Shadow of the Abyss

Within the western tower of the Palace, within the medical hall, Reina began pacing back and forth, unsure when he would wake.

It had been four days since the battle against Keres; however, Altair had not opened his eyes since. She looked his way, studying pale flesh and hair as silver as steel. There was something off about him. He didn't quite feel like the man she knew.

He appeared the same, but the aura and the innate presence he excluded were all wrong. It felt eerily similar to Iliana, yet completely different… like a shadow.

Reina stopped her pacing and moved towards her Prince, allowing her fingers to dance along the strands of hair covering his eyes. She smiled. "When will you wake up?"

"You look like shit."

Reina glanced towards the voice of the masked maiden with bitter resentment in her heart. The gold of her eyes slowly began to become clouded by a scarlet mist.

Iliana stepped into the medical bay, studied her disciple with an appraising eye, and took a seat beside him. "Cute, isn't he? He took after his mother in so many ways. Though his father is rather appealing as well."

"What do you want."

She ignored the slight in her tone, studying her disciple. "Altair Blackwood Snow actually impressed me. When I sensed his life in danger, I was rather hesitant to help him."

"Why didn't you?"

"I don't like helping people," Iliana admitted. "Especially this little disciple of mine. However, I might have to change that nasty habit of mine. To survive a hit from a former Chaos Lord is rather impressive. I thought he'd be half dead by the time I saved him. Yet, not a single injury came to him." she grinned.

"A fine specimen this one is. My Lady would be quite impressed. Though she might also smite him simply to spite the boys' father."

"Your Lady?" Reina muttered.

"The Queen of the Abyss, the first wife of Arsene Snow. Now, there is one so madly in love she risks him hating her in order for him to love her. Love of Madness, they call it. I don't really understand. But… I want to take him to meet her one day."

For a mere fraction of a second, Reina felt something within her depths scream. "You can't!"

The words came so quickly that they echoed like a pleading cry.

"He'll have to meet her sometime if he wishes to save that mother of his. No one enters the Abyss without her awareness, no one," Iliana said. She glanced towards Reina, studied her pale complexion, and continued. "I was born to the Abyss. From the day I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but endless blood until awareness came to me. Knowledge of truth, of words, letters, and symbols.

Her Majesty gifted me that. It will not be now, but soon, there will come a day where I will be forced to bring the boy towards her… Whether I want to or not."

"Why are you telling me this?" she finally asked.

"Because this body of mind while mortal… needs to be killed. If not now, then in perhaps a few years or months, my Lady will learn of Altair's existence. And she will either command me to kill him or bring him to her. I wonder what she'll decide… If she doesn't already know? As you two are right now. You've no hope of stopping me.

So I'd like you to leave."

Reina felt her heart clench. "Leave?"

"Return to Luna's fold. Allow her to train you. To better mold you. You've got enough experience. You've got the focus. The intensity.

No one can refute that. It's time you experience the next level of your training,' Iliana said.

"What of the Court of Shadows!" Reina snarled. "What about Art?"

"Altair will begin his ascension through Babels Tower after this. He'll have a lot on his plate, no doubt. Not to mention the kingdom he's building. But as it stands now, you've no right to stand by his side. Not as you are right now."

"And who the hell are you to decide that?" Ren snapped, ready to draw Ice. Her eyes were now bloodshot. "You who's barely done anything for Altair. You who've not even taught him the basics of a Spirit Domain."

Iliana's expression behind the mask did not dwindle. " I don't use Spirit Domains. Never needed to. Neither does Altair. It's but a single path to the peak. Irrelevant in my eyes, as it should be in yours, Nephilim."

"NO IT'S NOT!!! It's not bloody irrelevant! We nearly died. Art nearly died, you psychotic bitch!" Reina roared, unburdening her heart. "Altair is alive thanks to himself! Thanks to that Bloody Realm of Spirits.

You offered him nothing! NOTHING!" Tears started to fall as the words continued to flare. "How can you shamelessly claim that you've given him something!"

Iliana replied in a dry tone, "When you look at the boy. What do you see?"

"I see Art."

"Art?" Iliana sneered. "I see a demon." she glanced down at the boy, sensing the light echo of breath wafting in and out. He'd awaken. "Yes. A small hellion bathing in Madness. Tell me, girl.

That boy you first met in the Serpent's Outreach. Do you still recognize him?"

Ren fumbled for words that never came.

"Each day he breaths, each time he swings his sword, pieces of humanity is torn from his Spirit and ravaged into Madness. A few days ago, Altair gave the order to slaughter an entire city. Women and men alike were slaughtered in their beds, while children were stolen beneath the bodies of their parents. Quite fitting for a Necromancer.

For are they not the arbiters of life and death?" she laughed, sliding her gaze to Reina. "And you… you just followed along. So wrapped up in his Madness, you didn't even question the massacre."

"Thats… Beelzbubub—-"

"Made a scenario. You didn't have to participate. You could have left. You still can. Simply stand up and leave the city." Said Iliana with a disdainful laugh. "You say that I've not given Altair anything, but I've given him just about everything.

I've made him who he is today. The seed of Madness in his heart will writhe and sprout until only a true monster remains. He'll betray, he'll lie, he'll do about anything to survive. And somehow justify it. If not for his accursed pride, he might even learn to beg." she chuckled at the thought. "And now… that pesky innocence he held is dead.

No more hesitation. No more guilt… well, not yet."

And there it came, a sudden realization of awareness sprang through Reina's mind as she staggered back "... Aria…"

"Hmmm. Oh yes. Quite a little surprise there. Did you like my gift? You see, I wanted to test how unhinged my little disciple was… so I made a little deal with Mephisto. To which he was more than willing to help.

The man sure knows how to scheme. I persuaded him to aid me in having you somewhat betray our little Prince here in return for my assistance in a little matter in Arcadia. It was a bit of a bonus for him since he loathes the Court of Shadows. But never would I have thought you two would've fucked after such an egregious act."

"Goodness, I had the best laugh when I realized how insane my little disciple was. That little bastard sure knows how to entertain."

"Y-y-you're a monster,' said Reina incredulously.

Iliana shook her head. "I didn't commit any acts. I didn't force you to kill an innocent little girl. I didn't force Altair to murder countless innocent people out of greed. Life is about choices. And you made these decisions yourself.

I merely… instigated these little events from the shadows." she smiled a smile that reached her eyes. "I don't like schemes, but I must say this one was my best yet. What do you think, Altair?"

"Art?"

The young lord opened his scarlet eyes, studying Iliana with newfound awareness. He wanted to be mad. Wanted to rage… Yet, for some reason, he felt thankful… thankful for this gift of Madness.

It was all like a switch to him. A button he could hit to turn it all off. All this guilt, all his feelings.

The boy laughed. And laughed. And laughed. Bellowing a cry that came from his depths. "You got me good. Truly. Continue reading on m|v-l'e -NovelBin.net

And you know what? I don't care. I don't care I ordered the slaughter of all these people. They were going to die anyway. I did it to survive. But even if that wasn't the case… What does it matter?"

The reds of his eyes grew to an even deeper shade of red as his laughter grew louder by the second.

"AHAHA, I… I think I get it. This Spirit Domain of mine. I think… I think I'll call it the Rotten Vale. Yes. And my aspect…" he laughed, as Madness dripped from off his person like a thick oozy bile. "I—"

Iliana gave him a chop to the neck, calling forth oblivion to consume his mind.

"I'll help lessen these manic episodes of madness," she said, watching him collapse back onto the bed. She giggled. "If he's to be my disciple, he must be as mad as his master. If not… how can I teach him properly?"

"You're fucking insane!"