Hell’s Consort

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VAMPIRE KING APOLLYON

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Prince Aspen's estate was less than five miles away from the Castle of the Spring Courts.

They have passed through a nearby faerie village which was probably his cousin's tenants.

Prince Aspen was the High Lord in Lilac Manor.

Sprawled across a rolling green land, Lilac Manor was magnificent and well-taken care of as seen from the outside despite the thick forests that veiled the residence.

The patios, balconies, and staircases were artfully enriched with flowers that only bloomed in spring—daffodils, tulips, Lily of the Valley, hyacinths, bluebells, lilacs, included.

The floral scents were pleasant to his sensitive senses as they stood with a that drew him close. 

It was even more opulent on the inside as black and white chequered the marble floor like it was a giant chessboard, flowing to countless doors and a sweeping staircase.

When they arrived at the Lilac Manor, Prince Aspen had hurriedly assigned a room for his sleeping Empress first.

As Apollyon carried his wife by the shoulders, a butler showed him to a bedroom with baby blue walls with gold patterns and moldings.

The butler tugged at the drapes, which hanged from the towering headboard to assist Apollyon.

He placed Luna carefully on the bed and tucked her under the blankets.

Next, Apollyon opened the silk with gold velvet curtains by the window so that the full moon could shine its borrowed light into the Empress' face, hoping the Goddess of the Moon can give Luna strength and power to resist temptations from the Archdemons.

He sat on an ivory chair beside Luna as he clutched her hand to kiss each of her fingers.

  As he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, he just had this niggling sense that he was close to getting his wife back.

Apollyon gave her one last kiss and murmured on her parted lips, "I love you, wife."

Caressing her head gently, his mouth hovered around hers like butterfly wings, kissing her again.

"Hang in there. I swear to the gods and goddesses that I wouldn't let anyone come in between us." Apollyon whispered, "We will catch the faerie who had summoned an Archdemon, and I will summon your soul back here. Soon."

After they shut the door, the butler stood firm on showing Apollyon his own chamber beside Luna's despite insisting that he would be sleeping with his Empress in the previous room.

The butler shook his head in refusal, claiming that he had sensed his agitation when Apollyon was around the Empress.

Apollyon stood outside the hallway as they glared at each other in a battle of wills. 

"You need to clear your thoughts, Your Highness." Bowing his head, the butler said politely in a murmur, "It's not good for you to stay in your Empress' Room because her predicament had distracted you. Your energy levels are all over the place."

How did the butler know that?

Apollyon squinted at him.

Prince Aspen. 

Queen Gloriana. 

King Nuada. 

Princess Alisabathe and now this butler?

Gritting his teeth, he was close to snapping his neck, but he clenched his fists, resisting the urge.

Who was he to stop him from staying with his wife?

Running a frustrated hand through his raven hair, Apollyon said to no one in particular, "Does every faerie in the Spring Courts couldn't mind their own business?" 

Apollyon waited for the butler to raise his head, but the butler didn't respond.

So, the stubborn butler wouldn't move unless he acquiesced to his suggestion.

Unclenching his fists, Apollyon exhaled a heavy sigh as he relaxed. 

His aggression was getting out of control, and perhaps, the butler was right.

He needed to curb this killing instinct inside him by staying away from Luna in the meantime.

The helplessness he felt around her must have triggered his 'agitation,' which led him to be rash and impulsive.

This must be the dangerous effect of having an Archdemon possess his body for centuries.

His morality as an immortal had corroded over the years—like a hard rock which had already worn away by the strong currents of life, breaking into smaller pieces until it was gone—until it was completely lost.

When Apollyon didn't get what he wanted, he would strike his enemies dead without batting an eye.

He only had apathy for the people he didn't care about and rage for his enemies who tried to take something that belonged to him.

Nevertheless, he couldn't believe that Prince Aspen's old butler had the audacity to tell a Vampire King what to do and what room he should stay in.

Apollyon had realized that he needed to practice 'mercy' to strangers. 

The butler was only concerned with his well-being, even if it was unwarranted. 

Giving in, Apollyon nodded in agreement without much of a word, extending his olive branch back to the butler and to all the creatures that might need his serenity in the future.

Hurting others wouldn't do anything for him. 

It didn't do anything, and the act itself will not get his wife back.

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The servant had given Cederic, the High Priest, and Apollyon a short tour around the estate, walking them around Lilac Manor showing him the study, the private library, an infirmary well-stocked with faerie herbs and medicines, and a large gallery of woodland faerie paintings.

He also showed Prince Aspen's throne room—a dais in the center with a giant throne of roses carved in ivory.

The butler led them to a long hall stretching ahead to the giant glass doors at the other end of the house.

There was a second rose garden which was grander than the one in front.

Prince Aspen was there, seated at a large worktable, covered in various weapons—crossbows, pikes, swords, and fairy knives made of forged iron.

"Pick your weapons, cousin. It's time for us to go." He started to pick his weapon-of-choice—a crossbow—and strapped it along his arm. "Anyway, I think it would also be best to leave Cederic and the others behind."

Cederic raised an eyebrow at Aspen. "Why?"

"I agree, Cederic." Apollyon turned his head to stare at his military general. "You and the High Priest must protect Luna here just in case something happened while I was gone."