To Bewitch a Devil

Her body felt familiar. Even her hands around him, exactly the way she hugged him, lightly patting his back.

He remembered during the war when it was getting rough, she would hug him and sing him to sleep, making him forget his worry, even though it was for a moment.

Neera lost count of how long they stood hugging, as Zavian did not want to let her go. His heart must be so heavy. She thought.

After a long time, Zavian finally let go. Neera felt a chilly breeze instantly replacing the place where he had been. She did not know how much she needed a hug until that moment.

She had melted in his arms, shutting her eyes. She had never been hugged so completely like this. Like someone touching your soul and filling the emptiness.

For a moment, it felt like a spring of water melting her heavy heart. She did not know how empty she was until Zavian let go of her.

He stared in her eyes for a few seconds, before he turned and walked into his room. Neera stared at the door for a long minute before she retired back to her room.

As she lay on the bed, her mind drifted back to what had happened earlier. His mother has spoken with such vileness that she wondered if she really gave birth to him.

.....

She could tell how much pain he was in because she had felt the same way all her life, to be exact.

Neera sighed and shut her eyes. He must be going through a lot. She thought.

Seeing how sad he looked earlier, she wondered how much he held in before he finally broke. He clearly had no one beside him.

Waking up every day for centuries and ruling a kingdom with no one to come home to was not what she wished for anyone.

Now she understood why he wanted to bring her back. Neera sighed as she pushed the thoughts away, trying to catch some sleep.

The next morning, the castle was buzzing as the maids woke up very early to prepare meals for the guests.

The king was out with the dukes playing archery while the Princesses were being tended to in the steam room, after which they were massaged with rare essential oils.

“Say, have you seen the girl that is rumored to look like Delilah?”

Daphne asked as the Princesses lay on the massage table.

At her words, Kitana’s eyes opened.

“No, have you seen her? I thought they were just rumors?”

Alicia asked in surprise. She didn’t believe things until she saw them for herself.

“Well, I have not, but you know I have my way with gossip. I heard that Freya took the girl away before the ceremony. I guess she did not want her to cause any commotion.”

Daphne explained and Kitana scoffed;

“Who is she to cause disarray? She’s just an ordinary human. A slave girl at that. Don’t give her more importance than she’s worth.”

She spoke with her eyes closed. The other princesses looked at her;

“Obviously Kitana, she would cause a lot of murmurings if she were present at the party. Imagine a party for a queen’s selection, the dead queen’s exact look-alike is walking about. Who wouldn’t talk about it? Freya did the right thing by sending the girl away.”

Zelda chirped in. Kitana looked at her and then chuckled;

“Are you also here for the queen’s selection? You look like you’re here for an eating contest.”

At her words, the other princesses erupted in laughter.

“It is not funny, Kitana.” Princess Jasmine spoke, sitting up on the table and tying her towel over her chest.

“You don’t mock people just because you think you’re better than them. You are centuries years old and yet you act like a ten-year-old kid.”

Kitana fumed as her face turned red. She wanted to stand up and yank off that smirk from Jasmine’s face, but she held herself.

She could say nothing against Jasmine. They were almost at the same level of beauty; people were even comparing them both already. She could not insult her; there was nothing she could hold on to, so she just lay there glaring at her.

Jasmine rolled her eyes at her and packed her hair in a bun, then stood up and walked out.

The princesses were quiet for a few minutes before Emma spoke.

“Jasmine is so pretty.” She said with a smile, and Kitana added almost immediately;

“And you look like an ape.”

Color drained from Emma’s face as the other princesses erupted in a fit of laughter, except Zelda. She was still basking in the aftermath of the insult Kitana gave her; she didn’t even catch the joke.

“You think you’re better than the rest of us?”

Emma asked Kitana. She did not find her joke funny.

“I never said that. You did.” Kitana replied.

“I heard the king liked you before he met Delilah. That’s why you act like you’re better than the rest of us, but let me tell you, you surely can never be queen.

Do you know why? If the king had wanted you, he would have chosen you without this ceremony. But guess what? We are all here and you’re just like the rest of us. So cut your wings and stop acting high and mighty!”

Kitana did not like to be challenged, so she sat up to retaliate, but Lyra beat her to it.

“It’s enough. We are royalties and we can’t keep acting like this. Before anything, we have a kingdom we rule, becoming a queen or not will not change that. Please let’s stop fighting ourselves. Besides, it’s just one queen, so what is the point of fighting?”

Kitana breathed out, and said nothing in reply. The massage session went on quietly. Daphne and Alicia chatted as usual while the rest kept quiet.