Chapter 144

Chapter 144
Sorry I was gone! … man this year…Just… if you ask I’ll tell you.
Willow
We took photos with the Horned One while he sat high on this throne, and he was content. He spoke with Xaxas, and Kaizen was speaking with his father. It didn’t initially start as a party, but any who could teleport did so, and they were down here enjoying cake.
I did too, sitting next to an old man nobody paid attention to.
“It warms me to see so much joy.” Said the elderly man. He didn’t look like the photocopies of the Horned One or the Wolf King. He kind of looked like everyone?
Weird.
Oddly enough… he smelled JUST human, and looked to be a hundred. He was so old that he slumped in pain from his back.
“To be honest, none of this would have been possible if not for everyone working together.” I smiled.
“That is very true.” He said with a nod. He leaned forward, and I could hear his back pop. “And soon, Hell will have more heirs.”
He motioned a demon to give him another glass of wine, while I began to wonder who he was…. He smelled….. dusty?
He smelled like an attic full of old books that hadn’t been cleaned out in a while….  But I could also sense his patience, and kind nature. I could tell he didn’t want to use whatever outlandish power he had.
“I am the Lord of Time.”
“Oh, forgive me, I didn’t introduce myself or anything.” I said with a small smile. “I’m Willow, Kaizen’s mate.”
“I know who you are little one.” He said casually. He reminded me almost of the Horned One, but not quite…. 
“I kind of heard about you growing up…. The Horned One killed you when he had a temper tantrum and the Lord of Light had to fix it.” I said, adlibbing text.
“HA! Aye Zuviel does to reset the balance, though this universe I think might be stable.” He scratched his chin. “Ah, my back.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked.
“No, I wouldn’t impose.” He said shaking his head. I got up and massaged his shoulders. I could hear bones pop as I did it….It felt like there was dust in his joints. “I am Time. By design I am as dust… even you could kill me little one.”
“I would never.” I said worriedly. “Should I sto-”
“No.” He snapped.  FEAR “Sorry.” He said quietly. 
What the Fuck was that?!
“Do not worry of this old man.”
I felt whatever he was inside that flesh, but it wasn’t hostile... just Big.
Samira and Isabelle came over, while Kaizen linked me, since he had the kids.
/Do I need to come over there?/ he asked.
/No, he just feels much stronger than his visage, and it startled me./ I admitted.
/He is, but he can be trusted./ Kaizen linked.
“Is everything alright? I felt a crazy surge of power.” Asked Samira.
“Me too.” Said Isabelle.
“Helping Lord Time with his joints.” I said casually.
“Oh, I can help if you don’t mind being a guinea pig. ….” Said Isabelle.
“Go ahead.” He smiled weakly.
Isabelle used magic, and everyone stopped from the sound of his bones rattling as if they were in a bag.
“If there is anything in this Layer you desire, you lot may have it..” he hummed. “Whatever wish graces your fancy.”
“Enjoy it while it lasts, old man.” Said the Horned One. “I should wave my hand and nuke that body with ailments.”
“You better not!” Yelled Lulliba.
The Horned One looked a little sheepish as his children giggled at his expense.
“Before he smites me, I think I’ll take my leave.” He said standing.
He vanished.
The party resumed, but we three kind of looked at each other.
“I want some more cake.” I half lied. “I’ll bring us some.”
“Go ahead.” Said Isabelle, while Samira stayed behind.
I knew full well what Samira was going to say…. The Lord of Time is More than just some old timekeeper…
I dare say he may be stronger than the Horned One, and He’s the biggest damn secret kept from everyone, but he wasn’t a threat.
He could barely walk….
I hope he never gets free.
I feel like someone like that shouldn’t be allowed to walk around and be unchecked, but who knows… If he’s strong as I think, The Lord of Time likely keeps himself in check. I heard their conversation just fine, they were kind of waiting on me to get back. I took the cake knife and got some red velvet, Harmony and Nixxia were off to the side, talking with the former Wolf Queen Gweneth.
“I wonder what kind of monster he really is?” I said getting back to them.
“He smells like just a human… So I have no idea.” Said Queen Gwen.
“Maybe I’ll ask at his tea party?” Said Isabelle.
“He invited the three of us.” Said Samira. “If I’m not mistaken, look in your pocket.” 
I pulled a very nicely written apology and invitation to tea time… I’m not going.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Asked Kaizen, and Tyson at the same time.
“We’re fine.” We all said at the same time.
Those two looked at each other, and played rock, paper scissors to see who would speak first.
Tyson won. “Time is our timeline’s mortal visage. It’s why he feels that way.” 
“Why aren’t you girls over here?!” Yelled Apythmenos. “Come drink at the big mortal’s table.” He joked.
“It’s one big table!” I complained.
“I know. Come on!” He smiled, but I took the hint… He wanted us to drop it.
\---The Horned One---
I followed ‘father’ to his little farm world, leaving my puppet to entertain the party. That cottage held so many memories, fond ones.
It was here that I was born from a fallen god. Arviel, Humblon, this world, its star, and myself are all that remain of the original Infinity… Time hid us from the gaze of the god eater Calaxious, and raised us himself
All while being trapped, cursed as a mortal for defying such a being. He taught me now to wield my trident…. It was here I became a man, and used my magic for the first time. How ungrateful of a parasite I was to allow Time to get in such a condition…. I should have checked more, but he likes his privacy.
“I felt that surge of power.” I said with a glare. “If you disrupt the timeline, I will do More than kill you old man.”
“You should know me better than that.”
“Entertain me.” I crossed my arms. I didn’t know he was this sick.
“I was meant to prevent the time warp. You were never meant to bump into Lia, thus, Lulliba’s heart would have never been broken… There never would have been a desire to fix anything, and Xaxas would not have unknowingly used his powers. If not for his wish upon himself that she would forgive him, his reality bending magic would not have thrown Kaizen, Tyson, nor Tiffany in the wrinkle he made.” 
None of the mortals know that Xaxas warped the timeline, only that they helped in some way or another.
Tiffany, the daughter of Heidi, would not have had to aid Kaizen. Her task was to retrieve my mate’s favorite incense, thus, she hibernates on Time’s couch with her mate Zayde while illusions are in their beds.
Kaizen was flung to the moment after Grendel sent me away, blocking me from speaking to her.
Tyson aided in my harsh but True words given to Apythmenos… Yet he saw our mistake through the magic mirror I gave him, thus, Tyson had to have his memory of it wiped to preserve this corrupted timeline….
Shit…Just, I ran my claws down my face. We’ve fucked up universes sure, we were young and didn’t know what we were doing…. But I’m too old to allow mistakes like this.
Large time ripples can kill the old man, but we agreed amongst ourselves to keep this secret. Xaxas does not need to know that he can warp reality this much… and the mortals need not know of how close we came to needing a reset…
Because of me. Mistake or not, I should have looked where I was walking, Arveil too. 
My son could not live without his mother’s forgiveness, nor I… And when my son wished upon himself, one of us should have noticed.
But like a child watching a comet in the sky, Xaxas wished on his own powers that she was happy again….