The Depths stood silent, their sole ruler waiting in quiet frustration as she watched over her vast kingdom. To the naked eye, it would seem she ruled over only the bottom of a single sea, belonging only to a single and meager world. The truth was this cosmic force of nature, one of the most powerful beings which remained in the cosmos, ruled over every sea that graced the tapestry of creation. By her word, she could pull the stars from the sky and annihilate trillions. By her will, could the seas she commanded run dry and become devoid of life.

When the luminous wings of Cathay furled, all of creation would tremble before her ruinous sound. When at last she’d rise from the final form of the Depths then even the gods would tremble. All that which is divine, be they a supreme ruler or outer horror, would run in terror by the Tyrant of the Dark Wastes.

All but one.

Cathay rubbed her hand over her crimson, molten eyes. Despite the depths in which she stayed through all times she could not deny that recently the grand ruler of all seas had begun to grow tired.

Rather, exhausted was a far better word to describe her. Cathay stretched as she rose from the trench which she called her home, her green skin feeling tighter than normal, most likely from stress. She was even forced to uncurl the mass of tentacles she called her hair as, for the first time in eons, she had slumbered terribly.

“Damn you, Gilah.” The Tyrant of the Dark Wastes muttered under her breath, a mere whisper of her voice powerful enough to create shockwaves that brought about powerful disasters to worlds unseen. The only world she was not allowed to harm was perhaps the most pathetic she had seen in her unfathomably long life. A little pebble of dirt and rock. Terra, she believed it was called. Created by the great shaper Gaia, before their slaughter in times long forgotten.

Cathay believed the humans now called it earth, though she could be wrong as her only source of human knowledge was the reason as to why she wasn't allowed to reach out to the small planet.

“Damn you, Jason.”

Despite the destruction she brought onto worlds that likely did not deserve it, the earth would have been an entirely different story. Not from pure hatred for the human species which populate its surface, not the pollution or corruption that run across its expanse. No, Cathay would wipe it out from simple spite alone.

Grand Cathay, one of the last true rulers of an old era which once demanded service from the stars themselves. A terror whose name was spoken below even a whisper for fear of invoking her wrath. She was a butcher, a cosmic lord who once bathed in the entrails of divinity that once deemed themselves her better. She was a god, one of the most powerful to be born and certainly one of the most formidable to remain!

“And here I am. Doing what exactly?” frustration gave way to fury as Cathay’s wings unfurled from behind her back, once draped over her shoulders to resemble a dark cloak that unleashed a wave of destructive impulses. Not pure raw power but rather madness that, in the span of only a few moments, doomed countless systems to flame and insanity. Civilizations were torn by their own hands, all because of a temper tantrum from a creature they knew of only in legends.

“GUARD DUTY! ME!? THE GREAT TERROR! THE GRAND TYRANT! DAMN YOU GILAH! DAMN YOU JASON!” Her rage was such that all who could survive Cathay’s power fled for fear that this would be the day she finally rose from the Depths one final time. Instead, just as quickly as it had come, her anger subsided and the mighty god sulked, sinking back into her trench, and tearing into its surface as she slid against it.

Her descent only stopped when finally she found herself within the darkest point her domain could offer. Where only she could survive. Though…there were a few exceptions. She shared this space with another. The very one who had made her swear to ensure they were not followed.

“Dammit Gilah, I understand you want some alone time with your Jason, but did you really have to exclude me?” Despite the power her name invoked, Cathay often found herself dealing with a force even greater than herself.

Sheer, absolute boredom.

“Could have at least tried to invite me…” Cathay pouted.

From the corner of her all-encompassing gaze, she saw a terror of the sea. A great serpent that would have posed a great threat to many mortal races. Even some divine beings would do well to steer clear of this creature, which itself was little more than an arm’s length for the Grand Tyrant. With a hundred heads Cathay could see that each one was terrified, actively trying to flee.

Little good it did as in her current state she saw it as nothing more than a brief distraction. She quickly grasped the beast, her whole hand fitting to cover the entirety of its width. It roared, only once, in fear before Cathay’s teeth sunk into its mounds of heads, severing off well more than half as she dined in an attempt to battle her own lingering boredom.

It fought back briefly, uselessly biting into the seemingly impenetrable flesh of its predator’s tongue before more of its bones and flesh were crunched down by a horror far greater than itself that treated it as little more than a distracting snack. Cathay worked her way down the serpent’s length, slurping and chewing this possibly world ending monstrosity, all while she could only think about Gilah and Jason.  

She could only guess as to the possible ‘fun’ her best friend was having with her mundane little lover. While Cathay held her own reservations over Gilah dating and possibly marrying, a human she would not get in her way. They cared too much to intrude on the sanctity of their relationship.

At the very least she hoped they were having an enjoyable time.

 ***

“Okay…okay now you can look!”

Jason opened his eyes to a night sky far from any he was familiar with. Stars of colors unlike any that should be possible in an existence that made sense were hanging so delicately above him. It was clear that they were far from natural, as was the sea he and his monstrous girlfriend seemed to rest within. He laid comfortably upon Gilah’s toned stomach, the surface surprisingly soft despite her physique and shark-like skin. She held more control over her form than Jason could hope to understand, enough that she could offer absolute comfort with ease despite her towering frame.

Overhead a single hand hung above, sheltering the human’s view just enough that he would not plunge into madness at the sight of that which should be impossible. Only through gaps in titanic fingers, each large enough to crush several buildings with ease, was he allowed to see the artistic majesty that was the heavens above.

“Do you like it?” Gilah wondered as she worked to sit upright, trying her best to keep Jason away from the freezing waters of this dead planet. He was held firmly in the gaps of her abs, never enough to brush or beat his body yet also remaining as just the right amount of force to keep him from falling. All of her actions were delicate, yet at a whim, she could scour entire civilizations clean. Even more impressive was how Gilah insisted she was self-taught in the care she demonstrated.

“It took me a week to get the stars the color I wanted.” The titan admitted nervously. She wasn’t sure if her Jason would like the display she worked so hard to make. This was beyond anything a human should see, after all. Even some gods found difficulty in working with the forces of the cosmos at the same rate Gilah did. And this was still taking into account her natural affinity toward the ocean. The stars, all that rested between them, were meant to be far beyond her control. But to the surprise of many, it came naturally to her.

Gilah did not view the stars like everyone else. To her, the sea and the cosmos were one and the same, the Depths showed this. Unexplored by many races, both vaster than any could imagine. This understanding of hers, it allowed her capabilities that impressed many and terrified more. The one she wished to not scare, though, was her Jason.  

But he remained silent. Had he come to despise her work? Had he gone made at the grand design she created? Gilah feared she was in the wrong to bring Jason here so early on into their relationship. He’s only had a year to adapt to sights no human should ever have to see.

She twirled her oceanic hair in between her fingers, waiting patiently for an answer to a question she was now dreading.

“It’s lovely…”

Finally, Jason spoke. His praise sent a shock throughout Gilah’s body. A literal pulse of energy that worked to lighten the dark sea that surrounded them. Her body darkened as the world around her grew in the light she emitted. Her gray and pale skin turned dark and colorful, with luminous streaks befitting a creature of the deep. Her hair became a beacon of colors that mirrored and humbled the stars above. Her bestial eyes which could rend sanity glowed brightly. But the shine that dulled all others was the red that took hold of her cheeks.

“Ah…ah you like it!?” Gilah was wracked with excitement. “You really like it? really really!?”

Jason couldn’t help but laugh at his monstrous girlfriend’s joy. Despite her appearance is enough to turn away and terrify all but the strongest of monstrosities, Gilah was an extremely jovial soul. Hers was a spirit that seemed to work in direct opposition to her outward appearance, and for those who actually knew her, they’d agree she was perhaps one of the gentlest creatures in any sea, so long as her temper was not called into question.

“Really really” Jason assured her. He scaled Gilah’s body as best he could, working his way between every curve she had to offer, all so that he could see her handiwork even better. And paired with this new form of hers, involuntary though it may be, this was turning out to be a wonderful gift from someone who cared for him so profoundly.

“J-Jason, what did I say about c-climbing me?” He tickled as he climbed upward. Despite Gilah’s massive scale, she was quite sensitive in some regions of her body. Under normal circumstances, her skin was harder than any fashionable armor. When seeking to offer comfort, however, matters were far different’ She could feel EVERYTHING that grazed her skin. From the smallest of hands to the most powerful of currents. The former proved debilitating as she could do little to stop her beloved.

Jason, of course, saw no reason to stop. On top of his love of the wonderful present given to him he so too loved to see his girlfriend grow erratic in her movements when he found her more sensitive points. Every portion of her body housed more power than any form of machinery. Such destructive capabilities housed within a woman who, at the smallest of touches, could come undone and turned into a giggling mess.

It wasn’t until Jason nearly reached the underside of Gilah’s breasts did the towering titan finally have enough. Without word or warning, she dived beneath the water’s surface, leaving Jason to float about aimlessly as she circled him, no doubt trying to get a grip of herself as she could still feel Jason’s little hands across her body. He didn’t need to see Gilah to know that she was smiling, her whole face likely redder than before despite the dark that had covered her entire body.

A massive leviathanesque tail breached the surface as Gilah continued to circle her lover, almost in a manner befitting sharks circling their prey. Early on in their relationship, Jason wondered if that was what she was doing. Testing to see just how fun of a snack her beloved could be. He learned later that this was just natural behavior for her. She circled around others, mostly in an attempt to stay out of their way lest she bring harm to them. Even Cathay was among the list of those Gilah showed restraint around, her own power quite exceptional even among the most legendary of gods that continued to rule creation.

To say she restrained herself around Jason would be an understatement without compare, and at times she didn’t really know how to cope with the extreme care she needed to exercise. This would lead to moments of embarrassment from her, times that reminded Jason of just how alien she was towards a human like him.

A great song reminiscent of whales gripped the dead but beautiful world. It reached the heavens and forced the stars above to grow brighter before eventually being snuffed out. The light that Jason found himself floating upon faded as the power which had gripped the water was steadily drawn back into its source. Most likely Gilah also reverted back to her original appearance as well now that she had begun to sing. A beautiful song that the small human had heard so many times before.

Much in the same way a human would groan or moan in embarrassment, this was very much comparable to that. For all the power she possessed, for all the things that were naturally afraid of her, and for good reason, Gilah was so easily flustered.

Before long, her head breached the surface. Only the upper half as everything before Gilah’s eyes was still submerged, the titan likely still embarrassed by her sudden erratic actions. She both loved and hated it when Jason climbed her. Even more so when she made her body nice and soft for him. If only she could get a hold of herself, than she could actually find some way to enjoy it.

“All good?” Jason remained on his back even as Gilah struggled to meet his gaze. Already she could feel her cheeks growing crimson again and a small melody escaped her before she was able to stop it. Gilah cleared her throat, an act that sent ripples across the water, before bringing the rest of her head upward.

She nodded slowly, still embarrassed but now more than capable of composing herself. “Mhm…”

Gilah will never understand how someone so small and weak was able to make her feel so…loved. Alive in a manner of speaking. She’s gone through millennia without a mate of any kind. She thought herself foreign to such emotions, once upon a time. Yet here she was, swooning over a little human. A meek little creature that used to wait for her at the end of a pier every night, just so that he may see her eyes.

There were so many ways she could hurt him, or worse, and he hardly ever showed fear in anything outside that which was natural. Gilah was aware that Jason knew the danger she posed, but still, he looked upon her longingly. That in of itself was dangerous.

“Please, can you stop giving me that look?” Gilah asked with a pout.

Jason feigned ignorance as he kicked his legs, inching closer toward her titanic lover. “What look?”

Rather than back away, Gilah instead leaned forward. Closer and closer until she was certain she could feel Jason’s body against her lips, both so large that were she not careful even their softness could prove life-threatening. They could crush Jason’s little body without much effort.

“You know the look.” Gilah reminded, “The same ‘I’m so glad to know you’ look. The one that…woos me.”

“Oh?” Jason shifted his body until he was floating upright before placing a hand on Gilah’s lower lip. “The same look I give before doing this?”

Gilah made no effort to stop Jason as he placed his lips upon hers, to the best of his ability given the difference in their sizes. Like his previous movements, she could feel something as small as the smallest peck and even pulled into it slightly, as though that would inch out more pleasure from the embrace. She even placed her index finger upon Jason’s back, lightly pushing him closer into her, always making sure the pressure was never too much.

Jason could feel everything. From Gilah’s heartbeat to her breathing to the very heat she emitted. This was a living being he embrace despite the impossibility of her existence to the logical mind. But logic and reason were both something he had to do away with the day he was taken to live with her.  He was afraid then, naturally. Now, he couldn’t have believed himself to be any more fortunate than he was currently.

Eventually, the brief kiss had to end, even if they both wished to take things further. Despite the amorous situation, without the light Gilah had offered through the sea and sky the atmosphere of this dead world was now settling in. It wasn’t really the right place for the two of them to share an intimate moment.

“How about we take this feeling and save it for when we’re home?” Gilah suggested through a forced smirk. Even now she was holding herself back from going any further.

Jason met her smile with one of his own. “That’s if Cathay doesn’t mind. You two share a living space after all.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t,” Gilah assured. She struggled to maintain her composure. The likely scolding from the Tyrant of the Dark Wastes all too real should the couple be ‘found out’. Still, it was a risk they were both willing to take, even if it meant angering one of the last great rulers of the cosmos.

It was decided then, and before Jason could act Gilah open her jaws wide before bringing Jason into her waiting maw. This was, unfortunately, the fastest way she could travel while also keeping a hold of her lover. That said, she’s had him inside her mouth so often now that it seemed routine for them. He wasn’t even terrified of the idea that she may accidentally swallow him anymore.

Gilah waited, unable to speak for clear reasons, as Jason got himself situated with his surroundings. Same rules as always, avoid the teeth and throat, and should things get rough just grab onto her uvula. Easy peasy.

“Ready!”

The all-clear Gilah needed to finally begin her dive back towards the Depths, back towards home.

To offer her one and only a more intimate gift that would be no less tiring than forcing the stars to her bidding. 

The depths were a strange yet magnificent place. Everything was connected through it, so long as it held a sea of worth. From oceans of blood to inhospitable waves which ate at the flesh of lesser creatures, all things were stringed together through the depths. It allowed for an environment unlike any other in this reality or the next and while its current ruler left much to be desired, in terms of their personality anyway, the Depths remained a place of discovery. As such, for Jason every new day he found himself face to face with a new wonder. The likes of which were not normally meant for man or devil or even lesser gods.

Yet here he was, the only human who could be found hidden away in the deepest portion of the depths, guarded not just by the lord of the Dark Wastes, one of the most feared entities in creation, but also through the grace of his girlfriend, an entity who could perhaps humble even the mighty Cathay in time. To them, he was less than an insect. Less than a mite. But they still treated him with respect, almost as though he were one of their own. Though the tyrant of the Depths often held reservations over having a human hidden within her domain she respected the wishes of her dear friend Gilah. It was thanks to them that Jason could even live down here as long as he has without needing to fear for the otherworldly pressure which would have crushed his body, or the lack of air which was terrifyingly scarce.

He was freed from such worries, and more. But…there were days when he missed his life above the waves of his world. He longed for the days when he was free to walk the earth, unhindered by the fact that, through Gilah’s own words, he no longer belonged there. Not in the traditional sense. While his body was still human, his time within the Depths had changed him. Within now his mundane form housed mutations that allowed him to survive what others normally could not. Not just the crushing pressure of the depths but also the obscene strength of his girlfriend, who in the time he has known her has done feats seemingly impossible for one even her size.

Though her form was fitting of a great sea beast it was Gilah’s repertoire of powers that demanded respect. From anchoring stars to the surface of some alien ocean, to changing the weather of several worlds through her shifting moods, there were few things she wasn’t capable of. Convincing Cathay to allow him even a single day upon the surface, it would seem, was unfortunately something beyond even her power. Though Gilah cared for both her lover and friend greatly she wouldn’t be able to change the Dark Tyrant’s mind once it had been made. Cathay was nothing if not stubborn in her decisions. Decisions that, if not respected, could lead to the destruction of several thousand of solar systems. Their temper was not something to scoff at. 

Because of her orders, Jason had fallen into a depression. He loved Gilah, truly, but he still possessed a human soul along with a sweet and gentle heart. He missed his family. He missed his home and his world. So it was that to soothe his mood, she had chosen to go AGAINST her dear friend’s demands and sneak the human up to the surface of his world. She’d be sure to return home before Cathay ever took notice. Though their gaze encompassed a great many things, the countless eyes which laid unseen upon their malignant wings seeing nearly all things, it was Gilah who remained as one of the few exceptions to that rule.

She swam faster than any technological masterpiece could hope to achieve, breaking through several reality-altering barriers which constituted the gate between this universe and the Depths. Thin lines of possibility, barely perceivable to the naked eye. Yet to one like Gilah, someone who defied the known laws of physics through her simple existence, that line and barrier was oh so obvious. It was honestly hard to miss when she wished to breach.   Most times she’d just force her way through with minimal effort. Now, she needed to take care. Otherwise, she could very well alert the ruler of all seas.

Gilah slowed herself just as she approached the final barrier which separated reality and the Depths. The final gate which would signal Cathay that someone had left her domain. Her sudden stop forced the one within her maw to lightly tap against her teeth. An adorable sensation that forced the titanic leviathan to hold her tongue, otherwise she may very well swallow him whole. Pools of saliva flooded and surrounded Jason as he waited patiently, now being the one chance he might have to see his world again, his home.

Gilah was forced to pin him to the roof of her mouth just so that she may swallow the excess liquid slowly building up within her mouth. A sudden pressure forced the small human’s ears to pop. Her tongue was like sandpaper, a mirror of just how rough her skin was on the outside as Gilah couldn’t break through the barriers AND maintain her normally soft composure at the same time.

“I know you’ve waited a long time for this dear. Just please, be patient.” Though still thousands of miles from the Earth’s oceans Gilah could see the sun of that planet’s solar system. From the vast distance between her and the surface, she could see what awaited her. It was clear, for now, but if she waited any longer who knows what she might find herself subject to.

She cursed under her breath before tightening her muscles. She thrust her clawed hand forward, gripping the thin line of reality before pulling it away. Around her, the world seemed to collapse in a wave of glass that soon restructured itself as she torpedoed forward. Behind her, the gate slowly reformed itself, and with it restructured all that was around it. Breaking the laws of creation was a great taboo for those of the Depths and was often met with quick punishment. Few could openly challenge Gilah, but it was likely that Cathay had caught onto her presence the moment she broke through.

At most, the best she could hope for was an hour to give her beloved the respite he needed.

She broke through the Earth’s surface just as quickly as she broke through the gate, bursting through the waterline with a force unmatched by even the most destructive of weapons. And that was through her needing to hold back, otherwise, her entrance may have flooded half of the planet. “Next time I’ll need to take extreme care…” She came to understand. “This isn’t like when I used to visit the surface alone. I’m going against a ruler’s orders. This is technically treason, so I needed to act fast.”

Gilah surveyed her surroundings, taking in the warmth of the sun above. It dried her skin rather quickly, but it wasn’t unbearable. It was actually rather pleasant. Perhaps it was because of the stories Jason would tell her when asked about his home. Either way, Gilah found herself enjoying the sensation. It couldn’t last forever, unfortunately, as she reminded herself of the task at hand.

From the looks of it, Gilah could surmise that she was stuck somewhere in the middle of the ocean. She wasn’t familiar with the name of the seas but knew that she was quite a ways off from Jason’s home city. Again, she cursed under her breath. Her aim was off and she somehow managed to throw herself off course. Opening her mouth, she allowed Jason to walk onto the knuckles of her waiting hand. Now she could focus on his comfort, seeing as she had already arrived at where she needed to be.

Jason took in his surroundings with a mixture of delight and something bordering anxiety. He hadn’t been on the surface in over a year. Even the sight of the sun was a little overwhelming, and that’s still taking into account the strange sights he’s seen when accompanying his girlfriend.  So to see something so…normal. It was a sight he didn’t think would cause him to tear up, and yet here we was. A single tear ran down his cheek.

“Oh, no no no! Baby, I didn’t think this would upset you?!” Gilah took notice of the tear far faster than someone her size should have and responded to it with a sense of panic. She felt as though she had done something wrong, other than breaking several rules of her people that is, and only wished to remedy whatever she had broken. Instead, she felt her spirits rise when she felt the familiar gentle touch of Jason’s hand upon her knuckle. He soothed her worries, ensuring that everything was fine.

“I’m not upset,” He assured her. It was seen through her eyes that she was worried. “It’s just…you don’t appreciate something until it’s gone. Even if it was only a year, and even if I was allowed to go to impossible worlds thanks to you I wasn’t allowed to come here. So…thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Gilah.”

The titanic leviathan felt her hearts flutter. All three of them. Her pale skin seemed to glow red as she covered the lower half of her face with her free hand. She hid away her teeth, her genuine smile seeming more a predatory grin as she tried to conceal her embarrassment.

“Please, don’t say such things right now…” Gilah pleaded. “We’re on a tight time frame as is and there’s no telling what I might do to you if you keep praising me in such a manner…”

Out here in the middle of the ocean, the sun shining off of the blue waves, a cool breeze blowing over the two of them. There was no better scenery Gilah could ask for to demonstrate her love for Jason once more. But as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t let herself fall towards her more base instincts. Not yet anyway. Perhaps back when they were at home but certainly not here.

Jason chuckled. “I understand. Now, seeing as you went behind Cathy’s back maybe we should hurry things along? Before she decides to bring us back personally?”

“You know she hates that name...” Gilah reminded. Still, Jason would call her that anyway. And the Tyrant of the Deep could do nothing but endure, otherwise, she’d earn Gilah’s ire.

Gilah cautiously placed Jason upon her shoulder before lowering her body back into the water. He was quick to make his way to her back, which had begun to tense up the moment she began to move. This time Gilah took care in monitoring her speed, not wishing to cause any sort of harm to the Earth for as long as she was here. Her hope, for now, was to at least reach civilization within the hour, so that at the very least her beloved could see the city he grew up in even if he wasn’t allowed to step foot within it.

“If I can give him that then hopefully it’ll be enough to get him in better spirits…”

***

“There it is, in the distance.” Jason pointed towards the city on the horizon, barely a dot in his eyes though he’s gotten quite good a picking up the littlest of details. “You see it?”

“Much better than you,” Gilah replied with a chuckle. It was always so cute to see him point out the things she was already aware of. Her senses, after all, were thousands, if not millions, of times more powerful than anything he had even with mutations. Already she could see not just the city but the cars driving within, the people going about the work day, some angry others happy, everyone living their lives a little bit differently. She could see it all.

But the one thing which stood out most was perhaps the carnival pier where she and Jason first met. An amusement park suspended over the sea, the exact place where he professed his love for her, and she in turn saw it fit to take him to her dwelling. For the sake of marriage. The more she thought about the more embarrassing she found the situation to have truly been.

Jason was much too young for marriage right now. He wasn’t even a full century old yet. Gilah on the other hand had EONS on top of him. She needed to be patient for more his sake than hers. After all, it wasn’t like she gave him much choice in the matter.

She felt a pang of guilt in her stomach. Gilah wasn’t dull of mind; she knew what she did when she took Jason to the depths. Only, she realized it too late that perhaps that wasn’t what her beloved would have wanted. He was human, he needed to remain on the land. But, because of her, Jason had been living in a place no human should, now for over a year. In some ways, she needed this just as much as him.

Minor redemption for having acted so fast on her feelings. Cathay wouldn’t understand that need. Hell, Gilah barely understood it herself. It felt so…human to one like her. Out of place for a denizen of the Depths. It was concerning, and captivating. All in one, Gilah wasn’t sure if she should embrace this array of new emotions, both the good and bad, or should she bury them and only focus on her affection. It wasn’t like this was a question she could ask anyone else. This was her battle. One she had to see through by herself. Either way, she’d remain by her beloved’s side through whatever choice was made.

She was quiet far longer than she had expected. Gilah wasn’t even aware of just how close she was getting to the city until she felt her tail run against the ocean floor, now close enough that even with her upper half still above water she was long enough to tear into the earth with nothing more than her tailfins.

“Gilah, watch where you’re going!” Jason tried desperately to get his girlfriend’s attention, making his way to her ear, and shouting directly into the canal. The titanic goddess threw herself upward, the sudden voice in her ear both surprising her and bringing to her attention just what was about to happen.

“They’re going to see you, slow down!”

Jason was right. Gilah could see it, clear as day. On the pier, there was already a gathering of people who had managed to catch sight of the god-like beauty fast approaching them. They weren’t sure what she was but only knew that at the speed she was swimming, she’d utterly annihilate the wooden flooring beneath their feet. The entire park would be destroyed.

Gilah couldn’t think, now just realizing what was happening. In a panic, she shifted her body until she stood upright, her tail supporting her weight as her body was now even more visible to the onlookers. Their reactions were expected, though it still broke her heart to watch.

Some fled in terror, the sight of Gilah invoking a primal fear that made them want only to preserve their lives. Mothers abandoned their children; Fathers abandoned their wives. Humans pushed against one another to get as far away as possible. But while some fled others fell to their knees and held their hands up high in prayer. The sight of such a powerful being was enough to make them abandon whatever previous faith they believed in, now wanting nothing more than to offer their new goddess praise, lover, and most of all sacrifices.

The worst were those who managed to catch a glimpse of Gilah’s eyes. In the back of their eyes, they saw it. Flashes of what lay within the deep. Unspeakable horrors waited in the Depths, all ruled by a queen who cared little for the ‘apes’ that had come to call their measly little planet home. Images of worlds they had brought to ruin, entire star systems erased, flashed through their minds like images within a camera reel. They tore at their scalps, wanting to free themselves of the horrible images. Nothing could save them from the coming madness that would plague them for the remainder of their days.

Jason could say nothing as, even from his distance, he could still hear the screams of those on the pier. It was something words could not properly encapsulate. From her shoulder, he looked up towards Gilah only to see that she was just as terrified as he was.

No…even more…

She was broken. Gritting her teeth so hard that the sound of them struggling to not crack could be heard. Gilah was fighting back her tears, struggling to keep herself composed as her very presence broke the minds of so many.

“I hoped…I prayed…that they were like you…” Gilah explained solemnly. “That they wouldn’t break just by looking at me…I’m…” she didn’t even know if there were any words in the human language to describe just how much sorrow she felt. “I’m…I…”

“Sorry?” a voice broke through the screams as, all around them, the world came to a standstill. The clouds above ceased in their movements. The crowd of terrified onlookers stopped in their tracks. Those who praised or cried out in anguish were found to be silent. The entire city halted whatever activities were transpiring within it. Or rather, the entire cosmos was forced to a halt. Time itself had ceased moving.

Gilah turned around, not putting any effort to struggle against what was bound to be the biggest earful she’d likely receive this millennium.

To say Cathay towered over the titanic Gilah would be a massive understatement. She was positively monstrous compared to her much smaller companion. Even if this were some avatar of hers, an extension of Cathay’s true self, they were still large enough to wrap their fingers around Gilah’s torso without any difficulty. Their wings only added to their height, encompassing the sky so that everything below was cast in the shadow of the Tyrant of the Deep.

Above her, the sun-filled sky tore open, revealing countless gates that all lead back towards the deepest part of the Depths. A tear in reality that had allowed the Great Terror to arrive. Had she decided to travel the natural way then things would have only ended up more catastrophic than they already were.

Cathay paid little mind to the city or its screaming denizens. Those upon the pier would be dealt with in time. For now, her only concern was the two troublemakers who went against her orders.

“Why do you THINK I have rules in place, hmm!?!” Their kind, hers and Gilah’s, were not something made for natural eyes to view. True, they seemed normal enough to those who could acclimate themselves to their forms, but even in their restrained states, they could plunge a world into madness. The actions that have occurred this day only proved that.

Her anger was such that, even with time frozen, Cathay was affecting the mortal realm as well. It was breaking away, shards of creation streaming upward like plumes of flame before being reduced to nothing. She would have to repair it, of course. Human lives were so easily replaced, as were the structures they made. But a lesson that goes ignored was not something so easily remedied.

Cathay wanted to scream. She wanted to rip this world in half for what Gilah and Jason had done behind her back. Instead, when she saw the defeated expressions of the couple, she calmed down. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Cathay sighed in annoyance. Were she to do things her way then matters would be so easily solved. But then Gilah would likely never wish to speak with her again. She cared for humanity. More than any creature of the Depths had. All because her one lover was one of those little ‘apes’.

She moved her hands to her forehead, lightly massaging her temples as she tried to form a plan.

“You two understand you’re in so much trouble, right?” Cathay’s rage softened, if only slightly. Her wings curled to wrap around her shoulders. The couple nodded, any fire to continue with what they had planned gone. It was honestly disheartening to see.

Cathay reached down and lifted Gilah out from the ocean, her fingers gripping the titan’s torso tightly enough that, even had they the desire to flee, they could not. There was no fight in them to even resist any sort of reprimanding that may come their way. They completely understood what they had foolishly done. No punishment she could swiftly deliver could compare to what they’d now have to live with.

“Neither of you are coming back to the surface for a VERY long time,” Cathay’s eyes fell not just onto Gilah but upon Jason as well, a single eye dominating his entire world. She was comparable to a living and breathing landmass. It was a terrifying thought to imagine that this wasn’t truly her. Cathay’s true self was something that needed to be experienced rather than spoken of.  And as far as she was concerned he was the whole reason why Gilah had committed to something so stupid.

The Great Terror’s lips curled into a wicked grin. One that was enough to pull both Gilah and Jason out of their depression. It terrified them to see those malicious gears within her head turn. “Oh, but your punishment doesn’t end there. Oh no, it’s just getting started. You two are gonna be the source of so much stress these coming days, and you’re going to offer me much-needed aid. Understood?”

Both nodded, much to Cathay’s pleasure. This was something of a hollow victory, however, seeing as she needed them to be in such despair for them to comply with simple directions. Even if it was cruel to say, this was as good a lesson as any. They needed to learn that, even if some things were desired, they just weren’t possible. This was not a world meant for them any longer.

Cathay was just about to depart with Gilah in hand when she remembered. “Oh, right. The humans.” With a snap of her fingers, those afflicted by Gilah’s presence were transported to the now outstretched palm of the Tyrant’s waiting palm. It did not just extend to them, however, as even those who had recorded and received videos of Gilah were taken as well. Hundreds who were on the pier, and hundreds more who were unfortunate victims of circumstance found themselves upon a hand so large they could probably themselves underneath its nails, unable to scream as they too were frozen much like the world.

“I suppose I’ll just need to take these with me.” Cathay did not possess Gilah’s fondness for mankind. At most, they were a nuisance she was forced to let live. She hoped she had a container on hand to keep them all in.

With nothing keeping her back, Cathay dived beneath the water’s surface, with both prizes in hand. Her wings unfurled one final time as both the city and the sky above were repaired of whatever damage was done. It was as if nothing had ever happened to begin with. The only things lost were the lives taken.

The last any would likely see of the two colossal beings was a large, serpentine tail that quickly plunged beneath the waves with such speed that had none been paying attention it would simply appear to have never existed at all.

***

But one did see the large serpentine tail. A single woman who had come to the amusement park upon the pier every month in the hopes of finding her little brother. The very same little brother who had spoken of a beauty unlike any other in the world before his disappearance. She thought him mad, even during her wild searches for him. Even when her father believed him to be fine, after a whole year of absence, she still believed he was insane. That was until she saw it for herself. A gargantuan woman with traits befitting a shark, though not like any she’s seen. And she’s hunted plenty.

When others saw her, they went mad with fear, devotion, or worse. But not her. She stood her ground even as people began to claw their eyes out. All the while she called out her little brother’s name, now fully believing the madness he had spoken of.

And then, just as quickly as the titan had appeared, she vanished. As did all the people who surrounded her. What was left behind was the tail of a serpent so large it defied reason. And soon after, even that was gone.

Valerie was the only one who remained. The single witness to a massacre the world will never know of. All she knew now was that her brother was right. Her father’s stories were true. And if that was the case…

“Is Jason alive?”

She needed answers. She needed a sign.

“What I need is a boat.”

What is a god without a following? What is a deity without worshippers? Nameless, unbound, but void of the luxuries that are meant to come with their titles. Rulers, the greatest and most powerful of the gods, were no exception to this unseen law. Much like their lesser kin, they too craved the praise and adoration that came from worshippers who have devoted their lives, at times even their afterlives, to an existence far beyond anything they could hope to imagine.

Of the Rulers which over creation, none craved such adoration more than Cathay, Tyrant of the Dark Wastes, Lord of the Depths. So it was that when the few occasions came where she could indulge in such mortal vices she’d jump at the chance.

Her size was retracted to a scale that was far more manageable to the humans she had acquired from the surface. She couldn’t be much larger than 600 feet, one of her smaller sizes while still being able to retain her original appearance. Any smaller and she’d have to make alterations to her body.

Though she was still a great deal larger than her ‘pets’ Cathay could feel them very clearly. All of the little humans in her possession walked across her green flesh, as though it were some great expanse they needed to maintain. They dutifully cleaned their majesty’s body, working tirelessly to appease their new master. There was not a thought within their mind that wasn’t devoted to Cathay. To them, she was now their entire world. A far better fate than what normally awaited those forced under her rule.

These humans were fortunate. Were it not for Gilah then Cathay would have gladly devoured them all. Or perhaps she would have forced the leviathan to do it herself? It would have proved to be a suitable punishment. Far worse than what they were going through currently. But, though they were at great fault for their actions on the surface of the earth, it was not Gilah who held most of the Tyrant’s ire.

That position went to the unfortunate human currently working upon the Ruler’s teeth, pulling away at old meat which once belonged to predators of the sea. They were nothing more than snacks to one of Cathay’s stature, only searched for so that she may have a proper punishment ready for Jason. It may have ruined her appetite in the end, but she’d say that the results were more than worth it.

Though she could not see his current predicament she imagined it was far from ideal. Even at a minimal scale, the task must have been troublesome for someone of Jason’s stature. He must have been just shy of being an inch tall to her currently. A luxury, seeing as his girlfriend was well over a thousand feet. The task was still a difficult one no doubt.

Cathay did not attempt to have Jason’s punishment be a simple one. Just like the other humans, who went to work trimming and cleaning the nails of her hands and feet, the latter of which had taken the place of her serpentine tail, she could feel Gilah’s mate as he walked across her tongue. He struggled in his effort to clean the goddess’s mouth, avoiding pools of saliva as well as mashing teeth. Voluntary reflexes for the latter as Cathay wished to remind him of where he was at all times, though it wasn’t like he could forget.

She felt clever in providing him with a tool to help him ‘dispose’ of any unwanted flesh. A spear of legend passed down from generation to generation, once the weapon of choice to some ancient clan of god slayers. Those who defied the will and rule of divinity. A claim that was admittedly held by many, but at the very least this clan, in particular, was mighty enough to back their claims as slayers of deities. At one point the mightiest of them even managed to kill a ruler, though they were young and quite new to their station and as such could not compare to their much older peers.

At one point those very god killers, along with their strongest champions, attempted to invade the depths in a mad plot to purge it clean. Cathay didn’t need more than a single finger to do away with that short-lived scheme. She still kept that legendary weapon of theirs as a reminder to those who not only ignored the power of a ruler like herself but also went out of their way to work against it.

For Jason, the fragile human who had managed to turn Gilah away from her duties down in the Depths, there was no better instrument for him to use in his task. Perhaps Cathay would have him use that spear to clean underneath her nails as well. Despite being capable of erasing entire clusters of galaxies without so much as a little bit of effort there always seemed to be just the smallest speck of grime underneath. Such an irritating task felt fitting for such an irritating mammal.

“Humans. Why did she have to fall in love with humans?” Gilah thought, her anger rising slightly. Though her face remained calm, her growing irritation could be felt in the hearts and souls of those who pampered her. They doubled their efforts in an attempt to appease one of the oldest powers in this universe. All but the one in her mouth that is, his mood at an all-time low because of his great blunder. All these people who were here now, once able to call Earth their home yet were now prisoners of the Depths, were here because of him. Cathay’s anger was lost on him only because he focused on his depression.

“Weak little primates who believed themselves the center of creation. The ‘most important’ species to exist in the infinite expanse of creation? Such hubris. Such bravado! It’s enough to humble even a High Dragon! And that’s not even the worst part!”

Her thoughts went to Jason, an unimpressive specimen of one of the rare few who could witness the nameless terrors of the cosmos unharmed. From outer horrors to deep sea monstrosities, his mind would endure it all. And that infuriated Cathay to no end.

“Gilah chose to love a human! Oh, but not just any human. She just had to pick someone who could survive peering into the unknown! A germ who doesn’t even understand the structure of creation!” A red aura encircled the tyrant’s body as her wings unfurled. Her anger rose to new heights as her worshippers, now once filled with the desire to worship her, found themselves on their backs in fear. Cathay clenched her teeth, seemingly forgetting about the human within her mouth. It still was not enough to break them from their depression.

“Of all the creatures in the cosmos, she just HAD to choose Jason! She could have chosen anyone! Literally anyone and it would have been a better choice than him! SHE COULD HAVE CHOSEN-”

Cathay calmed herself before the situation grew out of hand. Any more and there was no telling what sort of damage she could do. Likely she’d invoke her fellow rulers into action, and that was something she’d very much like to avoid.

This universe was still far too young for a conflict of such scale, and the Depths were too damaged to survive for long. For a good while, yes, but not eternally.   

Cathay’s worshippers looked up at their mistress, the titanic being trying so hard to contain her anger, her frustration. She seemed so ready to fall apart and break as though she were glass. She seemed so…vulnerable? One was even certain he noticed a single tear flow down her cheek, though the act was so fast he could have very well imagined it. All were too stunned to move, that was until Cathay’s eyes fell upon them now that she noticed they were no longer working.

A single glance of her molten yellow eyes and was all it took for their minds to be wiped clean of what they had just seen. It would do her no good if they saw her weak. Though they likely wouldn’t have planned any sort of recourse against her, the chance that they’d see her as anything other than the Ruler of the Deep Wastes wasn’t something she was keen on allowing. A second after they were ‘reset’ Cathay’s little works went back to pampering their master, their devotion apparent once more.

She didn’t want their sympathy. She didn’t need it. All she needed was for Jason and Gilah to listen to her. For them to understand that certain actions were prohibited for a reason. Cathay didn’t wish to bring harm to her dear friend’s mate. Truly, she didn’t. thought she held resentment for the human it became clear through their few talks that he was rather intelligent.

At least for an ape anyway.

“He just needs to understand the danger Gilah poses. Not just to mankind but the gods as well.”

Though they’ve dated for over a year now there was still a great deal Jason did not know of his girlfriend. Secrets that, per her request, were kept from him.

But if he knew who Gilah really was? If he learned what it was she could do if unleashed? Just what sort of light would he view her in?

Even now Cathay could see it. The countless corpses which once lined the walls of the depths. And in the center of it all, a mad warrior who cared only for sating their hunger for both meat and battle.

***

Omnipotence was a sham. Gilah’s existence proved that. In a life filled with beings capable of eradicating entire solar systems, sometimes with nothing more than a thought, Cathay could count on a single hand the number of beings she knew of that were resilient against the ‘all-powerful’.

Warriors and champions which, through means not even the mighty rulers understood, could resist, or even outright deny the power of even the most formidable of deities. From great dreamers who shape pieces of conception, whose unknowable thoughts formulate concepts and principles that define the patchwork of reality, to primeval creator gods that lord over the infinite, none were capable of doing away with those mighty warriors.

To them, size mattered not. Nor did power. To fight such a being at a scale that could swallow the stars was paramount to suicide, freely inviting into themselves a virus that would decimate them from within.

They forced the divine to fight on even grounds, with skills and strength over raw power. Many who relied only on their divinity would of course find themselves at a disadvantage. Others, those who understood the threat, learned to combat them through more traditional means, though they too would often fall. In time, one of said beings had even come to claim the throne of a ruler. A now long since deceased Tyrant of the Depths.

Cathay was there to live under the rule of the seemingly invincible tyrant, unable to so much as challenge him as that in itself would be a death sentence.  They were a careless kind, freely inviting chaos and discord to the once adaptable waves of the deep. Many were forced to adhere to this new order. Those who did not rightly perished. Weakness could not be allowed. Vulnerability was death. To grow old in such an environment was a privilege granted to so very few.

At times, Cathay considered herself fortunate that she even managed to survive it all. The Depths never received aid from the other realms or their rulers. No aid came from the Void, or the Heavens, or even the infernal pits. No creature dared challenge the old king. None save for one.

