Chapter 28: A kitten has become a lioness

Jareth poured the wine into the glass and applied the lid on the bottle. "I thought you and

Ragnar would leave, but you both are increasing my worries," Apollyon voiced, who was seated

on the couch. The chandelier hanging up in the middle of the ceiling radiated a golden hue in

the room.

"I have no plan to return, Apollyon," Jareth said and handed the wine glass to him. "Drink it," he

offered.

Apollyon took the glass and asked him why he wanted to stay behind.

"Because you need us," Jareth replied, handing another glass to Ragnar. "The sorcerers are

around. I have decided to look into the matter, so that I can nab them," he asserted and took a

sip. He liked the wine's taste and drank a little more.

"I can look into that by myself," Apollyon asserted.

"Well, you cannot," Jareth clicked his tongue and smiled amusedly, "the reason is Lilith. You try

to be around her all this time."

"That doesn't mean I neglect my work," Apollyon proclaimed.

"We think that the sorcerers may approach you through Lilith. Also, there is no harm in taking

our help. It will only lessen your burden," Ragnar advised Apollyon. He brought the wine glass to

his mouth and took a sip.

"Brother, you may not consider us your family, but we do. For one thousand years we missed

you. We could not come to earth either to check on you. The sorcerers have gathered again and

you, my brother, are relaxed. Furthermore, I believe your affection to humans has recently

deepened, so such a work will not suit you," Jareth stated and chugged the remaining wine.

Ragnar wondered if they would talk about the blood bond, but seeing Jareth was quiet about it,

he chose to remain silent too.

"I am not affectionate toward humans. I am neutral to them," Apollyon pronounced.

"Don't lie to me. I can see through you, Apollyon," Jareth remarked, his voice tinged with

provocation. "We shouldn't forget your mother was a human too, and you carry her trait of being

soft on your enemies," he proclaimed with a sly smile.

"Shut your mouth!" Apollyon muttered in a furious tone. "You should not bring her in all this

conversation," he warned Jareth.

"I was merely showing you the resemblance of your personality with your mother," Jareth

remarked when he was thrown to the wall behind him. Ragnar quickly got up from the couch

and saw Apollyon had pinned Jareth on the wall.

Ragnar asked Apollyon to calm down, but he didn't listen to him.

"You don't know even a bit about me, Jareth. You aren't supposed to talk about my mother,"

Apollyon stated while gritting his teeth. Jareth thumped his hand against Apollyon's chest, thus

pushing him away with a large force.

Apollyon hit the couch behind him when Ragnar caught his arm. "Don't take Jareth's words to

your heart," he asserted and asked Jareth not to start a fight.

"What's going on here?" Lilith was shocked to see the sight of the drawing room. The wall

hangings had fallen off the wall while the furniture didn't seem to be at its right place.

"Oh, Lilith," Jareth smiled to see her.

"Nothing," Apollyon stated and yanked off Ragnar's hand from his arm.

"Apollyon hit me. He has always been a mannerless child," Jareth muttered, adjusting the

brooch pin on his overcoat.

Lilith glanced at Apollyon in confusion. "You must have angered him," Lilith remarked. "Pick

those wall hangings and put them on the wall," she ordered Jareth.

A chuckle escaped his mouth seeing hoa a human was ordering him. "I am not Apollyon, Lilith,

whom you can order around," he declared.

Lilith stood her ground and spoke firmly, "I never compared you to Apollyon. As the Queen, I am

giving you an order. This is my husband's private drawing chamber, and no one is allowed to

destroy things here.

"A kitten has become a lioness," Jareth mocked. He seemed amused by her assertiveness and

flicked his fingers. The wall hangings returned to their original positions, and the furniture

realigned itself as if nothing had happened.

"Now, you both should leave," Lilith told Jareth and Ragnar.

Ragnar was the first to leave the chamber while Jareth followed him.

Lilith looked at the wine jar placed at the center table and then at Apollyon.

"Are you a three-year-old kid? Fighting with your elder brother doesn't suit the Devil Lord," Lilith

reprimanded him and went toward him. She stood in front of him and found Apollyon's eyes

were red.

"Are you alright?" Lilith asked, concerned filled her voice.

"I thought you would take time to return," Apollyon asserted, trying to gain his composure when

Lilith grasped his hands.

"Come," she said and took him to the couch. After Apollyon settled on it, Lilith asked Zoey for a

glass of water. Shortly, she gave it to Apollyon, who drank the water.

"Our conversation was mostly centered about my current feelings for you. Also, the blood bond

which made you grow affection toward me," Lilith briefed him and settled beside him.

Apollyon asked Zoey to leave the chamber since he didn't want to hear anyone in their

conversation.

"What if your love isn't real, Apollyon? What if it is based on the blood bond? We need to find

out about it," Lilith explained to him.

"It's real. If it had been a blood bond, you would have felt the same for me. Did Elena ask you

this?" Apollyon first clarified to him and then asked a question.

"She did. According to her, you share a blood bond with me which is the reason for your

affection toward me. Once it breaks, you may move me out of my life. However, that's her

assumption," Lilith truthfully told him.

"It's not merely a blood bond. A blood bond means the two people share the same feelings. You

have none for me. My affection is real for you," Apollyon pronounced.

"I would like to confirm it, Apollyon. For that, I will research about it," Lilith asserted.

"Don't you trust me?" Apollyon suddenly questioned her.

"I do. However, I don't trust those who sealed and kept the option of blood to awake you," Lilith

affirmed.