railing sipping his wine slowly.
"Finally!" he often spoke with himself out loud when he was alone "Some peaceful time with no drama!"
'Hope I don't jinx it!' he thought
He enjoyed few minutes of silence enjoying the sound of leaves moving as the wind blew and the water rippling in his small pond before and urgent note flashed in front him floating.
Zeta sighed "I spoke too soon!"
He ignored the floating note for a while but it kept flattering. He adjusted his position and grabbed it exhaling deeply.
"This better worth interrupting my me time!" he ranted.
The note was from Lucifer, he requested his immediate presence in Helheim.
Zeta was annoyed "He better tell me that he found her dead or I'll have them crippled!"
He drank his wine slowly thinking if he should ditch him or go.
Then he sighed and made a port gate to The black shores.
After walking for few minutes he saw Lucifer standing next to Satasha.
"Look who decided to crawl back from whatever swamp they hid in" he sneered and when he reached them he added "Oh right! You were with that snake!"
Satasha didn't argue or snicker either, she asked directly "Did you order Sitka to assassinate Keno?"
Zeta sighed "You decided to show yourself after ten months just to make sure I didn't hurt your boy toy?"
"I am being serious here!" she stepped closer "Just now I sensed Sitka's presence outside the capital! Here, check yourself" she presented a leather patch.
Zeta stepped back disgusted, the leather was dripping blood, he covered his nose "That's fancy!"
Satasha lifted it to their eye level "Look closely!"
Both of them noticed the goblin's secret gaurd tattoo on it.
Zeta was baffled "Is that one of our own? You skinned someone?"
"Was one of your guards" she corrected "Didn't you say that you wanted to make Keno have all the fame? I didn't work extra time to get closer to him so you could throw all of my hard effort to earn his trust!"
"I dispatched no one!" Zeta confessed "And I don't need assassins to eliminate him, Lucifer is more than enough for the job"
Lucifer who was pondering "Could it be lady Tina?" he glanced at them "She's the only one who can order the secret guards other than you"
"And Mika!" she added
Zeta chuckled "Mika? You guys are out of your minds"
"Then where is he? I've sent for him as well and he didn't show up" she inquiried
"My brother's whereabouts are none of your business! He can do whatever he wants, and if he dispatched the guards then he surely has his reasons" Zeta defended
Lucifer questioned "Last thing I remember Mika and Sitka never got along, why did he follow his orders now"
Satasha guessed "Perhaps Sitka forced him?"
Zeta pissed "Stop slandering my brothers! I'll get the bottom of this, for now you two lay low and wait for my word!"
Lucifer was the first to notice Keno approaching "Here comes trouble!"
Zeta look annoyed, he frowned trying to avert his gaze so he won't vomit "I'll leave, don't do anything on your own Satasha! I'll take care of this mess, go and greet your boy"
Then walked away, he didn't need to look back to know that Lucifer didn't follow, he called his name.
Lucifer said once he caught up "Lady Tina has something to do with this I am sure of it"
"What makes you so sure?" Zeta asked
Lucifer hesitated for a bit then confessed "Because Mika was summoned by her"
Zeta stopped, he was baffled that Mika didn't tell him "When was he summoned?"
"Two months ago!" Lucifer confessed
"That's impossible! He told me that he was with you following a lead" Zeta was confused "Why did he lie to me?"
"He didn't!" Lucifer clarified "We were following a lead when he was requested to return to the red palace"
Zeta scolded "And you thought it was wise to hide it from me?"
Lucifer "Look Zeta, he and I are good friends, and if he told me to not tell you something, then I won't!"
"Oh good for you!" he mocked "You win the friend of the year award!"
"Zeta...!" Lucifer trying to reason
"Just because we are related doesn't gives you the right to interfere with my family matters! Know your place" Zeta snapped then walked away ranting "Mika you idiot! Till when you are going to do as you are asked to! Idiot" he marched fast back to his house.
He changed his clothes to more formal then made a port gate to the red palace.
When Zeta arrived he saw no guards stationed at the entrance, he began to worry. Restless he went in and walked in the main hall, as his footsteps echoed he understood that something terrible had happened.
As usual, he walked upstairs to his father's study where Tina usually sits doing business.
Once he reached the door, he tapped it thrice.
When he didn't hear anything he stood anxiously outside waiting to be called in, but after what seemed an hour he grabbed the handle and opened the door.