One single leviathan who at the time barely made it past his kneecaps. A worm whom many believed to be all bark and no bite. Cathay would be ashamed to admit it now, but at the time she was just one of the many who believed that this sole titan, a warrior and nothing more, would amount to nothing against the old king.

They were young, headstrong, and far too chaotic to think of some kind of plan of attack.

Oh, how wrong she was. The battle was not easy. In truth, at no other point in her life did Gilah ever come closer to death. She was wounded. Badly. She survived only thanks to Cathay’s intervention, well after the battle had long since ended. The old king was gone, his body in such disrepair that one would be amiss to think that they were once a living being. Gilah was hardly any better. She had nearly lost her head in the fight and was struggling to keep all her innards within her body. But not once did she ever show fear.

She smiled as she was nursed back to health, even while her organs were painfully pieced together and placed back into their appropriate positions. Even as the Depths devolved into further Chaos now that their king was gone. All who called the Dark Wastes their home wanted the throne. They wanted to rule, ascend their lot in life, and climb to heights greater than any god across creation.

 All save for the one who emptied it. Back then, Gilah never cared to rule. She never held any desire to be a leader or even a god like her kin. All she wanted to do was fight, and feast. To her, there was no greater joy in life than dining on the flesh of a worthy foe. An equal.  Cathay considered herself fortunate then that the young titan held her in high esteem thanks to the hand she played in her continued survival. In a way, she was indebted to her savior. A factor the future Ruler would use to great effect.

In the battle to claim the vacant throne, Gilah became Cathay’s sole and greatest warrior; her champion. They grew close. Closer than the future ruler might have liked.

Together, they decimated the countless contenders that rose against them. All the while, Cathay would learn of the nature that was Gilah. They were most like the old king, bloodlust, and battle given form. They denied the false power that was omnipotence, a claim only given to those deemed so powerful they couldn’t be anything but.

Cathay watched and learned the being that would be her friend. An oddity that defied the very nature of reality itself. An abomination who, if pushed too hard, would not be stopped until everything and everyone was dead.

Or, at least, that’s who she was in the past. Cathay was smart enough to acquire as much power as she needed before taking the throne of the Depths. At the time she rose to the position she was already unchallenged by other denizens of the deep. The only one who could pose a threat was her greatest ally. And she’s only grown stronger since, all the while Gilah had become soft.

Somewhere along the line, the brutal warrior who dethroned the previous king had lost their bloodlust. No longer did she possess the desire to fight. Though Gilah had grown considerably over the years, were the two to fight now, in a battle restricted to skill and strength alone, then Cathay wasn’t certain if her ancient friend could scratch her.

But there was still no doubt in Cathay’s mind that Gilah remained a monstrous threat to all that would call themselves a god. What’s more, her powers were growing as well. Enough to match that of the old king’s. Rearrangement of the stars despite being a sea-bound creature. Driving mortal minds to madness with her gaze. Signs of growth that, if not tempered, could put all they’ve worked for at risk.

Her actions as of late were more than cause for concern. They were worrying not just for Cathay but for the few other rulers who caught wind of the titan’s most recent blunder. Were things to continue as they are now then they’d most likely intervene Cathay could only protect the earth for so long, and by extension the depths.

It took a great deal of time and effort to get where she was now. She’d be damned if she’d let a human of all things bring everything to ruin.

***

A sharp pain upon Cathay’s gums pulled her away from her recollections and back to the present. She had forgotten all about the humans who littered her body, as well as the one inside her mouth.  Jason must have accidentally pierced something if Cathay felt it. He is, after all, using a spear made to harm the gods to clean her teeth.

Cathay tilted her head forward, spitting the human out onto her open palm before inspecting his handiwork. Her tongue worked its way across her teeth, each an ivory wall unbreakable by all but the most powerful of weapons. Nothing machine-made could hope to harm them. They worked wonders in reducing even the most primal of creatures into a fine chum.

It didn’t come as a massive surprise then that Cathay found much of her teeth to still require cleaning. But looking down at Jason it was clear that he was completely spent. Looking at him now only increased Cathay’s worries. No longer did she find herself enraged. How could she be over something so weak?

It still baffled Cathay as to why Gilah could even fall in love with something so small. Jason had no clue about the blood that was spilled in the Depths. He did not know its history or its struggles. Worst of all, he knew absolutely nothing of Gilah. Not her past, her regrets, her fears, or her worries. He only knew the gentle giant that she was now. This small, weak, pathetic human was oblivious to the god-slaying warrior she once was.

Cathay would crush him now if it meant being rid of a problem that had grown out of hand far too fast. But as much as she hated to admit it, the fate of the Depths hinged on his continued existence.

Because without him there was no telling just how far Gilah would fall. Without anything to anchor her, there’d be nothing to stop the carnage she’d create. In time she might even be able to best Cathay, just as she did her predecessor.

With more of a look of resignment than one of anger, she glanced down at the troublesome human. He wasn’t even close to paying for his blunder. Were it up to her then Cathay would have had him endure centuries worth of punishment. But it wasn’t. She had a duty towards her dear friend. As much of a danger as she was, Gilah also occupied a large portion of the Dark Tyrant’s heart.

It was a shame then that such feelings were not shared. She chose Jason. That was just something Cathay had to accept. 

“Not bad for a lesser creature like yourself.” Cathay lied. There was no real reason for her to do so other than the longer Jason spent in her mouth the more likely it was that’d she’d swallow him. He didn’t acknowledge her faux praise, however. Instead, he continued to sulk.

He was not blind to what he had done. If anything, Jason’s punishment did little in taking his mind away from those events.

“At least he understands the consequences” As good a result as any she supposed.

A sly grin formed on Cathay’s lips. She may not be able to torture her dear friend’s mate, but she sure could milk his depression.

Cathay gave her nails a look over, noting their now smooth appearance. She had to give her followers some praise, this was a rather decent job. Not bad at all. Though she couldn’t help but wonder just how much better they’d look with a fresh coat of paint. Her toes as well, it wasn’t often she found herself with legs and she was most certainly going to use them. She was thinking red. Or perhaps black. Green would be far too ‘natural’ for someone of her color.

The thought of putting the human who caused her such headaches through such a humiliating task was enough to bring some semblance of joy to the otherwise desolate ruler. She even scrunched her toes in anticipation of the event, knowingly crushing a few followers which she quickly restructured. She wouldn’t want Jason to back out just yet. Not when she had just decided what his next task will be.  

“Hey, Jason?” Cathay waited for the human to look up towards her, his eyes never betraying his poor mood. Though it was minimal she felt some pity towards Jason. He was smart for a human. Aware of dangers others were not. And though she wouldn't be caught dead admitting it, she enjoyed his company from time to time. An ear to be lent when she was at her wit's end. She resented him, yes, but she appreciated the stability he brought to Gilah outside of their recent mistake. He would learn from this. Of that the Tyrant was certain. That's not to say she would offer him a reprieve. As far as they were both concerned he was far from finished with his duties.

Still, Jason couldn’t help but chuckle slightly upon hearing her question.

“How are you at painting?” 

All around, the battleground of some lost planet burned endlessly. A singular heavenly city of mythical proportions that once covered this world in its entirety, now reduced to flaming ruins as this once glorious civilization met its bloody end. Billions of lives, silenced in a rampage they had no hope of surviving. Trillions more hid away, only to extend their meager lives for a few moments more. Nothing, no one, could hope to save them from extinction.

This world was doomed. Were the destruction which fractured the planet's crust not clear of this then the countless monolithic bodies which rested lifelessly upon the city were.

Dragons and demons; eldritch terrors and abominations, all could be counted among the numbers of the deceased. Cosmic forces which had spread terror for eternity; now torn apart by some beast. Their stomachs were torn clean open. Their innards were pulled free and feasted upon. Bones were snapped to get to the marrow inside before being consumed as well. Dozens upon dozens had fallen here. An army of the divine that should have been able to face the impossible.

A roar pierced through the sky and parted the clouds; a signal that another monstrously powerful being had fallen. A shadow fell over a portion of the city, large enough to cast several of the fallen in darkness. They fell to the earth with such force that the whole planet seemed to shake.   A pale beauty whose presence brought death wherever she traveled. Death to the stars, death to the space between them. She could even bring death to the air itself, riding a planet of the quality to create life. A magnificent power that was now useless as their own death was upon them.

A god. A true goddess of death who, with but a thought, could silence billions. Now they were defenseless, only moments away from the same fate she had delivered upon countless of souls.

Before they could rise, this goddess of death's head was struck with such force that it was by simple luck they had already passed before their skull caved in. An explosion of gore rained down upon the ruins, dousing the flames but replacing one disaster with another.

A wave of crimson that worked to wipe away a handful of lingering survivors by flooding whatever safe havens they had made for themselves. No prayers of theirs would be answered, not even those who prayed for death. All that would come would be further ruin.

Within the remainder of the goddess' head, a wild beast thrashed maddeningly, tearing away at chunks of gray matter and bone, occasionally taking bites to satiate their hunger. Their bloodlust.

A horrific beauty whose normally blur hair was now dyed red thanks to the dried blood of those she had slain. Wounds and scars littered the horror's toned body, but it bothered them little. Whatever pain they felt was minimal compared to the sheer joy they were experiencing. Their armor was shattered a hundred times over, and yet still this butcher continued to fight. Even as the battle expanded beyond several days and nights, they did not stop.

No, this terrible beauty would not cease in her rampage until all the forces who dared rally against her were crushed. No, worse than that. She wouldn't stop until their bodies were nothing more than mountains of gore from which she could dine on.

So it was that when the air surrounding the butcher grew thick she looked towards the sky. Dozens of adversaries yet remained. Monstrosities of the Depths. Soldiers of the Heavens and dwellers of the Underworlds. A force of now a dozen each from a different territory, yet all hear to end this rampage. They all looked upon her with a sense of hatred that could hardly be described even by their respective races. But behind all that hatred and bitter spite, not a single one among them was able to cease their fearful shaking.

The butcher leaped from what was once the head of a goddess of death before landing upon their chest. The soft flesh of the skin’s surface was tantalizing, even more so given the location. The beast's mouth watered at the sight of the feast before her. They’d rest in between the mounds of the lifeless goddess were it not for the forces which surrounded her. She fondled at the titanic breasts, enjoying how they molded to fit in her clawed hands. They felt so soft underneath the feet that served as a suitable replacement for her tail. Already, they've snuffed the life out of thousands.

The sensation of feeling the fragile bodies of this world's populace pop beneath her soles was indescribable. The ultimate ecstasy was to feel their puny hands push uselessly against even her smallest toe. They were so weak, so helpless, and it was her natural right to extinguish their lives. Just as it was her right to butcher those who rallied against her.

She couldn't resist. The beast tore at the skin before her so that she could get to the muscle beneath. They plunged their claws into the flesh, allowing them to get caked in blood before pulling them free.

The butcher licked in between her fingers and savored the iron taste. A flavor that was almost as enjoyable as the taste of victory. They could hardly believe that this is what they've missed out on for most of their life. The Depth's had its fill of war, it was far too quiet now for this butcher's liking. But the surface? The Heavens? The vast cosmos? There was so much fun to be had out there! The whole of creation was just begging to be slaughtered by her! Her time in the Dark Wastes was over. Now was the time to carve a bloody bath into the great beyond.

"Gilah, of the Depths! Your crimes are many, your sins unforgivable!" A symphony of voices rang across the planet's surface and beyond.

They shook the very foundation of the remnants of this planet as the figures before Gilah spoke with one voice, one mind. They all shared the same goal. Bringing about her death.

"You, monster, have slaughtered more than one of your station has allowed. Your actions bring ruin to the tapestry of creation and if left unchecked can bring devastation to its entirety. Before, you have been coddled and kept safe through the grace of the Ruler of the Depths. That no longer is the case. Your actions have forced the hands of her peers. Your sentence is erasure! The end of body, mind, and soul!"

There wasn't an ounce of worry on Gilah's face, even after being threatened in such a fashion. Had the Rulers wished to do so they would have erased her long ago.

No, the all-powerful tyrants of the cosmos were unable to erase Gilah; just as these remaining foes of hers were unable to kill her.

She licked her hands clean, only paying mind to her enemies once she was certain she had gotten rid of every last bit of godly ichor. Gilah’s gaze softened to an almost peaceful expression before a smile stretched across her face. Her serrated teeth were stained red from those she had devoured. Still, she hungered for more. Not just for their flesh but the desire to battle. She wanted everything her foes had to offer. Their wrath. Their fury.

She wanted all of it.

Gilah's body tensed and tightened, growing more defined, as her skin shifted into a darker color. Her normally pale skin and grey scales turned pitch black as, all around her body, Gilah's great many scars turned an incandescent blue. There were hundreds, if not thousands of scars from countless battles and scrapes with death.

Gilah's grin grew even wider, her magenta eyes glowing brighter while the slits that were her pupils only shrunk.

"Well?! Weren't you going to kill me?!" Gilah roared in defiance of those who had sentenced her to death. "LET'S GET ON WITH IT!!!"

They would not be the end of her. Rather, they'd just be more names added to the list of the millions she's already killed in her short life.

Gilah’s foes charged forward, each fully aware that this may be their last day alive. She returned the favor, roaring in a manner only a mad beast could. She lunged towards the remnants of this once mighty army, claws ready and eager to give this battle the finale it deserved.

"DON'T DIE TOO QUICKLY!!! MAKE ME WORK FOR MY MEAL!!!"

***

Gilah's eyes fluttered open as the memory of the ancient battle began to fade. Even now she could taste the blood of those she had killed. She could still feel the rush of pleasure as she watched the light leave their eyes. They were so volatile back then, so bestial. Gilah couldn't bear the thought that she was such a monster.

"Damn this curse." The leviathan clutched her head in pain. She hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in months now. Ever since she and Jason had returned from the surface, this had become the norm for her. In place of dreams and even nightmares, Gilah was forced to face her most gruesome of memories. Points in her life where she held the greatest regrets. This was Cathay's punishment for her. While her human lover was given manual labor, usually in the form of pampering the Ruler’s titanic body alongside those under her ‘care’, Gilah was left to wallow by herself. She was allowed to see no one save for either Jason or Cathay herself. She was not allowed the luxury of leaving the Depths’ lowest point, nor was she allowed to hunt for food. All the leviathan was allowed was the chance to rest, something she greatly dreaded each time her eyelids grew heavy.

But what more could she do other than sleep and lament her past actions? While there were a great many things the Ruler of the Depths could force Gilah to do, none could compare to having to face their demons. "At this point, I almost want to challenge Cathay to the right to leave, if even for a day. Anything would be better than these memories.”

Gilah rose from her rest, a massive crater she had formed herself. Aside from Cathay, she was the only other Depths' born beast who lived at the absolute lowest point. They had to find some means of offering Jason comfort, of course, but even with him around there was often nothing that would dare disturb them.

Unfortunately, that also meant there was nothing to distract her from her most recent memory. As was her punishment, Gilah was forced to relive her most despised memories. And her rampage upon what was once a beautiful world was perhaps her most loathed. A key moment in her life that contributed to sending her down a path where she suppressed her violent nature.

How could she be so cruel to have annihilated the civilization, a beautiful planet-wide kingdom? She brought their entire empire to ruin because of her bloodlust and her desire to draw out ever stronger foes. And those who came to challenge her only brought further destruction to what may have been salvageable in the end. But what did she do as she was beaten and gored? Did Gilah learn from her mistakes that day? Did she finally feel regret for all she had done? Had she finally come to her senses and understood that her actions had consequences?

No. All she did was laugh and laugh even as those who tried to stop her fell one after the other. She was too focused on the battle to give anything other than the blood split a thought. Even if her whole body was wracked with pain, she did not care at the time. It only would have truly hurt had she not been having so much damn fun.

And here she was, forced to endure such mental torture because she couldn’t learn from her mistakes. Had Gilah given it some more thought, had she better planned on how she could have had Jason visit the surface, then those people upon the pier would have never gazed upon her, nor her eyes, and fallen into madness. But there was no going back for them. They were stuck here, likely to die of old age as the world above forgets that they had ever existed.

There was nothing more painful than ruining something that was once beautiful. Whether that be a magnificent city or the meager lives of humans, it did not matter as to the scale of that which was lost. Size mattered not when something was taken and could not be replaced.

Gilah felt…tired. Not from exhaustion, she’s slept more than enough. She just felt drained. Lost and in desperate need of answers to questions she didn’t even know existed.  Were clarity a luxury that was allowed to her then she may have found a solution to her demons ages ago. But life, even for a creature as powerful as her, was never that simple. And she had so few to go to for advice that often she only had herself to rely on when pondering such things.

It wasn’t as though she could go to Cathay for advice, considering how she’s in something of a poor standing with the Ruler. Even then, Gilah wasn’t certain the Tyrant of the Deep Wastes could offer her sound advice that didn’t involve a massacre here or there. Really, there was only one person she felt she could go to that would lend an ear to hear her worries.

“Where’s Jason when I need him?” Gilah wondered aloud.

“Currently, trying to get comfortable.” The small human replied back, much to the leviathan’s surprise. She searched around carefully before finding them resting against her chest; her left breast to be more specific. Despite its absolutely massive scale compared to him, Jason held no sense of the danger he was in. Or perhaps he did but simply did not care, as he held complete trust in Gilah even as she slept.

“Did you know you mumble in your sleep? It’s actually kind of soothing.”

Gilah felt her cheeks run red. She had assumed her dear human was still working through the ordeal Cathay had placed upon him. With how large she normally was he should have at least been working for a few days. Perhaps even more if the Ruler wished to make things difficult for him, which more often than not she usually did.

“You couldn’t have finished this early.” Gilah reasoned, even as Jason continued to get comfortable, a task now made much easier as his gigantic lover remained still for his safety. Even if he has changed since living down in the Depths, Jason was still human. Yes, he could survive now without the need for oxygen, as well as endure the crushing pressure of the deep sea, but were Gilah to roll over on top of him there’d be no way for him to survive that. At least not for long. That was why when they slept she always had him at a safe distance.

“I got off for good behavior” Jason joked. “Actually, Cathay let me go earlier than normal after I finished giving her a pedicure. It was a lot of hard work and she probably thought I’d collapse if I kept on going.”

Looking at him closer now, Gilah saw that the small human was indeed exhausted. While he wasn’t skin and bone like the others Cathay had to serve her, she tried to feed them but they only cared for their work and not their health, it was clear that Jason was hardly able to get any sort of rest and keep up with Cathay’s demands. Gilah was certain the Ruler would allow him to at least rest, even if only for an hour or two. But it was plain to see that Jason was pushing himself well past his limits. Even the clothes she had fashioned for him, an incredibly difficult task given her size, were ruined due to the exertion he placed on himself.

His own addition to the punishment that already was a tall order for someone as small as himself. Understandably, Gilah was worried that her little lover was taking things too far but reframed from saying anything. Just like her, he blamed himself for what happened on the pier. Had he not mentioned his woes to her then she never would have had a reason to go top side. They both went against the commands of a tyrant and needed to pay for the crime.  

Though the events of the past still rattled Gilah’s mind, warning her to distance herself as far from Jason as she could, she could not stand to be alone at the moment. Gilah wanted, or rather she needed the company. She wanted to give him something to cover himself with, but there was nothing Jason could use to wrap up if he got too cold next to her. Normally, Gilah would place her finger softly upon the human’s body, his new durability at least being able to withstand that. Sometimes, even just the tip of her sharp nails was enough.

But because of her memories, she wasn’t willing to take any sort of risk. At least not at this moment.

“Come here instead.”

Gilah curved her body slightly until her hair fell and floated around the human, surrounding him in waves of blue brighter than the clearest of days. Jason could feel the temperature rise exponentially as a titanic pair of lips came to a stop by his side. He worried that Gilah would be uncomfortable, given the awkward position she was in. She didn’t seem all too bothered by it though.

“Rest on my cheek instead. I’ll be sure to keep you warm.”

Despite the comfort of his current position he couldn’t deny the allure of some much-desired heat. The Depths’ held some beauty were one able to find it, but nothing ever helped to do away with the unbearable cold that was all too common. And unlike Cathay or Gilah, he was unwilling to stay near a deep-sea vent just to heat up.  

Though not as soft as her breaths, even the scales upon Gilah’s cheek were comfortable when she allowed them to be so. And the warmth she provided was without compare. Before Jason knew it, he was feeling the lids of his eyes grow heavy.

“You poor thing, you must have been so tired.” Gilah wanted so badly to place Jason upon her lips and kiss away all his problems, all his pain. Fear prevented her from doing so. Images of ancient ruins flashed in her mind, each filled with countless of lives almost as small as her human lover. She’d brought them all to a tragic end and feared she could do the same to him.

On a whim she looked down to the lower half of her body, hoping to find the familiar sight of her tail. Instead, she found herself staring at a pair of legs. The very same which had once trampled upon the weak and defenseless with reckless abandon. They must have taken shape while she slept. An action that required no conscious effort on her part. She could have changed them back just as easily, had that been her desire anyway. This was perhaps the first time she’d seen them since her last trip on solid ground, more than a few centuries prior to meeting Jason.

Seeing them now, she had forgotten how shapely they were. Well defined. Powerful. Perfectly matched to fit the body of a warrior. That was what Gilah was, after all. No matter how hard she tried to hide or fight her nature, she knew who she was the moment she tore herself free from her mother’s womb. Gilah was a butcher. Perhaps the greatest butcher the Depths had ever seen. But if, even for a few years, she could pretend that she was anything but she’d gladly accept that. If she could at least be given that meager amount of time then she just knew she’d be able to cherish it. Now and forever, with someone she held very dearly to her heart.

“Jason? You awake?”

Though his movements were minor Gilah was successful in rousing the human. “Am now, love.”

She still had questions that desperately needed to be answered. For her own sake if anything. Reassurance that things could get better.

“Would…would you like to go somewhere when you wake up? We won’t leave the Depths, I just wanna show you something. Something I think you need to see.”

It was probably unfair to ask Jason anything while he was half asleep. But Gilah felt as though this were something that couldn’t wait.

“Yeah… We can go out. Anywhere you want to Gilah.”

She should just let him rest. He certainly needed it. Gilah didn’t know exactly what it was Cathay had those serving her do, only that it was far more than the human body should be able to take. Even an enhanced body like Jason’s had a limit. One that he clearly pushed past. It wasn’t her right to keep him awake to satiate any questions she might have.

“Do…you think I’m a monster?” and yet still she asked.

Jason sat upright, pushing himself away from Gilah’s cheek so that he could better see her. Even if his position only allowed for him to see just one of her magenta eyes it was still enough to fill his entire field of vision. Often her forgot how truly massive his girlfriend was. Yet not once did he ever feel as though he were in any sort of danger. Despite her size and her power, Gilah was so very gentle. In spite of her terrifying and ferocious appearance, she was perhaps the sweetest soul he knew.

He wasn’t a fool. Jason knew Gilah was dangerous. He saw it in her claws, on her teeth. In her eyes most of all. She was a predator. The most dangerous type there was. Gilah was feared across the Depths, for reasons the human mind could never even dream of. But even with all that looming overhead, Jason couldn’t help but see his Gilah as anything but a kind and gentle beauty. A soothing spirit anyone would be fortunate to know.

“Gilah…” she wasn’t even looking at Jason as he spoke. That didn’t stop him. “Gilah, you are incredible. What happened at the pier…that was more my fault than yours. If you’re going to blame anyone for that then blame me, okay?”

Finally, she looked down.

“Even if it’s only been a year, you’ve shown amazing restraint in how you’ve handled our relationship. Before meeting you, if anyone asked me how a relationship like this could have worked I wouldn’t be able to come up with a clear answer. Now, I can. And that’s because of you. I can’t even begin to imagine how I would have accommodated you were our roles reversed.  You aren’t a monster. I’ve never seen you as one nor will I ever. You’re my wonderful girlfriend, and nothing can change how I see you.”

Gilah said nothing. She didn’t know what it was she could even say. Jason was so very…foolish. That’s how best someone could describe his actions. He was acting so very foolish to put so much faith in someone like her. Her past aside, it wasn’t like she could exactly watch her weight were she to make a mistake. Being so much larger than a human, and even some of her own kind, there were more than a few ways Gilah could seriously harm or even outright kill Jason.

And even knowing that, knowing the danger she posed to everything around her, Jason still loved her. Were it not for the water that surrounded them Gilah would have certainly teared up. Instead, her eyes only glazed over as she thanked the fact that Jason wouldn’t see her cry.

Instead, he saw as she forced a smile. Soft and gentle, just as he believed her to be. With her index finger, she softly pressed the human back against her cheek, offering the closest thing she could to a hug. His most minor of movements forced a chuckle from between her lips.

Already she was beginning to feel a little better. “You have no idea badly I needed to hear that.” She wanted badly to give him a kiss. A real one and not the small pecks they’ve been forced to endure. But there was no way Jason would survive that thus she had to restrain herself. “Truly, thank you. You have such a mighty heart for someone so small.”

“And you feel so very human for someone so large” Jason replied as he got himself comfortable once more. “Whatever you’re going through Gilah, just know that I’m here whenever you need me. Now and forever.”

As he rested against the Leviathan once more, Jason believed he felt something rumbling from within her. Beginning in Gilah’s chest, the vibrations carried over to her throat, and subsequently Jason.  It was like she was purring. His whole body shook, but it wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, it was actually rather relaxing. Before he was aware of it his eyes were feeling heavy once more. Despite being stuck down in the Depths, being with Gilah was truly heavenly.

“Hey, Jason…”

“Yeah?”

“I love you~”

How could someone so sweet think of herself as a monster?

“Yeah. I love you too.” 

There was not a wide arrange of ways a Ruler such as Cathay could 'unwind' as mankind would put it. When she assumed the throne of Lord of the Depths, not only did she acquire the power befitting such a title but also the responsibilities that came with it. Responsibilities that her predecessor shamefully tarnished. The previous lord, his name stricken from the cosmos, was more a beast than he was a king. He valued strength and only listened to those who shared his views. Such pride was ultimately his downfall. His killer was someone he had grossly underestimated, and that cost the tyrant his life.

But even if it was Gilah who delivered the killing blow that did not take away from Cathay's right to rule.

Even if she took the throne in the leviathan's stead, Gilah having no desire to rule, Cathay was plenty powerful by the time she ascended.  Though she had not shared her dear ally’s nature as a natural predator of the divine, the corpses she made were more than enough to earn her a widely feared reputation. She was a butcher even before the Depth's most feared one was born.

When she spoke, creatures obeyed. From the monstrosities of the Depths to the mind-breaking horrors found at the furthest corners of space. There was nothing that dared question her; not before she became a Ruler and even less so after. Recent events, however, had begun to test her patience. Gilah and Jason aside, the advent of humans mating with creatures far beyond their power has been going on longer than she would have liked.

It was simple at first and easily managed without any direct intervention. One such incident involved a human sailor who had managed to earn the favor of a young leviathan. Far from the beast that their mother was, yet still more than enough to maim even the strongest ape. Instead of disposing of the primate, they let him live his life on some island hidden in the Pacific. Already, that was problematic for their kind. Worse still was when Cathay learned that the young leviathan had become smitten.

That alone should have been cause enough for Cathay to exterminate all three, but thanks to some sway from an adviser in the Atlantic region of Earth's ocean they were allowed to live.

Cathay had hoped that was the end of the end, but no. Not just the Leviathans in the Pacific, not just her closest ally in the Depths, but cosmic destroyers as well. Beings who weren't even under her command yet still knew well not to tempt her ire. And yet in some no-name town found in the middle of nowhere, one such destroyer had chosen a human as their mate. It was getting to the point that Cathay had considered, on more than one occasion, hunting down any who still coveted a human lover and taking care of the issue before it got out of hand.

A single, simple thought would be all it took to eradicate the issue. A genocide that stretched from the sea and expanded into the stars. But then she'd be under the eyes of her fellow Rulers. And then she'd have a whole new set of issues to contend with.

It was all so frustrating. At her fingertips, Cathay had enough power to eradicate life on a scale undreamt of. Of the tyrants that existed in creation she was one of the most powerful, and yet when she wished to exercise her power to do away with an ever-growing headache, instead she was forced to cull her irritation. It had forced her hand in searching for.... alternative methods to calm her nerves. While she couldn't do away with those who gave her a never-ending stream of issues, there were still ways even one such as her could relax.

A small walk across the surface of a planet that's been a thorn in her side for quite some time. Then again, to refer to it as a thorn would be undeserved kindness. It was more akin to an annoyance; an itch she’s allowed to persist. That was a far more apt comparison.

A civilization thousands of generations more advanced than mankind, living upon a planet hundreds of times the size of Earth. They were one of the few races who have managed to find an opening in Cathay's domain and had even succeeded in killing a few beasts from the Depths. Nothing too serious, however. Whelps, sea pups, and nothing more. But even the death of those gnats was enough to make them a proud and arrogant race.

Cathay's favorite, if she were being honest. The realization of trillions, as they came to understand their place in the universe, was always a delicious treat.

Her arrival was sudden, likened to a flash of lightning that cracked open the crust of the planet. She didn't even need to use an opening into the Depths to arrive. A simple thought and she was already there, in a form far larger than she may have needed for experimentation like this. Cathay's avatars ranged wildly in size, with some being nearly as small as the average human while others towered over the tallest of skyscrapers. Rare were the instances where they came close to matching her natural size. A form that was so large It proved more than enough to blanket hundreds of billions in her shadow.

The form she possessed now was greater than even that and were it not for her control over reality the planet would have surely perished a dozen times over after only a few soft steps.

Or at least they were soft to her. To the planet’s population, they must have been nature-defying rumbles that shook the world to its core. And this was still far from Cathay exerting any sort of effort on her power. At most, turning her normally serpentine lower half into a pair of humanesque legs was more difficult than dealing with creatures that could hardly be registered as insects to her. In fact, everything about this form of hers was made to appear pleasing to the eyes, even if a wide majority of the population was currently tearing theirs out.

Cathay’s normally green skin was restructured to give it a more pale and silvery shine. Still, she allowed her old patches of green to sneak through in the way of scales that covered her arms. Her tentacled, and at times seemingly living hair, now resembled long locks of emerald, green. Wings that once heralded the doom of any who earned her ire had been shrunken down to a more manageable level at rested comfortably around her shoulders, draping over them like a cape. Lastly, the tyrant’s once rather bare body had been covered with a finely crafted dress. One that matched her restructured hair and was littered with golden trinkets. The one thing not of her design was the manicured nails of her fingers and toes, both painted to match her hair and dress.

They were handled personally, by one of the sources of her headaches. Still, Jason had done a fairly acceptable job for an ape. It was enough for her to alter her form to best suit their kept state.

It all worked to give Cathay a terrifying beauty that was outshined only by the obscene power she demonstrated. Across the planet, she basked in the lovely screams that filled her ears with euphoria. It brought back memories of old when such screams were common in her younger days. When she was actually feared not just by mortal kind but by those who grasped onto their divinity for power. Allowing herself this reprieve, from what was very well centuries of disobedience, was worth any risk that may come her way. 

The dark goddess raised her foot over a continent, the shadow she cast from the simple act more than enough to envelope all beneath her in a darkness so profound it almost hid away the horror above. But even if her face was obscured, both by her sole and breasts, every single one of the planet’s population could see expression. Even those blinded by their actions to free themselves of their sight were witness to her lips curling upward and her fiery eyes narrowing. Cathay was enjoying every moment of this. Their screams, their pleas, and praises. All they did was cry for mercy.

Mercy that would never come as, even now, they were only viewed as toys. No, less than that. Momentary distractions from the Ruler’s sacred duties. On a whim, Cathay lowered her big toe over so softly on what was most likely a city. Grander than many within the cosmos, larger too, yet still no more than a speck that was quickly crossed off the face of the world. Though the motion of her foot couldn’t have amounted to little more than a love tap, the force with which the tyrant placed the extremity upon the city was still enough to crush it in its entirety. Hundreds of millions, in that one city, were silenced in an instant.

A chill ran up Cathay’s spine. A blush fell on the titan’s cheeks as the world plummeted into silence, news came in about the sudden eradication of the city. The mad, terrified, and even the previously doubtful all tried to process what it was that just happened. Some tried to find a reason for what just happened. Others fled to family members or friends, wishing to spend their last day together. The most manic among the numbers made things worse for those around them, believing the impossible force before their eyes required sacrifice so that they may not bring destruction to the beautiful world they called home.

Worthless, every single one of them. All that mattered of them was the breaking of their spirits and bodies.

“Perhaps I made myself too big?” The dark goddess wondered. “I could hardly feel their bodies give.” She made a mental note to ensure that she felt the next step she took.

Despite their hopeless situation, some on the surface still fought back. Though the minds of trillions broke at the sight of the Tyrant, with only a few million worldwide maintaining control of their senses, there were still plenty who believed resistance against the impossible was the answer to their plight. As if by fighting back they’d spare themselves the coming genocide.

Once again, worthless. But what harm was there in playing along with such delusions? So it was that when the planet did fight back, Cathay did nothing to prevent it.

They fired everything in some vain attempt to repel the all-powerful deity. It didn’t matter the absurdity behind their motives, or their delusion that, by some chance, there’d be a tomorrow for them. They fought for the fate of their world. A fate that, by all accounts, was no longer in their hands. By way of such logic, those who thought to fight back were perhaps more insane than those who plucked out their teeth and dug into their scalps.  

Cathay could feel the heat of thousands of powerful weapons, all firing into the heel of her foot. Armaments of such power that they humbled even the most advanced of mankind’s plans. From rays of light designed to extinguish stars to mechanical, god-slaying weapons, once a secret and now revealed, they unleashed everything they had in the hopes of turning away the force that had chosen their world for genocide. Power fit to conquer solar systems harmlessly collided against the bottom of Cathay’s lower foot. Light flooded the vision of any unfortunate enough to still see. To the utter horror of those who thought to strike back against the inevitable, the light remained. Almost as though the coalescence of energies above had been forced to a standstill. One moment passed, followed by another, as second by second the light above grew not just dimmer, but smaller as well.

The light meant to save them condensed, becoming almost solid as an outside power molded the properties of the countless explosions into a singular force that suited a new purpose. With a snap of her fingers, Cathay urged the light upward, and with it any light that was still upon the planet. Color faded away, leaving behind only gray, black, and white, as the source of the world’s illumination continued to climb beyond their reach.

“You really thought a small little flicker was worth my time?” Cathay’s voice rang out in the mind of those she tormented, sounding almost disappointed by their paltry attempt at resistance. It was betrayed by her still-growing smile and the realization that she knew they could never harm her sunk it. The goddess brought her heel down, snuffing out the remainder of the continent that had a front-row view of the destruction she brought. This time, she felt every individual pop of those she killed. Her wings unfurled and fluttered at the sensation. For a brief moment, the veins within glowed red to match her eyes and blushing cheeks.

Ecstasy. This was pure ecstasy. Destruction was the nature of many born naturally within the Depths. From the smallest monstrosity to a supreme being like herself, few lacked a desire for annihilation. Even in her reign, far more restrained than that of the previous lord, Cathay did not deny her people their thirst for calamity, nor did she deny herself the taste of carnage. Though she was more contained when compared to her kin, she was still a natural born of the Deep Wastes. Just as Gilah was. Just as a thousand other horrors she knew were. There was no escaping it. In the end, they could only accept their nature. Only then would they be able to find some semblance of peace in their conflict-heavy life.

Cathay ground her foot into the continent a few more times to ensure none survived, as unlikely as it may have been. A few more pops and a chill up her spine meant that she had made the right call.

Lifting her foot, the goddess viewed her handiwork with glee. What once was a collection of marvelous cities, a small piece of civilization when compared to the titanic planet, was now nothing more than a wasteland devoid of any sort of life. No silence followed this time. Instead, panic became even more rampant as all over the world, leaders of these advanced countries took further action against the tyrant. She could hear the commands being given. When the firepower of a collection of cities wasn’t enough, now the entire globe would fire against her. 

“You know nothing you do will work, right?” Her voice rang out with reckless abandon, destroying ear drums and glass structures alike. Still, the population that managed to claw onto their sanity did not listen. So stubborn. So proud. Really, Cathay was doing the cosmos a favor in wiping them out. If anything, a destroyer would have come along and done away with them in time. Or perhaps even a high dragon who felt insulted by their presence and thought it best to turn their world into glass and fashion the remains into some accessories.

“Actually…. that doesn’t sound half bad.” Looking at the jewelry upon her dress now, Cathay wondered what the planet might look like as a bracelet, or perhaps an earring. Maybe even an anklet. “Oh, or a piercing for my tongue!” The thought of subjecting the world to an eternity of her salivating maw was almost too good to pass up. But no, it’d be none of that. She came out with the intention of obliteration, and so obliteration was what would be delivered.

Though, the use of her mouth did give rise to an idea.

Cathay stretched her hand outwards, immediately followed by entire portions of the ground being torn off and rising into the air. Whole swathes of land from every corner of the globe came to a halt before coming together into the palm of the tyrant’s hand. They collided and condensed, smoothing over as the structure coming together took on a spherical form. Patches of metal, plant life, and even sea water made up the structure’s mass, before finally it was completed to barely resemble the planet Cathay was on. Not her best work, but the technological advancement of the species here had taken away much of the world’s natural resources. It did little to affect the purpose of the object, which she felt held comfortably between her fingers. But she always preferred a more ‘natural’ appearance to her creations.

Still, it would do just fine for what she had planned.

Once more, she beckoned the light that once belonged to this world towards her, having it rest beside the structure she had crafted. It shined brightly over the faux planet, acting as a source of warmth and comfort that was denied to the denizens forced to watch the display of power. And just as swiftly as it arrived was it also extinguished once Cathay clamped her teeth around the light’s surface. As befitting its strange makeup, the light didn’t give right away almost as if it had a surface that kept it protected from the assault of the titanic teeth. But the tyrant’s goal wasn’t destruction for the light she so carefully crafted. Instead, she rolled it in between her teeth before wrapping her tongue around its width. The light sizzled against the pink muscle before getting dragged within the waiting maw.

When it vanished, so did the remainder of the colorless world. Whatever light came was through the red glow of the Ruler’s wings and eyes. They shined brighter than any star and gave way to a horror greater than words allowed. The light that was dragged past Cathay’s lips was taken even deeper with an audible gulp. That was hardly worthy of concern now, however, as beyond the planet’s atmosphere there was…nothing.

There was no sky or colorless stars, no sun, or clouds; instead, there was only endless darkness. A vast expanse of oblivion that stared back quite literally. Cathay’s wings unfurled further, and with it came eyes within the void, blood red and large enough to fit the globe in their iris. Cathay was extremely glad to have taken this time for herself. Goodness knows she’s earned it. Her mood had improved considerably; to such a point that she deemed it fine to show these lucky inhabitants of this doomed world a neat trick of hers.

“Now, you’re going to want to pay close attention to this next part,” Cathay instructed. There were quite a few methods with which she could have ended things. She could have grown large and crushed the planet between her fingers or grown larger still and wipe out the whole system with a simple breath. “Because you won’t get a second chance to~.”

She could have conjured herself a weapon and plunged it into the world’s core, letting nature take care of the rest.

Instead, Cathay wished to indulge herself further, and this particular method was perhaps one of her favorites.

The dark goddess’s snake-like tongue breached her lips once more, wrapping around the faux planet. They were salivating even more than before, lubricating the structure and somehow with it the planet itself. From the void came drops of what could only be saliva from the dark goddess, reality upended all so that she may enjoy this method of execution to its fullest. Cathay couldn’t recall the last time she did this and only knew that she had resorted to this out of anger rather than desire, to exterminate one of her own. A lesser ruler who had overstepped their boundaries.

Using this sliver of creation, which was of her design, in this sort of manner was far more pleasurable. She bit into the structure, and when it cracked so too did the world. When her canines tore into her creation they dug into the planet as well, creating craters of unfathomable proportions. Still, she allowed the planet to retain its shape even after she tore off a sizeable chunk of its surface. It was like biting into a sweet piece of candy.

Upon her tongue, she could feel the writhing of the hundreds of billions she had just condemned. Not their bodies, those were fed to the darkness around her. What she could taste was their souls, their beings. All that they ever were and could have been had she never arrived. It was an indescribable feeling. The ultimate flavor. It was almost enough to make her want to take things a step further. To force this construction, and by extension the world, in between her legs. To drown them in a flood of her essence. One fit to dwarf those known by mankind in their own ancient texts.

But that would have to wait. There was a special planet, the source of all her issues, that she was saving for just such an occasion. So she bit into the construct once more, bringing further ruin in her wake. All the while she envisioned another world between her teeth. One far more deserving of this sort of calamity than this soon-to-be-forgotten civilization. The more she imagined it the less control she had over the planet she tormented, its form coming apart as she pictured Earth in its place. All the while, her lips continued to curl upwards into a devilish smile.

