Hell's Consort

Newest Chapter of Highest Tier (May 2022)

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The Archdemon of Sloth

Prince of the 7th Circle of Hell

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It was twilight in the--

Sloth had no idea what Court he was currently in but he swore that he was in the Land of the Fairfolk.

Glancing around, Sloth tried to pinpoint his location and he appeared to be in the middle of the forest, riding a stallion he wasn't familiar with.

"I couldn't remember climbing on this horse's back." Sloth muttered to himself as he scrutinized the reins in his hands.

Who had put him in a place that didn't spark any recognition in him?

Sloth's mind must be playing tricks on him because this looked like a dream.

Bright green was the dominant color in his vision.

He was sorrounded by tall, verdant trees possessing wide and sturdy branches and gnarled roots buried deep into the soil.

It was so vibrant, healthy and so full of life compared to the beautiful decay of gold, red and browns portrayed by the Autumn Courts.

Wasn't it supposed to be Winter Season, still?

He pouted and shrugged. 'Not his problem, wasn't it?'

Sloth appreciated the lazy atmosphere and watched the warrens and rabbits come out slowly to play and graze as they go as if there were no predators around.

From the way these animals acted in the forage, it was clear that Sloth wasn't in trouble or in a dangerous place.

Well, it wasn't like he couldn't defend himself if he wanted to but being wary in a new enviroment always helped.

Sloth hummed in the comfortable silence as the branches along with the leafy canopies above him swayed in the wind.

The moon and the stars whispered at these beautiful trees to turn into dark, graceful silhouettes.

Wait.

Did Sloth just heard the sound of rushing water overlapping someone playing the harps?

There seemed to be a body of water nearby.

Sloth descended slid from his horse carefully to check it out.

The night seemed more magical when the mushrooms on the ground glowed in the dark, the crickets began singing their goodnight song and the fireflies danced in a heady swarm of light.

Bored, Sloth decided to follow where the fireflies went and stumbled upon their frozen firework explosion above the lake.

The lake reflected the image of the moon and the mysterious woman like a mirror.

Was this woman standing under the light of the moon a Goddess?

Sloth would know if the dozen of pixies in their floral tunics and garlands, who were assisting the woman in her bath, would take the long veil she had worn so that he could take one good look at her.

The diaphanous light blue veil over her head had shimmering pearls and jewels on cloth.

It had the same material as her night gown, making her appear ethereal. as if her garment was a gift from the sirens and the mermaids.

The slightest movement could make her long silky skirts flow like water on a deep pool.

Sloth could see the shape of her waist down to her toes but it wasn't transparent enough that he would have liked.

Since the tree canopies were so low from where he was peeking at, the seductive image she portrayed began to flicker in and out of his view that his feet stepped forward of their own accord so that he could see her up close.

He lifted the canopy with his hand without taking his eyes off her, afraid that he might miss something.

At first, he didn't care if he startled them with his presence but quickly decided against it.

Sloth wanted them to be oblivious so that they could keep doing what they are doing.

What else would these creatures do next if they assumed they were alone in that forest?

The corner of his lips curled upward.

He was looking forward to that.

Would they continue with their business if he saw him watching from afar?

When the faeries behind her finally took her veil off, Sloth watched the silken cloth slide down to her long silver hair before it revealed his Mistress.

It was none other than Lune, sorrounded by yellow irises blooming close to the shore.

She was about to submerge her right foot into the water when the fallen leaves and the twigs cracked underneath his footsteps.

He gazed at her and when their eyes met, he swam into those hypnotic green depths which evoked such wonder and amazement in him.

Sloth just had this uncontrollable desire to keep looking at her the way a man would admire a masterpiece not to possess one.

Something inside him seemed to have broken.

Yes.

His heart broke into two, allowing attraction, longing and the sadness of unrequited love to fill his heart until it overflowed.

In that seemingly innocent moment, the way he saw his relationship with Lune was broken.

She was his sister-in-law and his Mistress.

The connection started as platonic but why did his heart insist on seeing it differently now?

What happened in betweeen?

Did the birth attendant's orders tricked him into thinking he loved her after saying that to her and the babes?

He wasn't suffering from love starvation!

As the Fae attendants continued to rid her of her clothing, Lune had that fearful gaze in her eyes that made him turn his head to the side to make her feel at ease.

His heart beat slowed and Sloth clutched his chest to protect it and his body refused to move from his spot.

Lune's countenance seemed threatened as if she couldn't recognize who he was and he wanted to correct that.

'Don't be afraid.' He wanted to tell her that.

Sloth raised his head to stare at Lune again at the wrong moment.

The gauzy light blue gown dropped to her feet to reveal her hourglass-shaped figure but that wasn't the most shocking thing of all.

His Mistress wasn't pregnant.

There was no boulder in her stomach like he had seen her in the Emerald Room.

He gasped in surprise and covered his mouth. 'This couldn't be real.'

Lune looked down at her bare chest, glanced up at him and covered them with the palm of her hands in chagrin.

When she realized that her lower body was still exposed to his delectation, she jumped into the lake without any warning and splashed water on her Fae attendants.

Sloth was supposed to be in the Emerald Room sleeping.

This was wrong.

The situation he experienced earlier must have created this strange fantasy.

That's right.

Sloth was too distracted to perceive that someone had crept up behind him, slid their forearm, lodged it under his chin and wrapped his neck.

"Sloth." The guttural growl came from a familiar voice but one he didn't expect. "How dare you watch my wife, naked?"

"This… is a… misunderstanding." Sloth tried to choke out but but the Vampire King wrapped his arm even tighter around his neck not just to hold him place but an attempt to cut off his head with his brute strength.

"I don't believe you. I never suspected that you had your eye on her that I allowed you to stay by her side for too long. Having you as her Archdemon Familiar is a mistake." He said in a whisper shout.

He felt a bit lightheaded when his feet began to lift from the ground.

Sloth stuck his hands on his side in an attempt to pacify him. "I had let my guard down and watched Ravin like a hawk when I should have kept my eye on you all this time."

"I told... you." He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. Lune would hate him if Sloth would lay a finger on the Vampire King. "She just happened to be there while—"

"I will kill you for this, Sloth." Apollyon growled. "You will never see her again."