Chapter 148

Chapter 148
Willow
“YAY!” They jumped up and down, happy for the playdate, but they did not really understand how serious this was.
“We’ll see you later dear.” Said mom, giving me a hug.
“I’ll call you guys when all this dies down.” I said with a light smile. I could See the tension in the air, as now half the sky was solid white… the red became only darkness.
I went through, seeing Grahkes completely upset. The Lords of Light and Night were here, weapons in hand… They looked like the fierce paintings in old cathedrals, while Grahkes held his knees. I hardly recognized him…He sniffled as if he were a child, but I remember what Kaizen told me. 
Grahkes is not like the other Generals. He was made to be a talking pet that could follow orders,… but damn if his snake eyes welled with tears didn’t make me want to go comfort him.
You know what. I think I will.
But while they bickered in another language, I petted his hair.
“Do not look at me. Tears are shame mistress Willow.” He whispered. 
“It’s alright.” I said soothingly, though he held up his chained, clawed hands.
“I am a monster… I should act like one.” He said even quieter. “I am Grahkes, the Crimson Dog without a master.”
“You’re a person who’s hurting.” I corrected.
I got a pillow and let him rest his head on my lap. He didn’t cry anymore, I think for my sake.
“It is.” He sniffled. “You sound like a radio… good work.” He mumbled.
“Thank you?” I said a little confused.
“When the mistress learned her powers, as she practiced, her thoughts became quieter and quieter… you do the same.” He pointed to Harmony.
She was already showing, holding the hand of a completely fired up Xaxas. He was so pissed he placed himself in an orb, since fire radiated off his skin.
“Where the Fuck is the traitor?!” He hissed.
“Xaxas you don’t know that.” Said Harmony.
“I agree with Harmony.” Said Arveil. “Here, let’s look at the footage.”
He waved his hand
\----Grahkes----
They displayed my memories and thoughts while I shook… There is nothing I can do other than accept what they do to me… I am not a traitor…and I must admit that it hurt my feelings to see the masters angered at me for something I could not control.
What am I to do against the greatest magic caster known to mortalkind?
What good would being disobedient do, when he has never raised his fist to me? I do fear his hands… He may not be stronger than me, but those are…
They rewound my memories. It hurt… they made no effort to be gentle as Eskaal…but Lady Willow was kind… her hand was soft on my head.
I rode in the master’s oddly shaped car. I think he calls it the Cyberturk? He liked the shape because, in his words, it’s stupid enough to distract the mortals from seeing the jets underneath. It is a ship from Atlantia 9 or maybe 8?. Whichever one he got me to eat a third of…. I did not like that world. It tasted like metal.
Bleh.
“I TOLD you that he had unauthorized \[fancy word I think means car\]!” Yelled Lord Xaxas.
“Just watch son.” Said the Horned One.
I rode with him while doing the master’s errands. Lord Eskaal did as he was asked before taking me to the Meat Market. He got me a live mortal… I had not told him that I like the dead ones better… they do not have to suffer like I did.
I am millions upon millions of souls.
Sometimes… I hear them… the mortals that were smooshed together to make me… Sometimes I remember their lives… she will be added to the Song of Screams…. The master, at times, would eat those bad thoughts for me… I will miss Eskaal… no one would do that for a pet.
I don’t remember much after he took me to the grass world filled with animals….
But I do remember begging Eskaal not to do this…. I remember pushing the man who can unravel me, and kneeling to his feet, utterly terrified that I had done that. Eskaal may not be as strong as me… but he is too smart and too quick witted with magic. I know he let me push him….
He was kind enough to hear my words at least…
Now I will get a cruel master… One who will likely beat me, or starve me… or skin me.
I remember the stars when he redid my flesh… I remember how quiet my mind became. That’s scary in and of itself. Since my creation, I have had little rest, hearing so many souls… Now I think I am just one… I think… I do not feel them, nor hear them.
“I’ve seen enough.” Said lord Xaxas…. He was so enraged…. Like the day Eskaal had to reset the timeline…
“He did What.” Growled Arviel.
“Yes.” I said quietly.
“I already know about it.” Said the true king suddenly showing up…. I do not know how they are tricked…
I let go of Lady Willow. I would not get her tangled up in all this after she was nice…. It would not be right. I dogged her; I know she means well… but she cannot save me from being skinned alive.
I wonder they will really make a purse out of me?
Maybe they will fry my meat in a skillet like they did to the serpents who disobeyed Lord Asanguis….
Maybe they will broil me in my own acid?
I kneeled.
This was it. The Lord of Time would not have come in person without their aid… how did they not notice his power? He was not angered…. But calm. I could see the lick of his magic off his elderly skin.
“Then why did you not say anything?!” Yelled the Horned One.
“Because if it was so small you did not notice, he didn’t do much, now did he?” He said tapping his foot. “It’s literally Humblon all over again.” He facepalmed.
“Then what do you suppose?” Said the Lord of Light with crossed arms.
“You see the innocence of the little demigod.” He motioned me.
I could not speak… I was too scared to. Eskaal said something like that… it’s why the Song of Screams has ended. He gave me peace before they killed him.
“He is not yet dead.” Said the Lord of Time, putting his mighty hand upon my head. “I personally pardon this one.”
“WHAT?!” the Three yelled at the same time.
“Why would you punish this fresh soul, one who only thinks of service?” He hissed. “You lot are too hot blooded; it’s why I came. Eskaal will kill me, likely on accident in grief if this one dies.”
“He holds the Last Secret.” Said Arviel. “We need to go out and keep looking.”
“Brother, he took it out of our jurisdiction.” Said the Horned One… I’ve never heard him call him anything other than swears… 
“Until you find him, I’ll have him with me.” said the Lord of Time, leaving with me.
I blinked, and I was in a very nice, but small cottage. It had to have only 2 rooms, and 1 bath, the same size as Eskaal’s favorite condo.
I didn’t know what to say to someone like him.
What do you say to the man who rules us all.
“How do you know this?” he asked curiously.
“I…. I sense it.” I admitted.
“I think you deserve a rat.” He smiled, waving his hand, and a white one, in a PetGenius bag appeared, thawed and dead… the way I like. “Here, take it.”
I took it, careful not to touch his mortal shell… I’m sure it would hurt if my acid burned him… It tasted better than the ones outside, being clean and plump.
“Oh, and be careful of Tiffany and Zayde there. Let them sleep.” He smiled.
“Did they break the law my lord?” I asked.
“No, they helped the timeline and I got them before they got lost in it. The girl is Isabelle’s niece from Heidi.”
“Oh I know her! She is an adult now?!” I asked, looking at her. She was paler than I remember, but I saw her when she was a child. Dark Witches tend to have grayish skin like the boy.
“Yes, now come help me make lunch. I want you to go get some eggs, but don’t kill any of my livestock.” He smiled.
Outside his little cottage, was a farm…. I could tell by the curve of his lands, that this planet is Very small, maybe 100 acres? This is why they do not know.
He never uses his magic when they notice… and he lives out here.
“I wasn’t expecting everything to unfold so soon, and so closely together.” He mumbled.