The Demon Who Loved Me

Chapter-6

He rolled on his stomach and shut his eyes tight to avoid the sunlight that was streaming into his eyes.

“It is time to wake up, your grace.” The maid who had disturbed his sleep by parting the curtains, said. He grunted in affirmative and the maid scurried out of the room. He reluctantly opened his eyes looking at the warm and pleasant day outside. If only he was in his bachelor lodgings in London instead of Ednan. He hated people darting in and out of his room, although he knew it was their job. He came to love his independence in Eton and then at Cambridge. He loved his travels, the carefreeness of it and mostly the opportunity to rise whenever he wanted.

Now he was here, the dukedom he was born to take, finally his. He was Master Huckley no more. He was Arthur Huckley, Duke of Ednan. And a duke had to rise and shine early to look after his subjects. What a bore!

Arthur kicked the sheets off his body and pulled on a dressing robe. He bathed, dressed and then wandered to the dining room, where Richard, his estate manager was sitting, looking down into his book.

“Richard,” Arthur called from the doorway.

“Your grace,” Richard stood up and bowed.

“Oh, not you too, Richard. I am half afraid to enter any room for the fear of being bowed to by everyone. Old and young alike.”

Richard was the son of the old estate manager and one of the few people Arthur regarded as his friends during his childhood. His father didn’t approve of their friendship much, but Arthur stopped caring about his approval by that time. After the old duke’s death, Richard’s father retired and his son replaced him.

Richard looked around to make sure no one was listening before speaking:

“Trust me, being bowed to is a lot better than bowing.”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Tell me, what do I have to do today? I am surprised I don’t see a bundle of account books with you. Are you not going to hound me to get to know my estates.”

Richard frowned.

“I don’t believe you. You forgot. You actually forgot.”

Arthur raised his eyebrows.

“You are going to dine with your future wife tonight and you forgot. I know you are not much interested in marriage. But one would think that you would be at least curious.”

Arthur suppressed a groan. He remembered. His father was not done ruining his life even when he was dying of lung fever. He promised Arthur’s hand to Lady Hutter on his deathbed. Arthur was in the house then, residing with his father in his last days as was expected of him as a responsible son. But his father didn’t deem it fit to even ask him about his marriage. There was nothing he could do after the promise was done. And he was now tied down to Lady Hutter’s granddaughter whom he had never even heard of.

“Yeah, I remember now,” Arthur said, finally.

“Thank God. You have to start the journey in two hours to reach the Hutter House. You can also check the property since it belongs to you anyway.” Richard said.

“Ah, a new estate. Just what I want now.” Arthur said, sarcastically.

“And a new wife,” Richard added, sprinkling salt on the wound. “Of course, there would be an official courting period. And do you want to know about the girl? She has an interesting history.”

“Do tell,” Arthur said, with disinterest.

“Her name is Danielle Tucker. I believe she is twenty and one years old. Her mother eloped with a London lawyer and had her. Lord Hutter cut all ties with his only daughter. After his death, Lady Hutter reconciled with her step daughter. Last month, Mister and Missus Tucker died in a boat accident and then Miss Tucker came down to Wellshire to live with her grandmother.”

“Oh, a runaway’s daughter. That’s why my father was so eager to betroth her to me.” Arthur commented. Miss Tucker’s history was interesting indeed. But it was nothing compared to his. And Arthur was determined to do everything in his power to make sure their futures wouldn’t entwine.

************

Dany didn’t sleep that night after Mary had revived her from the fainting spell. She was ashen, her head was spinning. As soon as she woke up from the faint, she dismissed everything as a dream. Andrew climbing up into her room, soothing her and then kissing her. That was when the dream had started turning into a nightmare. She remembered his freezing face, the feeling that she would die of cold. She remembered his red eyes and the grotesque grin. She remembered Mary coming in. Oh, Mary. Mary didn’t see him when he was still in her arms. These things couldn’t be normal, could they?

She turned her head and there was Mary, with a jar of smelling salts in her hand. She stared down at her with evident relief.

“Oh, Miss Tucker, I was very worried. You were so strange earlier. Asking me what I was seeing when I was in front of you. And then you fainted. Thank the lord, you are fine. It must be the heat.”

