Monarch of Darkness, Arsene



Lost within the labyrinth overshadowing my figure, I traced my fingers against the rows of books, and a soft, malleable hum slipped from my lips, audible to only those above a particular intelligence. I had always liked visiting libraries, and the Library of Silence was, without a doubt, my favorite. There had always been something wholesome about the information held within each book.

Reading a book was akin to receiving a glimpse of a person's entire life. It was something not many could grasp. In my world… My reality, there was no such thing as fiction. Not really, anyway. If one could spend a lifetime searching for the origin of any book, one would be able to find a world within the Mortal Realm that shared those similarities.

And this was the beauty of the Library of Silence, for its sole focus was to record all of reality. From the smallest of stories to the largest, those that govern the Library of Silence have spent an ungodly amount of time scouring the Myriad Heavens to find the origin of all stories.

"Sir." A cold voice said. "There shall be silence."

I turned, glancing at the translucent Wraith, bearing her inhuman eyes on me, which seemed to lack an inkling of humanity. They were cold… Menacing like so many of my brethren.

"Vinay." I softly greeted her, wondering if she remembered me. "Just the Wraith I was looking for. Is my Brother, Tamiel, in?"

She frowned, turned, and beckoned for me to follow in silence. There had only ever been one rule in this grand library of records of truths: Silence.

Such a simple concept it was. But I have seen Void Gods to Fell Gods perish in but a blink of an eye. Fallen who thought themselves above the Law of this library turns to nothing but bones. Their souls were devoured and channeled into fuel to empower this monstrous building.

No one was above the rule. Not here. Not without preparation.

The moment any living creature entered this land, one needed to quell the noise of the heart, mind, and soul. They needed to walk without sound, talk without sound, and exist without disturbing what lay in the shadows.

"We're here." Vinay relayed before a door. She bowed, taking her leave like a ghost without sound, much less emotion.

'What a sorry state she is in.' I muttered to myself, somewhat torn about the cruelty of her race. What makes a man or woman if not their memories? For her to not remember me… what a fucking tragedy.

Entering inside what seemed like a luxurious lounge without a sound, I closed the door. When a grim voice reached me: " Vinay, I said I don't want—"

"Her memory isn't what it used to be," I informed him, smiling at the Fallen holding a cup of whisky and a cigar. I grinned at the golden-haired and eye bastard seemingly enjoying life.

Tamiel's handsome face twisted: "The fuck are you doing here? No, why are you near me? The stench of a traitorous bastard like you isn't something I want to deal with. Fuck off."

I laughed: " Quite the tongue you gained. Is that how you talk to your commander?"

"Former."

"Even as Fallen, we remain as Watchers of the Grigori," I told him, slipping onto a chair across from him. I lifted one of his cigars damp with whiskey and lit it with a snap, only to give it a few puffs to get it rolling when the savory pits of smoke and sweetness whirled around my mouth as I released it.

"Metatron needs you."

"And I need twenty virgins. But as you and everyone knows, I gave up the bitches. I'm out." Lamented Tamiel, spilling smoke from his lungs. "I'm now the Curator of the Libary. I've zero desire to assist Metatron, of all people. His level of corruption has always disgusted me."

I shrugged. " Why? You are Perfection incarnate, my Friend. Can you still not see the level of Perfection Metatron has achieved? He sits upon good and evil. Molding it into—"

"Angels aren't meant to reside between good and evil." He sneered with disgust that spoiled the taste of the cigar in my mouth. "Even if Metatron systematically does achieve Perfection, I won't recognize it. He has stained his title. Stained it like you stained your loyalty to our Lord Father."

"Father isn't all-powerful," I told him, sneering at the thought.

What a fool they are. All of them. How can they still be loyal as Fallen? How can they not understand the Myriad Heavens are bound to fail? Whether it be in front of the Eternals Or the Great Ones. We Angels will fall to either the Abyss or Arcadia. There is only one Allpowerful entity. I realized that the day my sword plunged into Father.

Clenching my fist, I sucked in a deep breath to regain control of my emotions. There wasn't a need to reveal emotions not to a hypocrite like Tamiel.

"Are you still looking?" I asked him, observing the quiver that ran through his fingers. He lowered his whisky, frowning grimly. "I'll take your silence as yes." Lifting my lips, I folded my arms. " How many children have you torn apart? How many have to be personally aborted to fulfill your sick obsession with Perfection?"

"What are you going on about?" he sneered.

"I'm sure you felt it. A few days ago. The wave of absolute power that nearly tore at our bodies? Every Higher being like us felt it. I'm talking about that monstrous wave of Abyssal Qi."

Tamiel nodded silently. He lowered his cigar and leaned toward me. "What about it?"

"The perfect being has been created. And what's funny? They are the direct children of the Abyss. Our Lord Fathers, Dearest Sister. Or is it you haven't heard?" Testing the waters, gauging his reaction, I nearly busted a gut as his expression twisted to that of a wild beast.

Tamiel… the child fucking killer, the beast without remorse, had always fantasized about the perfect being. Believing that one needed the perfect fetus followed by genetics, that went against the natural Law.

If there ever was a monster amongst our kind, it was Tamiel. He had zero remorse, zero humanity, and cared very little about his honor. Perfection was a goal he had been chasing ever since he first opened his eyes.

Offering a hand, I grinned: "Help me out, and I'm sure we can help each other gain what we want. After all, there is no place within the Myriad Heavens for those two monsters."

Tamiel shuddered, quivering like an abused bitch, as he revealed a grin I'd seen so many times before. He gulped before regaining his poise composure.

"Tell me. Tell me everything. And you will have my hand... dear brother." He promised.

Chuckling, I said. " My friend, have you ever heard of the Snow Family?"

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