Shadow of the Abyss

"ART!!!!!!!!"

Stirred awake following the banging at his door, Altair opened his eyes."Oh, what fresh hell is this." He said and pulled himself to the door to find Ren slouched over, vomiting her dinner. "What fresh hell indeed."

"Art… Ren smells funny." She whimpered, with part of her collar drenched with chunks of duck wet with bile. The smell alone made Altair wince as she staggered forward, bonking her head into his chest. " Art is a bully. Why did you leave Ren?" She looked at him, her doe-eyed, moist with fresh tears. "Why?"

Altair pulled her inside, sorry for the janitor who would have to deal with the clean up, and closed the door.

Wordlessly, he activated his neurolink and had the room A.I. draw Ren a bath as he hoisted the little thing up and pulled her into the bathroom. She giggled like a schoolgirl, looking up at him with wonder in her eyes.

"Art, why are you so nice to me?" She asked him as he settled her down beside the jacuzzi.

"Is that a real question?"

"Why not?"

"You were kind…" He answered after a moment of silence. Checking the temperature of the water. "When we met. You were the first person I met my age who didn't look at me with contempt. The first person to challenge me. Even now, I don't think I can guarantee a win against you." He glanced at her, smiling.

" House Aros was harsh, especially after traveling with Mother. To go from such amazing worlds to a barren wasteland was hard. I never hated anything until I entered House Aros. So that's it… you were kind to me. Disappointed?"

Ren shook her head, circling her mana to help metabolize her inebriation. "No… " she mewled, feeling her heart throb with a warm, tingly sensation spreading across her body. " I'm just happy to hear it. Lucky, too." She admitted, leaning onto his shoulder.

For a while, neither of them said anything as the sound of running water echoed and stopped. He turned to her then, watching the flush of intoxication across her cheeks, and felt his breath catch.

"Do you want me—"

"Yes"

Nervously, Altair began to pull the clothes from her body as Ren watched with unblinking eyes. From her military coat to her shirt and blouse to her trousers and thong, she stared as her Prince stripped her bare. And for a moment, she felt herself grow wet between the legs.

'He is watching me," She thought as her breath grew labored.

Altair had no words this night as he stood bewitched by the glimmers of moonlight bathing her milky skin. To say she was beautiful would have been an insult to her radiance that seemed to embody the nature of the Seraphim. Yet there was a darkness to her, a sinful temptation that made his blood boil. So delectable; her light seemed almost enthralling.

It was the first time he'd seen her in the light so bare. Her pale, milky flesh flushed with a rose-colored hue.

"Altair?" She called, smiling, feeling she'd won. And she had.

"Right." He stammered before curling his fingers over her bare flesh before placing her into the warmed waters. " Let me get you some–"

"Join me… you got dirty, right?" Ren said, eyeing the spot where her vomit graced as he held her.

And for a moment, Altair wondered, was this all planned? Her drunken shouts, to her vomiting… all of it?

He shook his head, "Ren isn't that crazy," he told himself, turning to her poised stare.

"Alright." He hesitantly replied, dropping his uniform until he and his hammer shimmered. Only then did he see her blush. He smiled, entering the hot waters on the opposite side of her.

"This is a big jacuzzi…" the boy said, trying to make conversation through the somewhat awkward atmosphere. It hadn't been the first time they'd seen the other naked. They had done far more. But they had been drinking, and everything had just seemed ephemeral.

"Yeah, it's like a pool." Ren agreed, kicking her feet over the water's edge, and grinned. "Altair…" she called with the help of the wine filling her head. " hold me."

"You're drunk." He reminded her.

"You're just holding me," She pressed, kicking her feet to him. She swirled towards him and turned, allowing her back to press against his chest. Reina opened her legs, allowing his reeling manhood to nestle itself between her most sensitive area. " s…see? Better, right?"

Unsure what was hotter than the waters or the scorching heat Ren radiated down below. He shuddered pleasurably as his arms coiled below her breast.

She leaned back into his embrace, and slowly, the two grew more comfortable.

"Oh… did you ever listen to your Father's message?"

Ren shook her head, blowing bubbles into the water. "No…" she paused, nestling deeper into his embrace. " I'm scared it could be about my Mother. If so… then it'll only be bad news."

