Lareina found herself standing in the hunting ground. She watched as numerous demonic hounds dragged around human bodies endlessly in the huge place. They crossed her endlessly but did not harm her.
''No… stop…'' she stepped forward even as her legs shivered when any one of those beasts looked her way.
But it seemed like her words had no impact on these creatures. The human bodies were covered in dust. The sound of demons laughing dominated the air as the human bodies got shredded to bits gradually, heads rolling to her feet.
''No…'' Tears rolled down her cheeks as she trembled, ''No, stop!''
But it was as if she was non-existent. Nobody listened to her.
Suddenly, a chill crept Lareina's body when she felt a movement near her feet. She slowly looked down, only to find the human heads moving. Eyes wide open, they looked at her with anguish.
Some familiar faces, some unfamiliar cried all the same tune.
'Princess, save us!'
'Princess, save us!'
'Save us, princess!'
''I can't. I am powerless. I…'' Her breathing turned ragged.
Slowly, their faces morphed into a beastly appearance as they looked at her fiercely, climbing onto her feet when she backed away on unsteady footing.
'Why can't you…?'
'You are a human princess!'
'You are not a demon.'
'Why can't you save one of your kind?'
'Princess, save us!'
Tears and blood intermingled in front of her vision as she screamed.
''No!'' Lareina sat up on the bed, her chest heaving, ''No…'' Tears streamed down her cheeks, ''No… No…''
''My Lady… My Lady…'' Rosie rushed up to her.
''No…'' Lareina clutched her wrist, her other hand tugging her hair in a death grip,
Rosie rubbed her back, ''My Lady, you will hurt yourself,'' With her other hand, she freed Lareina's hair from her grip easily, the disparity of strength between them striking.
Lareina's vision gradually cleared. She looked at Rosie, dazed.
Her gaze then trailed off to the window. The sky had turned dark. The events of the morning slowly flashed in her mind and her eyes scanned across her room.
Visibly relieved at Lareina's better expressions, Rosie spoke up, ''You lost consciousness in the hunting ground earlier. His Highness carried you here.''
Lareina looked back at Rosie, ''Where… is he?" Her voice came out unusually hoarse and her face scrunched in the pain in her throat.
''Have some warm water, My Lady. You have been sleeping the entire day and you kept crying and screaming in your sleep. I was worried this would happen.''
Lareina gently pushed away the glass of water and looked at Rosie who was looking everywhere but her, ''Where is he?" she repeated the question, her voice softer this time.
''His Highness…. had some work…''
''Rosie,'' Lareina's gaze deepened.
Rosie bit her bottom lips, ''Isn't it all because of that vixen? His Highness carried you all the way here and sat by your bed but then that bitch came sauntering inside your room saying she was here to see you. But then she started coughing and gasping for air. His Highness…''
Rosie did not want to continue but Lareina did not look away from her.
Lowering her gaze, Rosie continued, ''His Highness carried her and left and he hasn't come back since…''
Lareina lowered her head, her palms that rested on her lap trembled slightly.
''My Lady, you haven't eaten anything since morning. Because of His Highness's token, I can get better food for you. So, you should eat something first..''
''Did he go back to his bedchamber?" Lareina asked as she stood on her wobbly legs.
Rosie fell silent for a moment and then she nodded, ''Everyone is saying that they saw him carrying her to his room.''
Lareina had just taken a step forward when Rosie got up to follow her.
''Stay here,'' Lareina said softly before she walked out of the room.
Under the scrutinizing stares of the demons, Lareina walked all the way to Azrael's bedchamber.
''You can't enter,'' the guards blocked her path.
Lareina looked up and met their gazes. Her eyes were red and somewhat cold, ''Declare to His Highness that his wife is here.''
The demon guard exchanged glances. One of them hesitated.
''I have things to discuss with him right now. Would you shoulder the responsibility later when he looks for someone to blame?"
Just as one of the guards moved, the door opened from inside.
A beautiful face came to Lareina's view as Moira stood at the door, dressed in layered sheer nightdress. Her face slightly pale, ''My Lady…'' her eyes were full of surprise as she regarded her, ''Are you looking for His Highness…?"
As Moira spoke, she looked back into the room. Although Lareina could not see inside, she had been to Azrael's room before so she knew that Moira was looking in the direction of the bed.
''I am afraid he is not in a decent condition to meet someone right now,'' the demoness said softly.
''Tell him I am here and if he says the word, I will leave.''
''My Lady, I am afraid it's an inappropriate time…'' A sleeve of the upper layer of her nightdress slipped off her shoulder, revealing small bruises that covered her neck, leading up to her deep cleavage.
Lareina's face turned pale, the back of her eyes burning as tears clouded her eyes, blurring her vision, ''I…''
''Moira, what are you doing there? Come over here.''
Moira stepped inside and closed the door behind her and the guards stood in front of Lareina, blocking her path with a renewed confidence this time.
When Moira stepped inside the room, the room was empty. The bed was neat and untouched. She raised her hand and slid her palm across the bruises on her neck and chest which swiftly disappeared under her touch.
Then she turned to look in the opposite direction.
Towards the end of the huge bedchamber was the grand bath place where Azrael stood with a bowl in his hand.
''I have mixed all the essential oils and the herbs as the healer had prescribed. This will help you feel better,'' Azrael passed the bowl to Moira who received it with a smile, ''Who was at the door just now?"