Hell’s Consort

New Chapter for the Highest Tier (May 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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'Did she said the harpy's name out loud?' 

"That's a really ancient word, my lady." Lord Caspian added, "'Caelano' meant 'darkness'."

The Marquess must have seen a myriad of expressions flashing across Luna's face before assuming a blank countenance.

This Lord Caspian, who told her the meaning behind this harpy's name, sent goosebumps across the expanse of her skin.

  How come this Marquess figured out what the name meant when her husband, an Ancient Vampire who probably lived more centuries than this Fae, knew? 

Why?

How?

Swallowing hard, Luna kept her eye contact with Lord Caspian so that the marquess wouldn't look at her pale bare arms full of tiny dots.

Some arrogant nobles take pride in disturbing their fellow aristocrat's minds, especially those of a higher status.

She had witnessed minor, and major power plays when she was accidentally included at the Marriage Auction, naked.

Her husband had invited other Kings to visit their Vampire Castle to discuss his return to rule the Vampire Realm, trade and commerce exchange of their territories, the borders,  and re-establishing the alliance between the Six Kingdoms.

As the Vampire Realm's Empress, Luna had slept through the important part of their meetings in the Council Room when the Archdemon of Gluttony abducted her soul once in a dream.

Some Kings had the audacity to challenge another King even if they were in the latter's territory.

In contrast, some Kings were just happy about instilling fear and doubt in another royal by planting nasty ideas in their head with witty and sarcastic comments, dubious jests, vague and mysterious compliments and insults, and their veiled threats.

Based on Luna's short experience in the Spring Courts, Princess Alisabethe was a good example. Prince Aspen did it for the sake of showing off that he always got the upper hand in every situation. And Queen Gloriana, as well, according to her husband.

For some reason, Luna noticed that Apollyon had a deep grudge with the Spring Queen without explaining to her why.

Was there a  huge misunderstanding between them before the Spring Monarchs accused her of summoning demons to wipe them out and invade the Spring Realm?

Luna had no idea.

She wouldn't be surprised if the Summer Faeries were also capable of this.

Exhaling a huge breath, she realized that the Spring Courts strung them along that she found it hard to trust anyone in here.

Depending on the situation, A 'Fae' friend can turn into a foe in a matter of minutes, so she was skeptical and wary of every situation given to her.

Did 'Caelano' really meant darkness, or was it a wild guess from the Marquess, taking great pride in intimidating an Empress with their fake expertise? 

There was no sense in keeping these questions to herself because that might make her lose her mind if they were left unanswered! 

Lifting her chin, Luna peered at him between her lashes like how those snotty aristocrats do—Princess Alisabethe's behavior was Luna's perfect example--when they looked down on low-ranking individuals in the Hierarchy. 

She said in an annoyingly nasal voice, copying the Spring Princess' mannerisms straight to her facial expressions and gestures. "Was it just a wild guess, Lord Caspian?" Luna brought her face closer to his ear since they were of similar height and whispered, "If you told me lies just to make an impression to an Empress from the Vampire Realm, I could tear your neck from my fangs for the insolence."

It was a huge shift from the shy, naive, and dazed Empress from earlier.

She had to deliver her message to the Marquess that a shape-shifting Archdemon wasn't one to mess with. "Who knows? I can tear the right carotid while my husband shred the right. In that way, we can detach your head but it will be messy."

Plastering an amiable smile on her face, Luna pulled her head back so she could look at him.

All the muscles in his body stiffened, especially his neck she was talking about.

He didn't let his terror show, but Luna can sense his horror from the look in his eyes alone.

Your next words will determine whether it would be worth it or not."  Luna added as she diminished the wild Archdemon traits in her.

He clutched her hand with trembling sweaty palms, and it made her proud of herself that she was successful in making him anxious.

Luna was worried that she must have pushed him too far with the veiled threats despite her efforts to come across as playful.

There was this heavy dullness in her chest when she began to feel regret. 

"It was only a jest---"

"I can assure you that I am  certain, my lady."

It made her speechless for a few minutes.

So, Lord Caspian meant every word he said!

Did the Marquess knew Caelano or not?

Luna was already suspicious with this Lord Caspian as she squinted at him, her lips curved downward in a frown. 

She wouldn't give Lord Caspian the satisfaction to evoke a potent, negative emotion if that was his goal.

Nevertheless, she was thankful for the opportunity to unfurl such as interesting conversation.

He might give her useful information if she pushed him.

Luna raised an eyebrow. "If you knew what it meant, Marquess. I guess you must be really old." She inclined her head at him and upped her charms. "Where did that knowledge come from?"

"Are you the Empress of the Vampire Realm?"

Oh.

Now, he was dodging her question.

What did it have to do with Caelano?

Luna decided to play along for now. 

"You figured it out." It was obvious. "If you still doubt, want me to show you my fangs, my lord?"

"Everyone had been talking about it since early in the morning that the Vampire King had arrived to visit, Your Highness." He began, stumbling over his words in a hurry to inform her. "Everyone thought that Princess Ourania's son with King Gwythyr had perished just before she returned to the Summer Courts. The Summer Princess rarely exposed herself to her peers because she mourning for her late son. Now that we found out that the son of the Vampire King was alive, this party was thrown out-of-the-blue as her official resurgence in the Society and her engagement with a nameless Prince nobody knew."