Dream's realm trembled as Despair rose to its full height, a being stitched from dread itself. Its presence dimmed the colours of the dreamscape. Night staggered backwards, shadows recoiling from the creature that had torn itself from her fear.
But the trembling did not stop.
A deeper cold rolled through the realm thick, heavy, suffocating. The gods felt it in their bones. Dream felt it in the foundation of their own realm. Night's children flinched simultaneously, as if struck.
Destruction-and-Creation whispered, "Another one…"
Destiny grabbed the table, eyes swirling wildly. "Two concepts were born from the same wound."
Death whispered, "Something darker still…"
Before any could process, the shadows beneath Night writhed again—twisting, wriggling, convulsing like something trying to claw its way into existence.
Night gasped. "No no, not again, I cannot"
But it was already happening.
The shadow thickened. Darkness compressed. A figure pulled itself free from Night's very essence rising slowly, steadily, with purpose rather than chaos.
It took shape:
A tall being with a body of pure, solid night. Eyes burning like black stars. A presence colder than void. A hunger older than fear.
Where Despair had been born trembling and frantic, this one rose smoothly… knowingly… almost regally.
Dream whispered the name that carved itself into reality:
"Evil."
The being lifted its head, testing the air like a predator scenting prey.
Night collapsed to her knees.
"Not from me," she whispered. "I would never"
Destiny touched her shoulder. "You did not choose this, Night."
Death kneeled beside her gently. "A parent does not choose a child's nature."
But Night could not hear them. She trembled not in fear of the being, but in fear of what that meant for the universe.
Despair, however, laughed with delight.
It glided toward Evil with open arms.
"Brother," it whispered, "twin born of the same shadow. Come to me."
Evil turned its void-filled eyes toward Despair. A faint crack of a grin appeared across its midnight face.
And the two embraced darkness folding into darkness.
One born from fear.
One born from hatred itself.
Twin concepts given flesh.
The gods recoiled in horror. Dream's skies dimmed into twilight. The ground beneath the table cracked.
But the twins only laughed softly, a sound like rippling void.
"Do not fear," Despair whispered mockingly. "We have no quarrel with you."
"For now," Evil added.
The gods felt a chill worse than silence.
Dream floated forward hesitantly. "This realm cannot hold such beings. You are… too heavy for it."
Despair waved a hand dismissively. "We will not linger. We are shadows given form. We will move where we wish."
Evil nodded, voice smooth and deadly. "And where we are needed."
Night forced herself to stand.
"I must go," she whispered. "My realm, my role, my duty… I must keep the universe stable."
Her children rose with her.
Dream reached out a hand. "Night"
But she shook her head.
"I cannot remain while these concepts are born. My realm must strengthen. The universe must survive this."
She stepped backwards into her own shadow.
Placing a hand on Night's arm before she vanished.
Then Night disappeared, their shadows slipping through the cracks of the dreamscape, returning to their realms to reinforce the cosmic balance.
Dream took the Night's vacated seat, trembling.
The meeting was not over.
Because the realm trembled again.
A gate woven of dreamstuff but cracked with shadow appeared at the far end of the realm.
Outside it stood two figures:
Scourge, wings spread, shadowfire roiling behind him. And Ellas, weakened but smouldering with hatred so potent it warped the air.
Dream went pale.
"The Fallen," Destiny whispered.
"The destroyers," Death murmured.
"Trouble," Destruction-and-Creation snarled, flickering violently.
Dream floated to the head of the table, speaking louder than ever before.
"We cannot let them enter. My realm will dissolve under their combined presence. What… what do we do?"
The gods murmured fearfully.
Storm-gods summoned spears. Earth gods planted their feet. Fire gods grew hotter. River gods swirled defensively.
Destiny stared at the gate. "If they enter this meeting, everything changes."
Death spoke softly. "If they enter, some may not leave."
Evil and Despair sat calmly, watching as if witnessing a theatre.
Dream looked at the assembly of gods.
"I ask you now," they whispered, "before that gate opens what do we do?"
And in the silence after the question…
The universe held its breath.