Hell's Consort

(A/N: I got so used to narrating sh*t scene by scene that I was so confused about my writing whether what I have actually written is BS or not. Hopefully, I will be cured of this analysis paralysis.)

Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (November 2021)

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

Vampire King Apollyon

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

From the haunting yet unfinished symphony of Luxen's hoard of newly summoned demons attacking the other Realms, the first day of winter had arrived in the Fall Courts in an icy serenade.

The coolness was the contrast to the crackling blaze of the hearth in every room in the Autumn Palace.

The Kingdom had anticipated this since the Fall Courts, and the Winter Courts were neighbors.

This should have been the day where the Winter Faeries' Magic should be the strongest.

Yet, in these current times, Apollyon couldn't tell anymore.

The seasons of nature themselves would assist them in increasing their power during the winter solstice.

Still, the demonic legions attacking them might prove to be a setback after inflicting a lot of damage.

Every Kingdom in the Material Realm had faced a similar predicament, but it would be up to the Monarchs' strengths and capabilities to lead their people to victory.

Despite encountering multiple sieges, the  Winter Fair-Folk would be in for a treat once they realized that most of these fiends couldn't be destroyed with Fae Magic.

If these demons managed to possess the faeries like what happened at the Spring Court's Ostara, then it would be too late.

All the Kingdoms had no reinforcements from the other Realm except themselves.

If the Autumn Courts had survived their first siege, then they could come back stronger and easily get through the rest of the battle with careful and strategic planning. But, unfortunately, it seemed like the Winter Courts wouldn't celebrate 'Yule,' after all.

As the tension between Luxen's demonic legion and the rest of the creatures in the Material Realm escalated, Apollyon decided to rely on the female Archangel who saved Queen Morgan as their last resort for their safety if the war tactics they made were all ineffective.

Her split-second appearance in the Autumn Courts exposed the truth about the Garden of the Four Seasons' existence.

Apollyon didn't think that Queen Morgan realized that the female Archangel had saved her while she was unconscious.

Nevertheless, he told her the truth in private to narrow the names of Archangels she had met to identify her identity.

Slipping Queen Morgan a handwritten note, Apollyon indicated the time he would meet her in one of the watchtowers in the Autumn Palace to avoid eavesdroppers who might be secretly allied to the demons.

The instant she ascended to the long-winded staircases, he specifically instructed the Queen to leave her handmaidens behind while her Cadre watched over the Archdemon of Gluttony and Sloth.

He was grateful that the Queen agreed to his request and followed his conditions, and it showed that she still respected him as the King of the Vampire Realm even if he had temporarily lost the Kingdom to Luxen.

From there, Queen Morgan had confessed a revelation she hadn't mentioned before.

Why did she tell him that she recognized the Archangel in Princess Ourania's painting they showed her during the Council Meeting?

Why now?

This new character, Archangel Ariel, was such a vital piece of information!

She was the Archangel who led Queen Morgan to the Garden of the Four Seasons to distribute the magic fruits through the entire Faerie Realm with her brown feather as her guide to find the mythical Garden.

Queen Morgan admitted that she was the sole owner of the blue feather that Ravin had worn around his neck in a hushed whisper.

The Fall Queen had begged Apollyon to ask Ravin where he got it.

It was the first time he witnessed the strong warrior Queen, looking as if she was about to cry.

Nodding his head, Apollyon swore to ask Luna's Archdemon Familiar the moment he, Xerxes, and Ravin returned to Hazelnut Manor.

Luna and Apollyon's new vineyard estate had four acres of land, one elegant Manor at an elevated spot that overlooked the valley of undulating hills, two cottages near the vineyard itself, and four dozen efficient Faerie servants from the village scurrying around their new home to help them adjust.

Not only were they in love with the Hazelnut Manor at first sight, but Apollyon and Luna were also mesmerized by the picturesque rural surroundings and the potent, sweet promise of an endless supply of vampire wine, mixing it with his mate's blood.

Since each person in Queen Morgan's estate understood the specific roles in the household, Fae serfs managed the grapefruit harvest and the wine distilleries with little management.

The weather in the Autumn Courts had gone insane as if it couldn't choose between rain and partially melted snow, so the thick dark clouds above the village had decided to do both.

Frowning, Apollyon had no idea if the undetected demons outside the barriers had something to do with it.

The winds felt like frozen, delicate silk on his exposed face while his body felt warm underneath the layers of his winter coat and woolen hat.

Apollyon urged his black stallion to move faster by squeezing its flank with his calves.

As he passed by the still river while the water flowed under the thinnest of ice, Apollyon's breaths rose like vapor when he got off his horse and allowed the pages to deal with the precious animal.

He couldn't bear to leave Luna with the Faerie servants in the Hazelnut Manor, but it seemed like he made the right decision.

The servants had done a good job maintaining cleanliness in the whole house, especially Luna's room.

Winter-blooming flowers greeted him when he entered their royal bedchamber.

Maidservants had carefully selected carnations, chrysanthemums, and lilies before putting them on vases and displaying them on the table.

It would be a crime to ignore the fruity, honey-like vanilla fragrance.

Apollyon breathed in deeply and let the pretty blossoms flood his senses, wondering if the gift inside the small leather bag he had would beat the aromas of these winter flowers.

Since everyone who attended the Council Meeting knew about the tragic fate Luna would face, Queen Morgan had handed Apollyon a gift to cheer Luna, up but he realized that it wouldn't make a difference when his wife was bedridden.