A crow was navigating through pine forest mazes in thick fog that dampened it’s shimmering black feathers stained with dark blue markings. A chilling breeze gusted through the forest that tried to keep the crow from going to its destination. In it’s small talons it carried the limp body of another crow with an arrow in its chest.

The crow flapped its wings flying higher above the fog and the wind, soaring toward a mountain range where more crows were circling. The crow flew toward a mountain that had a large library built into its side, soaring through a window.

It flew around the endless shelves of books and scrolls with maps hung on the walls where there were no shelves. The crow flew over glass casings holding treasures of all sorts from various generations. It began to soar up through the spiraling staircase, and the crow reached a door at the top of the staircase. It pecked at the attic door, cawing urgently to the dweller inside.

The door creaked open revealing a small cozy room with a large window, with a bed in front of it. And two bookshelves on opposite sides of the room. A small pine table in the middle of the room with two pine chairs scooted up to the table. A beautiful rug laid underneath the table that was riddled with coffee stains. A staff with an unlit lantern on it leaned on the wall beside the bed.

Crow sat on the bed holding a coffee mug and staring out the window, books laid on the bed around him wide open. His pale white skin and neck-length dark black hair shined in the rising sunlight. He took a sip from the steamy hot cream filled drink letting the warm smell travel through him warming up his body from his cold surroundings.

The crow cawed at its master as it flew in the room landing on the table after setting the limp body on the table. Crow glanced back at the crow on the table. He got off the bed walking over to the table. He picked up the limp crow body carefully, he felt around the body grabbing the arrow that stuck out from the chest. He sadly sighed as he gently removed the arrow and set the body back down.

“ Take his body to be buried, and sweetie tell Aella to come here. If she asks, tell her it’s important.”

The bird nodded then flew away carrying the body. Crow took off his navy blue cloth gloves and began feeling the arrow his normal glazed eyes now glowed into a dark blue. Hmm the arrow is made of metal but it feels holy. There’s an engraving of a feather making a cross with an arrow, it reminds me of a group aunt Vita has, what were they called? Ah right the Winged Archers. Risky of them leaving an arrow in their victim. Seems the crow found the body in time.

“ Master Crow, you called for me,” Aella said as she flew in the room landing on the table.

“ Yes, Aella. Another crow came in dead, but finally they left something behind,” He set the arrow on the table then put his gloves back on, and his eyes stopped glowing going back to their glazed state. She looked at the arrow then back up at Crow.

“ You know who it belongs to?”

“ Vita’s Winged Archers.”

“ A top God killing off our Spotters for what? I doubt it would be for pleasure or joy.”

“ Agreed we’re being kept in the fog, literally, about something, but what?”

“ I don’t know, but we can’t let anymore die. What shall we do sir?”

“ Stop sending the Spotters, entirely. I have to make a family visit.”

“ Master with all due respect, the last time you tried to get out was years ago and you were flung into the mountain and the library was almost destroyed.”

“ Thousands of our crows have been dying. I can’t sit around and do nothing. I have to try.”

Aella sighed, shaking her head then giggled a little. She flew to Crow perching on his shoulder.

“ Well sir I’d like it if you would let me come with you on the family visit.”

Crow nodded in response then started heading down the spiraling staircase, his hand flowing with the smooth pine railing. The rustic smell of books and the dry mountain air filled the library, Aella’s claws tightened on Crow’s shoulder causing him to stop walking.

A honeydew mixed with vanilla and a small hint of fear scent entered the library, Aella got off of Crow’s shoulder flying toward the source of the scent. Crow pulled out a large crow skull from his feather lined robe, he placed the skull on his head. His light gray glazed eyes faded into normal brown eyes. He saw the surroundings of the library flash by as Aella flew following the scent to its source.

Aella flew into a hallway heading to a room on the side of the hall, she perched on the perching stand that was by the window in the room looking at the intruder. The intruder was examining the various bottles on a shelf that contained strange colored liquids, dust, plants, and very old sailing ships.

Aella squawked at the intruder. The intruder looked at Aella staring at the exposed skull of the crow as she set the items back where they were.

“ Vita, why are you here?” Crow’s and Aella’s voices overlapped as they talked.

“ I had to come when I heard one of my archers failed.”

