28 Into The Devil's Chambers

Time fleeted by as Rama washed the pile of clothes that barely seemed to dwindle. She washed until nighttime arrived with the darkening of the skies that seemed to hover above them with menace and the sky let out a heavy rumble as lightning struck through the clouds and a streak of light flashed across the sky.

She was finally done with washing and she stared down at her crinkled hands from all the washing she had done. Food as it was, was out of question for her.

She proceeded into the palace but not after she stole a quick glance at the unguarded gates. She strolled through the dark halls, wandering around aimlessly as she searched for Malika or at least a maid to show her the way to the wolves den, or wherever they lived as Malika was assigned to the night shift and it was already nighttime.

She knew just how scared Malika was of wild creatures, in a logical sense anyone would be scared of wild creatures but the girl was too fragile.

"Rama!" She heard the familiar voice of Reina calling behind her and she veered around instantly to meet a pair of captivating green eyes. Strands of her blood red hair with reddish orange highlights gleamed under the silver glow reflecting on them through the window in the hallway.

"Do you know where Malika is? I mean, the girl I came here with." Rama queried with worry etched on her face.

"Probably feeding the wolves, anyways the King summoned your presence. He's in his chamber." Reina said nonchalantly and she gulped softly. The devil had summoned her into his chamber and she pondered on whatever was going through his cunning devilish mind.

"Can I look for Malika first?" Rama queried.

"If I were you, I wouldn't keep the King waiting." Reina implied with pressed lips which were painted as dark red, as she proceeded to move away from her.

"Wait! Could you please show me the way?" Rama blurted out, although she remembered the path to his chamber, she just didn't want to go alone.

"Sure. And when you're done with whatever assignment you're given, I'll show you the room you and your friend will be sharing with me and Elaine." Reina said as they both strode through the passageway towards the East wing in the top floor after climbing through many stairs.

As they moved into the East wing where the King's chamber was situated in, Rama's eyes met the bright red ones of two male night creatures moving toward them. Their intimidating towering figures didn't hold a candle's in contrast to Draco's.

Their pair of red eyes swirled with malignance but the varying disparity with Draco's made it seem like he was born out of darkness itself.

"Bow your head." Reina whispered frantically as she lowered her head. Rama sluggishly bowed her head down as she rolled her eyes, but the night creatures ignored them both as though, they didn't exist.

The girls lifted their heads up after they were out of sight.

"They are rules in the palace Rama. You have to abide by them or else you're not ready for the punishments, trust me. You have to respect them even though you despise them. They are very egoistic and prideful, you wouldn't want to tick them off." Reina advised with seriousness as the usual mischievousness in her eyes faded.

"I'll remember that." Rama said in a nonchalant tone as she spared her a glance.

"You look like trouble and you seem quite headstrong too, but trust me, not in here. You'll regret it." Reina remarked with a wary tone as they halted in front of Draco's chamber.

"Good luck." Reina muttered to her before retreating from her sight. Rama stared at her retreating figure until it faded from sight as she was lost into the darkness engulfing the eerie hallway.

She let out a deep sigh before turning to face the door engraved with dark carvings of strange beasts, that felt like it would propel out of the door and attack her at any moment. A shaky breath escaped her lips as she looked at the dark carvings and she immediately averted her gaze from the daunting art.

She inhaled deeply, as she strengthened her resolve to not inhabit fear and knocked on the door. Silence ensued for a split moment which felt like forever, until the door creaked open to reveal Draco's daunting figure with his blood red eyes staring down at her with emptiness, although a flicker of menace always resided in his crimson eyes.

Without a word, he opened the door for more space, silently telling her to come in as his unwavering gaze remained glued on her. She swallowed deeply, the devil was inviting her into his chamber and in that moment, she felt her feet subconsciously moving backward in an attempt to run.

She stole a peek into the interior of his room, it was dark with only a few candles dimly lit inside the room, but the darkness seemed to overpower the little light the candles enacted.

"Don't stand there feisty princess, you have work to do." Draco's baritone voice sufficed with darkness whisked its way into her ears and she pressed her lips in a thin line, unable to say anything.

She dropped her gaze on his face, which was half concealed with strands of black hair over his face, which fell loosely on his shoulders.

He tilted his head to the side motioning for her to get in and she cleared her throat as she hardened her demeanour and walked stiffly into the spacious room. It had a dark setting to it, everything had a spark of darkness and luxury in it.

He moved past her with his towering figure and his back against her as he took elegant strides toward the window, staring out at the clouds reverberating with lightning. With every movement he made, the darkness seemed to move with him in a dreary way and his menacing aura weighed heavier around him.

She silently stood in the position where he had left her and her mind drifted to plunging a dagger into his back. He abruptly veered around for his dark intimidating gaze to meet hers and she almost flinched as her dark thoughts were interrupted.

"In your kingdom, didn't servants bow their heads? You dare look me straight in the eyes Rama?" He said with a dreary tone as his face hardened and she gulped as she opened and closed her mouth like a fish.

The foul words she wanted to release freely from her lips, were bitterly held back as she couldn't afford to get Malika punished because of her unruly anger.

She subconsciously rolled her eyes before lowering her head in silence. An exasperated sigh coming from Draco echoed softly in the room.

"Prepare my bath. I like it warm." He ordered and her head shot up to look into his eyes which she quickly averted before she spoke.

"Uhm, I don't know how to prepare a bath." She spoke with a small voice and a dark scoff escaped his lips.

"You'll learn." He emancipated on the words firmly.

"Why did you assign me as your personal maid? I heard you never had one." Rama blurted out with a sharp tone.

"Because I can. Do you have a problem with that?" Draco queried nonchalantly as he peered his crimson eyes at her while he leaned his head lower to look into her eyes which was staring at the floor.

Aware of what he was doing, she shot her gaze to lock with his firmly. He stood tall and a devilish grin tore through his lips.

"I have a problem with Malika feeding your feral pets." She snapped.

"Who the hell is Malika?" He asked with a bored tune as he peered his red eyes lazily at her.

"The handmaid." She replied instantly.

"Are you that naive? Even if you had a problem, why would I consider how a pathetic human feels?" Draco drawled with a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips and Rama bit down on her lower lips hard to stifle the foul words threatening to escape.

"You're right. But why are you so hellbent on breaking a pathetic human?" Rama asked with a forced gentle tone. A dark chuckle reverberated beneath his breath.

"Are you trying to play defiant?" He queried rhetorically with a crooked smile that made her spine shiver.

"Of course not Your Highness." Rama said with creased brows and a pretentious look. Even with the rage and anger sufficing her being to kill him in a million different ways, she wouldn't act stubborn, Malika's life was on the line if she failed to be reasonable.

"Your Highness? Don't call me that unless you want your tongue ripped out from your throat. Although, it would do the both of us a favor if you couldn't speak." Draco warned, although his face was calm and void of anger it didn't suppress the malignance coating his tone.

"So what should I call you then?" She asked in curiosity.

"My Lord will do." He said casually and she nodded.

"Go on and prepare my bath." He ordered and she nodded her head before exiting his room with almost rushed footsteps. She couldn't look at him for another minute and bear to stay with him in the same room. His mere presence made her stomach churn and blood scorched in her veins with unsuppressed rage.