Hell’s Consort

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The Empress Luna

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Luna didn't care much about the number of victories gained by the other Realms. 

Why would she keep score when the Vampire Realm was exempted from the gladiator games?

She pouted in her seat, glaring at the crowd for their silent treatment of her proclamation earlier.

She had announced at the winning gladiators that she was willing to duel with anyone, but not a single warrior had accepted her invitation to battle.

Were they afraid to have a sword fight with her because she was an Amazon?

Were they scared that she would humiliate them and shatter their ego if they lost during their battle?

Perhaps, they didn't want to have a skirmish with the Vampire King's Empress.

Were they laughing inside their mind, thinking her challenge was a joke, and they just didn't want want to the point that out and disrespected an Empress?

In truth, Luna had made her announcement to get a rise out of her brooding husband, evincing a reaction from him, but there was none except for one  sarcastic grin as he shrugged with nonchalance.

The Vampire King had probably thought it was a cute stunt and then continued ignoring her; his intense blue eyes focused on the commencement ceremony where the champions were given their prizes: one sack of golden treasures, a fine hybrid stallion, and a woman from the Consortium the hero had chosen with the lady's consent.

When the commencement ceremony had ended, the only thing the crowd had waited with bated breath was the sword duel between her husband and the Feline King Panterra.

Luna knew that there was nothing to worry about.

During the Acquaintance Affairs, she had witnessed how Apollyon had knocked out the Feline King without inflicting too much damage.

That was a dangerous feat, subduing a powerful King without chaos and destruction.

Luna had realized at that moment how dangerous Apollyon could be in the eyes of his peers--his fellow Kings.

The Vampire King didn't only have brute strength.

Apollyon had proven that night that he could strike at the exact precision of an acupuncture needle.

The Feline King had dropped, unconscious as if a poisonous snake had bitten him.

The Vampire King had existed for thousands of years already.

He must have read thousands of ancient books in his lifetime, storing all that knowledge in his brain.

Priceless knowledge of magic integrated with excellent combat skills and swordsmanship can make an immortal invincible.

Luna had noticed that Apollyon was good at pinpointing every paranormal creature's weaknesses like he had poured out textbooks about their earliest history and intense study of their anatomy all his life.

Luna had stolen a glance at her silent husband when the Feline King raised his hand, signaling that he was ready for their sword duel.

The Feline Kingdom's elevated throne was positioned directly in front of them, but they were so far that Luna had to squint to see his hand signal clearly.

Even if the battle arena was created in a hurry, Luna couldn't deny that it was well-made and large enough to accommodate the crowds present at the Gladiator Games. 

"Husband, should we get down?" Luna asked.

The Vampire King made no move to get down from his throne as they perched on their high seats, their feet dangling a good thirty feet from the ground. 

Luna had sighed and slumped miserably in her chair as she waited for her husband to get ready.

She guessed that the Vampire King was still in a sour mood, for he had snubbed all of her feeble attempts at conversation since their earlier confrontation.

Was Apollyon backing out from their sword duel just because they had a little skirmish?

How…immature.

She lifted one palm and placed it gently on the back of his large hand as it settled on the armchair.

"Husband." Luna asked sarcastically, "Do you have plans on leaving this elevated throne to have a duel with Panterra or not, because I will just jump and throw myself to the ground?"

Luna was beginning to wish this grim farce was over and done with because she didn't want to see anybody hurt, especially her husband, even if Apollyon had already proven that he was stronger.

Finally, Luna had coaxed a reaction from Apollyon when his pursed lips had curled in amusement.

"Do you want to experience broken bones for an hour?" He turned to look at her and continued,"--because trust me, your vampire bones healing itself, and fractured skin knitting together would be most painful, especially if there were a lot of people watching you." 

Of course, the Vampire King held her chin and scrutinized her up close.

Apollyon had noticed.

It was one of Luna's weakness being so exposed to a group of people in an inconvenient moment, such as falling to her short death before her vampire abilities restored themselves.

