Hell’s Consort

Newest Chapter of Highest Tier (July 2021)

****************************

Arcdemon Empress Luna

****************************

The next morning, Apollyon and Luna fetched Ravin and Sloth from their individual rooms in the Summer Castle.

Yesterday, Queen Titania had instructed the chamberlain to deposit four of her visitors in the East Wing and assigned the unknown princes from the far Realms with individual bed chambers, three rooms down, from the where Luna and Apollyon's bedchamber was to give them privacy as a couple compared to the rest.

The Archdemon's first meeting with the King and Queen at the gatehouse went well. 

She had introduced the Archdemon of Gluttony as Rav while Sloth as--well, she couldn't let Queen Titania and King Oberon call him his Archdemon name--so Luna had come up with the name Sloan on the spot.

They had no say in her decision because....they literally had no say because they couldn't speak because of her command to shut her Familiars up.

At least, these two Archdemons knew what to do without her ordering them to bow down their heads a little to greet the Summer Monarchs.

They were easier to contact compared to before.

For some reason, their group broke the royalties' habits to keep other people waiting for them that night--whether it was their fellow Monarch from another Realm or not.

In the beginning, Luna might have thought it was a blatant display of entitlement.

It was a rather common power-play move that her husband practiced during the Crowned Heads' visit from the Six Kingdoms.

But then she later realized that it was just how it worked here in the Faerie Realm.

The Faerie Kings and Queens had assumed supremacy in this Realm while the rest of the race also thought the same.

The Fair Folk were the first kind who was taught Magic by the Angels who used to walk on Earth.

Fae Aristocrats used to wait for hours to seek an audience with the King and Queen, including them. The Summer Faerie Tea Party at the gazebo was an example.

Now, it felt a bit different, as if they had asked each of their servants and soldiers to alert them if they were within sight around the Castle.

Frowning, she bit her lip in suspicion.

Luna wondered if something had changed internally for the Summer Monarchs.

Are they looking out for their blood?

Did this have something to do with knowing Princess Ourania's horrific secret--a murder attempt on his wife by stabbing her from the back with her crystal spear--or was this vigilance still connected to Princess Sapphire and Xerxes's incident from yesterday?

Did they already figure out Haephestus' role in this picture?

Luna doubted that.

Walking side-by-side with her husband while she snaked her arm around his, they went to Sloth's room first.

She pondered about knocking softly on the wood, but when she neared, Luna realized that the door was ajar as if the Archdemon expected them to enter anytime soon.

Luna carefully opened the door by pushing it forward, revealing a neat and pristine private room.

Clearing her throat, Luna prepared herself to enter the room, but Apollyon pulled her forearm almost immediately and shook his head with a scowl when she turned her head towards him as if he can barely tolerate his presence.

Apollyon was determined not to let her in Sloth's bedchamber first.

Was he protecting her eyes just in case she might see the Archdemon buck naked and covered with blankets from the waist down?

Stepping aside, Luna gave way to her husband first before she crossed the threshold herself.

Luna had low expectations that the Archdemon was awake, but the bastard never failed to surprise her.

Indeed, the King of Sleep wasn't dead to the world caught by slumber itself.

"Are you setting us free from this room now?" Sloth's back rested against the mattress while his long legs dangled at the center edge of the bed.

He had 'Rere' in his grip, lifting the animal up and down above his head. "It was unfortunate that I could open the door, but walking over the threshold sends a powerful blast of air tackling me backward. I have bruises all over me."

For once, Luna was glad that Sloth didn't attempt to throw the whelp high enough until it reached the canopy and then catch it like it was nothing.

Rere was a young beast who had a similar attention span as a toddler.

From what he heard from Ravin, it appeared like he brought Rere to the Seven Circle to return Rere to Sloth because of how troublesome it was, taking care of the mischievous brat.

Keeping himself under control, Apollyon's fists were clenched as he stalked towards the bed in silence; he might as well be floating. Luna followed him. "Whose fault do you think is that?"

"Mine." Sloth continued to respond without acknowledging their presence. "It's nice to feel pain again."

"How many times did you attempt to break out from this room?" Her husband asked.

"I was blasted only once. So I'm not stupid to do it again." Sloth's said in sarcasm. "Ravin can be stupid, though. I bet he would at least try five times."

"No one is telling you that you are stupid, Sloth."

Hearing that, Sloth turned his head towards her direction and smiled at her, "I am a good Familiar." Just a little bit lazy, but I still woke up early in the morning to serve the Master."

  Luna noticed that Sloth was able to handle the creature's temperament well---better than Ravin, its foster father, when the egg hatched.

Based on the squeals of excitement coming from the whelp, perhaps Rere figured out that Sloth was the original master by instinct after playing with him.

It felt like it would rather be with Sloth than with Ravin from the look on its snout.

"Get up and leave Rere in the straw basket, Sloth."

"Yes, Master." Rising out of bed, Sloth immediately followed her command and put down Rere on the straw basket beside the drawing table. "Sleep well, whelp."

"You must keep yourself awake for the whole day, Sloth." Luna ordered, "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master Lune."