Shadow of the Abyss

The saturated glow in the young prince's eyes entwined in a luscious red, permeating darkness in an iridescent glow of red, focused on the young woman. She was panting, flushed by an intense heat writhing beneath her naked flesh.

The room was dark, but he saw her with picture-perfect clarity. He saw the way she bit her lips, saw the sensation of pleasure along the lips and tongue. Saw the way her nipples hardened against her pelt.

Syris had been blessed in many ways by the heavens, be they her voluptuous figure or her pale blue eyes capable of unraveling any man or woman. It appeared as if the Gods had taken extra care to sculpt her perfection into being. Kingdoms could burn, planets could perish, all for her beauty that seemed absolute beneath the stars.

"W-w-w-what ya looking at?" She stammered, peeking down nervously. "Y-y-you done?"

Altair didn't answer, tracing his tongue against the slit across her wrist in a sort of awe at her defiant cuteness. Nine years, and he could count the number of times he'd tasted her blood on one hand. He wasn't sure why, but Syris's blood was like hard wine. Strong with a delectably smooth finish, clearing his mind of worry. It was sweet, savory, rich, and—

"Art…I'll faint if you," she shuddered, nibbling at her lips. "I…"

He didn't stop absorbed in the eye candy above. A tinge of a sadistic glow gathered in his eyes as he began to tease the wound, flicking his tongue against her cut. Allowing his fangs to sink in and out.

"Ah~" she covered her mouth, trying to mask her shameful moan. "I'm…I'm…I'm a—"

He stopped bathing in that look Syris bore into his skull of what he'd deny her. So many emotions were unveiled through her mind.

Altair kissed her palm and said," Thank you for the meal. Syris is indeed the best."

'Meanie…' she fumbled beneath her breath, jerking her hand back. "I'm going to bed."

"Shall I come? Of course, merely to sleep. This could be our last night."

"...Fine," she muttered. "But no funny business."

Altair practically jumped in joy, making their way upstairs to where Syris's small bed lay. She glanced at him, trying to determine his expression through the darkness with her spirit, all for not.

All she saw was darkness.

"You scared?" Altair asked, falling onto the bed. It was hard, much like his own. But there wasn't much he could do about that. The bed was made from bone they'd mashed into fine powder.

Syris joined him at the edge of her bed. "Hmmm. I'm a little scared. You?"

"Not really. It'll all work out."

"I wish I had your confidence."

"You can always transition. I'm sure being a man might help with that."

She punched him in the side, cracking the ribs that had just mended. "Asshole. I very much like being a woman, thank you."

Altair shook with laughter and pain, rubbing his side. "I jest. I jest, haha. But I'm shocked you've gotten so much stronger these past nine years. Your physical prowess is enough to harm me." He looked at her, patting the silver-haired girl. "Just do what I tell you, and it'll be fine.

I promise."

"Umn"

****

At dawn, or what constituted as dawn within this wretched land of rot, Altair stood with the chairs Azura had created with her mist, with Syris by his side, staring at the door.

"What do you plan to do when we get out of here?" Syris asked, trying to distract herself.

"Me?" Altair looked up, thinking about the future. "Well… I think I'll probably start conquering Earth. When I killed Cedric, I learned quite a few things. Though I suppose Earth will have changed significantly in these nine years. After that… I'll begin conquering Babels Tower. Why?

Wanna join me?"

With her arms wrapped around her knees as she sat, Syris peeked at him. "Would you let me?"

"Of course. Having an extra man on my—"

Syris punched out, annoyed when Altair caught her palm. " I'm a woman, you dick!"

"That I know too well. So how about we—' Pausing, Altair's expression turned to stone, swaying towards the front door that had been opened without a sound. The shadow of a humanoid hung in the mist, staining it red.

The creature entered the cabin, his scarlet, green eyes so poised upon the young man that Altair felt he was drowning in a lake of blood. He had killed many demons and people alike during the events of Yawin, but even so… the amount of bloodlust within that man's eye made Altair leap in joy at the fact he was sitting lest he humiliate himself.

He couldn't feel his legs anymore.

"Cain?"

