To Bewitch a Devil

265 What did you do?

“I love you, Zavian,” she said, reveling in the words with new warmth, a blanket to shield her from what was to come. “I love you.”

“I know, I love you too, Neera. It’s okay.” He said, stamping kisses all over her face. “It’s okay.”

She looked at him, and she hoped Penelope’s words were true, that Zavian would forgive her and won’t hate her, and they would be able to fix this dent and move on in their relationship. She hoped like she never did before, and took in a deep breath.

“You remember when I was mean and callous and inconsiderate?” Neera said. “After I cam back to life?”

“I remember,” Zavian said. “And I know that was not you.”

Neera took in a shuddering breath. “Lydia came to me several times during that time, and she promised to help me heal my cough if I gave her something in return.”

She could feel Zavian’s hands slack around her, the panic race of her heart, and the overwhelming impulse to reach to him and wrap herself back in his arms. Suddenly cold, she couldn’t bring herself to look up at his face.

“What did you give her in return, Neera?” Zavian’s grave voice sent chills that could freeze her blood.

“Zavian...”

.....

“What did you give her in return, Neera?”

“I never meant to hurt you,” the sobs came, and her chest shot with sharp pains. “I never meant to, I have always loved you.”

“Neera,” his voice was devoid of any emotion, and Neera didn’t want to see what his face would look like. “What did you give her?”

Neera pressed her eyes closed, and the tears ran down her face. This was it, she thought, this was their end.

“I gave her your blood,” she at last said.

Silence. Pure, unadulterated, and thick silence filled the room and clogged all her orifices. The heaviness that those words took a form, seated before her, and she could almost swear it was real, a black boulder that faded away, and she could see Zavian had stood.

“What did you say?” He asked.

“Lydia came to me, and asked me to trade your blood for my life,” she repeated. “And I did it.”

“Why?” He asked, breathless. She could see his feet walk away and return. “Why would you do such Neera?” She flinched at his tone. “Look at me! I am talking to you!”

She raised her head, and she saw his eyes had turned a formidable red. He wasn’t going to spare her, and she would take anything he gave her as punishment.

“Why would you do that, Neera?” He asked again. “Do you know the gravity of what you have done?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know...”

“You are sorry? And when you knew, you kept it to yourself all along! There is no excuse for what you did, no excuse, Neera!” He bellowed at her, veins popping on his neck, eyes getting so red the golden of his irises had vanished, and the canines came out, sharp like blades. He looked wild, and every trace of him minutes ago was gone.

“You don’t know how much I was dying to tell you!” Neera wept. “Please, Zavian, you have to believe me. I didn’t do it to hurt you, I didn’t.”

“How am I sure you still aren’t connected to Lydia? How am I sure I can ever trust you again?” He turned his back to her, a low rumbling noise emitting from him.

“Zavian,” she rose and walked to him. “I am Lilah, and Neera, and I love you...”

“Do not say that...”

“I love you, and I swear, I swear a thousand times over, I would never hurt you on purpose. I love you...,” She put a hand on his back, and Zavian swerved one of his arms, but he didn’t know she was standing so close, and he sent Neera flying and crashing against the bed frame.

No one said anything, and she looked to Zavian, eyes wide with fear, and she saw the red clear in his vision, saw the regret ground him back to the present.

He walked out of the chambers after, and Neera could only cry, and feel the blanket snatched from her, leaving her out cold and lonely.

....

Lydia walked in through the gates, cloaked in heavy robes that shielded her face from many people that walked past her that night. The rain pattered down lightly, the sky grumbling with a promise to cry in heavier, fatter drops of water.

By the time she reached her destination, she was soaked. She was let in, and in the living room, she discarded her robe and warmed herself before the fire, a contented sigh leaving her lips as the heat enveloped her.

“I didn’t know you would come tonight,” a voice behind her said.

“And I didn’t know you would let me in.”

“I thought I would be dead today, Lydia.”

“You worry too much, Frederick. Grow a backbone,” Lydia said. “I told you he wouldn’t find out, even if he read your palm, but look at you. Are you trying to get me to pet you like a child? Tell you everything is going to be alright?”

Frederick glowered, and sat in the adjacent seat to her, and from Lydia’s periphery, she could see him watching her with curiosity.

“How did you do it?” He asked.

“Years of practice and failure,” Lydia answered, knowing what he was talking about. “Once you drink the potion, the demon, no matter how powerful, only sees what you have told him in a very convincing manner.”

“He could have read my past without asking me beforehand, Lydia,” Frederick said, still shaken from the occurrence of the day.

Lydia sighed. “If he did, your head will be mounted prettily on the castle’s wall, don’t you think?”

Frederick rose so fast from his seat and Lydia held a knife to his throat before he could come any closer.