"Did I permit you to enter?" Tina inquired
She was sitting at the head of the long oval table.
Even when the room was fully lit he couldn't see her face as the fireplace soared behind her.
Seeing her like this Zeta knew immediately that his mother was enraged beyond reasoning, he lowered his head saying "Greetings my lady, I hope that you are in good health!"
Tina leaned back tapping her index on the table "Good health!" she scoffed "It's good to see you finally remembering that you have a mother" she sighed "Tell me what you want, make it short I am busy"
Zeta didn't raise his eyes from the ground, even if she was calmly speaking, nothing else in her demeanor suggested calmness.
"I won't trouble you for long, I just hoped that you would graciously tell me where I can find my brother"
"Which one?" she interrupted.
His heart sank, she never referred to Mika as his brother nor admitted their relationship "Sitka of course! Who else it would be" he smiled nervously.
For a second he glanced at her and noticed her stern eyes glaring murderously at him, he immediately lowered his head frightened.
'She was about to snap! No worse she's about to kill me!' he thought
"Is that so!" she spoke gently but her tone was flat and threatening, it sent shivers to his spine as she continued "I was told the news had reached your ears already, are you here to lecture me?"
Zeta knelt "I wouldn't dare! I thought that perhaps a shifter was causing trouble and I..." his limbs trembled as he heard her walking toward him "I was just seeking guidance on how to respond"
Every breath felt heavy and suffocating as she stopped few feet away. Her long silence made it worse, the tension and anticipation on what she'd do made his mind fog. All he could think of is how to react if she decided to strike, should he defend himself or suffer in silence.
After a long pause she stated "I ordered the attack! Any objections?"
Her statement placed a knife in his heart 'She knows!' she thought 'She knows!'
He closed his eyes submitting himself to the consequences "No! I wouldn't dare"
Tina spoke calmly "If that's all, then leave"
Zeta didn't move.
"What now?" she threatened
Zeta knew the outcome but he had to know "That child! Is he here?"
Tina repeated "Child?"
Everything seemed to stop at the moment, he could feel it, his mother has lost her cool, he shut his eyes mentally preparing for her next move.
Bang!...
Tina stroke his head with the thick ledger nearby, his temple bled. He lost balance for a minute then kept kneeling, but she kicked him off and stroke him again with the ledger before throwing it on him panting.
"You ungrateful brat!" she yelled "Have I spoiled you rotten into thinking that you can overthrow me? Your mother?" she scolded as she grabbed his hair to look him in the eyes "I have sacrificed so much for you and that's the gratitude that I receive! Stabbing me in the back?" she slapped him hard, he spat blood "You sided with that bitch?" she kicked him as he tried to kneel again "You were going to help Keno become an emperor!" she kicked him again yelling "Keno!" she grabbed his collar "Keno!"
Tina was consumed with rage that her hands trembled and her breaths rapid, she glared at him and saw no sign of remorse. She grabbed his hair pulling him along as she walked out of the room, Zeta had no choice but to follow.
She lead him all the way to the dungeons.
Zeta knew know why the palace was oddly quiet, she didn't want to himulate him in front of anyone.
Once they reached the dungeons, she pushed him on the floor.
He knelt with his head down.
"Here!" she pointed ahead "Feast your eyes!"
Zeta looked up and saw Mika hanging naked by iron hooks that pierced his skin almost lifeless, his blood clot around his festering wounds, some places he had no skin, the others were completely devoid of flesh uncovering his bones.
His heart sunk as he kept staring unable to look away, his eyes filled with tears but he let none fall "Is he alive?" he asked
"It's up to you!" Tina stated
When Mika heard Zeta's voice he opened his eyes muttering "I am sorry"
Zeta closed his eyes biting his lips hard enough to pierce it "I admit my sins! Please punish me instead"
Tina embraced his head "How can I? You're my baby!" she wiped the blood of his mouth "Let that bastard carry all your punishment for you! That's why he was born"
Zeta's voice cracked "He is but a child!"
She scorned with disgust "Weak as ever! Why can't you be more like your brother?"
"Like a puppet?" he answered
Tina bluntly "At least he's obedient! I've given you too much freedom that you thought that I lost my touch" she walked toward Mika and took a chunk from his back.
