Leaving behind Aiza, who thrashed against her chains, my icy laughter echoed, ending only when the door to her cell closed.
"Why did you not free her?" Cleo demanded.
"Have you forgotten we are not the lords presiding over this dungeon?" Waving off her concerns, I snorted. " Relax, I am sure they will release her once she has told them what they want."
"And what do they want?" Ren uttered, folding his arms over one another. "They seemed to be gathering many people from the Bed of Chaos and more. Do you think that they are working with an organization?"
My mind shifted to the faded images of Iliah plaguing my mind, and I hesitated to agree. The lords of Iliah shouldn't be sentient. At least, those Shadows that we fought weren't. They were mindless animals hoping for death. If the rest of them are the same, then shouldn't those in Iliah be the same?
Ty wiggled on my shoulder," papa, can't you tell? You have the powers of the Abyss in you. Can't you push out your senses?"
I thought of the path of abyssal night, then to the glow of the twin suns against my flesh. Pain danced along my flesh as I shuttered, clenching my fist, recalling that torment that plagued me each day for the past year. But Ty was right, but wrong as well. The night of the abyss was not yet mine. I still needed to attune myself to the Abyss and the night.
"Not yet, maybe in a few hundred years, maybe more," I blandly replied, patting the little dragon who sat upon my shoulders.
Closing my eyes to the dark, I released a deep breath and turned to Cleo, " Is the other soul you sense close?"
Cleo frowned, her beautiful expression contorting into anger, " To what end is there for me telling you if we can't release them? What the hell is the point in us here?"
My fingers flickered, and with a giddy smile, I flicked her nose, and Cleo flinched, her cute little nose turning a deep shade of red, " Just lead the way, darling. Let me deal with that."
Flushed with anger, I chuckled as Ty leaped into her arms, " Don't be mad, big sis. Papa just likes you."
"More than like," I passionately remarked, twisting around with a graceful flourish, sending the young lass a wink. " Cleo, my darling, when are we finally going to take this to the next level? How about we have dinner? I can cook for you, sing, entertain, and when night arrives—Well, I can—"
"Fuck you, silly?" Zanris finished, "Oh master, Zan is willing!"
"I was going to say piledrive you into oblivion, but ok, That works too."
A cute snort left Cleo as she brushed past me, "Not a chance. Who knows what kind of disease you have. Your nothing but a slut."
"A slut?" I muttered. No one had ever called me a slut before.
I hummed in response and shrugged. What's wrong with being a slut, or a whore. They are living their best life, at least, I hope. I sure am.
Chasing after Cleo while the other followed behind, my eyes darted from side to side as I stared at the many doors I was sure held other prisoners. I was tempted to speak with many of them, but I had a feeling like Asta would be showing up in a little while. If Cleo did sense a Chosen, then they needed to follow me. Unlike Aiza, whose usefulness ended, those little bastards still had a role to play.
Things were sure to get a little tricky. Why the hell did these bitches have to act like that? Now everything is ruined. God! I really don't wish to kill everyone here.
Sighing to myself, a tremor suddenly sprang through my spine.
"We are here," Cleo uttered, but my eyes were locked on whatever lay beyond the walls above me.
Heart thumping, I beckoned to Ty and turned to Freya, " you protect everyone here."
Ty leaped into my embrace with a questioning look that mirrored the others, but before questions could be asked, I closed my eyes and reached out my senses. Pushing past the many walls and darkness, I sucked in a deep breath, and through the dark void, I appeared out on the opposite end, to a monstrously long mural in what appeared to be an atrium, stretching from one end of the wall to the other.
'Twilight,' I uttered, letting the meaning sink in as I gazed at the seven stars scattered over the magnificent mural. At the center stood a gate with a flame, blacker than the grace of Tenebrae.
My heart shuttered as I continued to stare, gazing at the being of wings and horns I hoped to be the fallen, carrying a bloody head in his hand; my body stiffened the longer I stared.
"There shall come a Flame of Night to carry forth the cycle. Seven Stars born of Chaos shall awaken. Angel's blood shall fall, bringing forth a coming night that shall stain the light, breaking its eternal war. Around this night shall exist, Four Gates of Apocalypse, shall bring forth the End and Beginning." I recited, closing myself off from the world.
"Papa, who is that," Ty whispered in a fragile tone, pointing towards the winged being.
Opening my eyes, I shook my head. "No idea, but it seems he will be the one to bring forth the blood of the angels, or it's me." I hesitantly said, don't I look like that when I go all abyssal mode? " I shook my head, clenched my fist, and glared at the gate that stood with the dark flame. The End and the Beginning have already started; we are here in the Abyss. While the Seven Stars, born of chaos, refers to, Me, Lilith, Cleo, Sig, Yu Jing, Kurt, and Richter."
Picking up my gaze, I slowly lifted my head past the mural and stared at the second one upon the ceiling. Consumed by the Awe of the ancient formation that seemed to sink so deep into my soul, branding me with its crest, I sucked in a deep breath as sweat dotted my brow. Slipping down my chin, my clenched fist tightened, and a sharp pain of my fingers digging into my flesh, spilling blood, came over me.
"I need everyone here," I blurted out, enchanted by the formation that was laid high up on the mural.
