“Mentor Death is your son?” Ever said, wide eyed. “But that means…” he looked between Nyx and Chaos.

  “Yes," Chaos said. “He’s also my grandson.” He cleared his throat, his eyes becoming fathomless once more.

  ∞Death, come out of your room and greet your mother.∞

  In a blink, the ice cream shop had disappeared. The warped, ever-shifting realm of nothingness that Chaos reigned over surrounded them. Perhaps it was because Ever had been here enough times now, but he didn’t get the sense of vertigo that he did the first few times Chaos appeared.

  “Oh Mentor,” Ever said, “You’re here!”

  Death stiffly strode over towards them. “Yes, I am here, wherever here is.” He nodded at Ever then embraced Nyx politely. “Mother, it has been an aeon.”

  “I think it’s been two, Thanatos.” Death winced at the name.

  “So easy to lose track of time.” He looked at Momos. “Enjoying the earthly delight there, brother?”

  Momos narrowed his eyes from behind the mask and kept licking his ice cream.

  “Chaos," Death said turning to his grandfather, "what are your intentions with my apprentice?”

  ∞Nothing more than what I’ve already shared.∞ The two seemed to agree that the less they spoke to one another, the better it was for them both.

  “Speaking of sharing, when were you going to tell me that you were planning to retire?” Nyx asked.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Mother please,” Death said. Ever had never heard him sound so exasperated. “People are allowed to change and move on.”

  “That’s the problem with this role of yours,” Nyx said, her voice firm yet comforting. “You spend so much time around humans and you start to believe that you are one of them. Still,” she turned her gaze again to Ever. “I don’t disapprove of this young soul you are passing on your mantle to.”

  Ever’s cheeks flushed; if Death had eyes he would have rolled them.

  “Anyway, it’s about time my apprentice gets onto his real job so if you’ll excuse us…”

  “Oh one more thing before you go,” Nyx said, reaching an arm out from underneath her hood. “If you see your other siblings, do say hello to them.”

  —--

  *You didn’t tell me that Chaos was your grandfather.*

  I might be born from Nyx, but that doesn’t make me related to him.

  *He called you his grandson.*

  He can call me Elvis Presley, that doesn’t mean I’m going to sing for him.

  Once Death started mentioning obscure references to human pop culture, Ever knew that was the end of the conversation.

  Ever turned his attention to where Death was transporting him. Everything seemed to be a blur; Ever couldn’t make anything out around them.

  *We seem to be going somewhere quite far, Mentor.*

  We’re going to a war zone.

  *A war zone?*

  That’s what I said.

  Ever had heard of the wars going on in the world on the news through the radio. Taylor seemed to just ignore it, but he wondered about them and all the souls that would be struggling to move on.

  *Am I going to learn how to reap many souls at once?*

  No - you’re going to meet my sisters.