Her reprieve today had given her time to think. Too long had she been lax in her judgment on those who go against her orders. Too often had humans like Jason grown bold in their actions towards beings infinitely their greater. If anything else went against her commands, if either Gilah or Jason decided to go against her wishes, then there wouldn’t just be hell to pay.

Cathay would personally wipe out not just Earth but any being who had chosen a human as their mate

Maybe then she’d finally earn herself the respect she so rightfully deserved.

***

The sound of bones snapping tore Jason away from his slumber. He frantically searched his surroundings, trying desperately to see where he was. Instead, he only found himself in pitch-black darkness, with the only source of light he could see being a faint blue glow from both above and below. He tried to stand, only to find the ground he stood upon was soft and rather warm. What’s more, there was a rumble from within, rhythmic like a pattern. A beating of sorts. It was rather soothing, but he had already gotten enough sleep.

Jason believed he had grown used to the darkness. Down in the Depths, there was hardly any source of light with which one could use. He had grown accustomed to bioluminescence, and when that wasn’t in abundance he’d have to rely on his own adjusting eyesight. Yet, in his current location, he found himself unable to rely on either. Just where was he that disallowed the use of one’s vision?

Above him, the crunching resumed, even more, monstrous than before. Waves of strange blue liquids fell past him, so bright that it stood out even here. Along with the strange substance were what he could only assume to be chunks of meat. They carried the scent of iron despite their color, along with what may have been sulfur. A strange combination, yet one that gave him an idea as to what was happening. It didn’t take a genius to connect the dots and looking up he felt relief flood his body.

 Above him, Gilah helped herself to what remained of some poor wretch who was unfortunate enough to cross her path. A beast that would have just as quickly made a meal of him. Instead, it was the one dined upon. The leviathan’s powerful jaws went to work in tearing the beast apart with horrifying ease, its bright blue blood staining her darkened chin. Due to the lack of light, Gilah was forced to alter her form, turning her normally pale skin the same black Jason had seen when she rearranged some stars for him. Thinking back prior, it became clear the sources of light he had seen were her hair, as well as scars that normally went hidden. In this form, however, they were presented for all to see.

Jason could not deny that there was a certain ‘allure’ to them. While Gilah didn’t much care for showing them and even preferred to keep them hidden from her little love when she could, he couldn’t deny that there was a strange beauty to them. Each one was a trophy, a reminder, of the strength she possessed, and he had no clue as to why she wished to conceal them.

Hundreds of gallons of bioluminescent blood continued to flow before the human, like some great, macabre waterfall, before finally, it ceased. An echoing gulp signaled the end of the leviathan’s meal, and her focus slowly turned toward Jason. Moments of silence followed, with Gilah’s bright, beautiful eyes meeting the human’s, as a shade of blue began to take over her cheeks.

“So…you enjoy your meal?”

The titan’s response was immediate, with both her hands coming to conceal her gore-filled mouth. Her sudden movements were such that Jason was forced to grab ahold of a strand of Gilah’s hair and position it so that he could firmly hold on. Desperately, the leviathan tried to wipe away the bright blue blood from her lips, only to further spread it across her face. Because of her skin’s current pigmentation, any imperfection she created was all the more visible. There was no hiding what she had done from her dear human.

When finally she understood the effort was pointless, the Titaness sulked. “How much of that did you see?”

“Just the end,” Jason said with a chuckle. “You know if you were hungry you could have told me. I’m sure I could have cooked something you’d like.”

A clear joke. Though Gilah wasn’t foreign to the concept of cooking, having even shown Jason a few dishes she liked to experiment with using ingredients found only in the depths, she much preferred the taste of raw meat. Though being so large meant that when hunger did hit, she’d need a large abundance of food, and there was just no way Jason could cook a meal fit for someone of her size and appetite. Still, even if it was meant to be a joke, Gilah couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

Her and Jason, enjoying a meal together. An actual meal, not her cutting the flesh off of some eldritch monstrosity, hoping the taste is to his liking. One where she was around his size, able to be spoon fed, or spoon feed him in turn. The thought alone was enough to turn the shade of blue upon her cheek even deeper. Unfortunately, it was only a passing thought as the longer Gilah looked upon Jason the more she realized that, if her nature continued to hinder such a future, it would only ever be a dream. What happened on the surface, what happened to the people on the pier, was all too clear of a reminder of the danger she posed. Not just to mankind as a whole, not just to the cosmos, but to her dear human as well.

Were she ever to harm Jason, physically or otherwise, then there’d be no going back for her. She’d lose her anchor, the one thing keeping her from returning to her old ways. It was already difficult, as is, to keep herself under control and so far only the thought of keeping her love safe was the key to her restraint. Gilah needed him, in more ways than he could imagine. One day, she hoped to tell him just how important he was to her.

“So, where are we exactly?” the human finally asked, now noticing that his titanic lover had her thoughts elsewhere. Though his vision was still poor here, and the only thing he could see were the blue lights emanating off of his girlfriend, Jason had the suspicion that they were being watched. It was unnerving, and he only remained to stay as calm as he was thanks to being so close to Gilah.

“It feels dry here,” he added. They were out of water, and not a lick of moisture could be felt in the air, though Jason found that he could breathe just fine. “Are we somewhere on the surface? You know Cath will kill us both if we are, right?”

“We aren’t on the surface,” the leviathan assured.  “We’re still in the Depths. We’re just…a bit further away from any place you may know. Really, I was hoping you’d stay asleep for the entire walk. I even put a spell on you to make sure you slept soundly.”

“That why you thought you could get away with a quick meal?”  the human remarked, earning a small chuckle from his significant other.

“I’ve been walking for some time. Think I earned myself a little snack.”

If that’s what she considered a snack, then Jason shuddered to see what she’d call a meal. “Wait, you said walking? Does that mean…” the human looked down from his perch, past Gilah’s generous chest, and towards a pair of towering and athletic legs. He could just barely see the outline of them, along with their scars. What caught his attention, however, were the tight shorts that Gilah was wearing. those certainly weren’t part of any type of fashion seen in the Depths, most creatures preferring to go bare. In fact, she may have been one of the few who actually wore any sort of cloth.

 Gilah caught him looking, a new, prideful smile, crossing her lips. “Like what you se-”

“Hey, is that a tail?”

The smile vanished when she realized that Jason was pointing towards a stub on her tailbone, the remnants of her tail. She was hoping he’d pay attention to other aspects of her body rather than that. In truth, she took the time to find something that fit around her legs just so that he WOULDN’T notice it.

“Really? I got legs as tall as skyscrapers and yet that’s what you’re focusing on?”

“I can’t help it. It just looks so adorable.”

Though it was embarrassing, Gilah still found enjoyment in Jason’s amusement. “Yes, it’s a tail. I’m not as good at changing my body like Cathay so I couldn’t get rid of the stub. But really, is there nothing else you wanna notice?” for further emphasis, Gilah placed a hand on her thigh as she flexed her leg. “Nothing at all?”

It had been centuries since she last used her legs. At the very least she wanted to hear some sort of compliments.

Jason was quick to realize this, whistling as she lifted her leg slightly. The leviathan’s body was athletic enough to put any human to shame, and there was no doubt in his mind that Gilah could lift her leg well past her head. He even clapped his hands a few times as she continued to lift her leg, up until Jason could see her toes.

“Very impressive dear. You are the envy of the Depths.”

Gilah dropped her leg before bowing, all the while making sure Jason was properly secured. “Why thank you very much.”

The two shared a laugh before Gilah fell silent once more, trying to retain her smile. Though she was glad to have her beloved awake she had also hoped he would have stayed asleep. Though she was powerful, spells weren’t always her strongest suit. That was perhaps why Jason had woken up earlier than anticipated. Things would have been so much easier had he remained unconscious.

“You still didn’t answer my question,” Jason recalled. Though he enjoyed the ‘show’ presented to him, as well as the laughs that came with it, he still had no clue as to where the two of them were heading. “If this is still in the Depths, then how come it feels so dry? Where are we exactly?”

Questions Gilah wished she could answer straight away, but words could only explain so much of what the leviathan wished to show rather than tell. There were only so many words in the human language which could explain all that she’s done, and even then that’d never amount to half of the atrocities she’s committed. No, if Gilah wanted a chance at moving forward then she needed to show Jason who exactly she was.

“Before, when I asked you if you thought I was a monster, I’m sorry. It was unfair of me to put you in that spot without any sort of prior knowledge.” Had he known who she was truly, then perhaps Jason would have changed the way he saw her. “So, I wanna try again. But this time I want you to learn more about…me; about who I am.”

The pair came to a stop and in the distance, great pillars of light could be seen. They shot upward, reaching higher than they had any right to.  They lined what must have been walls, creating a sort of dome. And though the light was still faint, Jason would have sworn that he saw things moving in the dark.

“I already told you, you’re not a monster.” Jason rebuked. If this was an attempt to make him rethink his previous answer then he’d have none of it. He already spoke his mind, there was no changing that.

Even then, the leviathan was dead set. “Well…we’ll just have to see if you still think the same in a bit.”

Gilah bent down, forcing Jason to hold on tighter to her strand of hair. Through the darkness she could see perfectly what it was she was reaching for. Untold tons of metal clanged together as the titaness picked what looked to be a chain up. She held it close, looking upon the metal links as old memories flooded her mind once more. To be hounded by them as she slept was one thing, but to see them even now was harrowing as well. Gilah wished to lie to herself and say that she could just walk away right now and forget this part of her life, but she knew she couldn’t.

Jason needed to see this. He needed to understand that there were risks to being close to someone like her.

With a heavy heart, she pulled at the great chain with all the might she could muster. Even centuries later, they still held up well, though she had long since outgrown them. As she tugged at them the pillars of light grew brighter and brighter, flooding the area with light, and it didn’t end there. The light traveled down the way they had come, now revealed to be a cavern so large it seemed to dwarf even Cathay’s avatars. From within, the pair could hear the wails of beasts, far more than just the beast Gilah had devoured.

“Are we…supposed to be here?” Jason was growing nervous, not just for his safety but for Gilah’s as well. She was strong, sure, but what they had heard sounded like an army of horrors.

Yet the leviathan remained undaunted and focused on her task. “If they know what’s good for them, they’ll remain where they are. Besides, it’s the ones up ahead you should be worried about.”

“The ones up ahead? What are you…HEY WAIT!” Before Jason knew what was happening, Gilah’s hand enveloped him. She didn’t apply any pressure and exercised extreme caution in handling the human. She held him close to her chest as she continued to pull at the chain, fully knowing that once it broke Jason would be in danger if he remained on her shoulder. Eventually, the chain did give way, snapping in the distance as the line went slack.

As it did, light flooded the area in its entirety, finally revealing what had been laid to rest, as well as the horrors which had waited in the dark. Beasts of various sizes and appearances, with some being less than half of Gilah’s height and others that towered over her. Some possessed wings, while others instead had extra limbs, heads, or tails. They all shared an ominous blue glow that seemed to emanate from within their bodies and only served to grow brighter once something had entered their territory.

Jason was fear-stricken. There must have been dozens of terrors here, maybe even more. But what terrified the small human most wasn’t the beasts themselves but rather what it was they dined on. Ancient flesh and bones of creatures far larger than even them acted as the walls of this massive chamber. Monsters that had been mutilated long before any horror present had arrived. It was unbelievable to think of the scale of some of them, and yet their corpses lined the walls, along with the bodies of a hundred others. The greatest among those numbers, however, lay at the very center of everything. A titan even among titans, its body ripped in half.

Great chains tore into its ancient flesh, the very same that Gilah had broken. This place almost seemed like a tomb, but the chains gave it a feeling more befitting a prison.

“Gilah, where did you bring me?” It felt like everything in this room was staring at him. All but the one who could actually keep him safe.

There was no way in which she could sugarcoat things. Gilah knew the risks that came with bringing Jason here. Beasts aside, this wasn’t really the most pleasant of locations to be in. But it was one she was unfortunately familiar with. These beasts, both those that eyed her lover and those in the caverns, were nothing more than Guards. Praetorians tasked with keeping in check their one prisoner. Now, after centuries since their departure, that very same individual had returned.

If they were able to, they’d ensure she never leave a second time.

Gilah seemed defeated in a way. Her hand shook as she felt a wave of fear wash over her. To be here again, to be around all that she had killed, brought ancient urges that she had once tried to cull. Even centuries old, the flesh strewn about here was enough to make her mouth water. She fought against any primal urge though, not wishing to act out on instinct. Not while Jason was close by. But still, the urge to dine on what was present was rising. It would take much to fight against it and looking down at her beloved it became clear that her internal struggle was obvious.

She forced a smile, trying her hardest to ease any worries Jason might be having. Despite her efforts, Gilah could see that he was terrified, though whether it was of her or the beasts around them she could not say. Even just looking at him was dangerous. He was so small, so vulnerable, that were she to waver in her struggle for even a moment it would, not could, cost him his life.

But he needed to see this, so that when she asked him next if he thought she was a monster there’d be no doubt of his response. Gilah wanted to know, more than anything, if he would accept her even then.

“This…is my home,” She told him. “And my prison”

If the worst was bound to happen then she’d do what would need to be done.  

The silence. The terrible, awful silence. Gilah had steeled herself against many things before; threats godly or hellish in nature. But she didn't know how to combat the silence that hung heavily in the air between her and her human mate. She'd strike at it were she able. Anything would be preferred over the unbearable quiet that hung heavily in the air. A growing tension of unease that should have been put to rest long before growing cumbersome. Now here she was, struggling to even speak.

Gilah found a perch with which Jason could sit and still meet her at an eye-to-eye level. Granted, she needed to sit cross-legged for them to really meet shoulder to sight but it was better than nothing. Just another one of the difficulties faced with being with one so much smaller, so much more fragile, than yourself. Even with that disparity in scale, it was difficult for Gilah to maintain eye contact.

She shifted back and forth uncomfortably, shaking the corpse-strewn chambers of the ancient prisons’ walls. Debris fell from the ceiling, peppering Gilah and threatening to fall upon Jason. The leviathan raised a hand in his defense, shielding her beloved human from harm by falling stone or steel. It was simpler to protect him from this rather than the beasts that waited outside the chamber.

Nightmarishly powerful creatures, Depth-Borne like Gilah, whose sole purpose in life was to create carnage and chaos wherever they were. Much like herself, in her younger days. Thankfully, they stayed their hands, for now, knowing well the wrath that would come if they incited Gilah's fury.

There was interest though in her human companion. A weakness to exploit had they the chance. That said, Gilah would not give them the opportunity so long as she breathed. Even here, in this horrid place, she would keep Jason safe.

That did not change the fact that Gilah still lamented bringing her beloved here. There were many places where a creature as small and weak as Jason would not survive, and this ancient prison was at the top of that list. But he deserved to know who it was he was sharing an amorous relationship with. Though they had known each other for a short while, a year in earth terms is next to nothing upon the cosmic scale, Jason had done so much for her.

Though his size may not show it, Gilah saw her human lover as a sort of anchor. A protector of that which may be her greatest weakness; her heart. Kindness, compassion, security. Traits that were considered a rarity among those who called the Depths their home. Only a rare few are born with such characteristics, and even then their numbers are so few that one could deny their existence without difficulty.

Jason offered Gilah warmth to what was once a cold and cruel existence. That is why she needed to do this. It was why she needed to show him who she truly was. Her beloved deserved that much, to know that who was once called the Butcher of the Depths. Even if it was something that could be avoided, Gilah would not allow it to be so.

These walls, the bodies that lined them, and the chains that held it all in place, all carried a story that needed to be shared. Only then would Jason begin to understand her 'nature'. The destruction she caused, like that which she invited upon the civilians at the pier. No matter how hard she tried to contain it, no matter the precautions she made to fight it, this was just who she was.

But even after having shamefully accepted that truth of nature to be fact, this was a battle that continuously tested Gilah's fortitude and willingness to come clean of everything.

Every time she felt ready to speak, her voice caught in her throat. Her hands could not stop shaking, even as Gilah brought her hands to her thighs and dug her nails into her flesh, she could not cease their shivering. Fear, plain and simple. And rightfully expected. After all, how does one even begin to explain all the atrocities she's committed?

Every life she's taken, every planet she's burned. How could Gilah hope to possibly describe the once beautiful creations of various gods that she's ruined? Creations that would never grace the cosmos again, as the masterful crafters who had forged such beautiful artistry had been slaughtered by her own two hands.

The truth of the matter was that there was no easy way for things to be said, and in her frustration, Gilah brought her fists down upon the floor like some toddler in a fit of annoyance and anger. The force behind her strength proved enough to shake the entire chamber a dozen times greater than it had before. Thankfully, Jason's perch proved sturdy in its foundation, and by pure chance did any falling Debris miss his body. It wasn't often when Gilah demonstrated recklessness in showcasing her physical might and judging by the strength displayed it was no wonder once one viewed the state of her former 'home'. A picture was beginning to form, and Jason did not like what he saw.

Jason wasn't dense of mind. Already, he was beginning to piece together why he was brought here and why his titanic lover was so hesitant to speak. From the ancient destruction and desecration of potentially hundreds of nightmarish horrors, Jason was beginning to see Gilah in a new and far more terrifying light. She called herself a monster, and now he was beginning to understand why. But even then he could not picture the kind, sweet, and caring Gilah he knew to be a bloodthirsty beast. For the first time since being taken into the Depths, he simply could not comprehend it.

"Gilah, talk to me please..."

Gilah struggled to look at Jason, and even with a single eye being more than enough to take up the entirety of his vision she was unable to meet his gaze. As though it were his eyes that were a danger to her sanity and not the other way around.

Gilah chuckled softly, her tone sounding defeated and tired. "That's the problem. I…I don't know what to say." No matter the scars that littered her body it would always be those within that hurt most.

Jason looked upon his titanic lover, his heart breaking to see her in such a sad state. There was nothing, absolutely nothing she could say which could properly explain her actions, whatever it is they were. Jason only knew that whatever Gilah had done in the past warranted her capture and imprisonment. But even as the scent of age-old meat filled his nose and lungs, he did not care for the possible crimes committed. Not at this moment anyway. All that was on Jason's mind as see Gilah through this.

"Then let's start things simple", Jason said, his voice betraying no other tone beyond relaxation. He was controlling his breathing, getting a hold of all that was unraveling around him, and maintaining his composure. "Why?"

Gilah cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Why?"

"Yes, why," Jason said again. "Why did you bring me here? Why are there so many bodies? Why are some chains snapped? It can be any ‘why’ you want, just take your time and relax."

Whether for his own sake or Gilah's, Jason allowed his titanic lover the chance to explain things at her own pace. Normally, she'd take the opportunity to voice her appreciation, but for obvious reasons that would not do this time around. So instead, she'd focus on the single-word yet shockingly complex question.

Though only one word, Gilah had often pondered the 'whys' of her behavior. She knew destruction to be a part of her nature. The ability to bring untold carnage wherever she trod. Gilah understood that well enough. What she never understood was how she came to be appalled by such acts of cruelty. It wasn't something a human could put into words. At best, it could be described as her coming to realize the importance of life. At worst, and in terms more fitting for those of the Depth, she had finally begun to question why it was she constantly acted as a bringer of doom. Those of the Depths who did often took pride in realizing their nature. Harbingers of destruction, bringer of calamity. Enemies to the whole of creation.

It was something Gilah once wished to be. Now, that was no longer the case.

She straightened her posture, taking in and exhaling a deep breath. In her minor movement, Gilah rose over her human lover, her eye leaving his vision as the leviathan's bountiful chest rose to fill his sky. Despite the spectacle before him, there was nothing else on Jason's mind other than being there for her.

"You've lived in the Depths for some time now, Jason. You've seen dangers no other human being should. The kind that would set fire unto the world just so it could bask within the heat." Gilah's chest tightened the more she pictured herself in such a scenario. Memories of beautiful civilizations, ruined, and her blood-crazed smile touched by the flames of armageddon. "What if I told you those aren't the worst dangers? That there was something more, lurking, waiting for the chance to break free and carve a bloody path across the universe?"

Gilah grit her teeth as she raised a hand over her chest. Her fingers pressed over where her heart would be, all while she stared down at the wide-eyed human. Her magenta eyes shined brighter, and the bestial slit that was the pupil grew more narrow. The ancient, hidden scars scattered across the Leviathan’s body began to glow the same azure color Jason had witnessed before.

"What if I were to tell you that you shared your precious warmth with that very same beast? And that this beast; this horrible, monstrous, fiend only ever brought pain wherever she went? Even after trying to cull her bloodlust, what would you say to them?"

Gilah couldn't have been any more obvious in what she was saying, and Jason couldn't have been in greater disbelief. The beast his titanic girlfriend described was far from the kind soul he knew. And yet her words, her actions, painted a whole new picture. Still, he steeled himself and stepped forward despite knowing, deep in his bones, that Gilah's self-reprimands had to be founded in some truth.

But no matter the picture she painted of herself, no matter the beast she told herself that she was, they did little to change his feelings towards her. He stepped forward, and on instinct alone Gilah lowered her hand towards him again, extending her finger until the tip was only a few inches away from Jason's body.

She flinched, only once, when she thought of how easy it would be to push forward a little more and pierce his little body with her nail. Gilah could so easily kill him were she not careful, and should that ever come to pass there'd be no turning back for her.

To her surprise, and even her shock, Jason did not back away despite the danger present. Instead, he rested his head upon her nail before turning to look up at his beautiful and stunned mate.

"I would ask them what do you plan on doing now?'"

Gilah felt her heart skip a beat, and a warmth fall over her chest and face. She tried to pull her hand away but soon found herself unable. In no way was it Jason's doing, but rather a deeper desire to be comforted by the small, fragile, and hopelessly brave human who provided her such comfort.

"No, you don't understand. You don't know the things I've done."

"I know that they don't define you." The human quickly rebuked. "Gilah, you brought me here to show me how dangerous you are, right? Well... I do..."

"Then you understand why I'm worried!" Gilah exclaimed, trying her hardest to show the danger she posed, not just to Jason but to all things. Anything and everything that possessed a heartbeat, whether they are divine or otherwise, was in danger. "The pier was just a small incident compared to what I've done before! The kingdoms I've destroyed, the pantheons I've slain! I'm just a beast waiting to-"

Jason raised a hand to silence the leviathan. She was getting too excited, and in such a state she could pose a very real threat to him. Even then, Jason did not back away. "Waiting to see where she goes from here." He finished for her.

"Gilah, I don't know what you've done. And I don't need to. All I want to know is that you've tried to change. That you've continued to try."

The leviathan fell silent, her heart fluttering as she witnessed her beloved's resolve. To hear such things, and stubbornly refuse to leave behind the one who committed such atrocities. Utter foolishness.

And so hopelessly wonderful.

"I have..." Gilah admitted through shaking breath. "I really, truly, have."

Even with Jason being no more than a more by comparison to her landscape of a body, Gilah could feel the minuscule kiss upon her finger.

"Then that's good enough for me."

Foolish, would be just one way to describe Jason. Idiotic would work just as well. A dozen different ways to describe his lunacy over being so trusting. "You...you can't possibly believe that?" Gilah argued. Though his feelings were appreciated in ways he couldn't understand, the fact of the matter remained. She had butchered billions to her knowledge. Likely far more. Jason couldn't just look at that and be so accepting of her still, could he?

"Jason, look around us." Gilah gestured to the walls of the ancient prison, the bodies that lined the walls as well as the massive corpse which lay in the center. "These bodies, this carnage, were my doing. I have spilled enough blood to fill an ocean. I have slain gods and devils alike. Even the previous Ruler of the Depths, Cathay's predecessor, was killed by me. You can't possibly believe you're safe so long as you stay by me?"

Jason's stance never wavered. He just looked up into her eyes as he usually did, and smiled.

"Even if that's the case, I'll still trust you."

Hopeless. That was the best way in which Gilah could describe Jason's mind. Only a hopeless fool would willingly stay by her side. With a huff, she grabbed an old chain, its darkened metal seemingly humming at her touch. It vibrated softly, creating a harmony that could be deemed beautiful were the intention behind the frequency meant to dull the mind of those it held captive. Gilah was familiar with the song, along with the strength of the broken chains.

"Jason... there exist oceans of strange dimensions, far beyond the perception of mankind..." Gilah explained. "Materials and substances which lack any composition that fit your natural laws. Those of arcane skill can reach out into the void and pull free creations they envision The stronger the caster, the greater the material they create."

Gilah closed her hand around the chain, her arm tensing up as she excerpted a considerable amount of force to bend the eldritch metal. Jason could see the definition in the Titaness’s arm as her muscles tightened to crush her old shackles. When next she opened her hand they hardly resembled their previous shape.

"These black chains were crafted by Cathay herself, and even then I outgrew them." Gilah tilted her hand, allowing the destroyed chain to fall to the floor where it crashed with an echoing clatter. Beyond, the duo could hear the murmurs and mumbles of the monstrosities waiting, bidding their time for the right chance to attack. They were, however, far from being one of Gilah's concerns.

"The shackles I wore were one of a kind, made to be unbreakable. No word exists that can describe how strong they are." Gilah lowers herself, looming over Jason but carrying a concerned expression. "Imagine what I could do to you if I wasn't careful. Worse than anything I've done to ancient enemies. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if that were to happen."

"It won't happen." The human replied, far quicker than Gilah was hoping for.

She shook her head. "You can't be sure of that."

Jason chuckled. Of course, he couldn't. That said, it's not like he wasn't already aware of just how weak he was compared to his titanic, world-ending, god-slaying girlfriend. Even before this revelation, he knew there were risks to be had in having such a close relationship with a colossus like Gilah. All the same, he stayed true to his feelings despite them. He was as stubborn as humans came, after all. Perhaps almost as stubborn as his sister even.

"My father had a saying, back before the two of us met. He'd say to me 'Jason when you meet that right someone you've been waiting for your whole life you don't stop and think about the risks. Walk with them. Be with them. Give them your all and they will give you theirs'."

"Gilah...you are that someone I've been waiting to walk with. I am willing to give you my all even if it means taking on every risk."

The leviathan felt a shock course throughout her entire body. From her flexing toes to her tingling spine, there was not a point on Gilah's skin that wasn't covered in goosebumps. She continually felt her lips curl upwards into a giddy smile before returning to their stern expression, the process repeating as she struggled to cope with this influx of feelings.

She felt her whole face glowing red as even the azure lighting of her scars seemed to adopt the embarrassing color. From behind, Gilah felt her rear in motion. Turning around, her humiliation only rose when she realized her stub of a tail was wagging back and forth from the sheer joy she was experiencing.

"This is too unfair..." Gilah threw her hands up into the air in defeat before bringing them back down in an attempt to conceal her blushing cheeks. They, however, could not cover up a single brightly glowing eye peaking in between her fingers, watching as Jason smiled up at her. The same warm smile that always caused her heart to skip several beats. "How could anyone...be so damn perfect!?"

"Would you believe me if I said it runs in the family?" Jason joked. He was glad to see his humor had an effect as not long after, he heard Gilah's soft chuckle.

"Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised. Even a Ruler could fall victim to such charm."

Somehow, Jason wasn’t buying that. "I don't see it.” After all that he’s seen of the Ruler of the Depths, what she’s capable of if pushed even a little too far, the last thing he’d expect of her would be falling for another being, human or otherwise. “Cathay doesn't seem the type to date an 'ape'."

Gilah had her doubts. While Cathay was many things, many of her aspects revolving around an incredibly destructive nature, there was one which the tyrant kept silent about to even her most trusted of advisers. Cathay was ancient, even before taking the throne as Ruler of the Depths. She has spent countless eons fighting even before Gilah came to be born. And as time progressed, desires came to be known. The kind that a leviathan of the darkest depths could not satisfy with wanton destruction.

“If it meant remedying her solitude, then who knows? She very well could.” Though Gilah knew her age-old friend to be one of the most powerful forces in the cosmos, if not THE most powerful, with only a handful being able to compete against her, they were also surprisingly vulnerable in the way of affection. “There’s more to her than meets the eye you know.”

While never having a mate of her own, Gilah was privy to moments of apparent weakness in affection. Strange among the depths, and even more so when they were directed towards Gilah, those moments of weakness came when she was close to the former butcher, desiring affection from the leviathan. Perhaps not shown in the way humans would, but still demonstrated through acts of kindness unheard of among the eldest of the Depth-Borne.

After all, it was Cathay who nursed Gilah back to health after her battle against the old lord of the Depths. Any other beast would have taken the chance to finish the job.

“You know, there was a point where I considered Cathay to be my significant other,” Gilah revealed. “Long, long ago, before I even met you.”

Jason was taken aback by the revelation. Though he had a clearer picture of who Gilah used to be, to picture her with the nigh-all-powerful tyrant was still a strange sight. Who knows what sort of havoc those two could have caused should they have grown together?

“What changed?”

Gilah crossed her arms as she mused over the question, reclining back just enough that her human lover couldn’t see her eyes beyond her breasts.

“I suppose I did.” The leviathan concluded. She wasn’t exactly certain when she began to lose her taste for destruction, but at some point, Gilah came to understand the carnage she created upon so many worlds. And she loathed it. So much so that she sealed herself away here, in the deepest point of the Depths, chained by its Ruler, and kept hidden away from creation until she felt ready to return.

Cathay on the other hand was opposed to such extremes, believing that sort of power shouldn’t be locked away. Rather, they wanted Gilah to hone their power, and refine it to a point that they could temper their bloodlust. Of course, they knew the danger Gilah posed to creation as a whole. But to seal away such delicious power, to make oneself weaker by denying their nature, it was so un-depthlike.

“I love Cathay,” Gilah claimed. “Truly, I do. But I love her as one may love a family member. As someone whom I have confided in and in turn received relief. But I cannot be with her in the way she wants.”

Were Cathay to have her way, Gilah would still carry her nature, unchanged but directed in such a way that they’d be a near mirror image of the Ruler. An ideal outcome for the tyrant, but for Gilah that was less than desirable. “Cathay has lived a long, LONG time. She personifies the full might of the Depths. She is unchallenged, undeniable in power, and without limit in the malice she can incite. I don’t want to follow in those kinds of footsteps.”

There’d be no peace of mind, no moments rest nor a desire for anything other than the satiation of her bloodlust. She’d be a true beast of the Depths, just like every other natural-born beast which called this domain their home.

“What I want, is to be like you.” Gilah peered down, lowering herself until her lips were but a few feet away from Jason. “Kind and caring, to the point where you can perceive the best in someone even when their crimes are out in the open for you to see.”

It was the last thing a leviathan like her should wish for. So out of character for one of her past and were a younger Gilah to view such a claim they’d likely grow sick from hearing it. But in the here and now, in the present, Gilah wished for nothing more than to have a peaceful life with someone who could accept her, faults and all. She found that someone in Jason, and with him, she saw the potential towards a life that she never thought would come to her.  

“You know, I’m certain there are a great many who’d call you a fool for deciding to stay with me.” Only a madman would choose to stay so close to something as destructive as Gilah. Though in a way, that is what made things even better. For whom better to have by her side than one crazy enough to see past her flaws and remain? It was her Jason, after all, who waited upon a pier night after night for a full year just for the chance to see her silhouette. Such devotion can be seen as insanity, especially in a world where such actions were likely to be deemed nonsensical.

So in that, she was grateful for Jason’s foolishly brave devotion. For his love. But he couldn’t remain in the Depths forever. Not from the danger which was ever present, so long as he had Gilah’s and Cathay’s protection he would be safe. As safe as a human could be anyway. No, it was simply a matter of Gilah believing he deserved better than endless tunnels of beasts, or deep dark oceans. Jason deserved the sun upon his skin, and the wind blowing at his hair.

He deserved to be back in his world, back on dry land. And with his devotion to her assured, his love, Gilah was going to make that happen. Even if it meant crossing Cathay’s ire.

“I wanna try going to the surface again” Gilah knew the risks that came with such a goal. Crossing the Ruler of the Depths aside, the dangers she presented were still very real. Steps would need to be taken to ensure what happened before would not be so again.

Jason, of course, was hesitant. “But we were told to remain in the Depths.” Though a better way of putting it would be threatened. “I know you mean well, just like before. But what happened on the pier can’t happen again.”

“I know, I know” Gilah kept her voice down to a whisper, making sure that none but Jason could hear her. Outside other beasts still roamed, ever mindful of what she said. Any one of them could relay the information to others. “But I have a plan this time. Something that’ll ensure I won’t harm anyone. I promise…”

“Gilah, I’m just not sure this is a risk you should take.”

Wrapping her arms around the perch which Jason stood upon, Gilah cocked her head softly to the side. She leaned forward, only just a tad bit, so that she could feel her dear human’s body upon her lower lip. Even if he was little more than a speck the sensation that he was there was always welcome. Especially if it was to come before such a grand decision.

“Oh yes, it’s an incredible risk.” She admitted. “But you said it yourself. You trust me. Is that still the case?”

Jason pulled away, a thin but strong layer of saliva upon Gilah’s lower lip clinging to his body. He looked up, meeting the lovely shade of her eye shining down on him. Whereas others would go mad, he would not. Instead, Jason was allowed the chance to look upon a beauty so many were, unfortunately, unable to see. There was a sense of longing within them, a desire to set what’s been wronged right. Her goal, he came to realize, was not just meant for him.

Even if he could deny it, what right did he have to take this away from her? So, with a smile, he nodded. “Of course I trust you.”

That was all Gilah needed to hear. “Then we’ll have some work to do before that”

Falling into a drunken stupor was quickly becoming one of Valerie’s most frequently abused pass times. While it had opened up many doors to one-night stands in the past, now it was becoming a dreadful reminder of just how poor of a state she was in. It used to be that everything was laid out in the open when she drank with a cute fling. Lies and secrets kept from one another’s ears were spoken with such assurance that they couldn’t be anything but the truth. And, if she was lucky, then Valerie would be able to sweep some gorgeous woman to bed that night. That’s how it had been for years, ever since she was certain she didn’t need to look after her brothers anymore. To live her life to the fullest now that she wasn’t burdened with being the family’s main breadwinner.

Was it crude to sleep with one woman after another, never searching for a lasting relationship? Of course it was, she was very aware of that. Valerie knew she was no saint and always made sure to inform her ‘partners’ of such. She wasn’t looking for a relationship. She wasn’t looking for love. Anything that could’ve been had run its course long ago. Valerie didn’t have time for those sorts of distractions anymore. Now more than anything, matters which she could have never imagined had fallen upon her shoulders. But before she could be content with that, she needed to battle the pounding headache ailing her. A headache she refused to nurse as she ordered herself yet another drink.

Unsurprisingly, the bartender on duty wasn’t all too pleased with the former fisherwoman’s non-stop drinking. He took whatever empty glasses were by her side, cleaning them off and intentionally ignoring her request. When Valerie caught on, she stared daggers into the barkeep. “Another. Drink.” She demanded before burying her face in her arms, exhausted but unwilling to stop. “And make it strong this time Adrian. I still feel sober.”

Adrian knew it was his job to serve drinks, but thanks to his impressive size he also knew that he was the one the other employees relied on when customers grew too rowdy. And on most occasions, he would. He towered over most people and often that was enough to grant even the most drunken of minds a moment of sobriety to weigh if their antics were really worth a black eye and a broken nose.

Valerie on the other hand was another story. Adrian had known her for years. For a time, the two were even a couple before Valerie’s tastes grew to be too much. No animosity or ill will was housed between the two of them, however. That said if there was one person Adrian knew whose ire should not be tested it would be Valerie’s.

“Val, don’t you think it’s time you head home?” the bartender recommended. Even the slight recommendation was enough to make him wary, as at any moment he felt as though his years-long friend could just reach out and yank at his braids. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s done something so juvenile. But, given her recent hardships, he was willing to look past that. “Look, do you still keep a spare key under your doormat? I can drive you home if you want?”

Once again, Valerie would hear none of it. “No… you don’t need to.” Looking around it was becoming clear that she was gaining quite an audience of onlookers. Some among the ground were a few women that certainly seemed the type she’d take home. But at the moment, her only concern was in regard to her youngest brother’s safety. “Was just about to head out anyway.”

Clenching her fist, Valerie pushed herself off of her seat. A few footsteps in and it was abundantly clear that her walk home would not be an easy one. At the very least, her inebriated state meant that she wouldn’t need a jacket on a night like this. A good thing too as she had forgotten one, her mind being far from reliable these past few months. Simple tasks were forgotten, work duties were ignored, and at times she’d even forget to eat. Every minute of every hour of every day was devoted to the mystery that was her brother’s disappearance. And just as she did every night, she’d head home to pour over what she hoped was beneficial research into the matter.

Looking at the poor state of the woman, Adrian knew Valerie would get no sound sleep tonight, just as it had avoided seemingly every night for a full year. No advice he could give seemed to be of aid, yet regardless of whether it was heeded or not he gave it all the same.

“You know if he was here he wouldn’t want you to go on like this, right?” the bartender questioned, knowing full well what sort of response to expect. Valerie turned to face him, her green eyes narrowing as frustration took hold.

 A look that was well known among the bars of the city, enough to chill even the toughest of individuals’ blood. “Go fuck yourself, Addy. I’m not stopping until I find Jason.”

Valerie slammed the door of the bar as she left, leaving patrons stunned and Adrian shaking his head. This wasn’t the first time she’s left while in such a mood, and unless she accepted what happened to her brother it wouldn’t be the last. He was worried for her. Her constant searching was becoming an obsession. Worst still, this obsession was taking a turn for the strange as, to the disbelief of many, the fisherwoman had sprouted nonsense of monsters and deep-sea terrors. Creatures only existing in fiction; the far end of the genre at that. Just like her brother had prior to his disappearance. Just as their father had prior to his death. Now the same kind of madness was afflicting her, and Adrian knew no way in which he could help her. He was perhaps the last real friend she had, the rest having moved on with their lives or burning their bridges with Valerie years ago.

He’d offer her a prayer, maybe even give her other brother a call to see if he knew anything that could help. But beyond that, Valerie was on her own. Not by any choice of Adrian’s but by Valerie’s actions alone.

Outside, Valerie had managed to walk a fair distance away from the bar before being forced to steady herself against a wall, shrinking against it as she came to regret how she had departed. It wasn’t within her rights to tear into Adrian in such a manner, he was only trying to help. But he couldn’t understand what she did. He could know what she knew. No one could. She wasn’t even sure if she could speak with Danny, the second eldest of the Armitage siblings. He knew of their father’s old rants and mad talks, as well as the strange sightings of their brother Jason, had experienced. Both were chalked up to a deteriorating mental fortitude, though in the case of their youngest brother he managed to remain sane and sound whereas their father was not as fortunate in his waning days.

But, like Adrian, Danny believed that Jason had disappeared, likely in search of the ‘great beauty’ he’d claimed to see at sea. For a time, Valerie believed that as well, dreading but accepting the fact that he might have gotten himself killed at sea. A harsh and cruel thing to admit, but it was the closest thing she had to closure. Now, things have changed. Ever since the incident on the pier.

It was old, having withstood the march of time and surviving into the Armitage siblings’ adult years, outlasting their father. It was a place of fond memories, joyous rides, and best of all funnel cake. Oh, what Valerie wouldn’t give for a sweet treat, if only to revisit older memories, back when things made sense. Now, the pier was closed, and its amusement park was under investigation. Over five dozen people are gone. Vanished without so much as a trace. All save for her, the sole ‘survivor’ of a mass disappearance.

There were speculations and theories. Some blamed the government, believing the disappearances to be a cover-up for some new secret-grade weapon. Others assumed aliens were involved. God damn extraterrestrials. Though Valerie supposed the latter made more sense, now knowing what she knew. But it wasn’t what lay beyond the stars that carried the blame. Rather, it was the horrors that rested beneath the waves of the sea.

She saw, for only a moment, as time seemed to skip forward and a great serpentine tail vanished beneath the waves. One moment she was surrounded by screaming individuals, in pain or in reverence, and tearing out their eyes as something burned at them from within. The next, nothing, as some monstrosity vanished and stole them into the unknown. A creature so large that it defied all reason. But, it was alive. Valerie knew what she saw. She knew what Jason saw.

He wasn’t out of his mind when he spoke of a deep-sea beauty. Or maybe he was. Maybe they both were insane, for knowing more than most did.

“Fuck…” once more, the weight of Valerie’s task was felt upon her shoulders. The impossibility that was her brother’s rescue. But still, she had to do... something. Valerie pulled at her auburn hair, already having torn chunks from its once shoulder length. Now it barely passed her cheekbones, requiring constant aid now thanks to ever-increasing stress.