"I don't think so, " Altair mused, instinctually brushing his lips against her ear. "I don't think there is a single good father alive that would tell his daughter bad news through an orb of all things. I bet it's…" He smiled as Ren tipped her head back to meet her Prince's mischievous eye. " How about we make a bet? If I win, you do me a favor. If you win, I will do you a favor."

The Nephilim smiled and licked her plump lips. "Alright… what's the bet?"

"What your father has to say. I think it'll be about… trust. A warning about my family."

Rens gaze dipped. "Is… Is Father in danger?" She hurriedly asked, but Altair shook his head.

"No idea. But I know Duke Leto hates what he does. But if you're worried, I can always try to persuade my father to–"

"No. That'll only humiliate him. Think about it: A child asking one of the Nine Lords of Hell to stop bullying her father. We'd be laughed out of court." Ren shook her head, dismissing the suggestion."I think it's probably about… puberty. We never did have the talk."

With an agreed nod, Ren conjured the Golden Orb and crushed it between her fingers. Suddenly, the shards began to shimmer with nodes of mana, gathering until a semi-translucent figure emerged.

Duke Leto hovered above the water, startling Ren as his eyes met with hers. Ready to scream her lungs out at the sight of her father, seeing her in such a lewd position, she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief when she realized it was a visual recording.

"Ren, I hope you are well. Truly. Your Mother is fine. So you needn't worry about that. Lord Snow has been able to stabilize her body, but… it's a costly affair. But that's neither here nor there." He smiled.

"This recording is about you… and please don't destroy the recording. But it's about… your maidenhood."

Ren all but wanted to bury her face in the water. Had Altair not been holding her, she might have.

"Yes… I know. Embarrassing. But. Nephilims... are creatures that go against the natural order. Unlike humans, they don't possess a hymen." Leto grimaced and went on.

"Rather, the first time a Nephilim mates, they take on the properties of their partner. In the case of Aurelia Morningstar, the first recorded Nephilim and the Silver Devil Lord Zariel Snow, she gained attributes of his almighty soul. Turning her into a genius beyond my comprehension." He paused, allowing the words to sink in.

"I know you are young. But I employ you to think long and hard about this. I know I can't stop you despite wanting to with all my heart. You're getting to be a big girl. And there are consequences to each decision you make. Should you engage in sex, make sure it's with the right person.

Because of what you are, you two will share your physique. Meaning… god-forbid, its Altair… fuck that guy… But he will gain your Nephilim blessing and curse alongside your physique. While you will gain whatever monstrous blessing or curse he has."

Ren's eyes went wide as she hurriedly separated from Altair in a panic. "You're You're lying," she shouted, shedding large globs of tears. "You are lying, right!"

"I know… you are panicking. Angry even." The recording continued. "But it's just the way it is. Though… If it is Altair…" The image gritted his teeth. "He'll be able to take it… Altair is… he is able to tap into the Realm of Spirits. Meaning… at times, he is omniscient.

Bullshit right? Don't tell him, but you should know. Right now, it should be merely sensations, particular feelings of knowing, but that power will grow. So you have nothing to worry about, my child. He'll be able to handle the consequences. I swear it.

Daddy loves you, OK? So take care of yourself. And don't worry too much. And just live happily. Daddy will take care of Mommy. You've done enough.

Love you. "

"Dad…" Ren whimpered out, watching tearfully as he faded to nothingness. Sniffulling, she fell back into her Prince's arms and wailed until a drunken sleep found her.

Altair stared, frowning at this influx of information. He had known of Ren's curse on her stats page but didn't dive too deep into it. He'd respected her enough not to pry too much. And despite the temptation. He had chosen not to invade her privacy.

"Oh, Ren…" He murmured, lifting her out of the waters and onto his bed as he padded her dry, smiling with a mysterious gleam in his eye. He kissed her cheek, admired her voluptuous curves that made his knees weak, and his blood boiled more times than he could count.

"Art," Ren whimpered, lost in a nightmare of sorts.

And once more, his lips brushed against her cheek, then lips as he rested his head beside hers, wrapping his arms around her succulent flesh, and pulled her into his embrace, feeling she was so fragile in his arms.

He smiled. "Curse or not… if you keep seducing me like this… God knows how much restraint I'll continue to have. Then again… it might be my turn to seduce you." He laughed as his eyes flickered to red.

"I'll see you in the morning... Ren."