The stranger nodded, emerging from the mist, revealing a ruggedly handsome man. He had sharp features reminiscent of a blade or perhaps a fragment of the Heavens. Much like Altair's, his hair was Ashen, with a stubble beard to match. He was tall, with a well-toned build, wrapped in a regal halfcoat.

"You're not my father, right?" Altair jokingly asked, twirling his finger through his hair.

Cain did not answer.

"Well. I guess not. Guess I'd be dead if that were the case. I'm sure you're aware that Azura visited us."

"I am," said Cain.

"She said you were a pragmatic man."

"I am."

"Then tell me what you want.'

Cain's lips nearly lifted; he'd nearly wanted to believe that the boy might have fallen to a knee to plead for his life.

"It will seem Tenebrae taught you well. Then again, she's taught all the greats. Which leaves me to wonder… where is she?"

Altair did not respond, calling upon an earlier memory in his childhood.

"Remember, my little Prince. A lie will always be seen through by someone infinitely stronger than you. You cannot see it yet. But there are small microexpressions, both on the body and soul, that will give you away. So, learn to say nothing when the moment calls. Sometimes silence can be your greatest weapon," said Tene, nibbling at his cheek, twirling her fingers through his black hair.

"So either you know or you don't." Cain broke the silence, maneuvering towards Azura's chair, making it his own. He studied the boy, the man, with transient eyes and said. "The Golden Crucible was created by me the day I killed an angel of the Heavens with my very hands. I tore off his wings, mutilating him until God's Breath left his lungs, returning it to the ether."

He stopped, letting the meaning present itself in the young man's mind. "Of course, I don't expect you to kill a Seraphim like I did. But you will do something of similar relevance."

"Oh?" Altair perked his ears, listening.

"On the Fifith Floor of Babels Tower, you and a hundred other recruits will attempt to burn it to the ground before the Eyes of Heaven and Hell."

Altair adjusted his chair and leaned forward, "To my knowledge, Gods exist upon the Fifth Floor."

"They do," said Cain.

"And to refuse… death?"

The silence that followed spoke volumes, uplifting the prince's lips into a nasty arc. "A suicide mission. Refreshing. Can I ask why?"

"You can."

"But you're under no obligation to answer." Altair looked him straight in the eyes. "Is it false hope you'll think I'll hold in my arms as you send me to my death?"

Cain stood up. "You may hold whatever in your heart. But you will head to the Fifith Floor, or you'll be defiled, and your soul will never reach the Vale."

Altair did everything in his power not to react but failed as Cain's eyes narrowed. "You know of the Vale. And if you keep silent, I assure you, your death will be a painful one. How does one such as you know of the Vale?"

'A true master of deception speaks only truth, rather than mixing lies in," Tenebrae words rang out just then.

"My wife's Master. Lunafreya said my soul visited the Vale due to an accident occurring during her Baptism," Altair calmly revealed, his serene gaze seething with hate. An exaggeration but one the Ninth Form attributed.

"You fell into the Vale? Fascinating. Yet here you are?"

"Its guardian… or Watcher sent me back. I don't know what manner of creature it was, but its power was real."

"Lunafreya, Tenebrae, Beelzubub, now a Vale Guardian. Seems fate has shown you much of its favor." Cain closed his eyes, opening them with terrible intent. "I've high hopes for you, Altair Blackwood, within the Golden Order. We will speak again if fate aligns. Azura will deliver the details of your full mission to you."

And Cain was gone, blinking out of existence.

Altair gasped, breaking out in a sea of sweat. He wanted to curse, wanted to scream, but he held it in with all his willpower.

"I'm… I'm alive… why?"

"Because you are Soloman's Daughter. You are perhaps one of the biggest bargain chips Cain possesses in order to get Soloman on his side. Remember what Azura said in the beginning: Continue reading at mvl

"I possess no Master, child. Cain and I merely see eye to eye on many affairs. You two are not one of them," is what she said.

Altair grinned, "What disagreement do you think that was? Me? Very unlikely since I've no major backing. Or at least unreliable backing."

"W-w-w-w-w-wait," said Syris incredulously. Overwhelmed by a sudden anger. "If you know all that, then why did you let me panic!"

"Hehe. Shits and Giggles."