Hell's Consort

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Vampire King Apollyon

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Apollyon figured that the night had fallen as the stained glass windows faded just in time to reveal a wide terrace.

The sun started to set as its amber glow drained from the horizon.

The starlit sky settled like tiny diamonds cushioned in black velvet as the guests welcomed the lull of piano music, so full soulful emotion, followed by a beautiful aria sang by a Faerie.

Frowning, Aspen held the stem of the goblet and gently shook it in circles so that the aromatic herbs would settle at the bottom.

The purple liquid continued to swirl even if he already halted to let it rest. "Lady Clarence told me that she wasn't thinking clearly when she reciprocated my advances, claiming it was a moment of weakness on her part. I speculated that she wanted to return to the Vampire Realm because she wished to avoid me after what happened last two weeks."

Apollyon's response was a laugh as he poured himself another glass.

It was amusing to find out that a mere human could ruffle Prince Aspen's feathers when the Faerie Prince was known for his detachment when it came to his women.

"You meet a person you are attracted to." Apollyon began to create a scenario as his fingers tightened on the stem of his glass. "Do you go past and let it stay in the fantasy, or would you make a move and follow to the ephemeral ending? The endless choice between regret and remorse might haunt you if you wouldn't act on it."

Was that a scenario for the Faerie Prince, or was that aimed for himself regarding Luna?

What if he would regret not forgiving Luna right away if he made her wait for too long?

No, if she loved him, she would understand that real forgiveness can't be done overnight.

He shook his head.

Apollyon shouldn't force it.

Prince Aspen gave him a sarcastic grin. "Yes, if I could lock her up in my bedchamber, then everything would be alright.

Apollyon winced because that was exactly what he would do if his wife would leave her. "I wish I could turn back time to correct my past mistakes with my wife." He was hit with many bullets today, and it forced him to reflect on his actions. "

Ah." Groaning, Apollyon buried his face in his hands. "I can't blame my wife for this relapse. I blame myself! The enemy is unreachable, and I can't kill him!'" He bared his teeth in frustration. "I want to destroy him just like how they ruined our relationship. I couldn't take this anymore. I need to find a way to get my revenge one way or another! I need someone to blame—someone to destroy for the meantime—to get this rage off my chest."

Prince Aspen tutted. "You don't have to find another person to blame for other people's faults, Vampire King. That is unfair to your future scapegoats."

He glowered at him. "Of course, you would know, Prince Aspen. You are part of the Spring Monarchs."

Clenching his fists, Apollyon said in a mocking whisper. "You have to endure it until it's bearable. Just keep it to yourself. Yes! It is unfair to be the scapegoats to the Spring Monarchs!"

Apollyon snarled and slapped the table with a palm. "You, lots, should find another scapegoat to play with or this scapegoat might fight back and kick you all in the bloating heads."

Prince Aspen winced at the cold hard truth. "You know how to aim your barbs with the precision of a professional dart player, but I think you are just shifting this anger inside of you to me, who is the only creature willing to listen."

"Oh right," Prince Aspen covered his mouth with a hand. "You have no friends."

"Shut up." Apollyon snapped. "At least my fiance wouldn't be leaving me to return to the Realm where she came from—to the Vampire King who previously owned her as a concubine."

"Shut up."Prince Aspen glared at him. "I shouldn't have told you if you were going to mock me like this." He slapped his forehead in rue. Not wanting to admit defeat when it came to verbal insults, he retorted, "You drink like a man who his woman had cheated on!"

Lips parting at the insult, Apollyon's hand banged the table, catching the attention of the tipsy noblemen seated near the terrace.

Apollyon narrowed his eyes at him. "What did you say?!"

It also made the singer and the pianist looked at them like drunk troublemakers who desired a brawl.

He quieted. "It's merely a jest."

"Don't even jest like that, Aspen." Because it was true.

Calming down, Apollyon poured the White Stag into his goblet and drunk it dry as his cold fingers cupped the bowed glass.

Apollyon could sense that the best parts of his brain had dulled from the White Stag.

He prayed that he wouldn't switch his logic off and allowing this foolishness to control him.

It was a miracle that he could still understand their conversations--that he could respond with clarity and speak the truth from his heart.

Can they release this condensed pain in their soul by drinking to their heart's content so that they could unite with their beloved with a sense of invincibility, or was this a cowardly act—an escape from dealing with the storm clouds blocking them from what they should suppose to do?

Will this White Stag in his goblet make him addicted to this familiar numbness—the one thing he would run to every time life disappointed him?

Will Apollyon let alcohol rot his brain in this pub, living in the cage of his primitive brain instead of talking to his wife about what he felt?

Will the two of them be able to move on from this?

Prince Aspen didn't speak for several minutes as they tuned in to the pleasant singing in the background. "Trust me on this, cousin. I would do everything in my power to clear you and your wife's image in the Spring Courts so that Lady Clarence wouldn't leave me."

He frowned. "She trusted the Empress with her life more than me."

Apollyon blinked in surprise. "Is this why you were flirting with the waitress earlier? So that you would have another option after my wife take Lady Clarence with us?"

"It was a poor attempt of picking up other girls, but I'm determined to make Lady Clarence stay in the Faerie Realm." Aspen sighed. "I couldn't let her go."

Apollyon told him the truth. "My wife and I might have fought, but I couldn't let her go even if my rage felt like a dark entity taking over me."

"I think this is the time to wipe the slate clean and start over. Make sure you are calm enough to talk about it before you face her again. Heal yourself and the situation and give it time."He could sense the sincerity in Prince Aspen's voice. "All we have to do now is surrender."

Apollyon murmured, ashamed to even admit that as the Vampire King. "That's hard to do."

Prince Aspen exhaled. "I'm tired of struggling,  forcing Lady Clarence to do what she wanted. I guess I'm just going to let her be."

With jaws set, Apollyon focused on the view outside the terrace.

He put his goblet down and asked, "Will you allow me to kill all of your prisoners convicted with rape?"