Hell's Consort

Chapter 396 - Paranoia

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Archdemon Empress Luna

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"What are you doing—hurting yourself?"

"I may not be the most beautiful female in this Realm, Apollyon." Luna shook her head with regret as she glanced down at her bleeding toes, sobbing hard, not daring to meet her husband's gaze after all her secrets."—but I think owning this face and this physical form was a curse. Maybe, it would be better if I cease to exist."

"You aren't cursed, wife. You have no right to tell me that you want to disappear." Her husband lifted her chin and forced her to make eye contact, and his Prussian blues widened in surprise when he saw the thin scars she inflicted on herself fading bit by bit.

When Apollyon looked at her in the eye, it felt like he could see right through her—all of her secrets and insecurities.

She immediately averted her gaze.

Luna was afraid and so in love with him that she couldn't bear to see him look hurt.

She knew that he also took offense if she hurt himself because he clearly told him how she was a part of him, didn't he?

"Even if your beauty is not as deep as the ocean, still when you shine and grace me with your smile, my world becomes brighter." Apollyon wrapped his arms around her and brought her closer to his chest in a tight hug. "Are you alright?"

She wanted to say no, but she sniffed in his chest instead. "Apollyon."

"What is it?"

"I'm going crazy, Apollyon." A teardrop rolled down her cheek as she clasped the fabric of his shirt. "Help me."

"You aren't crazy, wife. Repeat after me." Apollyon ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her. "I am not insane."

She scowled, "Are you mocking me?"

Luna wasn't able to pull back from him because he cradled the back of her head with a hand and shoved her face back to his chest.

"No. You have to stop telling yourself that you are crazy because if you do that, you are going to turn into one. It's like a magic spell, you know? When you utter a spell, your current reality will alter itself to adapt to your magic." Apollyon explained, and Luna thought it made sense. " Like your magic spells, words have power. Do you want to become insane for real?"

"I think I can still adjust to a mad wife pretty well as long as the said lady wouldn't leave me." He added with dry humor.

"I swear to the goddess you are teasing me with this." As she curbed her mounting frustration, Luna said in a whisper-shout as she smacked his lower back once. "This is a serious concern of mine, husband. I don't want to be insane."

"Alright." He released her, and when she glanced up at him, Apollyon cupped her face in her hands, wiping the blood and tears from her face with his thumb in a gentle caress as her scars slowly healed. "If you don't want to be insane, then repeat after me." Apollyon enunciated. "I am not insane."

"I am not insane," Luna repeated like an obedient little child as her brows furrowed, determined. "I am not insane, Apollyon."

"You're not," Apollyon replied gently as he watched her with true compassion.

Her lips parted in awe before shifting into a small smile.

It was a rare sight to see the Vampire King like this.

Luna would treasure for the rest of her life.

"If you become insane, I will bring you back with my sexual appetites."

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Vampire King Apollyon

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"Apollyon." Luna's voice rose a bit louder with every mention of his name. She clung to him so tightly as if she had no plans to let him go. "Apollyon."

"I'm here, wife." Smiling, Apollyon reminded her, whispering his words in her ear again and again until it sunk into her mind.

He squeezed her into a bear hug, making her feel his presence until she wasn't afraid anymore.

Honestly, Apollyon adored this clingy and sweet side of her as much as he liked the bold Luna at the Ostara.

He just had to make sure that she didn't become Lilith beforehand.

"I'm right here." Kissing her in the forehead, Apollyon's voice dropped lower, "I'm sorry."

He murmured huskily in her ears. "I'm sorry for leaving."

"Promise me that you wouldn't ever leave me again?"

"Even if I left you for a moment, I will still find my way back to you." Apollyon stroked her back in a comforting gesture. "Always."

He could tell that it made her rigid muscles loosen.

"It should be you who should be promising that you wouldn't ever leave me again," Apollyon said in concern."You worried me for days,"

He recalled the chill horror which held his soul in a tight grasp when he saw Luna in front of the mirror, slashing her face with the glass. "I thought you disappeared on me again and went back to Hell after eating those shape-shifting demons with that colossal snake spirit of yours."

Apollyon asked quietly. "When did you learn to summon those ancient demon familiars?"

"Satan taught me."

He halted.

"Ah." He smirked, amused. "It had been a long time since I have heard that name. Last time you mentioned him was the day you returned to me."

"He was the Archdemon of Gluttony and Lust's Uncle," Luna said a-matter-of-factly.

He clicked his tongue before adding bitterly, "You told me before but you don't talk about Hell as much as I am curious about it."

Sudden tension filled the atmosphere as the sweet scent of flowers and Luna's blood infiltrated his nostrils, making Apollyon's stomach growl in hunger as he fought this uncontrollable urge to drink her blood after she cut herself with glass.

Clenching his fists, Apollyon swallowed hard as his gaze sharpened on the crook of her neck like a flying hawk catching sight of a small mouse in the fields.

This overwhelming need threatened to consume her at such an inopportune time.

Luna was feeling weak right now, and as a good husband, he must be considerate of his feelings.

Should he ask permission or—

Apollyon made the mistake of glancing at the floor, and as if on cue, his mouth produced more saliva when he witnessed the delicious blood pooling at their feet.