To Bewitch a Devil

to her room. It was rude to eavesdrop on people’s conversations but she was a little inquisitive.

Sucking her both lips inwards, she tiptoed to where they were. Pen’s heart slammed rapidly against her chest as she peeked into the enclosed space, and her eyes widened when she saw Azriel and a fair lady kissing. The woman straddled Azriel and his hands caressed her back. She quickly hid in the back

of the flowers as her heart banged rapidly against her chest, that was not the sight she envisaged walking upon.

This was bad... if Azriel caught her peeking at them, it would be awkward. Pen bit her lower lip as she thought of how to escape without getting caught.

Taking in a deep breath, she walked forward, ever so lightly, not to make a sound. Her heart sunk into her stomach as she prayed to the heavens that they wouldn’t catch her.

Pen had just walked halfway away from where they were when she heard Azriel’s voice;

“Who is there?”

Pen froze instantly as the hairs on her skin stood straight. She shut her eyes, praying earnestly that he wouldn’t come out.

.....

“Is someone there?” A breathy feminine voice asked but Azriel said nothing; he just listened to hear the footsteps again.

“I don’t think anyone is there, it might just be the winds; let’s not spoil the fun...” the woman spoke breathily as she planted kisses on Azriel’s face.

Pen waited for a while as she listened to make sure that they were engrossed in whatever they were doing before she continued forward stealthily. She exhaled heavily when she finally got out of the gardens.

Pen patted her heart as she hurried back to her room, not wanting to think of what she had just seen. She didn’t look back until she was inside her room and she locked the door.

After she was left alone, she breathed in and walked to the table, taking a cup of water and gulping it down. Her thoughts went back to what she had just seen and she breathed.

Well, she had heard that Azriel was like that, changing women like a piece of cloth. She never for once mistook his actions towards her for love, but then she wondered how someone could do that without a single care in the world.

Well, he was a demon, as they had eternity to live, they could live however they liked.

Pen breathed as she went to the bed and

sat down. That night, after dinner, Azriel came to the room with a tray to dress the wound.

Pen raised her eyes at him as her thoughts immediately flashed to what happened earlier that evening and she blinked and looked

away.

“Have you had dinner?” He asked as he walked to where she sat on the bed; Pen nodded and sat up, undoing the ties of her dress.

It was the fact that he remembered to come

dress her wound even when he had a woman waiting which shocked her.

Azriel dressed her wounds quietly and helped her tie back her dress; “I’ll be going to source for potents for the soldiers tomorrow, do you want to come with me?”

He asked and Pen thought for a moment; well his personal life was none of her business and she had stayed there for days without going on, it would be fun to leave this place.

“What are the potents for?” She asked as she turned around to look at him;

“For a lot of things, but basically to make the soldiers stronger and faster,” Azriel explained.

Pen was quiet, she had heard that the demons drank human blood to be stronger but she did not believe it, and even now she did not want to. Thinking for a second, she asked;

“What are they made of, the potents?”

There was silence as Azriel thought; then he replied casually;

“Things, that are beyond your comprehension. You ask too many questions, Pen.”

He said with a smile and Pen smiled slightly;

“I’ll love to leave this place, I’ve been indoors for a long while.”

“Alright, make sure you wake up early. We have to leave at first lights.”

He said and stood up from the bed, Azriel stared at her for a moment, her black hair fell over her face and he used his index finger to push it behind her ears; Pen reflexively winced away from his touch.

Azriel quickly withdrew his hand and smiled;

“Goodnight, ” he said and then turned around and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Pen shut her eyes and breathed; she didn’t intend to move away in that manner but she couldn’t imagine that he tried to touch her, even when he had a woman waiting for him.

Pen stared at the door for a few seconds before she fell back on the bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

...

Lyra knocked on Kitana’s door before the door pulled open. It was late in the night and Kitana was not expecting anyone at that time but when Kitana saw her, she quickly opened the door.

“I’ve decided, we have to kill the girl. ”

Lyra said as she paced into the room. A smile coursed through Kitana’s lips, and she walked to where she stood;

“Okay, how are we going to go about it?”

Lyra thought for a second; “We have to kidnap her; hire men from outside the castle and kidnap her and then kill her.”

“How do we take her out of the castle is the question?” Kitana asked;

“We just have to hire the right men and pay them. They’ll take care of it. Our main duty is to get her out of the king’s chambers because they cannot bypass the guards at the doors.”

“Okay; you handle the men while I try to bring her out of the king’s chambers,” Kitana said. She had already thought of this plan but she wanted Lyra to bring it up herself so she would be the one to meet the men in case Zavian caught them.

If they didn’t see her then they wouldn’t be able to mention her if they were asked.

“Alright, I’ll see to that. When I talk with the men I’ll let you know the day so you would make the girl available.”

“Okay; that is good. I hope this works out, so we would put this behind us once and for all.”

Lyra nodded; “I’m sure it would; we just have to be careful not to make any mistakes. We can’t risk Zavian finding out. I’ll be going now, Goodnight.”

Kitana bade her goodnight, a smile stretching her chin. Lyra acted like she was wise, but that did not seem like the case. She was very shallow and acted without thinking.

Kitana laughed as she walked to her bed; “such a poor fool,”

How did she think in her mind that she would let her be queen, was she that stupid?

Kitana couldn’t help but laugh as she got into her bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

...

Neera hugged her pillow as she stood in front of Zavian’s door, not knowing how to knock. Since they came back from the inn, Zavian had barely said a word to her; she didn’t know what she did wrong to make him mad or was he regretting touching her and she repelled him?

He invited her to dinner but still didn’t talk to her. That night, she lay on her bed to sleep but sleep could not come. The past two nights she had slept with Zavian and it had been peaceful, but now she was alone, the memories of the nightmare and the man that had appeared in her room. She tossed and turned on the bed, sweating profusely. She was so scared, as sleep couldn’t come to her eyes. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she stood up and took a pillow, and ran to Zavian’s room.

She had been standing outside, contemplating how to knock on his door. The cold winds hit her skin and she hugged her pillow, trembling.

Neera knew she couldn’t keep standing there unless she would catch a cold; so raising her hand to the door, she knocked lightly;

Her heart banged against her chest, as she waited to hear a reply, when no one answered, she knocked again, but this time a little louder;

After a few seconds, the door pulled open and Zavian stepped out. He had a robe over his body with no shirt on. He was frowning but when he saw her his frown eased;

“Neera...”

“Your Majesty, I am sorry to bother you, please can I sleep in your room?”

Neera asked, her heart beating fast. She didn’t know where the courage came from but she didn’t have a choice. It was either that, or she would go back to the being in her room.