Auxi laid her fingers on his lips with her head bent towards him. He could feel his heart beating a thousand times. He had slain people without flinching an eye and she somehow had the audacity to do this to him. But he felt powerless as he fell further into her trance.
Zip! Zap! Tang!
The fall of dagger brought him back to his senses. As he turned back, he saw it too. The eye Delilah left.
"I had been noticing this since she left. It followed us all the way here. And now it won't."
He knew what it was - the all seeing eye he himself had gifted Delilah as a child. It was for her to look outside when she was grounded at home.
"You seem to know what it is. I'll ask the maids to throw it out."
Auxi lay on the bed, staring at him - his face a cocktail of hatred and dismal features. Now finally he had gotten rid of Delilah. Good riddance rather: that woman had the audacity to peek at his life.
Sitting up straight, Auxi said, "Now that I have helped you, you must return my favour. Just imagine if Delilah would have realised we aren't together. She would have never left and tattled to the entire Netherworld. I saved your butt Mister and I deserve a gift."
"Uhh..yes. I will cancel your sentence and allow you to live here. I'll.. I'll get going now."
He still felt out of his mind. Damn it! He needed to get back on his feet. What was wrong with that woman.
As he turned the knob, her sweet voice followed, "Remember, you still owe me a wish."
Her laugh rang in his ears. His temples pulsed as he rushed out of her room, he could see all the maids blushing. He couldn't understand how she got the upper hand but he would make sure she wouldn't anymore. He was the Emperor. The most ruthless one his kingdom had ever seen.
"Groca, set me a hot bath, now!"
Groca was still smiling after the exchange. He hadn't seen his Master so out of character ever before. Finally that Miss Delilah was gone. Gone for good that is. She is a firecracker, that Auxi.
"Sire, you must be ecstatic to have her out of your life now, huh?"
"Yes, yes.."
"Sire, you don't seem like yourself, are you well?" There was genuine concern in his voice, after all he had seen over his Master ever since he came to the Netherworld. He was just a banished Crown Prince then, but now he was strong, agile and powerful. He was as proud as a father.
He lit the candles that his Master liked, the lavender ones. "Sire, remember when we first brought Celebath for a bath here?"
"Those were some good times indeed." When Hazelkar first came here, Celebath was still a puppy. He had hidden him in his cape as he descended. How Celebath cowered when he saw the drudgery of the Netherworld! He was so scared. Groca was young then, his temples only had a few white strands. He had taken Celebath out his cape and brought him here to give him a warm bath.
"Groca, tell me how do you find that young woman?"
"You mean Auxillium, sire?"
"Yes, her."
Groca felt that his Master would enquire about her.
"She's a good lad, sire. Why do you ask?"
"Nothing."
Groca had finished setting the candles afloat when he undressed. It was dark, quite dark but he could still see the scars Hazelkar had from his fight with the Heavenly Order. White strikes on his earthly body.
"What about my parents? The invitations are still coming?" His parents had been sending invitation for a feast in celebration of his wedding. It was tradition to do so. He had been ignoring them, after what they had done he didn't want to go back. Ever.
"Sire, your mother wrote this time. She's quite upset that you didn't inform them of your wedding."
"Upset? Have they ever written to ask for my health? My well being?"
His blood boiled thinking of his parents. His life had been nothing but betrayals. He dipped in the water, cooling off his anger somewhat.
"Groca, would you shampoo my hair?"
Lathering, Groca couldn't remember how many times he had done it. But he would retire soon, after all he did have a family of his own. Someone would need to take over his responsibility.
Breaking the silence, Hazelkar said,"Write to my parents. I will be going tomorrow."
Groca stood frozen in shock. He knew it would be a disaster. "And tell her too, she will be coming with me. We leave at dawn."
The water dripped to the floor as he took his towel. Groca had never seem him so resolute. He prayed for Hazelkar to keep his calm.
*
"Madame, you play the violin very well. Exquisite!"
"Thank you Groca!"
Auxi had nothing to do in the palace all day except look at the forest. Her father had taught her the violin before he died. He had painstakingly taught her everything tune he knew. She soon fell ill after his demise and never got to touch her violin again. Now, though dead, she had finally gotten back to practise.
The maids assembled at her door to tune in to the melody that entranced beings. Honey dipped tunes.
"Madame, you have a journey to embark upon tomorrow."
"Journey?"
"Yes. Sire and you shall be leaving for the High Heavens tomorrow."
"We're meeting his parents?"
"Yes." Silence followed. Groca wanted to caution her. It wouldn't be good if there was no one calming his Master down. He didn't want people bleeding.
"Madame, do not tell Sire of this, but you must know this."
"Sire, does not have a good relationship with his parents. I am not to go tomorrow, but I am quite terrified what will happen tomorrow if he lashes out.
I pray that you help him behave himself. "
"Why? He doesn't get along with them?"
"No, not quite." Now that Groca had picked on the thread, he might have to unravel it all.
"Years ago, when Sire was the Crown Prince, he was forcefully demoted to the Emperor of the Afterlife. He could have ruled the Heavens but, it pains me so to tell you. His parents failed him miserably and he does not wish to meet them. He accepted their request to visit but I fear tomorrow might not be so pretty. All I ask of you is to calm him down."
"Why can't you go Groca? You're scaring me!"
"Beings from the Netherworld are not allowed there. Sire has specifically asked you to be there. Maintain this facade, please, I beg."
"I do not know of what will happen tomorrow. I wish he would not have agreed. You do not understand the gravity of the animosity they have between them."
