Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

A light hand came over my cheeks. It was soft, but the force it carried stirred me awake. Peeping my eyes open, I could see Elsa and Victoria with pale faces.

"What is it?" I begrudgingly asked, slowly closing my eyes, as I didn\'t wish to deal with anything. I am still sleepy.

"Baphomet is dead."

Startled awake, I shot my head up and turned to find a certain missing husband. "Where is he?"

"He said not to wake you. But Asmodeus already came to find him. Things aren\'t looking well. One of the Shadowfell was watching it all happen. Zantar and Balor had no idea."

"A Shadowfell? Who?"

"No idea; Arsene, however, did summon him. Things aren\'t looking well, my queen," Elsa relayed to me, "We\'ve even got a report that Aldrich might be dead. However, nobody could find the ruler\'s body."

What the hell? Why would Baphomet? Wait, who the hell is this Shadowfell, and how did he get around two Fallen defensives? Or is this a testament to how powerful they\'ve become?

Putting out my hands for my Abyssal Children to take, the two pulled me out of bed, and with sheer will, I forced the void to seize control of us, teleporting us away. I\'d known about Zantar and Balor for a while, but they were Arsene\'s problem right now.

Baphomet, while a tragic loss for my mother, I\'m sure she\'ll get over it as a devil. True Emotional attachment isn\'t their way, after all.

Am I being too cruel?

Stepping into the imperial palace, still tattered and dark, tainted by an unbelievable evil, I quickly clothed myself before pushing open the doors to the foyer and staring at the man who had caused so much pain.

"Winterblack," I called, startling him, as he looked up at me with a wide smile.

"Lady Snow!" He joyously sang, facing me; he fell to one knee alongside his daughter, wife, and newborn son.

"The time has come," I softly said, "And my Arsene needs your help or what little you can provide. You may leave your family, but—" I took a long pause, and the air tensed, the winds turned brittly cold, and the man whose betrayal started a string of tragedies tremble. "But if Arsene cannot find it in him to forgive you, I will extinguish the light in your entire family and put you out of your misery for good. It\'s the least I can do for your help this past half a cycle."

"I—"

I raised my hand, stopping him from speaking," You\'ve got your mission. That is why you were kept alive. Now hand the kid to your wife and leave."

Gaius Winterblack was crestfallen, and it was for a good reason. But it was not my problem. Arsene requires his services more than I do. I can only hope this traitor is smart enough to understand the depths of his suffering.

Turning away before more words could be had, Victoria whispered into my ears, " We\'ve also got another issue."

"And that is?"

"Baphomet\'s body that was recovered is acting strange. It—"

"Arsene will handle the devils," I softly said, "Last night will be the only time we will speak as allies," I calmly reminded my loyal servant. Stepping through the imperial palace of house Lazurus, the icy winds flutter as I make my way into the war room.

Feeling an arm placed on my shoulder, I turned to look at the concerned expression of Victoria," My lady, you are acting a little too indifferent."

"How\'d you think a sleepy pregnant woman who hasn\'t had a night\'s rest feel? I\'ve got two plots on the playing field, and I\'m supposed to trust a husband who thinks with his dick."

"Then shall I relay the good news?" Ava suddenly asked in an authoritative voice, making my inside stir in shock. It will always amaze me how far this little thing came. Not physically, of course, but the way her mind works.

That shy little lamb who anyone could take advantage of was now leading troops just like her father was, with the coolness of cold steel and the sharpness of a blade.

Out of everyone, she was my favorite. She was the fluffiest!

"And what\'s the good news?" I asked, pushing aside the thoughts of Baphomet\'s untimely death.

"We\'re ready to take the offensive—The Angel\'s camp on the eastern side of Iliya. As you know, it is the west where their main army resides. But the east is where two Arbiters of the three are."

"But I\'d like some more information if you are willing, my queen." Apophis, the World-Devouring Red Drake, asked. Shooting me a look of grave importance, I nodded, already understanding what he wished to ask.

Apophis wasn\'t really loyal to me, mainly due to Izavith kidnapping him to be used as the world\'s core for gods know how long. He was drained and almost crippled by her power. While he still respected me and was constantly there to question my every decision, something I found both helpful and annoying. I knew there was a limit on how far he would be willing to follow me.

"Shoot, your question."

He smiled, "Then forgive my rudeness, but what is the point of killing these so-called Arbiters if they haven\'t even taken part in destroying our people?"

I almost burst into laughter at his question. " Apophis, you are undoubtedly a sage, produced by the hardest of trials." I started to say, studying how his smile seemed to slip away. " But you have not lived enough to understand humanity\'s complexity."

"I\'m older than you," He countered, but I only shrugged.

"Physically maybe, but my experience makes you look like you are nothing but a child seeking a mother\'s approval. Two Fallen are leading this fight, and I know this for a fact. But, they haven\'t harmed a single Abyssal Fiend; should they be forgiven? Should we ignore them and only kill the people on the front lines?"

Apophis\'s fingers clenched, and he bent his head. "I understand; we are cutting off the heads of the snake that could potentially grow once its true face is revealed."

"Yup, Zantar and Balor, now that they have unintentionally revealed themselves, have shown us the big picture. Now that we know who they are, we can begin dismantling all their backup plans."

I had told Apophis and Damien about the two fallen, but they were not like me; they needed proof. They needed to see that there was something great afoot.

But I\'m a little proud that they seem to be understanding the basic concept of \'Trust, but verify.\' When the war between the Myriad Heaven begins, they will make fine generals, should they live through what lies ahead.