Dany sat up and listened to her, all her hopes about the incident being a nightmare, crushed. But how could it be possible? How could he just disappear like that? Had she hit her head somewhere?

“I would like to sleep now, Mary,” Dany said, her voice barely above a whisper. She was just hanging by the seams. She would crumble in front of Mary if she talked too much now and that was a sure way for a scandal or a certificate that she was a freak.

“Are you sure, Miss Tucker? I can stay as long as you want.”

“I am sure, Mary. You are right, it’s the heat.”

“I was about to warn you. You were roaming in that garden all day, all by yourself. The heat and the dirt could not be good for a delicate girl like you.”

All by herself. There was not a second in the garden when she was not with Andrew. He had never been there according to Mary. Did she imagine him there? Was it even possible?

“Yes, you are right. I should spend less time in the garden.” Dany agreed with her, just to get her off her back. Mary nodded appreciatingly and exited the room.

Then the long sleepless night started in which Dany reflected on every moment she spent with Andrew. Every moment had posed a new question which Dany couldn’t answer.

********

Despite what she said to Mary, Dany found herself in the garden the next morning. There were dark circles and her eyes and her eyes were bloodshot. She remembered how last week she was skipping with joy whenever she stepped into the garden. This was the place where she would meet Andrew. Where she would forget about her step-grandmother. She was still here to meet Andrew, but this time there was not joy, this time it was going to be an attempt at proving her sanity to herself.

As she approached the patch of bluebells that lured her to him in the first place, she thought she would not see Andrew anymore. Maybe he was just a speck of her imagination. An attempt at diluting her loneliness which she was feeling since she started living here. She gave up her hope and was about to turn around, when she spotted him under the sycamore tree, leaning against its trunk. His golden hair was glistening in the sunlight.

Now that she spotted him, she was not sure if she should approach him. Looking at him was enough to make her feel cold on a warm day. She rubbed her arms with her palms and took a deep sigh. She couldn’t leave this situation undealt. She took a determined step forward and started walking towards the boy who made her heart race.

He was just as the day she had met him. Heartstoppingly beuatiful, charmingly boyish and mysterious. He was wearing a black shirt that sported his tanned skin magnificiently. He was eating an apple, staring at the sky. He looked at her as soon as he heard her footsteps, his ocean blue eyes affecting her just like they did every single morning this week. She thought it was not possible after last night’s events but what did she know?

“I thought you were not coming today.” He said, handing her the apple he bit into. “Fancy an apple, milady?”

Dany raised her eyebrows at his casual demeanor and his offer, but she took it.

“What is the meaning of last night?” She asked, the apple oddly heavy in her hand.

“So much had happened last night, Miss Tucker. What are you referring to?” He asked, his voice seductive. “The words we shared? The touches we enjoyed? The love you declared for me? Or the kiss that made your toes curl?”

With every word he uttered, he neared her, until he towered over her, his breath warm on her forehead. Dany stared at him as though she was under a spell. His face so perfect, his chest so solid, his breath so lively. How could Mary not see him?

“Tell me, Miss Tucker, what do you want to know?”

“About what happened after the kiss,” Dany said, stopping her voice from shaking. “Why can’t Mary see you? And...and why is your kiss so cold? Why did your eyes turn red?”

“You won’t believe it even if I tell you.”He murmured, leaning towards her ears. “You love me, isn’t that enough?”

He raised his hand and ran a knuckle along her cheek, making her shiver. With his other hand, he raised Dany’s hand which was holding the apple.

“Taste it. It’s delicious.” He said. The apple shined like a ruby in the sunlight. Dany thought it would taste sweet. Sweeter than anything she had ever tasted in her life. Why was an apple tempting her so much? And why is the thought of biting into an apple which he had bitten seemed so intimate? She drew the apple near her lips, her eyes locked on his. He looked triumphant, an odd glow surrounding him. And then the thing happened. His eyes glowed red.

Dany staggered back with a horrifying screech. The apple fell from her hands, rolling away in the dirt. She stared at him, terrified, half-expecting his eyes to change back into their blue like they did last night. But no. He was done playing games. His eyes were embers of fire and his face cruel.

“Who are you?” Her voice was shaking. “What are you?”

“You will find soon enough,” He smirked. “By that time, you will be mine.”

And then there was only Dany, the sycamore tree, and a shrivelled apple at its foot.