Hell's Consort

[A/N: It took me two days to edit this because I was so busy last week. I had appointments to the doctor, the screen of my phone broke and need to repair it, had to attend three whole day seminars for my profession and had to deal with a couple of tarot clients. I apologize. I will not slack off on my end and will continue to write what I can]

Newest Chapter for Highest Tier (May 2022)

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Archdemon of Sloth

Prince of the Seventh Circle of Hell

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"We could cut her bulging stomach open repeatedly with an Archangel's blade and take the babes out before the wounds seal on their own!" Someone exclaimed as if he had just shared and uttered the most brilliant idea ever. "Archdemons heal slowly if our weapon made contact with their spirit. Then, we use the serpent's venom to numb both Lilith and the Empress like the birth attendant had suggested."

Sloth was cursing again in his mind.

'What kind of gibberish were they talking about?' His heart pounded in his ears. 'That was supposed to be the last resort!'

The discussion he overheard was too alarming that it awakened his entire being.

He will not agree to this.

Hating to have anything that belonged to that serpent in her Mistress' system, Sloth opened his eyes and immediately got up from his makeshift bed like a limp puppet who had its strings pulled all of a sudden.

After waking up, Sloth got himself together and ran his fingers through his messy blond hair while smoothing and resmoothing his clothes.

Sloth could see the group of Angels just standing there in his peripheral vision, watching him in a mix of confusion and interest.

He thought he had to at least look powerful and presentable in front of their enemies so he wouldn't appear lesser than them.

When he turned his attention towards his pregnant sister-in-law, Sloth was shocked to catch the scandalous Archangel in the act of feeding the fruit he just chewed--through his mouth to hers.

The Archangel didn't even notice that Lune's lower body was exposed.

It appeared like the thick blankets had dropped to the floor when he eased her into his arms.

How dare---

"You." As he shook the last remnants of his lethargy, Sloth staggered next to Lune's bed to pick up the blankets and cover her bare legs with it.

Then, he faced the impudent Archangel and jabbed a forefinger in his apathetic face. "You have no right to feed her as a husband should. You are an insidious one, Azrael."

The male Archangel merely threw his head back a little to avoid his touch but he didn't release his hold on her. "I can see that the rumors were true. This is evidence that you don't know how to conduct yourself as an Archangel. Your King is playing favorites."

He clamped his lips together, suppressing a smirk. "I see that the Archdemons are still jealous of the freedom I have. The Demon King could never willfully visit Heaven and Hell and travel to the Spiritual and Material Realm back and forth without any restrictions. Since you are an Archdemon Familiar, the only hindrance you have is your oath to this woman in my arms."

Sloth followed the Archangel's gaze and glanced down at Lune, who could barely open her eyes.

Did she faint from the effects of the magic fruit he tried to feed her by mincing them with his teeth?

Was Archangel Azrael even aware that Archangel saliva can finish off a weak Archdemon as well?

The male Archangel tilted his head as he stared him down with cool blue eyes. "Would you rather have done it, Archdemon?"

"Done what?"

"Feed her the fruit of the Four Seasons yourself? You do recall that you don't have a physical vessel in this Realm to save you." He clarified.

Sloth found his slow blink unsettling that he dropped his raised hand to the side. "You will be sent straight to the Ninth Circle-like your brother."

Sloth's brows had furrowed. "What brother?" His stomach roiled when he asked. "Was it Ravin?"

"Luxen."

He fought the urge to let out a relieved sigh in front of Azrael. "Luxen is not my brother right now. Is he gone?"

"For good."

"How about my real brother, Ravin?"

"He still existed as the Archdemon of Gluttony after ruining Beelzebub's dream of taking his place. He had safely returned to the battlefield to aid Queen Morgan in wiping out the Demonic Legion." Archangel Azrael answered as one of his hands clutched Lune's blanket and tugged the hem higher to her chest.

He caressed her head one last time and lowered her back on the bed.

Sloth scowled, not missing the gesture. "I also wanted to tell you that the Empress' husband is unconscious so he can't feed her himself. He is still adjusting as the new Archdemon of Lust."

New Archdemon of Lust?

He shook his head in disbelief when Sloth's eyes had strayed on the unconscious Vampire King laying with his back on the floor and he didn't look good.

Sloth had overlooked one of the Cherubims behind Archangel Azrael who had carried Apollyon and settled him carefully on his makeshift bed.

"Was that the price he paid for defeating Luxen?" Sloth said softly as he scrutinized the bruises and wounds marring his pale skin and face.

"I think he would find that his initial goal wasn't worth it."

Sloth looked at Archangel Azrael and began, "In my dream, I saw that you had sneaked in behind everyone when Beelzebub had dragged my brother to the Archdemon Tournament. The Vampire King tried to pull him back but Luxen had stopped him from doing so. The magic mechanism running the entire circles in Hell must have thought that the Vampire King had issued a challenge against Luxen similar to what Beelzebub had done and included the them."

Archangel Azrael nodded.

"Were you the one who killed Luxen?"

"No. But I did help the Vampire King weaken the Archdemon of Lust in the Royal Tournament. He was the one who gave him the finishing blow."

"That's impossible. Sloth's tone was brusque as he glowered at him. "The Kingdom of Hell had rules of its own that no one can break." Except for Archangel Azrael, maybe, since he could go to Hell without constraints. He might be the Archangel of Death but--- "An Archangel can't fight on behalf of the challenger."

"I appeared out of nowhere in the middle of their battle and intercepted the Vampire King's blade." Archangel Azrael slightly yanked the neckline of his robe to expose the deep, reddish puncture of his chest that hadn't healed yet. "My Archangel blood on his weapon had killed Luxen."

Everyone in the Emerald Room flinched when they heard the Empress let out a raw and primal scream.

He had begged Sloth and the birth attendant to to save her from Archangel Azrael, claiming that he had attempted to violate her while she was all tied up.

They knew better that her statement was no different compared to her previous lies.

What sick Archangel would violate a pregnant woman?

Sloth was an Archdemon but he would be in Azrael's side in this situation.

All that screeching must have strained her internal organs.

Now, her red cheeks were wet with tears and her bright green eyes filled with terror when she experienced strong contractions in her stomach.

Upon hearing Lilith's desperation in Lune's groans and whimpers, Sloth grimaced and turned his head to avoid seeing her in pain.

He couldn't stand hurting her himself, either, since she was still inside her Mistress' physical vessel.

Both souls were connected.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "I wonder if she was doing this on purpose or if the babes had caused her immense agony."

Archangel Azrael must have divined his thoughts because they had shared a similar sentiment.

Sloth should remember that the crafty succubus wasn't ashamed to wield that advantage like a weapon.

Emotional indifference was the only appropriate reaction for an attention-seeking demon like Lilith.

Since Lilith was adamant to possess his sister-in-law at her weakest, she had borne the brunt of gut-wrenching labor pains as punishment for her greed.

Yet, why did her agony felt like it was boring holes on the surface of his skin?

Sloth was an Archdemon who must feel no empathy.

Breathing hard, Lune's sweaty face contorted as she wailed at the top of her lungs from the labor contractions.

"I dare say that it's the latter this time around." Sloth replied with a scowl. "Something is seriously wrong with Lilith when she is no longer singing her own praises, gloating and shouting impossible demands when she is talking to us."

"I shall bring the the Empress back as soon as possible."