Hell’s Consort

New Chapter of Highest Tier (May 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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Lune enjoyed the faerie tea party hosted by the Summer Courts, and the enchanting melodies from the string quartet were her favorite part so far, especially when they began playing more fun music.

She could tell that the musicians enjoyed their performance as they smiled from ear to ear while court attendants waltzed around the marble floors.

Luna, Apollyon, and the rest of the Summer Monarchs watched them twirl their gossamer white skirts.

The expanse of their forearms was marked with golden tattoos layered with silver specks of dust.

Luna noticed that female faeries in the Summer Courts weren't fond of wearing sleeves, except for the thin strings, keeping the front and the back of their bodices attached as it settled delicately on their shoulders.

The swan-like curve of their neck, their delicate collarbones, and their slender arms was bare except for the golden curlicues and faerie symbols covering them.

As Luna peered at them beneath their lashes, she took in their glorious forms from head to toe, wishing that Apollyon would allow her to wear something that thin to get rid of this frustrating heat trapped inside her. This heat threatened to fry her brains off because she couldn't take it anymore.

It was like she was in her own personal Hell.

Pouting in jealousy, Luna straightened her spine and exhaled.

Apollyon might have helped alleviate this painful warmth by the occasional blowing of the hot summer breeze he brought around her. But as time went by, it felt like it wasn't enough.

She felt like jumping out of her skin as she wiped the sweat on her arms, cooling her pale skin.

Every time her husband asked her if she was alright, she forced a smile and replied, 'yes. Then, she would repeat her mantra that she can endure anything.

This conversation wouldn't take long since Apollyon's glaring issues were now addressed. 

Apollyon might be a bit cordial with this Summer Tea Party in respect to his grandparents, yet his right leg, leaning towards her left leg, shook with impatience.

Luna figured out that he was bored and desired to get this over with.

Now, both of them had to play along with this elaborate gathering for just a quick and straightforward conversation.

That was when she knew that Apollyon was bored.

She was in the Summer Realm for five days already, but she still couldn't adjust.

Apollyon seemed to be doing alright adjusting to the weather as if he belonged here, feeling at home in the Summer Courts except her, and that didn't sit right.

And there wasn't any question with his grandfather-in-law and grandmother-in-law or any female in the Summer Monarch who could sympathize with her since they lived here since forever.

The several playful musical pieces have kept her spirits upbeat, but when it ended, her panic rose to the surface as if desperate to fill this sudden awkwardness as she stole glances at the Summer Monarchs.

Nobody could look at anybody straight in the eye because they were all strangers in real life.

Everything in the gazebo was quiet as the four musicians got up from their chairs,  carried their instruments and their stools along with them with the other faeries' assistance as they exited from the gazebo, along with the grooms with the unicorns' ropes in their hands, the court attendants and the rest of the servants.

After the men bowed and the ladies curtsied, all of them scattered on different paths of the hedge maze and literally walked off without the Queen telling them as if this was the norm.

And then they were gone. As if they weren't there in the first place.

There was no trace except the flowers and petals they left behind.

Since Luna's hand circled her arm around her husband's, she felt his muscles tense when King Oberon cleared his throat.

Luna sensed that her husband had prepared himself to begin this important discussion first to gain the upper hand in case of possible negotiation.

As frown lines marred his forehead,  Luna's eyes sharpened on King Oberon with vigilance just in case she needed to say something to support her husband.

Who will lay out their cards first? 

Both men opened their mouths, but Queen Titania was faster. 

"I love tea parties." Queen Titania chirped, but there was a slightly inhuman ring to it as her voice went past Luna's ears like the clear sound of windchimes.

It was too angelic that it leaned towards diabolical.

The Summer Queen utilized her hypnotic voice like what Prince Aspen did at the Marriage Auction.

During that time, Luna was powerless to resist when the Hecate had stripped her of her power after giving her virginity to her husband.

Ever since Luna became an Archdemon, she realized she was immune to a lot of low-level magic, and that included the simple tricks a Faerie Monarch could do.

Was this attempt a deliberate move to control them, or was this the true voice of a powerful Summer Monarch?

"We don't eat and we don't drink anything Fae, Queen Titania." Apollyon replied even as Queen Titania had already stood up from her chair to pick the silver teapot and served tea to King Oberon first.

  "Your mother is a vampire. We imported drinks from merchants of the Winter Courts for Vampiric Fae so that you can enjoy it with us." King Oberon responded slowly, his voice deep and gruff. "You will not die if you drink it."

"No." Licking his lips, Apollyon couldn't help but watch the red liquid spilling out of the spout because it appeared like blood. Just not his wife's. "I am mated unlike my mother, so I can only drink my mate's blood."

"You surely have no problem drinking alcohol in the Will O' Wisp." Princess Ourania commented as she sliced the large sandwiches into triangles.

"Will O' Wisp?" Luna raised a curious eyebrow as she glanced up at him, waiting for his reply. 

Was it the spring pub Apollyon told her about where she had a drink with Prince Aspen?