Hell’s Consort

Newest Chapter For  Highest Tier (August 2021)

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

Archdemon Empress Luna

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

"You might think I am weak for relying on you." 

  "You are too prideful for your own good. Asking for help is a sign of strength. Not weakness." Sloth mimicked her and straightened his posture as he looked her over, "I am here to support your rising power and guide you to achieve victory. We are unstoppable."

A lazy Archdemon such as Sloth was capable of motivation?

Luna could only snort in disbelief.

"Ravin." Turning her head towards her other fuming Familiar for being muted, Luna stated in a strong voice, "Return to the sidelines and observe me." 

The Archdemon of Gluttony went still, his limbs shaking as he attempted to remain in place to resist her verbal command.

In the end, her rebellious Familiar couldn't do anything about it.

As she placed her hand on her hips, Luna saw how hard his jaw was clenched from the rage he had for relinquishing his control by force.

She believed that silencing Ravin would do her good so that he couldn't threaten her and make her feel bad or blurt out things from Hell that would make Luna or her husband pissed off.

It was a justified decision, and her entire being agreed.

Ravin realized there was no sense in putting up a fight.

After a minute of silent mutiny with his cold, bright amber eyes studying her, Ravin gave up and turned his back to approach the podium where the Sentinel told him to stay with the Summer Aristocrats.

The Summer Monarchs were seated comfortably in their special cushioned chairs—with their names carved into the stonework of their seats— than the rest of the Fae.

The arrangement reflected the social status of the Fair Folk, with the King and Queen perched on the nearest elevated platform to the north side of the arena called the Royal Box, which provided them the most prominent position and the best view of the duels. 

The Royal box was raised above the podium on a dais.

The courtier arrived at the center of the arena, followed by his two delegates.

Everyone in the crowd fell silent.

He shouted loud enough for the people at the back to hear his deep, masculine voice, "Which champions will you be betting on this duel?" 

She held her breath as she prepared for the worst.

Luna was shocked to find the thousands of audiences had raised their fists in the air and hurled things at them in unison.

She thought that they would throw stones at her.

She and Sloth were outnumbered by the Summer Faeries!

Luna raised her light shield as a cover, closed her eyes and prayed to the goddess that their enemies wouldn't give them a disadvantage at the battle if they continued stoning them to death.

When their weapons finally hit her armor, it didn't hurt at all, neither did it damage her shield.

The clangs didn't stop.

The sound grew even louder as they continued to pelt them with thin, circular--

"This will serve as good luck to the champions!" The courtier announced with glee. 

"Wow! This is amazing." Sloth's astonished voice made her set her shield aside to look up at the sky.

She raised her hand upwards as she followed the other duelists' gestures by reflex.

Gold coins rained over their heads!

Well, it was better than bullets or arrows.

"Are they betting on us with real Fae coins in the Summer Courts?" 

Heat radiated through her chest, and she couldn't help but crack a smile as she watched the spectators on the colosseum.

"I see that people are betting on the Summer Princess and the Knight from the Fall Courts rather than the Empress of the Vampire Realm and the Prince from…somewhere." 

She was ecstatic that at least some of the audiences were on their side.

Yet, a realization had left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Did they think this duel is for entertainment instead of her achieving justice?

How dare they bet on such a serious matter?

Luna was doing this for her baby's honor!

"If I picked all these coins  and stayed here in the Summer Realm, will I be able to live comfortably as an Aristocrat?" Sloth asked out of the blue, catching any coin that fell from one empty hand.

"Dream on, Sloth." Luna put her arms down as she held the shield and the sword in the other. She gave him the side-eye.  "I would send you to Hell first." 

His gaze scanned the eyes behind her visor.

"You forgot about our bargain, Lune. How horrible." Sloth's mouth might be covered by his helm, but she could imagine the Archdemon pouting as he sulked, "You agreed to send me to the Human Realm. Are you breaking our contract right now?"

She blinked rapidly, remembering the promise she made at the boat with him.

Luna tried to come up with a believable excuse to cancel that agreement.

"You weren't the one who set me free from Satan's dungeons, Sloth." In addition to that, the Archdemon belonged to her now! "It was my husband." 

"Hmm. That answered the question running through my mind. You disappeared from Hell and left no traces." Sloth said.  As golden coins continued to bless them, Luna inched closer towards Sloth so that she could differentiate his utterance from the loud cheering of the crowd's battle cries as if they were the ones fighting themselves. "So, it wasn't you who opened the portal to the Vampire Realm? You failed at being a Portal Creator like how Satan intended you to become." 

Without warning, her awful memories in Hell resurfaced from Sloth's words.

She immediately buried them to shield herself from the wave of pain and embarrassment pulsating in her temples.

She didn't want to remember the horrible moments where she was tested.

Her only wish was to move forward with confidence, carrying the wisdom she learned from the torment.

She guessed that as long as her Archdemon Familiars are present, she couldn't prevent the mental bruises from aching from time to time.

Luna pursed her lips. "Ask questions later and avenge me, Familiar."

"Duelists. You may now come forward."