Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Returning back into my body and outside the heart of the Abyss, a tinge of repulsion traced over the corner of my lips as I looked around at the hollow ornaments around me. I stood to my feet, wishing for a shower I knew wouldn’t help.

The chaos within the Abyss was, without a doubt, a work of art. It was the core of our reality, but for some reason, as I stared at the creation of man, my stomach dipped in repulse. It was akin to a stain on perfection, an eye sore.

My body swayed with a deadly shadow, but with sheer will, I resisted my primal urge to lay waste in the room around me. There’d be no point, nor would that help my current situation.

Summoning my mask that held my number, I donned it and called for Zariel, who answered without missing a beat.

“What,” was the first thing he said, his tone filled with annoyance, and weariness, as if he had just been through a battle.

“Where is our mother’s body?” I asked, hearing the breathing flow from his lungs stiffen; the image I stared at through the hollow eyes of my mask lowered his head. His action made my heart shutter and my eyes sting. “What happened.”

“You first.” He softly said, in a tone I’d never heard of before. It was weak.

Explaining everything I knew, Zariel removed his masked, revealing his scarred face covered in blood, shocking me.

“What happened!”

“You think killing the Mother of Demons was without consequence? Do you believe there is no price for some of your actions?”

“That was L—”

“Your wife, I know, but you have a responsibility to ensure she doesn’t do anything crazy. Aurelia has already had the Father cast upon me two divine judgments.” He shook his head, wiping the blood off his busted lips, ” I’m about to take your wife to the Origin Realm for a while with some extra security; Izavith is currently with her.”

“You got ambushed?” I asked, putting what he said of the Origin realm to the back of my mind for a little.

“Yeah, by the God of Death, Azazel and Lucifer. One thinks you’re trying to smash his daughter; the other believes since he can’t abuse your wife due to her pregnancy, he decided to hurt me instead of you.”

“Sounds fair,”

‘Your mockery will not save you from me kicking your ass. Watch it.”

“I’m good little bro,” I said teasingly. Shaking my head as I grew a little more solemn, ” You’ll live, but we might not in the long run.”

Zariel’s breath waned, and his silvery eyes dimmed. “I’ve still no idea where her body is, despite looking everywhere,” he said, bleeding from his nose. “Zero said that Mephisto is sure to have her body, but I say it belongs to that sage I saw.” ｂ𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎ｌ.ｎｅｔ

“Sage?”

“Long snow white bear that hung to his knees, aged eyes the color of the aligning myriad stars, on the back of his grey robes, laid a sigil of several circles overlapping amongst the lining of its fabric. His jaw was a little narrow and his brow a little bushy, but my blood boiled when I saw him.”

There was no fear in Zariels voice as he recalled that image, but rather something else. “What do you mean?”

“Unlike you, I didn’t inherit your Forsaken Blood,” Zariel said, a little annoyed. ‘So my blood was, for all intended purposes, neutral. It was a product of my manipulation. It was a little stronger than mortal blood but held the characteristics of an Apex predator in that nothing such as fear should linger in its depths.”

My eyes narrowed into slits, and he continued. ” But for some reason, a blinding flare of anger and unease raced out of my blood, emanating from the forsaken line that faded away a long time ago. I’ve no idea who these Eternals Ones are, but I do know they are no allies of the Forsaken.”

“Was the Old man Injured.”

“Fatally so.” Said Zariel smiling. “Although he did claim it had nothing to do with our Mother. And not believing him. I attacked him than an there, cutting off his arm.”

“Eh? What?”

“Would you try to dodge an attack of a human if you were as strong as Lucifer?” He conveyed, and I connected the dots.

The Weave. Zariel had used the Weave to sever that sage’s arm.

“And you lived?” I asked, in fundamental surprise.

“Lucifer helped us out.” he said, “but I don’t think that bastard has long to live anyway; he was very weak, and was it not for Aurelia and myself awakening him, he might still be asleep. There’s more to the story, but I’ll send you a report of all that happened. I’m busy.”

Cutting the line, I stood blankly and released a harsh laugh. ” That idiot. But it makes me curious. Why does Zariel have the power of the Weavee at his disposal?” I shook my head, pushing such thoughts out of my mind.

“What I really need to know is why Zero thinks Mother’s body is with Mephisto instead of the Sage like Zariel.”

Straightening myself up, I sent the mask of the Order of Chaos back into my soul space and left my room, stopping at the threshold, where I saw Valice.

“Let’s go. My Husband is willing to meet you now.” She said with a dark countenance. ” Also, a Gaius Winterblack is sitting outside. Looking for you.”

Winterblack?

My spear arm trembled, and with a push of my senses, I stared at the man pacing back and forth with an ashen tinge.

“You ok? Is he an enemy?” Valice connected.

“No, my wife said he would be showing up. I just didn’t think it would take so long,” I explained, although that could be my fault I was all over the place these past few years.

“We’ll walk and talk. I assume there a teleporter or some form of—”

“They sent griffins,” Valice said. “Mr. Winterblack, however, will have to say. Our family has bad blood with him.”

Oh?

“What did he kill a family member?” I joked, but Valice nodded.

“Yes, he killed the son of our greatest warrior. He’s a damn traitor.”