She’s searched endlessly for any kind of leads which may aid her in her search. She’s checked online for any sort of documents that may align with the sightings she was looking for. Ordered and read through any books that may bear some fruit in her research, and while she’s learned a few things it never came close to the whole truth. That was, until she came across the writings of a group of ‘professors’ somewhere on the deep web.

Risks and rumors aside, the idea of using the deeper parts of the internet to get some damn answer wasn’t her first idea. But where every other route seemed a dead end this risk paid off. These professors, ‘Scholars of the Unseen’ as they preferred to be called can only be classified as a group of kooks. Not a single one could be considered sane, even in their texted speeches over the cosmos, the oceans, or aught else. But between their constant ramblings, Valerie saw the truth in their words.

Some of which mirrored her father’s.

Like her, they’ve been searching for answers too, though for wildly different reasons. One sought to exchange the ‘wealth of knowledge mankind possessed in an effort to gain some horror’s favor. Another wanted to find and tame some beast for reason better less spoken of. Another, and the oddest of all by a far margin, wanted to… date one. Valerie made sure to skim over anything they said in regard to that but beyond anything, they gave her exactly what she had been looking for.

Notes, research, bestiaries of creatures so absurd yet so magnificent that there should be no reason as to why they existed at all. But they did! And they were out there! In the Pacific, a pair of leviathans that resembled axolotls were the subject of many an old legend. One case revolves around a sailor who, in an act of kindness, earned the favor of the smaller of the two creatures. In the Atlantic, there was yet another, though less known, tale of a gargantuan she-ray that was nearly a thousand meters long!

Strangely enough, the vast majority of these creatures carried a human visage, almost always in the form of a female. Again, Valerie didn’t think too much about that aspect.

The fall of the once thought fictional city of Atlantis, the tales of ancient monsters in that could raze mountains and summon storms? All true! And while grand legends each, those seemingly paled in comparison to what Valerie saw when reading more. It brought a cold sweat to her brow when thinking about it even now.

Among the scholar’s conversations, there was a term continuously brought up the more they mused on these ancient sea beasts. Below even the deepest point of the ocean, expanding further and further beyond what is within the realm of possibility… reality. Extending everywhere, beyond just the seas of the earth. Invading the stars, the void of space, as well as whatever may rest beyond.

The Depths.

Where monstrosities of such size and power dwelled, battling one another with such ferocity, such malice, that it was a miracle anything survived where they trod. When not battling one another, these beasts turned their eyes toward worlds, galaxies, and entire star systems with the intent of making them bleed. They lived for destruction and carnage. Whereas other entities brought destruction with a purpose behind their actions, and at times could be seen as benevolent, these ‘Depth-Borne’ only cared for battle and would destroy anything if it meant they’d get a worthwhile fight as a result.

“No matter how dear your brother is to you, avoid the beasts of the Depths,” The insane scholars messaged. At no point did Valerie ever recall telling them of her intentions. “He is lost to you; dragged beneath the bedrock we see as reality. Live your life in ignorance, free from those who devour the stars and the divines that maintain them. Drift in an oblivious ocean that grants mercy in concealing you from the reach of the Tyrant of the Wastes. The Domain of the Ruler of the Depths is not meant for man, or devil, or god.”

They stopped messaging after that, and not long after did Valerie lose electricity in her home. In no minor way were those events meant to be a coincidence, and deep down she held the feeling that she should heed the scholar’s warnings. But here, sitting in the cold, her eyes open to the existence of creatures and powers that mankind had been unaware of, she refused to turn away. Even if meant she was seen as a kook herself, Valerie would be damned if some old farts were going to stop her in her effort to find some answers to what happened to her little brother.

The Depths, that’s where he had to be. Trapped, probably by some cruel and horrible to witness beast. Jason must be terrified, fending for himself at every possible moment. She hoped he was alive and prayed to any god that may hear her. Apparently, there was far more than she ever gave credit to pray to. One just had to hear her at some point, right?

Valerie just needed to wait. For a chance to do… something! She clenched her fist as she pushed herself up into a standing position, making her way to the pier once more where she had been staying and conducting all manner of research to aid in her efforts. The bite of the cold air didn’t bother her. Not when there was a much deeper pain she had to contend with.

No one, not even all-powerful horrors, messes with her family. “Just wait, Jason. I’ll find a way to get you back.”

“I promise”

She only hoped that he was safe.

***

Though as it were, safety was the absolute furthest thing Jason was from currently. Holding onto a strand of Gilah’s hair for dear life, the small and fragile human was forced to stand by as he watched the titaness battle against a denizen of the Depths. A Depth-Borne beast, as large as Gilah was nearly a match in strength. It was slower though, taking more time to swing its arms and claws. But every hit that did connect wasn’t only felt in the giantess’s bones, but in the surrounding cavern, the two did battle in. Each time their might was tested, a shockwave was sent forth, shaking the cavern, traveling deeper into the tunnels of the Depths, and quite possibly signaling more monstrosities of the battle occurring.

Gilah was forced into a defensive, shielding her body with her arms as she kept Jason from danger. She couldn’t fight back, and the Depth-Borne knew this. Though it was a mere whelp, larger than others though it were, it possessed keen knowledge of where the Former Butcher’s ideals lay. Near all within the Deep Wastes knew of the human and leviathan’s relationship, some even thinking to exploit it for the chance at possibly triumphing a legend as powerful as Gilah. Few, however, ever really attempted to do so, knowing well her strength.

Whelps, this one specifically, was another story as it were. The youngest and most volatile of the ranks of the Depths, Whelps only listened to those they deemed as mightier, and even then their loyalty was shaky. Even Cathay, as cosmically feared as she is, often had her orders ignored by these younglings. The one Gilah fought currently was one that had gone against its superiors time and time again, always seeking a stronger foe, always moving towards its next fight. To battle and triumph meant survival in the Depths, and the stronger the foe beaten the stronger one proves themselves to be.

Its body and temperament were like that of a bull, broad and stocky, charging forward regardless of the power of its opponent. Two horns that curved downward, fit for goring meat and battering bone. And organic armor upon its body meant that it could take whatever punishment Gilah could dish out in her limited station. Lines across the Whelps body glowed green, bioluminescence, as it crouched down upon all fours, preparing itself.

“Gilah, I think you should move!” Jason gripped the strand of hair tighter, wrapping it around himself a few more times as he remained upon the leviathan’s shoulder. The giantess on the other hand stood her ground, digging her feet into the solid ground, planting herself firmly as she prepared herself.

“I got this…” she was focused, narrowing her vision upon her foe. They were strong, intelligent enough to attack her when her guard was down and knew better than to let up on the offensive. Leave it to the Depths to nurture a fighter such as this. It might even be victorious were it anyone else in Gilah’s metaphorical shoes. But this wasn’t her first fight, and she’d be damned if it was going to be her last.

The Whelp charged forward, tearing into rock and stone as it bared its horns downward, ready to gore Gilah as she remained stationary, poised to meet the opposing force head-on. When finally it was within an acceptable distance, the titaness turned to her right, spinning on her heel as she just narrowly avoids the Whelp’s horns apart from a minor graze on her side. Due to its size and build, the opposing leviathan isn’t able to turn in time to continue its advance, instead being met with a powerful fist to the side of its face that cuts through one horn and loosens its lower jaw.

With a crack, the Whelp falls onto the floor, skidding and tearing into the terrain until it comes to a complete stop. Gilah doesn’t take the moment to breathe, however. She pulls free the piece of hair that Jason was attached to, carrying him up toward her face. “I need you to stay hidden for now. Just try and be quiet while I fight, okay?”  No argument was needed. Jason understood that this was just a common occurrence here.

With as much strength as she needed, Gilah punched a hole deep within the cavern walls before placing her beloved within, intent on keeping him from harm’s way. And just in time as, the moment she spun around, the Whelp had already gotten back up onto its feet. Had Gilah not turned to face it, she would have had her midsection skewered by its one remaining horn. Thankfully, she was able to catch the attack with one hand, while keeping the behemoth at bay with another.

Even lacking the ability to bite down anymore didn’t impede the Depth-Borne beast. Rather, it seemed to invoke a deeper fire within it. Whelps NEVER back down from a fight. They could lose whole limbs and still, they’d get back up in an effort to fight. The only way to stop one from fighting was to put it down, and unfortunately, Gilah was disinclined to take its life. Up until now, she had only killed for food, and even then she was sparingly in what it was she hunted down. But this beast wasn’t leaving her with many in the way of choices.

Thankfully, she wouldn’t need to take such drastic measures. She just needed to hold off for some time until aid arrived. Well, not an aid for her, but any sort of assistance, even the kind that may turn against her, was appreciated. These caverns, tunnels created in the deep that allowed for travel across the cosmos, carried all that occurred. That included battles between leviathans. It wasn’t long until both Gilah and the Whelp became aware of the presence of two others.

The opposing titan tore itself free of Gilah’s hold just in time as another, equally massive leviathan, burst free from the cavern’s shadows, tackling the weaker of the two Depth-Borne and forcing it onto the ground, ripping its flesh as the Whelp, in turn, tore into its adversary’s. But like before, this new challenger was large and bulky, heavily built and equaling Gilah in size. Much of its physical features resembled those of the one it was tearing into, save for a long and sharp blade-like snout that tore into the opposing Whelp with terrifying effectiveness. It wasn’t long before the struggle ceased as this new beast quickly won out over its already weakened foe. Despite facing a new threat it wasn’t a source of concern for Gilah.

That sort of attention went to the second arrival. Yet another leviathan, only this time they stood above the previous arrivals, to a point where they only seemed capable of matching their shoulders. Feminine in shape, pale white with portions of armor that protected vulnerable spots. Red hair flowed like fire, surging around their body, and working against the current that allowed for travel in the Depths. Upon their back, an array of tentacles, twelve in total with two tipped with lethal stingers.

The arrival said nothing. Instead, blood-red eyes fell upon Gilah. It happened in an instant, with such speed that anything lesser would have fallen victim to the sudden onslaught, as two tendrils launched forward with such force that the water surrounding their tips heated on collision. Gilah tilted her head slightly to the left, a tentacle narrowly missing her cheekbone. The heat hardly concerned her, as did the strike of a tendril upon her leg and midriff. She latched onto both tightly, the muscles in her arms tensing up, defining, as she pulled the appendages free from her fierce opponent’s body.

Gilah turned just as the behemoth from before lurched forward from behind, its bladed nose only cutting into the surface of her right arm. Before Gilah could retaliate, the behemoth reared its head upward, cutting just beside the giantess’s chest and into the cloth she used as clothing. Only a minor cut as, before it could attack again, the more experienced warrior grabbed a hold of the behemoth’s nose, digging her nails deeply into its natural armor before ripping the whole thing clean off. Not a wound that’ll kill the beast, given how large and sturdy it was, but certainly something that’ll determine its survival in future skirmishes.

The behemoth staggered backward in pain and stock. It seemed ready to engage again, the drive to fight outweighing any pain it felt. Its hand was stayed, however, as more tendrils from its ‘companion’ darted past it and towards the legendary butcher. With blade still in hand, Gilah cut into two tentacles before biting into the third and ripping off its stinger. Hidden among the others, it was the rival titaness’s hope to hide her attack among numbers, seeking to gain a cheap shot over Gilah. Instead, it was outplayed and pulled in further as the former butcher grabbed a hold of one of the retreating tendrils and tugged with all her might.

The larger leviathan was forced forward, falling face first into the ground as it was dragged towards Gilah, her fist raised high. Their behemoth companion moved with as much speed as it could muster, trying to rush to its aid. But in between its wounds and the ever-increasing blue blood which surrounded and obscured its vision, it couldn’t manage much.

Already at Gilah’s feet, the pale leviathan lashed out one final time, her remaining stinger finding purchase in the legend’s midsection. They smiled in delight, believing they had won out. But when they saw the butcher’s emotionless expression they quickly realized their folly. Gilah’s body tensed, the muscles beneath her skin tightening to such a point that the tip of the stinger broke off easily as a result.

The pale leviathan released a roar of frustration and anger as Gilah brought her fist down… intentionally missing their head by a few inches. Her fist dug deep into the stone until her elbow was just below the surface. She lowered herself until her eyes were the only thing her foe could see. She gave one command, only one, for the beasts to obey. Otherwise, she wouldn’t hold herself back further should they wish to press on.

“Leave”

Gilah bared her sharp teeth and snarled. The only sign needed to showcase that her two challengers were well over their heads. The warning was more than heeded, as the pale leviathan rose to her feet and quickly dashed away, her companion following their lead. Gilah rose up, unbothered by whatever wounds she had sustained. Anything she had now was easily outshined by previous skirmishes. These were scratches at best. She sighed in relief, thankful that her gamble partially worked. Things could have gone MUCH worse had more decided to show up. Two Whelps along with a fully matured Depth-Borne. Nothing she wasn’t capable of handling.

Now an Ancient Depth-Borne may have been another story. Might have been too much, even for her if she continued to fight as passively as she did now. Instead, she managed to spare two with only one causality. And it wasn’t even by her hand that a death had occurred.

All in all, she’d consider that a victory. But her quest was far from over. All this was just a minor interruption on the trail toward her destination. Gilah made her way to the cavern walls, crouching down before the hole she had made for Jason. Peering inside she was pleased to find that he had made the smart choice of waiting at the very back, keeping as far away from the conflict. No doubt he heard everything though. Gilah was relieved that the stone which comprised these tunnels was made to endure such battles, allowing for his little hidey hole to remain with the fear of a cave-in. 

“It’s safe to come out now.” The titaness reassured. Had more Depth beasts decided to join in the fight then they would have done so for now. “The worse has passed. It’s safe.”

Making his way to the entrance, Jason was left awe-struck by the corpse of the first whelp, their body torn apart by their attacker. He knew Gilah had no hand to play in that, but still to see that she could survive against beasts capable of inflicting such devastation never failed to inspire awe within him. These things were akin to living gods, larger than anything had any right to be. Just one would be devastating to the worlds the Depths connected to. Though he had his reservations about Cathay’s attitude at times, he could deny that the Ruler did well in ensuring the creatures here did not leave their domain frequently.

Extending the nail of her finger forward, Gilah waited patiently for Jason to walk atop it so that they may continue. And he was just about to until the pair heard a loud rip which drew their attention. Gilah’s eyes darted downward, toward the cloth which covered her chest, exactly where the knife-nosed behemoth had cut. The makeshift clothing tore away, as Gilah and Jason stared wide-eyed, motionless while the cloth floated away in the current. Jason took a step back as Gilah’s face grew red.

“That’s… really unfortunate. She tried to compose herself and maintain some form of decency, but that was rather hard to do when your little lover was staring at your indecency. And while this wasn’t the first time Jason had seen her in a compromising position, Gilah couldn’t help but wish for a more secure location in which they could take full advantage of this happy little accident.

The little human was left speechless, staring up at his lover’s gargantuan breasts as they swayed side to side in a rather hypnotic manner. Gilah was desperately looking for something to cover herself with, unknowingly giving Jason a show as she did. Her eyes fell to the severed tendrils upon the floor, belonging to the pale leviathan but now able to serve another purpose. They were better than nothing, though working with scraps was far from ideal.

Retrieving Jason, she placed the still-ogling human upon her shoulder once more, confident that his safety was assured. She sat cross-legged, picking up one severed appendage before carefully peeling away at its skin with her nails. Over the course of weeks, she could rearrange stars. Gilah could cast a spell that would place others to sleep or manipulate the strength of her muscle and skin. But something like this, something that requires a delicate touch, would require focus.

“What are you doing?” Jason questioned, curious as to what sort of new power Gilah might display.

She chuckled. “I’m sewing.” She informed him. “I’m sure mankind knows that that is.”

Carefully removing a layer of skin from the tentacle, Gilah went to work peeling apart the muscle that rested underneath. It was warm, as if it were still alive, even twitching when she stripped the muscle threads. “The muscle fibers of Depth-Borne are so strong that only another Depth beast would be able to tear them. For those who care about their appearance, that makes them ideal for making clothes.”

Admittedly, she’d have to skip over the process of traditional clothes making, as she didn’t quite have the time or material for that. She’d have to employ some magic to get something halfway decent. No big issue, Cathay taught her the ropes of that. But manipulation of the matter was more their specialty than it was Gilah’s, so she couldn’t just make something to wear with a snap of her fingers. She’d have to manipulate each point individually, piece by piece, and by hand until she got the desired result.

“It’s a shame. That cover had lasted for a few centuries.” Gilah explained. “Pity to see it go but at least it gives me a reason to wear something else for once.” Gilah couldn’t even recall when last she had an opportunity to display some creativity in her attire. It’s never had a major draw for her but now, why not? If she were to go through with returning to the surface she may as well find a hobby.

Jason sat in silence, for as long as Gilah went to work. Eventually, curiosity got the better of him. “Where exactly are we heading?” he asked. Up until now, he only knew what Gilah had told him. And what Gilah had told him had been very little. Next to nothing as it were. Only that few dared travel where they were going.

“It’s an old portion of the Depths.” Gilah answered, seeing no reason now why she should hide anything. If she was going to see this through then she may as well walk the distance with her the one she had chosen to love. “Almost as old as Cathy, dating back to a time well before she was a Ruler. Home to a very old and very powerful being that had been imprisoned in the Depths by one of Cath’s predecessors.”

“Another prison?” Jason had kind of hoped Gilah’s would be the only one he needed to visit. “Didn’t think there’d be a lot more, considering violence isn’t something out of the ordinary here. You, I can see why you were chained. You imposed that on yourself after all. But what did this… thing do to warrant being locked away?"

“'Locked' is a bit too harsh a word.” Gilah corrected. She accidentally knicks a string of meat, cursing under her breath before repeating the process. Her attention was divided, though talking helps to take her mind off of the frustration that is sewing. “Think... House arrest. There are powerful beings in the Depths. Some as old as Cath, some older. The one we're looking for is of the former. They go by several names. Corpse Maker, Malformed Dealer, Bane of the Void. Creepy sonofabitch, but that’s more Cathay’s nickname for him.”

Jason’s blood ran cold. “And… we’re meant to FIND this thing?”

Gilah chuckled. “Is that fear in your voice? After all your time living through what would drive others mad?”

“Well can you blame me?” Now that he was hearing it for himself, Jason was beginning to have some serious doubts over whatever it was his titanic lover had planned. “Gilah, I know you’re strong, but this might be too risky.”

“We’re already past the point of risk.” Her mind had already been made. Though she loved Jason there was no way the two of them could turn back now. Not without consequences. “We’ve already gone past the point that classifies as their ‘domain'. Those Depth-Borne before were just stragglers swimming aimlessly in the current. They weren’t deep enough to feel Corpse Maker’s presence. But I can.”

“Even if she can’t see me, if we leave now Cathay will feel a disturbance in the domain. A blip in its structure.” They had already been warned once and lived through the cost of disobeying the Ruler of the Depths. They got off lightly before and likely wouldn’t be so fortunate next time. “I don’t think I have to explain what happens if she finds out we were here.”

Even now, Jason felt as though he were walking a tightrope when facing the tyrant’s potential wrath. “You don’t…”

Gilah didn’t need to see her beloved to know that he was worried. Actually, more than that. He was terrified. She tilted her head slightly, only close enough so as to touch her cheek for reassurance.

“You placed your trust in me, Jason. So trust that I’ll keep us safe.” She’d kiss him if she were in the right position to do so. “You forget, I was used to this once. Impossible odds, facing grim outcomes with steel-like resolve. This... was my normal. We’ll manage through this, I promise.”

Jason truly wished he could possess Gilah’s confidence. It was unfortunately impossible for him as every fiber of his body screamed with danger.

Eventually, his mind was forced away from such fears as Gilah stood upright and moved her arms behind her back.

“Done!”

She moved quickly, throwing herself up and forcing her darling human to latch on tightly to her hair again. Her hands maneuvered around her body, fastening her new clothing around her legs, waist, and most importantly her chest. The result was a rather fine set of cloth ‘armor’ fashioned in such a way that, while still showing skin, managed to cover more than needed. In fact, Gilah was better dressed now than she was prior. 

“I used some from the whelp too.” Gilah clarified. Knowing what came next, Jason let go of her hair and allowed himself to float forward as she took several steps back, intent on showcasing her new attire. She gave herself a twirl, clearly pleased with what she had managed to make.  Form-fitting, just as before, but now fashioned in such a way that it won’t be cut off should they enter another skirmish. And this time she even added something for her legs, the small pants she wore prior leaving a bit too much exposed for her liking. Always made it so some beast would attack that first. Aside from that, much remained the same. Still, Jason couldn’t help but enjoy the beaming smile on the leviathan’s face.

“Lovely as always.” Jason looked downward, now realizing just what sort of coverings she had made for her legs. “Hey, are those stirrups?” He didn’t think Gilah had enough flesh for something such as that.

Gilah pulled at the leggings, both embarrassed and glad that Jason had pointed them out right away. “I’m aware of what some humans wear topside, you know? You adorable cuties dress up in the strangest things sometimes, but these I like. Just enough to cover up your legs, but also enough to show off your thighs and toes~.”

She leaned forward, her voice like honey as she focused on those last two points.

“You trying to tease me?” Jason asked with a smile.

Twirling her hair between two fingers Gilah nodded slightly, trying her best to hide her grin and failing.

“Well, it’s working.”

The two shared a laugh, forgetting the skirmish prior as well as the dangers that lay ahead. This was what Gilah was seeking. Moments such as these that she wished to hold onto and cherish. It was why she was here, so far down in the Depths that none but the eldest came here. And even then, it was almost never without Cathay’s allowance.

Placing her hand beneath Jason, she waited for him to drift down into her waiting palm, their delay having lasted long enough. She maintained her smile, though it was a hefty task now as she needed to return her focus down toward the task at hand. They were close now, so very close to a point where no light could reach. Looking toward the opposite end of the Cavern the duo was met with unassailable darkness.

Gilah looked down at Jason once more, constantly reminding herself of the reason behind every step she took. Though he was scared, he still looked up at her with such an incredible amount of trust that she just couldn’t fail him. So many things, for both her and him, were riding on this. Jason was right. Her plan was risky. But to do nothing now, to stay in the Depths where violence such as hers was looked upon with favor? She wouldn’t be able to live like that. She didn’t want to live like that. ‘

So, curling her fingers protectively around her beloved, Gilah stepped into the unknown ready to face whatever fate may have in store for her. There was no price she wouldn’t pay, no lengths she wouldn’t jump. Even if it meant dulling her teeth and claws…

She would sacrifice her very sense of self if it meant seeing her dreams could come to be.  

Even in the Depths, there was a hierarchy. Not something to be respected, not always, but rather, something to be remembered by those who could see past their instinctual bloodlust. Those who understood the value of simply waiting, to take a moment away from the endless battles, and observe that which defines their very existence. Even if it was only for a moment that they do away with their bloodlust, it is what may ultimately determine one's own life or death. Their continued survival, or their inevitable, bloody end. 

More often than not it is the Whelps which ignore such teachings. Lessons in life they would do well to learn, lest they become the meal of another beast. Stronger. Smarter. Something which had taken the time to learn of its surroundings, its nature, and knowing when to fight and when to stand on the sidelines. In a plane of endless conflict, opportunity was ripe for those desiring to do away with any large number of potential rivals. To wait until a grueling battle is over and pick off the stragglers. What may be seen as a cowards tactic is often the way of a full grown Depth beast. 

A stage above a Whelp, an Adult with enough knowledge and strength to live longer than most. Yet still a novice when compared to the ancient veterans of the Deep Wastes. Beasts and horrors that were even older and more powerful than a full grown Depth-Borne. More than survivors of countless battles. More than scavengers waiting to clear a battlefield of any wounded. Challengers and conquerors, Elder Monstrosities, Alphas, who are well respected by those which may stand in their way. Whether it be kin of the Depths or those beyond its boundaries, the power and knowledge of an Alpha is well known and avoided by those able. Only the foolish would seek battle against one. To fight a warrior of such age, strength, and experience is tantamount to suicide. 

And yet, even then, there are terrors beyond even them. Fewer in number, much fewer, but of such power that within the hierarchy of the Depths they are second only to the Ruler which lords over all. Even Cathay, once among the numbers of these terrors before her ascension, for all the weight and terror her reputation carried, knows well to respect the might of these ancient kings and queens. Royalty within the Depths, or something which comes very close to it in a plane that values strength and power. Survivability. 

They have triumphed over one trial after another, countless eons of their lives spent fighting, enduring, challenging, and overcoming every obstacle in their path, whether through cunning or simple brute force. Such determination was worthy of respect. Even that of a Ruler's. 

The words of these Primal Lord’s carries great weight within the Depths, as well as all that lay beyond. A title so rare within the volatile landscape that only twelve continue to exist among the possible billions that inhabit the watery abyss. With a whisper, worlds burn and stars grow cold. With a roar, civilizations older than the deepest histories are forgotten. Unstoppable. Invincible. The might of the Primal one is certainly something to behold in both reverence and terror. 

It is fortunate that all twelve would rather remain in slumber, unbothered by the conflicts around them and above. No sane creature, divine or otherwise, would ever think of encroaching upon their domain. So long as they were left alone, a Primal Lord would remain at rest. Only ever heeding the call of their Ruler, the one being they would consider their superior, they pose no threat to those who remain unaware of their existence, and by extension those who do not invoke their ire. Their long life of battles was over, they had earned their power and rest. Though the natural bloodlust of the Depth-Borne remained it had been refined. Honed to such a point that they knew better than most when to curb their hunger and when to unleash it. 

To sully the sanctity that was their blessed silence, for any reason, would not just invite ruin upon yourself, but upon the greater cosmos as well. Inciting not just their fury but the wrath of the entirety of the Depths as well, Ruler and all. 

But as things stood now, Gilah was far from considering the possible consequences, the only one which concerned her was Cathay’s anger. Already she was going against the orders of the ancient being, a former Primal themselves before taking the throne. Already a formidable power even before her ascension, Going against the Ruler of the Depths was already more foolish than provoking one of the slumbering lords. Yet in order to see her desires fulfilled, Gilah sought the ears of perhaps the only one which may listen to her plea. 

That said, Gilah was no fool. Even if recent actions put such a claim into question, she was not without precautions. She was rather young, yes, somewhere between an adult and an alpha of the species. Keenly aware of the old tales around the twelve royals, she knew which to avoid at all cost and which might humor her for a time. However, only one possessed the capability to actually grant her the desire she sought. To be free of conflicts, of craving carnage and destruction. And even to be free of the shadow of Cathay, her oldest, and once only companion. 

It wounded her to think that, but it was true. There were no words that could do justice to the amount of love Gilah held for the Ruler. She owed them much, but felt that she could offer so little in return. Gilah was aware of what the ruler craved of her. She knew their ‘interests’, and it was something the younger leviathan could not give. Their flesh and their body, they wanted everything. Whereas the Ruler wished for the former Butcher to refine their great bloodlust and direct it more efficiently, Gilah wanted only to be rid of it. 

As far as Gilah knew, this was the only way to do it. To take away not just her bloodlust but everything which made her… her. A sacrifice of identity. To be remade in an entirely new image. It defied her nature as one that may confront the will and might of the all-powerful. 

That is, only so long as she allowed it. 

But even now, after having steeled herself for such a life altering decision, Gilah couldn't help but cast herself in doubt. Of a life lived by extreme means, this was by far her most precarious of resolutions. She has faced gods, and devils, and all that would tear at the heart of both without any sense of fear. Much like a Whelp would, only she possessed the necessary power to survive such a battle. 

Now, she shuddered at the thought of losing everything that defined who she was currently. It was not easy, sacrificing your sense of self. But it felt like the only path that remained in front of her; the only one she could walk to reach her paradise. A life with Jason. The dream of making a family with him. It was all so close now. Still it did nothing to halt her rising fear. 

Of course she conveyed none of this to the small human, who in turn sat patiently atop her shoulder, a strand of hair wrapped around his waist. He was kind, considerate, and extremely understanding, but if Jason knew what Gilah planned to sacrifice even HE would speak out against her resolve. She didn't like keeping him in the dark after having revealed so much to him. She needed to, unfortunately. At least for now. 

The leviathan was so lost in thought that she was unaware of where it was she was walking until she felt the crumble of several structures beneath her titanic feet. Glancing down, Gilah saw that she had stepped upon some ancient stone structures. Buildings small enough that, when compared to her, a single footstep was enough to blanket nearly a dozen of them. Looking around, she found that such structures weren't only seen upon the earthen floor but were also etched into the walls of the chamber, rising upward and hanging from the ceiling. They were connected by great staircases meant for those who lacked the ability to swim to such heights, allowing them access from one point to another. In a way, they decorated the land around them, the strange and odd design of their non-euclidean makeup creating nothing short of a seemingly legendary utopia. Once, this city within the Depths must have been a grand sight to behold. Now though, there wasn't a single soul in sight, and as such Gilah needn't worry about the destruction she caused. 

Surprisingly enough, cities such as this weren't unheard of in the Depths. Rare and grand, but nothing too strange to see. More often than not they were hidden away in places most Depth-Borne would not venture. Though they did not survive forever, the cities that lasted longest were always a sight to behold.

The tunnels within the Deep Wastes extended across every body of water, every celestial ocean, every sea of stars. Planets, galaxies, entire clusters of creation, the Depths expanded well into the territories of other Rulers. It was no wonder that some civilizations, those which possessed the mettle and drive to live at all costs, found some means of living in such a hostile environment. 

From the looks of it, this city had been abandoned for what may have been several millennia, either out of fear or respect of the one Gilah was searching for. She continued her stride, not caring for the ancient structures she destroyed. Call it one final indulgence of the butcher Gilah once was. Feeling the structures crumble underneath her weight, picturing who or what may have once lived there. Structures belonging to those from different lots of life. People with lives, families, lovers. All easily snuffed out by a simple determined march. 

It made Gilah uneasy, the fact that she could still find some enjoyment in such depraved thoughts. It was more than the curse Cathay placed upon her. More than the memories of the past. It was Gilah's nature. Buried, but still there. Instinctual. A love of carnage, as was befitting of a beast such as her. Soon, however, she hoped she wouldn't have to worry about such perversion.. 

Close now, Gilah was so very close to her destination. She could practically taste it. A new life. A better life. It was just on the horizon. 

Her determination was frighteningly apparent. So much so that Jason was quick to point it out on many occasions. He was already aware of the fact that much was on her mind. Now, seeing Gilah carelessly step on sets of buildings, empty though they were, and it was painfully clear that she was rushing things along. He wanted to speak out and say something. Anything. He wanted to Gilah and ear and listen to what was on her troubled mind. Rulers’ know, she was in dire need of it.

But Jason knew, no matter how much he tried, he was unlikely to get anything out of his titan of a girlfriend. In the year that he's known her Gilah had always been soft, sweet. She had her flaws, but then so did everyone else. She thought of herself as a beast, a monster, but if she looked beyond that and saw what Jason did, perhaps she'd realize that there was more to her than her nature dictated. A kind soul that tempered terrifying might with absolute compassion. 

Gilah's determination was fierce. Too fierce unfortunately, and anything Jason said, regardless of how true he felt his words were, was likely to fall on deaf ears. It was disheartening to say the least. 

Finally, Gilah stopped. Just on the outskirts of the ancient city which she had trod upon, above what looked to be an endless, bottomless chasm. To Gilah, when she looked down within, a powerful sense of unease washed over her. Fear so potent, so powerful, that even the legs of the Butcher shook. For Jason, the sensation was worse. Even a mind as strong and resilient as his was nearly pushed to the edge from the unbelievable, unfathomable pressure felt harassing his bone and internal organs. It took all his might to not just curl over and empty the contents of his stomach and bowls upon Gilah's shoulder. 

Gently, the leviathan raised her index finger over her dear human. She rubbed the plate of her nail upon his back in an attempt to sooth his addled mind. It did little to put his spirit at ease. What rested down there, deep within the chasm, was a whole new level of monstrousness. So much so that all Jason had seen within the Depths, save for Cathay’s own power, paled in comparison. Something that couldn’t be anything but a god, or something terrifyingly close to one.

They had arrived. Neither one needed to say anything to know that. 

Gilah wasted no time. Moving her fingernail underneath Jason's body, she scoped the human up and carried him downward, placing him upon the floor of this ancient tunnel. It wasn't often he was given the chance to stay close to the floor. Even less so when he was still submerged in the Depths waters. But the look in Gilah's eyes, that expression of worry and terror.

He couldn't be on her as she conversed with the Primal. 

Close to the floor, his feet floating inches away from the ground, Jason was only able to look up at the roaring beauty of Gilah. He often forgot just how big she truly was. So large that she shunned all but the tallest of skyscrapers mankind had to offer. And even then it was unlikely there were more than a few which could compare to, and even outdo, Gilah’s size. Truly, she was a force of nature all on her own. And now she was meant to converse with something worse. She constantly brought herself down to such a level that Jason was able to follow her. Understand her. Now though, he couldn't dream of keeping up. 

Even with her eyes so far above him, Gilah could see clearly her beloved Jason. Little more than a speck to her gargantuan size, he was still remarkable to view even when near the floor. 

"I need you to hide." She said, her shivering voice betraying the forcefully stern expression she wore. "Somewhere in the city. Don't go too far though. I'll find you when this is over."

Worry could not compare to what Jason felt. "Gilah… I don't know if-"

But he was cut off. 

"Jason, please. Listen to me." There would be nonroom for argument. No chance to have any second guesses. Everything needed to transpire perfectly. And if not that, then as close toward 'good enough' as Gilah could manage. 

"I know you're scared. I am too. But please, find someplace to hide. You can't help me with this. It's too dangerous, and your life far too precious to risk."

"So do as I say, and trust me." Gilah's expression softened. She lowered herself, kneeling in front of Jason just enough that, even though the distance was still quite vast, he could see the doubt behind her eyes. For all she was risking, even now she wasn't certain if this would work. "If anything happens I need to know that you'll be safe. Can you do that for me?"

Jason said nothing. What exactly could be said in such a situation? Instead, he nodded before swimming off into the waiting, slumbering city. From his perspective each of Gilah's footprints seemed to stretch nearly two dozen meters. He could probably hide in one of the toe prints. But he did as instructed and found shelter inside one of the buildings that hadn't been crushed, and waited for what felt like an eternity.

Certain that Jason was as safe as he could possibly be in such a situation Gilah peered over the chasm once more. An abyss that had no end in sight, even with eyes as powerful as hers. It just extended downward, further and further, towards destinations unknown. A trick against reality. Ancient magic, utilized by a former Ruler. This was, after all, a type of prison meant to keep its sole occupant in check. Deeper within, a beating could be heart. A melody of what may have been a drum coupled together with the rhythmic beating of a heart. A great many hearts, in fact, all beating out of order yet simultaneously together, creating a rich yet chaotic symphony that assaulted the sense. Not just one's hearing, but all that they utilized. Sight, scent, sensation of touch. 

The music was more than heard, it was felt upon every cell of those caught in its mad cacophony. It was enough to give the former Butcher pause, even if only for a short moment. With fists clenched, Gilah tightened her muscles and darkened her form. With strength she hadn't used for hundreds of years, Gilah slammed her arms down upon the ground. The chamber in its entirety shook violently, threatening to bring the entire city which surrounded her down. Yet it never collapses inward. Though everything seemed to suffer an earthquake surpassing those of natural design, the ancient, faltering city never fell. Not from strengths within its design, but rather due to the intervention of power unseen. Ancient might kept the kingdom  in place, maintained and allowed to keep in check that which it contained. 

From the chasm, the myriad symphony had ceased all at once. Where before there was only a chaotic tune to be heard now there was only silence. The water which surrounded Gilah grew cold, more so than what the abyss of the deep sea may offer, and almost seemed to grow suffocating. The gills that lined her neck grew tight, finding difficulty to breathe. Still, Gilah maintained her ground. She roared into the bottomless pit, a bestial bellow that echoed the entire way down. 

It wasn't long after that everything around her seemed to come undone. 

The water grew colder still and tasted of iron, the walls turned gray and seemed to breathe. The world around Gilah shifted and stirred, yet she stood strong all the same even as the cavern seemed to bend inward. The bottomless chasm tore free of its physical shackles, rising up like some disk of endless black. And as it did all things were pulled towards it. The breathing walls, the iron water. 

Melding together, creating shape and form for what once lacked it. It all turned pale, lifeless but still flowing of blood that was brought into being. A shuffling mass which grew larger and larger as moments passed, forcing Gilah backwards. She turned to face the city, momentary worry for Jason's safety taking hold of her. It was amazing. Even now, as everything fell apart around the forming Lord, the city stood tall. Whether it was made to revere the forming horror or was intended to contain it, Gilah couldn't say for certain. Either way, Jason remained safe for the time being. 

The leviathan turned back towards the forming mass, its true shape taking hold. It was towering. Truly towering, larger than life. Larger than the butcher, eclipsing her in its growing shadow and light. And it had yet to stop, easily passing thousands of meters in height before finally its form began to settle. First came the arms, long and gaunt yet exuding undeniable power. Not physical might but spiritual. Magical. Cosmic manipulation that broke physics long since established. 

Next came the torso, decrepit just like the arms, sinking into itself, offering a glimpse of possible starvation. It extended downward into a mass of tendrils that dug deeply into the rocky terrain below. They waved mindlessly, each seeming to possess control separate from the whole. Within the center of the Primal Lord's 'stomach' rest the very same chasm Gilah had peered into just minutes ago. 

From it came the final piece. The old Lord's head. Bringing clawed hands within the dark pit, the once slumbering titan pulled free a mountain's worth of pale, decaying flesh. It settled the mound atop its shoulders, letting it take hold and refine. The mass shrunk rapidly as the sound of crunching bones and squelching flesh echoed throughout the chamber and beyond, sending any lesser Depth beast away. Eyeless, two sets of horrifying human mouths formed, wrapped in strings of sinew. Their form had grown so large, so expansive, that at any moment they seemed fit to burst free from their confines. The city stood all the same, preventing such a tragedy. But the cavern did extend outward. Yet another subconscious influence brought upon by the once slumbering monstrosities power to give them much needed space. 

Instinct took over as Gilah fell to her knees. Natural subjugation, not brought upon by another's will But instead forced by deep seeded nature. Though she remained in their shadow, Gilah could not bring herself to look upon one of the twelve with her own eyes. It was a display of both respect and fear to wait until she was addressed. 

Slowly, the Lord attempted to get its bearings. It had been so long since they were last summoned. And by way of brute strength no less. There was no ritual enacted, no sacrifice as was favored by the Corpse Maker. But that was hardly an issue. 

All had come to pass in the manner that was expected. 

At first, there was difficulty in grasping even the simplest of thoughts. Cognition was returning at a less than desirable pace, but still at a speed which allowed the old lord to see who it was that summoned him. They tried to speak, their voice coming out as little more than an ear razing howl. Gilah covered her ears in reflex as Jason did, the poor human watching everything unfold as he traveled further away, moving from one building to the next. He was making his way upward, towards the hanging portion of the city so that he may see everything more clearly. 

The Lord spoke again, this time managing only something almost plausible before faltering again. "Yol…hve…ari...raaava…". There was no way Gilah was arguing that one out. It wasn't some ancient language, just poorly thought words pushed through a mouth which hasn't been used in who knows how long. It was on the third attempt where a vocal connection was finally established.

"You…have arrived…" power shone throughout the old Lord's body as it spoke, and motes of light pulled free of its skin before coming to rest at its shoulder. It was complete, awoken and aware. "Butcher of the Deep. Bleeder of the Wastes. Calamity, defiant of the omnipotent"

"Speak. I would hear your plea. Bargain. Request. "

Such pressure… such power! Even with a past as bloody as hers, Gilah couldn't help but shudder in fear. This was a force beyond nature. Might beyond reason and logic. A lord of the Depths. It was a task to even look upon them let alone speak. But if she waited too long then who knows what might be done.

"My lord, I come asking…"

"Favor" the Primal Lord answered, already aware of the young leviathan's request. 

"Or is it a demand? Removal of a gift. Or a curse? Identity. Self. Lost, yet found again. You need this, young butcher. You want this, lost warrior. To escape. Flee. Hide."

Together, the two mouths spoke in opposition of one another. Gilah was capable of stringing together what the Primal Lord was saying, even if their words seemed nonsensical at first. They were aware of her intentions long before she had even spoken. She chuckled, both in amazement and out of fear. The capabilities of one of the slumbering twelve was astonishing. 

"I could have probably said it better myself, my lord. But seeing as you're already aware, there's no need to." For a split second Gilah looked upon the old Lord's form. Though they possessed no eyes it was clear as day that they were looking down upon her, watching this young Depth-Borne with burning intrigue. 

