Hell's Consort

Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (September 2021)

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"Everyone, let's just follow what the Queen required us to do." Luna said as she narrowed her gaze at the light-haired woman. She could witness how the Queen's eyes glittered behind her fox mask as she offered Luna a tight smile which meant that there was nothing they could do aside from following her conditions. "In order for us to enter the gates of her Kingdom, we needed to pass this test whatever it must be,"

"We are in need of her assistance, that is why we are here, aren't we?" Luna added further as she glanced at Apollyon--who had his arm wrapped around the Autumn Queen's neck-- and Ravin, who had their heads turned toward her while their jaws were set and their glowers were frosty.

Princess Sapphire, Xerxes, Sloth, and the Queen's guardians hung unto her every word. Thankfully enough, the Autumn Fae-- the blond one who Sylvain, the one with the long auburn hair had entrusted her and Sloth to--allowed her to address her allies without shutting her down with his magic wand--or whatever its purpose was--under Sloth's chin. "Now, Sloth and Ravin, these two old men, you Faerie guardians hated for their..." She trailed off until the right word spilled from her mouth, "playful--"

In his fighting stance, the blond Autumn Fae whispered in a deep voice, "They were never playful, Empress." His whisper was devoid of emotion as his gaze cast downward on her, "These two were rather sarcastic and mocking."

"--But we don't claim things that doesn't belong to us." Ravin added a smirk in his drawl.

Wincing, she cleared her throat and told the Autumn Fae, "Ravin and Sloth will not speak unless they aren't spoken to. From now on, they will play nice to everyone including the Queen, her Cadre and the inhabitants of the Fall Courts." Luna continued in a louder voice to make it clear to them that it was a command, "Are we clear about that Sloth? Ravin?"

Ravin's golden eyes landed on her, "Well, yes, as long as you don't regret a thing, Amare."

Sloth shrugged, and his lips quirked slightly in a grin, "Let this test of our intentions begin."

Luna almost didn't notice that Ravin had moved closer to the Autumn Fae in front of her.

What a good predator!

His muscles relaxed as he stood, so maybe their enemies couldn't tell the difference.

The Archdemon was preparing for rescue all along against the Queen's protector while they were distracted.

It was three Archdemons against one and a losing battle for the nameless blond Fae.

"Apollyon." Luna paused for a moment before she declared, "Release the Queen of the Fall Courts."

Her beloved lifted his chin with arrogance, "Not if those two Autumn Faes doesn't release you first."

The air grew thick in nervous anticipation as her lips pursed in his refusal.

"Don't be stubborn, husband. The Queen had already spoken." Blood rushed to her face as she tried to convince him in front of everyone else, "She is more interested in the test of our pure intentions rather than holding each other women who belonged to the Kingdom hostage."

He scowled at her, "No."

"Apollyon. The Queen meant no harm. If the Autumn Fae leaving Princess Sapphire and Xerxes alone wasn't enough to convince you..."

Apollyon frowned a little as he gave it a thought.

Then he released the Queen after a few seconds of staring contest with her, "Alright."

"Thank you, Vampire King." The Queen said, and she was abruptly pulled by Kotari to safety--the Autumn Fae with the white owl on his shoulder.

"Jora." Luna figured out that it was the name of the blond Fae with an impressive physique.

"You can leave the Empress and that Sloth alone." The Queen commanded, and he immediately retracted his long staff from Sloth's chin to retreat to the Queen's side. "I can see that they didn't want to cause more chaos when these old men made no move to attack you or force  you to release her, despite Sylvain returning to the Fall Palace."

"That's because of Kotari as well, Your Highness." Luna straightened her posture as Sloth, Ravin and Apollyon flanked around her like her personal guardians, similar to how the Cadre acted around their Queen. "You are at close proximity to my husband but you didn't attempt anything dangerous--something that could kill him--to set yourself free. You know how powerful a creature can be when they are backed into a corner and their only driving instinct was to survive."

"I have been in that situation a lot of times, Empress. Yet, no one attempted to harm anyone with this intense killing intent that I am usually familiar with when it comes to our foes."

"So based from your intuition, you can already determine our resolve to the Fall Courts?" Princess Sapphire's brows furrowed in confusion, "Then,why didn't you let us in the first time we asked?"

"Your envoys are already suspicious from the start. Not all of you are Vampires, and I don't know what to make of it. You are different from my usual court visitors, considering we don't have any of them since we kill those who failed my tests. And also, these old men..." The Queen paused as she scrutinized Ravin and Sloth specifically, "-- who insisted that they aren't humans, are testing my strength and magical abilities. It's a surprise and a challenge I am willing to take on."Ravin and that blue feather around his neck that I own interested me enough."

"Your Highness. What will happen if some of us don't pass in this test of your pure intentions?" Xerxes inquired as sweat trickled down his forehead.

The Queen raised an eyebrow and let out a breathy laugh, "Not so confident, aren't we?"

"You aren't going to kill anyone that is going to be left, aren't you?"

"Is that even a question, Princess Sapphire? You know the drill of the Fall Courts and how merciless we are." The Queen smirked as her fingers casually fixed her crumpled lace collar and her flaring skirts. "If you got burned by the truth elixir my alchemists had made, then you are just giving us the permission to destroy all of you."

Luna's skin heated in concern that she could barely breathe.

"That's too harsh, Your Highness."' Princess Sapphire's nervous pitch raised to a falsetto, "What if one of the truth elixirs your alchemists made is flawed and judged an innocent creature wrongly?"

"Well, it wasn't like the wronged creature will live long enough to tell others about it."

The atmosphere shifted darker in contrast to the early morning autumn breeze, which seemed warm and gentle to the soul.

"Look." The Queen clapped her hands as six golden bathtubs passed through the portcullis one by one and settled them on the leaf-covered ground.

The maidservants poured each one with gallons filled with boiling green acidic substance to the brim.

"The bath is ready." The Queen announced happily. "All of you should get in the tub and soak in the truth elixir."

"Five."

"Four."

"Is she counting?" Luna panicked as she glanced around her and her companions strode towards their chosen tub while the rest of the Autumn Faeries watched them with mischievous glee.

"Three."

"Two."

Luna chose the unoccupied bathtub and jumped.

"One."