A clan?

Apollyon burned the note in the dancing candle's flame until it turned to ashes; his attention was captured by Vernon, the Head Librarian, who divulged how Lilith asked for sorcery and forbidden magic textbooks from him.
"Lilith was here earlier too. She must have heard our conversation, Brother. Your wife is truly intriguing and loves to defy others," Jareth stated and placed a book on the table. "Give this to her," he asserted.
"What is this?" Apollyon asked.
"Keywords in the sorcery world. She should know since she will help us learn other things about sorcerers. Do you know why we can't read anything inside the sorcery textbooks available in the library?" Jareth asked Apollyon, who shook his head.
"Because only humans can decipher those texts. Not just any human, but one with a pure heart and pious soul," Jareth responded.
"Lilith possesses those qualities," Ragnar interjected confidently.
"True. That's why Vernon should give the Queen what she has demanded," Jareth proclaimed.
Apollyon stopped Vernon as he was concerned about Lilith. "I don't want Lilith to get involved in this. Sorcerers may harm her and I cannot let it happen," he affirmed. "I have a doubt as well. Are all the sorcerers kind? Don't give me ridiculous reasons, Jareth," he sternly said.
Jareth smirked and responded, taunting his brother, "Then, my dear brother, do you wish to be clueless about what exactly those sorcerers are thinking? I tried learning them once, but I could not read a single word from the textbook. Ten years ago when you woke up and I came here, I checked those books. Every page was blank to me." He explained to Apollyon how a human could read the text, but could not decipher it. That's how he got to know it had something to do with purity of heart and soul.
"Lilith has already heard our conversation, so she will keep asking you to let her be of help. When she is willing to help, then you should take her help," he advised Apollyon.
"Don't worry about her safety. We all are here to protect her. The sorcerers won't be able to step close to her unless they defeat us," Ragnar assured Lilith's well-being to Apollyon.
Vernon gazed at Apollyon. "Your Majesty, shall I hand over the textbooks to Her Majesty?" He politely asked.
"Give me those. I will take them to the Queen," Apollyon ordered him.
Vernon bowed and left the private chamber to collect the textbooks.
"You are also not sure if Lilith can read the text on sorcery or not," Apollyon concluded, gazing at Jareth.
"I am sure she can read them," Jareth confidently said.
"Don't use her for any disaster. I know you have an evil mind too," Apollyon stated.
"You always doubt me, Brother," Jareth stated with a smirk. "I am here to end the sorcerers," he reminded Apollyon.
"That's what makes me suspect you more. You aren't helpful to others. You think of yourself first. I haven't forgotten how you made a human kill his entire family after helping him," Apollyon stated and reminisced about the incident.
Ragnar had no knowledge about such an incident. He glanced at Jareth with inquisitiveness.
"He wanted everyone to disappear from his life. I merely supported his thoughts," Jareth stated. "Lilith is the Queen of us. I won't dare to do anything to her, especially when I know she's my brother's life," he proclaimed and rose from the chair.
"I am going out. If I find anything important, I will report to you in the evening, Apollyon," Jareth said and disappeared from his sight.
"Trust Jareth this time," Ragnar said and patted Apollyon's shoulder.
"Jareth has betrayed me in the past. I cannot trust him completely," Apollyon asserted.
"For thousands of years, he missed your presence and regretted not being around you when the sorcerers got hold of you and sealed you. His way of speaking may make you feel he's not your well-wisher, but that is not true," Ragnar explained to him why Jareth should be trusted.
"Pardon me, Your Majesty, for intruding on the conversation," Vernon's voice fell into their ears. The two turned to gaze at him and found three books in his hands.
"These are the ones which are titled sorcery, Your Majesty," Vernon informed Apollyon, who carried them and left to see Lilith.
Upon approaching the chamber, he was surprised for a moment to see Elena with Lilith. They both left their seats to see Apollyon when Elena told him she decided to talk to Lilith for a while. "I leave now," she silently walked away, leaving the two alone.
"The books on sorcery for you," Apollyon replied as he placed them on the table.