"Always, I am aware" the Lord informed her. "Aware of all that may transpire. And what may not. Every path taken, every trail walked, I see it all. I am blind, but am known to all things.”

“Predictions. Premonitions. All paths are known to the mind of Ordegash. Sole order in the chaos of the Depths."

Gilah had heard tales of this Primal Lord. Even among its peers, they were old. Extremely old, and was once subject to the rise and fall of past rulers. Where others in the Depths wished only to sate their appetite for destruction, Ordegash displayed qualities unheard of. They favored the power of the mind. They coveted knowledge over might, and over their long life, had acquired such maddening intellect, so much power, that they could predict almost any event that may transpire with incredible accuracy. Of course, such power came at the expense of millions of worlds, thus the name Corpse Maker. 

Their power was such that Ordegash was imprisoned out of fear, at the hands of a predecessor of Cathay. Thankfully, the All-Knowing cared little for the throne. Even if they did, Gilah doubted there was a path they could walk which would lead to victory. 

"So you know why I'm here? Good." Gilah stood up, standing against the encompassing shadow of the pale titan. "You know the bargain I will offer along with its worth. Among the twelve Lords you are the only one who possesses the knowledge necessary to hide me away from the eyes of the Depths. Will you help me?"

Ordegash fell silent in contemplation. Yes indeed, they were aware of the butcher's reason for standing before them. Just one of countless possible outcomes that they foresaw in ages past. They had seen it all long before they had awoken. Gilah's past atrocities, her inner conflicts. Going against the word of one who's commands are law. They were aware of it LONG before the current tyrant of the Deep Wastes took her seat of power. And as always, they knew what lay in wait should this bargain be accepted.

"I know you, Calamity. Gilah?" The pale Lord spoke. "You, who peered into the heart of conflict. Turmoil. Disgust. You defy your nature, your purpose, and are willing to sacrifice anything to escape. Hide away. Even if it meant sacrificing yourself. Identity. To create a facade."

Ordegash loomed above, crouching forward as they looked down upon Gilah with its eyeless head. "All in the name of love. Dependence. Of one you've hidden away. You would offer your claws. Your teeth."

"Even your wonderful eyes. To cull your bloodlust for an eternity. Temporary reprieve."

Unsurprising. They knew exactly what Gilah wanted. This was good. Far less worrying than what she had initially feared. For a lord as old as Ordegash they were surprisingly approachable. There was still some notion of worry though. Understandable when faced with someone such as them. But, should things continue to progress as they are now, then there'd be little to worry about.

"HOLD UP, DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT!?"

Gilah's blood froze the moment Jason's voice rang out from up above. "Dammit…"

Looking upward, she saw that the human had taken the time offered to swim upwards towards the upper level of the sunken city. He had just about made it to a distance equal to Gilah's waist, however, when he heard the supposed bargain his titan of a lover had planned. An impressive feat of speed considering his size, yet it paled in comparison to the shock he was experiencing. 

"Gilah, what are they talking about? Your eyes? Your claws? You're not really planning on giving something like that up are you?"

Before the leviathan was even able to respond to what was asked, Ordegash's gaze fell upon the small human. To be in their presence was one thing, but to now actually have their attention upon himself? There was nothing else to say aside from the water surrounding Jason growing humiliatingly warm. Like looking upon the world and finding that it, in turn, was looking back at you. Every cell of his body, every fiber of Jason's being, felt as though it were being watched. Analyzed. Studied. 

Gilah was quick to place a hand in front of him, coming to the human's defense even if he had drawn attention towards himself and possibly brought ruin to her plan. Jason was cast in her shadow, kept from harm. But nothing, not even Gilah, could keep Ordegash's formless eyes from the loud little human. 

"Ahhhh… the small human, their purpose clear. Stability. Affection. Protection. Destruction. Of what the Depths stand for. Because of you, the butcher has walked a path less traveled upon. Fascinating. Disappointing. The Ruler would be displeased. Or already is?"

Gilah's fingers began to wrap proactively around her human in an attempt to shield him from Ordegash's influence. In time their formless gaze faded, though it was by no means thanks to Gilah's efforts. The Pale Lord ceased their study of their own accord, already well aware of how much this lesser creature meant to the former Butcher. Nothing would be gained from a battle here. They had seen it. And in viewing such a possible confrontation, Ordegash weighed Jason's life as holding value. Enough that they were in no danger. At least at their hands. 

"Calm, Gilah. Calamity. Be at peace." Ordegash urged. "I mean no harm to your other half. Your lover. Toy? Dependence. No harm will befall them. At least, not at this moment." The two mouths upon their face cracked into a semi smile. 

"Risk. Reward. Ruin. Recompense. All await you, should you continue down this path. As they await all things seeking this desire. You most of all. Will you sacrifice everything you have known? Dull your claws, lessen your senses? For a life not meant for you?"

"Will you sacrifice all that you are for the chance to live? The answer is known, but still you must say it. You must allow it."

And just like that, this was it. The moment Gilah had been waiting for. The moment she had been longing for. A chance to get away from it all. A way to step out of what was instinctual for her. Natural. It would be so easy to just give her answer. Or it would have been, had Jason stayed out of view and kept quiet. Now he was watching, waiting for her response. Though it was brief, the tone he used when he yelled out in disbelief was far from accepting of the situation presented. He couldn't fully understand everything the pale titan had said , their manner of speech irregular and strange. But what he was able to pick up on left a pit in his stomach. There was a clear price to be paid. On greater than he could have imagined. No matter how badly he wished to be silent he couldn't. 

Jason swam over to Gilah's hand, placing his own against her palm. She felt his touch and brought her fingers closer together, envisioning that the two of them were of comparable sizes, standing besides one another hand in hand. It was a wonderfully grand illusion, fragile in nature as when next Jason spoke Gilah was reminded of the vast difference between the two of them. She turned to face him, looking down at his feeble, insignificant, speck like form. It was too much. 

She was too much. 

"Gilah, please listen to me." Jason pleaded. As she pulled her hand away he refused to leave its side, remaining as close as he could in this trying time. "Whatever you're thinking, you can't go through with it. I'm not sure if what that thing said was meant to be literal, metaphorical, or something else but you can't give up on who you are!"

"Gilah you are wonderful, regardless of what you may think. You asked me if you were a monster, and maybe that was true once. But that's in the past. For the year we've known each other you've only shown me kindness and care. You are gentle, and sweet… and…"

The words came out one after the other, at times losing traction, other times picking up speed. But not once did they stop. Not until Jason looked up beyond Gilah's hand and towards her eyes. The very same ones that caused pain upon the pier he used to frequent as a child. The very same eyes which had likely caused similar pain to countless others. Some would look upon them and fall into despair or madness, calling Gilah a beast. But not Jason. He could never view her as such. 

She looked upon him, her accursed eyes wide with surprise. Who knew that, even when standing before her and a Primal Lord, could something so small act so brave. A shining knight of whom she was glad to have met. She could feel the corners of her mouth inch up slightly, curling into a smile. 

He was her hope. Her mate. Her beloved Jason. 

"Gilah, there has to be another way. Anything! Just not this. Please, don't sacrifice who you are. Don't run away. You can do better than that. You can be better than that."

Gilah was glad. So very happy to see such  love for her. It was wonderful, and moving. To all but the titan behind the two of them, still waiting for an answer they had long since foreseen. At the very least they were patient. Though their contempt wasn't eternal, and Gilah knew it would eventually wane. After seeing her partner's reluctance over this bargain of hers though, she was beginning to have second thoughts again. She could steel herself against many things, but Jason's voice was not one of them. 

Thankfully, his words did reach her. With her beloved human in hand she turned towards Ordegash once more, now even more determined than she was prior. 

"My lord, I would ask a favor." 

Pushing against the floor below her, Gilah's lower half quickly shifted from human legs to the form of her tail. She swam upwards until she was exactly opposite of Ordegash's head. She was so small compared to them, and Jason even more so. When together, however, both were able to meet the sightless gaze of Ordegash without an ounce of fear. 

"Tell me about the paths I am capable of walking."

****

Through a trail of destruction, a trillion deaths upon a dozen worlds, the tyrant of the Depths had only now reached the conclusion of her time away from her duties. A brief break away from her tasks as a Ruler to enjoy the basic pleasures common amongst her kind. Death and destruction, anarchy and madness, all brought upon by her simple presence. Upon the ruins of her latest, and final, razed planet, a wave of euphoria and clarity washed over her. This felt good.

It felt right. 

To have billions cower before her, and trillions more waiting away in the far reaches of space fearing her. Fearing the possibility that her gaze may turn towards their worlds. Just the idea was tantalizing, and deep down Cathay almost wished to continue her cosmic rampage. Laying with her back upon the remains of some advanced, no-name, metaphysical civilization, she was subject to the wonderful chorus of the population's manic screams. Creatures so advanced in their understanding of science that they remained undaunted by the possibility of a rival power. Cathay's coming, though brief, woke them up to their true place in the tapestry of creation. 

Cowering, or praying, beneath her globally encompassing body. Their cities, crushed beneath her mountainous toes, or were devoured and drowned in oceans of her spit. It was all too wonderful an experience, and Cathay wished that the species had bred more and advanced to create a stronger civilization, if only to offer her greater enjoyment. 

Perhaps even pleasure. 

More than a few of their cities had been used in just such a manner, after all. To deliver unto the tyrant a more…carnal relief. Cathay was inexperienced, at first, with a few cities crumbling away at the slightest touch of her sky expanding intimacy. It had been ages since she had a partner, and as such was a tad bit rusty. That said, Cathay was a remarkably fast learner. A few floods here, an unfortunate earthquake there, and she was gyrating her hips with stunning composure and care. Of course, the fragility of the species proved an issue, but at the minor expense of some of her power, no more than the energy used in a simple blink, Cathay was able to offer some means of withstanding her acts of arousal. Even now, she could feel the desperate struggles of thousands within her. 

Shoving some lesser settlements within her womanhood was more an experiment than anything else. One she was glad to have decided on. Within her, millions were coated in her juices, or adhered to the fleshy walls of her most intimate of parts, their flesh intermingling with hers for however long they may continue to survive. Amidst the incomprehensible debris of their once glorious civilization they were kept only alive by her grace. Her mercy. Expanding her size just a tad bit over what was natural she had practically become a secondary planet to the populace. An entire ecosystem of her own. 

Such fun. 

That being said, while all of this was still a lovely experience, Cathay couldn't help but feel as though something was missing. Or rather, someone. Destruction was all well and good. A pleasure she always enjoyed taking part in. It was to be expected, after all, for one such as her. But no matter how much she destroyed, no matter what she razed in fire and insanity, could do away with the ever growing sense of solitude. For all Cathay's power, no matter the amount of fear which came at the utterance of her name, she was alone. In the way of companions, she had only Gilah. And when looking towards romance she had no one. Her one desire had chosen another, a human, an ape. And that alone was cause for some of the Tyrant's greatest headaches and concerns. 

As wings sprouted from Cathay's back, covering her body in their embrace, she turned to her side, uncaring for any caught underneath. Clouds parted and disappeared. The planet's crust cracked underneath her weight, the fortitude she had granted it waning as Cathay’s mind slipped momentarily, her focus on other matters. 

She had taken the necessary precautions. She forbade Jason and Gilah from returning to the surface, even going as far as to place a curse upon the former, forcing them to relive some of their greatest failures in the form of nightmares. But was it not enough?

Or perhaps the inverse. Was it all too much? Gilah had always been a wildcard within the Depths. That was just who they were. Orders. Demands. They only stalled the inevitable with them. Should the former butcher decide on a matter then there was little in the cosmos that proved capable of dissuading her. Cathay always admired that trait of theirs, and in some ways was envious of it. Though contested only by a few in terms of power, so few that she could count the number on a single hand, the Ruler of the Depths possessed so many restrictions. So much, in fact, that her recent relief of stress was liable to earn the wandering eyes of her peers. So much unlike Gilah, who could act without any true consequence as even a Ruler's power could not afflict her, unless she allowed it. That made dealing with the younger leviathan a stressful, though never dull, task. And the more Cathay pushed against her ancient companion the more likely she was to push back. 

This constant back and forth conflict was something Cathay certainly wished to avoid. Not out of fear of battle, but more out of worry of losing a dear friend. 

Though it came at the cost of several worlds, the Ruler of the Depths has had ample time to think. "Perhaps I was too harsh on the two of them…" the punishments she delivered onto Jason and Gilah felt deserved at the time, but now, as with everything, the moment had passed. Their behavior has been decent, and they've kept up with her demands. Well, to an extent anyway. Looking at her fingers, her nails topped with a fresh coat of black paint thanks to Jason’s efforts in his punishment, she noted the human could have done better. That said,  Perhaps, just this once, mercy would be shown. Though a monster to a great many others, to those she actually cared for, Cathay could certainly show compassion. 

Standing upright, the Tyrant of the Deep Wastes was just about ready to wrap up her day. Kicking her soles clean of any lingering remains, be they bodies or cities, she fully considered showing some form of leniency towards Gilah and her little 'lover'. Cathay supposed they've paid enough of what was due. 

"Don't let it be said that I can't be nice." 

Spreading her wings further, Cathay nearly departed, until something quickly caught her attention. A strange melody. Slow at first, quiet, before rising in intensity. Like an odd cacophony of… drums? 

And hearts… 

The Ruler's eyes grew wide, as the realization dawned on her. Her mind expanded beyond the confines of her flesh as her vision grew dim. Images flashed before her, one of a battle between Whelps, where one was torn to shreds while another was forced to flee while in the company of a superior. An Adult Depth-Born. Another flash brought to focus an ancient city within the many tunnels of the Depths. Long since abandoned, it had remained untouched. Timeless. Now portions of it have been destroyed. Stepped on it would seem.

The last image came as no surprise then, after seeing the second. A great wall of pale and decayed flesh, possessing two mouths that spoke in opposition of one another while also speaking of possible futures. A mad titan. A primal lord.

"Ordegash?" One of the more 'docile' of the twelve. Older than her, and insane even by the standards of its peers. Yet they were fiercely intelligent, possessing uncanny knowledge over events that have yet to pass. Cathay never bothered with them. They were harmless so long as they remained undisturbed. So, to see them now, awake and fully formed was unsettling. 

An omen. 

"They should still be sleeping. Slumbering unless summoned…"

But who in their right mind would summon them? Even those beyond Cathay's domain knew better than to deal with the splintered mind of Ordegash. But no matter how hard she tried, Cathay could not see who it was that spoke with the pale lord. Even if they could see the once slumbering titan with absolute clarity, whatever had stood before them was…nothing. Empty space, though it was clear someone stood there. 

As though whatever held dealings with the pale lord was free from worry of Cathay's power, and thus her sight. 

"No…" Cathay grit her teeth in growing rage, any compassion she held before vanishing like dew on red hot iron. "They wouldn't… SHE wouldn't dare!"

All around her, cracks formed. High above, where the heavens touched the void of space. Splinters of reality, shards like those of fragile glass when faced with the rage of a ruler. They burned away as above Cathay, a breach into the Depths manifested. One of her own design, free of the shackles of requiring what one might consider an ocean or sea. 

All that she saw pointed towards one indisputable fact. But Cathay wished to confirm such suspicions before acting on her rising anger. She wanted to see if things were as they appeared. 

She searched further within Ordegash's chamber, looking throughout the ancient city that bordered their prison. She searched through each little building carefully, taking in every minor detail, covering entire sections in minutes. She scanned the floor, the walls, the ceiling. Everything. Until at last she saw him. 

Adrift. Floating. Looking up towards the pale lord and the space of 'nothing'.

"Jason" 

That was all Cathay needed to hear. Her rage was such that it extended to not just the planet she stood on, but the solar system as whole. Any who carried within them even a small amount of intellect was thrown into a blind frenzy, turning upon their own with savage intent. Though her actions were rage induced, Cathay did not care for the new chaos she wrought. Her anger was instead directed towards two others.

"GILAH! JASON!" With a single beat of her wings Cathay threw herself off of the planet's surface with such destructive force that not only was the globe annihilated in its entirety, but the resulting shockwave of the Ruler's departure obliterated the system as well. 

"YOU'RE DEAD!!!"

The destructive power continued to carry onward, annihilating star after star, one solar system after another, until the whole of that galaxy… was gone. 

There was no limit to the Tyrant's anger, and certainly no mercy for any who would stand in her way. 

Whether out of respect or a simple desire to live, none in the Depths dared move. No whelp sought battle, nor did any elder or alpha lift a finger. Even the currents that flowed throughout the infinite corridors of the deep wastes fell stagnant; void of life. A chill ran throughout the high-limitless space as the wrath of its Ruler became apparent. Cathay's anger was felt in more than just bones. It was cemented within each and every cell of the occupants of her domain. 

Even the slumbering Primal Lords, kings and queens of the watery abyss, felt their master's wrath enter their yawning dreams. Nearly stirred to rise, only one truly remained awake as the furious tyrant drew near.

Ordegash, sole order of the Depths, knew what was coming. They had seen it countless times, through fractures sequences of possibility. There were no surprises left for the all-Knowing titan. Still, to know where the Ruler's wrath was directed was a chilling sensation. Even to one as powerful and ancient as them, the pressure of a frenzied Ruler was near crushing. 

There was hardly time to prepare for their master's arrival as, before Ordegash could utter a single word, the world around them grew dark. The city that once served as their gatekeeper was swallowed by the pitch black void. Soon, the empty space came to be lined with countless, maddened eyes, all red with rage. Ordegash felt the pressure around them grow even more perilous, as though at any moment they'd  truly be crushed. 

Acting fast, the pale titan fell onto their gaunt arms, prostrating themselves. They spoke quietly, trying their hardest to keep their two voices as one.

"To… what do we owe the pleasure, my majesty? To grace this old lord with your presence? Intrusion born of rage."

Just as it seemed so close to crushing Ordegash's form, the pressure ceased as up above Cathay's shadow took shape. Given structure and mass through the countless eyes which served to constitute this pocket of creation, endless in expanse, the enraged Ruler looked down upon the protesting lord. Towering over the already titanic leviathan, Cathay was able to see Ordegash's arms twitching underneath their own weight, their undead appearance showing that they weren't meant to be used as such support. 

The vengeful tyrant did not care. "Don't even think about getting up from that position." As things stood, Cathay was so large in comparison to Ordegash that she could easily bring her hand down upon them and crush them like some insect. Not yet though, she still needed answers. "I want you to tell me exactly where Gilah is, along with her little pet. Pray that I like your answer, slug, or it'll be your life."

Just Cathay's words were debilitating. Like literal daggers in their pale flesh, Ordegash found it increasingly difficult to keep their position through their ailing body. Unlike the majority of their kin they had not dabbled in purely physical conflict, back when they still needed to do so. Their physical form reflected this, having grown weak and fragile, yet possessing the capacity to house boundless magic and knowledge. It wouldn't take much effort on Cathay's part to end the Primal Lord's life then and there. She would only need to use her power to ensure they did not regenerate, and given their evident anger that seemed to be a very real possibility. 

"Of course, my master. Anything you desire to know. Within reason. I am yours to command. Or demand."

Cathay rolled her eyes in annoyance and sighed. "And do try to keep your voices in order. It'd be unfortunate if I had to kill you out of irritation." Ordegash's manner of speech had always been a point of annoyance for the Ruler. Even before ascending to her throne, in the few interactions she had with them prior she always ended up confused by what they said. Their constantly opposing voices just irritated her to no end, even on the rare occasions she could decipher what was said. 

"Then again, I might just kill you anyway. Make an example of you before setting fire to that mud ball of a planet, Earth." 

Before their non-existent eyes, Ordegash could see the weight behind Cathay's threat. Hundreds of thousands of possible outcomes, all flashing images of yet another toppled civilization, and a bloody path cut through the cosmos as the Ruler made good on her warnings. Personally hunting down any greater being who had fallen in love with some lesser life form. For a Depth-Borne such as Ordegash, the thought of such carnage was tantalizing. Unfortunate, then, that they did not see themselves in any of these possibilities. 

If Ordegash was to enjoy the coming calamity then they'd need to ensure their survival. 

"My master, killing me would be… unwise. Poorly thought."

Cathay grinned, "And why is that?" She raised her hand high before bringing her fingers together, ready to snap and inflict further torment on the Pale Lord. 

"You would lose the Calamity's reasoning. Her explanation. Cause behind her actions."

Cathay remained quiet for some time before letting her hand drop to her side. As opposed to others, Cathay could not invade Gilah's mind thanks to their nature as one that would defy divinity. Were she to kill Ordegash then she'd lose learning of Gilah's reason for leaving. It was a clear gamble, one that the Pale Lord had several lifetimes to prepare. Still, they were pleased to see that their own reasons for survival were at least enough to give Cathay some pause. She was willing to listen to at least this, for the moment anyway. 

"The Calamity holds desires. Wishes. Of a better life beyond the Depths, away from the intrinsic carnage. Strong enough that she would seek out my aid. Would have given up anything to see such desires fulfilled. Almost. The Calamity would have dulled her teeth and claws, denied her nature and forfeit all that she is. Or was…”

“She wished to run and hide away from the endless battles. Bury her nature, her sense of self, for a chance at peace. Pointless. Admirable. She was dissuaded."

Cathay raised an eyebrow in curiosity. She had managed to understand some of what was explained, though only in portions. Already she was developing a headache. "So Gilah came to you for… what? To change herself? Erase her 'nature'? You make it seem as though she changed her mind at the last minute. What changed?”

"The human," Ordegash replied. "They swayed the young calamity, imploring that she find a different path. A moving display. Naivety. Affection. Foolishness. Through his words the Butcher searched for a new path to walk. One she walks, now more complete than she has been in centuries."

Complete? "What is that supposed to mean?"

Ordegash fell silent, the Pale Lord weighing their next course of actions carefully.. "The Butcher sought an escape. Salvation. So a means was provided." Though never rising up, the decaying leviathan extended a hand forward. Confused at first, Cathay's eyes grew wide the moment she realized what it was the Primal Lord was holding in their hand. There they were, assimilated into the pale mass of Ordegash’s flesh, still shining the same magenta color even after being separated from the body. 

"For her salvation, her redemption, the Calamity offered her eyes. So that she may not draw others towards insanity."

Cathay looked upon the pair of eyes, as pristine as they had been when in the skull of her ancient ally. For a moment, her pocket realm faltered, and the Ruler's surprise slowly turned to silent fury. 

"I'm going to rip you apart now. Slowly… and painfully."

Ordegash quickly retracted the eyes back into their flesh before clasping their hands together in a sort of prayer. "Mercy, my master. Patience. The Butcher is well. Unharmed. Her sight, once a marker of ruin, now contains a quiet wrath. Controlled. To mirror her returned bloodlust." 

Cathay fury only worsened. "Gilah's bloodlust… returned? Ha…haha…" the Ruler held her hand close to her face, the desire to dig her nails into her skin growing greater with each passing moment. She couldn't remember the last time she was this angry. "Aha… actually, forget ripping you apart… I think I'll just swallow you whole."

The dark void grew turbulent as the great many eyes which hung in the air grew closer, splitting apart into gnashing mouths all ready to feast. An invisible force kept Ordegash in place, preventing any sort of escape or struggle, though it was clear neither would be possible. Cathay was practically salivating at the thought of this impending meal, the increasing amounts of saliva within her maw making its way into the pitch black nothingness above, raining down upon the struggling Primal Lord. 

“Your fury is deserved. Your commands, ignored and tarnished. Patience, my master. There is a method to the madness.”" The pale titan spoke with as much clarity as they could muster. It was a struggle to keep their two voices aligned as one, yet any sort of deviation would very well end their once seemingly infinite life. 

The shower of spit did not cease for some time, Cathay determining if Ordegash's words were even worth the time now. Thankfully, the Ruler's curiosity got the better of her. Releasing her invisible hold over the titan, Cathay allowed them this one final chance. 

"Speak quickly"

Though the path they were now walking, both Ordegash and Cathay, had been seen time and time again by the former, actually arriving at it the desired point would prove a tricky dance between life and death. Already, the pale titan was witness to several hundreds of its own demise. All but a few poorly chosen words away.

"You will give chase towards the surface of the little world, Earth. This cannot be denied, even by you. An immutable fact. But then… what?" A question that Cathay likely hadn't asked herself. "Several paths lie before you. Will you kill the Jason and unleash the fury of the Butcher upon a witless cosmos? Or banish the both of them into the Depths once more, damning them to an existence that is abhorred? Every story holds some conclusion. Which shall you choose?"

Cathay remained quiet; deep in thought. The void surrounding them lessened in intensity and the gnashing mouths returned to simple eyes. She had acted so quickly, only able to focus on her fury, that she hadn't even considered the what-ifs. Countless outcomes could arise from whatever decision she made in regards to the troublesome couple that continued to plague her. But it wasn't as though she could just let them leave her domain. 

…could she? 

Even after they had gone behind her back and sought to work with Ordegash of all beings? 

“You do not know, do you? Or rather, refuse to know? To change?” From their struggling position Ordegash cocked their head slightly to the right, bones cracking as they did, pondering. “Through your will you may see all things. But never do you look to observe the path you tread.” 

Cathay was quiet, deep in thought over what she would do after catching Gilah and Jason. Her first answer would have been to burn that little ball of dirt they tried to flee to into ash. Now though… She was having second thoughts. "What do you stand to gain from all this, Corpse Maker? Am I to believe this was done out of the kindness of your many hearts?" 

Though still on thin ice, the pale titan chuckled even in the face of the danger imposed on them. “Even for beings as refined as ourselves, kindness for the sake of kindness is not in our nature.” 

"Then. WHAT?” Cathay’s patience was running thin. 

"War, my Ruler. Conflict. Carnage. Against the world. Against the stars and the void. Against heaven and hell. To make the universe, every universe, bleed, as is our purpose. The fulfillment of our role in the order of creation." Ordegash rose, no longer bound by Cathay's power as she silently judged them. Looking up, the pale titan raised their arms in reverence, preaching of aspiration. "It is our gift... to the tapestry. Claws to the bones. Teeth to the flesh."

Cathay scoffed. "So that’s all this is then? More bloodshed? Bloodlust? Truthfully, I expected more. This… just seems so typical." She should have seen it coming. Even if they were god-like in power, the twelve slumbering Lords were still of the Depths. They were born of it. Molded by it. Forced to survive the impossible until they were so strong that they never needed to struggle again. But the craving for conflict, the desire to destroy all that laid before them, it was engraved into their very beings. Perhaps more so thanks to their incredible age. Regardless of the attempts made to control that almost genetic urge, it always reared its head before long. Even Gilah, it seemed, had fallen back into her ancient ways, though for reasons far different from what was considered normal.

"You misunderstand." Ordegash bowed as Cathay's eyes sharpened. Questioning her capability to follow what was being said was a certain, sure fire way to hasten the end of a life. "My apologies, my master… What I mean to say, to clarify, is that the arrival of the Butcher on Earth will draw the attention of many. Their fear. Admiration. War will come. It is craved. It is inevitable. War with the apes. War with the cosmos. War with all corners of creation. It was all bound to pass. Now, through the Butcher, as well as those who walk the same path, the conflicts may be guided."

They had seen it. Time and time again, war breaks out in the cosmos for reasons even Ordegash was unaware of. There was a constant, however, seen along the infinite paths they witnessed daily. Viewed in lesser numbers with each passing day but ever present. 

"The love Gilah holds for her human… It is one of many. Destroyers. High Dragons. Earthbound Leviathans. Divinity. The Demonic. Some, not all, have fallen for… lesser things. They are questioned, yet still they happen. This… affection. Akin to a plague. Like the coming conflicts it is unavoidable. But through them a path towards… lesser bloodshed can be walked."

"My Ruler, I ask that you consider this. Understand. We are creatures of violence. We are molded by it. Shaped. It is our air. As such, we do not create. Cannot. But we can guide." Ordegash brought their hands together as if in prayer, hoping their master would listen. "War will come, and we will have our fill of it. But what of the hereafter? What then? We are in a position to guide the future towards a desired outcome. These… ‘Sweethearts’... they are few now. Thousands among the millions I have seen. Conflict will come because of their affection. Intimacy that is not yet understood. Even denied. By Ruler’s such as yourself. But not forever, and when it is accepted… survival may be guaranteed.” 

Cathay understood now… to a degree anyway. Beyond the desire for battle and bloodshed, there was one primal urge that instigated what soon became natural in the Depths. An ever growing need to survive. From the moments younglings escaped the gnashing teeth of their parents, that’s all anyone has ever done in the Deep Wastes. Survive by growing stronger. Piling one corpse on top of another until there was no one left to challenge. Yet even then, survival was never guaranteed, and death could come as swiftly and suddenly as a rogue wave. Cathay remembered all she had done to survive, living so long that now she wasn’t even certain she could properly put her age into numbers. Ordegash was no different, likely recalling all they had done in order to ensure their survival, rising to a power just beneath the Ruler of the Depths. 

But their way of survival, clouded now as an endless lust for chaos, could not guarantee longevity. A civilization and race that relied solely on might could not last forever. The Depth-Borne were long living, some among their numbers even learning to refine their innate bloodlust. But not every battle can be won through brute force and pure power alone. Especially when said civilization was known for turning its teeth upon its own kin, if only to test out one’s superior might. 

Slowly, Cathay’s fury began to subside the more she realized what Ordegash had planned. As strange as it may seem, it almost appeared as though they craved… peace. An oddity in the Depths. Perhaps the very reason why they were banished to this spot in the Deep Wastes. Such a way of thinking was unheard of, especially from one so old. There was still the craving for war, seen in the desire to have their ‘fill of war’. But once that was satiated, there was a clear interest in peace that came from these Eldritch Sweethearts, as Oredgash had called them. An interest that was enough to give the Ruler of the Depths pause. She even went as far as to consider the possibility. 

“Perhaps, in time, even you can find your better half among the numbers of… lesser creatures. Those apes the Butcher has taken interest in.” 

And just like that, any understanding Cathay had was immediately lost. Her silent fury returned. Doubled, in fact, at the thought that she would ever willingly submit herself to those primates. Ordegash sensed this and immediately realized the error of their words. 

They fell silent, knowing now that there was no turning back. 

"Done speaking?" When no response was given Cathay smiled. "Good". The Ruler raised her hand high once more and snapped her fingers. Immediately, the decayed form of the Pale Lord was pulled inward, into the pitch black void at the center of their chest. Their body was condensed; compressed into such a small form that, before long, they hardly resembled the shape they had prior. The space of manic eyes faded away, returning Cathay to the ancient city which once served as the Corpse Maker's prison. 

In Ordegash's place there now rested a smooth white orb, no larger than the nail of the furious Ruler’s pinky finger. Though it was faint, a low heartbeat could still be heard, showing that the Primal Lord was still alive. They were conscious, fully aware of their predicament yet unable to do anything to fight back. No amount of power exerted would be enough to combat the might of the Tyrant of the Deep Wastes. 

Holding the pearly in between her thumb and finger, Cathay brought it up to eye level, carefully examining the round object. Making sure there was no flaw which could be taken advantage of. "Be grateful that I chose to keep you alive." She said, "You almost had me going for a second there. Actually making me think we could change." The Ruler pouted, condescending, before smiling over her own handiwork. “Beings like us never change Ordegash. Baptized through the blood of all who have challenged us, we ascend. We rise to devour all, gods, devils, and any that lay between the two. If war is inevitable then let it find us again. We will tear through the masses, just as our nature demands.”

Satisfied that there was no means on the pearl with which Ordegash could fix themselves, or have any other return their original shape, Cathay rose the small flawless orb to her lips. Extending her tongue outward, she fastened the pearl onto the undulating mass. Taste buds hooked into Ordegash’s new form, keeping them in place as the Ruler closed her teeth and sentenced them into the darkness of her mouth. This would be the pale one's new prison, a little piece of jewelry that would be kept close at all times so that this sort of incident may never happen again. Peering into the Primal Lord’s mind, Cathay was a little disappointed to see that they were not terrified. Rather, they had resigned themselves to their fate. Likely, the only paths they saw now was one of continued bloodshed. The nail in the coffin for the Depths should nothing ever change. 

A concern for later, however. Now, Cathay had more personal matters to tend to. 

"You'll be accompanying me to Earth." Cathay explained as her smile fell. "I want you to watch as I wipe the iteration of this little speck of dirt clean from the universe."

****

There was no sound, only silence. The waves were still, and the night sky was cool. Though dry, the surface had beauty that could very much be appreciated, especially to those born in an environment as hostile as the Depths. Peace was a foreign concept in the minds of many Depth-Borne, and when it was presented often did the idea go ignored. Should one wish for serenity than they needed to discover it for themselves. So it was that, when Gilah looked off into the distance of the city with new crimson eyes, she saw her serenity. Her peace. 

Her heart was racing, both from excitement and from fear. Gilah drifted in the sea, taking as much time as she could afford in the ocean. With her lower half altered to that of her tail, the leviathan knew that after tonight it would be the last time she would see it. “This is it then…” Gilah held her hands close to her chest, keeping her beloved close to her heart. “We’re really going through with this…”

She felt a smile form on the corner of her lips. 

Gilah curled her fingers, taking notice now of what she felt. Jason’s form, his arms and chest. The whole of his body fit snugly in her grasp. But the human hadn’t grown in any sort of way. Jason remained the height he had always been before entering the Depths. Rather, it was the Leviathan who had shrunk. Considerably at that, as per her agreement with the Corpse Maker Ordegash. She found it humorous to have struck a deal with someone of such a moniker. Some might feel any price paid would be too heavy, and in some cases they would be correct. 

Gilah had sacrificed her eyes, the means with which she had plunged countless minds into madness, along with her size. If she was to live amongst humans then she could not stand on a scale similar to mountains. The process of shrinking was slow, the distance between leaving Ordegash’s domain and arriving to the surface having taken the vast majority of the Butcher’s height. Now she was small enough to comfortably hold her Jason in a single hand. She relished the sensation of actually being able to properly hold him like no other. While there were no difficulties before in providing escort, Gilah could never properly grasp him. Hold her beloved so close without harming his small, miniscule body. Now, while still quite fragile, she could hold the human much closer than she had previously. She could feel everything on the surface. Jason’s greedy breaths of fresh air, his little heartbeat. Even the blood running through his veins. Everything was felt. 

Gilah’s grasp tightened as old temptations rose to the surface. She fought it off as best as she could, relaxing her grip as she clenched her teeth. It would be so easy to just… squeeze the life out of him. Feeling their body crumble, their bones break and their meat squish. It was a mouth watering thought, one that Gilah was finding difficulty in resisting. Only when Jason placed a hand on her cheek, now large enough to be fully felt, did such temptations begin to fade. 

“You good?” the human looked up at his still colossal lover with worry. He had seen it firsthand, the prices that Gilah needed to pay in order to be free of the Depths. Truth be told, he had wished the loss of her previous eyes were the highest price to be paid. Unfortunately, the true price came in the form of Ordegash depriving the Butcher of her prior means of repression. Centuries of suppressing her bloodlust, undone in but a few minutes. Jason could see it in Gilah’s new eyes that something had changed greatly within her. As she had swam to the surface, all varieties of Depth-borne beast avoided her presence, even as the Butcher continued to grow smaller. 

Gilah offered as gentle a smile as she could muster through her struggling temptations. She had forgotten just how strong they could become when ignored. It reminded her of the earliest days when she attempted to suppress herself. “As fine as I can be…” she chuckled. “Don’t you worry your delicious little head… I'm used to fighting my nature.”

She wished to say that such inner battles had only grown easier as time progressed, but after going so long without such feelings it was apparent that they didn’t just scratch at the back of her head. They shouted, screamed, demanding blood. But there was a greater temptation that overshadowed such ancient taste for violence. 

Gilah brought her lips close to Jason’s head, her tongue extending before licking the human. There was no way she could have done this before without the risk of swallowing him whole. She ensured her tongue was soft and smooth as it ran across the upper half of Jason’s body. Tiny hooks normally meant to drip onto food were softened to the point that, when rubbed up against skin, it felt akin to a slobbery massage. 

If she wished, Gilah could very easily bite Jason in half. Instead, when next her tongue ran across his face, it retreated back into her mouth as she planted a colossal kiss upon the human’s matted hair. 

“I’m more concerned for you Jason” Gilah admitted as she rubbed her index finger atop the human’s head. “You know what comes next. Are you certain you can handle it?”

Gilah’s smile softened as worry settled in its place. Ordegash’s instructions on the path they now walked didn’t leave much in the way of alternatives. They both knew what needed to be done, and it was far from a painless step forward. It was more than enough to give the returned Butcher some pause. 

Reaching up and grabbing ahold of Gilah’s finger, Jason gently ran his hand across its surface. He guided the leviathan’s hand to his side before placing a kiss on her nail. 

“We’ve come this far right? What’s a little bit of pain for our future together?”

Gilah’s heart skipped a beat as, briefly, her entire form darkened before returning to its normally pale complexion. “Oh dear, please watch what you say for now. Keep talking like that and I might have to take more than needed~.” 

“Just try and be careful, okay?” Jason requested as he leaned closer towards Gilah’s lips. “I’ll endure what I can but you’re the one who’s doing most of the work.”

“Don’t sell yourself too short now” Gilah replied as she opened her jaws. “We both know this won’t be easy for you.” 

Slowly, and as gently as she could manage, Gilah brought the upper half of her beloved into her mouth. She was too small now to bring him in fully, but with what she had managed proved more than enough to submerge Jason’s upper torso in saliva. It had accumulated quite a bit, showing that despite her worries the leviathan was in clear anticipation of this moment. It was rather nerve wracking for Jason, especially since he knew what was coming next. 

Gilah bit down, softly at first before the pressure began to increase dramatically. He could feel the weight of Gilah’s jaws and teeth, just the tips thankfully, piercing into his flesh. It burned fiercely, like having jellyfish stings all across where he was bitten. Even as blood began to spill from open wounds and fall into the sea, the iron scent likely drawing natural sea critters from miles around, Jason did move. He placed his complete trust in Gilah, knowing that she wouldn’t go too far. Still, despite the trust he placed in her, that didn’t serve to do away with the fear he felt. There was no doubt in his mind that she could rip the meat from his bones with incredible ease. Too much force and she could tear through his ribs and spine with the ease one would need to snap a string in half. There was no telling just how many she had actually consumed in such a manner, only that now she wished to do better. 

Always, she wanted to do better. Thus why the price she paid was so heavy. Through her returned bloodlust she needed to relearn control, but not through repression of her nature. Gilah needed to hone those temptations. Refine them in the way a Primal Lord would, and direct them through different means. She wished to make a life with Jason on the surface, and in order to protect that desire she needed to learn how best to control herself. 

Jason’s lack of struggling helped to make the situation far less perilous. Gilah recalled loving when prey fought back, so her beloved’s lack of movement was smart. She could still feel his heart and breathing, but also the tension in his body as he endured what most others would not be able to. Jason never even screamed out in pain as, even, the tip of Gilah’s teeth managed to touch bone. Normally, any fragile creature at this point would have perished. Thankfully, that was the intention here. 

The moment Gilah’s teeth touched bone, Jason felt himself change. A sensation washed over him as all previous unpleasantries left his body. A sort of humming, a vibration, that allowed him to relax. For a moment Jason’s body seemed to shine in a manner similar to Gilah’s when her skin darkened. A slight glow reminiscent of how her hair and scars grew luminous during such moments, though lacking in intensity. 

Gilah pulled away, a strand of bloodied saliva connecting her and Jason briefly before snapping. She licked her lips, savoring the taste, as Jason sulked over trying to catch his breath. “Goodness Jason, you are delicious~” Of all the things she had devoured in the past, not once had Gilah ever actually devoured a human. While the taste of one was nothing to write home about, the flavor of her own lover was just… euphoric. “I might just need to give myself another taste~.” 

Smiling at first, Gilah’s grin fell the moment she saw the light dim around Jason’s body. He clutched his chest, trying to breathe as the wounds left behind slowly began to close. What was only burning before soon grew to be incredibly painful again, and it was all Gilah could do but hold on tightly as she watched on in absolute worry. 

She gently stroked the back of Jason’s head with her finger, waiting for the pain to pass until she could speak. She knew this would be hard to watch and even mentally cursed Ordegash for having told them of this. While true, it was their only possible path forward to avoid Cathay’s ire, it still sucked to see her dear human suffer. But such was the risk of creating a pact. A bond between two beings, a greater and a lesser, commonly reserved for priests and their divine patron. Sometimes the pact is sealed through forms of worship, or offerings that earn a patron’s favor. But Gilah was no god, and instead was a slayer of such beings. A pact with her was more personal. Painful. 

