To Bewitch a Devil

Zavian kept quiet. She had been saying this since forever, and he wondered what made her so sure. He did not want to keep arguing with her, she was frail and if he kept talking, it’ll only make her weaker.

“It is fine. I’ll handle it myself.”

Eloise smiled; “It’s going to be a long hard war, my king; please, do not die.”

Zavian stared into her eyes and then he smiled; “I won’t let a war happen, stop thinking the worst of things and get some rest.”

He said and stood up. “I’ll send the royal physician to bring you some supplements;

there was a pause, and then he said; “If you can, stay a bit longer.”

Eloise smiled and replied; “Goodbye my King, it was a pleasure serving you.”

“Don’t speak like you are going to die soon, I won’t accept that.”

.....

Zavian ordered as he looked at the frail woman on the bed, he did not want her to go, but deep down in his heart, he knew that that was the last time he would see her alive.

There was silence in the room before Zavian turned around,

“Goodbye, Eloise.” He said without looking at her and then walked out the door.

Throughout the ride back home, his mind was filled with thoughts of what Eloise had said to him. He wanted to believe what she had told him, but he could not find a fault in Neera. He had searched for something to hold onto and see her as evil but there was none. There was nothing.

He did not speak to anyone when he reached the Castle. He just went to his chambers. As he opened his door, there she was standing beside the bed with bedsheets in her hand.

Neera jolted when the door opened suddenly. She did not expect the king to be back so soon. A maid had asked her to help dress the king’s bed, and she was about to do so when he entered.

“Your Majesty;” Neera called, looking at him in shock; “I came to dress the bed, I did not know you would be back at this time.” She said, pointing at his bed.

Zavian stared at the girl in front of him. How could Eloise say she was evil?

He had read her past and there was nothing evil in it, he could only see pain and anguish. How did she expect him to kill someone who had only felt pain in her life?

Zavian walked closer to her, her cheeks were no longer swollen and the bruises on her lips were almost gone. Neera blinked as she held the bedsheets tighter, wondering why he was looking at her like that. Her eyes looked everywhere in the room but at him.

Zavian reached where she stood, and pulled her into his arms, hugging her.

“What do I do?” He asked soberly as he nestled his head in her neck.

Neera’s eyes dilated as the bedsheets fell from her hands. Why was he hugging her all of a sudden? Did something happen?

Zavian hugged her for a minute before he let her go and stared into her eyes; “How can they say you are evil? How can someone so innocent be evil?”

He asked as he gazed at her. Neera was puzzled. People called her so many things but evil was not one of them. What did he mean? Who said she was evil?

Zavian looked at the girl for a long while before letting her go and walking to his table;

“Leave, You can dress the bed later.”

Neera glanced at him in confusion. What was happening? Who called her evil? She could not put her head around what he had said but she picked up the bedsheets and placed them on the bed before she left his room. In her room, her mind could not let go of what Zavian had said to her. She could not stop thinking about it as she lay on her bed.

That night, she joined Zavian for dinner but he barely glanced at her. Neera saw that he was not in the mood to speak so she did not make a sound. After dinner, she retired to her room to sleep. She turned severally on the bed as her mind wondered what he meant by those words. Finally, she caught some sleep.

Neera had not slept for long when she had a nightmare. It was the same as the other night but the difference was that this time, Zavian had not come to save her. The flames burned all around her, and she screamed but it seemed like no words could leave her lips.

Tears fell from the side of her eyes as she struggled to wake up.

Somebody... help... please... anybody...

She cried in her mind, unable to say any word. Suddenly, as though she had been poured a bucket of ice, her eyes pulled open in a flash.

Neera’s eyes opened in her room, but she could not breathe. She struggled to take in air but her nose seemed like it was being blocked by something. Panic set in and she tried to stand up from the bed but she could not move. She opened her lips to speak but nothing could come out of it.

What is happening to me? Somebody! Help me!!

She cried in her heart. There was a full moon and it illuminated the room, so Neera could see faintly.

She looked around the room, and her eyes stopped on the candle sticks. Her eyes stayed on it for a few seconds and as though she had said a spell, it caught fire.

Neera’s eyes widened as she stared at the candles, not believing her eyes.

What was happening? What was happening to her? Somebody help!!!

She screamed in her heart as she struggled to breathe. Just when she was about to give up, whatever was holding her, suddenly let go of her and she took in a deep breath.

Neera panted heavily as she rolled down from her bed and fell to the ground. She coughed heavily, as she breathed in and out. She lay on the ground for good minutes before she stood up, her eyes turning to the candles which were previously unlit but now had flames on them and fear took over her.

What did she do?