To Bewitch a Devil

Pen pleaded as she stared at Azriel. Azriel looked at her, thinking for a moment;

“On one condition;” he said and Pen’s eyes grew, her heart began to race; was he going to ask her to lie with him?

Pen prayed earnestly that it would not be the case, she could not do it.

“What is the condition? My lord.”

“That you would not return to the Castle. You’ll stay here with me.”

Pen stared at him, all color draining from her face.

“Do not worry, I would not touch you. I am just trying to protect you. You cannot do tedious work in this state unless you don’t want to live. You can stay here for as long as you want, I’ll ask the king for permission to take you with me if you decide.”

Pen was quiet. He was right; she was injured and if she didn’t take some time off from working, she might get really ill. Serving Princess Lyra was fun in the beginning but after what happened, it had been a living hell. Maybe she should stay here, at least she would be cared for until she was well enough to return to the Castle.

.....

“What of the Princess?” Pen asked in worry. She didn’t want them to have problems because of her, it’ll only make thing harder for her.

“You don’t have to worry about her. Just say the words and everything would be sorted out.”

Azriel said and Pen breathed out; this was the best option she had, looking down at her hands, she breathed;

“Okay, I’ll stay.”

“Good;” Azriel replied, patting her hair. “I’ll bring the physician to tend to your wounds;” he said and as he made to stand, her stomach growled loudly.

Pen shut her eyes as her chin flushed, and Azriel smiled and added;

“And get something for you to eat. Don’t lie on your back, so you won’t strain your wounds.” He said as he stood from the bed and helped her lie on her stomach before he left the room.

Pen’s heart beat slowly as she stared at the moonlight through the windows, convincing herself that she had made the right decision.

She would only stay for as long as she needed to heal, after which she would go back to the castle.

So she thought.

...

Neera walked about her room as she thought of what to do. She had woken up that morning and wanted to pretend that everything was fine, putting the incident that happened the day before behind her, but she was quickly pulled back to reality when Zavian did not ask her to join him on the table, but rather sent her meal to her room.

Neera had stared at the servant carrying the tray for a moment before she took the food. She thought he would change his mind for dinner but it was still the same thing. He was not saying anything to her or punishing her for what happened so Neera could not tell what he was thinking.

She paced about in her room as she thought of what to do.

Should she go and apologize again? No, she already told him she was sorry, it would only make things awkward apologizing again.

Neera sighed as she sat on her bed. Although she knew she was just a placeholder, she did not like the tension in the king’s chambers. Everybody walked on their toes, not wanting to make a sound around him and she barely stepped out of her room, for fear of seeing him.

Neera wished he had punished or shouted at her so she would know what was on his mind. This silence was far more depressing. Sighing, she lay on the bed to sleep.

She had not closed her eyes for long when she felt a force lift her up from the bed and suspend her in the air.

Her eyes flung open in terror as she struggled in the air. She opened her lips to scream but no matter how much she shouted, no words could leave them.

“Somebody Helppp meee!!!” Neera mouthed painfully, as she struggled midair. The windows were completely shut, but as though a gust of wind blew, the candles turned off, and cast the room into utter darkness.

Neera had not been that scared in her entire life. She felt her soul leaving her body and at the same time, she felt something pressing against her chest.

Neera adjusted her eyes to the darkness in the room as she looked around to see if someone was there with her.

Suddenly, she saw something like a portal form on the wall, and a being stepped out of it.

Neera screamed as tears poured from the sides of her eyes. No sound could leave her lips, but her stomach hurt from shouting so much.

The being was tall and was covered in all black. Neera couldn’t see its face and even if she could, the room was dark so she could not make out what he looked like.

She struggled to pull herself from midair, but her body could not move. The being stood by the wall for sometime and then it turned to her and began walking towards her;

“Help! Somebody! Please! Anybody!!”

Needa mouthed in a scream as the being walked to where she was suspended in the air and then it leaned to her;

Neera shut her eyes in fright as she awaited her death, but the being just leaned close to her and whispered;

“Embrace your fate, Neera;”

As soon she said those words, Neera’s eyes flashed open, and she sat up from the bed, panting heavily.

It was a dream...

She thought as she looked around the room. She was on her bed and the candles were still lit.

Neera wiped her face with her hands. She was drenched in her own sweat and the candles were still burning on the table.

Neera turned to look at the wall where she had seen the portal but there was nothing there. Her heart slammed fast against her chest as fear enveloped her.

Without thinking twice, she jumped out of the bed, and fled through the door.