A pact with Gilah required the blood of someone she held dear. Someone who was willingly giving themselves to her. In return, she’d be able to offer some of her own capabilities to her ‘supplicant’. Nothing truly outstanding, mostly the means to shield themselves from divine influence, but it was enough. Formidable in the right hands, but this was only meant to keep Jason safe. If Gilah could keep Catahy’s fingers from Jason’s throat then this pain was necessary. Still, it hurts to watch. Eventually, the bleeding stopped, the pact taking hold and preventing unnecessary death. Gilah wished that she had some form of regeneration, as that would only serve to protect Jason further. Some things just couldn’t be helped it would seem. 

“Hey…” Moving her finger underneath the human’s chin, Gilah guided their gaze upward. “You’re fine right? That wasn’t too bad?” she needed to know that her Jason wasn’t suffering during the entire ordeal. Bloodlust be damned, any pain she caused him was worthy of self punishment. 

Jason smiled weakly, exhausted but recovering. Whatever new sense of vitality was within him was meant to endure pain, likely thanks to Gilah’s conflict riddled existence. For a natural born warrior such as herself such tiny bite marks meant nothing. And so, though quite likely to leave a scar, Jason would survive. While not quite the barbarian as his titanic lover, he would survive. His natural durability has increased, along with whatever he had endured in the Depths. 

“I think… we’ll have to skip any love bites in the future…” 

Carrying Jason to her cheek, Gilah embraced the human. “Do you seriously think you should be joking, you silly little human?” Once more Jason tried his best to ensure Gilah did not have to worry about his being too much. Whether it was through jokes or the trust he placed in her, Jason ensured that he could preserve the leviathan’s smile. 

“I try my best… and that’s the most anyone can do…” Though he put on a brave face, Jason doubted the fact that he could move much on his own at the moment. Along with their new bond, the force behind Gilah’s ‘gentle’ bite was quite formidable. Jason very much needed a breather. “That said… think you can carry me home?” 

Gilah still had enough height to make sure the trip was comfortable enough for her small little human. Her strides shouldn’t take up too much time either, especially if she was being guided. That wasn’t the difficult part, however. Looking into the sea she looked upon her tail for what very well may be the last time. No more battles. No more Depths. 

No more Butcher. 

She lowered herself to her back, floating upon it as she lifted her tail high into the air. Jason looked on, silent but aware of what was going through her mind. Even as he was showered by droplets of sea water he did not say a word. This was perhaps the single most important moment of Gilah’s life. Where nothing would ever be the same for her again. It was a terrifying prospect, change of this scale. She has battled all manners of horrors, beings fit to wipe away all life in a galaxy if left unchecked. Hell… she was even one such being. Once, a wandering monster in search of her next battle, her next meal. Now, she longed to be more than that. 

She brought Jason close to her chest once more, feeling his heartbeat resonate with her own. This pact ensured that he would endure what other humans could not. Live longer, see what they can’t and understand what shouldn’t be. Through it the two of them were closer, tethered now and forever. 

It was the two of them until the very end. 

“No sense in stalling…” Gilah steeled herself, looking off towards the city; her future. This time she'd avoid the pier and find some other means to head onto land. She wouldn't repeat past mistakes. 

Gilah brought Jason up to her lips one last time, planting a kiss on top of his head. He managed to lean into it despite his fatigue, meeting Gilah with all the effort he could muster

 “Here’s to a whole new life~.” 

Diving underneath the surface of the sea, Gilah made her way towards the city. There, where a whole new beginning was awaiting her. 

****

Just what was Valerie doing here anyway? Looking out into the ocean from the old railings of the pier, bottle of liquid courage in hand, that was the one question poised in her mind. 

Why? 

Why was she here? Again? Over the past year Valerie has lost track of the amount of times she's spent the night out in the cold, looking over the sea and just… wishing. Wishing she could do something, anything, to save her little brother. 

She should have believed him when Jason told her. But how could she? Gorgeous sea beasts the size of a mountain? It was complete insanity, no different than their father's own words. In the end, it would seem Jason and the now passed patriarch of the Armitage family was right, and it was Valerie who had to deal with such knowledge. 

She knew so much now. Enough to drive lesser minds mad. But not her's. Ancient sea beasts, horrors and beauties alike, were real. Or at least that's what Valerie believed now. Everything she's researched seemed credible. Or at least as credible as a desperate woman hoped for. But what has all this knowledge amounted to?

Nothing other than an old boat drifting by a closed down pier and another drunken episode of regret. Perhaps she'd do it this time… sail just as she believed her brother did. Search out there for something. Some sort of answer for her mind flooded with questions. 

It was not an impulse she was unfamiliar with at this point. In fact, such an idea had only grown more common in her thoughts. Valerie couldn't even recall the last time she'd gotten behind the wheel of a boat. It must have been a few years by now. But… if it meant finding something…

Valerie clutched the bottle tighter as tears slowly began to form in her eyes. "Please… anything Jason… just show me that you're alive…"

She had given so much for her family, ensuring they could stand for themselves in hard times. But nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared her for this overwhelming feeling of guilt. 

Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but had Valerie believed her brother then could she have done something?

"You can't be gone. You can't!" Even now she refused to believe what everyone else did. She didn't want to move on when there was SOME glimmer of hope. But what could she do? 

Valerie's guilt slowly turned to anger as she raised the bottle of booze over her head. "Fuck you! You hear me!" She shouted out into the unknowns of the motionless sea, or rather whatever horrors could hear her. "FUCK YOU!" 

She threw the bottle, expecting to hear the familiar crash of its weight against the water. Instead, she was met with a peculiar sight. Just as the bottle had left Valerie's hand, not even a few feet past the pier railing did it come to a complete halt in the air. 

"What…"

Valerie rubbed her eyes, believing her mind to be playing tricks on her. Slapping herself across the face to sober up some she was baffled to find the bottle still in the air. A chill ran down Valerie's spine as an unnatural cold suddenly took hold. Exhaling, Valerie saw that her breath had become visible. The temperature had taken an incredible nosedive and before long the once drunken woman found her teeth clattering both from the cold and from fear. Valerie backed away, every fiber of her being telling her to run, but she was stopped as, suddenly, the glass bottle before her shattered. There were no cracks prior, no sudden pressure. It just exploded. 

Shards of glass fell into the ocean as, to Valerie's right, the boat she had spent a good amount of her savings on, suffered the same fate. Not as sudden as the bottle. In fact, it seemed to decay more than explode, but the point remained that the vessel had been destroyed, its frame falling inward into itself. 

Valerie fell onto her ass as all around her, several objects suffered similar fates. Old lights that still worked suddenly short circuited, rides that had withstood the test of time rusted, and buildings simply crumbled away. Everything around her was being destroyed, and yet that wasn't even the worst of it. 

Before Valerie's very eyes the sea itself seemed to rise, gallons upon gallons of water ascending as some tower. It just kept going and going, until finally the tower of water stopped at what could have very well been 5 stories. The column began to change, its simple shape shifting into something more complex. It wasn't long until Valerie realized that the water was taking onto itself a female figure. 

Valerie was left speechless, so awestruck at the impossible sight that she failed to realize, even as she was looking up at it, what looked to be a foot coming down. Only when the mass of water grew skin, silvery and pale, did the extreme need to move out of the way dawn on her. Valerie rolled to her side just as the foot came down. It crashed beside her, shaking the entire pier but not causing any further destruction. Still, there was no doubt in Valerie’s mind that, had she not moved, she'd have been crushed like some rodent. Looking back, she saw that the rest of the water constituting the body was changing, skin forming along with what looked to be cloth; an emerald dress that matched forming hair atop the beings head. Green scales and golden jewelry were seen adorning the naked spots of the creature's body, the latter shaking slightly as they took another step forward, thankfully ahead of Valerie. 

Wings unfurled suddenly, before wrapping around the massive entity's shoulders like some cowl. When all was said and done Valerie needed to remind herself to breathe, yet even that seemed as impossible as the figure before them. A monster… some sort of sea demon from the looks of it. They were still for now, observing their surroundings and unknowingly giving Valerie time to get a closer look. 

They were quiet, making sure to watch their weight so as not to alert this beast, but the closer Valerie got the more she was worried that her ever increasing heartbeat would give her away. This fear she felt, it was unnatural. Unbelievable. And yet, it was hardly as surprising compared to the face she saw. 

Having still gone unnoticed, when Valerie looked up towards the giantesses face she was left at a loss for words. Beautiful… that's the only thing that came to mind as, of all the things she could have expected, a gorgeous face was not one of them. 

Her features were nearly flawless, the only few evident being the scales which lined her body, and their shining emerald hair that fell past their shoulder didn't even appear to be wet from having formed out of water. The giantess's expression was stern, looking out into the city with fiery amber eyes, their thoughts and intentions a complete mystery to the speechless woman below her. 

That, in the and, was what seemed to be the most alluring. The giantess's eyes, like orbs of molten stone. But there was something beyond that, something expansive… something that Valerie couldn't put into words. 

"Woah…"

A single word, that's all it took for Cathay's eyes to fall upon Valerie. The world around her seemed to sink away as the gaze of this massive being focused only on the little human below it. 

“Great… I was hoping I wouldn’t have to see one of you apes for at least a little longer…” 

Raising their foot over Valerie, the Ruler was ready to rub this primate off of her list. No energy would be needed to snuff out this light. 

Valerie couldn’t move, left in awe at the sight of how something so large and powerful could move so fluidly. Even as Cathay’s pale sole began to lower itself down she did not move. Even if she wished to run, how far could she even get without being caught? Valerie knew, deep in her bones, that this little step wasn’t even a true display of this horror’s power. It was just the simple eradication of a single pest. Closing her eyes, Valerie waited for the inevitable. 

A year’s worth of worrying, learning, and guilt and this was how she’d go out it would seem. Valerie hadn’t even made it out into the sea before meeting some leviathan of the deep, and it wasn’t as if she was going to find the answers she was wishing for in this instance. No, just a few moments of life remained it seemed, as the titanic beauty above took their time. Valerie felt the soft sole of the pale foot meet the top of her head, matting her hair wet and forcing small amounts of pressure upon her. Slowly, she was forced onto the ground as the pressure rose, never enough to threaten the human’s life but more than needed to keep them pinned. 

They were taking their time with this. Valeire could tell that much. Whatever this thing was, it was finding some minor amusement in how the bottom of their foot molded around their prey’s body. Even at this meager height of only fifty feet human’s still looked to be incredibly fragile creatures. So delicate in fact that there was hardly any doubt in either minds that, with but the simple twist of Cathay’s foot, Valerie’s upper body would be crushed. 

“How Gilah managed to fall for even one of you is beyond me.” The Ruler played with Valerie’s body by using their toes to great effect, gripping at arms, their jacket and shirt, and even around their head. But like before, the pressure never increased to such a point that death was immediate. Instead, it grew. Gradually, air became more scarce with each passing moment. No matter how hard Valerie tried to push back, instinct forcing her to act against, she couldn’t get free. The more she pushed the deeper her arms sank into the soft skin of the sole. Far from callus or rough, the unassuming appearance of the foot did well to hide its strength. It was simply insane how little effort this titan of a woman was exerting and still dominating Valerie. 

“Though, I suppose not all humans can be like her… Jason…” A noticeable expression of disgust crossed the watery behemoth’s face as below, Valerie’s eyes widened in disbelief. 

Valerie’s efforts to free herself doubled upon hearing her brother’s name. She pushed against the titan’s big toe, trying to find some wiggle room to pull free. Above, Cathay watched on with minor interest. She was curious, as by this point most things would have given up. Then again… not all humans were too clever or bright. She wondered if they still played with sticks and stones over a roaring fire. 

“Tha…t’s m…my…” Valerie tried to speak, the pressure on her lungs preventing any sort of sentences from properly forming. She heard a sigh above, and in a faux display of mercy the leviathan raised their foot ever so slightly. Just enough to where Valerie could speak. One last intended taste of fresh air. 

One moment, that was all she needed to fill her lungs and keep herself from death’s doorstep. “That’s my brother!” 

Cathay looked down curiously at the shouting human, realization not yet sinking in. She wasn’t even sure if such a statement was to be believed as to her most humans looked alike. Weak, frail, so easy to kill. And despite Earth being quite the small planet compared to other worlds she’s annihilated it still housed billions. Was Cathay to believe this sole woman was an actual relative? 

A quick search through their mind, that was all it would take to find the answer, yet the more Cathay tried to search through Valerie’s mind the more she found herself unable too. As though something were preventing the intake of information. Only then did the Ruler realize that, much like her human ‘rival’, this little primate did not go mad upon viewing her. Even more, their ‘resistance’ to the unfathomable was even more potent than Jason’s. Perhaps there was some credence in what they said. 

Still, they did not remove their foot completely and kept the human pinned slightly underneath. 

“My oh my, how fortunate for me then.” The Ruler lowered herself down to her knees, making sure to prevent their weight from crushing this interesting find right away. “If what you’re saying is true, then I am quite lucky. I get to rid myself of both you AND your apparent brother. Why, that’s akin to pleasantry after all the trouble he’s caused me.”

The pressure returned, even greater than before, threatening to pop bones as it seemed this horror was ready to end it all. Even then Valerie refused to quit. This was already more than she could have hoped for, and while she wished to learn of her brother’s fate through better circumstances it was still better than nothing. There was no way she was going to let this opportunity slip past her fingers. Once again though, she wondered just what she could possibly do? 

“You… won’t find him…” Valerie managed in between breaths, any little bit of air she could hold on to was going to be used to stall this monster from the deep. 

While it may not have been one, the simple statement was deemed a fast challenge. One that wouldn’t go ignored. Searching through the minds of man was a simple trick, one Cathay had done countless times before. Only a select few needn’t worry of such an invasion of privacy, Valerie apparently included among those numbers, and as far as the Ruler could recall Jason had no such protection. But the more she tried to search the less she found herself capable of finding the human. Unthinkable considering, with but a thought, she could scan and crush the minds of trillions. Every other being on this little world came to her as clear as crystal, yet it was as though something was actively preventing the titaness from finding her desired victim. Realization dawned on Cathay, and she scowled. 

Jason and Gilah bonded while she had been preoccupied with Ordegash. A pact formed between the two of them so that the properties of the Butcher were applied onto her dear human. Most notable being her ability to ‘circumvent’ the might of the all-powerful. Cathay bit her tongue in frustration, knowingly putting the altered lord, still forced into the shape of a bead upon the fleshy mass, through hell for their defiant act of aid. Looking down upon Valerie once more Cathay’s scowl only worsened once realizing this human was right. She wouldn’t be able to find them. And while normally she could just grow to a size that dwarfed the planet, after her most recent series of rampages… Well, it was safe to assume that this time it wouldn’t be overlooked. The power of rival Rulers wasn’t something Cathay needed to concern herself with. She was, even now, still one of the greatest forces across creation. That said… the influx of work likely to fall onto her shoulders was less than appealing. 

“What… do you suggest then?” 

Valerie sighed in relief as Cathay raised her foot off of their body. She would never take fresh air for granted again. Planting the behemoth appendage at Valerie’s side, Cathay waited patiently for whatever more the human had to say. At this point in her life it was safe to assume that she was just about done with Jason’s whole family tree. But she couldn’t very well destroy the planet now that she likely had so many eyes on her. 

This was further than Valerie had expected to get, and judging by the look on the leviathan’s face it seemed evident that they were very much under pressure. So much pressure in fact that an idea quickly took shape. If this horror was looking for her little brother then why not give them what they were looking for?

At least in a sense. 

There was just no way in hell Valerie was going to actually give up Jason. Especially after learning he was alive. But maybe she could give this towering individual the aid they were looking for? At the very least take them somewhere else. Someplace hopefully far away from Jason. “You want my brother? Fine? I’ll take you to him.”

Cathay scoffed. “And why, pray tell, would you do that? Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you little things hold family oh so dearly? You truly expect me to believe that you’ll sell your brother out just like that?” 

That was a very good point actually. One that Valerie should have thought about long before she even talked. She stammered, trying to think of some way to save face. “W-well, normally you’d be right!”

“Normally?”

“Yes, normally! B-but…” What could she even say!? This was kind of on the spot for her. “He never wrote! A whole year gone, can you believe it!? And not once did he even think to write me a letter. I mean, isn’t that just rude? Making his big sister worry like that?”

Cathay fell silent, unsure of what even to think. She was in no mood for games at this moment and whatever this stuttering human had planned clearly wasn’t working. 

“You kind of suck at lying, you realize that yes?” 

“Is it obvious I'm scared?” 

Cathay stood up straight, already intent on moving things along. “Enough prattling.It’ll only serve to earn you an early grave.” She eyed the human, wondering if she should just kill them and begin searching for herself. She tossed the idea away, already at her wits end. Were even the slightest thing to inconvenience her at this point, with her patience near non-existent, there was no telling what may happen. “You’ll take me to your brother, not because you have some faux vendetta against him but because I’m telling you to. Understand?”

Valerie nodded silently. At least things were proceeding in some way. Sure, not as she might have hoped for, but if she could guide this creature away from her brother then it was worth it in the end. 

Seeing as the human understood, Cathay was just about ready to depart into the city, her wings unfurling as she was ready to fly overhead. Valerie quickly stopped her, shouting up towards the titan. 

“Wait! That’s a bad idea!” 

Cathay looked down in further frustration before calming herself down. Her wings still spread, the Ruler hissed in anger. “And why… is that?”

Valerie rubbed her forehead clean of any building sweat, the tension of the situation forcing nervous perspiration down her body. It was some miracle that she hadn’t yet pissed herself, though she was mighty close. “They’ll see you coming a mile away! Think about it, you’re huge!”

“This is hardly anything compared to my full height.”

A terrifying thought that Valerie didn’t want to dwell on. “M-maybe… but the second they see you they’d turn tail and run, right? So… and please don’t crush me for saying this… but wouldn’t being smaller help out the both of us here?” 

Valerie threw her arms over her head, fully expecting a violent rebuke. Instead, as the seconds ticked by, nothing happened. It wasn’t as if such a reaction hadn’t been considered… at first anyway. But the more Cathay thought on it the more she hated to admit that there was some iota of a point to be made. With her hands tied as is, the destruction she caused prior now acting as something of a crutch, a smaller, less exposed form might have been in order. There was the matter of having to alter her current appearance. At certain heights, some of Cathay’s forms were less easily maintained. Even now she was just at the cusp of what she could manage without needing to go any smaller. Going smaller, in her actual body rather than an avatar no less, and she’d need to reconstruct herself again. ”And after I went through the effort of giving myself a makeover already…” 

She wondered what exactly she should turn into before looking at Valerie. Small mammal though they were… their form wasn’t all too unappealing. Through their shirt and jacket, Cathay could see the fibers of Valerie’s composition. Strong muscles, excellent features across their body, as well as quite tall for a human of the female variety. No, not bad at all. Nearly similar to humanesque Depth-borne as it were, clear evidence of hard toil and labor though obviously possessing far less strength. Not too ‘ripped’ as some might say. 

While stealing bodies wasn’t something Cathay would normally do, she considered taking Valerie’s briefly. Ultimately, she decided that would be more effort than it was worth. If she were to wear any skin it would have to be her own. Easier too, there was less resistance in needing to craft a human body for herself.  Bone and sinew were simple to mold, even more when it belonged to one’s self. As Cathay’s size decreased to a point she hadn’t experienced before, she watched as her skin took on a healthier pigmentation, lighter ivory as opposed to her previous deathly pale complexion. Her hair, thankfully, didn’t need to be changed all too much, the emerald remaining in the form of highlights that now tipped platinum blonde hair. Physical characteristics, while clearly smaller, didn’t need to go through any major change. Her previous form was human enough already and only really needed proper scaling. All in all, a rather eventless transformation.  

A shame she had to do away with her clothing, Cathay quite liked those. But looking at her bare body it was clear she needed to wear something. Using Valerie’s own attire as an example, the Ruler was easily able to construct herself a set of clothing. A pair of dark boots, jeans and shirt topped with a white coat, as opposed to the human’s own brown one. 

Giving herself a look over, Cathay decided the transformation was… acceptable. She couldn’t do away with all her height, appearing to be perhaps a head taller than Valerie, but not so much that she was an oddity among the humans. Noticing her ‘guide’ cowering underneath their own arms, the Ruler tapped the human on their arm to get their attention. 

Hesitant at first, Valerie eventually pulled her arms down to see the newly changed horror looking at her with the same molten eyes as before, the one thing that had remained unchanged.

“I suppose you’ll need to guide me now, yes?” Cathay asked. “I’ve never quite been this small before, so you’ll have to do the vast majority of the leading.”

Valerie was speechless. Before, she had believed the leviathan to be rather gorgeous. Looking at her now, at a scale actually comparable to a matured woman, and she was in another league compared to before. The worst possible scenario as Cathay, appearance wise, was definitely Valerie’s type. “You’ve gotta be shitting me…” 

She composed herself, slapping her left cheek before quickly walking forward past the Ruler. “Right you are! No sense in stalling then, let’s get a move on!” If there was a god, or any number of possible gods, they were likely pointing and laughing at the situation Valerie had found herself in. 

“So, I take it I'm pretty much being held hostage?” inquired Valerie. How else could things really be described?

“That’s an accurate way to see things, yes.” the leviathan replied. 

“Wonderful!” And Valerie’s night just continued to get better… “I take it you have a name right? So… is there anything I should call you specifically? I REALLY wouldn’t wanna piss you off by saying something I shouldn’t.” 

The Ruler thought on it for a moment, wondering if even sharing her name was necessary given the circumstances. If this human was living off of borrowed time was there even a point? It’s not as though there was any real harm in it, nothing this species of primitives could achieve was worth worrying about. One human by themselves shouldn’t prove too concerning. 

“Cathay,” She divulged unto the human. “Queen of the Depth-Borne, Ruler of the Depths and Tyrant of the Deep Wastes. One of the chief powers of the cosmos.”

Valerie’s heart sank…  

The very same Tyrant she was warned to avoid was standing right beside her. The very same one who’s domain was disclosed by the scholars who had informed her of so much that had remained hidden for centuries. Of all the horrors that should be drawn out, the Ruler of the Depths was the last you’d ever want!

“Fun name!” The human tried her best to conceal her fear, all while the need to piss only grew. “I’m Valerie, if that really means anything to you.” 

“A pleasure then.” Though courteous, the feeling of ever rising dread could not be shaken. “For however long you last, that is.” 

And just like that, Valerie’s night had gone beyond being a nosedive straight into hell. Dancing with devils might even seem tame compared to who she was with now. But as she continued to guide Cathay into the city she still felt that she was tasked with a duty. Somewhere here in this childhood home of her’s, Jason had returned. Without some of a similar nature to Cathay perhaps, but alive and well. Or well enough to have invoked a Ruler’s ire. 

Afraid though she was, Valerie still had a job to do. She needed to find some way to get Cathay off of Jason’s back. Looking at the Tyrant though, she wasn’t exactly certain how she’d do that. They were expecting a path straight towards their intended target, but no one said anything about any sort of detours. 

“You know, my brother and I used to go to an old friend’s bar quite a lot back in the day.” Valerie hoped Adrian was still awake at this time. She very much needed to cash in a friend’s favor. “We could start there if that’s alright?”

Cathay shrugged. “It’s not my life hanging by a thread. Do as you will.” 

“I’ll do you a kindness, however, and offer a warning…” A grin stretched across the Ruler’s lips. She rubbed her tongue across her teeth, enjoying the sensation of Ordegash’s round form. “Don’t even think of deceiving me, because if I suspect you have for even a moment I will swallow you whole.”

Certainly one hell of a threat. Enough to make Valerie second guess her plan. But she had a goal in mind. She needed to keep her brother safe no matter the cost. 

“Duly noted…” She muttered in disbelief, trying her hardest to remain brave. That still didn’t make any of this easier. “Just try and show some leeway please?”

She was making things up as she went along, only digging herself a deeper hole that, hopefully, could be climbed out of once everything was said and done. 

One foot in front of the other, that's how these things went. Do not worry, do not linger for too long, let the chill of the night's air guide you. That is what Gilah continued to tell herself as she went about her stride just outside the city limits. A strange locale from what she could tell, far from the mental images she had imagined. Modern cities were meant to be grandiose, with skyscrapers nearly as tall as she once was. Fragile structures yes, but imposing on a ground level. Yet, the city Gilah saw, the very same her beloved Jason had grown up in, was far from what she had pictured. 

It was still a remarkable sight, but it seemed rather… odd, for lack of a better word. In a sense it felt rather 'homely' to her, which in itself was already cause for pause. While Jason was no stranger to technology, needing to point out cable wires, street lights, and phone towers the leviathan would do well to avoid, the appearance of the city betrayed such knowledge. If anything, it seemed a setting more fitting of the early to mid twentieth century. Were it not for the aforementioned technology in use, Gilah may have mistaken it all for a city trapped in time. 

Strange… even for one such as her. And that felt good; it gave credence to her decision. From the odd, fish scented air which filled her lungs to the luminous stars in the sky, there was a certain beauty to be sensed here. And with each thunderous footfall that carries the leviathan forward, she was able to explore more and more of this new environment's splendor. 

Her crimson eyes shined bright in the night, and a smile crossed the leviathan's lips. "Goodness, it's like I never left the Depths. Everything here feels so… natural. It's enough to put me at ease… is it always like this, Jason?"

Gilah's fingers curled comfortably around her beloved human's waist, keeping him several meters off the ground. As was determined by Ordegash's pact, Gilah had continued to shrink. Still, even now she towered over everything around her. She's likely never been so small before, and as such was subject to new sights and experiences. Jason looked up at her, loving the smile she wore. Even with her old aggression returned she still seemed like quite the sweetheart. 

"Year round, yeah." Jason replied. "Really, it's as strange a place to live as any other. Won't find it on any maps or compass. And you won't learn about it from any textbook. You'd have to live or travel here to know if Ravencroft 's even a real place, and even then…" 

Jason found himself lost in thought, recalling all manner of strange rumors and tall tales from his youth, most of which were told to him by his father. The two of them shared many beliefs, especially in regards to urban sea legends. Old tales that, in some way or another, had some connection to their home city; sights and stories lost to time as he'd say. 

Jason noticed Gilah had been watching him, a hint of concern in her blood red eyes as her beloved just trailed off out of nowhere. 

"Ah, but that's just the ole' Ravencroft  charm." Jason remarked, regaining his train of thought. "As it goes here, the stranger the setting, the more memorable the years to come. You'll feel right at home here, Gilah." 

She hadn't just imagined it, Jason's mind had indeed wandered off. Gilah watched her little lover attentively as he returned his sights forward, guiding the leviathan to his home. Gilah was no fool, there was far more to this city than Jason may be aware of. That said… 

"The ole' Ravencroft  charm?" Whatever mysterious this strange city had to offer would have to wait for the future. Odd though it was, it proved capable of spawning a soul as gentle as Jason. That alone was reason enough to place trust in this change in scenery.  "I like it! A lovely motto for a 'lovely' place to live. 

If Gilah was to live on the surface then she'd make the most of it regardless of any sort of mysteries. 

The she-leviathan made sure to watch her step as she continued her stride. While much smaller than she once was, Gilah still carried considerable heft in each step she took. One wrong move, one unfortunate accident, and the damage could still be severe. As it were, she was forced to a halt the moment a black, fur coated creature, a cat from what Jason could tell, darted past Gilah and narrowly avoided her footfall. The resulting step backwards, unfortunately, put her right in the path of a thankfully empty car. 

The alarm didn't even have time to sound as, before she could stop herself, Gilah had crushed the front half of the vehicle flat. 

Jason looked down, having heard the crunching metal quite clearly. "That… isn't good." While Ravencroft  was a strange city, with even the outskirts having strange rumors here and there, there would still be many to question how exactly a car got crushed in such a manner. "You're gonna have to get rid of that."

"I know, I know." Gilah replied, scratching her head with her free hand as she wondered how exactly she was going to do that. "Let me just… hmm…" 

Kneeling to pick up the scrap heap of a car, Gilah wondered how she could get rid of it. Were she several hundred larger she could actually eat it; consuming metal was as easy as digesting meat and bone to her. At her current size however, Gilah's fingers didn't even wrap halfway around the vehicle. And it wasn't like she could ball it up and leave it here, that'd just raise more eyebrows. 

It was best if she just did away with subtlety. 

With a shrug and meager flick of her wrist, Gilah tossed the ruined car over her shoulder. The whole thing was sent flying, the leviathan's monstrous strength in no way diminished with her height, until it had cleared the limit on the opposite side of Ravencroft  and beyond. It could very well be entire minutes before it made contact with the ground again.

Jason was nearly left speechless. "Was that really necessary?" He asked with a sigh.

Again, Gilah shrugged. "Probably not, but I wasn't going to worry about someone else's property while we have our own things to deal with." 

Gilah continued on her way, leaving Jason to hope no would question a missing car rather than a partially crushed one. Though it was brief, Jason could have sworn he saw his titanic lover lick her lips as she tossed the vehicle. There was satisfaction in the act, albeit minor. A display of her returned bloodlust; a contained but undeniable desire for destruction. Gilah maintained her composure with strength born only of her previous experiences, keeping her desires contained. It was evident to see though that, even this small act of destruction, was enjoyed. It was, after all, natural. 

Perhaps Jason was overthinking it. And normally he would be. However, it became very obvious that Gilah was scouting for something else to 'accidentally' step on, evident by her head constantly turning to search. 

A quick cough from Jason was all that was needed to bring her back to focus thankfully. 

"We should probably hurry." The human suggested. "We don't wanna be out here should anyone decide to go for a late night walk."

Gilah huffed in minor disappointment but ultimately relented in her search. "Oh, yeah, of course." Though Jason was right she still wondered just how far she could throw something a little bit bigger than before. An experiment for another day. "I just… had… something in my eye?"

Jason chuckled. "Are you telling me, or asking me?"

"...yes?"

Thankfully, the rest of the walk went by without much issue. Gilah's size still allowed for speedy travel, and with the right directions it wasn't long before the pair had arrived at Jason's old, childhood home. 

Granted, Gilah had 'misplaced' a few of her steps right over some trash cans. Now there were maybe a little under a dozen that were as flat as a board. Still, outside that things had thankfully remained relatively peaceful the moment the two arrived at what was to be their new home. The Armitage abode was a ways off from the main city, being perhaps just on the edge of what one may call the outskirts, overlooking the ocean. From here Gilah could see the city lights, whatever establishments were open at this time of night, as well as the pier. She wondered if that too lit up wonderfully at night, though for obvious reasons it was empty; completely barren due to her mishap.  

As for the old home itself, it was rather large. Being rather far away from Ravencroft  meant that it was the only house for quite a few miles. Not some mansion, and certainly not some shack; a house meant for a decent sized family, and nowhere near as drab as some of the other buildings Gilah had seen. 

Considering Jason's background, along with his once fisherman family, many similar themes were expected and seen on the home's outer walls. Gilah was ecstatic to see what sort of decor waited inside, but understandably remained patient. She was much too large to squeeze in. 

"Nice place you have here." The Leviathan remarked. "Truly, it is very nice. It's clear great care was placed into your home's construction."

"I would hope so." Jason replied as Gilah gently lowered him onto the ground. Her fingers pulled away, but not before gingerly ruffling the auburn hair atop her human's head. "A lot of work went into this place. My dad helped build it with his father, and they with their parents. Even my sister, brother and I made a few additions of our own. A LOT of work and memories went into this place…"

"It's good to be back."

Gilah knelt down upon her knees. "I would imagine so." She waited patiently, as Jason looked over his childhood home, lost in memories. It wasn't long, however, until her own excitement got the better of her. "I don't mean to be rude… but now what?"

Jason was pulled from his thoughts. "Shit, right, sorry!" He made his way to the front door, grateful to see that the home mat was still there. Lifting it revealed a key, as everything he owned prior to living in the Depths was long gone. It always did pay to have a spare. Jason turned to Gilah, her far larger frame posing a significant issue. "You don't mind waiting out here for a bit, right? At least until you shrink enough to fit in?"

"Even if I did, what could I do?" Gilah asked with a cute giggle. She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the ground as she sized herself up. "I can't just force my way in there. I'd leave a hole."

"If you want I could look for some butter?" Jason joked. "Might be old but should do the trick."

Gilah leaned closer towards Jason, a soft snicker escaping her lips as she inched nearer. "Oh? And that would be your only reason? Nothing else~?" The leviathan's breath washed over her beloved as her crimson eyes shone brighter. "Because I'm certain we can think of a few more uses for it later tonight~."

Jason didn't resist as Gilah's lips met the side of his face. Though she had shrunk considerably, she was still an absolutely massive being. As demonstrated not too long ago, if she so wished then she'd be able to shove half of Jason's body in her mouth. Of course Gilah would never do that, but it seemed she enjoyed the perks her size and strength granted her now as compared to her previous demeanor. It was a clear result of her reignited aggression, and from the looks of it she enjoyed being quite the tease. 

"I'm only joking, Jason." 

Bringing a hand up to caress her beloved's body, Gilah relented in her brief make out. She did, however, give Jason a few more moments of bliss as he wasn't quite done yet, pulling back her soft lips the second she pulled away. Eventually, they both had their fill of fun. 

"At least, I was just joking about using butter. That sounds horribly unhygienic. We'll still have our fun, don't you worry." Gilah lovingly caressed the side of Jason's head with her thumb. Oh how she had longed to do something so simple without needing to fear his fragility; the truest form of rapture. "Until then, my sweet, I'll just wait here a while longer. But do you think you could get things ready? You know… for us?"

Jason gave Gilah's thumb a small peck. "As if you even need to ask." 

With that, Jason made his way inside, keeping an eye on his gigantic lover until he was eventually forced to leave her sight in order to clean. Already Gilah could hear him get to work, moving things around in order to make room for her still shrinking self. She laughed softly before rolling onto her back, her heart beating a hundred times a minute. 

This was happening. It was actually happening. "A life with my Jason… an actual life…" Gilah couldn't keep herself from smiling so wide. She wanted to cry and laugh; her joy knowing no limits. "I can hardly wait…"

So profound was Gilah's joy that she wasn't even aware of the warmth which soon began to envelop her body. All she could do was look up at the sky, watching as it grew further away and dreaming of what the future may hold. Even as she shrank down, that was all her mind allowed her to do. 

Dream of a bright future. 

Inside the Armitage home, however, was another story. Jason had begun cleaning, but to his surprise found that very little inside needed to be picked up. Not just that but as far as he could tell, his home wasn't in need of dusting, sweeping or mopping, even after a year being away from such duties. Almost as though someone else had done such chores in his absence. 

"That's odd…"

Everything was kept in order, with not even a single frame out of place. Running a finger across the sill of a window, Jason was amazed to find that it was practically spotless. 

It just didn't make sense. Why would everything be better than when he last saw it? From the living room, to the guest rooms, to lastly the master bedroom, everything was kept pristine. An absolutely baffling discovery to be made. Jason had to give credit where it was needed, whoever kept this place clean was quite skilled. Truly, they had an eye for detail. 

Hell, after a quick check Jason had found that even the kitchen had been kept well stocked. Someone had definitely been living here, and the only two individuals who came to mind would have been Jason's older siblings, Valerie and Donovan. The issue here, however, was that as far as he knew they had moved away from Ravencroft  quite some time ago. His sister visited from time to time, often uninvited, but usually never at the Armitage home. And Donovan, despite their caring nature, couldn't have moved away from his childhood home faster, having waited years to do so. 

"Certainly wasn't a thief…" Jason reasoned. "What burglar keeps a place tidy? No, it has to be one of those two. Did one of them move in while I was gone? Couldn't have been Donny… he's traveling way too much to settle down. And Val… maybe her?"

A pair of powerful arms wrapped around Jason's shoulders, pulling him away from his train of thoughts. He was fearful for a moment, believing that yet another intruder had come in. Understandably, he calmed down when remembering who it was that stood guard outside, as well as how insane someone would have to be to try to break in with a leviathan out in the front. 

"Whatcha muttering about, cutey?" 

Jason found himself lifted up off the floor as the arms wrapped around his body even tighter, but never to a point of being uncomfortable. Looking up, Jason was pleasantly surprised to find that Gilah had shrunk even further, now standing at a height of what looked to be just over eight feet. Two feet taller than he was, and still boasting that incredible strength. At this size, both lover's could truly appreciate the details of one another's form. 

"Goodness, you're much smaller than I would have thought." Gilah remarked with a snicker. She brought her face closer before locking Jason across his left cheek. It was a strange change of pace to not have her whole tongue cover his entire body; a welcome change. "Still, your time in the Depths really did you wonders. Who knew you were so handsome up close~?" 

Pursuing her lips, Gilah planted one kiss after another upon her mate's head, not relenting as she savored this new experience. She wasn't lying when she said Jason was a handsome man. Even before living in the Depths he was a well built individual, as per his choice of career. All three of the Armitage siblings were well built, with Jason being the tallest and strongest of the trio. His time spent having to swim everywhere, when not hitching a ride on Gilah's shoulder, only served to improve his physique. 

Yet despite that, he doubted being able to free himself from Gilah's embrace. No matter how strong a human could get, they'd never be able to match the might of a leviathan such as her. 

"Enjoying your new size already?" Jason asked with a smile. "Moving a little fast, don't you think? Just skipping right towards the end." 

Gilah rested her chin on Jason's shoulder, requiring to kneel down slightly so as not to arch her back too much. "Can you blame me?" She responded. "I went from forty to eight in a few minutes. Who knows how small I'll get the next time? I wanna hold you like this while I'm still able to." 

Hand on her head, Jason massaged his fingers into Gilah's scalp. He felt vibrations amate from her chest; a purr to demonstrate the joy she felt. 

"Something tells me, even if you were the short one you could still hold me down like this if you really wanted to." 

"Mmm, maybe…" her hold tightened once more. "But I'm going to miss being the bigger one."

"I think I will too." Leaning upward, Jason's lips met Gilah's as the two embraced, truly embraced, now that their respective sizes were near matching. Pulling away, he looked lovingly into his other half's crimson eyes. "Think of it this way. After tonight, I'll be able to carry you down the aisle. That sound good to you?" 

"Very much so, yes~." 

The two embraced once more, ready to go further as Gilah lifted her beloved into her arms. Her size was still greater, and while she had it by the Depths she would use it. She's done a remarkable job keeping her desires in check, along with her ancient aggression. Now though, she was ready to let loose. Even now, as she held Jason in her arms it was taking everything she had to not squeeze him closer to her chest and never let go.

Tonight, while she was still the Butcher; for just one night she'd let everything come undone. 

"I know that look in your eye." Jason remarked as Gilah's crimson glare grew brighter. "What are you thinking?" 

Gilah grinned widely, baring her sharp teeth for Jason to see. "Oh, nothing much~." Her tongue glided across the upper row, running against each and every sharp point. "I'm just thinking how I'm going to have to hold back, oh so much to keep that frail body of yours from breaking~." 

Gilah's breathing grew fast last, as the gills on the side of her neck began to flare. Her pale skin began to grow dark, as the bright blue hair that had been tied back into a ponytail turned luminous. "Wouldn't you say it's unfair, Jason, how I'm going to have to hold back just to ensure you don't break?" 

"To keep those cute little bones from snapping, from your itty bitty bed breaking. Why, I might not even be able to sink my teeth into your…" 

Cutting into Gilah's impressive, if not a tad bit worrisome, lust fueled stride; the house phone rang. 

"MOTHERFUCKER!!!"

****

To say the tension was thick would be a massive understatement. The pressure Valerie felt was without comparison; no word in the human dictionary or beyond coming anywhere near what she was feeling. Fear, of course, along with worry, wonder, and every other sensation under the sun that ran along those fine lines. 

Here she was, sitting besides the Ruler of the Depths, a being she was warned against encountering, as they were both served cheap booze by an awfully curious Adrian. It wasn't often he worked this late at night, and when getting a call from Valerie to open up shop he was just about ready to hang up. It was the shaking urgency in her voice, however, that kept him from doing so. As things were, he got all sorts of bad vibes from Cathay, who Valerie introduced as nothing more than a foreigner; a traveler who decided to make a quick stop through Ravencroft  as she went about her 'business'. Adrian had half a mind to call the cops as things already seemed sketchy enough, but something deep within himself, call it a primal gut feeling, prevented him from doing so. As if, were he to even make an attempt to do so, he'd come to immediately regret it. So, for now, he stayed his hand and played along. 

Thankfully for the two of them, Cathay was in no mood to talk, instead preferring to silently drink her glass of whiskey. Cheap, but strong enough to sting all the way down. The first sips forced a few coughs from the Ruler's throat, this being her first time having such beverages. "It burns a bit…" she compared the feeling to the frills of a cosmic beast; a leech to be specific. Venomous, yet considered a delicacy, the consumption of this specific type of horror was a favorite of hers. "It reminds me of the sh'gelai. Not bad for a race of primitives." She took another sip, content with the burning aftertaste. 

