By Dhruti Shah
The endless expanse of shimmering darkness lies deep in the heart of eternal night. An endless dark void towering her lair as the stars shift restlessly forming cryptic patterns overhead. In the center of the lair lies a dark crystal throne upon which is seated Nyx, the almighty Goddess of Night. Shadows forming spectral figures linger in her presence and if you listen closely, they whisper ancient secrets caught in the darkness. The eternal haunting realm ruled by the night’s silent Queen.
Her brows furrowed, draped in heavy robes, haunted eyes reflecting her inner turmoil. Who could have ever imagined the dark within the dark; the secrets weighing down her grace. She sensed a deep imbalance in the mortal world. Some disturbance in the fabric of fate.
Shadows twisted and vanished as a calm, mystical form approached the throne. A thick smokey mist shrouded Hypnos, the God of Sleep, revealing his short silver hair amidst the serene gaze.
The tranquillity seemed temporary as a tall, shadowy figure approached, radiating darkness and clutching a mystical scythe, his eyes filled with pure hatred. It was Thanatos, the God of Darkness. He raised his gaze in respect towards his mother before stomping the scythe in a gesture of homage.
The silence shattered as Apate, the Goddess of Deceit, glided in wearing an enigmatic, shadowy regal dress. The trickster shadows briefly returned, whispering mockingly before slipping away, leaving an air of mischief in their wake.
"I never imagined I’d summon my own children for a quest," said the goddess mother, her tone manipulative. "You must be feeling the unease rippling through the mortal realm. I need you to restore balance, but not so fast—I’ve marked a special mortal for your guidance."
She offered them no choice but to accept the quest, instead guiding them through the mortal realm to explore the marked human.
Adrian sat in the dim glow of his radio studio, a man of curiosity and intrigue. His ruffled hair mounted a face marked by late-night thoughts and the weight of countless stories. His sharp, observant eyes held a spark of passion for the unseen, a fascination with mythology that had drawn him into the world of restless nights. Tonight, the air sent chills down his spine as if the darkness itself communicated.
“Good evening, night wanderers,” he replied into the microphone, his voice steady despite the racing of his heart. “What have you seen in the night?”
As phone lines hummed with anticipation, the studio lights flickered, casting strange shadows. Suddenly, a figure appeared across from him—draped in misty robes, eyes closed.
“I am Hypnos,” the figure whispered, voice soft as a lullaby. “You seek us, and so we come.”
Adrian’s breath caught. Hypnos—the god of sleep. “What’s happening?” he managed to ask.
“Apate, goddess of deceit, plays at the edges of reality,” a deeper voice added. Adrian turned to see Thanatos, the bringer of peaceful death. “Your help is needed. We cannot cross into the mortal world fully without consequence.”
With resolve igniting within him, Adrian followed the gods into the night. They arrived at an abandoned square where shadows twisted like smoke, and Apate, in luminous robes, awaited them.
“Have you come to ruin my fun?” she taunted.
“Enough!” Thanatos commanded.
With Hypnos’s calming presence beside him, Adrian raised his voice. “Enough, Apate!” The night echoed with his call, and the shadows stilled, bound by Nyx’s will.
As peace settled in, Adrian returned to his studio, the shadows receding yet leaving him with an eternal mark of night. He smiled into the microphone, steady and calm. “Goodnight, wanderers. Rest well.”
By Dhruti Shah
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