Hell's Consort

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VAMPIRE KING APOLLYON

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It was fascinating to see the stark contrast of the different Courts from the Faerie Realm from up above, and you will notice where the borders were located right away because of the contrasting colours between them.

The Spring Courts had light and vibrant colours such as pastels, rose pink, sapling green, spring sun yellow, and robin's egg blue to represent their cheery and optimistic nature.

The Spring Court had the scent of renewal—freshly grown grass, spring flowers, and rabbit furs.

Prince Aspen had told him that the Fae in the Spring Court had represented healing magic like the High Priest that was the top reason why Fei wanted to go with him on this journey.

Apollyon also thought about asking all of these witch doctors if they know how to bring Luna's soul back from the Archdemons who had taken him. If they would be successful, he could give the witch doctor all their wants and desires.

Hopefully, Prince Aspen can recommend him, someone.

The summer courts' colouration was similar to the Spring Courts—still rich and vibrant but more intense, stronger, bolder, and a certain degree of strength on the deep sky blue, sunflower gold forest green, and bonfire red.

The Summer Court had that musky scent of earth after the rain—ozone and mildews, heat, and humid air.

They had this air of being unapologetic for taking up space and too blunt and straightforward with their words that they might come across as arrogant and hedonistic.

Apollyon bet they dabbled in dark magic but mayhap if it was only necessary.

A dark rich shade of muted earthy tones such as the orange hues of the calico cat, autumn leaves ranging from pale pink, gold, crimson, and mauve were the trademark of the Fall Court, which embodied natural destruction, the scent of death from old spilt blood, fresh mushrooms and the decay of wet leaves.

Fae from the Fall Court was melodramatic, brooding, and the most cut-throat of all Faes.

They were the type to end life and destroy anything that would block them from reaching their goals.

Apollyon had thought that if the Solitary Faes weren't the culprit, then he would make the Faeries from the Fall Court one of the suspects just by temperament alone.

Apollyon had a small grasp on Fae Politics, so it wouldn't be a surprise to accuse the Fall Court.

Many of the conflicts that have led to war among the Fae had started from them.

Apollyon had his own copies of ancient texts from the Fae's History with his own hands, and he didn't know if the entire Fae Folk were aware that the Fall Court had a speciality in shapeshifting and blood magic.

Blood Magic was the precursor to a blood sacrifice, leading to a Fae summoning Archdemons if he/she was powerful and gutsy enough.

Apollyon remembered Prince Aspen had told him about the criminals extracting the unicorns' blood without taking anything else.

According to his cousin, the dead unicorns had two puncture marks on their neck, which looked like fangs, and he had yet to see them.

Prince Aspen had first thought that rogue vampires might have roamed the Spring Courts when in fact, Apollyon had kept his subjects under control, so that was out of the question.

Because some of these Faes had also dabbled in blood magic, he had theorized Vampiric Faes' existence on the Fall Courts and the Winter Courts.

That was why his grandparents from the Summer Courts married their daughter, his mother Empress Ourania, off to the cruel Vampire King to breed an advanced vampiric bloodline on the Summer Courts, which would threaten the Fall and the Winter Courts.

That was also why Apollyon hadn't visited the Faerie Realm.

He didn't want to be included in their bullshit.

In the Faerie Realm, politics were ruthless.

Nowadays, people from the Royale Courts didn't involve themselves in a full-scale war but played mind-boggling games of manipulation tactics and hidden war strategies to intimidate the other Courts instead, constantly reminding them of who was more powerful.

The Fall Court killing these unicorns might be one of their ploys to scare the Spring Courts, or... they could be summoning Archdemons because what else would they do with all those pure magic blood unless it was a sacrifice?

Apollyon kept the knowledge to himself for now.

In case that a faerie witch or a warlock might overpower him in terms of magic, then forbidden knowledge will save him if he didn't reveal all of his cards right away.

The Winter Court had snow-white colour in high contrasts, winter wood black, pale sky blue, and holly, berry red as their aesthetics.

They had the scent of cold, sleeping life—first frosts, snowflakes, hibernating bear furs, and crushed mint.

King Zephyr from the Shadow Realm was once part of the Winter Court who had decided to break away after creating a Shadow Army for himself in secret.

Fae from the Winter Courts was cold, highly dubious, and manipulative.

One of the things that added to the danger was that they were secretive, silent, intricate, and detail-oriented, preferring to arrange things in their favour without anyone else noticing.

They had enjoyed twisting the meaning of their words to suit their purposes, which was potentially dangerous for those to whom they speak.

The Four Courts of the Faerie Realm were separated with gardens of crimson roses sitting underneath the sky as bushes with the height of ten feet laced with delicate roses filled dark, blackthorns resting underneath, encircling the garden.

They were probably laced with barriers and high-level protection spells to deter outsiders.

If one managed to traverse a Court's boundaries, they would have to pass through mazes and labyrinths with magic spells and booby traps in them once it was activated when one fallen petal hit the forest floor.

Prince Aspen had received Apollyon at the gates of the castle owned by the Spring Courts, and indeed, he wasn't jesting when he said that he would throw a welcoming celebration of his arrival.

They spin around in their soft yellow and green dresses, giggling and touching the jewels attached to his carriage with wide, curious eyes.

The young, seductive dryads who had fresh fruits and flowers adorning their leafy shawls made doe-eyes at him, but Apollyon wouldn't be fooled.

These Faeries can be narcissistic and hypersexual dilettantes, and most of all, he had a wife.

The moment their flying carriage landed on the asphalt, the light-skinned elves had already carried a bed, positioning them on the right side where Luna had curled up.

The elves didn't need him to say a single word because they have already kneeled in front of him with their large heads on the ground, jumped inside their open carriage, and transferred Luna efficiently to the bed which was covered with flowers, laying her there like the Sleeping Beauty she was.

Crystals also graced the edges of Luna's bed.

One little spring faerie with green wings had hovered on top of Luna and gently placed the bouquet of blue roses on her lifeless hands as they rested on her stomach.

The way Prince Aspen's servants had treated Luna…' Rubbing his neck awkwardly, Apollyon shifted from foot to foot.

It felt like he was watching his own wife's funeral.