The fairy heralds had once again taken the field, blowing the gleaming trumpets on their hands.

It was a brassy invitation to start the sword duel between two Kings: Apollyon and Panterra.

The Vampire King had placed a hand on her shoulder.

The next thing Luna knew, they were already at the center of Battle Arena as they watched the Feline King Panterra and Catriona at their thrones.

They had jumped as graceful as a cat (sometimes, Luna forget that they were feline shapeshifters) and landed on their feet without breaking a sweat.

The pair took their sweet, sweet time walking towards them, parading themselves like a King and a Queen, while the audience eyed them with rapt attention as if they were captivated by the pair.

If Luna were honest, she would say they looked perfect together, not only because she wanted Catriona out of the Vampire King's Harem for good, so, yes, she was telling the truth.

They were a great pair, appearing so proud of themselves for capturing the crowd's interest.

They were birds of the same feather, but it was cats of the same fur in their case.

Luna fought the urge to roll her eyes.

If Catriona got her alone, she would probably shove it in her face that Panterra and her were a power couple compared to Luna and Apollyon. 

She would wait for the insults thrown at her when the pair arrived.

Let them enjoy the people's attention before she could issue hand-to-hand combat with Catriona if the lady allowed it.

They had a settle to score, and she knew the cat was as brave as her.

Catriona wouldn't back down from a challenge.

She had really considered retiring from her chamber.

Luna had been yawning non-stop for the past hours, so she might as well liven up the arena.

It would be a new sight for these men to see women fighting as good—perhaps, even better—in this kind of battle.

She would live up to her roots as an Amazon Warrior, and she was sure Catriona would also fight to the death, raising the flag of the Feline Realm to gain Panterra's heart.

Luna smirked when she realized that she and Catriona had a similar strength the first time they fought, so she might as well gain an advantage now that she was an Apollyon's made-vampire.

Eyeballing each other, Catriona had stood a tad too close to her as they came face-to-face.

Luna couldn't help but size her up.

Catriona's large pupils had suddenly shifted to reptilian slits.

She had bared her teeth abruptly as if she was attempting to bite her face.

Panterra had clutched Catriona's nape and pulled her backward before she could attack her.

"Catriona, stand down." The Feline King had said in a commanding tone, making Catriona act docile as fast as she had transformed into her leopard face.

Her whiskers and the dark spots on her yellowish skin had faded in the blink of an eye.

Did Luna just witness Catriona in a mid-shift?

Luna didn't want to further insult the concubine, but she couldn't help but voice her opinion as revenge for almost biting her, the Empress, in the face.

"King Panterra."

Luna turned towards the Feline King and curtsied.

"I'm not sure if your companion was of feline or canine descent. Your dog here is acting like a bitch..." Luna trailed off as she shifted a wary glance towards Catriona beside him. "Keep her on a leash, Panterra."

Panterra bowed in acknowledgment, his light blue eyes not leaving hers.

She didn't stare at the Feline King's light blue eyes because she didn't want her husband to feel slighted. 

Eyes narrowing, Panterra pointed at her eyes and noted, "I swear when I first saw you, your eyes were mismatched." Rubbing his chin, he paused in recollection. "I think it was green and—"

The Vampire King moved in front of her, and now all Luna could see was his husband's towering height, his broad shoulders, and back.

Her jealous husband had covered her from the Feline King's view that she could either tiptoe or step aside to keep up with the conversation. 

Cederic materialized beside her husband and gave him a sword. 

"My wife's eyes are none of your concern, King Panterra," Apollyon said calmly as he grabbed it from him, held it tightly as he caressed the sword's hilt. 

Apollyon aimed the sword's sharp tip into the Feline King's neck but not quite touching his skin.

This act was against the rules, but nobody can really stop the Vampire King from doing what he wanted.

This was the Vampire Realm and his territory.

Apollyon had believed that Luna was part of his territory.