Lilith with her shocked expression peered into his eyes.
"You were hearing our conversations. We felt your presence," Apollyon replied. "Jareth thinks you can read these texts to help us fight the sorcerers. Their intentions don't appear good this time," he stated.
"I agree," Lilith said and thanked him for allowing her to read the texts on sorcery. "But how did you all know I was looking for ancient sorcery textbooks?" she inquired.
"Vernon informed us," Apollyon replied. "We cannot read anything in these books. The words are not visible to devils. According to Jareth, only a pious soul can do it," he briefed Lilith without hiding anything from her.
Lilith quickly opened the textbook and asked Apollyon if he could not see words on the pages. He shook his head; with that, he trusted Jareth's words too.
"I want to find out why they chose a human to wake you up and why through the blood only.
That's why I needed these. I do not know what help I can provide to you all," Lilith proclaimed, "but I need to break the blood bond between us before they use it against us... Against you," she added with concern.
"Do you think these books contain the reason behind all your questions?" Apollyon asked.
"Yes. But I am not sure. Only after reading them, I can find out," Lilith said and told him it would take her several days to finish them.
"Hmm. It's lunch hour. Let's have lunch first," Apollyon asked her to follow him.
"I have no appetite," Lilith replied.
"Why? Because of what happened with the red deer?" Apollyon arched his eyebrows.
"Maybe," Lilith replied.
"The red deer is resting at peace now. Let's not think about it anymore," Apollyon attempted to uplift her mood. He placed his hand on her head before he began caressing it. His gentle strokes gave relief to Lilith.
"How will you read the books if you don't have energy? That's why we need to have lunch," he asserted before withdrawing his hand from her head.
~~~~~~
Jareth ran his fingers through his tresses while standing in the middle of the forest. After walking a few more meters, his feet came to a halt and a smile carved on his lips.
The cottage in front of him was still standing tall even after thousands of years. He could see the change in the architecture of the house, but it wasn't a major change. As he began walking on the same pavement, a feminine voice stopped him.
He tilted his head and saw a young woman in her early twenties with a bamboo basket in her hand. "Who are you?" The woman asked and approached him.
"Young Lady, I am here to meet the elder of the house," Jareth politely replied. Although he didn't like her sharp tone, he could not kill her.
The young woman squinted her eyes in suspicion. "I don't think my grandfather knows you. You should leave before I have to throw you out," she gestured for him to follow the same route from where she had come.
Jareth chuckled and took a step toward her. He leaned, his intimidating boring her doe-like eyes. "Learn to speak with humbleness, Young Lady. This sharp tongue doesn't suit you," he stated.
"Rowena!"
She immediately took a few steps back to hear her grandfather's voice while Jareth stood straight and turned to gaze at the elder of the house
Walter promptly recognized Jareth and bowed to him. He told Rowena she should go inside. "Does Grandpa know this weird man?" Rowena asked as she approached him.
"I can hear you," Jareth pronounced while gritting his teeth.
Walter told Rowena to go in, who nodded and left the courtyard of the house.
Walter apologized for his granddaughter's behavior and asked him to follow him. Jareth hummed and they headed to the room inside the cottage.
As Jareth took the seat, Walter also settled across from him. "How may I help Lord Jareth?" he politely asked.
"Walter, your family has been loyal to me for a long time. I want a small favor from you," Jareth stated.
"Please order me," Walter said.
"I want to know about the Sorcerers," Jareth asserted.
"Lord Jareth, no one knows where they live, who they are, and what they do!" Walter truthfully answered. "Though when I was quite young, I heard from my father that the sorcerers belong to a certain clan," he opined.
"A clan?" Jareth mumbled.
"I will read some old writings of my forefathers before giving the answers to Lord Jareth about the sorcerers. Since the devils were sealed for such a long time, the knowledge about the past kept diminishing with time. If Lord Jareth gives me the time, then I will be grateful," Walter stated.
"Sure. I will come after two days, Walter," Jareth said and thanked him for his help.