From my shoulder, his hands went all the way down to my back, aggressively pressing my skin like he was looking for something.
He did the same to my hands, my neck and my face. I started questioning myself if that was how intimacy happened.
From what I heard, it starts with a kiss then a gentle grab on the waist. His hands would slowly run through my body, embracing every curve that I have while I feel the warmth of his lips.
Then he would slowly undress me, admiring my body while I do the same to him. And afterwards, we would do the naughtiest things while he whispers the dirtiest things in my ears. And when my legs begin to shake, I would beg for his freedom while he's inside me but he wouldn't let go of me because he isn't done yet.
After everything, I'll sleep tiredly in his hands till dawn. He would tell me how much he loves my body until I drift away.
Ah….what an imagination.
Instead of that, there I was as the devil ran his hands aggressively across my body. But for reasons I didn't understand, his hands didn't go where they weren't meant to. He didn't touch me inappropriately. Not at all.
Suddenly it stopped.
I couldn't feel or hear him around me anymore.
"Your….your highness?" I called, after waiting for a few minutes and my legs were starting to ache.
"He didn't do anything with you, did he?" A voice sounded behind me. It was obviously the voice of an old lady and I immediately took off the blindfold.
I turned around, and found a woman smiling brightly at me. "How….how did you know that he didn't?" I asked, fearing that the rumors were true and I would have actually died if he did.
"His majesty acts like he has an allergy to women. You're the first woman he would bring into his room. I was happy when I saw him taking you in. You must have caught his eyes. But I guess he couldn't bring himself to lay with you," She revealed.
I was confused.
"I thought…I thought people said that…."
"That he would lay with his women till they die?" She asked before I could finish and I shyly nodded.
She smiled and she handed me the towel in her hands. She held my hand and walked me into the washroom. I moved into the bath…the water was slightly cold but I couldn't complain. I didn't deserve to be treated like a queen anyways.
Even though it was cold, it was refreshing. The day had gotten darker and the heat was quite much. She gently massaged my shoulder as I washed every other part of my body.
"Francis is a sweet soul…on the inside," the woman said and I couldn't help but scoff.
"The devil?" I asked, trying to figure out if she actually knew what she was saying.
"I took care of him as a child after the death of his mother. I know he might appear so cold, but the little boy I raised has times when he would be so happy and bright," she said and the volume of her voice dropped. "I blame the devil for making Francis who he is today. I feel sorry for him. He's a man and he needs a woman by his side," the old woman said, washing my hair.
"I do not think that he needs a woman. What would a woman have to offer him? He's strong and gets whatever he wants," I said.
"A home," the old woman answered. "Maybe he wants a home and he wants to build one with you. Like I said before, you must have caught his eyes," She added and my heart skipped a beat.
The devil would want to build a home with me?
How? Why?
"You are just misunderstanding things. I am sure he couldn't do anything with me because I disgust him. They made him believe I killed my mother. He definitely hates me and is going to kill me soon. Why are you even cleaning me up when he would end up punishing me for it?" I asked.
She smiled and gently massaged my scalp. "Those innocent eyes are obviously too beautiful to kill someone. Your eyes must have caught his attention," She added.
I moved, trying to get her to leave me alone. I didn't want her raising my hopes up when I knew it wasn't the truth.
"Please. Do not say anything about him loving me. I know he doesn't. He hates me just like everyone else does," I said and I didn't even realize that I was crying. "Didn't you see? He saw my whole body but he didn't even touch me. I guess I really deserve the name Mala. I'm nothing close to being good enough. I just want death," I spoke and yes, I meant it.
I just wanted to die and put everything to an end.
I felt so useless, knowing that I would never be able to avenge my mother's death.
"If Francis doesn't love you, then why don't you make him do so?" she asked me and my heart skipped a beat. Again.
"What?" I panicked.
"There is something different about you that I cannot seem to lay my hands on. You're different," she said to me.
I shook my head.
Lies. They were all lies.
"The only thing different about me is the fact that my whole life is a curse. You should probably stay away from me so that I won't infect you with it," I coldly answered.
"You're the first woman Francis has ever been with. I can feel the connection between the both of you. I know fate brought you two together. I need you, Mala. Bring the human in Francis back. Make him love again. Make him happy. Keep him warm on the coldest nights," she said to me.
I didn't understand why but those words hit me like a rock. The moment she mentioned it, I felt obligated to do it.
But I couldn't. Even if I married Francis, it would be to use him to get revenge.
Not to love him.
I didn't deserve love and neither did I have the strength to love anyone. I couldn't imagine going through the same pain I felt when my mother died
"I can feel it, Mala. I know you're the only one who can fix him," she said.
And the second time, I heard someone telling me, "Marry the devil," she begged me, with tears in her eyes.