The Devil Lord's Anger

"Who intoxicated the drinks last night?" Apollyon growled at the servants before him. They were in charge of the feast last night. All of them were trembling in fear. After a long time, they had seen their King in such a foul mood.

"Why are you all mute? Do you all wish to die?" Apollyon bellowed as he threw the wine cup in his hand. It hit the floor with a loud bang, his eyes were turning red from the original golden brown color.

All the servants knelt on their knees, begging for their mercy. They felt like this would be their last day on earth if Apollyon's anger would not dissolve.

"Throw them out of my sight!" Apollyon commanded as he looked at Karin with rage. The servants started pleading, crying for the Devil Lord's mercy, but none of them answered what he wanted.

Karin complied with the order and asked the guards to take all of them away from the Devil Lord's sight. Once the hall was empty, Karin said, "Your Majesty, you didn't have breakfast. Earlier I heard from the Queen's attendant that Her Majesty was waiting for you at the breakfast table."

"Stay quiet, Karin. And bring another wine jar," commanded sternly.

"But, Your Majesty–" His words faltered as Apollyon's piercing gaze silenced him instantly. Feeling the urgency, he hurried out of the room, urgently instructing a servant to fetch the wine.

Karin stood outside, his mind racing with concern. "What has happened to His Majesty? He hasn't displayed such aggression in months," he murmured to himself, his hand pressed against his chest to quell the unease stirring within.

The servant returned swiftly with the wine jar, her hands trembling as she approached the hall. Karin motioned for her to proceed inside and deliver the wine, opting to stay out of Apollyon's immediate presence for the moment.

From a safe distance, he observed with a mix of apprehension and dread as the servant poured wine into the cup Apollyon held, a few drops spilling onto the king's sleeve.

Karin's breath caught in his throat as he anticipated Apollyon's reaction.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty!" The servant was quick to clean his sleeve using her hand when Apollyon grabbed her by the throat.

"Did I ask you to touch me?" Apollyon was on his feet and the female servant was in the air, writhing her feet in the air for her life. Karin wanted to speak, but words didn't come out of his mouth. He feared that he might be the next one if he interrupted Apollyon.

~~~~

Moments earlier in the chamber:

Lilith sat in front of her ornate mirror, the soft glow of candlelight casting flickering shadows across her face as she brushed her hair with slow, deliberate strokes.

Her reflection seemed distant, mirroring the turmoil within her mind. She had asked her attendant to leave, craving solace to unravel the unknown feelings and memories from the last night.

Bits and pieces of recollection slipped through her grasp like elusive wisps of smoke. The weight of Apollyon's final, seething gaze as he stormed out of their bedchamber weighed heavily on her heart.

She traced the contours of her face in the mirror, trying to dispel the lingering unease that had settled in her chest.

Lilith understood that she had kissed him willingly last night, driven by a desire inflamed under the influence of aphrodisiacs administered during the banquet.

Yet, even in her haze, she sensed the depth of the night's events. What might have been a fleeting moment of passion for her held deeper significance for Apollyon.

She grappled with the realization that their intimacy, though initiated under altered circumstances, carried weight and meaning "I merely wanted him to forget it because it wasn't out of love from my side," Lilith murmured softly, her voice barely audible in the quiet of the dressing chamber.

With a resigned sigh, she set the brush down on the intricately carved dressing table, its surface adorned with bottles of perfumes and jewelry boxes, remnants of a life steeped in luxury and expectation.

As she stood there, her reflection in the mirror seemed to question her, challenging the motives behind her actions.

'Really, Lilith? How could you do this to a man who only carries love for you? Why do you dismiss it as just a blood bond? What if it's something deeper?' Her inner voice spoke with a mix of accusation and introspection, forcing her to confront the truth she had been avoiding.

Lilith decided against putting on any makeup, leaving her hair loose and flowing freely around her shoulders. She left the dressing chamber with purposeful strides, seeking answers from Apollyon.

"Has His Majesty arrived for breakfast?" she inquired of the attendant waiting outside.

"No, Your Majesty," the servant replied hesitantly.

Lilith's heart sank slightly. She wondered if Apollyon was still furious with her for the words spoken in haste the previous night.

Despite waiting patiently in the dining room for almost an hour, he did not appear. Frustration and concern mingled within her, and with a sudden surge of resolve, she slammed both hands on the polished mahogany table, rising to her feet.

"I must see him," she declared firmly, her jaw set with determination.

Walking through the grand corridors of the palace, Lilith overheard whispers among the servants. They spoke in hushed tones of how Apollyon had punished all forty servants who had been employed for the feast the night before.

Lilith slowly walked ahead before stopping a servant, who had a tray in her hand.

"Where's the Devil Lord? I would like to see him. Please guide my way," she urged. The servant bowed and led her way to the hall, where Apollyon was present.

"Thank you," Lilith said quietly, acknowledging the servant's assistance with a grateful nod before approaching the imposing doors leading into the hall.

Just as she was about to enter, a thunderous roar reverberated from within. Lilith froze, her blood running cold as she recognized Apollyon's voice, filled with fury and authority. Despite the fear gnawing at her, she steeled herself and pushed open the heavy doors.

The sight that greeted her made her gasp in shock. Apollyon stood in the center of the hall, towering over a cowering servant whom he held suspended in the air with a grip that spoke of raw power and unbridled rage. The servant's pleas for mercy filled the air, desperate and pitiful.

"Apollyon!" Lilith's voice rang out, breaking through the tense silence and...