Hell's Consort

Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (August 2021)

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

Vampire King Apollyon

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

Eyebrows drawn together with concern, Xerxes smacked Princess Sapphire's cheek gently with his palm as he tried to wake her up by calling her name and stroking her long curly hair but to no avail.

He was on his knees as he tried to prop up Princess Sapphire's unconscious form.

Sweat trickled from his forehead and hopelessness was evident in his grim countenance.

When he realized that nothing happened, he halted his poor attempts and shifted his attention to her husband—the Vampire King.

Wrapping an arm around Princess Sapphire's back to support her weight, the young shape shifter's green eyes glittered with fury  as he snarled, "What did you to her, Vampire King?"

"I am his half-brother." Apollyon's features were smooth and expressionless. "I had the right to keep her safe compared to you, Xerxes. Remember that."

"I am not challenging your authority as Princess Sapphire's older brother but you can't just force us to keel over if you don't want to accept the Princess' decision to go back!"

"Xerxes. Don't worry. My husband had only put her to sleep." Luna reassured Xerxes kindly, "Apollyon would never hurt her."

"Empress! The Vampire King can't just treat us like this if we don't go according to his plans." Xerxes narrowed his eyes at her as his voice rose in volume, "The Summer Monarchs were right on his identity. He was a tyrant ruler in the Vampire Realm."

"Xerxes. It wasn't like we killed her. Please understand that putting her to sleep was for her own good." Luna grimaced when she realized that she used the exact same words Ravin told her to justify Satan and the Grand Torturer's abuse. All for the sake of power and to groom her into something the Demon Kind needed—a Portal Creator!

Nevertheless, Luna continued to convince Xerxes that what Apollyon did was right. "She was throwing temper tantrums that Apollyon had to diffuse this situation down. If Princess Sapphire is a smart spymaster like she claimed to be, she had to reflect on her choice after we laid out the facts before both of you return to the Summer Courts. Each of our actions had consequences. Let's not be rash about this, alright?"

"It's not that I can not accept her choice, Xerxes. I am doing this to protect her from Hephaestus. You might think that Princess Ourania wouldn't do anything to her just because she is permanently immobilized from the battle." Apollyon clicked his tongue in disappointment. "I did not believe her apology to Luna at the arena one bit."

Luna was surprised that she and Apollyon had drawn the same conclusion.

That incident at the arena with Sloth will fuel her more in her thirst for revenge.

Wasn't it this the reason why the Summer Militia told them that they would leave Apollyon and Luna alone to go on their merry ways if they handed over the Ghoul Princes to them—especially Sloth who played as her second and the one responsible for the tragic event at the colloseum?

"It had been centuries since I last saw my mother when she vanished from the Vampire Realm. In all these times I have observed Princess Ourania's behavior around the few people she engaged with at the Summer Castle. She never learned to cultivate her guilt and conscience. Reserve them for the people that truly matter. Selfishness was her motivation. Resentment was the fuel that kept her hatred burning. What made you think that she wouldn't make Princess Sapphire miserable in the Summer Castle simply because she was suffering? What made you think that our mother would protect her if Hephaestus got his filthy hands on her?"

"Let me tell you what happened before Princess Ourania did before she pushed my wife down the stairs and stabbed her  in the back, piercing her heart in the process." Apollyon added further, "Princess Sapphire had an argument with our crazy mother at the royal infirmary in front of Summer Faeries who visited while you were unconscious. It was after Hecate and Hephaestus' battle. Princess Sapphire became more outspoken as she rebelled against our mother, especially since the curious crowd had gathered there—"

"—sounds like something Princess Sapphire should do." Xerxes interrupted him but Apollyon went on.

"In the first place, it was Princess Ourania who caused a scene but she hated that Princess Sapphire had humiliated her by her manners. Our mother threatened to kill you with her sharp crystal spears as they appeared out of nowhere." Apollyon's hands locked into fists as he stared at him with a cold, hard gaze. "The same weapon she used to almost kill my wife, afterward."

Xerxes stiffened in shock as he muttered under his breath, "Princess Sapphire didn't tell me about this."

"That's because she didn't want you to worry. That she got it under control and prove that she was capable of protecting you." Luna explained,  "Do you understand now why we are being careful?"

At this point on, Xerxes' response might change the course of their destiny.

"Yes, You're Highness." Xerxes finally agreed as he bowed his head in respect, "I apologize for our behavior." "I will tell Princess Sapphire when  she wakes up."

"Yet, I had another question which boggled my mind." Xerxes' gaze remained on the floor as if he was afraid to look at them in the eye, "If Princess Ourania had successfully pierced Empress Luna's heart, why didn't she die? As far as I remember, that could turn a vampire into ashes."

Silence.

The crickets seemed to pick up the danger cracking in the atmosphere and stopped chirping.

The Archdemon of Sloth burst into sudden laughter as he clapped his hands in amusement.

Everyone blinked as if the Archdemon had broken a spell that had fallen on their group.

"Well, this personal theatre in front of me was interesting to watch. Please do answer the question, Vampire King." His Familiar's green eyes lit with an inner glow of mischief. "If Xerxes and Princess Sapphire decided to come along with us in this journey, they need to know why we aren't slaying everyone on sight like they expected us to do."