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THE VAMPIRE KING APOLLYON

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Prince Aspen from the Spring Courts had returned to the Faerie Realm just as quickly as he had arrived at the Vampire Realm.

After the night of his visit, Apollyon had commanded the military general to prepare the carriage that he would use for the travel the next morning.

He was convinced that Prince Aspen was telling the truth about the unknown Fae who had caught hold of Archdemon Magic, but it was just one of the theories, for now.

Apollyon didn't want to get his hopes up, but he had no choice but to hang onto these wild possibilities.

He was grasping at straws here.

Mayhap, this unknown Fae had summoned one of the Archdemons from Hell, but Apollyon didn't know if the Archdemon-in-question had broken through the Faerie Realm or not.

They had to find the Archdemon in the Fae Realm, if there was, or search for the Fae who can wield Archdemon magic--if that person can.

Apollyon didn't want to be a bad guy and pray that an Archdemon would grace the Realm of the Fae and create havoc, but he had longed for his wife that he would rather be the bad guy instead.

He would do everything, even summon an Archdemon, himself if he can, but sadly, only High Priestesses could dabble in that work, and only the latter was willing to pay for the sacrifice.

Prince Aspen's story wasn't unfamiliar, for the High Priestess Lilith had done this before.

Killing creatures as pure as unicorns was a dark sacrifice.

No' sane' person would do just like what Lilith had done before—summoning the Archdemon of Gluttony after killing her chosen virgins from all over the Realms.

The difference was that Lilith had hidden her crimes in the basement along with a protection spell while the Fae had killed the unicorn out in the open, and nobody from the Fae sentinels had caught the culprit.

Lilith had worked alone when she performed her ritual to summon an Archdemon, but Apollyon had a suspicion that the Fae had a group of people assisting her in the ritual.

Catching those unicorns alone is difficult.

How much more if they killed one every month?

Apollyon never backed down from a challenge.

With the aid of Prince Aspen, King Zephyr, and the faerie sentinels, he would catch then torture the truth out from them, and in exchange for their lives, the Faerie could summon Luna back to the Vampire Realm.

It was Archdemon Magic who had taken her away, so of course, it was Archdemon Magic who will bring her back to him.

He had suffered from sleepless nights for months, and even if he pushed himself to exhaustion, he couldn't rest.

Every time Apollyon laid in his bed, he forced his eyes shut for a few minutes before they opened, wide awake and just staring into the canopies, blinking slowly, waiting for sleep to take over his befuddled brain and embrace him in its loving arms.

When he finally lost his awareness for a few minutes, that's when he knew he had dozed off.

The relief was short-lived because after unconsciously counting a hundred sheep, the sun had risen once again by the window of the Ivory Tower, stabbing his eyes, feeling like his eyeballs were soaked in acid.

When Apollyon turned to peer at his sleeping wife beside him, he always prayed to any god and goddesses who might listen that death would befall on him if he woke up and Luna wasn't still there.

But he was alive, very much alive, and he had to go about his life day after day, suffering.

The gods and the goddesses must have hated him, and he was paying for the sins he had committed. 'What a fitting punishment!'

After Luna, he swore he would never love someone like this again because it only brought nothing but pain.

But the night after Prince Aspen had visited him, Apollyon had slept like a baby the moment his head had hit the pillow.

It was the first time in a long, long while he had woken up well-rested and in a higher spirit.

His unconscious mind might have forced his body to shut down right away so that he would have enough strength to catch the criminal the moment he arrived at the Realm of the Fae.

Yawning, Apollyon stretched his arms and stared at the window with a small smile.

He will have his wife back, no matter what, and not even Heaven and Hell could stop him—even if it took him forever.

+++

Apollyon might have renounced his Faerie blood, but he decided to refrain from any insults and backhanded compliments he had prepared the moment he met with his mother's side of the family.

He imagined himself surrounded by the Faerie Folk, arriving in his fancy open carriage embellished with the sun at the centre while a smattering of gold stars filled the navy blue of the coach.

He had merely imitated how Prince Aspen had arrived on the Vampire Realm with a flying chariot.

Their magic carriage flew high up in the sky as they travelled by air so that they would arrive at the Faerie Realm as soon as possible.

He let Luna rest her head on his lap while she curled up on the front seats, the white fox fur covering her fragile form.

Luna breathed softly as Apollyon stroked her hair, and the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest made him calm down.

Before they started the journey, he had asked the servants to clean her up and made her wear a loose and simple lilac gown and a tiara fitting for an Empress, while Apollyon had worn a white tunic with gold lacework and rich embroidery.

Even if she was asleep, Luna had to look presentable to his grandparents.

It took a lot of effort on his part to maintain their vehicle's flight because he was still reeling from the heartache.

Fortunately, the High Priest was there to assist him if something went wrong.

Apollyon had only brought the High Priest--because he just wanted to tag along--and even if it was strange, Apollyon also brought his one and only Sleeping Beauty--Luna.

Apollyon will not accept any downright animosity or the slightest disrespect towards his sleeping Empress.

His family should accept her because she was chosen as his mate by the gods and the goddesses, and not even the royalties from the Summer Courts could oppose that.

Cederic and hundreds of his soldiers would follow them soon at the Faerie Realm as they travelled the long distance by horseback.

Apollyon had never felt so vulnerable on the entire ride of their open carriage because it felt like he had brought a knife to a gunfight.

The Court borders between the Seelie and the Unseelie Courts were visible.

The Summer and Spring Courts were located in the northern part of the Faerie Realm, while the Autumn and the Winter Courts were located in the South.

Never in his life as the Vampire King did he imagine that he would step foot in the land of the Fae when he swore he would never go there.