Devil’s Dinner

Bound by a contract

Xander pushed the door open and walked in before Ashley followed behind too.

He removed his sweatshirt and start to unbutton his shirt in front of the mirror.

Ashley sat on the bed feeling the softness of comfy and smooth lined bed,then she saw Xander changing.

“We just got here,are you going out already?” She asked standing up.

“Yes,there is somewhere I need to be right now” Xander replied not sparing her a glance.

Ashley licked her lips and rolled her eyes gently “Actually I have something I want to tell you Xander,I know it won’t make any difference with what you have been explaining to me but I just can’t keep it in any longer” she said.

Xander finished changing his shirt and he faced Ashley “I will still come back home dear wife,we can talk once I’m back”

“I will be brief,i need to know right now” Ashley said in a protest.

Xander knitted his forehead tiredly with his fingers and asked her what she wanted to know.

Ashley exhaled nervously and made sure her voice is not going against her action.

“Yesterday, I saw that girl in your room... you were kissing her so passionately as if” she stopped talking because her voice is betraying her strong expression already meanwhile Xander didn’t seem to ready to lie to her at all, he kept a straight face.

She heaved a sigh and continued “You were kissing her with so much love,I could tell she is someone very special to you so...”

Xander didn’t allow her finish her statements when he cuts her off “She is the one I love, yes you are right and I’m sorry you had to see that yourself” he apologized.

Ashley breathes out a shaky smile “But you could have informed me about this before the wedding, I asked you didn’t I?” She questioned.

“Dara is not a stranger or a hidden lover of mine, she had an accident in which I believed she was dead until she showed up just yesterday” Xander explained.

“I hope you will keep this from mother,I will trust you on that” he added.

“Really? So that is the case! She didn’t have to do that to me when she knew she owns your heart already” she voiced out.

“What are you talking about?” Xander inquired.

“She sent me a letter asking me to come to your room” she said.

“I didn’t know it will come out soon but now that you know,I hope you will follow the conditions of the contract carefully. Michael will drop it on his way home tonight” Xander said and left the room.

Ashley remained quiet and sad that she could tell that by staying in this mansion she is trapped forever not to talk of the royal plans ahead for her and Xander.

She decided to go visit Kalyan since she have nothing to do for now.

On her way to Kalyan’s room,a maid called her that she is needed in the kitchen to perform the house rite for newly wedded brides.

She felt reluctant to go at first but she’s got no choice since she is legally married to the family already.

KITCHEN

She arrived at the kitchen and saw Mrs.Grimes with an apron on and doing flipping the egg herself.

The scene is just like seeing a witch reading bible in place of her spells,surprisingly it strangely suits her and she appears so calm and charming with her guard down.

She was smacked back to reality when Mrs.Grimes hit the cutleries together.

“Why do you appear so lost? You have never been to a kitchen?”

“No mother, I’m sorry” Ashley apologized before proceeding towards the main kitchen.

Ever since she got here, she has never been to the kitchen nor did she ever think of coming here considering how high and strict the rules are here in the Grimes household.

She scanned everywhere and could tell what each and where things are,she smiled at her brilliancy but then her eyes caught the corner part of the kitchen.

The left side has a big square design with extra smooth surface and finger prints on it painted in colors but then the finger prints marks are crossed with black brush painting.

This got her so confused as she could only see three finger prints on the wall and they are all crossed out.

Mrs.Grimes caught her staring at the wall and approached her.

“The finger marks? Those belonged to the previous brides,I crossed them out because they are no more in the house”She said and Ashley’s heart beat increased rapidly.

“I hope yours will stay longer on the wall so I won’t have to say the same thing to any other woman” Mrs.Grimes said.

Her voice sounds so threatening and Ashley being simple minded and not so strong woman,she nodded her head gently to succumb to the threat.

Ashley was free willed and bright when she was young but her first breakdown occurred when she lost her mother 6 years back then followed by her father and those two incident seems to break her badly that she had to hide inside her shell.

Not wanting to find out how cruel the world of people can get,with no one to watch her back but just her alone. With thought of raising her sister alone and giving her the best life,she chose to accept things as they were given to her.

Who is she anyway? An orphan with a rare luck coming her way.

She held on to this mentality the day she received the royal decree about her marriage.

Mrs.Grimes retreated her closeness from Ashley and the head maid care in with bowl of red liquid which has a sweet smell.

She directed Ashley on how to put her own mark and she did just that.

BUBBLE ROAD

Xander already arrived at his vacation home and outside is Michael waiting for him.

He got down from the car and waved to Michael in which he also reciprocate by flashing him a soft smile.

“Thanks man” Xander said to Michael after they both did their friendship greetings.

“She is inside waiting for you” Michael said.

Xander glances towards the house and back to Michael.

“What are you going to do with her? Mrs.Grimes must not know what we are up to” Michael explained.

“I know man but... sincerely I’m confused too but she just came around after such gruesome incident I can’t just push her away like that”

“Listen I know how much you love Dara but have it in mind that Mrs.Grimes finding out is not safe for her and also your new bride have nowhere to go if you divorce her, she is an orphan “ Michael said.

“You don’t have to remind me about that and definitely not talking about her for now” Xander said and then head towards the house.

Michael has a mild look on and he entered his car before driving away from the house.

