Tributes

Chapter Thirty Eight

"Airean," Helian greeted his tone warm and relief pouring from him as he entered his room to find him. He kissed his beau deeply. His arms wrapped around Airean tight as he sought out comfort from his love. "I hope your day went better than mine," he exhaled, leaning on Airean heavily.

"What's the matter?" Airean frowned, rubbing Helian's back as he curled around him.

"We have a new tribute, who's immortal, so Luke's no longer the baby. They aren't getting on," Helian sounded like he had a headache. "Those two are going to cause problems I know it. A new baby always does."

"Why?" Airean asked, dancing Helian over to the bed and sitting them down. "It's not like Lord Tyreol changes how he feels about his tributes." The amount the moping the God did about his former tributes was proof of that.

"Jealousy problems," Helian drawled, flopping back onto the bed and stretching out into the pillows. "Master loves all of his tributes very much. Some are special, but he would rip apart anyone who tried to hurt his pups. It's just Luke just has to learn with not being number 1 anymore," Helian commented, his hands shield his eyes. "I only hope this doesn't change his behaviour too much. Luke is very special to our Master."

"The others don't come home very often. Luke does."

"He's very good at making Tyreol see sense too. I think only his first and Fiear have had this amount of effect on his behaviour though Jake and Annita were both very close to him as well. Rose in her way too."

"His first?" Airean tilted his head slightly. The other names, he knew, though he had only met Rose. Fiear hadn't left the netherworlds in years, Annita was a traveller like many of the tributes, as was Rose. Jake was more complicated. There was some promise that had been made stopping them from meeting and Airean wanted to know more about that situtation too. "I don't think I have ever heard you talk about the oldest tribute." Or anyone for that matter.

"There is not much to say," Helian said his voice very quiet but sadness leaked from it unmistakably. "She was what made Master like humans. I'd argue, what gave him sentience beyond that the ascent to Godhood had. She opened his world up from just death and destruction and stole his heart."

That bit was well known. It was common knowledge amongst the castle residents. What had happened to make her abandon Tyreol was not as well known.

"And now?"

Helian removed his hand from his eyes, looking up to the paint cracked ceiling. It was so long ago now, and yet even for Helian, it was hard to remember what happened. His chest hurt from the memories, and he was not the one it had happened to. Or had it? He had been there after all. He had lost them, the same as Tyreol.

"Last time I checked on her, she was alive with her beau. She sends messages from time to time. I doubt she will ever return here, though. Certainly not willingly and Master will never send for her."

"She hurt you both,"

"They were equally to blame."