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The Vampire King Apollyon

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"Social interactions with others are not available because they had chosen this lifestyle." Aspen insisted quite strongly as he made frantic sweeping hand gestures. "I don't think solitaries will have the capability to form cults as ruthless as this one."

Squinting, Apollyon noted how the Faerie Prince had reacted defensively and said, "We never know until we dig deeper. Never trust general impressions, Prince Aspen, but concentrate upon the facts and the details."

"Don't rule them out." His eyebrows knitted as he pressed on, "Anyhow, I had limited knowledge about the Shadow Realm, but I knew they had been a part of the Unseelie Courts before. It was a small group of people that grew larger in secret until the Autumn and the Winter Courts have known of its existence, but it was too late."

"Ah, King Apollyon. King Zephyr had created the Shadow Realm not too long ago. It was about half a millennium. King Zephyr had belonged to the Winter High Courts a noble. He was rumoured to be a consort of Queen Mab, but it was proven false." Prince Aspen narrated the History of the Faerie in a disapproving tone. "His Shadow Army he regarded as 'Umbra' just popped out like mushrooms one day and marched to all the Highest Courts asking for permission to create the Shadow Courts. The Reigning Monarchs had been so surprised about their visit when they just popped out of nowhere, literally coming out of the woodwork—from the Castle's walls forming black clouds and silhouettes."

"I can almost say it was a surprise ambush from King Zephyr. He had politely asked acknowledgement from the Reigning Monarchs in a binding oath." Aspen continued his narrative air of annoyance. "Now binding oaths could be very tricky to handle as they are full of landmine and loopholes, but Zephyr had managed to create the perfect oath of acknowledgement on paper where the Monarchs of the Unseelie and Seelie Court only had to read aloud."

"I didn't know that this happened." Apollyon had understood the Faerie Prince because what King Zephyr had done had hurt the pride of the Seelie Monarchs which he belonged.

He couldn't relate to the Prince's outrage because Apollyon's heart didn't belong in the Faerie Realm. "Was King Zephyr that powerful that the Reigning Monarchs had let him get away with this?"

The Faerie Prince grimaced at the word 'powerful'.

Everything related to power will also relate to arrogance, thinking that there will be no other creature better than them.

"The Shadow King was powerful, no doubt about it—" Prince Aspen acknowledged in a disgruntled tone, "--but I will credit it to his intelligence for crafting the perfect oath which was powerful to bind the greatest of Monarchs who had lived millennia more than him."

Crossing his arms across his broad chest, Apollyon noted, "I will not strictly credit it to his intelligence but his audacity as well."

"There are things in the Faerie Realm that not even the Unseelie Courts deigned to dabble in." The Faerie Prince murmured, "The Shadow Realm was a personification of a Faerie's nightmare. King Zephyr and his creatures of darkness and gloom weren't well-understood, but they have already existed on the fringes of Faerie Realm from since the dawn of time where only one Highest Court had existed."

Apollyon said decisively despite the unease growing at the back of his mind, "I could say that Shadow Magic and Archdemon Magic are somehow similar."

"I think they are two different things." Prince Aspen replied with a smile, and there was a shrewd glint of knowledge in his cousin's eyes.

What did Aspen know about Archdemons that he wasn't sharing?

Apollyon explained further. "Shadow Magic required a sacrificing a part of oneself to the shadow in exchange for the ability to shape it or gain from the dark benefits it offers."

"They don't sacrifice themselves to Archdemons, just like how conjurers do." Aspen shot back.

"But you can't deny the similarities between the two." Apollyon gave him a rueful grin. "Don't rule out the possibility, Prince Aspen."

"After all, nobody really knew where Shadow Magic had originated." He lifted a hand to rest them on the table, tapping his fingers on the surface. "Perhaps, it was the Shadow Courts who have summoned the Archdemons to take over the Highest Courts."

Aspen lifted an eyebrow at his words. "I find it interesting how you can make such an unbridled assumption to an ally of the Vampire Realm. The binding oaths would have never allowed that."

Clearing his throat, Prince Aspen went on. "The Seelie and Unseelie Courts wouldn't have agreed if they say just a single word that would threaten the safety of the entire Fae Region."

"There is only one thing to test that theory." Apollyon thoughtfully ran a hand along his jaw and demanded, "I will come to the Spring Courts and aid with the investigation provided that King Zephyr would also be there. It would be an advantage for both of us to clear the reputation of our kind by proving ourselves innocent."

Smirking, Prince Aspen retorted smugly, "So, you agreed to go with me, King Apollyon."

It wasn't a question but a statement.

Shrugging, Apollyon rose from his chair as he finally conceded, "If King Zephyr is there, then yes. The Shadow Realm had secrets of their own that I would have liked to discover."

Aspen paused for a moment in his surprise.

Apollyon had fit into his plans easily, which only happened once-in-a-blue-moon.

In an attempt to hide his amusement, Aspen joked, "You sounded like you have a crush on him."

"I will crush you, Aspen." He glanced down at him with the coldest gaze he could muster. "I want King Zephyr to be there. If we are dealing with insidious Archdemons and their pathetic conjurers, we need all the help we could get to destroy them."

Prince Aspen slowly lifted his gaze to meet his steady regard. "It's time for you to meet your other side of the family, cousin."

The Faerie Prince chuckled as he stood up carefully from his seat, "The Seelie Courts had been dying for you to step on the Faerie Realm."

"Yes, I could not wait to bring my sleeping Empress with me and introduce her to them."