Hell's Consort

"Did you know what the Archdemon of Envy's witch slave from the Human Realm had sacrificed for your soul retrieval, Amare?"

Luna noticed the Arch demon's voice had deepened into a gravelly voice, with multiple high pitched tones overlapping, wrapping around it in insidious layers.

The sound made her freeze without the need of Ravin's ability to petrify her bones and muscles, raising the hairs of her skin standing on end.

Luna lay beneath him, stupefied as she waited for his next words, with bated breath.

She breathed into him as she drowned into the depth of Ravin's golden eyes. "Tell me."

Ravin looked down at her with an amused smile and Luna could tell that he was quite satisfied with her reaction, watching her like a predator watched a prey.

Luna's reaction could either be fight, flight or freeze.

Of course, she had chosen to freeze since that was all she can do while the Archdemon stroked her face gently.

It was so ironic that a creature from Hell, especially an Archdemon, could treat her so kindly but it was too early to tell.

Ravin can switch characters in a moment as long as it suited his agenda.

That was how devious Archdemons were. Luna knew better.

"I think it would be better for me to show you." The Archdemon said as he continuously fingered her silver shining hair gently.

Separating their bodies together as he rolled out of the bed, Luna's body went loose as she exhaled, relaxing, now that the Archdemon had lifted his heavy weight off her.

He stretched out a hand, assisting her to rise from the soft cloud of Ravin's soft mattress.

Luna lifted one arm to clutch at his offered palm but she swatted his hand at the last minute.

She tried to get up from the bed, leaning on her elbows but Ravin didn't allow her to do it herself.

He easily lifted her from the twisted sheets of the luxury beds before placing her down on the cool grass with an expectant smile.

When Luna stood so close to the Archdemon of Gluttony, she peered at him from beneath her lashes grudgingly

The difference in their height made her upset her a little.

Ravin was a tall, muscular man with broad shoulders, his red silky robes barely covered his torso.

The ink-black tattoos all over his skin shimmered into gold as the light from the stars hit them.

The art on his porcelain skin was mesmerizingly intricate that Luna yearned to touch his chest but she didn't.

Luna wouldn't allow herself.

One touch with the Archdemon of Glutrony was considered a betrayal to her husband, Apollyon.

How much more if it was a forced kiss?

The kiss she and the Archdemon of Gluttony had shared?

Were they really forced or had she given them freely to Ravin?

Was she controlled by any kind of Archdemon magic or did she actually did it herself, responding to him without hesitation?

If the Vampire King knew about her indiscretions, he would kill her after he killed Ravin.

The Archdemon of Gluttony had simply tempted her by how safe and secure he made her feel, cajoling her to earn her trust.

Luna shouldn't forget that these demonic beings were the same evil creatures who had enticed Adam's second wife, Eve by assuming the form of a snake.

"Come with me and I will let you witness what I did just to make you mine." Ravin looked behind her head, shifting his mischievous gaze to the far horizon and Luna followed his lead.

Luna turned her head to stare at what the Archdemon had focused on.

The gloomy medieval palace, shrouded in mystery and darkness, was perched on top of a large natural rock outcrop while the bright orange and red flames continued to blaze like phoenix wings at the bottom of the cliffs.

Luna surveyed the castle for a few seconds before glancing at the Archdemon.

"Alright, show me then." She shrugged with nonchalance. "Don't waste my time, Ravin."

Luna might as well see it since she was curious.

"Let's make a bet, Ravin." Knowing that Luna might be pushing her luck, she decided to take a chance and ask for one more favor. "Return me to the Vampire Realm if I am not satisfied with your own offering for my soul retrieval."

The Archdemon of Gluttony looked away as he rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

He was seriously considering Luna's request.

When he finally decided that he was sure about the offerings' ability to make her cry in delight, Ravin nodded in contemplation. "I agree with this bet of yours. I will win your heart anyway whether you like it or not, but I am positive that I will gain victory from this dare."

She sighed with relief.

