"Papa?" mewed Nox, a child sized hybrid creature of a wolf and nine-tailed fox. Of whom wore a simple, crimson vest and trousers against his endarkened furred body. Currently, he was being lifted by a male Kitsune with as dark furred in colour as the child, and one who also wore a crimson pair of trousers and vest.

The pair were within their home, which was a castle within a land of perpetual midnight. In that the moon was hung high above, never to move again. What is more, it was completely, and utterly alone. Which simply meant that there was not a cloud for it to hide behind, nor a shining star to speak of. Thus, many would come to call this place unnatural, but most simply shrug it off due to the fact that this was the home of a being known simply as The Ageless, God King of the Terran Pantheon.

Of whom was one of five great beings within the Universe, and the weakest of them all. However, he does not mind such a thing, and instead focused upon being a good father to the child known as Nox, and a husband to the Goddess of Iridescent Colours, called Sarah, when not attending to his duties. The Goddess herself was always in the form of a Wolfwoman, and wore a one piece dress which changed colours every other heartbeat, just like her hair and fur. However, the colours were always different, and never shone twice.

As to which part of the castle father and son were in? It was a small study with a vermillion coloured sofa facing a large desk with a leather chair standing behind it. The walls of such a room were decorated with fabric of crimson and emerald in order to hide the white marble beneath. Whereas the ceiling held a painting depicting the various worlds under the control of the God King, of which was many. For the protections given by one such as he had caused thousands of Gods and Goddesses to join him and his. That is, so long as they follow that which is called The Laws of Terra.

For such laws removed the abuse towards children, and gave them protections against future actions until they were of age. Whereupon such protections would begin to fade within three cycles, or almost five years. This was so that those still growing could understand the darkness of the world, as they ventured forth into the unknown, and uncaring, worlds within the Pantheon.

The child, on the other hand, was of nine cycles and would not be heading out into the world anytime soon. Therefore, he simply sat upon his father's lap with upturn and widened eyes as his ears laid flat against his skull in order to make them appear even larger. As such was considered the "Eyes of Doom" by one of his friends, whereas all others simply considered it to be an adorable "Puppy Eyed Stare". One that, once used, would guarantee the child whatever he so desired. Especially when its towards his Father, the Ageless.

"Papa," he mewed once more, his nine tails swaying, then flicked as he noted his father's flinch once the other's eyes turned towards his own. "Who's Mel-a-fast?"

"Melephas," corrected the older, who patted his son's head in order to break away from such a potent stare, "and he is your uncle."

"Muu," grumbled the child as he batted at the paw of his father, "Story?" His upturn eyes reappeared once again, which glimmered mischievously as the other flinched once again. For he knew the one before him could not resist such a gaze, and was able to get away with many troubles simply by being adorable. Though, nearly half of them caused many a female to rush his small person in an effort to cuddle with his soft, small body. This does not stop him from performing such an action, though. Especially if he can get out of trouble for doing so.

"Hmm," hummed the Ageless, who began to slowly pet his son's head with his right paw. Of which elicited a happy gurgling sound from his son, as the smaller snuggled up to his own chest. "I did promise you a story. Therefore, I shall do so, but, " the foreclaw of his right paw extended itself in order to halt most of the excitement from the child, "this story will begin at the beginning, and will end when your uncle disappeared from my life. Understand?"

The child, whose mind was a little confused at this, nodded emphatically with widened eyes and nine tails wiggling all over the place.

*****

We shall begin with what had happened when I was removed from Terra from the False God. One where I was promised I would have twenty of my Undying join my person, seven of which were my Chosen, but would not be called as such until much later. The seven were, Sia, an Undead Wolfwoman; Shauu, a Bear Beastwoman; Amira, a Foxwoman with three tails; Iinidra, an Undead Lamia; Annata, another Wolfwoman, but not skeletal; Sisstra, a Draconian female; and Igris, an Avian female. These seven were metallic in form of body, each with four arms. The first pair were where they normally were, whereas the second pair were five centimetres above the location of one's kidneys.

Of course, there were the males of my Undying, but only Rojaahn, a metallic Bear Beastman with four arms, held the intellect to be of note. The others were simply skeletal Undead with varying degrees of Human about their person. As such, they were each required to hold a torch above their heads when not attacking, as they were each extremely silent in their movements, despite having bones made of iron. Even with my heightened senses in the past, they were difficult to monitor. Which is why I was eternally grateful for them being wholly loyal to my person, and none other.

In any case, these twenty, along with my self, Brutus, and Azazel, exited that which held the remains of Roj and his Tribunal of Fools, entering into the Hub World of Azzarath. Of which was of a circular white space that was nearly four times the size of my own, personal gardens. Along the far edges of this world, however, were various portals that led into the worlds within the Pantheon.

Our own Pantheon also contains such portals, but they are situated at junction points throughout the varying worlds around Terra. Whereas this world only has portals to such junction points, and nowhere else. For if a world were to contain all, then all an invading army must do is capture such a place in order to conquer the Pantheon itself.

No. I did not make mention this to her, for I was, at that time, quite upset from the loss of our world of Terra, desiring only to be given back under my control.

For the time being, though, the God King took our persons far from the Hub World, as our skeletal persons were a beacon to those who desired our end, and she did not wish for us to bring about a slaughter to those she had profited off of.

This led to her opening up a portal at our feet, and whisking ourselves into a forested area high atop a mountainside. It was here that she turned to my person in order to ask, "What will you do now, Undead Karastak?" This was spoken as she twirled around to face my person, whilst my servants milled about with some confusion, never roaming far from my ever watchful gaze.

"I believe that I and mine," I began, but halted in my thoughts in order for my body to shrink down into a more Human guise. One which was hunched over as though I had the weight of a world upon my shoulders, as a white beard and head sprouted from my person just as a faded blue robe wrapped itself around my body. There was even a worn staff which appeared in my hand as though by magick, but had, in fact, shot out from the ground in order to be gripped by my person.

"Neat trick," she mumbled as I waved my staff at my followers, causing each of them to take knee to my person as I prepared to cast an illusion upon their persons. One which would allow them to walk amongst the living without truly attracting the ire of those who would wish them destroyed.

For the world of Azzarath was one that must never be trifled with, as they despise the Undead race as many a housewife despises rodents in their pantry. Therefore, this would allow them to appear mortal within the eyes of other mortals, hiding their true selves until such times are needed.

">," my voice thundered all around us, as I intoned such a spell. One which granted flesh to my servants, but not clothing. Yes. This meant they were bereft of cloth and leather, but only partially. As only twelve amongst the Undying, along with Brutus, appeared Human before our very eyes, whilst the rest were animalistic and could use their own fur to hide that which was needed to be hidden amongst the more civilised nations of the various worlds.

This led to my giving orders for a hunt, one which would lead to the granting of leather and fur for the more Human servants under my person. For they were the most exposed, and needed to be clothed soon enough.

"You desire to know what I shall be doing after my world of Terra was taken from my person?" I turned towards the God King with eyes flaring crimson as the Madness within all Undead stirred within my mind. Upon her features, though, was a look of strained boredom, but I spied a bead of sweat scampering down her left temple as I grinned with as much malice as I could muster, "Do you... truly wish to know what I plan on doing?"