Chapter 12 – The Heart of Darkness

Orion and Heracles Stood in front of the entrance, the last remnants of moonlight flickering behind them as they stepped into the domain.

A spiral staircase descended below, coiling into the unknown like the belly of some ancient beast. Each step lit up faintly, illuminated by torches bearing purple flames. They did not flicker or crackle like a normal fire but instead hissed lowly, casting shadows that danced along the stone walls.

They began their descent.

"I know she's a friend of Wukongs," Heracles said as they walked, his voice low, cautious. " But be careful. Nyx isn't like the others. She's older. Deeper. You can't ever be fully sure when you stand with people like her."

Orion nodded. The air grew colder with each step they took. He glanced at the walls as they descended and noticed paintings carved into the stone-etched, almost burned into the existence. Their style was jagged.

The first showed a giant wrapped in shadows, tearing down a mountain as lightning struck in vain. "That's Ymir," Heracles said. "When Odin struck him down, night spread across the realms for nine days."

Further down, Orion, another silhouetted figure walking through a river of fire, his hands shackled with chains made of moonlight. "That's Izanami," Heracles continued. "When she returned from Yomi, cursed by death and rot, she brought the first eternal eclipse."

The third made Orion stop,

A boy stood in the centre of a battlefield, stars falling around him as gods and monsters clashed in the distance. His face was blurred-unfinished.

Orion felt uneasy.

"Everything down here," he murmured, "it's all stories about darkness."

Hercules kept quiet. He simply kept walking.

They reached the bottom. A massive, obsidian door stood before them, towering, smooth and cold. It had no handle.

Heracles turned. "You ready?"

Orion gave a hesitant nod.

With a deep breath, Heracles pushed the door open. It didn't creak or groan- just moved, effortlessly, as if it were waiting for them.

Inside, shadows swirled lazily like fog. The room was wide and circular, and in the centre of it sat a woman on a blackened stone throne.

She looked to be in her twenties- if age meant anything to beings like her-her pale like the moon and her hair blacker than pitch. It flowed behind her like a river of ink. In her hand, she idly spun a dagger, a beautiful weapon with an eye embedded in its hilt, blinking occasionally as it spun between her fingers.

Orion's heart jumped. She was... breathtaking. Not just beautiful, but dangerous in a way that made his chest tighten. There was an allure to her, like she was the embodiment of night itself.

Next to her lounged another woman with wild, dark hair cascading in every direction like storm-tossed waves. Her eyes glowed mischievously. She wore mismatched armour, one pauldron made of feathers and the other one of rusted bronze. A half-eaten piece of fruit dangled in her fingers as she lazily kicked her boots up, watching everything with the amused detachment of someone who found chaos much more enjoyable than peace.

Eris.

Chaos incarnate.

Heracles stepped forward and spoke. "Lady Nyx."

Nyx's eyes didn't move towards him. Instead, the shadows in front of Orion curled and twisted-rising like tendrils- before he could blink, she stood before him, her hand gently gripping his face. Her fingers were soft and cold.

Her gaze pierced him- literal starlight reflecting in her irises.

"Who is this?" she whispered, "and why have you brought him?"

Orion's mouth went dry. "My name's Orion. Wukong sent me."

She stared deeper.

Her eyes widened slightly. She released him, stepping back as it burned.

"Astéri," she whispered under her breath.

Orion blinked, confused. "What"

She turned, walked back to her throne, and sat down with a small exhale.

Heracles leaned towards Orion. "It means stars, in Greek."

Nyx scoffed. "That dam monkey doesn't even have the decency to greet me in person. Instead, he sends me his little project."

Eris raised a brow. "Project? That's what this is? She grinned at Orion. "Cute eyes. Shame if they burned."

"Eris," Heracles said flatly.

She raised her hands in mock surrender. "Just saying."

"We were sent to deliver a message," Heracles said. "The Gathering is soon"

Nyx looked mildly amused. "So he sent you to tell me that?"

He nodded. "We also ran into Sekhmet on the way. I think.. I think she was looking for you."

Nyx's face darkened. "Sounds like Ra's handiwork. All these gods are so annoying."

Orion looked at her. "Why did you call me a star?"

Nyx narrowed her eyes. "Wukong didn't tell you anything?"

"No, he's kind of useless."

She shook her head in disappointment. "Of course not."

She stood and turned to Heracles. "Leave us."

Heracles crossed his arms. "I'm not leaving Orion alone-"

I won't hurt him," she said. Then, her voice deepened. Shadow coiled around her feet like a storm.

"Even if I did, how are you going to stop me?"

The room went still.

Heracles clenched his jaw. "Fine. But if I hear one scream, I'm destroying this entire place."

As he and Eris began to leave, the chaos goddess called over her shoulder, "If there's any food here that isn't cursed by darkness, call me."

The door closed.

And it was just Orion and Nyx.

She walked slowly around him, silent for a moment.

Then: "Are you ready to learn the truth about the world?"

Orion stood tall. "Yes."

She extended a hand.

"Then step into the darkness."

He took it.

The torches went out. All light died.

Darkness wrapped around them—not cold or cruel, but deep. Endless.

A sea of black.

And Orion fell into it.