One Night With The Devil

6. In prison - Part 1

Yuna's mind was a mess every time she thought about the condition the King had put before her. She walked hopelessly along the walls of the corridor that led her out of the palace. Anger, helplessness, disgust, hatred, all negative emotions assaulted her and started consuming her slowly. She was more or less like a dead lady waiting for the executioner's sword to chop her head off.

'Do I have no other way?' She wondered, her shoulders sagging in helpless defeat.

"No, you do not, Lady Yuna." Erix replied to her, eliciting a scream of fright from her. She jumped, startled to hear him all of a sudden in the silent place, her heart thundering louder than she could even imagine. For a moment, her soul had almost escaped her body.

"Pardon me, Lady. It was never my intention to frighten you." Erix apologized, his face dripping with concern and guilt, and he examined her, his eyes running all over her face to make sure she was fine.

"You scared me," Yuna complained, forgetting that she was talking to the King's man and she was still at the palace. Her unstable emotions washed over her and took over her rationality.

"Once again, I apologize, Lady Yuna. I should have been more careful. Please forgive." He lowered his head, offering her his sincere apologies and showing her his true intentions, and Yuna could do nothing but swallow her anguish. She neither accepted his apology nor rejected it.

"You seem perturbed, Lady Yuna. May I help you?" Erix too did not force her. He already had an inkling as to why she was behaving strangely and he looked behind, towards the courtroom, smiling faintly as he thought of the man who had put her in such misery.

"I doubt you can, Sir Erix. I am fine. I will get going. Thank you." Although Yuna tried to sound gentle and respectful, her words were forced and sounded impudent.

Erix observed her and his heart softened when he noticed how exhausted she looked. She was a beautiful lady, he agreed. There was a strange, mysterious air around her that screamed innocence, confidence, and most important of all, power. The power radiating off her was enchanting and he more or less understood why his friend had put forth such a peculiar condition when he could have used other methods to help her.

'Poor lady,' He sighed in his mind. 'Did you have to go to such an extent to torture her? She is pitiful.' Erix scolded the man as he clicked his tongue lightly.

'I see that you are free nowadays. I have some work that might keep you occupied for a few days.' He heard the man's reply immediately, just as he had expected.

'My, my, Ezekiel. I never expected you to be this hopeless. Did you not pity the lady?' Erix rebuked as he walked behind Yuna, who was lost in her thoughts.

'Escort her out of the palace. Do not ruin this or you know what will happen.'

His King's threat was apparent and Erix shuddered when he recalled the gruesome punishments he had had the pleasure of witnessing in the past. They still occupied his nightmares sometimes, forcing him to stay within his limits at all times lest he should provoke the Devil unknowingly.

'Good that you know. Allow her to meet her family. It might help her to decide quicker.' Ezekiel ordered, and Erix's lips twitched in annoyance. But he did not say a word in return.

"I can help you, Lady Yuna." Erix did not startle her like that last time and made sure she knew of his presence before he spoke.

Yuna stopped, this time, more patient and relaxed, even though her thoughts were anything but that.

"How will you help me, Sir? Will you speak to His Majesty and convince him to let go of my family?" Yuna was polite and her smile was filled with ridicule, one that had Erix fidgeting in his place in uneasiness. "Or will you ask him to take back the ridiculous condition he has put before me? Is it something a King..." She stopped herself in time and Erix sighed in relief.

Although she had not finished her words, he discerned what she was about to say and felt bad for her. She was in a grave situation and neither His King nor he was making it easy for her. It was already a feat that she had not lost her cool and attacked them.

'Lady, I hope I will be safe. Ezekiel is listening to you and it would do me no good if you infuriate him.' Erix cried, even though he perceived that Ezekiel would do nothing to Yuna, it could not be said the same about himself. 'I should salvage the situation before my friend loses his cool.'

"I cannot do anything you just mentioned, Lady Yuna." Erix pursed his lips and gave her a look of destitute. "However, I do have something you may need at this time."

"And what might that be, Sir Erix?" Yuna's curiosity was piqued and she tilted her head to her right, her red and swollen eyes adding allure to her charms.

"If you will follow me, Lady Yuna," Erix smiled, finding her absolutely adorable. "You will find out yourself."

Yuna did not move, her wariness stopping her from trusting anyone in the palace.

"I will not ask you to trust me, Lady Yuna." Erix did not complain about her lack of trust in him. He too trusted no one in the world, no one but Ezekiel. It was not a surprise that she was cautious given her plight. "I promise I have good intentions. I will not harm you."

"This is what liars and betrayers say when they have selfish intentions." Yuna scoffed and for a moment, Erix had nothing to say.

But what stunned him more was the laughter he heard in his head and he blinked a few times to check if he was hallucinating.

No. He was not. He had heard the laughter. It was Ezekiel and it was the first time the man had let out an unrestrained, loud laugh.

Erix's lips arched up and he sighed lightly. "Will you believe me if I tell you that I am taking you to meet your family, Lady Yuna? Will that put you at ease?"