"Clap' 'clap' stellar performance, Red. You didn't tell me you were so talented. Oh that might be, because you ran away on the first day of the job". Gavriel praised and then reminded her of what she had done.
Florah froze her mind blank all she could hope for was for this to be a terrible nightmare and that she would wake up the next morning.
While the girl stood frozen at her spot, the king enjoyed watching her plight. Although the room was dark with no light, he could see clearly.
Hair disarray from running, dress burnt and torn.
Cheeks red with bruises, he furrowed his brows at that.
Standing up he walked towards where she stood, Florah woke up from her stupor when she saw the king make his way to her.
She had so many questions, 'How is he here? How did he find out where l live? Why isn't he at the castle?
HE SHOULDN'T BE HERE'. Florah internally screamed.
The king stood tall before her, 'Should I apologise?' She wondered.
Bowing her head, she opened her mouth to apologise "I am..s...".
Before she could finish her apology, her head was lifted up. Holding her cheeks Gavriel narrated "Mistake number two. You know Red, l have known you for about two days. But one, you prove to be a liar. Two, you are poor at following such simple orders. Three, you ran. That last one was the stupidest one of all".
Florah kept quiet her heart skipping a beat when he called her liar.
"But lastly, why didn't you go for the theatrics. The way you cried infront of those guards, how you used your tears to gain empathy from that old woman. But you couldn't win over those witches, who seemed to know something more about you" He whispered the last statement.
Florah felt like going back in time and erasing the idea of working in the castle from her head, it had only been two days but they felt like a year.
Now she stood infront of the king in her small house, with her heart ringing in her ears, wondering what he would do to her after she had run away from him.
When he said 'liar', did he found out that she never worked at any restaurant or did he mean something else that she had lied about.
"Am truly sorry, your highness. I know what l did is unforgivable but l didn't think l was capable of the job, sire". Florah apologised choosing her words carefully.
Gavriel looked at how red her cheeks and eyes were and chuckled lightly. Florah looked at his silhouette in the darkness and wondered why he laughed.
Her cloth was lightly burnt he said "Some magic seems not to affect you" he changed the subject.
He looked at her eyes that reflected her confusion so he added, "The witch's fire wave would have burnt you or worse if you were a human".
He pointed out another lie of hers, " I am 'human', sire" Florah emphasized more to herself than to the king.
Gavriel just looked at the girl silently who didn't know what she was and was scared to find out.
He smirked and said "I got a present for you".
Letting go of her chin, he went to pick something up from the bed.
Florah was confused 'What an odd man, he follows me all the way here to give me a present for escaping from him'.
"Huuuuhh" Gasping in horror, Florah looked at what was supposed to be her present.
Gavriel held the witch's head that looked like it was melting with the eyes and cheeks drooping.
Standing infront of the mirror "come here" he called.
Florah hesitated for a second to receive a warning glare from the king, shakily walking to stand next to him. She kept her eyes down not wanting to look at what he was holding.
Suddenly the head Gavriel held was covered with blue fire, she was startled upright when the king put the blazing head before her.
"See, wasn't he the one who punched and slapped you?" Florah nodded slowly goosebumps covering her body in fear.
"Look", he now pointed to the mirror that reflected his majestic self holding a head on fire and her who looked like she was going to pass out at any minute.
Locking eyes with her through the mirror, he warned seriously "Dear Red, you can never run nor hide from me so never try again. If you ever run or 'lie' to me ever again, I will take away all that is dear to you. From now on, I am your master you do as I say, you follow no one but me.
You are not allowed to leave my sight unless told to do so. You will be punished if you do not follow my orders. Understood?"
Florah looked on and listened helplessly 'How did l end up in this situation. I was living quietly until now. This is all my fault, Jeremy would be very disappointed' were the thoughts running astray in her head.
She slowly nodded turning to look at her master who was smiling down at her innocently like he didn't just dictate his will upon her.
All the running around just to lead to him.
She didn't want to know what was going to happen to her from now on.
While she was wallowing in self pity, she heard the man say "Bring your hand".
She gave her hand to him slowly, she was scared seeing him put her hand on the witch's head still on fire.
A tear escaped her eye afraid that he was planning to burn her hand as punishment for all her actions. She closed her eyes waiting for immense pain to wash over her arm.
Several seconds passed but she felt no pain slowly opening her eyes, she saw that she was actually touching fire but there was no pain.
She looked at the king in bewilderment asking with her eyes 'what was happening', how come she wasn't feeling any pain.
Florah didn't know that her eyes were becoming darker the longer she touched the fire.
Gavriel observed the girl's eyes that darkened in colour, he put out the fire for black ash to fall to the ground.
As soon as he put out the fire, Florah swayed feeling dizzy. Before she could register what was happening, she collapsed to the ground.
Gavriel bent down to pick up his mysterious maid and berated "Such a trouble magnet".
He carried her and disappeared through a black portal.