Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Following Lilith and Valice as they left to get pedicures, something I was forced into during my residency a long time ago, I couldn’t help but recall the soothing rhythm of that woman as she began treating my feet. And that hot wax! Dear god! I fell in love. The Blinding radiance of Heaven fell upon me that day! 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝑐𝑜𝑚

A/N: Pedicures, a little feminine, but fire!

I was not going to miss getting a pedicure. However, I don’t need nail polish, only hot wax. Gods, the hot wax!

Staring out the carriage as we came upon a towering skyscraper touching the clouds, my eyes glistened at what was to come. Even from here, I could get a whiff of the myriad of aromas lingering through the air.

“You know, for a cold-hearted man, the more I get to know you, the more normal you seem.” valice commented as one of the servants opened the carriage door.

Lilith, however, couldn’t help herself as she burst into laughter, “Sene? I guess that’s the trap monsters like him set.”

Well, she’s not wrong; almost eighty percent of my interactions around the common folk are designed to trick myself and the people around me. I needed to think like an ordinary man. I needed to believe the lie.

It was a trick I developed on earth in middle school.

I had come into contact with a woman, a psychiatrist working as a counselor. Her identity wasn’t a secret, and during one of her visits to meet one of my classmates, she observed my class and her eyes landed on me.

I hate to admit it, but I made many mistakes when I was young, and like most teenagers, I was a little confused, but not enough to spout nonsense. I kept to myself, revealing nothing. But despite my silence, this woman was able to foresee and gleam many things about me, and it haunted me.

That same year I took the GED and aced it. I couldn’t have been happier to leave, only returning upon my eighteenth year of life to kill and observe everything she wrote about me.

Mrs. Vinay Jones. I can still remember her taste. Aww, the memories. She was a recent divorcee with a wife and newborn. Poor child, but she had to go, same with the mother. But that was my first chibi! The meat on the little one was falling off the bone good. Shit, her bones were so soft it just melted away. All that was missing was pepper.

I’m still pissed about that. Who the hell doesn’t have pepper in their house? And black pepper doesn’t count. Mrs. Jones was so insensitive, I swear. It’s a good thing I made her watch. That’ll teach her a lesson in thinking about others.

Nevertheless, when I read about Vinay’s notes, I began to frown the more I read. And instead of chucking it off as most would, I started to rectify those behavioral habits to ensure that if a psychiatrist observed me, they would need years alone with me just to gleam something.

I needed patients. Running away as I did was a stupid decision. Although there was nothing I could do or say, I realized that Vinay had informed a few of her peers. And if she told her peers, I could be under watch.

Although Vinay Jones, I must thank you. Because of you, I killed one hundred thirty-three people and twenty-seven children during my short life. People are fools, believing a warm smile is a cure to everything. They always seem to miss the devil who wields it.

Hmm, should I make tacos out of the second consorts child? Let’s make it a Mexican theme. Does Spanish culture even exist in this world? Hmm, meh, who cares?

I’ll even make some corn tortillas by rending the natural fat of the child to cook them up. Fat is, after all, flavor!

A/N: I did say Arsene would do some disgusting things. Personally. I felt uncombable envisioning the incident. Writing it is going to be a challenge, lol.

“Care for date night, Lili?” I asked, peering down at the little minx, resting her chin on my shoulders. Her healthy glow seemed to come to life at the very mention of ‘date’ as she nodded almost instantly.

“When?” She hurriedly asked.

I have been missing more than I’d like. Not to mention Lilith is pregnant, so I should be more attentive, “Let’s have a few, but the actual date comes the same night we kill the second consort.”

Lilith seemed to glow as an azure light rippled out, and I instantly knew it was the little ones’ power. “I’m so happy! They’re happy too! What are we going to do? Huh? Huh? HUH?!!!!!”

“Let’s let that be a surprise. But get dressed tonight. We’ll have a predate hunt and then an actual date, ” I said, lifting her out of the carriage; enjoying the Azure glow somehow made me wish to tear up.

It was so warm, so innocent. My soul felt like melting as the azure light touched me, curling around my finger like a newborn’s hand would to its parent’s finger.

I’ve got to keep them safe. Keep bastards like me away from them.

Tracing my fingers over the barrier that blocked my hands from touching my two children, I smiled and turned to Lilith, whose eyes were bleeding a stream of tears, “Shall we go inside? A stress-free wife is a happy one.”

Lilith nodded and pulled me along through the doors that read, ‘Vally Springs.”

Taken away by the magnificent decor of beige aesthetic that seemed just to relax me for some reason. Valice walked up to the receptionist with a lovely smile, ” A pass for three, please.”

“Oh! Mrs. Black, is one for the man there?” the receptionist with long cat-like ears asked, staring with amazement.

“is it a problem?” She inquired, a little unsure.

“Far from it, just a little uncommon to see a man here. Is that your wife?” She questioned, looking directly at Lilith and me.

We nodded.

“Then would you like the couples treatment? Last I heard, Mr. and Mrs. Black fell in love with it. Just no hanky panky, K!” She teasingly said, sending a loving wink to Valice.

“You dirty girl,” I added along, as Valice’s entire face turned bright as a tomato.

She cleared her throat and snorted, ‘ Just get on with it, please. We’ll take the full package.”