Mika's scream was deafening, it made him weep. He clenched his jaws hard trying endure but he couldn't, he felt sick when she threw the chunk at him. The blood splattered on his face and his mouth, he could taste the rotten blood in his mouth, he looked up to see Mika huffing and Tina's bright smile.
That was nothing but a slow agonizing death, he got up on his feet and walked heavily toward them while his eyes were devoid of life.
"I am going to enjoy my time with this bastard till you undo everything you've done behind my back" she smirked merrily.
Zeta stared at her without expression then he grabbed a hatch and stroke hard.
....
Blood splattered everywhere, Mika opened his eyes wide, not believing what Zeta did.
Tina stepped back stunned "What have you done?"
Zeta was clenching the hatch tightly before lifting it and striking again. His strikes were aimed for Mika.
Mika vomited blood looking baffled, his last words were "Why?" then collapsed dead shortly after.
Zeta dropped that hatch breathing heavily, he couldn't bring himself to see what his hands did.
He glared at Tina coldly "Happy?" he asked.
Tina was about to answer, she smiled brightly thinking that she had finally won, then he said "Now you have nothing left to threaten me with!"
Her smile immediately dropped "You dare to defy me?" her blood boiling "For that?" she pointed at Mika.
Zeta gently unhooked him and placed him on the ground, he found a blanket to wrap his naked body with.
"I am talking to you!" she cried
"There's nothing left for us to talk about!" he replied calmly.
"What?"
Zeta carried Mika and walked away.
"You!" she cried "If you dare take one more step with that twat then don't ever comeback"
Her words felt hallow and absorb for him, he took another step.
"Come back this instant!" she yelled
He stopped taking one last look at her, he felt no remorse nor pity, he stared blankly at her as he spoke "I had enough mother! I wish you well" then he turned to walk away.
"Zeta!" she cried "You are leaving me for this? Stop throwing tantrums and come here at once!"
Zeta stopped, he didn't turn back, she rejoiced thinking that he'd turn around but he said "Goodbye mother!" and walked away carrying Mika's corpse in his arms.
The child that he raised were killed by him.
He took him to Helheim were he submerged him in the fountain, he cleaned the blood of his face and sobbed as he caressed his hair.
After he calmed down, he used his powers to pull him out of his eternal slumber. The sheer of his power made the cave rumble.
A shadowy smoke emerged from Zeta and circled Mika, he lifted his hand and shoved it straight into Mika's core, with his power he made his hand go into it without coming out from his back, as if his chest were a portal.
Zeta grabbed what remained from Mika's soul and pulled it into his body biding it using fragments of his soul.
"What are you doing?" Satasha asked
Zeta didn't lift his head concentrating "Bringing him back from the dead!" he answered.
Satasha immediately dived in the fountain to help once she saw that Zeta wasn't strong enough to do it properly, his emotions were clouding his judgment. She used the fountain to promote healing for both of them, making Mika's lost flesh grew back as scars.
Once Zeta felt sudden warmth surging in him he sighed and continued binding Mika's soul to his making them intertwined.
"That's not enough!" he stated "I need a core!"
Satasha urged "Cease the process for now, I'll use the fountain as a preservative preventing his body from decay"
"Till when?" he asked
"Till I get him a core" she replied
"I can't stop the process once I initiate it" he clarified
"How much can you hold on?" she asked
"Half an hour" he replied
"I'll go to fetch a core for him" she walked out of the fountain
"Bring me Thena's core" he ordered
Satasha stopped "Are you sure? This would start a war"
Zeta "You think I care? I'll trust you with Mika's life this time, do me this favor and I will do you one"
Satasha stared gently at him, his state was a mess, she realized now why he lost it and striked her that day in the farm, it wasn't because of Tina but because of his brother. "We'll talk later, try to hold on" then she vanished.
"I'll put my trust in you for now!" he muttered.
...
It took her almost an hour before she got back, Zeta was worn out and about to lose the connection trying to hold into his soul.
The moment she arrived, she immediately placed a pure golden core into his chest.
Zeta carefully blended it with his soul before taking his hands off Mika's chest, then he placed his hand on Mika's face ordering "Arise!"
After few seconds of silence Mika gasped for air. He opened his eyes briefly glancing around before going back to sleep.
