Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Semi-disturbing chapter.

I see. So Buer took out all the bones and pasteurized them like an egg. Did he think I'd eat them? Drink them with a straw? That's some sus behavior. I can't even tell who is who. But they are Kings of Hell.

"The Court of Nox," I started, arching my lips. " One of you is in charge over there. So here's what I'm going to do. I want you to bring them to me. I want the leader. And whoever does it first gets live. I'm not sure if you idiots understand the situation. But from this point on. No one is a king, no prince, duke, count, or anything of royalty. The Originals are descending and will not allow another to possess their name."

I paused, sucking in a sharp breath that turned my bones to ice. "The Court of Nox has been a thorn in my side since I was a child. And honestly, while I would like to destroy it. I have another goal in mind. Bring me the leader."

Dropping the leash that held some magical hold over the eight Kings of Hell, divinity flared like a magical storm of anarchy, and they vanished.

"What do you have in mind, Master?" Ezra inquired.

"Vivictus will join the Order of Chaos, falling under my power. They will be an elite group that will stand above all else. But the Court of Nox will be something else. It will be a group for those that do not meet my personal standard; they'll be known to serve two gods. Tenebrae and Tenebrous."

"You're taking over!" Ezra blurted out.

I nodded. "We were still in the process of negotiation last time we spoke. So the devils are still considered Yornen allies, that blasted Ilthads companion but no more. They're mine. It will be quite a surprise to see eight kings appear. " I turned to Ezra's pale countenance. "Head to the Ninth layer and gather what you need. Then head to the second layer."

"My Lord… can I ask? Why now? If this was all planned out. Why not come to you earlier? Like before we entered the abyss or right after."

I pondered Asmodeus's daughter's words for a while and glanced at the succubus, smiling with care.

"Fuck off, will you?"

The little whore jumped in place and quickly bowed as she scurried off. And my gaze returned to Ezra. "Because everything Mephisto does screws, someone. I'm sure not everyone is alright with destroying multiple Heavens. He had to be quick. He had to force the other Fallen's hands. Right now, the Fallen only have two courses of action. Side with the angels and give them more time and power to get the lay of the land or the Hells, who Mephisto has been positioning since who knows when. Probably the day I was born… Or maybe a few years after. Who knows with him? It's always half-truths."

"But now Irkalla is yours. Surely that has to mean something." Replied Ezra with a large smile. "Father once told me there is no difference between the layers."

"Perhaps," I mused."

In theory, that stands, But the more I see Mephisto's ploy come together, the more I learn about Fallen. The more I feel a sense of an invisible war between them. Buer was a bit passive-aggressive against his brethren, but Belphegor was just aggressive with deep hate or lust for Mephisto. Then there are the Angels. From what I can see, there is still a love for the Fallen but a bone-deep disdain for them.

Each realm is somehow controlled by these two groups. This leads me to believe they are equal because of this invisible war.

"Master… what are you going to do with… The Eight Lords of Hell?"

"One particular bastard. Zagon needs to die. He'll be the example I set. Plus, I want his soul. A paragon soul is an opportunity I don't want to miss. Not to mention I might just revive him to do my bidding later on in life. We'll see." I mused, lifting my lips high. " Now get out of here."

Disaptating into embers of scarlet flames, Ezra vanished, leaving me in a castle overlooking the glowing red emanating from the city below. The capital was built like a—"

"Father?"

Startled for a second, I turned, catching sight of a teenage boy around sixteen with a puzzled expression. I frowned.

"Your Beleth boy, aren't you?" I asked, sensing the similar aura fixed on the little brat's soul. It was small, but it was very noticeable. The kid had skills.

"Who are you!" The kid asked in a hurry, with a fright in the back of his throat, " How the hell did you get in here!"

Buer really gave me a nice present, didn't he?

Amused by the tingling of fright in the back of his neck, I smiled. "Your father and I are enemies, or at least we were. He cost me quite a lot."

"Guards!"

After waiting a full minute to see nothing happen, my smile deepened as the guards never showed. I drew near. "Seem you've been abandoned," I said, grabbing him by the horn. I dragged him up to my eye level as he minced. " How do you want to die?"

"Eh?"

"I'm not going to kill your father. I want him to live with your death on his shoulders. It will amuse me. But you. Why should I let you live?"

Heart throbbing so hard I felt it through his horn, the ruby red eyes of this royal devil shrunk to a fine point as a forsaken wrath within the back of my chest emerged.

"Don't do this." The boy pleaded.

"We are in the Hells, are we not?" I coldly said, closing my eyes as my humanity fled from my consciousness. "Mercy doesn't exist here. Such a shame. The sins of the father have fallen on your head."

"Lord Snow…"

"So you know me."

"Please! I… I am innocent…."

I smiled, and from the back of the boy's eye, a gruesome flame flared from his eye sockets as a delectable howl thundered throughout Avenos. The boy kicked and screamed, clawing at my palm as my Abyssal flames cooked his eye, searing away the life it held.

I reached up and plucked out a single eye still attached to the optic nerve, and his screams only seemed to shake my insides with such glee that I felt my knees tremble at the appetizing sound. I marveled at my meal and sauteed every inch of his eye, giving it a good sear.

"You know… sometimes the eye goes perfectly with egg, but for this one. I think I might eat it like a marshmallow."

"Please!!!!!" He cried, begging as the innocence retained by the child began to burn. I crackled away as piss ran down his legs. "DADDY! DADDY!!! HELP ME, DADDY!! MOMMY!!!"

Jitters rattled my core as I sang alongside the boy, "A free meal and music. Maybe the Hells aren't so bad."