Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Leaving behind Aiza, who thrashed against her chains, my icy laughter echoed, ending only when the door to her cell closed.

"Why did you not free her?" Cleo demanded.

"Have you forgotten we are not the lords presiding over this dungeon?" Waving off her concerns, I snorted. " Relax, I am sure they will release her once she has told them what they want."

"And what do they want?" Ren uttered, folding his arms over one another. "They seemed to be gathering many people from the Bed of Chaos and more. Do you think that they are working with an organization?"

My mind shifted to the faded images of Iliah plaguing my mind, and I hesitated to agree. The lords of Iliah shouldn't be sentient. At least, those Shadows that we fought weren't. They were mindless animals hoping for death. If the rest of them are the same, then shouldn't those in Iliah be the same?

Ty wiggled on my shoulder," papa, can't you tell? You have the powers of the Abyss in you. Can't you push out your senses?"

I thought of the path of abyssal night, then to the glow of the twin suns against my flesh. Pain danced along my flesh as I shuttered, clenching my fist, recalling that torment that plagued me each day for the past year. But Ty was right, but wrong as well. The night of the abyss was not yet mine. I still needed to attune myself to the Abyss and the night.

"Not yet, maybe in a few hundred years, maybe more," I blandly replied, patting the little dragon who sat upon my shoulders.

Closing my eyes to the dark, I released a deep breath and turned to Cleo, " Is the other soul you sense close?"

Cleo frowned, her beautiful expression contorting into anger, " To what end is there for me telling you if we can't release them? What the hell is the point in us here?"

My fingers flickered, and with a giddy smile, I flicked her nose, and Cleo flinched, her cute little nose turning a deep shade of red, " Just lead the way, darling. Let me deal with that."

Flushed with anger, I chuckled as Ty leaped into her arms, " Don't be mad, big sis. Papa just likes you."

"More than like," I passionately remarked, twisting around with a graceful flourish, sending the young lass a wink. " Cleo, my darling, when are we finally going to take this to the next level? How about we have dinner? I can cook for you, sing, entertain, and when night arrives—Well, I can—"

"Fuck you, silly?" Zanris finished, "Oh master, Zan is willing!"

"I was going to say piledrive you into oblivion, but ok, That works too."

A cute snort left Cleo as she brushed past me, "Not a chance. Who knows what kind of disease you have. Your nothing but a slut."

"A slut?" I muttered. No one had ever called me a slut before.

I hummed in response and shrugged. What's wrong with being a slut, or a whore. They are living their best life, at least, I hope. I sure am.

Chasing after Cleo while the other followed behind, my eyes darted from side to side as I stared at the many doors I was sure held other prisoners. I was tempted to speak with many of them, but I had a feeling like Asta would be showing up in a little while. If Cleo did sense a Chosen, then they needed to follow me. Unlike Aiza, whose usefulness ended, those little bastards still had a role to play.

Things were sure to get a little tricky. Why the hell did these bitches have to act like that? Now everything is ruined. God! I really don't wish to kill everyone here.

Sighing to myself, a tremor suddenly sprang through my spine.

"We are here," Cleo uttered, but my eyes were locked on whatever lay beyond the walls above me.

Heart thumping, I beckoned to Ty and turned to Freya, " you protect everyone here."

Ty leaped into my embrace with a questioning look that mirrored the others, but before questions could be asked, I closed my eyes and reached out my senses. Pushing past the many walls and darkness, I sucked in a deep breath, and through the dark void, I appeared out on the opposite end, to a monstrously long mural in what appeared to be an atrium, stretching from one end of the wall to the other.

'Twilight,' I uttered, letting the meaning sink in as I gazed at the seven stars scattered over the magnificent mural. At the center stood a gate with a flame, blacker than the grace of Tenebrae.

My heart shuttered as I continued to stare, gazing at the being of wings and horns I hoped to be the fallen, carrying a bloody head in his hand; my body stiffened the longer I stared.

"There shall come a Flame of Night to carry forth the cycle. Seven Stars born of Chaos shall awaken. Angel's blood shall fall, bringing forth a coming night that shall stain the light, breaking its eternal war. Around this night shall exist, Four Gates of Apocalypse, shall bring forth the End and Beginning." I recited, closing myself off from the world.

"Papa, who is that," Ty whispered in a fragile tone, pointing towards the winged being.

Opening my eyes, I shook my head. "No idea, but it seems he will be the one to bring forth the blood of the angels, or it's me." I hesitantly said, don't I look like that when I go all abyssal mode? " I shook my head, clenched my fist, and glared at the gate that stood with the dark flame. The End and the Beginning have already started; we are here in the Abyss. While the Seven Stars, born of chaos, refers to, Me, Lilith, Cleo, Sig, Yu Jing, Kurt, and Richter."

Picking up my gaze, I slowly lifted my head past the mural and stared at the second one upon the ceiling. Consumed by the Awe of the ancient formation that seemed to sink so deep into my soul, branding me with its crest, I sucked in a deep breath as sweat dotted my brow. Slipping down my chin, my clenched fist tightened, and a sharp pain of my fingers digging into my flesh, spilling blood, came over me.

"I need everyone here," I blurted out, enchanted by the formation that was laid high up on the mural.

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