To Bewitch a Devil

She did not want to, there was no way she would just follow him without saying anything. If he was going to make her sleep with him against her will, then she would rather say her mind than keep quiet.

Azriel was calm as he stared at the girl. Well, he did not expect her to be yielding that easily but he did not think that would boldly refuse him. He smiled and brushed his fingers through his hair and then asked;

“Why? You’ll stand to gain a lot.”

Pen swallowed. Some of the maids slept with them for what they would gain, given that they were not going to get pregnant, there was nothing much to lose. But she was not interested at all. She did not want anything from him, she just wanted him to leave her alone.

“I do not want anything from you, my lord.”

She spoke respectfully, her head bowed.

Azriel chuckled lightly as she stared at the girl. Penelope looked at him, wondering what was funny about what she had said.

“You can go,” Azriel said and Pen looked at him in surprise, was he letting her go? Just like that?

.....

“Have you changed your mind?” Azriel asked when he saw that she was not leaving. At that instant, Pen lowered her head;

“Thank you, my lord.” With that, she turned and walked away briskly before he changed his mind.

Azriel stared at the girl walking as fast as her legs could carry her and he laughed, did she think he was done with her?

He thought. He had not done something fun in years, at least this was a welcome excitement.

“Penelope...” he called as though trying to ingeave her name in his mind, a smile stretching his lips.

...

It has been three days since Neera was grounded in her room. She was almost hearing voices now from doing nothing all day.

As usual, she sneaked out when she was sure there were not much people on the stairs and hallway and got some food from the kitchen, then sneaked back into her room.

She had overheard the servants saying that the dukes were leaving at first lights the next day, so she was excited. Finally, she would leave this room.

She thought.

Neera lay on her bed, when she heard a knock on the door, then she stood up and walked to it;

Outside was a servant carrying a tray of food;

“Miss, the king asked me to bring this to you.”

Neera looked at the tray in surprise, then she took it from the servant.

Closing the door, she placed the tray on the table and opened the covers of the food. On the tray were a full-course meal and a bottle of wine.

Neera’s heart softened as she wondered why he had gotten the food for her. Did he know that she was remanded here?

He had been busy with the dukes so he had not sent for her recently. She only heard when he passed with his guards early in the morning, or returned late in the evenings.

He never knocked on her door, he never called for her.

Neera smiled as she wondered if he had noticed her absence or maybe Freya had told him that she grounded her.

Either way, she was still grateful that he had asked a meal to be delivered to her.

Sitting down, Neera devoured the food. She had only had a loaf of bread since morning and she was famished.

After eating, she stared at the plates. She could not leave them there, they were royal plates, and she would get in trouble if anyone came in and saw them there.

Contemplating, she decided to take them back to the royal kitchen. It was late and everyone was at the party, so no one would see her.

Sranding up, she carried the tray and left the room.

Neera went down the stairs and walked towards the kitchen, but just when she was half way to the kitchen, she saw one of the dukes and a guard walking in her direction.

Neera’s heart flew out of her rib cage as she panicked.

Lowering her head, she walked quickly, praying earnestly in her heart that he had not seen her.

But as usual, luck was not on her side, because as soon as she was about to walk through the gates of the kitchen, someone yelled;

“You, stop there.” Neera almost passed out from fright as the fingers that held the tray trembled. She stopped walking but she did not turn around.

“Turn around.” Neera shut her eyes as she said her last prayers. It was over for her. Freya had warned her strictly to not let the Dukes see her, she had been careful all these while, but at the dying minute she messed up. She always messed up.

“Gracious!”

Fredrick exclaimed as his eyes fell on the girl in front of him. He heard that she looked like Delilah but no, this was Delilah standing in front of him.

His lips were parted in awe as he walked towards Neera.

“You’re human, how is this possible?” He asked, not believing his eyes.

Neera’s hands tightned around the tray she was carrying as she wanted to disappear into the ground that minute. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead as she panicked. She was dead. Freya would kill her.

“Come with me. I have to show you to the others.” Fredrick spoke but Neera hesitated.

“My lord, I have to keep this in the kitchen.” She said, begging the heavens that he would let her leave so she could escape, but as usual her bad luck failed her.

“You,” he spoke, pointing at a guard; “take the tray to the kitchen.” Fredrick said and the guard took the tray from her.