New Chapter for the Highest Tier (June 2021)

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Vampire King Apollyon

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"I sent your mother a message to get her permission to visit me after she decided she would have nothing to do with me." The stranger told Princess Sapphire calmly.

Yet, Apollyon could sense the underlying ire underneath his disguise. "But your stubborn mother sent me this instead, telling me that she would never allow you to go near me and I should just be contented with this."

Apollyon scowled. 'Something isn't right here.'

This wasn't the time to interfere.

He tilted his head, waiting for her next reaction.

Princess Sapphire, Xerxes, and Apollyon assumed incorrectly.

His half-sister might think he was a creepy monster, but Apollyon's mother would have won if there was a contest.

It was Princess Ourania's idea to offer her hair strands in the first place.

What mother in a healthy mental state would do that to the father of her child if it weren't for revenge?

"This is the reason why my mother cut my hair so short when I was a child so that she could give them to you!" Princess Sapphire shrieked at the stranger so loud, and she pointed an accusing finger at him when she said 'you as if it was his fault. "You must have done something to piss off."

Apollyon clicked his tongue.

It wasn't good.

Some women in this Realm were used to blame the man for anything.

She added in the declaration, "I will not claim you as my father just because you have my hair in your possession!"

"I showed you a proof. What more could you ask for?" The stranger stalked them like a predator, trapping them by the small door so that they couldn't escape him.

Unless Xerxes would tackle his chest with his front paws and bite the man's head off.

It was either fight or flight: fight the masked stranger or open the door to the Hedge Maze Garden or expose their vulnerable backs.

Princess Sapphire was preparing for an attack as the ball of light energy stopped growing in her palm.

Raising his hackles, Xerxes let out a low growl and bared his teeth as a warning as he tried to maneuver when he was about to close in.

The man was a bit relaxed and playful, making Apollyon doubt if he would hurt his own child or not.

The werewolf began to lose patience.

He stood on two legs to show his dominance before he attacked.

Suddenly, a black cat jumped from the nearby bush, and Xerxes halted because he recognized who it was.

It was the cat that a faerie witch—who was recommended by Prince Aspen-- had left at the cabin to watch over Luna, claiming that she will get the cat after his wife woke up from her sleep and her vampire body already adjusted to the demon souls she had eaten at the Ostara.

How did it get here from the Vinca Inn?

Xerxes immediately avoided the feline so that he wouldn't get crush its small form.

The stranger was successful at evading him as well.

He could see the regret in the werewolf's sharp eyes the moment he lost his momentum.

Apollyon had the shock of his life when the thick white mist swirled around the cat and transformed into a faerie—

'No, it wasn't a faerie because it had no butterfly wings behind her back. ' Apollyon covered a hand over his open mouth.

It appeared like a goddess, but he couldn't recognize who she was.

Goddesses never showed themselves to other creatures unless it was necessary to do it.

They show themselves to the women they chose to be their servants, priestesses, warriors, and apprentices, or they could show themselves to men if they have missions to fulfill a prophecy and become a hero.

Apollyon's eyebrows knitted in confusion as he stared at the tableau in front of him.

Why was the goddess here, and who was she here for?

Was it Princess Sapphire, Xerxes, or the stranger?

Or was she here because of him?

After the last sentence flew from his mind, his eyes met the goddess' brown ones.

She averted her gaze immediately and ignored him.

Her attention focused on the man wearing the peculiar golden bull mask.

The goddess was wearing a dark cloak covering her entirely except her face.

Her hair was parted into two and settled over her shoulder like long curtains.

Silver and gold head chains adorned her hood, extending to her wide forehead.

Apollyon's eyes were still wide in disbelief.

The black cat watching over Luna as it slept on her stomach was a goddess.

"I don't know what you are playing at Hecate but your High Priestess is immune to a god's wildfire." The stranger murmured. "No creature, not even the Summer Monarch who had a great tolerance to the element of fire, next to dragons, could survive them. You of all gods and goddesses knew that I had derived the scorching flames from the under the volcanoes. It is similar to the intensity of Hellfire. How did that happen, Hecate?"

"It is none of your business." She said flatly as she linked her fingers together.

Hecate?

The Goddess of Magic and the Underworld was their black cat all along?

And the High Priestess immune to wildfire?

Were they talking about his beloved wife?

It was good that Apollyon could still hear their conversation when their voices turned softer.

It was clear that Hecate knew that Apollyon was hidden behind the tree branches despite the far distance.

Both of them shared sudden eye contact!

He doubted it was a coincidence.

Did the man who claimed to be Sapphire's father figured that out, too, or was Hecate just too powerful of a witch to disable magic of any kind?

It was either she had the sight, or she was the source of all Fae Magic.

Did ancient Fae Magic really came from the Fallen Watchers, or did it originate from Hecate?