It has been centuries since Astronel had been sent to the Stygarian Abyss. It took him a while to understand that Celestros didn't send him here to take care of the Abyss but rather to banish him. When he figured out that he never had a choice to come here, he was heartbroken that Celestros, his brother, was jealous of him. Since then he no longer answered to the name Astronel. He was now Mortivus the king of the Abyss.

He brought order to the realm. He tamed the beasts. The souls roaming there were not all bad, some sent here because they weren't considered worthy enough to be in the same plane as the Gods. He created a kingdom with these souls and gave them a new purpose. He locked up the souls that had committed heinous crimes when they were alive. His hatred for the gods grew over the centuries. His only friend was the God Umbralex, the overseer of shadows, who liked to stay in the Abyss rather than Celestoria. Mortivus had become a great God but he was lonely.

Mortivus had noticed the first time when the young Goddess of Moon had sneaked into the Abyss after following Shyra. Shyra was one of the most powerful beasts in the Abyss, she had the ability of transforming into a small raven. Mortivus would sometimes let her go to the mortal realm as a warning before any greater catastrophes. It was during one of these times that Lunara had spotted Shyra. Shyra, who didn't like anybody other than Mortivus, was easily befriended by Lunara. Lunara had always been curious about the majestic beasts of the Abyss.

The first few times Lunara had trespassed Mortivus hadn't done anything. But when she began to come more often he warned her not to trespass as the Abyss was a dangerous place. Lunara couldn't stay away, how could she when she had fallen in love with Mortivus, at first sight. She kept visiting and tried to meet Mortivus but he always avoided her.

Umbralex confronted Mortivus, because if wanted to he could have just stopped Lunara from entering the Abyss, but he didn't. Which meant he liked her presence. Umbralex was right. Mortivus liked the light Lunara bought into the cold Abyss. He didn't feel lonely anymore. Mortivus started warming up to Lunara. It didn't take him long to fall for her. He would wait for her visits and cling to her when she was there. Even the beasts adored her. Mortivus was going to ask her to be his Queen.

Where on one side love was blooming, on the other side someone was burning in jealousy. It was none other than Celestros. He was becoming jealous of Lunara for gaining so many worshipers. How dare those humans worship her when he created them in the first place. And when he found out that Astronel and Lunara were together, he was furious. He went down to the Stygarian Abyss and killed Lunara, while sealing everyone in the Abyss, so that they couldn't leave, including Mortivus.

Mortivus was in agony. He lost the only one he ever loved. The only hope he had was Umbralex's words that Lunara might be reborn because of her worshipers' belief. And then Umbralex informed him of the prophecy but Mortivus couldn't leave the Abyss, well until now.

✧⁠✧✧

"So... Are you really the King of the Abyss? Or try to get the attention of my cousin?" Nik inquired about Mortivus. "Why can't I be or do both?" Mortivus questioned back. "Do something to prove it then..." Nik challenged. "I would have summoned the fire of the Abyss or perhaps another beast but as I said earlier the Abyss is sealed off from the other realms. My power originates from the Abyss so I can't access it." Mortivus reasoned. "That's a convenient excuse." Nik accused.

"That's enough Nik. He is telling the truth." Sera stated. "I knew you would believe me, my goddess-" Mortivus was interrupted.

"Don't call me that!" Sera glared at him, but he just smiled at her, which made Sera feel a bit flustered. "Well cousin, you are glaring at a God, so unless you are-" Nik stopped talking when Sera glared at him next.

Sera had brought Mortivus and Shyra to Celestine. Nik was here while the others had returned to their homes. Shyra was perched on the desk. Mortivus's presence made her feel as if the prophecy was taunting her. Believe me now?

If Sera was Lunara, did that mean Sera's life didn't have any meaning? Why did her mother have to die? Why does her father not want her to have revenge? Why does her heart flutter when she looks at this Mortivus? Why does she just wanna keep
petting this raven? Who was she?

"Nik go home." Seraphina told Nik. "I am not leaving you alone with him, cousin." Nik said. Sera sighed, "I need to talk to him, alone."

Nik nodded. Perhaps he should give them some privacy, Sera must have a lot of questions. As soon as Nik left the room Mortivus came towards Seraphina and hugged her tightly. Sera gasped. "You have no idea how much I have missed you!" Mortivus's shoulders were shaking as he silently cried. He was finally reunited with his love after nearly a century. A small time for immortal God but it felt like a lifetime to him.

Even though she didn't remember him, he was happy. Sera could feel his pain. She didn't want to accept whatever he said as truth, she wanted to push him away but couldn't bring herself to do it, that would be so unfair to him. She couldn't help but hug him back. "Please don't cry..."

Mortivus tightened his hold but the moment was interrupted when a loud tweeting was heard. He chuckled and let go of her. "I guess someone wants attention too." He glared playfully at Shyra. Sera chuckled too as she petted the raven's head.

Seraphina's face became serious. There was no point in denying it now. "I have dreamt about you, actually about you both. The dreams never made any sense to me. They always left me disheveled and with questions." Sera accepted the truth. "Maybe it was the scheme of the cosmos to bring us back together again." Mortivus tucked her hair behind her ear. He was so happy that she still felt a connection with him. "Why do I feel like that?" Sera asked. "Like what?"

"Like my heart will stop beating if I don't keep looking at you..." Seraphina said in a daze as she looked at his eyes unsure. Mortivus smiled as he cupped her cheek in her hand. "Maybe it's because you love me but just don't know it yet." He leaned closer and looked at her lips and then at her eyes. Seraphina's eyes widened. "No!"

Mortivus immediately stepped back. "Sorry, my Queen. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. That is the last thing I want to do."

"Don't call me that." Sera turned away as she blushed. She couldn't with the nicknames."What would you like for me to call you? You didn't even tell me your name, darling." Mortivus stated with a smile. He was happy to see that he affected her as much as she affected him.

"My name is Seraphina. Let's take you both to my home. That's going to be one interesting conversation with my family."

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