I had tears streaming down my face in no time. I would run away from myself at that point if I could. I kept stepping back, like I could really flee from myself.
But my body hit a figure. "ahhh!" I screamed and I turned back in fear. The moment my scared eyes landed on him, he closed his eyes.
"Uhhhh!" Ria and the other girl gasped for air and they rushed up.
"It …it wasn't me," I cried.
I turned to them and they looked miserable. Still with Francis' eyes closed, he walked towards the bed and sat, facing the other side.
"We didn't do anything to her…. She tried to kill us. Help us your majesty…she might have all the maids murdered!" Ria cried, looking miserable and weak.
I shook my head.
Francis sighed. "She seems to be in such a good mood to have kept you alive," Francis said, referring to me like I was some monster.
I'm not a devil! Not everyone is like him!
"Leave before I finish what she started," Francis growled and they rushed out of the room.
I fell on my knees, desperate to prove my Innocence, again.
"I didn't do it. I am sure they had some sort of witchcraft, your highness. They did it to blackmail me. I really didn't do it, your highness. Please, believe me. I didn't kill my mother either. They are all lies," I cried.
"Close your eyes," Francis ordered like all that I said didn't matter.
I didn't dare to argue.
I closed my eyes. "Your majesty," I mouthed, sobbing and I felt his hands holding my shoulder. He pulled me up.
His scent ran through my nose. It wasn't a scent that I have perceived anywhere else. It smelt like roses with a sense of masculinity.
I couldn't describe it.
I immediately cautioned myself. That wasn't the time to admire a man's fragrance, especially not when the man was the devil and I had to prove that I wasn't a witch.
I felt his hands cupping my chin. "It was me. Not you," he said, directly into my ear and it felt like a burden had been lifted off my chest, but the knot in my stomach wasn't loose yet.
What did he want this time?
Would he strip me naked and leave me behind again like the last time? Or would he really fulfill his dreams on my body?
I felt his nose on my neck as he sniffed my skin. He went on for seconds and my body shivered.
A man had never been so close to me. And his hands? His hands held tight unto my body like he was trying to prove that he owned the whole of me.
He was so warm. He wasn't as cold as his character. I expected nothing but a kiss next but suddenly he stopped and he let go of me. "Try to smell better next time. I was trying to figure out where the smell came from. I had to confirm if it is from you," he said and I heard him walking away.
My eyes were still shut.
What?
I had never been told that I smelt bad my whole life. I was sure I wasn't smelling bad. Especially when I just finished having my bath.
"I just…I just had my bath, your majesty. I am sorry if I still made you uncomfortable but …. but I do not think that I smell that bad," I spoke. The moment I said them, I felt like I had said too much.
"I have a sharp sense of smell. I don't want to come back into my room everyday and find you smelling like this," he said. Even though he was just talking, his voice still made me scared.
But wait.
"Everyday?"
What did he mean by everyday?
"I am going to grant unto you something that every woman who knows me wants," Francis offered. What would the devil give me?
People always said taking something from the devil was the same as wishing for death.
"I…."
"I am giving you the chance to love and adore me," he said and my heart skipped a beat.
"Love?"
I definitely heard that wrong. The devil didn't just say that. "I know. I know you're overwhelmed by the grace that I have given you, but it's the least I can do. You can love me, Mala. I won't stop you," He said and I didn't even know what to say.
Even if he wanted me to love him, why did he make it sound like he was doing me a favour? He was the one who was desperate for my love.
What sort of pride is this?
Slam!
He left and he shut the door.
*********
The wooden door fell from its frame and the dust accompanied Francis into the small room.
Francis' eyes were bloody red.
"Your …your highness, I understand that you're angry but please, I really cannot keep fixing my door all the…" Sir. Oliver was trying to fool around but when he saw the color of Francis' eyes, he knew a lot was wrong.
"Your highness," Sir. Oliver called shakily.
"What's the use of all of this power when it's useless in front of a mere maid!" Francis sneered.
"Your highness, please take things easy," Sir Oliver said. "I understand that you're angry, but we still have the upper hand. I am sure that the girl is still ignorant about the whole thing and she doesn't have the opportunity to harm you now. The crescent night is just around the corner."
Francis laughed. He looked at himself and laughed again. "What did you say?" Francis asked, with a dangerous smirk on his face.
Sir. Oliver stepped back. "your highness, I was only assuring you that we have less to worry about. Like I said, Mala is still ignorant about the prophecy. I promise that you wouldn't go through the same fate as Lucifer."
Francis scoffed. "She doesn't know about her powers yet? She's still ignorant?" Francis asked.
Sir. Oliver nodded.
"Then explain to me how she almost killed two maids without lifting a finger?"