Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Pacing back and forth beside Lilith, connected to hundreds of IV bags that slowly poured various types of liquids into her, I stared at the healthy glow that had cast away the pale tinge of death that had been on her cheeks for the last year. Around her chest, a scarlet paste that reminded me of the bloodstones clung to her body, glowing.

Squatting beside her, I felt lost for the first time in a long time. If Yu Jing was to die, what would I do? There were no backup plans when it came to the original seven. The Formation within the atrium revealed many things, but not if there could be a replacement.

Asmodeus wasn't answering, nor was the hells willing to grant me an audience. I was alone. Not to mention Kurt and Siegfried were still missing. I was sure Lilith teleported them somewhere relatively safe, but things could not be getting worse.

Think! Think! What can I do to replace Cleo if she dies? I stared at Lilith, then the little bun. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was a small baby bump. Placing my head on her stomach, I closed my eyes and listened.

It was odd, but I could not tell if it was a boy or a girl even now. Despite a few years, there was barely any change in the soul state of the little one, aside from its erratic soul pulse that told me its soul was brewing.

Warmth swelled within my heart, calming the building flame as I felt the little one taking away a part of me once again. Sucking me dry like it was my wife, I snuck up onto the bed, closing my eyes to the world. Listening to the song of Lilith's softly melody echoing from her sweet lips, I opened my eyes.

"I am about to do something, and I am hesitant to follow through," I muttered, glancing at her taking the time to find the words. "The quickest way to find a replacement, if one can be had, is to have you, the preceding Lord, transport in a few more people from the Bed of Chaos. Unborn children." A deep icy chill traveled through my veins as I heard myself speak. "I—I need to experiment on them with various bloodlines. If that can't be done, I need to find an already pregnant woman here in this realm from the bed of chaos."

"Sene," Lilith suddenly said, startling me, as she turned to face me, "This is your punishment." She said, startling me, "I know you paid your debt already, but—"

"But it was too late," I finished, as my body became stiff as a block of wood.

She nodded, her amethyst eyes shimmering like stars. "Everything comes at a price. Everything. You were too late, and motions began to step in according to Izavith's scheme."

My heart sunk as I stared at Lilith and then up towards the ceiling, "You know, this screwing each other thing is getting on my nerves. Not this Lilith. Not my true family." I uttered, feeling someone clenching my heart. A tiring sigh slipped out of my lips.

"Think you will stop screwing other women?" I paused, turning to her once again, and met her icy gaze that even caused the little bun's soul pulse to slow. "Sene, I'm not trying to screw you. Not this time. But this was done by you, and you alone. The alternative was far, far worse. I can promise you that. Was I not your wife, Izavith, or the Abiteors would have slaughtered everyone you love in the most horrendous fashion."

"So I should be thanking you?" I curtly asked, unable to believe my ears. "So I should be grateful?"

She wryly chuckled, "Arsene, I have supported you in whatever you please. Whatever it is. No question asked. And the moment you do something for me. And you suffer one setback; you act like a brat. Lower that damn pride."

My finger stretched towards her cheeks, and a dark smile slipped over my lips," What if I don't want to lower my pride? What if I want to be selfish?"

Lilith swatted my hand away and leaned close, her amethyst eyes swirling like a vast expanse. "There is no turning back, Sene. Do what you have to do. There is no judgment here. None whatsoever. You carry the Blood of the Hells, bits of the Abyss, and the Darkness. I am not here to judge you. Kill all the little infants you want if you think it will help, do whatever the Hell you want."

I blinked and blinked again as a cold realization struck me. "It was me? I was the one who would show the savagery of those of the Bed of Chaos. I was—"

"The bridge?" Lilith finished, sending my mind into a downwards spiral. "Maybe. It's Izavith's plan. I cannot interfere, Sene. You know it. I guide. That's all I can do."

"That's a funny way of absolving responsibility," I remarked, releasing a deep breath before I started removing the needles that had pierced through her tender skin.

"What are you doing?" She sharply asked, her tone very much annoyed. "An I know I'm a little bit responsible, but my hands are tied, while yours aren't—"

Pinching the little thing's nose to stop her from talking, Lilith's cheeks instantly grew flushed with anger, "Sene, you bastard!" Slipping down to her cheeks, I squished them and watched her expressions plump up.

"I would very much like to meet this Izavith," I uttered, somewhat dryly, staring into amethyst. "She seems to be giving me quite a bit of trouble."

Trying to slap my hand away, I smirked and mounted my angry wife, glaring at me with blades, pressing my knee between her legs, touching her most sensitive place. Lilith stiffened. "I am quite mad. Very mad, especially since your forcing me to do something despicable. Even by my standards."

"I'm not the one—"

My fingers tightened around her cheeks, stopping the words as her glassy eyes sparkled, "Oh, I know, but till Izavith shows herself to me, I'm going to take out all my anger on you." I leaned in, releasing my hold over her expression as my lips traced against her luscious ones.

"The Baby!"

"The baby will never know. And don't worry, with the amount of nutrients I'm about to pump into you, you won't be sleeping for a while."