~94~ The Corpse of a Star

In the infinite abyss of the universe seven beings were gathered, hovering in the void around a miniature star of golden fire.

Sention glared over the star at the Genesis God across from him. It was Velistan, the origin of life and aura. The others were Metrina, origin of light, Xellenon, origin of dark, Berylia, origin of thought, Ketadon, origin of instinct, and Emishi, the keeper of infinity.

"Apophus grows impatient, Sention." Velistan spoke, his tone was monotone, but it had a venomous edge to it. "Do you really expect us to sit idly by waiting for your foreseen hero?"

"If we interfere, everything ends." Sention said. "Believe me, everything will be fine so long as we don't interfere."

"Do you truly expect us to trust that?" Berylia asked. "Do you really think Solarborn beings could defeat Kasziel? Because I have a hard time believing that."

Solarborn beings is the term used for any race of being other than Genesis Gods, mortal or immortal, demon, god or Titan.

"When have I ever led us astray?" Sention asked.

"Tch!" Ketadon snarled, "really? Bastard.. how about the time you forgot to warn us about Kasziel's betrayal?"

"Calm down, Ketadon." Velistan spoke, then turned back to Sention. "I trust your powers, but this..? How can we be sure you aren't sided with Kasziel?"

"Why would I side with a dying, weakened fool who has nothing but Solarborn puppets for allies?" Sention asked.

"Fair point, but even if you tell the truth, do you really think we can hold back Apophus?" Ketadon growled, "he is a purely instinctual being. And his instinct is to kill anything that threatens reality."

"Funny that he is the instinctual one when your literally the origin of instinct." Sention sighed, "look, I'm confident that we, as a group, could easily hold off Apophus-"

"Oh really? Because, if I remember correct, last time Apophus lost it we only were able to hold him off because of Kasziel." Berylia said.

"We all know Apophus is the strongest of us when it comes to pure brute power. But I think, as a group, we could restrain him."

"I doubt it." Xellenon spoke. His voice was hollow and cold. "Apophus would consume us all, resulting in the end of all things."

"Great, now the story has two endings. Did you foresee that, Sention?" Berylia asked haughtily.

"No. He won't consume us."

"How can you be so certain, sorry, how can we be so certain? The future is a fragile thing, the future you see now could be shattered and rewritten a moment later." Velistan spoke.

"Listen." Sention said, his voice turning harsh and his expression hard. His eyes began to glow, "A friend as a foe will wake the drifter with three in toe."

"Was that a prophecy?" Velistan asked.

"Yes, and my prophecies have never been wrong." Sention responded.

"Never, but that prophecy was extremely loose ended." Berylia observed, "'a friend as a foe will wake the drifter with three in toe'? Who is the drifter? Who are the three? A friend as a foe? And how does it all end? That prophecy might as well not have been said."

"Damn you all!" Sention cursed, brilliant multicolored energy exploding from his body, causing the star to ripple.

"Watch it, Sention. You are by far not the strongest here." Emishi growled, speaking for the first time. His eyes narrowed, a buzz emitting from him, making everything that his energy passed through ripple like distorted images under water. When the star was struck it suddenly collapsed in on itself before exploding and becoming a black hole.

"Enough." Xellenon hissed, waving his hand and consuming the black hole into his figure.

"We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves." Velistan said, "this is just a meeting. We are discussing, not fighting. Be civil, please, we are nothing like those barbaric Solarborns."

"I just don't see why you distrust me, over one event? Is it really all because I didn't foresee Kasziel's betrayal?"

Nobody answered.

Sention's eyes darkened. "After my trillions of eons serving under you," he glared as Velistan, "I have never once been wrong. And the first time I am mistaken, it destroys all the loyalty and trust I've built?"

"The fact that you have never been wrong is what makes it so suspicious, Sention, not the fact that is was a mistake." Velistan answered.

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"If we knew beyond a doubt that you just made a mistake, we would still trust you. But.. you've never once, in all of time, made a mistake. Ever. Which is why this doesn't add up. The one time it really counts… you can't foresee it? The first time you are wrong ever.. is when your brother is betraying us? Do you see how dark of an image that portrays for you?"

