"You'll be Tenebrous."
"Surely your kidding," I said to Tenebrae, a little offended and charmed. "You know my history. Do you really think I'll give up my surname? Our last name was dedicated to the death of our Mother. If one thing is utterly sacred, it's that name."
"So your Surename is more important than your children? Your current Family? Zariel can't do everything alone. He's already stretched in the Myriad Heavens; if you add the realm of Arcadia, you'll find he'll be useless."
My heart dipped, and an unsettling sensation couldn't help but take root in my soul. She was right. "Why me?"
"Because, for some odd reason, Mother is deeply smitten by you. So why not you."
"So it's curiosity," I replied, unsure how I should feel. I was getting a free wife. A good fuck you to Lilith for screwing me over with that damn name. "I'd always thought my second wife would marry me for love, not curiosity."
"Is it not the same?"
I couldn't answer that… not really. They weren't the same, but love and curiosity were deeply tied together. Shit, even now, I can't get how Lilith thinks. And we've been together for a long time now. And she is still a damn mystery.
Then again, that could just be because she's a woman. They don't make sense.
Tenebrae pursed her lips. " Well, I am curious as to why my Mother is so smitten by you. But I honestly fear for the future. Something is coming, and the various Laws with Sentience, like me, are taking action. Mithra is already chosen her daughter to take over her kingdom. We are preparing for war."
"Is what you saw that bad?"
"When Hellmaster is seeking a champion, I know it's time to take action."
"Hellmaster?"
"The Nine Hells. The Embodiment of the Torment. Hellmaster is a being of utter tyranny and judgment. Existing even before me. Not even I know much about him, but he is prowling for a disciple. And he might settle his gaze on Little Jin."
I didn't think things were so bad. Seems I miscalculated.
"Hellmaster is not like me or my daughter Mithra. He formed his own body through his own will and beliefs. He is not tied to any restrictions. For him to seek a disciple is even troubling for me."
"..."
"He an ally?"
"My older brother is… I don't know. All I know is that he rarely takes part in family gatherings and likes solitude. He had thrown a great fit when Lucifer was banished into his Hells. But aside from that, Hellmaster has not once shown much care for anything else."
"Guessing he wasn't the greatest fan of the Mother of Demons."
"Lucifer had to step in on that. Almost killing him in the process. Hellmaster is like the uncle you don't fuck with. He's laid back till he gets triggered. That was a dark day. I have never seen Lucifer bullied so badly. It was like Father was the one beating his little ass."
Damn.
Tenebrae giggled, covering her mouth as she continued. "Hellmaster had been so angry he abandoned the Hells for a few chaos cycles to chill with Father. Seems they bonded over how angry they were with Lucifer."
"Seems like I joined a massive family of chaos."
"You've no idea. Wait till you meet—Well, I'll leave that as a surprise. The Myriad Heavens is our home Arsene. All the laws you see are what we created to have an ecosystem for every form of creature to live by."
My eyes narrowed, and I couldn't help but frown. "Hellmaster… a being of his level is looking for a champion. What is in Arcadia that you all are so afraid of?"
"No idea—"
"Liar… I don't think you ever had a vision of Arcadia." I coldly analyzed," I bet you know. And if I'm right… it has some relationship to that dead world behind you. The one you claim to be—"
"So what if it is?" She interrupted with a teasing smile.
"Is this how you ask a favor?"
"A Favor, you say. It's funny you call a collaboration that fits all your needs a favor. Perhaps I was hastily in—"
'No. No." I quickly said, forcing a cheeky smile. " I'm more than willing to accept this deal. Lilith may be slightly irritated, but she'll get over it."
Tenebrae narrowed her dark eyes that smoldered a devouring light. "My Kingdom will be yours, Arsene, but so will the responsibility it comes with. I'll not interfere in most matters pertaining to the majority, but when it comes to the minority like the Shade, I will act."
"The shade?"
"Um," She nodded. " The Shades are… well, they are aberrations born from Absolute Night. Ten years I gave them to prove their worth, to prove they should exist. They are highly talented, but their power doesn't show themselves till they enter the Higher Heaven. My Shades can rival Devils and Demons. And I would like it if you keep them from becoming Shadowfell."
"But aren't Shadowfell stronger, faster, and carry a wider range of—"
"Your race, the Shadowfell, is tainted by Hellmaster, Me, and Mother. They are amalgamations. The Shades are a race I handcrafted for cycles, atom by atom, with a drop of my blood. Do not taint them. One or two is fine, but Shades have evolved so much I'd hate to see the First Race of Night be wiped away."
"HUH!? They were the first race you created!" I almost jumped as those words left me.
"Hmm," hummed the lovely Tenebrae in response to me. " Yup. They didn't always have such a form. They evolved so much that I couldn't even believe what they had become. They are no longer shadows that can only exist in darkness. They used to hunt high humans. That's why most humans have an instinctual fear of the darkness. My little shades used to even make beings like Soloman shit his pants."
Tenebrae stood to her feet and stepped towards me with such a smile it made my heart shutter. " Well… Tenebrous… what do you say. Do you accept me?"
Rising to mine, I hesitated for a second. "I will if you call me Arsene. Everyone else may not have a choice, but I want you to call me by my real name."
Tenebrae nodded and leaned onto my chest, formed of pure energy generated by my Soul Flame, and reached for my lips with hers.
"Deal."