"Who are you?" I asked the maid who made the room look like heaven. It smelled so fresh, like flowers starting to bloom in the spring. I could also smell the scent of cinnamon tea combined with something else I couldn't tell, but it smelled delicious.
"I am your new maid. My name is Irene My Lady" she said curtising.
"Where is Audrey?" I asked. Audrey was my maid. She was young nice girl whom I liked very much. I didn't want a new maid.
"She has been transferred to Princess Klara quartered, My Lady." The maid said.
Klara. I was tired of hearing her name.
Sighing I took my robe off and sat at the table where the scent of the delicious tea was coming from.
"Would you like some tea, My Lady?" Irene asked. I couldn't say no because I really wanted to taste this tea and see if it tasted as delicious as it smelled.
"Yes," I said. She poured me the tea and handed it to me with a smile.
"It will help you relax, My Lady." She said.
As I was about to drink the tea I got suspicious. I didn't know this maid and she came suddenly and is pouring me some tea. Why did the sudden change of maids happen? Was Klara up to something?
"Would you like me to drink it first?" Irene asked when she noticed my suspicion.
"Yes." I said and handed her the tea. She took a sip and smiled.
"Drink it all." I said. I didn't know why I was being like that but this Irene, there was just something about her that didn't feel quite right.
She emptied the cup and put it down.
"Would you like some now, My Lady?" She asked and I could hear the amusement in her voice.
I tried to look her in the eyes but I couldn't. I don't know why? It was as if her emerald eyes could see through me and into my soul. It was as if she knew my deepest secrets and desires.
She was beautiful but in a different way and her long thick black hair reminded me of Lucians. She looked young but her eyes held some kind of wisdom beyond years.
"No." I said standing up. "You may leave."
The maid left me alone and I paced back and forth in the room trying to come up with a way to help Lucian. Really, I was useless just like Klara said.
"My Lady, Oliver is here to see you." Irene called from outside.
"Let him in." I called back. I hoped he wasn't bringing more bad news.
Oliver walked in fully wearing his military attire.
"My Lady, I am here to deliver a message from His Highness. He left the castle and will be gone for a while."
"Where did he go? How long will he be gone?" I asked.
"I don't know where but he will be gone for a few days." Days? It meant he left Gatrish.
Did he go to Decresh? No, he wouldn't be foolish to do so.
"If there is anything you need just send a word and I'll be here." He said and left.
As if the time refused to move the day went by very slow, with me thinking and worrying too much. It reminded me of my wedding day. I had a knot in my stomach that refused to go away and that's exactly how I was feeling today.
My gaze fell on Irene who was making the bed. She was beautiful with her dark hair and flawless skin, and those eyes, they were mesmerizing. How come someone as beautiful as her still be working as a maid? The bloodthirsty king should have made her his mistress by now.
"Are you married?" I asked.
"No, My Lady but I am not innocent." I just hoped it wasn't the king who took her innocence.
"Do you have someone you love?" Her lips curved into a smile and her eyes twinkled.
"Yes, I do My lady. Very much." She seemed to be deeply in love.
"But I am sure, My lady is more in love than I am." She added.
"And how would you know?" I asked amused. She stopped making the bed and looked my way.
"I know a lot of things, My Lady." She said with a serious tone.
"Things like what?"
"You are married but still innocent, My Lady and your husband might take another wife soon and you are worried but you don't know what to do. But I know what you should do." She said.
I felt my cheeks heat because of embarrassment and anger. Who was she trying to fool? It was probably Klara who told her about me being innocent.
"Did Klara tell you this?" I asked my tone harsh.
"No, My Lady." She said not fazed by my harsh tone at all. She put the pillows in place as she was done making the bed then looked at me " Do you want me to comb your hair my lady?"
I noticed that she had the same tone the whole time she spoke and she spoke so confidently. Maids were usually nervous, especially if they were new. They always spoke a little while being very careful what to say but this woman didn't seem the least nervous or scared.
"If Klara didn't tell you then how did you know?"
"I know you have a birthmark on your inner thigh and that you once fell and almost broke your leg when you tried to escape your home at night."
How did she know that? These were things only I knew and maybe Lydia and Ylva, so how did she know?
"What are you?" I said without thinking. Why did I ask something so strange? Of course, she was a woman what else could she be?
"I think a witch is what you call us, but of course I don't like to call myself that."
"Witch?" I was confused. I had heard that witches do exist but most of them live hiding their identity because they would be killed if found. If she really was a witch why would she be telling me that?
"Yes My lady."
"Why would you tell me if you really are a witch?"
"As I said before My Lady, I know things and I know I can trust you."
I somehow believed her words, maybe because I had already sensed from the beginning that something about her was different. Her eyes, it was difficult to look into her eyes, it was like being exposed when you looked into them.
"Your hair is beautiful my lady?" she smiled as she brushed my hair. She was even more beautiful when smiling
"Not as nearly as yours." I said.
"You are very kind My Lady."
She helped me get out of my dress and put my nightgown on then she left me with a good night.
The next day she was already present when I woke up.
"Good morning, My Lady. The bath is ready."
I went through the same routine I did every day. Bathing, putting on new clothes, brushing my hair then eating breakfast. After that, I asked Irene to bring me the bible. I was really curious to know the connection between the devil and the dragon.
Irene came back with the bible and I quickly began to read.
In the Bible, the dragon was the devil and he came to earth to deceive and destroy.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
"Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth."
The day I was kidnapped the men were on fire out of nowhere but I had a feeling it was Lucian's doing. I remember the satisfaction in his eyes as he watched them burn. I shivered at the memory. And there was no doubt he slit the other man's throat with his claws since he didn't have any weapons and the voices in my head, and his red eyes, even his normal eyes were different. Still, he couldn't be the devil or his son, could he? Yes, he was extremely frightening sometimes but he wasn't evil.
I closed the Bible and put it aside. Whatever he was it didn't matter I told myself.