Sention looked about at the distrusting eyes that stared back at him. His jaw tensed up as he ground his teeth and clenched his fists.

"I see. So even we, the ultimate beings, are just as flawed as the Solarborn." Sention sighed.

"You can't have purity, Sention. Imperfection makes perfection." Velistan spoke.

Sention glared venomously at Velistan. "I'm done here. Believe what you want. If everything ends, it won't be my fault."

With a wave of his hand and a shimmer of light, Sention was gone.

For a long moment, the Genesis Gods were silent. Then Emishi was the first to speak.

"So what will we do, Velistan?"

The Genesis God bowed his head. He held out a finger, and from it came a bright flash of light as a star was formed. The star spun rapidly, it's heat and size changing as it aged, being sped forward in time.

"We shall…" Velistan spoke as the star grew, then stopped, it's light dimming as it began to shrink. "Let it run its course."

As he said this, the star's light changed white as it died.

A white dwarf star, or, better put, the corpse of a star.

•

•

•

The immense, cooking body of Apophus churned and writhed as the being hissed angrily. It's head emerged from beneath its coiled body, slithering through the void, eyes locked on something far off in the stars.

"I grow weary of these tedious gamessss…" it hissed, flowing forward like water as it glided through the emptiness. "All threatsss… shall be eviscerated.."

And so Apophus began its journey… headed straight for earth.

•

•

•

Akuro lay on his bed, blankets wound about his feet as he snacked on chips and watched anime. The room was dimly lit, the TV screen being the only source of light. The walls were a soft white and his room was an absolute mess. He was extraordinarily comfortable, and happy. He'd left his old life behind and now he lived with Hope in a small apartment. He'd finished school a year ago and now he worked as an apprentice for engineering.

He was living life the way he wanted to, and he was free of any worry, other than bills of course, but that was about it.

It was almost like living a dream..

At that moment the door to his room opened and in came Hope. She had her hair done in a ponytail and she came and plopped herself down on the bed beside Akuro, laying her head in his chest.

"More anime, huh?" She asked.

"Always." Akuro said around a mouthful of chips.

"Ew, chew your food before you talk, gross ass." She said.

"What? You asked, if I hadn't of answered you'd of gotten mad either way."

"Yeah. I know. I'm a girl."

Akuro rolled his eyes and Hope laughed.

"You love me." She said, hugging him.

"For some reason." He mumbled.

Hope sat up, her jaw hanging open and lips curling in a grin. "You asshole! Do you not love me?"

"I do. For some reason."

She slapped his chest gently.

"Ah! Fuck off!" He laughed, then she began poking his side.

"Fucking knock it off," Akuro laughed as he rolled away from her.

"Pussy." She joked.

"Shut the fuck up."

"Did you hear the news?" Hope asked.

"What news?" Akuro asked, settling himself back down. He laid his hands over hers to make sure she wouldn't attack him again.

"Your sister is getting married apparently." Hope said with a smile.

"Oh? Really?" He asked, a wide smile crossing his face, "are you serious? That's awesome!"

"Will we go to her wedding?"

Akuro looked down at his hands as his thumb caressed her palm. His smile faded. "I'd really rather not see my parents."

"Why not? Did you and your dad fight again?" She asked.

Akuro looked up into Hope's face, and his eyes widened when he only saw a colorless, bloody, dead eyed face staring back at him. He blinked, and the image faded, Hope's face returning to normal.

He bowed his head, rubbing his eyes and ruffling his long hair.

"Hey, you okay?" Hope asked.

"Yeah.." he said, "I-I'm fine. I just need some coffee." He chuckled. Then he looked back up at her. "We can go to the wedding, I mean, it's my sister. I've gotta be there, she'll be sad otherwise."

"You think you could put up with your parents?" Hope asked.

"For her? Yes."

Hope smiled, then leaned forward and kissed him.

"I've gotta go to work. Dont miss me too much." She said as she stood and walked towards the door.

"Hate to see you leave, love to watch you go." Akuro joked. Hope looked back, furrowing her brow and flipping him off.

Akuro laughed, "I'll see you later. I love you."

"Bye, love you too."

As she left, Akuro lay his head back on the pillow and looked up at the roof.

What an amazing life he had.. he smiled.

"Not a worry in the world."