Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

I could still hear his screams, the shattering of bones, the burnt smell of flesh. I could still visibly remember him thrashing around on the floor covered in flames. We tried everything we could, gathering hundreds of different heavenly waters, the best doctors' money could buy...but nothing worked.

Arsène had gone silent after a while, but every so often, his loud shriek would fill my courtyard. Agony and shame would always consume me, but I had to keep strong and hope my baby would survive....that was until that day.

The once vibrant crimson flames had slowly turned darker and darker until there was only a black flame coiling around his body like a dark serpent. Fear permeated my soul as I didn't dare get too close; something about that flame caused me to quiver like never before as if pulling something important from my body.

The flames didn't last long, but all the light and qi within the room quickly vanished as if being assimilated by the flames. Never before had I seen something like that, but it still frightened me. Staring at my child, a cold sweat covered my body.

Val had asked that we go to another kingdom, but he did not witness those flames. He doesn't understand the dangers that our son is in right now. Going to another kingdom would only invite his death.

Clenching my fist, I steeled my soul and waited for the day he would awaken, for the day my Arsène would rise. And so I waited an entire year, a year of waiting, as my son's wails haunted my dreams.

Hearing that my son had awakened, I rushed from court to see my son, but there was something off about him...something cold...something ancient.

His ashen hair hung wildly to his shoulders while his golden eyes radiated a cold yet indifferent aura reminding me of those black flames.

I don't remember much, but I plowed myself into his arms, sobbing for almost losing my child. Then to my surprise, he suddenly spoke with a quiver in his throat.

"Mother," Trembling at his soft, childlike voice, my eyes grew wide, as I stared at him in shock,

"You can speak."

Seeing him nod, I beamed with joy and confusion, chalking it up to him just being a genius, yet there was something off about him. The light that was present in his eyes a few years ago was gone.

"Arsène, are you...are you ok," I asked.

Touching his cheek, Arsène stared at his hands and legs before nodding, "I'm fine, mommy, just a little hungry."

Tear flew from my eyes as I hugged him, kissing him all over his cute face. Seeing him try to push me away, I laughed happily before rising.

Smiling warmly, I quickly covered his golden eyes before looking at all the men within the room coldly. Before any of them could see what happened, my finger flickered out, piercing through all ten of the men. Crimson rain showered the floor as they covered their necks in panic, gargling on their blood.

Not letting the opportunity pass, my fingers glowed with icy light before a massive pillar of ice burst from the floor, stabbing all of them through the head. Sneering, I froze the blood, not letting my son get a whiff of what happened.

Turning my head, I gazed at my husband, who was frowning before waving his hand, causing all the bodies and blood to vanish. Nodding at me, he left, getting ready to clean out all the doctors around the estate.

"Mother, what's happening," Arsene asked blankly as if he already knew what I am doing. I didn't know how but he somehow knew that I had just killed someone...What happened to my baby.

An unusual sensation gripped my heart as I uncovered my son's eyes. There were no emotions within his eyes, only indifference as he eyed the empty room.

"Arsène, what happened," I fearfully asked.

Seeing him raise his head, I could see a conflicted look within his eyes; fear, hatred, loneliness was all too present as he spoke indifferently, "I was trapped within the darkness, I burned within the darkness, and I became the darkness."

Covering my mouth, droplets fell from my face as I knew what happened. Dropping to my knees, I begged, I begged my child for forgiveness. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please forgive me, Arsène. Please forgive me; I never meant for this to happen."

Tears began blood ooze from my eyes as I looked up at my son, shedding tears; he looked confused. Clutching his chest, he knelt beside me, "stop, please, stop,"

Pain could be seen in his expression as dark clouds flowed from deep within his golden eyes. I could feel something cold and ancient, gripping him pulling him deeper in. Smiling bitterly, I hugged him, "Mommy will train you; never let Dao control you. You are the master,"

Confusion was written on his face as he suddenly fainted, falling into my arms. Staring at his childish body trembling, I lifted him up before turning toward the exit where my husband was waiting.

"I think he resonated with the Dao of Darkness, but there seem to be an accident or mutation that happened," I explained to Val as he stared at Arsène with care.

Taking him from my arms, Val grinned, "The Dao of Darkness is one of the highest forms of Dao, rivaling Dao of Destruction."

"Yes, but the cost was damage to his soul. The longer he stays weak, the more damage to his soul the Darkness will cause. He needs to begin training...what do you think, Val."

Val didn't speak but gazed at me lovingly, gently pushing his lips against mine, "Than we shall begin his training, we will bring him to the House of Snow."

Nodding, I smiled, still feeling his warmth against my lips, "It will be for the best, plus he will be able to see his brother more often. Most kids start training at five, but I guess our little boy will start at one."

Laughing happily at Val, I caught a whiff of blood emanating from him; raising my brow in surprise, I couldn't help but ask, "Did you kill everyone."

Nodding coldly, Val smiled viciously, "Yes, everyone died, the cooks, the guards, the animals...everyone,"