"Swear it, Ravin." Luna arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms, lifting her chin in a challenge as she smirked at him. "If you are that confident, swear it on your name that you would take me back if I didn't like your offering."

"I'm sure this will prove how much I love you." Ravin cocked his head to the side, mirroring her smirk. "I swear in my name as the Archdemon of Gluttony, Ravin, that I would return the Empress Luna, my amare, to the Vampire Realm if she didn't like and appreciate even for a little what I had done and sacrificed for her to reunite with me as her husband from Hell."

The flash of lightning igniting more fire through the bright-red orange sky of Hell was followed by a loud crack of thunder as the Archdemon swore his oath to Luna.

She swallowed audibly as Luna repeated Ravin's statement in her mind, fishing for possible flaws that would lead her to her downfall that would trap her soul in Hell.

'I couldn't find any loopholes with that statement.' Luna thought as she gave the Archdemon of Gluttony a puzzled frown.

She regarded him suspiciously and narrowed her eyes at him. "Honor your promises, Ravin."

Ravin only gave her an unsettling wide grin and kissed out the tip of her nose.

The Archdemon reached for her fingers and brought it to his lips.

They walked hand in hand in an unhurried pace towards the palace.

Ahead of their path were barren land and ugly trees with dead trunks and branches set on fire.

As Luna and Ravin passed, the deathly sight shifted into wondrous backgrounds filled with fantastical dream imageries: healthy plants and lively flowers.

She also caught glimpses of waterfalls gushing sparkling liquids of every color around their path whenever the Archdemon's foot settled on the soil with every step towards his Palace.

Luna looked over her shoulder and saw that the pool, the grass, the black dahlias, the tents, the luxury beds and the lights were gone behind her, disappearing as if they didn't exist in the first place.

The oasis disappeared like a mirage in the desert, replaced with emptiness and burning flames.

They were all illusions except for the armored dragons flying over their head as they breathed fire.

As if by magic, both of them disappeared into the dark, blending with the stars and shimmering lights, only to arrive at the palace grounds in a snap of Ravin's finger.

Luna saw a great tree with huge branches full or bright crimson leaves in the middle of a vast plain.

The large tree appeared so ancient as it stood near a deep well just outside the palace.

Ravin walked her across the grounds, right up to the edge of the arching branches of the great tree, and turned to her.

"What?" Luna asked, bemused by the excited look on his face.

The Archdemon would only shake his head and smile secretly to himself in answer to her question.

"Why?" Luna glowered at him in frustration. "What is it?"

They were now standing directly under the large tree.

Ravin gently released her hand and nodded his head, encouraging her. "Look above your head and see my offering."

It took all of Luna's nerve to not look up.

She could sense its presence loom close, staring at her.

Luna could hear the scratching of claws as the shadowy creatures ran around.

Wings flapped and talons jumped up and down on its branches in an ever-increasing frenzy to catch her attention as it rustled and creaked ominously.

For a moment, she felt something lean down right next to her face.

Luna told herself not to look and gritted her teeth to keep them from chattering with fear.

"Is this some kind of a joke?" Luna asked with a fearful glance over her shoulder when she noticed the Archdemon slowly backing away from her. "What is above me, Ravin?"

Luna dreaded his answer when she heard more strange squeals.

Ravin called out and replied calmly, shrugging with nonchalance. "Just do it, amare."

She balled her fists to steel herself, knowing that the sooner she got it over with, the faster she could return to the Vampire Realm.

Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the faint scent of dried blood and it made her stomach growl.

Luna licked her lips without thinking as she felt something thick and moist dripped over her silver hair trickling through her forehead to her cheek.

She lifted her head and raised her gaze upward the long branches.

Immediately, Luna saw a mass of things tied towards the tree branches above her.

Bleeding hearts.

Human bones.

Chopped human body parts.

Legs.

Hands.

Children's detached heads tied to a string with their dead eyes falling out, hanging from the branches as they swayed to the scorching winds of Hell.