To Bewitch a Devil

41 Slowly and Tenderly

“Neera, wake up. ” Zavian shook the girl, who was screaming with her eyes tightly shut. She was soaked in her own sweat and her face was deadly pale.

Zavian did not know what to do. He was passing by her room to retire to his quarters when he heard her cries. He had walked in to check what was happening, only for him to see that she was having a nightmare.

“Neera, can you hear me?” He called again, but she was still screaming profusely and tossing about on the bed, not able to wake up. Staring at her, a thought came to him, and he pulled her up from the bed and embraced her.

“It’s okay, it’s fine now.” He whispered. At his words, as though a bowl of water had been poured on her, she calmed instantly.

Her hands wrapped around him tightly, and her tears dropped on his chest. Zavian’s heart skipped a beat at her sudden reaction. He peeked at her face and he saw she was still asleep.

There was total silence in the room as the only sound that could be heard was her occasional whimpers. After some time, he lifted his hand and patted her back. Slowly and tenderly.

Neera melted in his arms, her breath becoming even.

After a long while, Zavian let her go and placed her back on the bed. Standing up, he stared at her. The full moon was out, and he could make out a faint silhouette of her face. He wondered what sort of nightmare she had that made her cry so much. He wondered if she had nightmares every night.

Raising the duvet, he covered her properly before leaving the room.

.....

The next morning, Neera’s eyes opened to the chirping of birds by her window. She lay for a few seconds before she remembered the events of the previous night. Instantly, she jumped from the bed, her heart panting.

She had fallen into flames, and it burned her skin. She screamed, but no one came to her aid. She had not experienced such pain in her entire life. Then, as if he had fallen from the sky, she had seen the king in front of her.

Without a second hesitation, she ran to him and hugged him tightly. And the instant she hugged him, they were taken out of the fire and were standing on a beautiful beach.

The serene was peaceful, like paradise and she did not want to wake up.

Neera looked at her hands and it was fine, but she could not get her mind out of the dream. It seemed too real to just be an ordinary dream. What was the meaning?

She could not put her head around it, so she sighed and stood up from the bed. Walking to the window, she smiled when she recognized the bird chirping. It was the same bird that had come to her when she ate with the king.

How was it following her? She thought, laughing as she opened the window for it to come in.

The bird flew around the room before coming to sit on her finger.

Neera smiled as she patted its head.

“Oh poor thing, I don’t have any food to give you, but pray the king asks me to join him for breakfast, so I’ll keep some food for you.”

She wasn’t sure it could hear what she was saying, but she spoke to it, anyway.

The bird chirped and flapped its wings and flew away. Neera smiled and closed the window; she was about to take another step when she stopped and looked down at her dress. She had felt the King’s scent around her, but she thought little of it, but now she smelled her dress; Neera knew where it was coming from.

She knew what he smelled like; an earthy and musky scent that almost made you daydream. His scent was distinct, and it lingered wherever he was or passed, so she could mistake it.

So why was her dress having the same scent?

Neera’s heart beat fast as she tried to remember the events of the previous night. When she dreamt she had hugged Zavian, did she indeed hug him?

Neera’s eyes widened at the thought. No, she rejected it instantly, shaking her head. It was just her mind playing tricks on her. There was no way he would have come to her room. Maybe her dress smelled of him because it had been in his room.

Neera convinced herself. She didn’t want to believe that she had hugged the king; how would she face him? How dare she, an ordinary slave, hug the king?!

At her thought, there was a knock on the door, and Neera jolted. Taking a few breaths, she walked to the door and opened it.

A guard stood outside. “The king asks that you join him for dinner in thirty minutes. The guests are arriving today, so do not waste any time.”

At the mention of the king, Neera’s heart skipped a beat. Nodding, she closed the door.

She had even forgotten that it was the day for the princesses arrival.

Quickly taking her bath, Neera dressed up in one of the dresses the king had gotten her and went out to join him for breakfast at his dinette.

Thankfully, she was early, because after she walked in, the servants walked in right after and served the food.

Needs stood by the side as she waited for the king to come, her heart beating fast. She prayed it was a dream, or even if it wasn’t, he would not punish her for daring to touch him.

Needs shook slightly when the doors to the dinette pulled open and Zavian walked in.

“Good morning your Majesty.” She spoke, bowing her head.

“How was your night?” He asked, and she nodded. “Blissful.” She smiled.

“Come sit, the guests are almost here.”

Zavian ordered, and Neera heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed like it was all a dream, after all.

They hadn’t eaten for long when there was a knock on the door and a guard walked in.

“Your Majesty, the guests are at the gates.”