"At the very least she isn't killing anyone…" Valerie thought, taking a drink from her own glass; regular beer. If she played her cards right, perhaps loosen Cathay's nerves with some good ole booze, she'd be able to persuade the cosmic powerhouse from acting on any destructive desires. She knew they had come here for her younger brother, and it was her duty to keep Jason safe. 

"You know, that'd be better with some orange juice mixed in." Valerie suggested as she snapped her fingers at Adrian hoping he'd get the hint. "You seem like a screwdriver type of gal. Ever had one? I'm sure you'd love it." 

Valerie laughed nervously, trying her absolute best to keep from annoying the eldritch goddess. Any wrong move and that'd be it; game over. For her and every else on the planet. Hell, maybe even the whole galaxy. 

Cathay eyed Valerie, glancing up and down the human's body. For a moment, Valerie believed they were weighing their life, determining if she was even worth keeping alive. Thankfully, the Ruler relaxed. "Sure, I'll have this 'screwdriver' of yours. But don't think I'm some clueless whelp, ape. I know what you're doing, and it'll only delay the inevitable. Either I'll find Jason, or Jason will find me. It's unavoidable."

Adrian brought his hand down on the counter hard, foolishly drawing Cathay's attention to himself. "You know what happened to Jason!?" Now he was truly reconsidering his previous hesitation to call the cops. If this woman had something to do with their disappearance, anything really, then she'd have to talk. "You need to tell us. Shit, you need to tell the cops!" 

"No, no, NO!" Valerie cut in, trying to shoot down the idea as quickly as possible. "No cops! We don't need them! Everything is under control!"

Adrian was taken aback by this. "Val, that is your brother! You're the one who's been working yourself raw trying to find some sort of lead as to what happened to him! You should be jumping at this chance for answers!" 

"I have this covered, Ady.  Trust me." 

"You would do well to listen to her." Cathay chimed in. She took a sip from her glass before inching down her shades slightly; her molten eyes nearly making contact with Adrian's. "Some things are better left unspoken, 'Ady'. Stay as you are, serve your little drinks, and you might just survive the night. Step out of line though, or speak out of turn…" 

A pressure enveloped the room, followed by an unending feeling of dread that gripped both Adrian and Valerie. So profound was the feeling that, in the case of the former, they had come close to relieving themselves on the floor. At any single moment it felt as if either one of them could come undone and simply cease to be. 

"And I see for myself what you apes taste like. Understand?"

Both human's nodded vigorously, knowing the consequences of any poor actions. 

Cathay smiled. "Mmm, good primates."

The sense of dread faded just as quickly as it had come the moment Cathay returned her interest back to her drink, and in the aftermath Valerie found herself breathing heavily. Her heart was racing, though for reasons far from the Ruler's original intentions. The power they possessed, the sheer domineering force behind their fiery gaze, both definite points of interest for one such as Valerie. It wasn't long before she found herself needing to make an effort to hide her blush; there was a time and place for everything after all, and she needed to focus on the task at hand. 

That said, it wasn't often Valerie pictures herself as a sub. 

At least Adrian was attempting to keep his composure. Despite the pressure that had assaulted his very being, he remained to stand as strong as he was capable of. That said, every fiber of his being screamed of mortal danger. Even more so than before, he had a faint idea of the danger Cathay posed. Slowly stepping away from her, Adrian reached his hand underneath the bartop where a gun rested in case of the event that his bar were to ever get robbed. Under no normal circumstances would he even think of using it, yet these were by no means normal circumstances.

That sense of dread Cathay had instilled… it wasn't normal. Worse, it wasn't human. So, when faced with such terrifying odds, the human mind does not always commit to what is rational. 

"Look… I get you might not want to talk about it…" Adrian began, much to Valerie's horror. She tried to speak out to keep her old friend's mouth shut, but was too slow to do so. "But If you know anything about what happened to Jason…"

"Didn't I just tell you to shut up?"

Immediately, everything came undone. Not just Valerie's efforts to keep the terrifying Ruler done, but seemingly the whole world around them fell apart. It began with the walls of the bar, cracking or ripping away like paper and stone, revealing a velvet surface behind it. The cool air of the conditioned building grew humid, occasionally followed by a blast of hot air that carried with it the familiar scent of whiskey. Little to no light was allowed as reality came undone around all three parties before being restructured into some fleshy cave. On all sides, great walls of ivory prevented any form of escape, save for the very back where only a vast dark hole laid. 

With her seat suddenly gone, Valerie fell onto her hands and knees, feeling for herself the strange terrain.

It felt… oddly familiar. 

Looking at her hands, Valerie found them submerged in some form of liquid. It was viscous, hard to get rid of, and served to amplify the scent of booze. She was still trying to figure out what it was until a large glob of the stuff struck her from above. It landed on her back, drenching her shirt and leaving it heavier than it was prior. All around, the quantity of liquid increased as fear began to grip her once more. 

Everything made sense the moment Valerie heard a large, ear shattering GULP from the back of the cave, to be rid of some of the viscous fluid. 

Realization struck like a truck. "Oh God… this is…" Valerie looked down on the 'floor' noticing how it undulated ever so slightly. Her eyes grew wide. 

"A mouth..." Cathay answered calmly. She pointed upwards, drawing Valerie's and Adrian's attention upwards. Far above, far more than several dozens of meters, the two saw some strange, pearly white orb floating midair. There wasn't a fault to be seen on the floating object, and yet the longer Valerie looked at it the more she could tell something wasn't right. The rise and fall of what sounded like a heartbeat permeated the booze scented air, soon being all the two human's could hear. The strange orb… was alive. 

"My mouth to be specific." Cathay explained with a grin. To further demonstrate the level of control she possessed here, she rose her tongue skyward, carrying with it Valerie and Adrian. Both cried out in complete horror as they came terrifyingly close to the living orb above, so near now that they might be able to reach it were they to jump. 

Neither one could stand up no matter how much they wished to do so. Valerie managed to stay strong, her mind naturally made to withstand such impossibility. Adrian on the other hand was not so fortunate, muttering to himself that this all could only be a dream. His mind had long broken the moment Cathay altered reality to such a degree, and only deteriorated more with each passing second. The only thing that seemed to break his mindless ramblings was the approach of Cathay's wet footfalls, her boots squishing against her own salivating tongue. Behind him was a veritable cliff fall that led right down the daunting Ruler's throat. 

Adrian scrambled backwards in fear as Cathay's wings tore free from her jackets' confines, giving his poor mind the last push it needed into complete insanity. 

Gently, she placed the foot of her boot on top of his forehead. 

"Humans such as you should know when to keep quiet..." 

A slight push was all she needed to send Adrian falling backwards. Down the slope that was her tongue and into her waiting throat. He slid and struggled the whole way until finally reality was mended with a sickening gulp. 

Everything was as it had been before. There were no faults within the bar as it came into being once more, only now missing the owner of the establishment. Valerie remained on the floor wondering if that all really happened. Looking up at Cathay, and how the Tyrant massaged her throat and licked her lips, she knew her answer. Returning to her seat, the Ruler resumed imbibing herself, content with her miniscule 'snack'. 

"So, about that 'screwdriver' concoction you mentioned." Cathay reminded, in no way caring over the events that just transpired or the impact it held. "I'd very much like to try it now. As a… chaser? I believe that's the term, yes?" 

She smiled, fully aware of the weight behind her words. That grin, that vile, horrible smirk, would commonly be enough to instill fear in any other creature. Even her fellow Rulers, greater or lesser who were capable of similar feats, would have a suffocating sensation of dread instilled within them because of that simple, condescending smirk. Instead, this all served to push Valerie to a point which might seem foolish considering the situation. 

Rage

She shot up to her feet, whipping off the saliva from her hair and face with her hands before slapping Cathay across her cheek. 

It happened fast. Far too fast for Cathay to register as she had been so certain of the terror she instilled. It was unexpected, as well as unthinkable. She could only look at Valerie in wonder. 

"You colossally monstrous BRAT!" 

The Ruler grit her teeth as annoyance and anger bubbled. "You primitive little ape… HOW DARE-" Another strike across her other cheek silenced her. Neither hit hurt, but it was more the meaning behind each slap that proved wounding; to her pride especially. 

"You don't get to talk! Not after what you did!" Valerie shouted. A weak, fragile, and pathetic human speaking to a being as powerful as Cathay in such a manner was unheard of. She had no way of understanding how to respond to such disrespect. "This time YOU shut up! and listen, 'cause lady I have got SHIT-TO-SAY! GOT IT?!"

Cathay unconsciously nodded. 

Valerie inhaled deeply, ready to unleash the storm. "You, YouR MaJEstY, are an exceptionally horrible person." She stated bluntly, giving no sense of hesitation. "And believe me when I say I know horrible people. Fuck, I dated horrible people! And you make those shit's seem nice by comparison! I've known you for… maybe an hour, and already I can see WHY my brother and your 'friend' left like they did."

Cathay stood up from her seat in anger. "Watch yourself, human. Choose wisely what you say next. Especially if you intend to blame me for their departure." 

"I mean…" Valerie shrugged, fully aware of the danger but no longer caring. "If the shoe fucking fits right?"

"Even if you're not the specific reason, if this is the type of attitude you can expect in the Depths then is it any damn wonder WHY those two left?!" Valerie did not relent, even against a force that defied all reason she did not back down one bit. "Tell me, at any point did you think 'Oh, these two aren't happy here? Well, if they wanna leave then they very well should.' Never crossed your mind? Did the thought ever occur?"

"If you think it's that simple…" 

"Ohohoo, it is that simple!" Valerie shot back, not giving Cathay a chance to speak. "Because here's the neat part, and I don't think you've given this a lot of thought. If you care about someone, then you wanna see them happy. And if they're happy going someplace else, then you let them go SOMEPLACE ELSE!" 

Cathay stepped back as Valerie moved closer. Never in her life has she been talked to in such a manner. Even prior to ascending to her throne, where some in the cosmos were capable of challenging her, she was spoken to with fearful respect. This… was simply an impossible circumstance. 

"I-I do care about Gilah!" Cathay replied with a weak stammer in her voice. "What your brother's done to her…"

"Is good" Valerie cut in. "It sounds like the change she needs." 

"And if you cared about her at all you'd be happy for her, regardless of whatever reservations you have against the act. You don't go to their new home, threaten to burn it down and eat an innocent man; which is fucked up mind you, Adrian didn't do anything wrong!"

Cathay fell silent as Valerie just looked her over, now more unimpressed than fearful. "I don't care if you are some cosmic tyrant, you don't do that to other people. Especially if it involves someone you care about. So, here's what we're gonna do…"

Valerie stepped forward as Cathay was lost to her thoughts, confusion and wonder taking hold. She fell in surprise and was unable to get up as, the moment Cathay fell, Valerie placed a hand upon her chest to keep her down. "You're going to make sure my friend is safe, you're going to think about what you want for yours, and you're going to think about what you're going to say to my brother when you see him. Because, guess what, I have a much better idea over where he is… are we clear on that?"

Cathay's breathing felt irregular. "Y…yes…" she muttered timidly. 

Valerie continued to push Cathay against the floor. "I-can't-hear-YOU!" 

The Ruler gulped, nervous, as though she had to impress this weak, little human. 

"Y-yes, ma'am…"

That was more in line with what Valerie wanted to hear. She stood up. "Good. Now dust yourself off, you look like a mess. Also…" she pointed towards the bar's counter. "Let Adrian out."

Reluctantly, the Ruler obeyed while still on the floor. With a single snap of her fingers Adrian appeared between the woman, terrified beyond every sense of the word and covered in stomach bile, but thankfully alive. Valerie would help him if she could, but she likely knew there was only so much she could accomplish. Sadly, an issue for another day as right now she had a call to make. 

She made it all of five steps away before needing to clutch her chest. Though she kept a brave face, within her mind she was battling every manner of emotion, chief among them being fear. "OHMYGOD, I can't believe that worked!" 

Arguing against a Ruler? Just what the hell was she thinking? "Way to keep your temper in check, idiot! That could have turned fifty shades of fucked up!" Valerie was incredibly lucky that some of her ranting found purchase, sparking some self reflection for the cosmic tyrant. But if, for even a split second, Cathay had chosen to shut Valerie up…

She used both hands to lightly slap her face. "Nope. Don't think about that. Just be thankful you're alive." Reaching into her pocket, Valerie pulled out her cellphone. "...and be thankful that you can make this call."

She dialed the Armitage home phone number, thanking the fact it still used landline, and prayed that her previous assumption was right. 

Her phone rang once

It rang twice

It rang three times before the call was finally received and she heard a voice. 

Her brother's voice…

"Hello?"

Time stopped as Valerie raised a hand to her lips, in complete awe. She smiled softly as tears began to fall from her eyes. It was him… her baby brother. 

"Jason…"

There was a moment of silence between the two as both needed time to register one another's voice. It had been… so long, and neither one was certain they'd ever hear the other again. Valerie needed to wipe the tears from her eyes as she wondered if her brother was doing the same. 

"Valerie… I…" Jason tried to speak on the other end. In turn, he was cut off as his older sister took control of the call. 

"Jason, you don't have much time." As much as she wished she could use this opportunity to actually speak with her sibling, Valerie was still gravely aware of the situation: of the danger posed on her brother. She wasn't certain if the still recovering Ruler would take her words to heart, and as such didn't wish to put Jason in any needless danger. "Cathay's here at Ady's. She wasn't… in the best mood. I'm kinda hoping it improved some, but honestly I'm not even sure what she's thinking at the moment. Adrian's traumatized, Cath's quiet as hell, and really I'm freaking the fuck out…"

"But more than anything… I'm just glad you're safe…"

Valerie felt a weight lift off her shoulders, as though the difficulties of the past year had just… vanished. This was the closure she had needed for so long. 

"Cathay's here? On the surface?" Jason asked, worry clear in his voice.  Valerie was just about to say something when, on the other end of the call, she heard a voice. 

A woman's voice, distressed, trying to get Jason's attention while he muttered to himself words his sister couldn't hear. 

"I'm coming over." His answer came quickly, no hesitation at all in his voice. 

Valerie immediately regretted informing Jason over the situation. "No, you won't. Jason, it's you she's after. I really doubt you being here will help."

"Probably not." He agreed. "But there'd be no point in running. You don't know Cathay like I do. She won't stop until she's burned the whole cosmos looking for me. But if I come to her, that saves everyone from trouble."

"Besides… I've got backup."

Again, Valerie was reluctant to have her brother come here. But she knew him too well. His mind was already set on this, so reluctantly she agreed. "Fine… just know if anything happens I'll kill you before she does."

She could hear her brother chuckle. "Love you too, Val. I'll be there soon."

****

Understandably, Gilah is very much against Jason’s plan of action. Perhaps even more so than his own sister. Yet nothing, not even his adoration for the leviathan, was going to prevent him from coming to Valerie’s aid. If she needed him, then there was no Ruler on the Cosmos, no god feared by creation, which would be capable of stopping him. 

“Jason, please. Just think about this.” Gilah urged as her human mate went about his old wardrobe in order to find something to wear. Thankfully his time in the Depths hasn’t been too life changing, so much of what he owned still fit. That said, in some small ways Gilah was disappointed. 

She had come VERY closer to bedding him. Now, here she was sitting on said bed, watching as her beloved prepared himself to face something FAR worse than death itself. 

“I’ve already thought about this.” Jason replied as he tied his shoes. “And I'm going to confront Cathay about this. We both know how she can get; the whole planet’s in danger so long as she’s here.”

“W-we could run!” Gilah stammered. Working so hard to get away from the Depths, and by extension Cathay, and even though she still valued the Ruler immensely, Gilah was in no way keen on stepping back into that sort of setting; for fear of being dragged back in. “Or h-hide! Just… Do we have to do this?”

“WE don’t.” Jason replied. “I know why you’re afraid, and would never want to force you into that sort of position against Cath. But this is my sister we’re talking about, and I'm not going to leave her alone. So I'm going.”

Gilah couldn’t say a word as Jason walked past her, already having his mind made. He was ready to face a force which defied nature despite his own shortcomings. Afraid or not, he was still walking, leaving her behind. Not out of anger or disappointment, never that. Instead, it was genuine sympathy on his part as he knew Gilah's hesitation. More than just being dragged to the Depths, the way she had left likely wounded Cathay immensely. 

Their arrival here was as much her fault as it was Jason’s. And yet he was still willing to shoulder both those burdens. 

“Dammit…” Gilah grit her teeth, at odds with her own cowardice and desire to keep Jason safe. What use was her reawakened bloodlust if she wasn’t going to use it in his defense? She has challenged armies, gods of creation and conception, as well as all manners of horrors and devils. Now was NOT the time to fall to fear. “FINE. OKAY!”

Gilah stood up, the bed creaking greatly as she took away her substantial weight. She beat her fist against her chest, pumping herself up as though this were the battle of her life. “O-KAY! I-i’m going with you…”

Jason looked up at Gilah, her towering form doing little to do away with her fear. “Wait, shit really, you are?”

“Of course I am! If you think I'm going to let you face Cathay BY YOURSELF then your sister was right to call you an idiot.”

“I… she never called me an idiot.” 

Crouching down, Gilah grabbed Jason by the sides of his head before pulling him into a loving kiss. Pulling away, she then pressed her forehead against his. “I know… But I did. My lovely, foolish human.”

Jason looked into her eyes, caressing the leviathan’s soft cheek. “We’re in this together. Through more than just the pact we made. Through our trust and faith in each other.”

Gilah felt her heart racing, and cursed having missed the chance to throw Jason onto the bed. She couldn’t even weigh how much time she had now as, were she to jump at the chance, she’d likely invite ruin onto the planet.

“First, we should probably find you something to wear.” Jason recommended. If his sister had been living here, then perhaps she had something Gilah could put on. Adorn something more fitting than garments made from… Depth Beast remains. “This’ll be your first time meeting my sister. First impressions and all that.”

Despite her tall height, she agreed. “Yeah… probably. Maybe… uh…” Gilah gave her underarm a quick sniff, noting scents common with her old home. “Maybe something to help with the smell of salt water and fish?” 

A quick makeover was in order for this odds defying couple who stood together, here and now.

Valerie paced back and forth across the bar, from one end of the building to the next. She didn't know what to do. Adrian was curled up in a fetal position on the floor, murmuring to himself over and over again the impossibility of the situation. Cathay was silent, thankfully, helping herself to the bar's various drinks. Without Adrian to prepare anything she had settled for just drinking straight out of the bottle, though something told Valerie the Ruler was more than fine with this. The eldest Armitage on the other hand was anything BUT fine. Even now, with things having settled down some after Cathay's brief deconstruction of reality, she was still reeling from having stood her ground against the cosmic force. 

It had taken far more courage than she realized to even stand up to them verbally. Still Valerie was trying to wrap her head around just what the hell she was thinking. She's been known as someone whose bark is as bad as their bite, sure, but neither should work against a cosmic powerhouse such as Cathay. Even the small display of power they demonstrated was terrifying for God's sake! Had Valerie actually angered her further than who knows what would have happened?! 

Stopping in her tracks Valerie gave her cheeks a few light slaps. "Don't think about the what-ifs, just be glad you're alive!" She reminded herself. The hardest part was over, and Valerie thanked her lucky stars to have made it this far. As far as she was concerned this was the home stretch, and all she had to do was convince Cathay to leave.

All without coaxing their Ire. Easier said than done, yet someone had to do it. 

"Okay…" Valerie steeled her nerves, trying her hardest to hide her fear. "Okay… let's do this." Turning towards the Ruler, Valerie proved too focused on the task ahead to notice the front door to the bar opening. It wasn't until Cathay raised a finger to silence the approaching human did they realize their attention was elsewhere. 

Cathay turned her head, eyes narrowing as she watched the door open. "There you are… I don't know how much longer I was willing to wait."

A harrowing comment, made even more nerve wracking when Valerie saw who it was Cathay was speaking to. There at the entrance stood a beauty of a woman. Clothed appropriately for the cold night, the blue haired woman stood silently as she stared at Cathay. They couldn't have been any taller than the Ruler's current form, and yet Valerie felt a grand pressure from them. Shorter than even herself, this woman carried with her a towering aura that Valerie simply couldn't ignore. 

"Your patience is appreciated." Gilah responded with a slight bow. "I know it must have been difficult considering the circumstances." 

"It's been… tolerable." Cathay lowered her current drink onto the bar as she observed her age old friend's attire and appearance. They had changed a lot. More than initially anticipated. She grimaced. "The height and appearance were to be expected, but my goodness Gilah, you've already started dressing like them…" 

The Butcher smirked, pulling at the collars of her shirt and jacket. It was difficult finding something that fit at first, requiring more than a few attempts. "It's rather strange, I'll admit. But nothing horrible. In fact, I might even grow to like it." The amount of clothing Gilah had to go through before shrinking down one final time was more than she cared to admit. Even then, while some of her more bestial traits had nearly vanished completely, such as fins and her tail stub, she still possessed her claws and gills. They proved difficult to hide, with Gilah's gills requiring a scarf to conceal and care needing to be exercised when putting on yet another shirt, as her claws tore through fabric with outrageous ease. It wasn't long before she had been left with a single outfit choice. 

A long brown skirt that reached down to Gilah's ankles, along with a similarly colored shirt and jacket. Bland as color combinations go even by Depth standards, but it was all she had. And besides, it proved rather comfortable. 

"Honestly, it could be worse." The leviathan admitted. "I like what you're wearing more though. Very fashionable, as I'm sure the humans might say. Especially loving those shades of yours. I see you couldn't hide your eyes."

Cathay scoffed in disgust. "Please, don't remind me. It's torture enough being limited to this atrocious simian shell, but do I truly need to change my eyes too? I already feel more vulnerable now than any other point of my life. Must I really deny myself my own eyes' natural colors for the convenience of a few apes?" 

The Ruler sighed, holding her head in her hand. It was humiliating to even be seen like this, by Gilah of all people. If any other Depthborn saw her like this, or dreamer forbid, the Primals, she'd never be able to live this down. Just another issue on an ever increasing pile of unfortunate circumstances. 

Or shit, that works too.

"You have no idea the type of headache I have right now…" The Ruler complained. 

The two Depthborn talked so casually. It was almost enough to make Valerie forget that these two in particular were some serious powerhouses. Cathay, Ruler of a Domain widely feared across creation, and Gilah, the kidnapper of her little brother. Valerie almost wanted to walk up to the leviathan and slap her right across the face as revenge for the full year of guilt she had to endure. She stayed her hand, thankfully, knowing well that this situation wouldn't allow for such action. 

That, and she had more pressing matters in mind. 

"So… that's Gilah?" Valerie thought "She's… actually rather beautiful. Almost does Jason's words justice when he used to describe her." 

The eldest Armitage's eyes went wide upon realizing that. She stepped forwards toward Gilah, not in anger but out of hope. "Wait… if you're here… then…"

Cathay quickly picked up on what Valerie was interested in. "Right, right… might as well address the elephant in the room. Where exactly is the little 'homewrecker', Gilah?"

"Here!" A voice called from outside. With a huff, Jason stepped into the bar as Gilah stepped to the side. He was breathing heavily, clearly exhausted. "Sorry! I'm right… here. Just a little winded. Gilah carried me from my house and into the city, but we decided to walk the rest of the way. Not a great idea if I'm being honest, Gilah's very fast. I just couldn't keep up."

"I asked if you wanted me to carry you the rest of the way." The leviathan reminded her beloved mate. "I have no issue carrying you in my arms."

Jason shook his head. "No need to worry about it, I'm fine. Didn't want to inconvenience you now that you're shorter than me."

"Jason, you weigh next to nothing for me. That isn't even an exaggeration, it really is no issue." Gilah had to stifle her laughter, enjoying her lover's 'tough guy' act. All the while she was unaware over how uncomfortable this made Cathay, seeing the two of them displaying even this minor amount of affection. 

"I know." Jason responded. "Even if you're size shrunk you're strength certainly hasn-" 

Before he could finish, Jason was nearly tackled as, out of nowhere, Valerie rushed forward to embrace her younger brother. 

Initially taken back by the sudden act, it wasn't until Jason realized who it was that was holding him so tightly did he understand. Wrapping his arms around his sister, Jason repaid the hug in full. He could feel his shoulders growing wet as tears formed in Valerie's eyes. He had forgotten how much shorter she was. Matching Gilah in her current height, the two only came up to his collar. That didn't keep his shoulders from getting wet. 

"So I take it you missed me?" He joked. 

Valerie choked back her own tears, laughing softly as she pushed herself away from her brother. Wiping away the tears, she wore a fierce grin. "Me? Miss you? Puh-lease, Only thing I missed was the passwords you'd share for streaming sites. How you were happy to help me with my taxes, or offer me a few bucks here and there."

"...How you'd always listen to me rant after another breakup, or how you'd tell the most outrageous stories to cheer me up. Certainly didn't miss those, no sir…" slowly, Valerie's lips began to quiver as the tears flowed once more. Her fierce grin wavered as she tried in vain to wipe away the water falling from her eyes with her jacket sleeve. "I'm sorry for not trusting you. I'm sorry for doubting what you saw; what you believed. I'm sorry… and I'm glad that you're safe and sound." 

When Jason first brought up Gilah's existence, back when he only knew her as some silhouette in the distance, observable at night, none believed him. Not even his own siblings. It wasn't until his disappearance did Valerie start to have doubts, and for a full year that had been eating away at her. Now, with her brother back, it was all coming to the surface. 

Jason extended his arms forward, expecting his sister to hug him once more. Instead, he was met with several strong hits to the chest. "But never, ever, do-that-to-me-again! God, Jason! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" 

Having grown up with his sister's punches, the blows didn't hurt as much as they would for other people. Jason was even able to catch Valerie's wrists mid swing to stop her from hitting him again. He smiled as wholeheartedly as he was able, showing that everything would be fine now that he was here. As though a simple smile would enough to turn back the clock and take away the pain of the past year. "I know, and I'm sorry. I never wanted you to worry. Believe me, we tried to come back. Things just got complicated." 

"Yeah, I know." Valerie relented, pulling her hand free from her brother's grip. Quickly, she turned to face Gilah, her reignited fury enough to startle the leviathan. "But does SHE know that?" 

Even if she wanted to hit them, Valerie doubted anything she did to Gilah would even hurt. Still, just like with Cathay, the eldest Armitage's words stung more than any of her strikes.  

"Honestly, are you some sort of idiot?! I know the Depths are full of beasts, I did my research, but do you have to act like one?! My brother called you graceful, you know? Said you were a beauty without compare, cheesy bastard! Great! So what do you do?! You kidnap him and keep him from his family for over a year! I mean, who does that?! You, clearly!" 

Like with the Ruler, Valerie just tore into Gilah, all while the Leviathan backed away in apparent fear. Though the two were of the same height, Gilah felt as though she were staring down a rampaging Depth beast. She looked to Jason in the hope that he would do something of aid. Instead, she saw an expression of resignation, as though he had expected such a reaction from his sister. 

Jason saw Gilah looking his way and gave her a thumbs up. She, in turn, promptly flipped him off. This was the man she loved, the least he could do is get between her and his sister.  

The sudden snapping of fingers tore Gilah's attention away from her beloved and back towards Valerie. "Excuuuuse me, Earth to kidnapper. You dozing off? Better not 'cause I ain't done with you yet."

Shaking her head to focus once more, Gilah hung her head in shame. "I'm… sorry. Truly I am…" There were no excuses she could give that would prove satisfactory for Valerie. One wrong step and she'd be set off again. "There is nothing I can say that will make things right, I know this. I took away your brother, kept him in the Depths despite his original wishes, far from his family. I will never be able to give back the time that I had stolen. But please, I ask that you trust me. I care about your brother deeply. More than you may realize."

Surprising Valerie and shocking Cathay, who up until now had been watching the entire conversation unfold with silent contempt, Gilah lowered herself down until her head touched the floor. Prostrating herself, she exposed herself completely. A sign of forgiveness, shown through making oneself vulnerable. 

"Please… allow me the chance to make amends for what I did. Allow me the chance to beg. Your brother… he… he is…" the words refused to come out even though Gilah knew what she wanted to say. Everyone was watching her. Jason, Valerie, the strange human muttering to himself in the corner. Even Cathay was observing with uncommon interest. 

"Your brother is everything I've ever wanted in life." Gilah finally admitted as she sat up straight. Valerie's anger diminished slightly upon seeing the leviathan's blushing cheeks. "He is kind… and sweet… and gentle. Oh so gentle… everything the Depths is not. With him, I feel more than alive. I feel loved. Jason is my everything. He is my treasure. And I would like to stay by his side for as long as I may live." 

As all this was being said, Cathay could only look away. She was thankful that no one was looking her way as her shoulders slumped down. She downed another glass of liquid courage before continuing to listen. 

Looking down at the Leviathan, Valerie still saw the one who had taken her brother away from her. Though they were of human size now, she knew Gilah was anything but. It'd be foolish to entrust her sibling to something so calamitous. 

And yet… through the blush on their cheeks, and the tone of their voice, Valerie knew Gilah meant every word of what she said. Worst of all, looking at her brother's smile now, she saw that he trusted her with every fiber of his body. 

Considering all Valerie had to go through during the year, the many sleepless nights she had to endure pouring over tome after tome of archaic knowledge and research, all to find her brother, it should have been easy to deny Gilah. 

But she couldn't. No matter how badly Valerie wanted to say it, the word "no" wouldn't leave her lips. She crossed her arms, unsure of what to do. 

Looking at Jason, she was surprised to see that he was in an agreeable state. Despite being away in some other 'reality' for a full year, he was surprisingly healthy. In fact, if Valerie didn't know any better, she'd say he was even more fit then before. A result of all his swimming around the Deep Wastes. He was alive and well, kept safe thanks to Gilah. 

In the end, Valerie supposed that's all that really mattered. 

With a groan, Valerie couldn't find it in herself to be that cruel. The two had come to the surface to escape the Depths after all, it'd be a dick move on her part to send Gilah back. "Fuck it…. Fine. You and Jason can stay together."

Gilah's reaction was sudden, if not a little startling. She jumped up to her feet, grabbing both of Valerie's hands and holding them in her own. "Really, you forgive me?!"

With a scoff, Valerie tried to pull her hands free only to realize that, even with their light grip, Gilah maintained a firm hold on them. Noticing this, the leviathan let go of Valerie's hands, allowing them to rub their wrists. Even that light touch was enough to cut off some circulation. 

"Absolutely not, you kidnapped my brother. I'm rightfully pissed. However…" Valerie looked back between the Depthborn and her younger sibling. "It's clear you two care about each other. A lot. So I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt."

Too elated to react, Gilah was caught off guard when Valerie pinched the lobe of her ear. She pulled them close, so that her voice could remain a whisper. "If you ever pull some shit like that again though, I will make you regret it. Forget about Cathay, I will make your life a living Hell. Are we clear?"

Gilah nodded cautiously, more afraid of the woman in front of her than the Ruler seated at the bar. Satisfied, Valerie let go of the Leviathan's ear. "Lovely. Now then, if everyone's okay. If we've all gotten that out of our systems…"

A sudden chill ran through the bar. In the corner Adrian's mutterings became louder, more maddening as, up ahead, Cathay's wings had unfurled. He tried to shield his eyes behind his hands, but even then he could see the visage of the Ruler through the dark. He tried to scream, but no air left his lungs as the world seemed to shrink away. 

Whatever Cathay was doing, she didn't get far as Gilah stepped between the Armitage siblings and her, placing an arm in front of them. For a moment her form simmered, turning dark and luminous before returning to its normal appearance. 

The alterations to reality ended before anything could get out of hand. Cathay was silent as a hum was heard, and in some ways felt, by only Gilah and Jason. The Ruler chuckled softly as she stood up from her seat. "So… you bonded with Jason. Isn't that adorable…" for a moment she had tried to alter reality, Jason specifically, only to find Gilah's influence preventing her from doing so. "Honestly, I had expected it. But to see it for myself…" 

There were no words that could match the exact emotions she was currently feeling. 

Cathay's wings shrunk away, hiding away on her coat once more as she made her way over to Jason. Her eyes fell on Gilah, the Butcher at the ready in case things went south. Even if it meant fighting Cathay, she would keep Jason and Valerie safe. 

The Ruler rolled her eyes, the molten hue shining off her glasses slightly, and threw her hands up. "Calm down, I'm not going to hurt your… beloved." Saying that seemed almost wounding. There was a brief expression of disgust upon Cathay's face. "I just want to talk." 

Gilah wasn't backing down. Jason could hear the bones of her knuckles popping. Tightening in case she really did need to fight. But what sort of hope did she have against Cath? "Well, I'm listening. So talk."

With a smirk, Cathay pointed to Jason while her hands were still raised. "Oh no, you misunderstand. I heard everything I needed to hear from you. Lovely stuff, Gilah. It was all so…" once again, disgust spread across the Ruler's face. "Veeeery touching… no, what I want is to talk to Jason. That's all. No strings attached." 

Gilah wasn't buying it. She's known the Ruler for thousands of years, before the time she had taken the throne of the Depths. She knew few people better, and while she cared for Cathay, Gilah also knew that lying was no beneath them. "I'm sorry Cath, but I don't think I can do that." 

The two ancient friends stared each other down, neither moving from their position, never taking their eyes off of one another, until it was Jason who finally broke the silence. He gently placed a hand upon Gilah's shoulder. 

"It's okay. I think this needs to happen." 

Understandably hesitant, the Leviathan persisted in her defense. "Jason, you can't be serious. You know as well as I do what Cathay can do. With a thought she could-"

"Make me wish I was never born." The weaker human finished. "Yeah, I know. Still, this isn't something we can ignore. It isn't something we should ignore." 

"Think this through, Jason. Please. Without our pact you'd be defenseless."

Jason's mind was made up. "Trust me, okay? I got this." 

Understanding she wouldn't be able to sway her mate's decision, Gilah lowered her arm. She grit her teeth as she stared at Cathay. No words as a growl reverberated in the Leviathan's throat. No words were spoken but the message was clear. Dare bring harm to her Jason and there'd be an empty throne before long. 

Cathay was unamused, threats amounting to nothing to one as old as her. Still, it was best to remain on Gilah's good side. She'd hate to do away with perhaps the only being she considered a friend. 

And only just a friend it would seem. 

Stepping forward, Jason was stopped as his sister held onto his arm tightly. Valerie had just gotten him back and she was not going to let him go again. 

He could see the fear in her eyes. The despair. Even then, Jason knew he had to press on. 

Please don't…" Valerie pleaded. "Don't do this after I just got you back."

Rubbing her arm, Jason shot his sister a confident smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine." Pulling free, he stood up to Cathay as she continued to hold her hands up high. Gilah had relented yet still she held this ridiculous position. Jason couldn't think too much on it though, there were clearly more important matters to discuss.

Cathay was tall in this human form of hers. Almost as tall as Jason, save maybe an inch or two. Even then, she still carried an all-powerful presence to her. The type which made her appear far larger than she really was. 

"So, you wanna talk here?" Jason asked. "Or should we take this someplace else."

"Here is fine." The Ruler responded. "I was hoping to have us converse somewhere more private, but Gilah stopped me from whisking you elsewhere. I suppose I still could, were she to lower that protective pact for a moment…" 

Looking at Gilah, Jason nodded. Signaling that everything would be fine. Hesitant at first, she eventually obeyed as the defense she placed upon her beloved vanished, allowing Cathay's influence to take hold once more. The Ruler's lips parted as she smiled widely. 

"That's MUCH better, thank you~" 

With her hands still raised, Cathay snapped her fingers and all colors faded from the world. Reality did not shift, nor did anything really change beyond the draining of shades of color. Gilah never moved from her spot, instead looking over towards Cathay and Jason. Valerie on the other hand screamed, yet no sound was heard. It took Jason a moment to realize that he couldn't really hear anything. Not his own footsteps, nor his sister's rapidly approaching footfall, or even Adrian's wails. Nothing could be heard. 

"There we go, so much quieter~." 

With his back turned towards Cathay, Jason didn't even notice the massive fingers wrapping around his torso. Each one was as large as a baseball bat, and gripped him tightly. 

Taking Jason's distraction as a chance to grow, the Ruler wasted no time in flaunting her size by lifting the human high. "Isn't this better, Jason?" Cathay asked as she took off her sunglasses with her free hand, allowing her fiery eyes to shine fully. She exuded absolute confidence. "It certainly is for me. We can't have you looking at me on equal ground, thinking we're in the same league." 

At this size Cathay easily reached forty feet, maybe more. Forget thinking about his death, it'd only take a quick squeeze to kill Jason at this height. Of course both understood that wasn't going to happen.

"I really do want to talk to you." Cathay admitted. "More for my sake than yours. I just prefer keeping this aspect of our 'relationship' alive is all. That's not an issue, right?"

Jason didn't even get a chance to answer as Cathay's hands fell to her sides. She watched as Gilah worked to calm Valerie down, likely explaining what had happened. 

Before their very eyes, Jason and Cathay had vanished. Disappeared without a trace. In truth, the Ruler had only created what could be called a Mirror World. A pseudo dimension where she could view the world, but nothing in turn could see or touch her. The perfect place to have a much needed talk. 

The two women seemed to quickly understand that there was nothing they could do, so instead they turned their efforts towards Adrian. The gibbering madman was in rough shape and needed serious mental aid. Valerie and Gilah would do what they could, but what they'd be able to manage would prove pointless; irrelevant. 

"Good…" It was hardly any concern for Cathay. "That should buy us twenty minutes. Maybe more if Gilah decides to take in that Ape too. With another snap of her fingers the world around the two of them expanded, allowing for the quick construction of a counter similar to the bar’s. 

Making her way over and placing Jason on top, Cathay took her seat. She loomed over the small human, watching each of his movements carefully. There was an ounce of fear felt within as he stood up. Whatever was to come, Jason was prepared for it.

With a wave of her hand, a clear glass cup materialized in the Ruler's hand. She slammed it down on the countertop with such force that Jason fell onto his ass, disoriented. 

"Your sister mentioned something called a 'screwdriver'." Cathay explained. "I didn't get to try one before you showed up. Do you think you could top me off?"

Okay, so perhaps Jason wasn't expecting that. 

****

There was a noticeable smile on Cathay's lips as she savored her drink. "So this is a Screwdriver." She was hesitant at first, mixing vodka and orange juice together. But there was a certain refreshing taste she just couldn't get over. A definite remedy for the day she's had. "You know, I've drank plenty of new things tonight, yet this might be my favorite. Care to try, Jason?" 

On the constructed countertop, Jason had his hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. Normally, making such a simple drink was hardly any effort, but Cathay insisted he go about the task while she was still over forty feet tall. Everything she had constructed in this Mirror World was scaled to fit her size, not his. The glasses, the drinks, even the fruit. He had to make her damn drink alone, without any sort of aid on the Ruler's part. 

The winded human raised his hand in front of him. "I'm… I'm good… thanks."

With a shrug, Cathay returned to her drink, sucking on an oversized orange as the two returned to their monotonous silence. They had hardly talked despite original intentions, instead only keeping an eye on the ailing Adrian as he was tended to by Valerie and Gilah. There was the occasional comment, one of which Cathay had geared towards Jason's sister. 

They proved fierce. Extremely aggressive when pushed into a corner, even against someone as powerful as Cathay. Jason felt pride over his sister's actions, glad that time hadn't done away with her old temper. "Yeah, she's got quite the mean stream here in Ravencroft." 

Cathay chuckled. "And I thought my temper was fierce. She knew who I was and STILL tore into me like some starving whelp. Quite the strange human…" The Ruler swirled the contents of her glass, thinking of not just Valerie's unique properties but Jason's as well.

"You both are." Against all odds, it was a small, weak human that managed to turn the legendary Butcher away from her original home in the Depths. No simple human, no matter how kind, should be able to do that. What's more, Gilah was maintaining her ancient bloodlust well. All for Jason's sake. It baffled Cathay, a being who's lived longer than some of the oldest stars. "You managed to turn Gilah away from her home, her own kind. It almost makes me question your own humanity." 

Is that how she saw things? Sure, Jason had a hand in Gilah's decision, but he'd never be the type to make it for her. Especially if it was something as impactful as leaving the very domain she's known all her life. That was strength he just didn't possess. "You've got it wrong. The choice was Gilah's. She just needed to know if I was willing to stick with her through any consequences, which I clearly would."

