First Demonic Dragon

Other than the Tathamets and the Euphrates, there is one more individual who dwells within the great forest of Tehom.

Izanami lives alone within a small log cabin located just on the bank of a misty swamp.

It's a relatively dark area compared to the rest of the forest; as there is little light that reaches the forest floor.

It fits quite well with her own natural gloomy aesthetic; which is why she chooses to stay here almost 24/7.

Though it doesn't seem to prevent Lailah, Sei, or any of her greatest grand-kids from coming to visit.

Abaddon was only the latest visitor to step inside of her home and disrupt her peaceful atmosphere.

But Abaddon was a relatively quiet guest, so she did not mind his company very much.

Besides, he really seemed to need her help.

Abaddon placed down the china cup in his hands and stared at the old goddess with a small smirk.

"What do you mean by saying I am your hope? Are the other primordial deities going to start to revere me too?"

"No, you handsome fool." Izanami sipped her tea with her eyes closed.

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For a while the room was filled with silence as he waited for her explanation.

She finally placed her cup down and stared into it blankly as if it were going to magically refill itself.

…It eventually did.

"You've been relatively lucky so far, you know? You have all of our power with none of our debilities. I'm sure neither Nyx and Gabbrielle wish to see you fall into our 'curse'."

Abaddon tilted his head. "You all have an aversion to kryptonite or something like that?"

Izanami tilted her head even further than he did. "What is kryptonite..?"

"If you ever came over when we had movie nights then you might know."

"There is no point." Izanami shook her head. "There are too many couples among our friends and family. After forty minutes in a dark room you all start putting your hands in places they don't belong and then you come up with some cheap excuse to leave."

Abaddon thought about it and realized that he really hadn't ever seen the end of a movie in quite a long time.

"N-Nevermind that." He shook his head. "What do you mean by 'curse'?"

Izanami met his gaze for the first time since the two of them sat down.

"You know a little of what it's like already. The things we get to see and the knowledge that we possess.

But when you actually assume responsibility for your divinities and become their natural cause…" Izanami's words slowly trailed off.

Eventually, she placed her hand on Abaddon's forearm.

"Do you know why all of the primordial deities you meet are so enamored by you with only a simple meeting?"

Abaddon pointed to his face.

"Yes, but also no." She admitted. "It's because you are relatively human."

Abaddon raised a brow.

"You are passionate. Not only about the women you wed, but the children you sired and the parents who raised you.

You believe in the betterment of your people, and you believe that you can fix all of creation's problems through your own efforts and time.

It is enriching and inspiring… but it's not the way things are. There will be things that are out of even your hands, and courses that you cannot divert.

Experiencing these events will harden you terribly, sweet Abaddon. You will personally come to understand the futility of mortal existence firsthand.

Do you ever wonder why Ouroboros isolated herself in her own domain for millions of years even after creating the dragon race?

She, like the rest of us, likely became weary from the things she witnessed. So much so that she preferred to be alone in a space of her own creation rather than watch any further."

Abaddon remained motionless as Izanami placed her cold hand on Abaddon's cheek.

"I am sure she refused your request because she did not wish to lose the warm father she has come to adore.

And Nyx likely denied you because it would be a travesty to watch such a close friend become a shell of himself."

Abaddon smiled helplessly as he touched the ancient godddess' hand.

"Come now, Izanami… You are acting if I will lose my personality entirely. Nyx is still quite full of life from what I recall."

"Nyx is bored out of her mind and drums up a new personality every 11,000 years or so. She was a massive bitch to anyone other than her children before she met you."

For some reason, it didn't come as a surprise to Abaddon that his friend was a bit bi-polar.

Izanami touched her own chest and stared deeply into his golden eyes.

"Have you not noticed that all of us ancient beings seem so hollow? So reserved and detached? This is the cost our power and our knowledge exacts.

We can start calamities, stop them, advance new civilizations, or cripple them. But eventually we all have a moment where we realize… there is no point.

You want to truly assume your responsibilities and understand a full grasp of your power, then I will instruct you on how.

But I do truly wish that you would not do this. I also am enamored by your behavior, you know? I do not wish to see you lose your 'humanity'. "

Abaddon wasn't expecting to get such a heavy answer when he asked for this favor originally.

He thought things would be simpler, almost like when Seras first trained him.

Concerns around his personality were the last thing he thought he was going to hear.

Though… he did appreciate the sentiment behind it.

"I am grateful for everyone's concern, but I find it a little bit unwarranted. I will not so easily lose my head and everything that I value about myself so easily. I can't afford to."

Izanami still didn't know if Abaddon was truly comprehending her warnings.

Or if he was just overlooking one very close to home fact.

