In Bed with an Incubus

Bella’s First Night

“Such a good girl,” Catarina said after hearing Bella’s life story. “My heart feels so warm. I’ll surely be grateful if you were my child,” she added, putting both of her hands on her left chest.

The young girl just gave a smile in response since her mouth is too full to even utter a word. They’re currently in the dining area, and Bella is enjoying the meal Catarina prepared for her.

She knows its not womanly to eat without grace but she can’t help it. She’s really hungry because she hasn’t had any decent meal ever since her mother got hospitalized. Plus, Catarina’s cooking is superb!

“You can eat slowly, Bella. This is all yours,” Catarina said with a smile on her face. She finds young Bella so adorable. She even sees the situation as if she’s feeding her grandchild.

“I just can’t help it, Ms. Catarina, the food is really good,” the young girl said, taking a huge bite on a piece of meat.

“Aren’t you exaggerating?” Catarina answered with a chuckle. She may not show it, but she’s flattered with the young lady’s remarks. It’s been ages since someone eat the food she prepared aside from her and Hugo.

“Of course not! This is the best food I’ve tasted so far,” Bella responded before giving the old maid a big smile.

“Well, thank you, Bella,” Catarina said, smiling warmly at the young girl.

At the back of her mind, she’s wishing that Bella would last longer in the mansion. They need someone as vibrant and loud as her to give this dull mansion a life. She’s hoping that Bella would still stay even after learning the secrets of this mansion, especially the master’s she will be serving.

——

“I’ll tour you around the mansion tomorrow. But for now, I suggest you to take a good rest,”

Catarina said right after Bella finished washing the dishes. It wasn’t her intention to make the young lady wash it, but she insisted, so she got no choice but to let her.

“You will also start working tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll be your guide,” she added, assuring the young lady by giving her a smile.

“Thank you, Ms. Catarina. Thank you for the meal, too,” Bella answered with a tone of gratitude, giving the old maid a warm smile.

“You’re welcome. I am also glad to have someone I can work with since chores and tasks at my age seem to be too tiring already,” the old maid said before chuckling.

“You’re not that old yet, Ms. Catarina. You still look so youthful,” Bella commented, trying to flatter the old maid

“Trying to flatter me, huh?” Catarina responded with a grin. “That won’t work to me anymore. I have long accepted that I am already old. My youth has long passed, and my beauty has been hidden already by the wrinkles and lines on my skin.”

“But I think you’re still beautiful, Ms. Catarina. I can really tell that you’re much more beautiful back at your younger days,” Bella insisted, since it is what she really feel. She can really tell that Catarina is beautiful.

“Well, thank you,” the old maid responded. “Let’s get you to your room?” she asked, guiding the young girl out of the dining area. “Hugo may have put your luggage already in your room, so let’s go directly there.”

Young Bella just gave the old maid a nod before she followed her.

The moment they exited the dining area, she saw the spacious living room once again: the grand staircases in red carpet, the massive chandelier in golden light and shining crystals—everything still look so surreal. She didn’t expect this mansion to look this luxurious because of its eerie appeal on the outside.

“Were you the only one who cleans the whole house, Ms. Catarina?” Bella asked as they passed through the stairs. It seems like she will be staying on a room at the ground floor.

“Yes. I do most of the chores, while Hugo attend to the errands outside this house,” the old maid answered without looking back at the young lady.

“You’re really amazing, Ms. Catarina. I commend you for being able to do that considering this is such a massive house,” Bella spoke in full amazement.

She can’t even imagine herself cleaning the living room all day long. But hearing Catarina’s words, she realized she needs to prepare herself to work her a*s out until she passes out. She’s not still used to cleaning massive spaces, since their house is just a quarter size of the whole living room, or maybe even smaller.

“No, I don’t clean the whole house. Hugo hires cleaners to clean the whole house once per month. I only clean the places where the masters usually go,” Catarina answered.

“Oh, that’s great then!” Bella exclaimed, smiling widely out of relief. “Speaking of the masters, I haven’t seen them yet. Are they kind? How do they treat you and Hugo?”

“You’ll meet them tomorrow. Hugo will introduce you to them. For now, you need to rest,” Catarina answered.

Bella can’t help but to pout since the old maid didn’t answer her question. She’s curious about the Demitris attitudes and characters, because she needs it to prepare herself. What if they’re cruel and merciless who would order her to work until she can no longer move a muscle? Or what if they will a***e her by whipping her back whenever she makes a mistake?

“This will be your room,” Catarina said, stopping in front of a mahogany-painted wooden door. “I’m just two doors away from you, so you can come and knock whenever you need something,” she added.