Wait? Who the hell drew this mural? Letting my gaze dance along the atrium, filled with trees and large windows that allowed a slew of light in, I tightened the cloak around me. Masking myself from the piercing rays, I fixed my gaze upon the formation and made sure I did not forget what I saw.
Guess Lilith had her own—
"Papa, Ty sense people. They are coming quick." She said in a hurry, dragging me from my thoughts. I frowned.
Should I get myself caught? Is there any benefit? I got everything I needed. Naw, I'll get caught. I need Richter and whoever that other person may be.
"It's fine little ty," I calmly said, " If they are hostile, we will just kill them."
Ty nodded and hopped down from my shoulder, blinking away with large red eyes. Standing beside me with her tiny head raised high and a burning intent, my fingers rustled through her silky smooth hair.
Enjoying her warm head pressed against my hands, I couldn't have waited more than a few seconds before my gaze once more landed upon that wrinkled hag.
"I would have thought the patriarch would have better things to do than to follow me around," I mocked, unable to help myself from antagonizing Astra.
"Boy, what the hell are you doing in my atrium?" Astra demanded.
One, two, three, one, two, three.
"I said it once, and I'll say it again. I hate old people. Bitch are you stupid?" I snapped, unable to believe the tone this bitch was speaking to me, "Are you on something? Who the hell are you talking to?"
Not even fucking Asmodeus, or Zantar for that matter, talked to me like this. By the Hells, I can't even remember the last person to speak to me in such a manner. My god. Even Aiza, who I just screwed over, called me by name—held in at least some regard.
The acids in the pit of my stomach bubbled, and seething anger once more began to build.
Astra's brow jumped, and honestly, I was on my last fuse. I don't have the mental fortitude to deal with this bull shit.
"You step into my home, you disrespect me, yet you think I need to show you respect?" She shouted, and a few hundred Abyssal Fiends materialized behind her—all in the realm of Realm Lord and Star-Lord.
"So you wish to attack me?" I coldly said, narrowing my dark eyes. Opening my palm, a pulse of darkness swelled. "Astra, I will give you one last chance only because you are taking care of my wife."
Disbelief splintered her old expression, and I knew what I needed to do. My palm slowly began to close—
"Asta Tempest, you have been summoned by the council of shadows." A lone shadow said, flickering to her side like an apparition.
Holding myself back, I ogled Jinx for a few moments and darted my eyes towards Astra, whose expression contorted into flames. Twisting into a hideous beast, she trembled, " You went to the council behind my back?"
"Grandmother, you have always been arrogant. And most of the time, there is no issue. However, this man rode in with the Queen: the Queen, Grandmother. The Queen hung to his neck and spoke to him in such a tender way, yet you try to kill him? You insult his pride. Grandmother, even if he is the Queen's concubine, he is allowed to do anything he pleases. Have whoever he wants."
"Damn right," I agreed. There had better be some benefits from putting a baby in Lilith's belly. Shit was a lot of work. She almost killed me on more than one occasion. Not that I mind. Shit was fire!
Gritting her teeth, Astra shot me a dark look, but little ty appeared between her and me. Glaring with a look that made me proud to have such a cute little dragon, when suddenly seven stars hovered over her brow.
"It's fine, Ty," I hastily said, calming the young lass before she destroyed the atrium. I didn't know what those stars were, but as soon as they appeared, a deep chill raced over my skin.
Pulling her into my arms, Ty wiggled her delicate head up and smiled, puckering her lips for kisses. Granting all the kisses all over her lips, cheeks, and head Ty giggled, seemingly satiated. At least for now.
"So, will you be my guide?" I asked Jinx.
"Do you want me?"
"Want you?" I repeated, thinking of the double meaning, and nodded, annoyed that her clothing hid the body Lil Arsene wanted.
Jinx was still masked, so I could not grasp her expression. But something in me was telling me that she was blushing.
"He almost killed your daughter! Have you forgotten?"
"I think the key point is that I didn't." I corrected as ty nodded alongside me." Think of me as a teacher or sage. I am here to teach the younger generation. Call me Saint Arsene."
"You shameless—"
"Astra Tempest, by order of the Council of Shadows, you are to report to them now!" Jinx adamantly relayed, her tone leaving no room for argument. "They have promised not to take your life, do not make me regret my action."
"Darling, a few words to my Lilith, and you will shine. She might even make you a first-generation." I remarked, lifting my lips into a dark smile that sent waves through the hearts of everyone present. "There is no need to regret if you take her head."
I think I have a newfound respect for Lucifer. Tempting people is rather fun.
"You would do that?" She asked, and I lifted Little Ty to my cheeks.
"Why not? You saw that other little girl that left with Lilith. She was a first-generation Abyssal Dragon. She may not look like it, but that's a young Paragon right there." I slowly replied, pressing Ty's cheeks onto my own. "She was just an ordinary dragon before. Now she is my wife's daughter."
'Take her away," Jinx ordered almost immediately; turning to me, she fell to one knee, bowing her head.
Watching the look of disbelief on Astra while she was dragged away before my eyes, I settled my gaze on Jinx, who had her head bow.
"Show me your face." I kindly asked, imagining a new generation of maids just for me… For all my kids. If I get a boy, he may even get his dick wet at a young age—that lucky bastard.
Son of a Bitch! Will I have to worry about my child stealing my side pieces?