Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Gods, I hate this." I spat, glaring at myself in the mirror. Draped in the finest material known to this Heaven, I stood in an imposing onyx black suit that spoke volumes of dominance with its aesthetic look.

"Would you like a scepter, my Lord," Mimir spoke with such a smile I wanted to break my foot off his ass. "Don't give me that look, m'lord. You look good. I'll even go as far as to say you perfectly represent the aristocracy. All you need is a beautiful woman by your side."

"Where is Lilith?"

Mimir's lips twitched. " My Lord… Should you not consider taking Tenebrae? She is, after all, the presiding God over Darkness."

"And what does that make me?"

Sweat gathered in folds around my advisor's brow. " I mean, she is the literal Goddess of Darkness. She is Noctem, so to speak," he quickly explained. "While Lilith is the Abyss."

"Which is technically Tene's Mother. If you didn't know."

A pained smile slipped over his lips. " m'lord… you have two of the most beautiful women I have ever seen in my entire life. But I don't think anyone who knows you envy you. How is Lilith with this situation?"

"I stopped asking those questions. Lilith is… unpredictable." I replied, fiddling with the straps to the regal shoulder cape. "Honestly, I'm just happy that some of the souls I mated with are devils. At least there is a possibility of revival unless she shatters the soul. Last I heard, she was rearing assassins to kill Ezra, Freya, Zan, and anyone else."

"As I said. I am not envious.' He pointed out with a gloating smile.

"Anyone ever told you that you have a very punchable face?" I grimly asked.

"Odin, Freya, Thor, Loki, and more."

'It was rhetorical you—"

Pausing as a knock echoed through my room, Zaid stepped through with a long-expression. As if beaten up on the inside, he stepped forward with a feeble aura. " Lilith is here, or so I've been told."

"You look like shit. Are you still mad?"

Zaid snorted. " You… my father threatened me. Colluded with my Mother to turn on me, and you ask if I'm mad?"

"Yup," I said with a bright smile. "Lead the way."

Grumbling, Zaid turned as I gave chase after him, finding his downcast expression somewhat adorable. I was kinda enjoying teaching the little brat.

"SENE-SENE!!!!" Shouted Lilith waving in a bewitching fiery dress, devouring beauty from the realm. She stood with a somewhat childish expression with a beautiful baby bump over her stomach. She was glowing.

"How ya been!"

"Someone is in a good mood." I pointed out, running my hands through rivers of silky white hair near the nape of her neck. "You are looking rather appetizing."

"Of course. A certain someone promised they would do something on… what did you call it? Valentine's day?"

"But of course!" I assured her, hiding the sweat on the inside.

I lowkey forgot. Damn!

Shooting Mimir a side glance that was so quick only true men would understand. He gave me the nod and vanished into the ether.

"Well? Mr. Snow?" Lilith muttered in an accusing voice.

"Do you have something planned?" I countered, and without hesitation, Lilith answered in the affirmative.

"Yep. I spent yesterday preparing it."

Shit. Curse these stupid holidays or whatever the hell it is.

Clearing my throat, I glanced at Zaid. " Lilith, let me introduce you to my firstborn—'

"Bastard?"

"Son… Lol, I told him the same thing!" I said, hi-fiving Lilith.

'Great minds, Sene. How are you? Zaid was it. I have heard much about you." She added, scanning him up and down with a critical eye.

"Have you?" I mused, turning my attention to my Bastard.

"Are you also here to humiliate me?" The Bastard in question remarked, garnering a frown from my wife and a hint of shame in my heart.

"What humiliating is knowing that my husband has to take care of someone like you, who thinks being under his protection is humiliating." She said coldly, like a goddess of death.

"I'm protecting your—"

"You're a stand-in. Or have you not noticed Arsene could command Devils and Demons from higher realms? Those far stronger than you. Keep playing victim, and I might have to insult Tiamat by killing you." The icy winter countenance immediately melted like summer snow as she smiled my way. " Shall we go? Vita and Damaris are securing the area."

"The meeting is in the Overworld, right? You ever been?"

"I made a pit stop before coming here. It's very… airy." She described as her Abyssal Qi wrapped around Zaid and me, consuming our bodies in a blaze of scarlet and black. We vanished, appearing amidst the peak of a mountain just above the clouds.

"Zenofia Peak or in common: Heavens Peak. This is the highest mountain in the Overworld reserve for saints and gods at the peak. It's a neutral zone. Or at least that's what they say. Beautiful, eh?" Lilith asked, pointing towards the clear horizon with an upside-down view.

The clouds were the earth, and the skies azure blue, the Heavens.

I nodded, shifting my attention towards the temple ahead, seemingly carved by hand. It stood with twelve pillars on display, six on each side of the entrance, consumed in the aura of the Twelve Realms.

"Welcome!" A calming voice said, drawing our attention as a winged man carrying a smile that made my skin crawl echoed. By his side stood Vita and Damaris, each wielding icy exteriors.

"Uriel," said Lilith loudly, "It's an honor to see you. How long has it been? How's Ariel?"

"Joyous as usual. No one can ever dampen her child-like spirit," He replied, reaching us in a couple of steps. He cuffed his arm to Lilith and slid me a glance I'd seen many times before. And it seemed Uriel was not going to mask his disgust toward me.

Maintaining a noble countenance, I chose to address the two ladies instead. " Vita, how have you been? Found yourself a man yet?"

She smirked. "Can you still keep it up in bed?"

Glaring at one another for a little, I switched to Damaris, who looked a little out of place with her confused expression. "You, too… don't get along, do you."

"Not really." we both said.

Glaring once more, I snorted and interlocked my arm around Lilith's waist, cupping her baby bump; I pushed ahead, ignoring Uriel.

"Has no one ever told you to respect your—"

Raising my middle finger, I continued inside without saying a single word to the man. You greet my wife first, ignore me, and ask for respect? Bitch, please! Motherfucker must not have heard how petty I can be.

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