Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Finally! Darling, are you alright?" Father shouted, wrapping his slender arms around my waist. He pulled back a bit, staring at me in his astral form, in this domain of darkness." And how do you have such a powerful connection now? For the past year, I have been struggling to find breadcrumbs."

I smiled, both annoyed and grateful, as, within my room, a small dragon with long silver hair sat with her legs crossed and her hand placed upon my back. I spoke, "I shamefully had to ask a baby—"

"Arkanos is not a baby! Just you wait! Me and big sis Ty already decided to become big girls soon!" The little dragon chimed in, appearing in this realm of total black; she fixed her arms to her waist and puffed her cheeks like a large balloon. "Just don't tell papa and mama."

Ok, that's weird, "Tell them what?"

Arkanos covered her mouth and turned to look at my father with teary eyes, looking for help, " Arkanos, no tells!"

Father chuckled, "Is this little one the reason for your connection in the Ethereal Plane to be this strong? Is she powerful?'

"Not really. Arkanos is just a Star-Lord, about to be a Realm Lord, but she is an Abyssal Dragon," I swiftly mentioned, seeing no reason to inform father. Studying his expression as it morphed into shock," She is also a friend and a cute little ball of sunshine. Arkanos is the best,"

"So aunty Rey recognized Arkanos greatness," She said, bobbing her head up and down. "Hehe, Arkanos is the best!"

"Fascinating," Father remarked, squatting down to Arkanos, who blinked her eyes towards his handsome one.

"Have you fallen for Arkanos? Too bad Arkanos is saving herself for her future husband."

Shaking my head at her narcissistic tendency, I knew she got from Arsene; I released a heavy breath of air, " Arkanos, can I have some privacy with my Father?"

"K!!!' She said, dissolving into a mist of smoke.

Father released a mighty chuckled, " Cute child, isn't she. Does she belong to Arsene?"

My expression dipped at his name, and I nodded, " She does."

"And is he an enemy?"

"More like a man we don't need to make an enemy out of, " I honestly mentioned, noting my father's expression that demanded an explanation, but I decided to keep my mouth shut regarding Arsene. "Father, I know you wish to know more, but I don't think that's the wisest move right now. Arkanos is powering my ability to help me connect with you.

The implied implication being. That even if I wish for privacy, Arkanos could still be listening. While I was sure she wasn't, I couldn't risk it.

A bitter grunt left his tightly-clenched jaw, "So he really is the Monarch of Darkness?"

My eyes widened, and I nodded. "How do you know that?"

"I caught three men, Kurt, Siegfried, and Talos, a few hours ago."

"Father! Bring them to me alive!" I hastily shouted, "Whatever you do, please don't kill them."

Before Arsene had left to be with Lilith, he contacted everyone he knew with his Holocube and commanded a fierce sweep of this planet to find these two. That was about three months ago. And in those three months, neither Arsene nor Avar had appeared, lowering everyone's expectations.

"Are you in danger?" he asked.

"No, not anymore, maybe when we first met, but not now," I muttered, thinking of Ren, which caused my stomach to feel like they were standing on butterflies."Anyway, you can track me, right?"

"I have a lock on your Astral signature. I should arrive in a week's time if I hurry."

One brow arched, " What would make you not hurry."

"Fucking Seigfried has been trying to hunt for any female—You know what, it's not important. I'll be there. I can't wait to see this Arsene Snow." He said, with a wry grin, " See you soon, baby girl."

Opening my eyes to the real world once more, I popped my head over to Arkanos, staring back at me with a sweaty brow; she flashed me an innocent smile that melted my heart, " Did Arkanos do good?"

"How are you so cute!" I squealed, taking the little bun into my arms, pressing my cheek against hers, as her giggles reached my ear. " By the Gods! You are perfect!"

"Hehe, wait till our little brother is born." She said with flaring red eyes, filled with anticipation.

I, too, nodded. It would be a lie to say that Arsene and Lilith were not the most beautiful people I had ever met in my life; they looked downright transcendent. To have a kid, even I fear that child would steal the heart of man and woman alike.

Rising off my feet, I patted Arknos's head, only to notice the young baby dragon paused and peered downwards, tears brimming at the corner of her eyes. " Is Big Sis Jing gonna die?"

I sucked in a deep breath, and my heart froze at the little one's teary face. I wanted to say otherwise, to say she was, but it had been three months. Arkanos was young but not dumb.

"It doesn't look good," I whispered truthfully.

She shuttered, clenching her tiny fist into balls, "Arkanos is going to sleep," She weakly said, rushing out of the room with a trail of tears trailing after her.

Bitterness slipped over my tongue as I sighed. Things were about to get dark, and throughout all of this, Freya had not spoken, not once. Not since Arsene commanded her to keep her mouth shut that day, I shuttered, feeling his rage. I have no idea what he has designed for her. But I am scared.

Steppin' out of my room, a gust of winds billowed against my cheeks, fluttering my clothing, as a cool sensation coursed through me when a pulse of energy rippled through the air.

Heart racing, a deep sense of unease filled me as I whipped form out of my cottage and rushed towards the atrium, where I saw a large azure sphere of formations intertwining in such an intricate way I felt it releasing a throbbing energy.

In seconds, everyone began to gather, one after another, as even Arsene and Lilith both appeared, for the first time, as Avar stepped out of the giant sphere of formations.

She eyed everyone sternly, and the unease grew when Avar spoke in an icy cold voice.

"Yu Jing is dead."