Xander hesitated to press the door bell but he was bubbling with so much excitement to see Dara again.

He entered the passcode and the door opened up.

Xander entered but found no one in the sitting room,he checked through the window and then to the kitchen but no traces of Dara.

He was about to head towards the room when Dara came from behind hugging him tight.

Xander smiles and grabbed her hand pulling her to his face and he embrace her.

Dara giggles and she reciprocated by wrapping her hands round Xander feeling his sturdy chest and warmth.

She then disengage from the hug and gave him a quick kiss on his lips but Xander pulled her closer to him and locked his lips on her kissing her so deep and lovingly.

Xander is a king of romance and very good at making out but he is a reserved kind of a guy,which is weird.

Dara directed Xander’s hand to her b**bs and he fondled them so good that she felt it and moaned into his mouth.

She pushed Xander to the couch and made him sit before going over his laps then she started removing her top.

Xander stopped her and stood up with her leg still wrapped round his waist.

He carried her and made her stand on her feet.

“What’s wrong? You don’t miss me?” Dara whined with a pitiful face.

Xander locked his lips and turned away from her.

“No not that, I just feel we shouldn’t do this now” he said.

“What? But this is not the first time we will make out... we have slept together twice and even though the first one was not intentional but it was something... I have missed you Xander, I need you” She cried out.

“Trust me Dara, I have missed you so much too it’s just that...” he exhaled and then walked over to the bar stand to bring out a bottle of whiskey.

“You don’t love me anymore? Because you are now married?Xander you can’t abandon me like this” she cries.

“You are getting me all wrong Dara, I still need to sort out some things first, your safety and everything” Xander explained.

“I just want to be with you Xander, right by your side is that too much to ask? You can’t even protect me and now you can’t get me back into the house” Dara yelled.

“Dara,you know it’s not easy for me to get you back just like that”

“I will wait, I don’t care how long it takes but I want to have my position back” she said with a soft tone.

“Come here” Xander said to her and she went into his embrace while he stroke her hair lovingly.

“Please don’t go home tonight... I don’t want to be lonely here” she said with tears formed in her eyes already.

“Dar...”

“If you leave, you will never see me again” she said cutting him off.

GRIMES MANSION

It was almost evening and working with Mrs.Grimes has not been so easy for her.

She walked tiredly to Kalyan’s room with her food since she could not eat anything since afternoon.

She prepared Lunch but could not eat with Kalyan because Mrs.Grimes called her to help with some other things.

She knocked on Kalyan’s door and in few seconds it was opened.

Kalyan flashed her a smile and received the plate of food in her hand.

“You look like you might faint any moment from now “ Kalyan said and Ashley smiled.

“I will massage your shoulders for you” Kalyan said.

Ashley sat on her bed while Kalyan massages her and she felt a little better, she started eating her food while Kalyan chattered.

They talked for hours forgetting their pains and what is troubling them but then Ashley brought an issue up.

“You said you want to discuss something with me earlier this morning” she inquired.

“Yes sis,actually I might be wrong but I promise to tell you once I get a clear picture of everything” Kalyan said.

Ashley arched her brow and hold her sister’s hand.

“Kay,remember not secrets! If you are facing any problem please don’t hesitate to share them with me,I’m the only one you’ve got... is it from school?” Ashley questioned.

“Calm down sis, I’m okay and I promise not to let you in the dark if it turns out to be a big deal” She said with a smile.

Just then a knock came on her door,she replied and asked the person to come inside.

A maid came inside and bowed her head before delivering her mission.

“Mr.Michael is here to see you lady Ashley” she said.

“Michael? What can that be? Did Xander send him here?” She muttered to herself.

She then stood up and bid her sister goodnight before leaving with the maid.

Ashley arrived at their chamber and met Michael standing but with his back facing her when she entered. It appeared he was looking out the window.

“Good evening Michael” Ashley said.

Michael turned around and flashed her a smile.

“I’m glad you have dropped the formality, hope you are doing just fine?”

Ashley beamed an almost invisible smile to remain her courtesy “Of course, I appreciate your concern” she said.

Michael moved closer to her and picked a document from the table.

“Here is the contract you both agreed on,he signed it already so what I need now is your signature” he explained.

“Oh okay” she said and then picked the pen to sign the paper.

“May I ask why you did not input your own conditions for the contract? It seems you have nothing to put restrictions on” he said trying not to meet her gaze.

“I do! I just don’t know what it is yet” she said with a smile.

She finished signing the paper abs Michael packed it up.

“He also said he won’t be coming home tonight” Michael said and Ashley’s face turned into a darker tone of loneliness.

“He asked you to tell me that?” She stuttered out.

“Yes he did” Michael said.

Ashley remained quiet and Michael too didn’t leave the room which makes the scene somehow blue.

“Do you need anything else ?” Ashley questioned.

“No... not really but I will be happy if you consider my offer” he said and Ashley felt so sick in her stomach.

Apart from being her husband’s friend,he is also like a son in the Grimes household which makes it hard for her to believe Michael could be so evil minded.

“If I could remember well, your offer was not clear the last time you said it and I was unconscious... what do you want from me?” Ashley asked.

“I want nothing from you Ashley, I only want to be a friend and nothing more. I know how lonely and disappointing this must be for you... allow me to put your troubles behind,I promise to watch your back always” He said and traces his hand to hers.