Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Sensing the fundamental change that seemed to radiate from every fiber of Seraphina, I felt the air tingle in reverence. Almost like it was bowing toward the highest reaches of heaven, I felt something within me recede with fear.

She looked at me, carrying the little Djinn boy in her arms, and smiled. " Arsene."

"Sera."

"I hope you weren't trying to harm this child."

"Me?" I pointed to myself in utter denial. " I'd never harm a child. As God as my witness."

"Like you ever believed in a god. A godless heathen like you?" She smiled, lowering the little boy, and parted her silvery hair that seemed to glow with radiance, her golden eyes glinting under her bewitching lashes with seraphic light. Something she didn't carry before.

Sera was utterly different. She was infinitely stronger... and more dangerous. Far more dangerous than she was before. Her aura is... so pure.

"Sharla called. Never thought I'd see such a successful Shade. That is quite an achievement. Most of them die when they're young." Sera praised and lowered her gaze to the little boy looking up with wonder in his large eye, and her smile deepened. " What do you plan on doing with this boy?"

"He tried to kill me. So I was planning on tossing his little ass on the griddle. Maybe make a burger. Haven't decided. I haven't had a burger in a while. He's a little small, but I'm sure it'll come out good." Shaking my head, I cleared my throat, noticing her disapproving stare. " Anyway. I see that the Law of Concordance has done wonders. Your aura and power are utterly different."

Seraphina nodded. " It has. The Law of Concordance has shown me the right path. I finally see how blinded I was... and how evil you truly are. It's truly an eye-opener."

I gasped. "Seraphina! I am an angel. Don't you see my halo blazing with righteous justice!"

"You murdered my parents!" The Djinn boy shouted, pointing his finger at me.

"That's hearsay! And that makes me a bad person. How? Have you ever killed an animal? Is it not to survive that you kill? I don't kill for pleasure. I kill for sustenance. Far better than those that kill and murder for greed or lust. There is meaning in what I do. Can you say the same?"

The look over Sera and the boy became vibrant, and I could feel anger weighing over my head.

"Let's be honest." I started. "You two are mad because I'm right. Let's place your moral standing on what society considers 'just' aside for a moment. Can we do that? Whether you live in a totalitarian or a Republic, or God fabid a democracy. It doesn't matter. There is a fundamental concept that killing is wrong. But why? we kill animals, don't we? We raise them only to slaughter them. Is that concept right? Why is killing these animals right, but killing those of true intelligence wrong? I eat them. Why is it disgusting? Why is it considered evil?"

The boy glaring eyes became fluttered with confusion. While Sera only seemed to stare, her poised eyes narrowing.

"You see killing as wrong. And maybe it is, or maybe you just want that power yourself. Sera, you're a true angel now. Tell me... since then, how many people have you killed? Demons included, after all, aren't they intelligent creatures? Is it wrong to kill them? Can't answer that, can you."

"I can. Its because--"

"Are you going to bring up God? Good, let's bring him up. What's the difference between me killing this boy's parents and God commanding you to do so? I'll tell you. Its authority. Its power. True unfettered power."

Chuckling as her glare began to glow with anger, I pressed. "I once read somewhere that the weak will prey on the strong. On earth, it's called Darwinism. A fundamental rule or concept that we all follow out of instinct. Zariel... my brother. Did you know he was going to be a twin? Yes. It's true. But before he had sentience and before he even knew how to breathe. He instinctually absorbed his twin. Is he evil? He killed his twin. So what if it was an accident or out of his control? Killing is killing, after all."

"What gives you the right to determine if my actions are evil or not? Are you not as bad as I am?

"... You eat people."

"Isn't caviar like baby fetuses? Just saying you motherfuckers who eat baby fetuses are ten times worse than me. How is what you do any better than I am? Just saying that's the very shit Belphegor does.

Feeling Seraphina's murderous eye, the young angel took in a deep breath. " I can't argue with you, Arsene. I... I'm not perverse in words like you. You're a devil, after all. I can't win. But what I do know is that what you do is wrong. And it is Evil."

"Says who?"

Sera shrugged. "Again. I am not here to argue with you. As I said, I don't have the qualifications to do so. But what I can do is point you towards our God and savior--"

"NOOOO! Don't feed me that blasted line. I've heard it too many times." I pleaded, groaning, somehow feeling I'd lost the conversation.

Honestly, changing someone's faith is an insanely difficult yet simple thing to do. You can't destroy a person's belief in fate with words. At least not a true man of Faith. If they carry hope, you could. But Faith. Faith is a powerful tool. After all, if a demon, the lowest type of scum, can have faith in a Fallen, a creature that is so broken mentally, then...

"Lost in thought?" Questioned Sera, stepping closer.

"A little. Let me finish with the boy first. And we can talk later." I said, shifting focus back to the little Djinn. "What's your name, and how did I kill your parents? Oh shit! Were they part of the Bed of Chaos I destroyed because that was a total accident?"

"THAT WAS YOU!"New chapters are published on No(v)elFire.net