Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

"Dear God, he lives." Gaius cried, shaking with tears that pooled over his elegant robes."How I have scoured this city, how I have looked, in hopes of finding my Lord's brother." He shouted, cracking his head over the marble floor, splashing blood everywhere.

Resisting the urge to touch upon his flesh to get some idea who this man was, to know Zariel Snow, I dared not get too close. There was something off, something very wrong here. Our first meeting had not frightened me, but my instincts were screaming to leave this time around.

There was an air of desperation around him that had me warry. Friend or foe, it didn't matter; Gaius was dangerous.

"You know, the First Elder of the Court of Blood?" Yu Lan coldly announced, "The infamous killer? The immortal Lord said to predate time?"

Touching Yu Lans shoulder, she shot me a stern eye, startling me at the grave expression upon her face. "Watch your words with this one. Not even your father or grandfather dears cross this man. He holds far too many secrets."

"Secrets I am willing to share, to the wife, that knows about My Almighty Lord." Gaius hopelessly rushed to say, striking his head once again over the pavement, sending webs of cracks over the ground. "Please. I will do anything! Anything!"

What the hell is going on? Gaius Winterblack, you have intrigued me, but Arsene and I don't need more mystery in our lives.

"Gaius," I calmly uttered. Lifting his head, the bloodied face reflected over my eye, "Why is it I don't feel comfortable around you this time around?"

"I am an irregular of fate that should have ended long ago, according to my Lord, who should have killed me. Due to my sin. The Arbiters of Fate are once again deciding upon my future. My Lord thought it was necessary for them to warn me of my coming punishment that is once again about to arrive at the wheels of fate."

"Arbiters of Fate?" Yu Lan muttered.

"Them?" I coldly whispered as the horror written over Gaius thrived.

"A committee, actually. They reside over the Rulers like Aldrich, Tensalore, or Elwyn. At the same time, they have no sway over the Rulers. The Arbiters are known to stand near the border of this Heaven and the next."

"What... what is it you want from Sene?" I hesitantly asked, unable to help myself; I took a quick step back at this instinctual pressure he held. It was almost disgusting, as I could not for the life of me understand it.

"Lord Snow is... He is my only hope of forgiveness. It was my fault his death occurred." Gaius pleaded in tears, bowing his head a fingers length over the ground. Cracks rang like wails over my ears as he lowered himself under my gaze. "I need help! I cannot take this torment any longer!"

"Huh?"

"This can't be the same, Arsene. I saw him a few hours ago alive and well. There must be some confusion." claimed Yu Lan pressing her finger firmly down upon my shoulder; she then whispered, "Do not listen to his words, no matter how true they may be.

"Gaius Winterblack is more feared than Aiza. Talos and Zelos, two founders of The Courts of Nox, had to set out to kill him during his active days. Two cycles later, after his death, he returned stronger than ever. Raining torment over the Bed of Chaos."

Creasing my brow, I frowned, glancing at the broken man with hesitation. "Why?"

"Yura, you need to listen. The Court of Nox rules the light, but he rules the shadow. Why do you think his organization is called the Court of Blood? It was to mock the Founders." Said Yu Lan hastily, bearing a dreadful eye towards this man.

"Lady Snow, I beseech you. I implore you! Two Chaos Cycles, I have been tormented. I have watched woman after woman, all soul mates torn from my heart, watched daughters defiled and butcher in the vilest manner in a never-ending cycle of hellish rebuke. "

"Death was too easy, wasn't it." I sharply barked, drawing close; I ignored this almost invisible pressure raining over me. "Why should he? Why should Arsene forgive you and let you off the hook?"

"I-I-I," Stuttering over his words, despair slithered its way onto the first elder, making him seem far smaller than when I first set eyes upon him. There was no elegance, no grace, only despair and desperate hope.

"Riverfall, the blade on your waist! I know where its sister resides!" He hastily swore, but I had no reason to enter Oblivion, no reason to care. Arsene had Hell and Noctem. What more could Oblivion offer aside from that object the Silver Devil sealed away.

I frowned and eyed the worm squirming, "That I am quite sure of, but I have no interest in its components. What I would like to know are the details on how Sene was killed?"

"I, can't your grace. It's not that I don't wish to, but it is by The Prince of Order; I remain silent on this matter unless it is to Mr. Snow." He claimed once more.

Glancing towards Yu Lan, I frowned, "I need a moment with Gauis. Please leave us." I firmly stated, watching the shock spread over the sovereign of Casia. Witnessing her open her mouth, I lifted my hand, "Don't. Just give us a moment."

Closing her mouth, Yu Lan sighed, "I hope you know what your doing," She muttered, flickering from sight, but I was sure she was still watching, ready to whisk me from danger.

"I have a proposition for you, Gaius." I coldly said, opening my hands as a pulse of abyssal divinity sprung for my palms, forming an expansive domain, blocking all sight and sound.

"Anything." He promised as I scuffed.

"I will provide you a place free of these Arbiters, and in return, I need your help on the day of Arsene and my wedding. There you will also be able to meet my husband."

"Really! You... You can do that?" He shouted, glancing up with the purest eyes of hope.

I did not know what game Zariel was playing with this man, but it was not my place to meddle. This is between Arsene and Gauis.

Snapping my fingers, the Pale Gate materialized, bringing with it the eerie whisper of death, "Touch the Gate and remain on the first floor. Do not proceed less you die.." I said, offering fair warning as he leaped at the chance without a second thought vanishing from my eyes in a flash of a ghastly light.

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