Monarch of Darkness, Arsene-Chapter 20: Light of Ashna

Laying in the small infirmary, I opened my cold eyes, flashing back to what had transpired. I knew I had been far too impatient. A demon that could kill me with a stare, and he just gave me a god rank technique, and I, a mortal who has barely started his cultivation, tried to study it.

Smiling bitterly, I arose from the bed, thinking about how I could not catch a break. Chuckling at my terrible luck this month, I sighed.

"Your awake," A gentle, familiar voice sounded. f𝗿e𝙚𝘸e𝐛𝚗𝐨𝙫𝚎𝙡.c𝒐𝐦

Focusing my eyes, I could see a sharp blade pressed against my neck with a set of frosted amethyst eyes watching my every movement like a hawk.

A light smirk arose as I stared deep into Yura's eyes. I did not know why she was so defensive nor why she placed a blade to my neck. Yet, I felt amused at this baby tigress.

"How did you know," she demanded steadfastly.

A faint shiver could be felt from the tip of the blade prest against my neck, her eyes visibly trembling, trying to mask the anxiety in the pit of her stomach.

"First time," I inquired, already knowing the answer.

She was, no matter how smart or cold, just a six-year-old who had yet to stain her hands. There was still a deep-rooted innocence that was held the minds of children within her that she would not break for years to come.

"Will you be killing me if I don't answer, Yura?"

My soft voice sounded as I pushed up, causing red to stain my shirt. Another shiver flowed through her blade as I could see tears rushing to her eyes.

With a quiver of dread, she dropped her sword, falling to her small knees. Wrapping my hand around my lightly wounded neck, a cold light flickered across my eyes as I stared at the young girl whimpering.

I didn't say anything but walked out of the room. She was of royalty; it would be unwise to slit her neck, not to mention there was still that odd familiarity I was feeling.

Licking the blood that stained my fingers, I laughed—one filled with madness or, should I say, insanity. How long had it been...Patience, Patience Arsène, your time will come.

"WAIT," Yura's voice uttered.

Pausing, my brow shot up as I eyed the little fool in annoyance. What more would this bitch want with me. This lord has shit to do.

"How did you know," She asked, shivering with fear.

A light sigh escaped my mouth as I shook my head, "I didn't, not really at least, but your far too smart to focus and strong to be anything else, don't you think...Tell me, are we being hunted."

A thought suddenly occurred to me as I considered her perspective. Why is a girl that is protected by royalty be so scared...My eyes suddenly grew wide as I gasped.

"SHIT," Charging out of the school, I could see my family carriage awaiting my arrival. Class was still in session, but Grey had made it so that a carriage would always be ready for me in case of an emergency. Rushing in, I eyed my guard coldly, "Take me home." I hastily demanded.

He gasped at my appearance but nodded. Rushing back to the Snow estate, my first stop was not grey nor my parents but to visit our new prisoner. Stepping into the dark dungeons, the loud screams of men and women being tortured and mutilated rang in my ears like chilling bells.

I could see a man completely covered in hair, begging as one of our family tortures gouged his eyes out. A godforsaken scream of anguish filled the dungeon as blood rained from his empty socket.

"FORGIVE ME FORGIVE ME PLEASE IT WAS ME IT WAS ME PLEASE," he bellowed, begging. Yet, the torturer didn't seem to care as he continued brutally dissecting the creature.

Staring at the odd creature, I didn't seem to care or feel anything before I questioned a random guard regarding Isula's captivity. He raised a brow but still followed my order notifying me he would be informing the patriarch of my visit. 𝑓𝑟eℯ𝒘𝗲𝑏n𝑜𝚟𝙚𝒍.𝒄o𝐦

I shrugged before entering the cell that housed the man that tried to end my life. There was a broken look in his eyes, yet he stared at me with hunger.

Isula was currently nailed to the wall gagged like a dog. With two large spikes piercing into his shoulders. A maddening glare filled his eyes as he tried to lunge at me, trashing against the spikes in his hands and legs.

A light smirk surfaced as I began my interrogation, "You know I met an interesting person today. She was smart, focus, powerful, and held a profound gaze. I held a deep interest in her, but a thought came to me. How could she be just like me? How could she be as strong and as smart as me? She was poised like a demon, cunning like a fox, and brilliant like the very heavens above us.

"Uncle had said in this entire kingdom he had not met another like him, but here I was standing before another just like me."

Isula's eyes grew wide with excitement and insanity as he began thrashing even more around like a rabid monster. Globs of blood gushed from his wounds, splashing over my already bloodied clothes as he glared at me with lust. Quickly removing his gag as he howled, "WHO IS SHE! WHERE IS THE SOUL BENDER! WHERE!?. GIVE ME HER NAME! WHERE IS THE SOUL WARRIOR?!" he exploded, flailing violently.

"Good job, Arsène; this was the first time we got a reaction out of him." a cold, sinister voice rang out from behind me.

Not bothering to turn around, I smiled at Isula as he barked with madness, "I will give you her name. I swear to all that is 'holy' in my name as Arsène Snow I will tell you her name, but you must tell me. Who asked you to assassinate me." I said, blatantly lying through my teeth.

Isula suddenly went silent as a voice that wasn't his own sounded from his throat, "Arsène Snow, Grey Snow, I will be seeing you soon. The light of Ashna will shine once more, purging this world of filth like you. With the Gates of Eonirath forming, my return shall be imminent. "

Cruel laughter sounded from Isula's mouth as black oozed pooled from his eyes. His jaw began to melt as his laughter echoed out before all that was left was a rotting mass of flesh.

Disgust flickered through me as I recounted what he said, 'the light of Ashna...Eonirath' snorting, I turned to my cold-looking Uncle, who was eying the rotting flesh with madness. A flash of surprise shot across me as I saw a powerful killing intent burst from my uncle.

The entire dungeon grew quiet as I could see him clench his fist with fury. Blood burst from his palm as his breathing became uneven. His ashen locks rising like wildfires.

"ASHNA YOU LIVE!!!" roared Grey with a demon-like vigor blasting me into the wall with a powerful shockwave from his voice.

"HOW MANY TIMES MUST I SLAUGHTER YOU. HOW MANY TIMES MUST I SEVER YOUR HEAD, HOW MANY TIMES MUST I KILL YOU?" Tears of thick blood drained from my uncle's sockets before a burst of insane Qi from his hand shot forth, turning the rotting flesh into ash.

Blood had rushed from my nose as I weakly rose to my feet, staring at Grey with shock. Floating up into the air, Grey eyed me with a monstrous expression, his teeth grinding against each other as hate oozed out of him in waves.

"That-that Arsene!!! That is my enemy!" He bellowed in sorrow.