Monarch of Darkness, Arsene



Pacing back and forth, lost in a fray of panic and apprehension, sending my mind into a downward spiral, I looked on as dozens of Seraphim began making their way in, each of them coiling their arms to congratulate me.

But I didn't need it.

Screw congrats. My wife was damn near in the hands of the reaper. Is good news supposed to make me feel better? Is it supposed to relieve the tension?

"Fuck" I spat.

"Papa!!!! No cursing!" the familiar voice, one I'd not heard in years, resounded through my ears, drawing me from my depression.

"A…Arkanos? Ty?" I muttered, shooting the twin loli a measuring stare. They were still small. Still cute.

But I soon frown at the stranger behind them. Draped in some plane robes that looked like they had seen better days, a somewhat handsome man stood. His eyes were a radiant gold with sandy brown hair tied by a simple string.

He smiled my way, patting Ty and Arkanos: "It's an honor to meet you. My name is Yahweh. It sort of feels like I already know you with how much Arkanos and Ty told me about you. It's a pleasure. You and Lilith sure have a beautiful palace."

I stared at the man, but before I could kick him out, Ty pulled my sleeve: "Big brother Yahweh is awesome! Right, Ark!"

"Yeah-Yeah! He even gives Ty and Arkanos snacks. Want some? Arkanos is willing to give Papa a bite of her brownie… just one bite, though." She said, and somehow I felt perceived as a threat by those narrowing eyes. This girl really loves her sweets.

I just laughed, rustling their hair, somehow put in a better mood: "You two go inside. If I stay, I'll kill everyone inside."

The twin dragons grin, jumped up on each side of my face planting a kiss on my cheeks with the biggest smiles.

"It'll be ok, Papa! You just need to have hope."

I scuffed. " Hope is for the weak."

They grinned, opening the door to Lilith's chamber: "But Papa…." They said together. " Aren't you weak right now?" they said, closing the door on the way in.

Bitterness splintered the tip of my tongue as a wry chuckle escaped: "Damn… Why do I feel defeated."

"Children tend to do that," Yahweh said calmly. "Want a talk?"

"Talking solves nothing."

"Spoken like a true sociopath."

I turned to him, frowning: "Will talking make my wife feel better?"

He shrugged: "The Myriad Heavens is filled with such mystery, so yes. Under the right circumstances, anything is possible."

My jaw clenched: "Are you trying to piss me off?"

He grinned: " Is it working? Is the Great Arsene angry?" And he glanced at my wife's bed chamber, losing his smile. "Your wife will be fine. So get out of your head. Let's talk about what we are going to do with you kids."

I almost flinch: " We? There isn't 'a' we."

"But of course there is. Their aura is currently seeping into the Myriad Heavens." He said, opening his palm as an image appeared. It was of a world on fire, smoldering with such radiance that I thought it a star. "This planet was made entirely of water. And now it's nothing more than a rock."

"..."

"Who are you?" I said, shooting him a cold icy stare.

"I'm from the council of Omnis. Zariel, Shiva, and I work together." He said, closing his palm, dismissing the image. I came to you first before anyone could, let's say, organize of manhunt to murder your kids." He expressed, summoning two chairs for the both of us. He sat down: " I usually don't get involved. Leaving all the work to Zariel or Shiva. Those two tend to get things done right despite them being biased in some regards."

I took a seat, measuring this… foe before me. There was something off about him. A detachment that kind of reminded me of Mephisto. Yet there was warmth in his voice.

"How's Aurelia?"

His grin turned to that of a smirk: "Were talking about you?' And he paused, tapping his fingers against the arms rest. "What do you want me to do?"

"Oh?! What type of game is this?"

There was a brief silence before he spoke: "As I said, I don't like getting involved. Things get complicated when I do. But you know, with great power comes—"

"Please, just stop. Anything but that bullshit saying." I pleaded as we chuckled.

"Haha! It's not so bad. But your children are an issue. The Myriad Heavens as it is now can't contain them. Unless Lilith orders the Horsemane Gates shut, their power will continue to bleed out: sealed or not. At least until they can reach a realm that's on the same plain as their power which will stabilize their bodies, ensuring the seal on them can activate."

How… How does this man know so much? This isn't knowledge someone should have unless they had physical contact with Lilith and the twins."

"Your suspicious." He grinned.

"Damn right. Who the hell are you? Better yet, what do you get out of this?" I said, preparing to draw my spear.

"Peace. At least some semblance of peace. The Myriad Heavens is changing. I can slow that process, but… Gods are dying. Divinities that were engrained in many gods are dying out. I don't need to tell you that should be impossible, but the power exuding from the children is literally burning knowledge people have collected for cycles. Not only that… Me helping you will also help your wife. Perhaps I should have started with that."

"Damn right."

Yahweh gave a light chuckle, glanced down the hall to the gathering maids and lords, and back to me. " She sure is loved. I will help, but Arsene… as you know, everything has a price."

"And what will I be giving up?"

"I want you to get along with the Myriad Heavens. Don't be so difficult during the council meetings." He said, rising to his feet. He approached the door. Gave a knock and said: "Ariel, it's me."

There was a brief silence that made even my skin crawl as he glanced back at me just as the door opened up. "Can you do that for me?"

"Who are you?"

Flashing me his pearly teeth, Yahweh said: Not a single seraph stopped him as he stepped in, waving me off. "I'll be seeing you soon... Papa Arsene"