Hell's Consort

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High Priestess Luna

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"Are you ready, High Priestess?"

If a thousand years came and went, Luna wouldn't still be ready, so she didn't even bother to reply.

Luna walked stiffly as she got out of the privacy screen.

Running her hands down on her tight corset, she lifted the heavy skirts of her dark red velvet dress.

Silver beads decorated the lacy tight sleeves of her dress, and tiny onyx buttons marched up the back to its high lace collar.

She wore a simple coronet of gold and onyx and a pair of chandelier earrings.

The blood-red fabric stretched sleekly down her torso, loosening at the hip and cascading out behind her like a waterfall pouring into a river of red silk.

Growing colder, sweat broke out of her hands even if thick, voluminous skirts buried her legs.

Her wedding dress made her hunger for the Vampire King.

She felt like she was about to face.

Then, a haze of black crept over her vision. 

It reminded her of blood.

An urgent knock came from the door again this time, and Luna wobbled as she turned towards it, unsteady on her gold brocaded heels. 

The military general was waiting for her on the other side.

Luna's knees trembled, and her body swayed as she walked towards the door to open it.

She had collided with something solid, and Cederic caught her before she could fall to the floor.

As Cederic supported her weight to maintain upright, Luna said under her breath, "Goddess, I think I'm going to be sick."

It felt like she was eating real food over again. 

Luna was about to retch up everything she had consumed.

When she regained her balance, Cederic extended his hands and offered her a gilded box.

Curious as to what could be inside, Luna accepted it and opened it carefully.

Marvelling at how the gems glittered into the light, Luna gasped at the masterpiece of the tiara decorated with silver and gold precious stones. There was a blood-red diamond teardrop at the centre of it.

This must be the Empress Crown.

Luna placed them back in the box and returned them to the military general, pushing the treasure away. "I don't think I could do this, Cederic."

If she married the Vampire King, her virtue would be the price, and that was something she could never win back even if Apollyon promised her that he would not force Luna to consummate the marriage if she didn't want it to.

But what if he tempted her when they sleep on the same bed every night, and she wouldn't be able to stop?

What if she teased him accidentally, and he wouldn't be able to stop either?

Nobody would care whether it was against her wishes or not – her reputation as the High Priestess, such as it was, would be ruined. 

She must remain a virgin for Hecate. 

She had to escape now, but Cederic had already fetched her, so that was out of the question.

"Come on, High Priestess, you can do this." Cederic gave her a wide grin as if he was happy that she was suffering in front of his eyes.

She exhaled a loud breath when he plucked the tiara out of its case and threw it in the air.

Luna had no choice but to catch it with her quick reflexes so that it wouldn't break.

"You must be a sadist, Cederic, to even attempt that," Luna muttered as she attached the crown to her head.

She didn't expect that it would fit just perfectly.

"Be brave," Cederic said as he reached for her hand and kissed her knuckles swiftly.

He glanced around as if afraid that he might get caught by someone for stealing a kiss from the Vampire King's bride. "Just do as His Majesty's requests, and this will all be over quickly."

Luna walked through the hallways of the palace on Cederic's arm. 

The only sound echoing through the silent corridors was the click of her heels and the rustle of her dress.

Cederic said nothing, so Luna said nothing.

Although she was desperate to know what to expect in this marriage ceremony. 

Do they kiss in front of Fei?

Were they ceremonial incantations for this?

Will the High Priest perform some high-level binding spell to strengthen their connection when they have already bonded by blood?

For Luna, this marriage was useless unless the Vampire King planned to make her his subordinate--below him.

Some wife he could throw his weight around and play with at his mercy.

The Vampire King would undoubtedly treat her as one of his toys if he were old enough to play with dolls.

She didn't know why the Vampire King insisted on this when he had hundreds of concubines.

Luna contented herself with examining the beautiful paintings lining the hallways as light flew up to the ceiling, illuminating them.

No surface was left unadorned, and the wall paintings were so detailed she half expected them to come to life. 

As though sensing her thoughts, Cederic's smile grew brighter. "It seemed like this was the first time you have seen them, High Priestess."

"The artworks are breath-taking, Cederic," Luna said, forgetting her apprehension for a moment. "I just noticed them just today, for real."

Those artworks had been here for a long time, and the Vampire King's mother made them." The military general murmured as if he was suddenly far away, reminiscing on his past. "Those aren't new."

The 'cling clang of a ringing bell echoed through the hallways, and it took a while for Luna to understand. 

"We should hurry up. Your future husband is calling." The military general said, but his attention wasn't on her.

Then he paused, and Luna stopped in her tracks too.

Cederic's head cocked slightly as though listening for something. 

All Luna could hear heartbeat pounding.

He relaxed. "It wasn't a good idea to make the Vampire King wait."

"He should if he wanted to marry me, that is."

"Marrying the Vampire King isn't that bad now that the curse was removed," Cederic said, pulling her forward to walk faster.

She wasn't certain whether he was trying to convince her or himself.

They met no one on their way.

The palace was as silent as a tomb until they reached a vaulted front entrance. 

Cederic paused and pushed open a door.