Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Chapter 408: Negotiations

"Have faith, my dear queen. Believe in your man!" I casually complained with a hint of blame in my tone, within the room that sat two gorgeous women, "where is your fate, my dear wife."

The air was abnormally cold to the touch, with the rich scent of chamomile that brought on a calming charm to those that smelt it.

"Sene, no offense, but you are downright retarded when it comes to direction." said my sweet wife, whose words pierced my heart like a knife. The betrayal was real! And she looked so grave saying it.

Closing my eyes, I turned towards the darkness, "Oh Mother of Darkness, my darling wife has betrayed me! If you will smite her! I will be forever--"

Clapping the back of my head, Lilith puffed her cheeks, stomping ahead towards the lovely ladies' brim as cold steel. Aiza was without a doubt gorgeous, but whether it was intentional or not, Yu Jings master reminded me of a prince simply by the icy smile on her beckoning lips.

"Greeting's I am Yura Snow, and this is my husband Arsene Snow," Said Lilith, in an unpleasant tone. She, like I had seen a prince and knew what it meant. This woman was dangerous in more ways than one could count.

"Auntie, aren't you forgetting someone?" Complained the little dragon, Arkanos trailing behind me like a small doll. Flaring her nostrils, she rushed towards Yu Jing with a pleasant smile, "Hi, big sis!"

Sending a measured stare packed with a bit of contempt and scorn, Yu Jing's hollow words echoed, "Greetings, Arkanos, have a seat. I am sure you are hungry."

Taking note of the Yu Jings indifference, I decided on a seat just across from Aiza on the far end of the oak table, who had remained motionless and silent. Lilith, who sat just at the corner of the table near me, chuckled to herself.

"So, Lady Aiza, how is it you know of Aeron?" Lilith dared to speak without a trace of fear. She held a sharp stare on the silent woman, who appeared no more than the tender age of sixteen.

Tapping her fingers, a wave of servents stormed the table dressing everything in but a blink of the eye. Filling my glass with a sparkling mist of wine, my stare never left Aiza, who remained silent. Lifting a glass of ruby-red wine, I smiled, waiting for her to answer.

"We are comrades in arms, one of the five founders of Nox; I was sure he told you, or are you not as close as one would think?" Uttered Azia indifferently, lifting her glass as I did.

"I cannot say we have had more than two conversations. At least not enough to warrant him speaking of me too as you say a Founder of Nox." I responded sharply, taking a sip of the spiraling mist of wine.

"Oh? Well, when one can kill a Prince of Hell, and an Arch-Angel like you have, you become a topic of conversation, would you not agree? I truly found it a surprise to see yourself here, on Alos. Any particular reason as two why?"

"Are you asking or demanding?" Added Lilith, taking a sip of the dry cheery flavored wine that warmed the chest at the slightest drop.

"Can it be both, or are you so warry of little old me?" Aiza's voice slightly changed the flow in which she spoke. It was strange, but it gave me some understanding of what type of person she was. It was becoming more intimate, in a way from our earlier formal speaking.

"May I?" I questioned Lilith as it was her who suggested we visit the oasis.

"Lady Aiza, I believe you wish for your Disciple to follow us? While we are more than willing, she doesn't have an invite like Arsene and me. Should she force her way into where we are heading? Death is a guarantee, and the same could be said for you." Explained Lilith to everyone's surprise.

"Are you trying to insult us?!" Yu Jing demanded to know, "what Realm would deny my master!"

Creasing her brow, one would think Aiza was angry or unpleased, but a trace of interest fluttered onto her brow, drawing my attention.

"A Realm I am not permitted could be very few things, princess. Why the mystery? Or are you afraid you may steal whatever you are after? "

"If you are suicidal, why not follow us yourself? Arsene and I are heading into the mountains a few months' journeys from here. You are more than welcome to follow, as we have nothing to hide except what lies beyond the rift."

Tracing her fingers off the edge of the table, Aiza leaned back into her chair. She did not slouch. She was too prideful too. Her posture appeared to befit one who would be a king or queen of a land.

Crossing her legs in a relaxed manner, her arm stretched to her chin, "Will Little Jing be in danger? You are traveling with a silver dragon, after all, and a rare breed at that. Their kind had long been extinct. "

"She will not follow us. We are simply traveling, "Said Lilith casually, placing her empty glass down in an elegant fashion.

Enjoying the sweet warmth of this wine, I lifted my lips towards the hush princess, watching with an expression that expressed a hidden scheme.

"What of you, Yu Jing? Do you wish to follow us? I am sure you can keep Arkanos company. She seems to want to be your big sis, in light of the scorn within your tone." I darkly voiced, narrowing my cold chilling eyes towards the princess.

"I--

"Yu Jing, let's make this clear if you follow me, as I am sure you nor I have a say in this matter. I will tear your head from your body should I find out you stand against me. Your master is strong, but I assure you I have far stronger backers."

"oh!" Aiza amusingly hummed, tilting her head. "And who would be that? From what I heard, you love making enemies."

"Indeed, but you see, Lady Aiza, I also love making deals, and you two seem to need me. Both you and Aeron. I am not sure what you two want, but I will say this now. I can either be your savior or destroyer!"

'You seem to misunderstand your place," Aiza grunted in response consuming the dining table in such a pressure I felt my bones begin to break, but a cold icy intent filled with bloodlust from the billions of lives I have taken stormed from out of my pores, stifling the air with the sweet scent of death.

"I would think the opposite you being here dining with us means you wanted to get a feel of me. To test the waters, but I am sure a man like Aeron would have said not to. He has seen my handy work, the death I brought. Sitri and Yeshimial were two peaks that begin from the strongest plane in all of the known realms we are aware of. Are you telling me you do not need me? That I am not just some pawn in a battle to come?"

Widening her eyes, a scornful smile tugged at Lilith's and my lips.

"So that was it. A war! That is why someone like you has a disciple. Now that makes sense, and I am guessing I would be the wild card? To help temper your chosen?" I fired off feeling like all of the theories were correct. Why else would someone like her want to meet with me, the same with Aeron?

Losing the oppressive aura, Aiza stared in silence before lifting her lips to speak, with gloomy eyes, "You are indeed good. It seems I overstepped more so than I originally thought. But it doesn't matter, does it? Yu Jing will travel with you, or will you like to use some trump card now?"

"She can indeed follow." Proposed Lilith firmly, "But under the understanding, she must fend for herself when the time comes."

"It sounds fair, but I will have to decline," Aiza voiced without cause for concern. "Treat my little Disciple like a true comrade, and let's see... I will gift you an audience with all the founders?"

"I am more interested in a magical treasure? One that can help save our lives should a true god decides to take our lives." I countered with a grin losing my fiendish aura.