Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

The winds had begun to splinter against my skin; as I growled, feeling the floodgates break open, my arms began to burn, and as I watched beneath my skin, my blood began to bubble.

The skin of my jaw began to tighten as I released a bellowing cry to the world.

Drying out my throat as my voice caused the lake to vaporize instantly, I felt the will of the Abyss coil like a venomous snake around my leg, slithering up around my waist and neck.

~MINE~ A voice that didn't belong resounded, bellowing into the realm sending the world into a spiraling silence.

Unsure if it was me who had gone deaf or the world, I could not even find it in myself to speak; as I felt the touch of Lilith tighten its grip around me, holding me where I was, I closed my eyes, turning the world from silence into Darkness.

The pain was vanishing, and it was getting cold. Unsure if I was dying or in the void, I felt oddly comfortable. I've always loved the cold, the whistling of the winds carrying its icy breath.

Despite using fire for the longest, I hated the heat; outside of sex, it was annoying, especially as a mortal, where the body is constantly sweating.

~MINE~

Hearing the voice again that seemed too beautiful, so otherworldly. I felt something in me stiffen. But a smile slowly slipped onto my lips.

"Lilith," I said and shook my head, "No, I'll call you Abyss-Chan. Cute, isn't it?"

The Abyss didn't respond, but my instincts told me she was happy. Despite my instincts properly telling me lies to compensate for my naivete regarding the Abyss, I could only hope that was the case.

Holding me tightly, I merely smiled and spoke my mind, 'We're having a kid, and I don't know who to thank. You or The Father, but I guess it doesn't matter. We're having twins. And let's be honest, I'm the guy who'll give a baby bourbon to stop the cries. Gods, my kids will either love me dearly or hate my fucking guts. But I know you'll always be there for the little ones, right?"

~YES~

I smiled when I felt another hand on me, an unfamiliar one. I opened my eyes, and my brow jumped in surprise at the black-haired beauty.

"Izavith?"

"Hmm," She hummed in response, looking at me in a different light, "so you finally got to this level, huh? Welcome to the Heart of the Abyss, we've not come up with a name for it yet, but I've been thinking of building a church here." She said with a proud expression I'd never seen before; Izavith was genuinely smiling like a child speaking proudly about her parents.

"She spoke to me."

"She?" Izavith spoke and then chuckled, "so you hear a female's voice?"

"Why'd you say that?" I softly ask as I felt Abyssal-Chans grip holding me tightly, making me want to sleep.

"Some of our male generals thought he heard a male voice when addressing The Master. SO we assumed the sex of the All was—"

"It's a she," I said as a truth I knew to be true, "But it's also what you make of it; after all, there is a reason why she is called the All."

Izavith stared at me and sighed, "I kind of hate you less."

"I don't even know why you hated me?'

"Do you think I was born at the peak Arsene?" She asked, lifting her lips, "I've worked all my life for what I have. And you show up as an arrogant brat, cheating on my Master constantly, gaining an attunement with the Hells, and the Darkness, the two other siblings of my Master. You might be gaining power from doing so, but I feel disgusted by you." She paused, staring me dead in the eye, "You live on a constant double standard that my queen tolerates due to her insanity and youth. How would you feel if she were to have another man?"

I didn't even need to speak my mind as I felt my fingers clench, "Arsene, you'll never be more powerful than me. We may match at some point in the future, and you may somehow defeat me, but you'll never be able to crush me; no one but The One and The All could do that. You may not like it; you may even call me an arrogant bitch or whatever else; but it'll never change the fact that every time you cheat my queen, you hurt her. and so I hate you."

Eyeing the young woman standing tall, I chuckled, "and you tormenting me, is what your way of getting even?"

"Your brother's doing, but I did enjoy that. He'd said that the more you suffer, the more benefits you'll gain. Was he right?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"Doesn't change the fact that it drove me to—"

"Welcome to the club; everyone goes through similar trials. Do you think you're the only one who hasn't suffered? Zariel went to hell and was tormented in the most unimaginable ways, and you know what he gained?"

I shook my head, going silent.

"Absolute nothing but madness. You can be angry and throw a tantrum, but like me, even if you get to the highest peak, you'll never be able to win all the time, never be able to crush us. Lucifer and all those higher beings don't usually fight to the death, and according to your brother, they live in harmony.

"So you're saying I need to what?" I asked as my voice began to go chill.

Izavith seemed to smile, and her head shook, "Do as you please, Arsene; I can't tell you what to do. Nor do I wish to, I'm only stating why I don't like you, and your tone shows that reason. How a man like you can live making enemies is a wonder. I pity you."

Izavith vanished before I could say my piece, and I broke into laughter, "I don't think I've needed someone pity before or even been pitied. But it's a shame how we might not meet-eye-to-eye, maybe in time, but I'm afraid I'll continue my debauchery as I stand now."