Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

“Bro, you still doing that shit?” Dagon asked, resting on a tree, lazily eyeing Beelzebub as he arched his head high, pressing the fine tip of the syringe through his pupil. Tears watered his eyes as he sucked in a deep breath, pushing down.

“Shit gets me every time,” Beel said, pulling the needle out as he smiled, staggering down to the ground,” Mephisto, this might be your best invention. Raising a little pup into a dragon and waiting for him to break through thirty-three heaven and kill him at the happiest moment in his life, just to get that delicious taste of betrayal. Motherfucker was begging me as I tore apart his family.”

Dagon chuckled, “And what you’d do with the soul?”

“The fuck you think I did?” Beel said. ” I tossed it back to the fourth Heaven after wiping his memory. I’ll help him out again and drain his soul in a repeated cycle. What you call this drug again?” he asked, turning to me as I leaned against the tree trunk, waiting.

“Haze or Esel. Take your pick,” I answered, “But this was just a trial run to see the highest of the effects. It wasn’t for you to abuse, but rather for what I’ve planned once we enter Arcadia.”

“So, what are we still doing here?” Moloch gently asked, with a kind expression that hid his diabolical self. I could never understand his fascination with the art of sacrificing. But I guess it’s through him that creation has done some rather unsavory actions, myself included. Then again, not all sacrifice is bad.

“Waiting for my disciple’s wife.”

“Disciple?” Lucifer remarked, racking up a lucid smile, “And why did you even take him on as a disciple? And more importantly, why do you still treat him as your disciple. You’ve been overly kind to him, especially when you manipulated one of my women into helping him.”

“I would agree,” Samyaza stubbornly added.

“You would agree to Lucifer no matter what.” I reminded, rolling my eyes. “I’m surprised you’ve not tried to suck his dick as he sleeps. You might be his first commander, but your opinion is as good as horse shit out of everyone here.”

“Damn!” Belial interjected, clapping his hands together, ” No need to be a dick, bro. What’s wrong? You always seem so happy; now you are all solemn.”

“Don’t,” Samyaza said, arching his hand, ” He’s just trying to change the subject.”

I hid my smile and glanced at Chemosh, breaking out his tea set over the campfire, crackling under the moon’s glow. ” My disciple would like you.”

“Mephisto, enough of your games; what the hell are we doing here?” Lucifer barked, letting loose a strand of hair that caught my eye.

“Well, I’m not sure why you’re here, but everyone here is here because of my blackmail, and let’s be honest, most of you bastards owe me hundreds of favors, you included. Or did you forget what I did for you during the battle with Michael?” I said, recalling the day of the battle where Lucifer transformed into a mighty dragon marking the beginning of the end, “or have you forgotten?”

“Enough,” Chemosh chimed in, turning the air cold, releasing a deep breath; his ruby-red eyes glowed beneath his dark cloak as he slid his gaze to me, “Its bad enough I had to leave, in the middle of an experiment, without my disciple but I will not listen to you all bitch, and moan.”

“And how is Soloman doing?” I asked, arching my lips. “And why didn’t you invite him? I think we all could use his wisdom.”

“Because he hates you,” Chemosh uttered coldly, knowing I was only trying to goat him into getting angry.

“Everyone hates me,” I cheerfully said, “Even you all.”

There was a long silence, and none dared to speak out. I wasn’t like these Fallen here, sure we were family, but due to my tricky nature, I am strongly disliked by most of my family, except Gabriel and sometimes Lucifer.

There wasn’t enough hate to kill me or curse me out in each meeting, but I was segregated for the most part by my fellow brethren, despite them using me for so many schemes. But it was like that even before we all fell to Earth, which is why I chose to leave Heaven.

A decision I even spoke about with Father behind everyone’s back as Lucifer battled with Michael. While I did manipulate Lucifer and Michael for fun, it always bothered me how easily their anger turned into hatred for the longest.

I’d never say it aloud, and I try not to think about it, but I think Father was the one who wanted all this to happen. He might not have done much, if anything, but say a few words to Luci and Michael, but things seemed to escalate so quickly that I found myself taken back. We have been raised all our lives as a family, and violence had never been something we even understood, but in a matter of a few days, a war where my brothers and sisters fell flashed over the Heavens. Sins we thought to have renounced began to surface, and it was only after that war did I truly understand the change that had taken place.

The mindless angels carrying on like drones began to speak out with their own voices while operating under Father’s guidelines, but they also understood that the guidelines were up to interpretation. And that not everything is so cut and dry.

Heaven had changed for the better, but it also marked the day of a never-ending war. Between Lucifer and Father, although we all know whose side would win after Michael didn’t win all by himself against my brother. I was sure he had help.

“Lilith,” I gently said after the long silence echoed out long enough.

“I’m here,” A soft, gentle voice raced out from the darkness, ” I’ve sent Izavith to pick you up; try not to anger her. Arsene has been trying to pick her up, and she is pissed.

“Arsene never changes, does he?” Lucifer said and patted my shoulders, ” Sorry, little bro. We don’t hate you.”

“But you do make it easy,” Chemosh said.

“Agreed,” Beel and Degan nodded.

“And I’ve been listening for a while, and y’all sound kind of gay!” Lilith said, and laughter ensued.

“Arsene’s broad is funny!”

“Broad?” I said, crackling in laughter, as a devilishly beautiful woman began to materialize in front of us. ” She’s technically Father’s sister, so she’s our aunt.”

“Fuck that!” Luci snapped. “I’m not calling a woman named after my concubine Aunty Lilith.”

“But it has such a nice ring to it? Aunty Lilith or Aunty Lili,” Izavith remarked, turning her gaze to me.

“I don’t mind calling her aunty, but I expect for my disciple to call me Master.” 𝙗𝙚𝒅𝒏𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝙜

“If you can tame that idiot, power to you.” She released a dry sigh and continued, “Anyway, I am here to welcome you to the Palace of Lazarus.”