Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 33: The Factory II

It wasn't till the next dawn did Altair oped his eyes to the new world. Stretching his stiff muscles without ev bothering to wake Ria, who'd polymorphed into a young pup as she'd done every night. He laid still, tilting his head in the direction of Luna flickering through sheets of paper.

"Big Sis, don't you sleep?"

"Gods have no reason to sleep unless they wish to," Luna explained without her gaze leaving the parchmt. "Why?"

He paused for a momt, gathering his thoughts: " I don't think I like sleeping."

Startled, Luna lifted her silvery eyes to her younger brother. " What an odd child you are. I think you might be the second person I know to loathe the act of sleeping."

"Who was the first?" He asked, hoisting himself up the best he could without waking Ria as he'd done so many times over. Despite his detest for rest, Altair had rather joyed watching others sleep. He found it joyable.

"How much do you know of the Nine Hells?"

"Nine Hell? There are nine of them?"

"Hmmm. So nothing. Indeed, there are Nine Hells." Luna explained, dismissing the parchmt back into the void. She stood up, beckoning to Altair. " And your Father rules one of them. The Second Layer, to be exact also known as Irkalla."

As if transfixed by the news of his Father he'd rarely heard from his Mother, Altair approached as if chanted.

"Your Father is the only Monarch who isn't a Fall Angel that rules one of the Hells. He is an absolute tity that demands respect." She stopped herself from smiling at the particular sparkle in this young man's eyes. "Would you like to visit him?" There had be no hesitation wh Altair nodded, bringing a deeper smile to Luna's bewitching face: "So you can behave like a child sometimes, eh?

Well, your birthday is coming up in a few days. The time you become a man. And your Father has already decreed you be allowed to ter the Nine Hells. Although, both your Mother and I worry about you."

Luna had resisted the urge to mtion the boy's Father. She knew he was a monster, a killer, a bastard whose bottom line seemed more of a facade to keep his mtal state intact. He was the currt Monarch of Darkness, King of the Abyss, Lord of Wrath and Pride, and the Great Devour of Gods.

"... I'm... I'm sorry." He whispered, unable to ev imagine such a sight. "I... Lets... Let's just go."

"I don't need pity... you know."

"I—"

"I'll cure her... I'll cure the both of us," Reina promised through gritted teeth, wet with blood. She could still remember her Mother's smile before the poison had tak what little skin remained on her face.

And yet her Mother still smiled, still mothered her in all the right ways. Caring for her every chance she had.

Reina felt the tears gathering and took a step forward. One after the other, she moved. Knowing that if she stopped, she'd break down, like she'd done so many times over. It wasn't fair. She knew it. She knew it well.

And yet Faith had claimed its prize.

The young prince stared at the shadow of his frid flee and gave chase in silce. From tree to tree, grass to grass, he moved like a ghost, carrying burning coldness in his eyes, a warning he held deep in his heart.

"I was selfish..." He told himself, digging his finger into his flesh. He looked at Reina's back as understanding of her past actions began to gather. "... She, too, was poison." Blood slithered down his nails.

"Reina... If you want, and if I can." He said loudly so she could hear. " I will help. You just need to ask: "If it's revge or gathering material. I will help. Just ask, okay?"

It didn't take long for Ria's whimpers to reach Altair's ears. He looked forward, so absorbed in thought he hadn't noticed a fog gather a his feet. The fog was black, carrying a putrid sct of dirty water. A familiar sct Altair recognized the momt it tered his nose.

It smelt of the sewers. The same sct the slaves carried.

"Reina! Hold up!" Shouted Altair, coming to a stop alongside his comrade. He frowned, taking note of the fog gathering a his feet.

"It's a Magical Formation."