Nevertheless, she was sure that because of Abaddon's divinities, the things he would see were worse than what most other gods would.

And he would feel it all more intensely than even a divine mind could bear.

Whether he could save himself from that feat or not… was truly all on him.

Izanami wished she could say that she was optimistic, but… the centuries had already taken something as pure as that away from her a very long time ago.

Maybe if he could come out of this unscathed, then there was perhaps some hope for them all.

-

Assuming the responsibility of a primordial deity is not just an offhanded phrase Izanami used.

It is effectively taking back the reigns from the normal linear flow of events.

Even if Nyx does not ride her dark chariot across the sky to bring the night, the darkness will still come due to the actual science behind the earth's rotation.

But when she does, the nights she brings are indescribably more vibrant and beautiful.

This also helps Nyx deepen her understanding with herself, her powers, and her public perception.

The same is true for the other primordial deities.

Izanami had told Abaddon how to assume his inherited responsibilities and be the cause of his named divinities.

But she recommended that he not do it alone.

The girls were still out in Svarga and presumably tearing off heads, so he had to grab the one other person he had a meaningful connection with.

"Feel like taking a trip with me?"

Sif was still lying in bed right where he left her and decidedly nude.

She sat up on the bed with the goal of enticing him discreetly. "Oh, I don't know… Are you sure we can't stay here and… relax?"

Abaddon pulled a water gun from out of nowhere and shot Sif in the face several times.

"H-Hey! Why?!"

"The note."

"D-Damn it, right."

Sif wiped her face and went to her dresser to begin getting dressed.

"Where are we going? Should I wear something special?"

"Outer space. So it doesn't really matter if I'm honest."

Abaddon could not only keep Sif breathing in space, but he could protect her from its extreme temperatures on either end of the spectrum.

She could have worn absolutely nothing if she wanted.

Sif paused and stared at Abaddon like he'd just… well, told her they were going to outer space.

"Is this what it means to be ex-wife to a primordial god? You just say outlandish shit like it's completely normal and I'm supposed to just nod my head and smile?"

"You're living in a domain beyond reality, time, and underneath universes, but outer space is where you get starstruck?"

Sif shrugged.

"I like outer space. It's cold, pretty, and fascinating."

"You understand that I am the literal cosmos, yes?"

"Oh, right… I guess dark, cold, and pretty was my type all along." She winked.

"Who is cold…?" he grumbled. "Just hurry up and get dressed."

Sif rolled her eyes before she returned to picking out clothes for herself.

Abaddon wondered where his ex was getting all of this insight into flirting from.

He liked it a hell of a lot more than he should have if he were being honest.

'I can't let her know that though, she'll start to get a big head and-'

"Alright, I'm done."

When Abaddon looked up Sif was wearing a thick snow coat and pants.

"What kind of ice goddess are you?" He snickered.

Sif's ears became bright red. "Look, I didn't know if it would be too cold for even me out there, alright? Your control over ice is way more advanced than mine, and let's not forget, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO SPACE BEFORE!"

Abaddon chuckled as he went back in her closet. "Well you don't need to worry about catching hypothermia with me. Besides…"

Abaddon closed the space between them and unzipped Sif's jacket slowly.

"I may be a bit biased, but… I think it may be too big a tragedy to cover a form like yours."

Sif didn't respond to his flirting, but her ears did turn as red as her eyes.

There was an unnatural tension between them as Sif undressed without breaking eye contact with him.

Abaddon's own body heat rose so much that a low steam had begun to rise off his muscles due to Sif's cold room.

He watched her get dressed in a tight tube top that barely held in her chest and a pair of jeans that emphasized her hips and ass.

"Beautiful…" he smiled.

Sif felt a shiver run down her spine as Abaddon raked his eyes over every inch of her.

"I love you." She blurted out.

Honestly, Abaddon almost said that he loved her too.

But just as his lips began to form the words, a familiar face popped into his mind; along with a memory of what came before.

After that, it was as if his brain rebooted itself.

He blinked his eyes several times before he smiled harmlessly.

Sif was swept off her feet and placed securely on Abaddon's back as he started heading towards the window.

"I feel like it's been a while since I've gotten to stretch and fly a bit. Try not to throw up on my back if I get excited, yea?"

Sif felt a twinge of pain in her heart.

She didn't know why, because Abaddon had never said he loved her after their divorce.

And it wasn't really the kind of thing she was ever expecting him to say either.

Not after the way that things ended the first time.

But just for a moment, she really believed that she was going to hear those words again.

And now she was paying the price for getting her hopes up.

She quickly brushed off her negative feelings and smiled so that she wouldn't ruin the mood.

"You don't need to worry since I'm a big girl. I promise that I can handle myself."

"Oh? I'll hold you to that, Rapunzel."