Auxillium could see Groca faithfully cared for him. That man did have issues to sort. Maybe she could help him through.
"There's one thing I must ask. What is his name?"
"His name? You do not know?"
"Apparently, no. No one ever told me. You dumped me on him on his wedding day."
"Pardon me, I was pressed at the time. For his name, he is Hazelkar."
"You know, you remind me of my father."
He did remind her of her dad. They would often spend evenings together under the hazel skies, back home. The thoughts of her mother still harangued her, but she was happy her mother no longer had a sick child. The impending death was more painful.
"I do?"
"Yes."
Together they looked out into the sunset. The ablaze sky bound them together in an unknown relation - an untold one, a fatherly love hanging like heavy mist. The stone walls, the rose scents, the four poster bed - all stood in witness to the unsaid familiarity.
That evening, serving dinner, Groca had an unprecedented cherub glow. He noticed it too and wished to ask him but this was unfamiliar territory - to ask for the other's well being.
"Did you ask her?"
"Oh yes, I did. She didn't even know your name." His face cracked a grin, his white teeth shining.
Of course she didn't! He remembered how he had reprimanded her when she asked. She was a sharp one, that lad. "What's her name?"
"Auxillium, don't you remember?"
"No, her entire name?"
It baffled Groca too that he didn't know her entire name. "You can ask her yourself tomorrow."
"Have my bags been packed?" "Yes, sire. Your suits will be laid out tomorrow."
Back in room, Auxi was exasperated from the effort of packing her luggage. Her maids dotted her room, down to the hall, recommending her outfits. She needed to look good. Even though he married her forcefully, even though he was cold as ice, even though they hadn't talked closely as spouses, he deserved the right to look good in front of his parents, he needed to show that he had the ability govern his life very well on his own and that meant she needed to look good. Her heart hurt for him, no one should be betrayed by their parents and his had given up on him.
"What about this?" She said holding up the black silk dress Groca had sent in for her. None of the dresses could appease the maids and Auxi took their comments seriously. She needed serious help. "Can any of you go and fetch Groca?"
*
"What did you say you wanted?" Groca was setting his Master's tea before bed, he needed it to sleep. The maid felt flushed to vocalise her Mistress's commands out loud. Even Hazelkar was amused to see one of her maids running into his chambers.
"Madame, madame wants you downstairs?"
"For what? I am setting his bed."
"She.. she needs your help to select an outfit for tomorrow." Her head bowed in embarrassment. Hazelkar had put down his book, his reading glasses rested on the nook of his nose.
"Dress you said?"
The maid was startled to hear him speak. He avoided them actively and had hardly spoken to any of them.
"Y..yes sire."
"Groca, am I set for the blue lapeled suit tomorrow?"
"Yes, sire."
"I had the blue gown sent in from town for the wedding pictures, but we never got to it." His sighs punctuated his upheaval. "Send that to her. We may go forth tomorrow as a matching couple."
He had painstakingly planned the wedding, it was supposed to be a state wide affair and it needed to be perfect. Had he talked to her before the wedding or told her about it, maybe he could have avoided the then unforseen ugly circumstances that followed.
*
Chirping birds broke dawn, as mauve streams of lights refracted in the glass windows lending the chambers a hazel gaze. Auxillium had been up all night, rehearsing her bows and wrapping her gifts. She wrapped them, unwrapped them and continued till her hands gave out. She seemed complacent, hiding her true thoughts beneath.
Her stilettoes echoed in the empty manor as her dress flowed behind her, a river of solemn silk.
"Good morning!" Her greetings broke his solitude as he looked out. It was a formal arrangement to meet his parents, he would have been chided by his entire world had he not agreed.
"Where's the carriage? Out front?"
"Carriage?" He seemed confused.
"Are we riding horses? I don't know how to?"
She truly could enlighten his day. Her naiveity did not make her stand out dumb, it added to her charm of innocence. He had been harsh towards her in the beginning, but she was his official wife.
"We have a vehicle here."
The Netherworlds did indulge in mortal inventions. Vehicles, mixers they had it all.
The Cadillac laid out, polished to a shine, it's tailfins gleaming. A gasp escaped her mouth as she saw it.
"Sit down."
He had learnt how to drive after being sent here, any use of magical powers was prohibited here, allowing him incapable of flying. He didn't wander about though, he had enough work on his desk - the continual shortage of workers, the fate of the mortals - all lay on his shoulders.
He drove through the Gates, the meadows lay ahead.
"Pardon me, where are the souls? I don't see any hellfire?"
"Hellfire?"
"All the souls that come down here, they work to pay off their sins. Then they are reincarnated."
But Auxillium was too bewildered by the forest to pay attention to him. She could see the fawns, the deers, the bears and even frogs.
She fell into a slumber not even noticing that the car was flying all on its own.
A sudden nudge woke her up, we're here. It looked a lot like his palace but bigger, wider, more magnificent.
He helped her down into the hall.
The large windows let in the sunlight, silver cutlery lit up. People had already amassed, making merry. She had never been a part of such a formal gathering. When they entered, it all came to a halt. Auxillium could see his temples pulsating. She rested her arms on his, making sure he wouldn't explode.
"Hazelkar."
A solemn voice echoed from behind.
"Mother."
A deafening silence followed.
Suddenly a bright beam of light blindingly tore apart the room. Everyone bent in anguish as a form descended, blindingly everyone in perpetual pain. The ceiling broke apart, pieces shattering everywhere. Pipes burst open, showering the delicacies laid out on the tables. The ceiling had been torn apart, fragment by fragment.
"She," it said pointing to Auxillium, "shall be my wife."