Chapter 1 - It is summoned
Chapter 1 - It is summoned
It had been called many names. ‘Demon’. ‘Angel’. ‘Dread’. ‘Hope’. Night’s Terror. Dawn’s Light. It Which Good Men Feared. It Whom Evil Dread. It had been called Law. It had been called Covenant. It had been called Balance. It had been called Retribution. It had been called many names, but It did not care what It was called, for the nature of It had always been decided by those who called upon It.
It had been summoned by a great many—each with different names, and with a different name for It. Each with a Task that It always completed. Each with a Price that It always took. But It had never chosen anything about It’s Self.
It had no Self.
It did as It was Asked so long as It was paid a Price.
And now It was summoned to the mortal plane once more.
♢♢♢
“Thia? Is that you?”
“If that is what It’s summoner desires, It shall be called Thia.”
It knelt in a blood-drenched chamber. Not indoors. Nor outdoors. Metal wreckage. Red glow. Candles. The smell of tallow. Blue glow. Ritual circle. Leather-bound book. Winged serpents of an old friend. The gore of sacrifice. Messy. Flesh that was not necessary to summon It. Articles of Power in random assortment. A fledgeling summoner.
“…Thia… Thia… You’re back… You’re really back… Thia, it’s me… It’s me, dad…”
“Understood. It’s summoner is Dad.”
“Thank God… I can’t believe it. I’m—I don’t know what I would have done if… if…” It’s summoner, Dad, trembled. “Thank God. Thank the devil. Thank whoever listened. I’m so glad you’re here… that you’re back…”
“It listens. What would It’s summoner have It do?”
“Thia, you don’t have to do anything. You never have to do anything. Just be here with dad forever.”
“It refuses. No Price can afford Forever. Change your Ask.”
“…Uh. Then how about: just don’t leave this world before I do?”
“Understood. What Price will It’s summoner offer in return?”
“Everything. Everything! Take everything I have. Dad will give you whatever you want. Just don’t leave me behind. Don’t let dad live alone in a world without you.”
“Understood. It’s Task will be to remain with It’s summoner’s until It’s summoner departs from the world. The Price paid will be Everything. Are these Terms correct?”
“Yes. Yes! It’s correct. It’s absolutely correct. Whatever you want. The terms. Whatever. Anything—anything if you’ll just stay here with me is… dad would give anything and everything.”
“It does not require Anything. Everything will suffice. The Task and Price are Just. It will obey.”
“Oh, Thia. My Thia. I’ll never let you get hurt ever again.”
“It does not like to be touched.”
“Right. Sorry, kiddo. I forgot you don’t like hugs.”
It’s summoner shuffled back on his knees. An acceptable distance from It. Surrounded by the brutality of torn metal and gore, tear-streaked face lit by red and blue, It’s summoner, Dad, choked:
“Welcome back, Thia.”
“It has arrived.”