Bella nodded in response before opening the door of her room. And just when she’s about to enter, Catarina said something that really made her curious.

“And don’t go upstairs specially during late nights.”

She wanted to ask the old maid why, but she already bid goodbye and headed to her room.

Bella entered her room with a big question in her mind, as to why isn’t she allowed to go upstairs. Are they hiding something or what?

She just shook her head and shrugged her shoulders before closing the door. She then scanned her room and can’t help but to be amazed by its interior. It doesn’t even look to be a maid’s chamber, but a room you can find on hotels!

The room’s paint is cream and mahogany. The furnitures are made of wood varnished with mahogany color. The window is massive and made of glass, letting her see the view outside and get a clear sight of the quarter moon.

The bed seems to be on a queen size. It also looks so soft. There are even lampshades at each side of the bed beside the side tables. There are also some books on the table. She also saw a door which she thinks leads to a bathroom.

“This is amazing,” she murmured before her lips arched to form a grin. “This isn’t a maid’s chamber,” she added, throwing herself on the bed.

She giggled when her body shrunk on the bed. It’s like she’s sleeping on a bed of clouds!

And after a few minutes of enjoying the bed, she decided to arrange all of her clothes in her wooden closet. And after she got done, she decided to take a nice bath to freshen herself up.

As she entered the bathroom, she was welcomed by of course, a toilet. But a few feet from the toilet is a glass wall which she thinks leads to a shower room. And when she checked it, she’s right. It’s a shower room.

She then stripped herself n***d before going under the rush of water. The cold water didn’t seem to bother the young lady.

After her bath, Bella wrapped herself with a towel and got out. She was about to dry her hair when she felt the urge to drink a glass of water.

And when she checked if she has a glass and pitcher around, she pouted in disappointment when she found none.

She remove the towel on her body wrapped her hair with it. She then wore the robe she brought before getting out of her room.

She wanted to ask Catarina, but she didn’t, since she thought that the old maid is already sleeping. She doesn’t want to interrupt her rest.

The hallway is already dimmed. The only source of light she have is the rays of light seeping through the windows.

The living room is also dark. The chandelier has been turned off. But the light from the moon is sufficient for her to clearly see the way to the kitchen, which is just beside the dining room.

Right after getting a pitcher of water and a glass, she headed back to her room. But when she passed through the grand staircases, she stood frozen when she felt a pair of eyes looking at her.

She inhaled a massive amount of air before bravely looking at the direction where the stare is coming from. Her intuition led her eyes at the top of the staircase.

And she almost screamed in fear when she saw a silhouette near the edge of the stair. She narrowed her eyes to have a clearer look and to confirm whether it’s really a silhouette.

She gasped when it moved, revealing an entire silhouette of a person. The light from moon made it even difficult for her to confirm whether if it’s a man or a woman. All she can see is a shadow.

“H-Hello, good evening,” she greeted, trying to compose herself.

It’s not a ghost, right? She asked herself at the back of her mind.

“I’m Bella, the newly hired maid of this household,” she continued, trying to shake her fear away.

She gulped when she didn’t receive any response at all. She was about to speak again when she caught the silhouette moved, heading towards her.

“N-No,” she whispered, trying to move a muscle but she can’t. Her knees are trembling out of fear.

She was about to scream Catarina’s name when the light kissed the silhouette. And it was not long before she found herself in front of a towering man with a muscular built. The man looks so hot with just a black robe on, revealing his chiseled chest and a glimpse of his well-sculpted abdomen.

He’s holding a glass that seemed to be filled with wine on his left hand.

And in order to see his face, Bella has to look to. That’s how tall the man is.

“Bella, huh? Such a beautiful name,” he said in a deep, lazy voice.

The light from the moon let Bella see the man’s face. But what really caught her attention is his silvery eyes who seems to be glowing under the moonlight. His thin lips were arched in a grin while looking intently at the young lady.

“G-Good evening,” Bella greeted the man, trying to sound composed but failed.

Even though she finds the man stunning, she can’t shake off the unexplainable feeling of discomfort she feels. Maybe because she doesn’t know who is this man standing right in front of her.

“Good evening,” the man answered, flashing a grin. “What are you doing here at this hour and with just a white robe on?”

“I…I just grabbed water from the kitchen to bring inside my room,” she replied.

“Oh, okay.”

Bella just nodded in response. “Uh, if you won’t mind, may I ask who you are?” she hesitantly said.

The man gently grabbed her hand holding the glass then kissed it.

The young lady stiffened after feeling the man’s soft lips on her skin.

“I am Lassrin of House Demitri, one of your masters.”