To Bewitch a Devil

Daphne jumped from her bed when she heard a knock on her door. Her heart beat loud against her chest as she stared at the door for a few seconds before she stood up and walked to it;

Pausing for a second, she pulled the door open. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw it was her maid by the door;

“Your highness, I came to...”

Daphe looked at the girl and before she could complete her words, she ordered; “Leave, and don’t let anyone knock on the door unless it’s important.” Without waiting for the girl’s reply, she shut the door and walked back to her bed.

She was already tired of waiting for the letter. She just wanted to receive it and get relief. Daphne had not slept all night, so as she lay on her bed, she drifted to sleep, but she had not rested for up to ten minutes when a knock came on the door. Her eyes opened softly and she stood up and walked to it;

Outside stood a boy with a brown sealed envelope.

“A letter for the Princess;” the boy spoke, stretching the letter towards her. Daphne took the envelope and shut the door. She stood behind the door for a few seconds before she opened the letter and read from it;

“... The throne thanks her highness, Princess Daphne for joining in the process of choosing a queen for the throne. However, Princess Daphne has failed to meet the conditions to enter the next tests. We appreciate her efforts and wish her journey mercies on her way back home.”

.....

Daphne held the letter as she stood behind her doors as a sense of calmness washed over her. She had been troubled all night and unable to sleep, although it wasn’t a good message, it had relieved her. Closing the envelope, she threw it across the floor and got into her bed, and slept off.

...

“Oh thank God!” Lyra exclaimed in excitement as her eyes skimmed through the ink on the letter quickly. Thankfully, she was not going home. Heaving a sigh of relief, she walked to her bed and sat down;

She was sure Princess Daphne was going, but who else would go with her? She thought as she smiled. Now the competition was getting intense, she had not done well in the previous tests but would buckle up now she was not disqualified.

There was a knock on the door snapping Lyra from her thoughts;

“Come in.” She spoke and the door opened and Pen walked inside with a basket of roses.

Ever since that night, Lyra had made sure to punish Pen at the slightest chance. The other maids did not do much work anymore as she went out of her way to make Pen work more.

That morning she had sent Pen to bring her roses from the gardens. Roses were thorny flowers and could easily bruise you, and Lyra had sent her very early in the morning, when she knew she wouldn’t be able to see clearly, knowing that it would prick her hands.

Lyra’s eyes fell on the basket and she pointed at the empty vases;

“Fill them with water and put the roses in.” She ordered, barely glancing at Pen. Pen nodded and walked to the vases. Her hands bled in different places but she could not say a word, she just did as she was told.

“Wash the restroom after you are done, make sure to scrub the tub well, I don’t want to see any stains. After that, you fill my bath water in, you know the oils I love, not so much lavender, and use some rose petals, remember the water should be lukewarm... ”

Pen stood in front of the vases as she listened to Lyra dictate commands. Ever since that night, her life had been a living hell. Her back was still bruised and she could not lie on it or stand straight, but Princess Lyra did not care.

Pen did not think she would still be mad after two days, but it did not seem that she was going to back down anytime soon.

Pen’s eyes blurred as she picked up the roses and placed them into the vase. She did not eat lunch or dinner the day before as she was making fresh lavender oil for Princess Lyra, who had insisted that she made it that night before she slept.

At this rate, Pen was sure she was going to fall sick.

...

Pen stood up with the scrub in her hand as she looked at the bathroom, making sure there were no stains on the walls. When she was sure it was sparkling clean, she poured the water she had boiled earlier and mixed it with cold water from the gallons.

After putting the oils and rose petals Lyra had asked for, she went to call her to bath.

”Your highness, your water is ready; ” Pen spoke as she entered the room and Lyra stood up and dragged her feet across the floor as she walked to the bathroom;

“Leave and shut the door after you.” She said, taking off her robe and tossing it on a chair before she walked into the bathroom.

Pen heaved a sigh of relief as Lyra disappeared from the room, and she quickly walked out before she would change her mind;

Pen walked slowly towards the kitchen to know if there was something for her to eat, she had not walked for long when her eyes met someone familiar.

Pen’s heart skipped a beat when she saw the person standing in front of her and she quickly turned the other way, praying that he had not seen her.

Azriel stopped walking when he noticed Pen’s slow steps. Her face was pale and her lips looked chapped. Her hands were red as though they were bruised and she looked like she was about to faint.

He wanted to ignore her; he had said he would not bother with her anymore, but seeing her in that unrecognizable state, he couldn’t bring himself to walk away;

“Pen...”