BLOOD AND Lightening

Chapter 28

NIMAI

It was a comforting experience, crying never sorts out anything rather it makes you look pitiful but this was therapeutic, every day I tell myself I won't cry anymore but I end up crying more bitterly. I felt like I lifted a torn off my chest.

His tone was raspy and soothing, his scent calmed my nerves, the same time getting dizzy as I begin to doze off I realized I have been hugging the devil all this time and I have long stopped crying.

“Why is your scent seductive?” I asked using that to escape from the awkward hugging,

“Do I seduce you?” he asked, that's not the kind of conversation I would want to have after crying.

“I don't want you to feel a certain way because..”

“I know you didn't have a choice but to do what you had to do, I might have done worst if I were you,” I said shutting him up, the earlier I realize it was how the heavens created us the better for me, the sadness just hits me when I remember it.

“The cook has been meaning to serve dinner Milady,” Star said and I noticed Haldir glare hardly at her, he wasn't leaving me alone.

“I just ate, a few minutes ago,” I said looking awkwardly at her

“Yes, master Zephyr had ordered he prepared more for you after noticing you were picking your food” Star happily explain unable to read the room, truthfully I wanted her to stay by my side.

“Can you leave us young fairy?” he said coldly, young fairy? Does he perhaps not know the name of the Maiden serving under his household, Star left immediately without asking questions.

“Why does Zephyr treat you like a child?” he said,

“Well he claims I am a child compared to how long he has existed” I answered trying to sound normal

“What do you care to know about me?” he suddenly asked folding his hands, why do I feel like he is trying to get closer to me this might be the wrong time.

“You are the duke?” somehow those were the words that came out of my mouth

“Yes I am” he answered briefly

“You are engaged,” I said again, he went quiet, my turn to change to escape,

“Am going to cancel the Engagement” he said making me adjust instead of leaving

“Why?” I asked

“Is this what you want to know about me?” he asked sounding a little disappointed

“I just feel you are trying to make me your friend while you kept asking me to go on and hate you, your actions are so different from your words, be consistent,” I said

“Am not one to leave with a person who finds me uncomfortable, for you to continue staying comfortably you should know a thing or two about me, you don't have to stop hating me”

“Can you please stop repeating your words?” I said a little agitated, conversations are definitely not his thing, he seems confident but he lacks the word or things to talk about.

“When will you find my supposed real family? I will leave after you find them” I announced before he eventually ask me to leave I have to beat him to it, he suddenly looked vexed

“I will begin looking for them, so you can leave,” he said and left immediately leaving me speechless at the dining table, “what was that!” I let out a loud grasp, just when I thought he was getting better he suddenly becomes a different person.

By far the most awkward encounter and I feel it just got started...

Nimai's whole mind was occupied with Haldir, no matter how she tries to ignore nor deny it, his presence was felt, he ignored her after making an impact, he also said sorry, he had also asked her if she had questions, why act like you want to get close if you don't.

“You are not listening to me” Zephyr's voice jolted her back to her senses

“Am sorry, what did you say?”

“I said I can sneak you out if you are bored,” he said looking at her “is something bothering you? I know it's hard staying indoors, I can take you to your kingdom” he said slightly concerned

“No not my kingdom, anywhere but there, I need to start doing something to earn my stay here”

“Master didn’t mention you have to earn your stay, in fact, he said not to allow you to do anything,” Zephyr said with raised brows

“I can't remain a liability, am not meant to be lazy, I can't continue as this” Nimai complained

“There is nothing you can do about that, I advise you to cultivate your powers and sharpen your martial capacity, if you stay here any longer surely you might encounter danger, and there is no way we will save you at all times,” Thanatos said drinking from a mysterious looking cup as he joined them in the table

“ What is that you are drinking,” Nimai said suspiciously looking at the drink and cup

“Wine, look! It's wine not blood” he said pushing the cup to her side to take a look.

“He is actually right, you can improve your powers Milady” Zephyr added

“I do not want that for myself, I didn't choose to possess powers, so I have decided to leave it” Nimai said nonchalantly as they both looked at her in shock

“I think you are being careless” Thanatos said

“Huh?” Nimai asked offended

“Yes, how can you decide that, you were created like that, choosing not to cultivate it is being selfish, and besides you are in a place where you should be careful” Thanatos said not bating an eyelid

“Do not talk to her like that” Zephyr said visibly annoyed,

“You need not think of working, master made sure of that, and gave you a special aid, he is generous to provide everything you need, focus on improving yourself” Thanatos said not minding the angry face of Zephyr, Nimai had turned swollen as she felt like a child being tell off by their parents, she had wanted to defend herself and face him but his words weren’t telling a single lie.

“The heavens placed a gift or rather a curse on a person without their permission, that alone is nerve-wracking and hard to accept” Haldir's voice came from behind

“Whether a person cultivates or leaves that power is solely their choice” He added glaring at Thanatos “And why are you casually talking to my guest?” he asked, “where has your sense of hospitality gone?” Haldir asked as Thanatos sat tensed and Nimai stood up and left quietly not wanting to listen to the devil defend her, Thanatos wasn't lying and she knows that.

“Milady!” Zephyr called after her as he followed her

“Am okay, I need to sleep” she blatantly lied with a smile hoping he goes away, Zephyr knew she was lying and decided to let her be, as he returned to the dining, Haldir was seated while Thanatos stood with his head hanging low.

“You are unbelievable Thanatos,” Zephyr said immediately

“You don't speak to a lady like she is some ignorant gent,” Zephyr said “ I always knew you lacked the etiquette to speak to ladies but I never knew you would show it to her, and master you you didn't help either” Zephyr said lowering his voice while speaking to Haldir

“What?” Haldir asked looking at the young fellow

“You didn't lie, but she knew all those things already, she didn't need you to defend her,” Zephyr said as Haldir only got confused

“And you are you always picking on her?” he asked again looking at Thanatos, he still can't understand why somebody could possibly hate Nimai, she was the noblest lady he has ever seen, at first she hardly spoke but when she does she was polite and had the most beautiful smile, she seems shy at first but he just found out she only pretends to be to avoid talking.

“So how do you speak to a lady?” Haldir asked

But it didn't seem to sound like a question, he had his eyes on Thanatos, it seemed like Zephyr was stopping something from happening

“Thanatos, I hope we wouldn't have to have this same conversation again, if I say respect her then you will have to do just that, and not to do otherwise” Haldir said light heartedly, only then did Zephyr acknowledge that he was indeed stopping something, he had stopped the master from telling Thanatos off, he is yet to know who exactly Nimai is to the master, at first he didn't care, he liked her immediately on seeing her and wanted her to stay in the castle for a long while, he wanted to befriend her immediately, now his curiosity wants to know what is their relationship and why Thanatos seems to dislike her, “sit down” Haldir ordered

”Changes will be made soon, and the gates will at the same time heavily guarded, you will be tasked with a very important role now, I have no choice but to resume the work of a duke and I can't work if I Do not hear from the people,” Haldir said, as first Zephyr was confused but on a second thought his silver eyes began glowing in excitement realizing what was happening, he was going to start carrying out real tasks

“ you go around well and know quite a lot about the happenings, I will trust you to the list of aids to allocate, I can't see everything, as you walk around I expect you to bring back a lot of useful information, I might know a lot about the sword but I lack the value for leadership”