Hell Bound

CHAPTER 3

The hell's court consisted mostly of demon lords. Well, of course it did. It was the king's court after all, and no common demons were allowed to attend. Demon nobles, each coming down from a powerful bloodline, each one different and more powerful than the last. 

For centuries Morfron had held the title of the most influential of all the bloodlines. After all, the king married one of their daughters, so they had more influence on the king's decision more than the other nobles. That didn't necessarily mean that king let anyone, including his late wife and her family influence him. No. If you could be influenced, then you couldn't be Satan. That was how hell worked, and how it's king worked. In a realm ruled by blood, death and pain, weakness is not allowed. Emotions are not allowed. And most of all indecision is not allowed. 

Dragon Quinn leaned back in his throne at the right side of the court room. As Satan's ward and next in line, he had gotten the seat nearest to the king. From here, he could see every gathered noble's face. Their blank faces but expressive eyes. It was amusing to watch. Demon nobles were taught from a young age to school their expressions so that none would show on on their faces. Expressions and emotions were very easy to manipulate. Their kind was famed for that as well as their fury. But countless centuries without war and only the blood salves and their pain as a sort of indulgence has made them civilized. 

Even the world was turning civilized. Hell! The supernatural dogs even have their own chariots! In his days, dogs only had one purpose and that was to obey the higher authorities. They were dogs after all. It's in their blood to obey those who had more power than them. 

The hall was beginning to fill up and the hushed murmurs were filling the silence of the room. He could only imagine what they were talking about in earnest. After all, it's not everyday the king's heir choose himself a bride.  At a small tap on his shoulder he turned to see another noble, one might go as far as to say, his friend, looking his way.

"What's this about you being betrothed, Dragon? First time I've heard of it," At Lord Vaughn's inquiry, Dragon only tilted his head in a silent reply, not bothering for a verbal reply. 

Lord Vaughn took his silence as a confirmation to all the rumors going around the realm. Dragon Quinn, The Deceiver has indeed taken a bride. Vaughn looked at his companion beside him, with a thoughtful expression. In all their years together at the court, Vaughn had never once thought that Dragon would take a bride. Sure, even the king had had taken one, but he had thought that Dragon would not bother with such traditions. But it seemed as though he had been wrong. And Vaughn Hildebrand didn't like being wrong. 

He took his gaze away from his companion and looked around at the hall. It seemed as though everyone was talking about The Deceiver's betrothal. To whom, they had no idea. This surprised him. Dragon was never one to show love or any form of affection. If he was marrying for love, then Vaughn would say that hell had frozen over. But it hadn't. The realm of Fire was as hot as ever. For Dragon to keep quiet about his intended was a surprise as well as a cause for suspicion. If he had chosen one of the daughters of the nobles, then the news would have spread to every corner of the realm. But it seemed as though most of the nobles who had come here, were only just now hearing of it. Either Dragon was in love, which the idea in itself was nauseating, or the woman Dragon had chosen as his bride was more powerful than any of the nobles combined. 

Vaughn would've bet that the latter one was the reason for his silence. And that thought alone cause him to worry. A woman with power should be a woman to be wary of. But a powerful woman sitting beside the future king, reigning the realm? The thought alone was terrifying. He would've bet anything at that moment, that Dragon was marrying the woman so that he had reign over that power. A lone woman can do anything, without having to answer to anyone. But a married woman would have to answer to her husband. Hell was a realm with strict discipline. The world may have been civilized, but the Realm of fire kept to its traditions. Women had no place in the realm of politics and cruel manipulations.