"Excuse my doubts, but I find that difficult to imagine." Gilah's had her conniptions of the Depths, this much was known, but to actually leave them? It boggled Cathay's mind, especially after all she's done to ensure they don't leave. "It's hard for me to picture. A Depthborn such as her choosing to leave in such a manner. It boggles the mind."

"And why is that?" Jason asked. Cathay raised a brow in confusion. "It's pretty clear she was tired of all the pointless fighting in the Depths. Maybe after growing a distaste for it all she saw the lack of reason?"

Jason saw the look of confusion on Cathay. 

"Reason?" She asked, setting her drink down besides the smaller human. "You mean you need a reason to fight?" 

Cathay has known Gilah for thousands of years, and acted as witness to some of their most calamitous battles. Yes, they had grown to regret their deeds but that didn't change a fact written into their very beings. Clearly seen now that Gilah's old wrath had been restored and refined. 

"All Depthborn enjoy fighting. We all crave destruction; power." The Ruler explained. "And anyone who craves power loves to measure that power in battle. It's a simple fact."

"The question to ponder is WHY we seek to gain power. Is it just to fight? Or perhaps something more? Survival has been our goal for eons, but I'll admit even I haven't figured it out yet…" Cathay's eyes fell upon Jason, but they weren't filled with the wrath one might expect. Instead, they looked rather sorrowful. Pitiable. Any weakness shown however was quickly dashed. "But who cares… because one thing is certain. There is no reason for us to change or deny this, because we were all born this way."

"From the smallest Whelp to the oldest Primal, it's a part of us. We do it instinctively. From the moments we are born and set upon by our own parents gnashing teeth, we have always needed to fight… because it's the only way we know how to survive…"

Cathay's grip on the glass increased until it finally shattered. She hardly cared for the shards that dug into her skin, only able to focus on the life not just she lived, but the loves every Depthborn had experienced. Survival was all that mattered in the Depths. And to survive, one needed power. More power than any other creature you could come across. To that end, every denizen of the Depths rampages throughout creation, searching for those strong enough to force this needed 'evolution'. Their own individual ascension. The Primals had long reached the pinnacle of power, just below that of a Ruler's. Yet they were only twelve, and the Depths contained trillions. So the battles will never stop. They can't. To deny that would be to deny themselves. Their nature, their sense of identity. It all revolved around this need to survive. 

There lay the secrets of the Depthborn. A simple grand desire to survive. So grand that they were willing to burn the cosmos to ensure their survival. Gilah was no different. If her life was on the line, if she was pushed into a corner, it would be her fury she'd need to rely on. Her Depthborn brutality to ensure her survival. That would never change, of that Cathay was certain. 

Jason wasn't of the same mind though. He understood what Cathay was saying, and even sympathized with her. The Depths were an unforgiving domain, as he had witnessed firsthand the horrors within. But even then, with all the Ruler had said, he didn't believe her. 

"That right there is the problem then." Jason explained as he sat down cross legged. He looked up at the Ruler, who in turn waited patiently for his rebuttal. "See, Gilah doesn't want to just survive. She wants to live, Cath. She wants to love life without having to worry about the next coming fight. She wants peaceful days, and pleasant sunsets. She wants serenity rather than strife." 

Cathay found the idea repulsive. If there was one truth to any universe it’s that strife will always be a constant. "A ridiculous notion."

"Maybe for you." Jason shot back. "But it's quite common for us humans. Now I'm not saying we're special, already know how you feel about that, but I am saying we know how to appreciate good things in life. Some of us 'Apes' struggle to survive, so we can relate. But there are also people who know how to appreciate something as simple as a breeze over a meadow. It's simple peace like that which Gilah wants. It's what'll make her happy."

And ultimately that's what the two of them wanted for her. While Jason's explanation was completely alien to one such as Cathay, peace being a concept unfamiliar to the Depths, she understood where Gilah's joy may be found. While she hated to admit it, the Leviathan would have just been miserable in her original home. Even with Jason close by, having to stay in a domain which had caused her so much inner pain would have been daily torment. The Ruler hoped that, with time, they'd grow to tolerate the Depths. But that was wishful thinking. 

Jason on the other hand had a clear idea of what his beloved wanted. A quiet, loving life that defied everything a Depthborn normally stood for. Even for one with as bloody a past as hers, it seemed impossible. Yet that's what she craved. 

With a huff, Cathay rested her arm on top of the counter before laying her head on top of it. She felt defeated. Tired. And she never even had to get into a fight. This was a new type of exhaustion she was unfamiliar with. 

There was a phenomenon with the Depths, experienced by few and thus very little new of it. A point in a Leviathan's life where, against their very nature, they'd begin to question the purpose behind their bloodshed. Some have been known to change thanks to this philosophical event. A point that changes their sense of self. Another form of survival, sudden adaptation, as one method of ensuring your continued existence was by never fighting at all. 

Leave the conflicts to the beasts. 

While Cathay had never experienced it herself, she knew it to be the cause behind Gilah's sudden change. Her sudden questioning of all the blood she had spilt throughout her comparatively short existence. There was some hope that, as time went on, the Butcher would turn away from such thoughts. Return to her roots and hone her cravings; become truly legendary. Again, wishful thinking, as all they had done to deny themselves such desires showed monstrous fortitude of body and mind. Even now this fact is unchanged, And Cathay knew that.

She knew for a long time that the Butcher's teeth had been dulled. 

Perhaps… if they had never met Jason, if they had never left the Depths, all this could have been avoided. 

Maybe, but who was Cathay to deny her one real friend such happiness? Even if it meant turning away from her home, by what right did she have to grant them misery? 

No, she was done here. Even if it meant her own feelings would go unrequited, so long as Gilah found joy in this new life then it was all worth it. 

Even if it hurt like hell this was what needed to happen. Cathay only regretted that it took the words of two humans to convince her. 

Turning her head slightly to face her oldest friend's mate, the fallen Ruler asked the one question that now repeated across her mind. 

"Will you give her a wonderful life?" She asked. "Can you grant her everything she's ever wanted?" 

Jason smiled. He walked up to the Ruler and placed a hand on her forehead. She seemed sad… as well as hopeful. They needed to hear that all their worrying, all their outbursts and tantrums, wouldn't amount to nothing. 

"I will give her my all, your Highness." Jason replied with a bow. "But it'd be a much better life if you remained a part of it." 

Cathay said nothing. Instead, she closed her eyes and allowed for a sudden pervading darkness to envelop the two of them, tearing apart the Mirror World before placing the two of them back in the bar at more reasonable sizes. 

Having just gotten her friend calmed down, Valerie watched with annoyance as Cathay's and Jason's sudden return only elicited more screaming from Adrian. "Dammit! And we just managed to get him to shut up!" 

"I could still knock him out." Gilah suggested, already winding up a punch. 

"In your damn dreams! Why don't you just…" Valerie's words were cut short as Adrian's screaming ceased. His eyes closed, and before long his chest rose and fell with gentle breathing; fast asleep. 

With a wave of her hand Cathay had allowed the bar's owner some much needed rest. A special slumber that should hopefully repair the damage she had inflicted upon his mind. After tonight it'll all just seem like a bad, barely memorable, nightmare. 

Cathay walked towards Gilah, the Butcher still on edge from before but slightly more relaxed. They watched as she put on her sunglasses with shaking hands, doing well to hide any sort of emotions they may be feeling. "Cath? Is everything alright?" Aggression was forgotten as concern took hold. "What happened?" 

The Ruler said nothing as, with nary an indication, she mentally altered the pact made between Ordegash and Gilah. A perk of having the Primal Lord as her tongue piercing, she was able to influence the details of the bargain. It was quick, barely noticeable for all but Ordegash, who likely felt their power manipulated by the vastly more powerful Tyrant of the Deep Wastes. Cathay couldn't change every detail of the pact, but just enough that it wouldn't prove too troublesome. 

"I've altered the deal you made With Ordegash to secure your life on the surface." Cathay explained. "I didn't do away with your reawakened cravings, you'll need to manage those yourself. Though I suppose that was already the plan. My gift to you will reveal itself in time. It'll help make your new life more manageable should things grow… precarious."

Gilah was nearly at a loss for words. "Wait… new life? So you mean…"

"The Depths are closed off to you." Cathay interrupted. Her voice choked up for a moment. Composing herself, the Ruler made her way to the door, not bothering to let Gilah finish. Before leaving though, she stopped. She didn't turn to face her age-old companion. 

For perhaps the final time in their life. "G…good… goodbye… old friend. Be well. Live your life as you see fit."

"And… I'm sorry. For any pain I had inflicted on you and Jason."

Before Gilah could process what was happening, Cathay walked out of the bar, closing the door behind her. She gave no one the chance to speak up, choosing instead to leave while she still had emotional strength on her side. 

Jason was the first to step forward. "Dammit, she shouldn't just leave like that. I'll go get her." But he was stopped before he could follow after the emotional Ruler.

Grabbing a hold of her beloved's shirt, Gilah stopped his pursuit. "Leave her. Please. She needs time to think." 

Knowing Cathay was hurting, Gilah understood that the last thing anyone should do was bother the sulking Ruler. This was unfamiliar territory for both of them, and there was no telling how Cath might react. 

"I'll speak with her later, through my own methods. For now, let's just focus on your friend."

Jason looked to Adrian, watching as they struggled in their sleep. Cathay's 'repairs' were far from a pleasant experience. While he didn't want to leave Cathay in such a state, Jason would just have to trust Gilah knew what she was doing. 

"Fine. Just make sure you do try and talk to her. She cares about you quite a bit. " 

Rushing over to Adrian's side, Jason placed a hand on their head. "He's getting warm. Gilah, can you get some ice and put it in a bag? I wanna keep him from burning up." 

"Of course." 

As the couple got to work tending to Adrian's condition, Valerie's attention was elsewhere. She had seen it all unfold. Cathay's departure struck a chord with the oldest Armitage, and before she knew it she was facing the bar's entrance.

"Just let it go, Val. You don't owe her anything" she told herself. "After what Cath did, she deserves to hurt." 

Yet despite thinking that, the more she thought about how they departed, and what their final words to Gilah were, Valerie felt her own heartstrings tug.

"Don't do it, idiot. You don't know what she'll do to you."

Valerie should be helping her brother. Adrian was still in bad shape and she couldn't be thinking about Cathay.

She shouldn't be worried about their pain. 

And yet, against her better judgment, Valerie was.  

"...Dammit"

****

Outside facing nothing but the night's cool breeze, Cathay felt the weight of the world fall upon her shoulders. She had yet to return to the Depths, and not even five minutes after her departure did she find herself shrinking against the outside walls of Adrian's bar, The Drunken Mariner. 

She had meant what she said, wishing Gilah a good life. To some extent, she even wanted the same for Jason. Despite her own feelings she knew in her very bones that he was what was best for the legendary Butcher of the Depths. Unlike her, Jason could actually give Gilah the life she wanted. The life she needed. 

That did little, however, to do away with the pain building within her chest. 

Cathay has lived since time immemorial, having witnessed the birth and decay of the very first star. She has battled all manner of creatures, no matter how obscure, and always came out on top. In a way, she was similar to her beloved companions' younger self. Though she was no "Calamity", Cathay once relished in combat, just as Gilah did. The greatest difference between the two of them is that, while the young Leviathan had sought a more peaceful path, Cathay had not. 

She wished Gilah luck on this path. Truly, she did. But now her own would be much more lonesome. And that in of itself was a more grievous wound than any that's ever inflicted her. 

"Dammit…" Cathay loathed losing. She hated it even more when learning that there was nothing she could have done that would have ensured her victory. No path where Gilah could have lived a loving life other than this one. 

Reaching into her mouth, the Ruler ripped the Primal forged piercing from her tongue. There was no need for her to look upon Ordegash. Odds are they were elated to have witnessed the desired path being walked. A brighter future for the Depths, through these first few steps towards "love". 

With a groan of disgust, Cathay flicked the iridescent pearl from her hand, letting it fly off into the night sky. Phasing through buildings until it passes into the sea, returning Ordegash the Corpse Maker to their domain. 

Cathay knows nothing of this path of "love". Nothing besides the fact that it was one she did not walk. Many others did though. Destroyers, Preservers, Earthbound sea beasts and even representatives of her own kind. But not her. 

Never her. 

She no longer knew what to do, and the longer the Ruler sat upon the cold floor, looking up towards the full moon overhead, she dreaded the thought of returning to the Depths alone. 

"Maybe I should have just destroyed the Earth…" Cathay wondered out loud. Taking off her sunglasses once again she rubbed her eyes, denying any tears from being formed. "Maybe then I wouldn't have felt any of this." 

Even with this unfamiliar pain she refused to appear so weak. An impossible task given her condition. She blamed her human visage, her copied frailty. She blamed mankind for having created someone as kind as Jason. But most of all she blamed herself, her nature and the difficulties it brought in maintaining a relationship. 

"Why must it be so hard to be happy for them?" Cathay questioned. "Why can't I just be glad that they have each other? Why is it that, instead, I just want to break something? Anything?!"

She truly did feel hopeless. 

Unbeknownst to the normally all-seeing Ruler, she was being watched. It wasn't until the front door closed did she become aware. 

"Because breaking things is so much easier when you're sad." Valerie explained. "Because it's a great way to distract yourself from what you're really feeling. Trust me, I would know."

Aware that she had caught the Ruler off guard, the human raised her hands in mock surrender, showing she meant no harm. To her surprise, Cathay hardly cared for the sudden intrusion. Instead she turned her sights back towards the sky. 

"I would have thought you'd stay by your brother's side." Cathay said. "Get to know his 'bride to be'. Catch up after a year apart." 

Valerie sat besides Cathay, more at ease than she likely should be. "Well, we have time after today to catch up. Besides, They've got their own plans tonight I'm sure. You on the other hand look like you're in need of a shoulder to cry on. So how about it? Penny for your thoughts?"

Sighing, Cathay pulled out the pockets of her coat. She didn't think she'd ever have to pay an Ape. "My apologies, I didn't craft this form with human currency in mind."

Valerie chuckled softly. "It's just an expression. I'm asking if you wanna talk about it, that's all."

For a moment, the briefest of flashes, there was a glimmer of hope in the Ruler's eye. A twinkle and little else, but a proper step forward. It faded just as quickly as it had come, and Cathay returned to her sulking. 

"The sentiment is appreciated, Human. Truly, it is. But… I'd much rather remain silent." These sorts of emotions were uncharted territory for her. Unfamiliar, and as such difficult to put into words. Just as some among mankind failed to comprehend Cathay's true splendor, she in turn failed to grasp some of their more basic emotions. 

Valerie, for her part, was surprised. Not from the decline in Cathay's mood, that was more concerning. Rather, her surprise came from being referred to as a human rather than a money; an Ape. It was a step up, even if her actual name wasn't used. That's what she'd call progress. 

Respecting the Ruler's wishes, and wishing to stay on their relatively neutral side, the two sat in silence and just observed the stars. There was hardly a sound to be heard. Not outside nor within the bar. Odds are Jason and Gilah did what they could for Adrian, and as such would soon depart. Fine by Valerie, she knew Jason could handle taking Ady home. He knew where he lived, and Gilah certainly had the strength to lift the slumbering man. 

Right now, Valerie's full focus was on the wounded Ruler. 

Minutes pass in silent serenity, an odd peace being felt despite recent events. Perhaps the feeling was not shared, but for Valerie she was quite enjoying the night breeze. Before, as she would walk drunkenly through the streets lamenting the disappearance of her brother, she had come to hate it. Now though, with him home safe and sound, she felt that her future had grown just a bit brighter. 

A shame that such a path was not mutual, as Cathay had just lost someone important to her. Even for Valerie, it was clear that Gilah's apparently permanent departure was affecting Cathay greatly. More than facial expression showed. 

"I'm… sorry for what I did to your friend…" Cathay finally spoke, apologizing for her previous action of swallowing Adrian alive. "I will wipe his mind of what he saw to ensure his sanity is mostly unscathed." 

A merciful act from the Ruler of the Depths, far from the being she was warned about. While Cathay still proved to be a TERRIFYING beast of unfathomable power, she's also shown to be more than that. There was no doubt in Valerie's mind that Cathay had done horrible deeds, but then so has Gilah. Or that's what she believed anyway, as they were both from the Depths. 

And from how both Depthborn were recently acting it was clear that their bloodied hands were not their sole defining traits. At least, that's what Valerie hoped. 

"Thank you. What you did was really messed up." Valerie responded, genuinely appreciative of Cathay offering a dear friend a helping hand. It was the least they could do after all. 

Once more, the two sat in silence. Neither really knew what to say, or actually had anything that needed to be said. Whatever could be brought up already has, and all that has been said has only served to contribute to Cathay's poor mood. Valerie wondered how long they'd be able to go on like this. 

Though she wouldn't say it herself, as the Ruler might just deject, Valerie knew well what they were feeling. She was very familiar with heartbreak and knew such pain would not fade away so easily. 

So, against her better judgment, a decision was made. 

"Do you wanna head back to my place?" Valerie offered. Once again throwing her arms up in self defense to show she meant no harm, the oldest Armitage was relieved to see that Cathay had not responded negatively. 

In fact, they even seemed curious. 

"What?" 

"I'm just saying, you seem kind of rough." Valerie explained. "I know some of your deal. You're the Ruler of the Depths, a big ole powerhouse of the cosmos. Lot of work for just one gal. And trust me, working right after getting your heart broken is the last thing you want."

Valerie offered the Ruler a hand as she stood up. Cathay looked on, puzzled. "So, what do you say? Don't think of this as anything other than avoiding your job. You'll feel a lot better afterwards, trust me." 

The Human had a point. Returning to the Depths, and by extension her duties, was far from appealing. Gilah always made the tasks she had bearable. Now, without the Leviathan by her side, it seemed harrowing. Perhaps it was just her mind overthinking things. She was one of the most powerful beings across totality. One of if not the most powerful Ruler in existence. Her power meant that any issue could usually be resolved with a thought. 

That said, the tedium of doing her duty without Gilah offering some form of reprieve sounded more hellish than the actual Hells themselves. 

With help from Valerie, Cathay stood up, more at ease than before. Exhausted, yes, but at least she wasn't sulking anymore. Once again, Valerie saw that as progress. 

"I suppose a single night here on Earth wouldn't hurt." The Ruler reasoned. "And there are a few things I'd like to get off my chest." 

Taking a hold of Cathay's hand, Valerie wasted no time in leading them to her apartment. "Talking is great, we can certainly do that. Maybe even watch a movie, order some food, just try to get your mind away from everything bad."

While sounding like very… human activities, Valerie's proposals didn't sound all too bad. Really, anything to take her mind off of duty and loss would be appreciated. 

"Yes, those sound acceptable" Cathay responded, much to Valerie's delight. 

It was just one night on this little mudball of a plant. 

In fierce yet surprisingly kind company. Not too horrible of a way to end a night. 

What's the worst that could happen?

Getting Adrian home was a far easier task than Jason originally thought it would be. With Gilah's aid, the process of actually carrying the poor soul home was without any unneeded difficulty. Whatever had been done to ease his mind left the man in a deep, deep slumber. A definite improvement over his previous shattered mind; a consequence of falling victim to the smallest glimpse of Cathay's terrifying power. 

That very same power had been used to repair what was broken thankfully. It was a 'kind' gesture. Or at least as kind as the Ruler of the Depths could muster. 

There would of course need to be some explaining on Jason's part in the future, that much was clear. One would think there'd be a much needed explanation over the youngest Armitage's sudden reappearance, after a whole year of silence. Instead, it was the broken door to Adrian's home that concerned Jason more than anything else. Gilah's strength, even at her new height, was vastly beyond that of a human's. She would need time to adjust. 

Time that she was unwilling to waste in the waning night. Dawn was but a few hours away, the two had been kept rather busy thanks to recent events, and she was not going to risk a moment more where things could further go awry. 

No, once Gilah and Jason had made sure Adrian was safe at home, and that his door was properly placed in front of the new 'hole' in his wall, the leviathan hurried herself home with mate in tow. 

Despite losing much of her previous size, now being a good foot shorter than her Jason, Gilah still possessed many of her Depthborn traits. Chief among them was her phenomenal strength, which extended well beyond just her arms. Her stride was faster than the combined effort of a dozen marathon runners. She could outpace horses, feline predators, and even a car at such speed. Anything short of a bullet, Jason was certain Gilah could outpace. 

While quite the ride for him it was all necessary for Gilah. She had waited far too long for this. Practically tearing the front door of the Armitage family home off its hinges, Gilah wasted no time in making her way to the bedroom and throwing her beloved upon the master bed. 

Jason needed no hint as to what was happening, especially after Gilah began to undress herself. "Shirt and pants. Lose them." She was a Depthborn in heat, having kept herself tame for far too long. The crimson of her eyes, the flaring of her visible gills, all telltale signs that she was ready to cut loose and go wild. 

And Jason was all for it. 

He tried to keep up with her pace. Really he did. The moment Gilah's shirt and skirt fell, the couple went into action. At first, it was the human who would rise to the top. Or rather behind, as Gilah gripped the bed post, her sharp nails digging into the hand carved wood While her beloved mate went to work on the back. Much like everything else in the Armitage house, the frame was handmade. Crafted by both Jason and his older brother Donovan, and something was telling him his brother wouldn't mind the current use of the post. 

It was an indescribable feeling for the both of them. Neither were capable of carnal pleasure of this degree in the Depths, the leviathan's previous size preventing intercourse. There were… attempts… Most nearly ended with Jason flattened, or drowned in something that wasn't water. It was attempt number five where they understood the disparity in size would be the biggest hurdle in sex. 

Now though, it was pleasure defined. While admittedly tight at first, Gilah's unique control over the density of her muscles and outer skin layer, able to harden or smoothen both for defensive purposes, meant her inner cavern was as soft as silk if she so wished. Jason on the other hand was quite skilled, each thrust on his part sending out ever increasing pulses of pleasure throughout his lover's body. The noises Gilah made, the adorable squeals a Titan of power like her could produce, only served to invigorate him. It wasn't long before they finished their first round and switched positions. 

While having enjoyed ripping into the wooden bedframe, Gilah much preferred being on top. Forcing Jason onto his back she decided it was her turn to lead on. Up and down she moved on the human's shaft, allowing him to free his arms and fondle at her pale breasts. Indescribably soft, it was like grasping at luxury pillows. Before at Gilah's previous size, Jason knew her tits to be soft. But this, at a much more tame height, was far more enjoyable.  

Mostly because he actually had a way to fondle them. 

It did pose the question though of whether all Depthborn boobies were this soft. Even if that was the case, Gilah's would always be the pair for Jason.

Neither one of them spoke a word, instead looking into each other's eyes. Gilah's in particular shined beautifully, the crimson gifted by Ordegash displaying both a primal, unrestrained lust as well as a deep, undying love. This was the moment she had been longing for. Far more important than their bond, their pact, it was this moment she's been longing for. To be with one she loved. As in, to truly be with them. Physically, emotionally… carnally. 

It was all she could have hoped for and more. 

The leviathan's form flickered briefly, darkening and growing luminous as waves of her beloved's seed filled her. Gilah clenched her teeth and brought her hands to rest on Jason's toned chest. His time in the Depths has benefited his physique well, and the leviathan wished to keep as many claw marks away from its splendor if possible. 

All that swimming had benefited them spectacularly. 

Still, despite the human's musculature, Jason's bones nearly gave way as Gilah placed a bit too much pressure on his chest. Not wishing to harm her lover, the leviathan grabbed his hands, placing both on her cheeks and holding them tightly. Or at least as tightly as she can without breaking bones. 

They continued on in this position, going through several rounds, each pushing them closer to the edge of exhaustion. Gilah's stamina was otherworldly while Jason's resolve was tougher than steel. Eventually, they both give all that they could, falling besides one another in a sweaty daze. 

"Jason…" Gilah's whole body felt numb, and she noticed her arms to be shaking. Whether out of excitement or exhaustion she couldn't recall when last they did that. 

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you can hold me close?"

Jason chuckled, happily obliging as he pulled in the once sea bound woman into a gentle hug. "Of course." 

It was incredible to think that he was now the one holding the Butcher of the Depths. Used to be that their roles were reversed and far less manageable than this. Gilah at this new size seemed so fragile, so gentle, though there was no doubt she could still bend steel as easily as snapping a toothpick. 

He'd hold her for as long as he was able. 

But as Jason continued to embrace his Leviathan lover, he found it harder to keep hold of her. Not from lack of trying, but the simple fact that Gilah was breaking free without even needing to move. It took some time to realize it, but she was in fact growing. A few inches every few seconds, but growing nonetheless. Even more, Gilah was smiling, fully aware of her own rapid growth. 

"So that's why you wanted me to hold you…" Jason couldn't say he was upset. Though it was getting harder to maintain his hold over Gilah's growing form that just meant there was more of her to love. 

Gilah stopped at what looked to be ten feet, her height now forcing Jason's head into her cloud-like chest as she held him in turn. Just as the roles had been reversed they were once again placed proper. 

"Well there's that, yeah." Gilah admitted. Having Jason so close to her, while the bed beneath them freaked under weight, was enough to get her heart beating fast again. "But that's not the only reason." 

Gilah's smile fell as she understood the reason as to why she was capable of growing. It was plausible that this amazonian height wasn't her limit. As she was told before, her bargain with Ordegash had been altered. 

"This… is Cathay's parting gift." She revealed. "The ability to shift between my old size and this new one." 

"...I hope she'll be fine" Call it post sex clarity, but with her primal cravings taken care of Gilah was now able to focus on the one thing this dream life had cost her. The first, longest, and only friend she had in the Depths. It wounded her even now to think that the mighty Ruler was herself wounded emotionally. Gilah was not blind to Cathay's feelings. She just… couldn't give them what they wanted. 

She wanted to apologize. To make things right with the Ruler. But not just them, there were so many last wrongs which Gilah wished to fix. Now that her mind was clearer she understood that there were a great many individuals she wished to make amends with. 

An advisor of the Depths in the Atlantic. A pair of Axolotl Leviathans in the Pacific, one of which she had wounded during a period of warding off her bloodlust. Countless others from various different domains in the cosmos. There were so many that Gilah desired to apologize to. Actions she wanted to pay for. In fact it was one of her goals in the near future. To travel to the homes of those she wronged and repair what had been broken.

Yet none were as high on that list as Cathay. Her first true, and oldest, friend. 

Seeing his beloved's worry, Jason gingerly stroked the hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. He wiped away a forming tear, preventing it from flowing down Gilah's cheek, as he gave the towering woman a gentle kiss on her forehead. 

"Have faith," Jason recommended. After the talk he had with Cathay it became quite clear she in turn longed for something. More than just comradery, they possessed a desire very similar to Gilah's, though likely older thanks to their greater age. "She just needs time. She'll find her happiness in life."

While her love for the Leviathan wasn't returned, Cathay's actions, questionable as they may be, showed that she still greatly cared for her friend's wellbeing. They only wished for them to be happy. And that alone proved to Jason that, for even someone like the Ruler of the Depths, there was love to be found somewhere.

Gilah looked hopeful, her crimson eyes shining briefly as she pictured the possibility of Cathay experiencing what she had in this moment. By the Depths, for all they had been put through Cathay deserved it. "You think so?"

Jason smiled, pulling his oversized lover's head closer to his chest and allowing her the chance to hear his heartbeat. Though she was of a superior height and strength, such a small act was enough to put her at ease. 

"I'm positive, Gilah. Cathay will find her beloved, wherever they may be."

****

Cathay woke up in shock. It took some time for her to get her bearings, needing to remember where she even was. The whole night before seemed like a blur now with only previous woes remaining as lingering feelings of regret and loss. The light of a newly risen sun flowers in between closed curtains, shining into the Ruler's eyes. It was early morning, and she was on the surface still to witness such light. 

Cathay flinched, realizing she had been gone from the Depths for longer than she had expected. While she had no desire to return to her duties, they could not be stalled forever. Her tasks needed to be maintained. The Depths needed to be kept in order. But before returning there she needed to figure out where she currently was. 

In her startled half-asleep state, it took more than a few moments to realize she had a set of soft arms wrapped around her torso. 

Valerie's arms to be precise. 

Taking in her surroundings more carefully Cathay realized this must have been the human's home. Her home away from her brother and family. Perhaps somewhere in Ravencroft. 

Noticing the two of them shared the same bed, Cathay looked down only for a deep blush to flood across her cheeks. Valerie was nude. Fully displayed for the Ruler's eyes to feast upon. 

Trying to push herself free of the human's slumbering embrace, Cathay found herself to move her hands. Looking at them she was absolutely stupefied to find them bound by… what looked to be stockings. 

"What's going on here…?" 

She couldn't make sense of what was happening. It defied all reason. 

"Did I… sleep with a human?" Shuffling her memories of the night before hardly helped. Cathay was hardly in a state to remember most things, and judging by how dry her mouth was she could only assume she drank even more once reaching Valerie's home. Apartment? She wasn't even sure. 

Slowly, she pulled herself free of Valerie's hold over her, practically slithering away off the bed. "No! I refuse to believe it! I would never lower myself to such… humiliation!"

Cathay was just about ready to storm out, in no more clothing than Valerie, before she was stopped. Her bound hands were held in another's. The very same human who had held her as they slept, now woken up by the Ruler's unnoticed shouting and movement.

"Where are you going?" Valerie asked, none too affected by having slept with an actual goddess. The Ruler of the Depths herself. "Come back to bed."

Cathay clutched her head, a minor ache clouding her mind of the night before. If only she could remember. 

"Don't think you can order me around, primate." The Ruler stated. Even if she was in a less than savory position she was still a being to be rightfully feared. "It's clear we've made a mistake here. I am willing to allow this intrusion upon my body if you swear to never speak of it to anyone." 

"Or am I to remind you of what may happen should you invoke my ire, Ape?" 

Valerie smiled, completely unbothered by the threat given. "Well, someone certainly isn't a morning person." She chuckled, rolling to her side as she faced the Ruler without a tinge of fear. "Rather rude to call me a monkey, Cath. Especially since we agreed to start dating last night."

The words didn't process fully at first. Cathay stared blankly, not towards Valerie in particular and more off into the distance. She needed a moment to make sure she had heard that right, and even when she was she still couldn't quite comprehend it. 

"What…?"

"Really? You forgot already?" Reaching underneath the bed's blanket sheet, Valerie pulled out her phone. "I'm not lying, we really did agree. I even recorded it, look."

Valerie scrolled through the videos in her phone, finding the one she had been looking for. A recording of Cathay crying atop her bed, calling out Gilah's name over and over. The whole time the bold human had a smile plastered on her lips. 

Cathay's blush only grew deeper, increasing as she saw the humiliating video. It was taking all she possessed to not just break the device in two, or to delete the recording with a thought, but she just couldn't look away. 

She eventually made a swipe for the phone which Valerie had already seen coming. "What is this?!" 

"Well, when we made it to my apartment we had a few more drinks." Valerie explained as she hid her cellphone behind her. "You got drunk and wouldn't stop crying about Gilah. I tried to make you feel better. Honestly, I didn't think you could get tipsy. Then one thing led to another and… well…"

"Here we are~."

Valerie had to stifle a laugh so as not to insult her guest further "You honestly don't remember?" 

"NO, OF COURSE I DON'T!"

"Really? That's a shame." Valerie sighed, remembering the night prior fondly. "You were quite the good girl last night."

"Good… girl?" The memories slowly came back to Cathay, who now began to recall the events with a fearful shudder. 

The images flashed through her mind, showing how much of a fool she had made herself appear to be. The only thoughts she had at the moment were of Gilah and Jason's life. How they'd be able to share a joy she had always been denied. A happiness she could not share with another. It was painful… humiliating. To be one as powerful as Cathay and yet still capable of falling so far; feeling so weak. 

What greater embarrassment was there in life than this?

Yet, despite her constant complaints and woes, Valerie had stuck beside her. Even when the Ruler's tone grew dreary, she stood by. At first out of compassion… than spite. 

Cathay felt a light pain across her cheek. Touching the spot that burnt slightly, she recoiled at the faintest of stings. 

Valerie's smile only grew. "Sorry about that. You just kept crying about Gilah that it started to get annoying. I tried to be nice at first, but eventually I gave you a lil slap on the cheek. That shut you up real quick."

Touching the spot again, Cathay recalled the act. Valerie meant to harm in it. She had even guided them to their bed prior. But the Ruler wasn't making their effort any easier as they only lamented their lack of a love life, wishing that things could have been different. Eventually the human had reached the end of her patience, throwing the goddess on the bed and planting herself on top of them. The slap was meant only to gain their focus, if even for just a moment. Instead it served to make the once horrifying Terror of the Depths even more vulnerable. 

"You asked me to hold you, you know?" Valerie revealed as she sat up right on the bed. She didn't care much that her body was without any clothing, her breasts bare for Cathay to see. The Ruler averted her eyes. "You said that you needed something, anything, to make you forget about your heartbreak. So… I did what I could to do just that."

"What methods involve binding my wrists with dirty laundry?!" Cathay questioned. So maybe some form of comfort was needed. But to be bound was just excessive. Abuse of a drunken mind's trust. 

Valerie faked a gasp of shock. "I am wounded, your Majesty. I keep my clothes clean for just such occasions."

"Besides, it's not like I didn't do anything you didn't want~." 

Once more Cathay's mind couldn't process what was said. "And what DID you do…" 

Despite being in the presence of one who could kill her with little more than a thought Valerie exuded absolute confidence. Her wide smile softened into a cool smirk. 

"Well, if you're so eager, I could show you again. Now that you're in a better mindset."

Valerie extended her hand, gesturing for the Ruler to return to bed with her. Whether she was only teasing or genuine in her suggestion, Cathay did not know. It would be so much simpler were she capable of reading their mind. For the first time in a LONG time, she stepped back in fear. 

"I… c-can't…" she stammered before getting a hold of herself. "It's not right! What we did before…"

"You enjoyed it." Valerie cut in. "You can look at those stockings around your wrists and let your imagination do the rest, but I promise I wouldn't have done anything you were against." 

Crawling forward, Valerie held the Ruler's hands gently, undoing her handiwork from the previous night. Cathay found her touch to be remarkably smooth. 

"I understand this seems strange, especially considering what you just went through." The auburn haired human explained. Her voice was soft… so incredibly soothing. "And there's certainly no shame in feeling hurt. Believe me, I've been there. Though, if I'm being honest, maybe this pain is good. Proper karma for your cruel acts."

Cathay looked away, strangely ashamed. It was rare for her to ever feel regret over her actions, yet as Valerie spoke she couldn't help but feel guilt over what she did to the human Adrian. "Of… of course… I would deserve it."

There was no way Valerie would deny that. Still, she didn't seek to harm the Ruler's emotions further. "But you know… past the cruelty I saw something else."

"Vulnerability" Valerie suddenly pulled the Ruler back onto the bed, but not for further foreplay. She brought the cosmic Goddess into an embrace, gently stroking their hair as they sat there in wonder. "I saw someone who's never had a significant other. A loving, living soul whose shoulder they could cry on. It's familiar to me. While you might deny it, just know that I can relate."

"We don't have to do any more bondage stuff." Valerie undid the stocking binds around Cathay's wrists with her free hand, allowing them circulation again. The human doubted that the Tyrant would have remained bound for long anyway. As if cheap cloth could contain her when whole planets could be burned with a thought. "We can just stay here for now. I'll keep holding you if you want, and later we can talk about our 'agreement'. I was only joking before, I'm not someone who'd trick you into dating me."

Cathay didn't know what to say. Despite being in the embrace of some lesser creature, a being so unbelievably fragile, she felt so protected. Actually more than that, she felt as though all was right with the world. She felt warmth, peace… and…  love. 

"So this is how it feels…" 

Rather than snap her fingers to erase the bold human who held her so gently, Cathay instead raised her arms around Valerie's torso, pulling herself further into the hug. 

"She smells quite good… this is enjoyable…"

"I think I'd like to remain like this." The Ruler admitted. She closed her eyes and allowed the troubles that had plagued her to just wash away. "For a while longer anyway."

Valerie giggled in turn, kissing the back of the Goddess' neck. Cathay had shown herself to be someone in dire need of affection. No wonder their mood was so poor the first time the two of them met. If she was able to melt away this easily at the smallest bit of affection then there's no telling as to how many eons of pent up emotions they possessed. This was someone who needed to be loved. Who needed an anchor in her life. 

"Take all the time you need, Dear."

While a tad bit spontaneous, Valerie was glad to know that, in this moment, she was that anchor. Hopefully she could remain as such. Like the Ruler she could use someone in her life as well. 

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay for as long as you need me."

Neither were certain if this development was permanent or otherwise. But in the here and now, with just the two of them holding each other closely, the world felt right. 

As though nothing could go wrong. 

Just what the two of them had been looking for. 

****

But even when peace seemed so close on the horizon it can still be unexpectedly shattered at a moment's notice. 

Out in the Arctic a trio of fishing ships were making their final rounds. A year long trip collecting sea life to make ends meet. A job many atop the vessels had enjoyed, even loved, as the years went on and they grew as close as family. They knew the seas like the back of their hands, having seen all manner of sea life. 

Or so they had thought.

As the sea around them came to life did they soon realize there was always something new to witness and fear. 

Exploding from the very Depths, an invader of the ancient domain. A whelp, towering hundreds upon hundreds of meters. So large that it seemed more akin to a moving mountain. A great winged beast that thrashed maddeningly, flailing its winged arms and screeching loudly. Though having emerged in the distance, a mile away at most, all upon the three ships could hear its monstrous cry as well as see the massive waves it created in its erratic flailing. It bled heavily, having suffered wounds from an apparent challenger, yet still lashed out aggressively. 

The first of the ships to move signaled for the rest to follow, only for the entire vessel to be thrown into the air as yet another beast emerged from the now volatile water. Nearly as big as the first, this second emergence carried a more feminine appearance though with a tail like that of a shark and nails sharp enough to tear through steel. Much like the first horror, the She-beast was also wounded, bleeding blue blood into the open waters. 

Before any upon the ship could understand what was happening a shadow overcame them all, leviathan included. The first Trespasser had cleared the distance between itself and the new arrival quickly, its wings allowing for short bursts of flight despite its heavy frame. It lunged at the She-beast, sinking its talons into their flesh as both fell into the water. It bit at their neck, trying to rip out their throat. 

The tail of the female beast rose high into the air in the ensuing struggle before falling upon a second vessel. The impact was such that the resulting wave created was enough to carry the last ship to relative safety, though the sanity of those on board had now been tested. Perhaps a dozen aboard, none could believe the conflict they were witnessing.

Monsters from the deep. Leviathans engaged in combat. Like beasts fighting for territory, only far more gruesome. The larger Trespasses clearly possessed more strength, easily clawing into the female's abdomen. Whole sections of skin were cut clean off by razor sharp wings that flapped with the force of a hurricane. It dominated the majority of the brief struggle, forcing the smaller leviathan onto its back as it continued to tear into them. It wasn't until the leviathan found itself an opening did a chance at survival seem possible. 

In between claw swipes the female beast reached forward and dug their nails deeply into the Trespasser's eye socket. Blinded, the larger horror was forcefully kicked off as the she-beast went on the attack, not at all caring for their wounds. Rising from the blood stained ocean, they leapt into the air and onto the Trespasser's pack, holding on tightly and tearing off entire chunks of carapace. Neither cared for their own safety, only focusing on the battle occurring. Only one would survive this. 

The crew did not care for the hows or why this was even happening, only concerning themselves with their continued safety. Using everything their vessel had to offer, the crew of the ship made their escape, not caring for the strain upon its engine, only for a loud boom to blow out the eardrums of nearly everyone on board, and for a shadow to fall upon them.

With the sudden beat of its wings the Trespasses launched itself into the air, assailant still upon its back until it managed a gruesome bite on their tail. 

Putting its entire body into it, the Trespasser tore the smaller leviathan off from its back and into the sea. It tossed them with such force that they flew right into the terrified crew. 

Most didn't even get the chance to scream as the weight of the leviathan came crashing down upon them.

The She-beast rose, not at all aware of the lives this battle had unconsciously taken. Even if they were, it would make no difference. The humans were less than prey in this instance, barely nuisances who had found themselves caught in a battle between two Whelps. 

Their lives were extinguished without so much as a prayer. A mercy in disguise as the two terrors continued to battle, tearing each other to pieces and further turning the ocean bloody. If more lives were caught in this dispute than so be it. 

This invasion, though minor, signaled a change in the world. One that would serve to evolve mankind for the coming conflicts or break them over the knee of the Depths and doom them to extinction. 

As is the nature of those of the Depths, inherited now onto the Earth.

 Evolve or die. 

Survive by any means. 

Rend. Destroy. Devour. 

Until only one victor remained.