Hell's Consort

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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Luna's hands were sweaty, making the iron bars shine in places where her bloody palms had gripped them.

The obsidian walls were made of black iron, thick and hot to the touch as the demon fire, preventing any tortured screams from penetrating the next prison cell.

These obsidian walls were a requirement for all torture chambers and prisons in Hell specifically made for Archdemons.

It could also nullify Archdemon Magic.

Satan's prisoners wouldn't attempt a jailbreak, leaving them to rot.

In Luna's opinion, as one of Satan's prisoners, there was no need for her to attempt that.

Thousands of predatory legions would hunt her down in the end or it would be the one and only Grand Torturer chasing after her.

Luna wasn't the type to waste her time on a useless endeavor again.

She would have had, before, but not anymore.

There was no guard stationed in her prison cell.

Satan had seen to it that his prisoners wouldn't need them because they were already trapped in their own minds.

The Grand Torturer was the best at inducing nightmares, terrifying illusions, and phobias when the prisoners shut their eyes and sleep.

This was her everyday routine-- never raising her head when the torture began.

Luna's body had remained on the dirt of her prison cell.

It was utter humiliation.

As Satan's prisoner and his favorite student, the ultimate goal was to escape.

Still, Luna had no pride left because Satan ensured that none remained, except for total obedience.

This was the sad fate of Satan's favored students—those who had the potential to become a ruling Archdemon in Hell.

They shall suffer under the Grand Torturer's hands to make them excel in summoning Archdemon Magic.

Even Ravin and Sloth had unforgettable experiences with the Grand Torturer, but they refused to disclose what had been done to them.

Luna didn't remember all the evil things that had been done to her.

Mayhap, she had lost her mind.

Luna had no idea how long she had been here in her small cell.

She couldn't tell if time slowed down whenever the Grand Torture flogged her back with flaming 'cat o' nine tails' as she prayed for the end of her suffering, or would the time pass by quickly, moving unto the next day.

Then it was time for the Grand Torturer to visit her and inflict pain all over again.

When it was time for Satan's lessons with the group of fledgling Archdemons he had gathered in his Castle, Luna was taken out of her prison, training with them, wielding the forbidden magic from the sun up till sundown.

If fledglings like her used archdemon Magic without Satan's supervision as their Master, they would be locked up in prison.

Of course, her fellow students wouldn't dare.

Luna was the living proof of such a consequence.

Other fledgling Archdemons had worn black hoods, and she had never seen a familiar face—a friend—but in contrast, Luna was exposed from head to toe wearing only a simple dress Ravin had given her every time he visited, providing her Archdemon blood to drink and bringing the whelp with him, hoping that its adorable sight could cheer her up on her bleakest of days in prison.

The 'past Luna' would have cried tears of joy when she saw the whelp Sloth had given her had quickly grown.

Luna would have reached out her hand to caress its head while Ravin had cradled it in his arms, showing it to her for the first time in two weeks like he was a proud father.

Ravin would have made a good husband seeing how well he cared for Luna's whelp that it was now attached to him compared to Luna, who had nurtured it while it was still a child.

Distance had kept them apart.

The whelp might have thought Luna had abandoned him when she had no choice but to leave because she was taken captive by the Grand Torturer.

It was a child at that time so that it wouldn't understand her situation.

The whelp looked at her as if it didn't know her while its exciting reactions were reserved for Ravin.

Luna compared the whelp and her husband, Apollyon.

Honestly, she wouldn't be surprised if her mate had found someone new when he had waited for his wife for too long.

She noticed Apollyon was a sexual creature.

Mayhap, he had bonded with another female if that was possible.

He could be trying to find a way to cut their soul tie so that he would be free of her.

Luna sighed.

She wouldn't blame Apollyon if he did that.

Would he be thankful if Luna decided to let him go so that he wouldn't suffer anymore?

Ravin had trained the whelp well, and it was also good at following its commands.

He had shown her.

Luna was jealous of their bond.

She very much enjoyed Ravin and the whelp's visit in the beginning, but later on, she hated it.

Whenever they watched Luna from behind bars, her eyes remained dry, and her expression was impassive.

The Archdemon of Gluttony noticed her cold demeanor but didn't speak of it.

When Ravin initiated a conversation--asking her how she was and constantly reassuring her that she would be released once she learned how to use Archdemon Magic and open portals in the different realms--he told her that everything would be alright.

"Lies!" Luna had yelled at him with disgust, "Why would I believe you?"

Nevertheless, she acted like she didn't care because his Archdemon husband's monthly visit had made her feel miserable.

"I don't want to see you again, Ravin!" Gritting her teeth, Luna screamed, "Leave me alone."

Ravin was had slammed his fist on the wall in anger when she confessed this truth to him.

Now, Luna was alone and isolated, just like she always wanted.

Good riddance.

Not.

Luna missed them, but she was trying hard to be strong.

That was the reason why he was here with the Grand Torturer.

Leaning her forehead against the irom bars, she croaked, "What doesn't kill you make you stronger."