“ You admit to killing our crows. Why? What are you trying to hide from us?”

“ You think I’m going to answer you? You don’t even have the courage to face me in person. Just stay out of this, hermit.”

“ You’re lucky your bite is worse than your bark, but unlucky your mental image is worse than your physical image. We sense you’re starting to slip a smidge, auntie.”

“ I am not your aunt! What is with you and your cockroach blooded father thinking we are family?!”

“ Oh you still don’t know, well then I suppose a deal can be made.”

“ What are you talking about?”

“ You tell me your secret and we tell you ours. You do want to know why we keep calling you aunt, right?”

Vita began fiddling with her long hair in irritation, she growled a little then nodded. In the blink of an eye Crow himself appeared next to Aella’s perch. He took off the skull he wore putting it back in his robe. His eyes reverted back to normal.

“ Now tell me your information,” Vita commanded.

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“ When Astro had his affairs with the Goddess of medicine and prosperity, Medela, they had a child. That child is Azrail the God of Death and Dark magic. Now your turn.”

Vita’s eyes widened as she stepped back sitting in a chair, her breath felt as if it was taken from her, her vision blurred as everything began to spin. No. No. No! That filthy abomination can’t be related to me! He can’t! She swiftly stood back up from the chair then shifted into her doe form then ran through the air out the window of the room as she retreated Vita shouted orders.

“ Destroy the Library!”

On cue angels with archers armor and golden bows with no string or arrows flew toward the library. The crows that circled the library retreated into the halls as the large griffin gargoyle statues began coming to life and mauling the Winged Archers who came near the library.

A few managed to sneak past the gargoyles, entering through the lab window. Crow and Aella were still where they were. The four archers pulled back golden colored energy strings forming golden arrows aiming them at Crow and Aella.

Aella flew away as Crow raised his hands in the air slowly. Aella returned, dropping the lantern staff in Crow’s hands then left.

Crow gripped the metal lantern staff then stabbed it into the ground causing a flash of white light from the lantern that blinded the archers. Crow low sweeped them, knocking them off their feet, then used the sharp base of the staff to pierce the necks and hearts of the four archers except for one.

The last Winged Archer stared at Crow in horror as all of his companions swiftly retreated. Aella flew back to Crow landing on his shoulder. Crow pierced the sharp base into the Winged Archer’s leg preventing him from escaping. The archer screamed in pain as Crow crouched down on his knees staring down at the wounded archer.

He took off a glove then reached his hand out to the archer, grabbing his face, flashes of a party setting with angels cheering over Azrail’s death flooded into Crow’s mind. He slowly let go of the archer’s face as tears filled Crow’s eyes.

“ Dad….is gone… she killed him…” Crow pulled his staff out of the archer’s leg letting him escape. Aella nuzzled against Crow’s face, he gently petted her soft feathers.

“ The fog is still there, Master and you’ll need help finding your father’s skulls. We have no choice but to wait for someone to help us.”

“ Who will help us?! We are basically hidden from everyone!”

“ Except for the fox constellation.”

“ I suppose, I just hope she finds someone to send our way. I need to take the throne before anyone else tries.”

* * * * *

Astro was sitting on his galactic colored throne at the round table surrounded with empty thrones, his impatient foot tapping serenaded throughout the empty space around the table. He ran his hand through his hair to help him relax from the anticipation that made his heart tremble with anxiety.

Echoes of footsteps got closer and closer to the table revealing Tempus walking on bronze tiles leading to her throne that resembled a grandfather clock. She sat on her throne keeping her gaze away from Astro, Medela later came soaring through a portal then sat on a throne made of gold and was engraved with various medical signs. Her throne was between Astro and Tempus.

The Nameless’s normal royal throne, Azrail’s skeletal throne, a throne made of weapons and shields and Crow’s book-made throne all remained empty.

Pestis came in walking on dark red rocks that floated in space to lead her to her throne of thorns that she sat on.

Another God with dark gray skin and glowing white hair that was tied in a messy bun. He wore light weighted armor that mimicked the look of a bad thunderstorm. He floated on a cloud to sit on his throne of lightning.

Flora and Fawn entered as well, sitting on their thrones of plants and animal skins and horns. Finally Vita arrived to sit on her throne with a pleased grin on her face and a twinkle of bliss glazed over her eyes. Many more various Gods and Deities entered into the room sitting on their highly decorated thrones, but some remained empty.