"Leave him here for a while, he needs healing" Satasha suggested
Zeta sighed of relief and nodded "I'll stay here with him"
Satasha "We need to talk"
Zeta didn't argue, after all he was trespassing her domain "I'll make it up to you once I make sure he's doing well"
"I am not going to ask for my payment Zeta" she clarified "I only need to know who did this to him?"
"I did!" his answer came instantly, she noticed his seriousness and felt something was wrong.
"Why?" she asked
Zeta teared up "He needs to get away from my mother"
"And death was your first choice?" she was baffled "Even I am not that cruel"
Zeta looked helpless at her "What you'd have me do? Leave them torturing him till death or worse they'd keep healing and torturing forever! I'd rather have him dead at my hands than to leave him to whatever fate he'd have with them!" he sounded desperate like a cornered dog.
"What you've given him isn't a life! I know that for sure because I am living it at the moment!" she reasoned "He'd have to leech of others for the rest of his life, neither dead nor alive! You think he'd thank you for this? It's a cursed life!"
Zeta placed his hand on his face covering his sobs that was muffled, his body shook from crying as guilt consumed him. He never asked for this, he never wanted any of this to happen, the only thing he wanted is for Mika to grew independently and run away from Tina.
Satasha didn't comfort him, instead she said "I killed Thena as you instructed, but once he use excessive power, he'd need a new core. You must keep looking for suitable ones if you want him to stay alive"
Zeta didn't answer, he was trying to stop himself from crying further as he kept his face hidden in his palms.
Satasha continued "I might as well use this opportunity to stir up more chaos"
Zeta asked in low tone "Who else you want to kill?"
"Another two from Olympus" she answered "My actions is enough for them to start a hunt for me, but killing two more would start a war"
Zeta wiped his nostrils "You want to wage a war against Olympus! Why?"
Satasha "I won't ask you to participate in it, nor I'd ask Mika. War has always been my goal from the start, every action I made was thoroughly calculated. Me approaching you and your brother, nudging you to support Keno, pretending to be helpless whenever I am around him, and manipulating Lucifer into falling for me. All of it were preparations on my side"
Zeta looked puzzled at her "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I am leaving once the war ends" she answered "And I need someone to keep things in the line, someone I can trust my life with"
"You want protection?" he asked
Satasha scoffed "The likes of me don't dare to ask that! If the high order wants me dead, then at least I get to choose who swings"
"I don't understand you!" he was confused "How does starting the war has anything to do with that?"
Satasha glanced at Mika who was unconscious "That's the price that I have to pay for my freedom"
"Death is your freedom?" he guessed
She didn't answer him instead she said "You said that you'd grant me one favor so I need you to promise me. Promise me that when you see me descending to madness, you'd cut my head"
Zeta's eyes twitched "Why me?"
Satasha "Because if it's you then you'd be able to hold the leash on The Fallen's neck"
"I don't want that!" he rejected "I am done with all of this"
Satasha coldly "You can't quit, not until you fulfill your promise"
"I promised you nothing!" he argue "Ask Lucifer or Keno, they're more fit for this than me"
Satasha got up "Think it through, you'll know why I prefer death once Mika awakes and he might ask you the same soon"
Zeta looked away not replying.
Satasha beamed warmly at him "Take care" then she vanished.
Zeta didn't leave Helheim for two consecutive months, he kept tending Mika stabilizing the new core every time it flared up. He had absolutely no idea what was happening outside nor did he care.
From time to time, he could feel Lucifer's attempts to enter the cave and failing each time.
Time flew fast that they spent five months in the cave, slowly Zeta began to lose hope in Mika's awakening, and Satasha didn't visit once since that night.
Zeta grew thinner as his beard grew thicker, he was to fixated on Mika that he forgot to care for himself.
On one evening, he glared at his reflection and couldn't recognize the man who stared back at him.
He picked a dagger and shaved his beard.
His hair had grew longer but he didn't cut it, instead he gathered it in a bun.
Now the reflection started to resemble its owner, yet Zeta felt alien in his skin, he drowned in inexplicable emptiness as Mika's survival grew weaker by the minute. He now needs to meet Satasha again if he wants Mika to wake up, he needs her help, so he wore something that Mika had previously brought when he was here studying.
He laughed as he put on one of Mika's shirts, previously he wouldn't fit in it and tore it if he forced it on, but now it was too loose on him. He wrapped the belt twice to secure it, then left.