To Bewitch a Devil

Azriel looked around, and after he was sure there was no one close to hear their conversation, he asked, in a dropped tone, “I want to know if you have looked at this from another perspective.”

“What other perspective?”

“Jasmine wasn’t the only demon in the room.”

Zavian’s shoulders tightened, and the tips of his fangs drew out like blades in his mouth.

“So you are saying Neera is lying?”

“This Neera isn’t the same as the Neera she was when she was alive…”

It happened so quickly. Zavian drew out Azriel’s knife and aimed for his throat, holding it close enough to graze his skin. One little movement from Azriel, and it would be poking into his neck.

“Even as my friend, there are things you don’t have any right to say,” Zavian gritted out. “Do not even try to go there.”

.....

Azriel opened his mouth to speak, but Zavian pushed the knife even closer, and the tip pierced his skin. A trickle of blood ran down his neck, and both demons had a stare down. Finally, Azriel managed what was a nod, and Zavian did a slow back away.

He dropped the knife to the ground and stalked out of the castle. The minute the air hit him, he could feel the tension leave his body, and he stood there, eyes closed, the sun bathing him in its missed warmth, and the world was still and quiet.

Until it wasn’t.

He heard the footsteps first, and when he opened his eyes, she was walking toward him, all dressed in a black bejeweled gown, and still with the same sly smile on her lips. This time, there was a hint of victory in her expression, and no ounce of grief hidden in those bright green eyes.

She stopped in front of Zavian and bowed in greeting.

“Your Majesty, we meet again, however, under unfortunate circumstances,” Kitana said.

“I now understand better why your father is hell-bent on talking about me finding a Queen when we should be mourning,” Zavian said.

Kitana walked up closer to him. “That’s not why I am here, personally. Jasmine became a friend during our stay in the castle and was the sweetest person alive.” She drew out a long sigh, and her fingers played on Zavian’s shirt. “Between the two of us, we both know it takes more… backbone to run a Kingdom risen from blood, death, and ashes.”

Kitana turned her head in a way that her face was inches away from his, and she smiled.

“You don’t have to come outside every time it gets too much to bear. You know where to find me,” Kitana said.

“I see you are still the same,” Zavian commented. “A leopard can never change its spots.”

“Would you prefer me a rabbit or a leopard? To devour or to be devoured? I choose the former.” Kitana was in the least bit offended. “I would see you around then, Your Majesty.”

She walked away inside the castle, and as Zavian watched her go, he had long known how things would go from then on.

It was going to break out in chaos, but he was ready for it all.

….

On the day of the burial, the Kingdom emptied its people into the palace. Everyone had a lot of theories concerning the Queen’s death, each tainted from one lip to another until it became something out of a fairy tale, like dragons and goblins. Some believed Lilah’s ghost still haunted the castle walls, and she was still bound in marriage to their King, some believed the Queen had sacrificed herself to break the curse. The very few unproblematic ones with simple lives believed death was simply what it was; inevitable.

Jasmine was laid inside a gold-plated coffin carried high on the shoulders of six Knights. Wails filled every corner, women threw themselves on the ground, begging for them not to bury her just yet.

Not like she would rise from the dead, Neera thought as she rested her side on the wall, watching them cart her away. From the midst of people, she saw Penelope approach her, and she didn’t acknowledge her presence, hoping it was enough to tell the maid to move along and leave her alone.

Neera frowned as the maid approached. Penelope was dressed in a black eyesore, just like every peasant present. Her eyes were these big wells of sadness, and she gave Neera a soft smile.

“I was looking everywhere for you,” she said. “I figured this is too much for you to handle.”

“I want to go outside the castle gate, but the King wouldn’t allow,” Neera said, eying a woman crying and hugging herself as if in pain. “On the one hand, he is telling me he loves me, on another hand, he is keeping me prisoner. Make it make sense.”

“He is protecting you, Neera.”

“I never asked for his protection,” Neera shot at her. “Do I look like a child to him? Or, even worse, do I look like a human?”

“You were human like me before, Neera, so you were the very thing you look down on.”

“Aren’t I a lucky soul, then?” Neera’s lips quirked. She frowned at the scene before her and turned to head back inside the castle.

“Neera”, Penelope called her. Neera fisted her hands, and Penelope continued, “I truly miss you.”

Neera whirled to look at her. “Were you always this much of a leech?”

Penelope backed away as if hit. “Neera…”

“Leave me alone, and let me be. Whatever you have missed is history.” Neera said. She could feel the irritation seize her and crawl around her skin, sitting on her like a discomforting piece of clothing. Why was everyone so disgustingly vocal about their emotions? They wanted her back, she came, and suddenly everyone was talking about how they felt about her.

They were all weak.

Neera needed to get out of that depressing environment, and fast. Turned out the only place she could retreat to was her chambers, so she headed there, and Penelope was wise enough to keep those lips of hers shut, else Neera was close to sending Jasmine a friend to accompany her.