“ Father, let's start the meeting.”

“ Not all of us are here Vita,” said the God on the thunder throne.

“ You don’t have a right to talk to me, Tonitrua.”

“ You are not superior to me, little sister.”

“ Enough both of you. Since the rest of us are here we might as well address the elephant in the room,” Astro stood up as his deep stern voice silenced the squabbling siblings. “ It has come to my attention that Mortem. I mean Azrail..has been killed by the child blessed by North the Phoenix.”

The Gods aside from Vita, Astro, and Tempus gasped in horror. Medela held her hand over her mouth as tears flooded from her eyes. They began to talk amongst themselves in panic. Astro was staring at the table with his hands shaking a little. He forced his head up and swallowed his pain down.

“ A concerning loss, for many. This would be the perfect time to name Crow as the new High God of Death but he isn’t reachable at the moment. Rest assured the one who committed this crime will be punished and killed for this act.”

“ I mean is it really a crime when it's a prophecy? The kid was just following orders of course the wrong ones but not her fault that blasted Incarnated failed,” Pestis added in her sly toned voice.

“ Father, may I add something to the court?”

Astro nodded at his daughter as he sat back down. She smirked then stood up looking at Medela.

“ Medela and my father have been keeping a secret from us,” the Gods began to murmur amongst themselves, staring at Medela and Astro in confusion.

“ We all are aware the two of them had an affair. But what they failed to mention is they had a child. That child is Azrail the High God of death and dark magic! The one who destroyed the human race and Nameless!”

“ How dare you two!! How dare you both bring such a disease into the world!!” Tempus shouted at Astro with despair and pain written on her face. She then glared at Medela with her clenched fists shaking with rage.

“ What proof do you have?” Questioned Tonitrua.

“ My proof is Azrail. I noticed he continued to call me sister. I finally asked why in battle and he told me because he can’t lie.”

Astro glared at Vita with disappointment then began to walk away as Medela teleported away. Tempus ran after him shouting at Astro in another language, the others began to leave the way they came. Tonitrua stood up from his throne then floated away on a cloud keeping his back to Vita not saying anything or looking her way. Pestis remained in her throne gazing at Vita, Vita loathingly glared at Pestis.

“ What do you want, princess?”

Vita began strolling her way to the Goddess's throne keeping her glare fixed on her. Pestis just sat there calmly with a smile on her face, finding Vita’s angry expression amusing.

“ Pestis the Goddess of sickness and destruction. You’re next on my list.”

“ What list are you talking about Mrs. Perfect?”

“ Once I remove you and a few others from the world everything will finally be perfect since I’ve realized Azrail’s death won’t be enough.”

“ You killed Azrail? Pretty low for you. I knew you two were at war but I didn’t know you would actually kill him, Goddess of death.”

“ Were you not listening? The child killed Azrail, not me so my hands are clean.”

“ You orchestrated his death. You’re playing the child like a fiddle. Like the Goddess of Lies you are.”

“ I thought I destroyed those records.”

“ I have a memory. You may be all high and mighty but you’re nothing but a little mortal brat,” Pestis stood up then headed out ignoring the nasty glares from Vita.

A young light brown skinned boy with patches of white all over his body was hugging a large manta ray plush toy. He was hovering above Vita peeking over his plush toy.

Vita looked up at the black and white messy haired boy, she smiled a little looking at his bright black wonderfilled eyes.

“ Are you thrilled Boogeyman is no longer around?”

“ Just because he doesn’t have a body doesn’t mean he isn’t around. He is safe in the Dream Realm.”

“ What?”

“ We can’t exist in this world without a body. Nightmares and dreams are useless unless there's a body and a mind to make them. So he is safe in the Dream World.”

“ I’ll get rid of him for you.”

“ No. I didn’t say I wanted him gone. I need him. He is the best Black Beast.”

“ You clearly can’t run your world properly. Don’t worry I will see to it that the Dream World is ruled properly. Unless you do support my cause?”

“ The Dream World will not side with you Vita. And you won’t be able to conquer it.”

Vita rolled her eyes then walked away on the tiles that led her home. The boy giggled softly, floating away still hugging his stuffed manta ray.