Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

“You know what you need to do, don’t you Izavith,” I lightly said, unable to hide my smile, threatening to turn into laughter.

“Milady, it’s unacceptable!” Izavith hastily added, shaking her head.

“He is my husband,” I remarked a little sternly, but Izavith just blinked, arms crossed, almost like a child unwilling to bend. “And he will be the only bridge between The abyss and the One’s creation. So if you wish to explore, you need his permission.”

“Never before have I needed permission,” She muttered bitterly, crossing her arms tighter. Izavith glanced up at me like a cat, sharp and steady, “You wouldn’t mind speaking to him, would you?”

“You would pimp out your queen?”

“He is your husband,” She shamelessly justified, using my own words against me. Pleased with herself, Izavith stepped a bit closer, all smiles.

“Please~”she purred.

“You all regret dismissing Arsene. He will become something.” I said softly, but Izavith nodded as well.

“I agree, but Milady, the reason we dismiss isn’t that he is weak. It’s because he is your husband. No one, and I mean no one, will ever be good enough. Even if that man is stronger than me or on par with the others like me, we will never recognize Arsene Snow.” Izavith uttered, as the gospel truth, peering so deeply into my eyes I felt my heart warm.

It had always bothered me why those of the abyss was always so nice, so loyal. Neither Arsene nor I were good people, and we were monsters. There was no hiding it; we live to screw each other. Even now, I was sacrificing hundreds of Abyssal children to gain permission to join the outer planes.

Sensing something, Izavith chuckled, ” Milady, cheer up.” Patting my head, she smiled, hooked her hands around my shoulder, and pulled me along, ” How are you feeling. You got a little parasite in you.”

“It’s a baby,”

“It’s feeding on my queen to survive. By definition, Milady it’s a parasite.” Izavith carelessly remarked, nodding for the both of us. She suddenly smiled, shooting me a cheap stare, ” So…about its name.”

“Thought you didn’t respect my Sene; you know he is a part of this baby.”

“A sperm donor milady, that’s all. While it takes two to tango, you are carrying that little parasite for the next few million years, if not more.” Izavith said, pursing her lips evilly, ” So as far as I’m concerned, it’s all my queen’s child.”

“Your crazy,”

” I learned a lot from you.”

“Oh god, the baby—”

“Will be fine, a little crazy, though.” She said, shugging her shoulders without the slightest care. Leaning her head over my shoulder, towards a large, almost mirrored table, the world of Zpheris reflected in my eyes, shimmering with untold light under its three moons.

“How is he doing?” I calmly asked, but Izavith only shrugged, ” Who knows. You got bigger problems than Arsene Snow. As you asked, I separated the Chosen of Nox in relatively close proximity from Arsene but far away from the devils, but close to the Holy Swords.”

“Good, so it’s all set?”

Izavith nodded.

Holding onto my stomach, to the budding sliver of life brewing, and spoke, ” Good, let’s give Arsene a mission to retrieve them. He needs to fight, to kill if he wishes to be—”

“Wish to be what,” Izavith remarked, narrowing her eyes, ” Even I am confused.”

“That is because you don’t hear it.” I softly said, shooting my friend a deep stare. “Forget it. I will be joining him in a few days once I speak with Idun and the others.”

“You’re joining him?” Izavith shouted, “What of Zariels warning.”

“Well, I’m pregnant, hungry when I’m not supposed to be, and oddly enough, my abyssal qi is being devoured by, as you call it, a parasite constantly. I’m not sharing anything with Arsene, and I am keeping far away in terms of information, but I will not separate myself from Sene.”

“And I am not asking you too,” the deep voice of that silver devil uttered, appearing as if he owned this realm within the pale gate. Starry eye, with an anticipative glow, he nodded, ” You are free to do so. Just watch your words.

“I’ll be the trophy wife, seen but not heard.”

“You don’t have to put it like that,” Izavith scolded, scratching her head, clearly annoyed.

Even Zariel seemed to smile if even his lips barely moved; he peered at me, then towards the mirrored table, revealing everything within the land of Zpheris. Taking it all in, he approached slowly and rested his fingers over the table, “Has everyone gotten situated?”

“Yeah, for the most part, but I plan to give them another month,” I said.

“This Avar has my interest,” Zariel suddenly said, peering down, ” A potential disciple for Zero or I.” He narrowed his silver eyes, “Such a brilliant mind; seems Lucifer was right. The only place to find a disciple is at the bottom of realms.”

“I thought she was surprisingly naive,” I added, and even Izavith agreed with a nod.

“I went to her home and was somewhat surprised by her people’s fear and respect towards her. Avar is regarded as their greatest hero from both the old and new eras. Her mind works on a different level.”Zariel calmly announced, to my surprise.

“I’m holding your brother’s baby, and you never gave me any compliments like that!” 𝚋𝚎𝚍ｎ𝚘ｖ𝚎𝚕.𝚗𝚎𝚝

“Any idiot can have a baby.”

“HEY!” Both Izavith and I snapped, but Zariel was gone by then, vanishing in a wisp of light.

Clitting my tongue at this troll, I rolled my eyes and sighed, rubbing my neck, ” I will head out soon. Keep an eye out, and prepare Arsene’s punishment. It’s been a week, and he hasn’t bothered to address that black aura clinging to him.”

Nodding curtly, I teleported to the land of Midgard. Hovering over the skies, endless lines, reaching far and back, of nothing but Shadowfell, laid before my eyes. Sensing their various presence, sucking away all light, I felt nothing but joy at what Sene had accomplished.

Glancing at Mimir standing at the forefront of the army, arms poised behind his back, he glanced at me and beckoned over. Descending to his side, just outside the capital, Mimir spoke, ” Lady Snow, a pleasure. Everything on my end is prepared, although I am waiting for the representative from Noctem. Arsene said he would send a Paragon, a little overkill, but hey, we are about to take over Nox. You know who he chose?”

“Unfortunately,” I said nodding, recalling that bulky fellow. ” he is the biggest traitor in Noctem. Arsene said he would help him by granting him an army of Shadowfell to overthrow him if he helped him.”

“Huh?” said Mimir, as shocked as I was back then, ” Master is granting his enemy an army to overthrow him? That seems—”

“Stupid?” I finished and agreed,” but Arsene said Noctem was too boring.”