Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Moonlight filled my court as a hard line pressed over my jaw as I stood silently, awaiting Tenebrae's arrival. It had been over an hour.

Adrian, for all his divinity, was trembling where he stood, his knees and other bones still shattered. Whilst the bandages over his flesh appeared to be leaking a deep red.

"Can we not just leave?" Said Seraphina, hooking her arms under Adrian as her seraphic qi trickled into his pores to help mend his injuries.

"Master isn't one to ever be late." Said Kuro sharply.

For a moment, I pondered what could have been wrong. I could never really sense Tene. Not like I could the others. I would have no power to find her if she didn't want to be found. And at this particular moment, she didn't.

Words seemingly failing to echo from my throat, I turned to a nameless within my court. " Find her."

"There'd be no need.' A graceful voice said as a pair of arms wrapped over my neck. A warm sensation tugged at my ear as the familiar warmth held me tight.

Nibbling on the tip of my ear, I slid my eye to the silver hair of my wife, nibbling on my ear like a little baby. "Hiya Sene," she said, taking a whiff of my flesh. "Gods, I've missed you. Have you missed me?"

"Lilith!" muttered Seraphina under her breath.

"Hmmm?" Lifting her head towards Sera, Lilith giggled, "Oh? You seem to keep beautiful women all around. Your court is filled with them. You even seem to have a Loli."

"Loli?" Kuro muttered, tilting her head. "What's that?"

"How long are you back?" I asked, not putting any weight on Kuro's inquiry. A foxy loli like herself will understand when she's older… Maybe.

"Only a few more minutes. These kids are sucking me dry. I only appeared to mark my territory with Tenebrae." She replied softly. "Is that a problem?"

"Did you harm her?" I calmly asked.

"And if I did?" She whispered with a lustful breath over my ear. Lilith leaned over the tip of my ear and bit down, breaking the skin, till blood slithered down my cheek.

Unsure why this was working for me. I smiled. "It's the job of the first wife to discipline. But it's my job to ensure you don't go too far."

"And how will you do so?" She challenged, narrowing those exquisite amethyst eyes.

"I'm pretty smart. I'll think of something." I said in a warning tone. "Don't overstep, Lilith."

Lilith grimaced and leaned away, seemingly losing her passion. "We'll see. Anyway, Mephisto came to me recently. He wants me to take over with the Devils and Demons of the Nine Hells. Said there was a power vacuum few could fill, and he wanted me to fill it. I said I would ask you."

Reaching into my robe, I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away the blood ebbing from my ear. "I'd accept it," I responded. Honestly, power is power. And if Mephisto wants to give that job to an Abyssal Fiend, I've got nothing to say.

He just gave us a voice within the Nine Hells. A voice I'm sure will do us well in the future. Zariel has a say as a Lord of Order, and now so would Lilith.

It is suspicious, though. Mephisto is acting way too kind. Giving me Black Sabbith, making me his disciple, giving Lilith such a title? What the hell is he thinking? If I didn't know better… I would say he was trying to divide the Hells or at least diversify it. But to what end?

"Really? Not even going to think about it?" Lilith questioned.

"I'm dead ass serious. You are a grown-ass woman with schemes. You'll do fine."

She rolled her eyes and giggled. " I forgot who I was talking to. Well, whatever." Lilith paused and touched her stomach, growing a little pale. " I've got to go. But I will be giving birth to the little ones in a few cycles. So prepare yourself. We'll teleport you when the time comes."

Lunging onto me, wrapping her legs around my waist, Lilith pressed her lips forcefully over mine in a lustful symphony of the senses, exploding as our tongues battled." Just wait till I give birth. We are having another hundred!"

Dissipating into nodes of light before words could leave my lips, Lilith teleported out of my hands, leaving only the cold.

"One day… I swear she is going to kill me. I have no idea what she is thinking at times." Musing to myself, I turned to everyone. " Tene is fine, so let's go. She can meet up with us later."

Suddenly growing reluctant at the prospect of leaving Tene, knowing she wasn't wild like Lilith, I frowned. " You know what? Hold up for a moment." I commanded, reaching into the will of the darkness where I knew Tenebrae could hear me.

Sensing her sorrow weeping into my many souls, waves of confusion and anxiety pressed over me as my spiritual self stood in a domain of darkness. Silent yet deafening a the same time, I merely waited, knowing Tene had sensed my presence.

Enjoying the beauty that Abyss weaved together, forming night. A small voice suddenly reached me. " Your wife is a bully."

"You think so? I would have said she needed to be in a psych ward. I'm sure she'll calm down at some point."

Tenebrae went silent for a while and… " She gave me permission to be with you."

"I'm sure there are some conditions."

"My freedom."

Brows rising, I smirked. "Freedom?"

Materializing before me, a pale color gripped Tene. She looked thinner than before… almost sickly.

"You're wife… The Abyss wants me to show you I'm serious. Mother wants me to show my Loyalty." She paused, bowing her head. A habit of sorts she seemed to have. It wasn't something I'd ever seen nobles do, but Tene always seemed to have her head bowed in my presence.

"And you feel like I'd abuse it? Your freedom?" I asked, a little offended.

I was many things. A killer, a thief, a bastard, a monster, a cannibal… But to those around me, I had never once taken away freedom.

Tenebrae looked at me and turned. "I…"

Snatching her by the chin, something I suspect she was beginning to enjoy based on how much I've been doing it as of late. I raised her head to me. " I don't need something to take away your freedom. You'll give it to me. I have controlled the lives of Mimir, Freya, and Ezra for a long time. But not once have I ever forced them to do anything. They do it because they are loyal."

"I know… but…"

"Your still uncertain?" I said, returning from this realm of darkness. ????????????????????????????. ????om

I'd no time for foolishness. That decision wasn't up to me: this was a test from the Abyss. And I didn't care much about dealing with it. We all have choices. I'm sure Abyss-Chan has her reasons, And based on Tene's reaction, it seems this is a test of character on her part. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ (f)ir(e).nᴇt

"Let's go," I said to everyone, dropping the handkerchief of my blood onto the floor. I called upon the blood laws and poured my divinity into my blood, clinging to the fabric of the handkerchief. I willed a clone to appear.

And appear it did. It was going to lead my Kingdom of Darkness. After all… this was my new beginning. I am going to turn Noctem into a superpower capable of rivaling the Hells and Heavens together.