"My mate is kidnapped by my brother." Suddenly, a hundred glowing orbs were floating in the room, and one particular ball, which was larger than the others zip over to the bed, flew in dizzying circles as it hovered over the Blood Beast's head.

The result was a riot of light and shadows that caught everyone's attention.

"I have noticed these glow lights blinking at random times of the day," Cederic said, clearly amazed. In truth, the military general hadn't even noticed that much because he was too focused on accomplishing the tasks Fei had given to him.

"I thought this was your doing or it could have been the High Priestess," Jon said as he reached for them, but he didn't dare touch it. "She had these orbs surrounding her when we were back at the caves."

"Oh, I don't control it." The Blood Beast replied. "It's here because it wants to aggravate me."

"I believe this was sent by the Archdemon of Lust to tell me that he had materialized in the Vampire Realm." The Blood Beast growled, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "I could sense that this aura is his and he had the High Priestess with him. How else could he materialize in this Realm unless he was summoned by a powerful sorceress?"

"Archdemon of Lust?" The High Priest said as his brows knitted together in confusion.

"You told us about the Archdemon of Lust." Cederic tapped his chin with his index finger, watching the lights reflected in the mirror on the wall. "Who is that?"

"My brother." The Blood Beast didn't seem to be paying any attention to them.

"Stop that!" The Blood Beast said firmly to the glowing orbs.

The golden orb ignored him and continued to fly madly around the room.

"Golden orb," He said, pointing at it. "Come here."

The light hesitated, but it slowly drifted over and landed on his outstretched hand.

"It had recognized me so the one who did this magic trick must contain a bit of my blood but something had changed about it." He said as he stared into the golden orbs. "It seems content to maintain its purpose."

Jon walked over to stand next to the bed as he scrutinized the glowing light. "What purpose?"

"To watch over me." The Blood Beast had a look of satisfaction on his face as if he had figured out something. "The Archdemon of Lust had my mate as a hostage."

Cederic cleared his throat and spoke to the High Priest. "What is happening?"

"I have no idea," Jon whispered and shrugged.

+++

"Who are we talking to right now? The Vampire King spoke in riddles." Cederic asked as if the Vampire King wasn't there in the same room with them. " His brother is the Archdemon of Lust. Was the Vampire King an Archdemon?"

"I am not the Vampire King." The Blood Beast heard and made a dismissive gesture with his hand.

Did the Archdemon of Gluttony and the Vampire King had integrated into only one consciousness?

Cederic raised his head and glanced up to check the Vampire King's eyes, but they were blue.

There was no indication of that familiar reptilian-gold eye color trademark when the Blood Beast had taken over.

Cederic mouth hung open as he stared at him pointedly."You are the Blood Beast."

"Yes." The Blood Beast answered, simple yet precise.

The High Priest stared up at the ceiling as if in prayer to all the gods, his fingers tracing circles over his temples as he exhaled. "God's blood."

"You appear to be…" Jon nodded gravely as realization dawned on him. He chose his words carefully so as not to offend the Blood Beast. "Reasonable."

The Blood Beast's mouth quirked up into a half-smile. "Now that I remember, I was hungry for my mate's blood again but I think I could handle my thirst enough to think clearly and find her hidden shelter."

+++

The Vampire King could hear the Blood Beast communicating with him evidently, but he was having difficulties differentiating the Archdemon's thoughts from his own.

Feeling that sharp burning sensation once again, the Vampire King lifted one sore arm and stroked the back of his neck to his shoulder.

"There is a huge gash on my back. What is this?" Warm and wet crimson soiled his pale palms, blood dripping from the huge slash. "I don't remember where I got this. I thought only White Oak bullets have penetrated my flesh."

"Ah. I apologize, Your Highness." Cederic blinked as he replied carefully, " I should have cleaned that up before you awaken."

One of his eyebrows rose. The Vampire King's skin was warm again, burning with the internal flame of magic. "What have you done?"

"This was the only way we could heal you. The Kingdom's healers helped me perform bloodletting to restore the balance of fluids in your body through the herbal potions I have concocted." The High Priest admitted, watching as he relaxed fractionally at his answer. "I carried out some of the most complex spells so that your body could adapt to the stronger blood we have acquired for you. Cederic made sure that you survived by watching over you while you are unconscious."

The Vampire King looked at Cederic, taking in the severe look on his young face as he wore a multi-layered full-body armor plate except for the helmet, and he realized it far too late.

Come to think of it, Fei and Jon had worn armored suits to protect themselves from his curse, the Blood Beast's touch.

Maybe, for this reason, he was able to imbibe the High Priest's concoctions well while he was unconscious to their business.

It was a good thing that he had survived the White Oak bullets.

That rare and magical ancient wood was so powerful that it was a miracle he still existed.

He was so used to the presence of her mate, the High Priestess, who wasn't affected by his fatal touch because she had already become a part of him that he forgot that his curse hadn't been banished yet.

For all it's worth, his condition had escalated instead.

As if on cue, Apollyon shivered as waves of excruciating agony filled his flesh, and he felt weird lumps under his back.

Then he blacked out.