Devil’s Dinner

Episode 03 Yet Another Date

ᴍɪᴄʜᴀᴇʟ

I watched till she was out of sight so I went to Xander’s room to drop the Violin.

I saw him pop up a bottle of champagne with two cups on the table.

“Is the second cup for me?” I asked with a sullen look.

“Yes man, care for one?” He said stretching the bottle forward to me.

“No thanks, I need to go home early tonight and you know I’m not a good drinker” I said and turned to leave.

“Hey are you okay?” He asked upon noticing my pale face.

“Yeah, I think something interesting got me... and so bad ” I replied faking a smile then I left his room after dropping his Violin on the couch.

..............ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʀᴅᴇɴ........

ᴀsʜʟᴇʏ

Gosh that was close! I heaved a sigh of relief as I place my palm on my chest. Mrs.Grimes warned me to stay off the corridors at night since I’m not yet married so I should not be seen by other people so easily but I wanted to breathe in fresh air because It’s been a while I felt so happy and peaceful.

While trying to find my way to the garden I bumped into a man whose scent was alluring, though he reek of alcohol but I could tell he was not really drunk considering how he was busy staring at me, he looked sober.

I was really scared to let him see my face due to Mrs.Grimes warning.

Even if I was to get caught, it should be a female instead of a male cause that way my punishment might reduce.

Dressed in a short white gown that did not even reach my knees, so tight on my body but with knitted edges.

I sniffed in the air happily as I stretch my hands freely facing the sky.

“Feels nice” I said enjoying my moment.

Feeling peaceful feels so strange to me and I became sad again, if only Mom and Dad is here with us.

Left alone in this big world with no shoulder to cry on.

Although the Grimes are family friend but the feeling of ownership can not be the same.

Spacing out of my reality into sad, painful memories,sound of sorrowful and rueful music came to my ears. It sounds so soothing and making peace with my painful memories,I wiped my tears and started tracing where the music was coming from.

I was expecting a voice after the sound of the Violin being played but seems it’s being played by a wounded soul and not an orchestra like I’ve imagined it to be.

Sounding so sad but soothing I can tell the person playing this is locked out of happiness, with volcanoes of memories eating him or her up.

In just few seconds I found myself back in the corridor not minding if someone sees me or not, I continued treading softly and barefooted as if charmed by the music.

I came upon a door where the sound was getting so strong and so I twisted the door knob oblivious of the fact that I might be invading anyone’s privacy, I opened it half way and made my entry.

Right there is a tall Prince Charming playing the Violin gently with unsaid emotions in his music.

I stood right there staring at the young man, any woman would fall in love with his broad shoulders and royal gait he maintained while playing the Violin.

Suddenly he stopped playing and turn swiftly to the back only to see me standing and unable to move or say anything.

I could see his brows arched in anger as if he never wants anyone to see or try to understand the unsaid emotions in his music.

He started approaching me and I swallowed down my saliva,as I felt my legs turn to jelly.

“I think I’m in trouble, is he going to hit me? I really hope he doesn’t yell at me”

To my surprise, he grabbed my arm and threw me out of his room before shutting the door tight on my face.

I fell on my butt when he pushed me out roughly and shitting the door on my face scared me more.

“Well serves me right” I thought to myself before finding my way back to my room.

Who is he anyway? Don’t tell me he is Xander! What the heck, I almost couldn’t recognize him... he’s grown so tall and handsome, well what do I expect? I saw him last was 6 years ago.

I changed into my night wear and collapsed on my bed tiredly.

хᴀɴᴅᴇʀ's ᴄʜᴀᴍʙᴇʀ

After getting that bucket of emotion out of my room, I waited for while and when I opened the door back she was gone, how come I did not hear her footsteps leaving.

Who is that girl anyway? I don’t think I’ve seen her in this mansion before or is she a new maid? I thought to myself before dropping the violin on the couch.

I was scared to have seen her out of the blue, she had the perfect look for my music, the look in her eyes was very familiar perhaps she is hurting just like me.

When I couldn’t stand the expression on her face I threw her out, I mean no one is expected to act like a victim here in the Grimes Mansion, there is no pain that can amount to mine or what I am going through.

I unbuttoned my shirt and removed the bow tie as I yanked it off my neck.

“Who the hell are they preparing to be king?” I scoffed at my princey reflection on the bottle.

ɴᴇхᴛ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ

Ashley woke up so early and she started running around the house looking for something I don’t think she brought along.

ᴀsʜʟᴇʏ

Oh no, I’m late, I’m so so late, where is my socks, shoes and packet of yoghurt? I need to make this delivery on time.

I rushed to the bathroom and brushed my teeth hurriedly that I almost prick my gum. I made a short cry then rinsed my mouth before I scurried into the shower.

There was a bathtub actually but my mind wasn’t on that as I quickly turn on the shower as hot water started dripping on my body.

Washing my hair singing and dancing and that was when realization hits me.

“Damn I’m no more in New York for goodness sake”

My body is grown accustomed to waking up so early to deliver newspapers before resuming to my other part time jobs.

I washed my hair and grinned like silly under the shower, if there was a secret Camera here in my bathroom, I’m sure I would have been arrested already considering my crazy attitude under the shower.

After taking my bath, I decided to get more sleep.

7:00ᴀᴍ

Five maids marched inside my room and I could see them holding different wears and shoes while one of them is holding a box which I know must surely contain accessories, well that’s how royal families do but am I being treated like a princess right now?

“Good morning Miss Ashley,hope you had a good night rest?” they chorused and I did nothing but nodded like a deaf and dumb girl.

I’ve been inwardly quiet ever since I got here actually, I just wanna be a good girl and stay off trouble.

“You should go take your bath now, you are meeting with the young master by 8:00 “ one of the maids said to me and I starred in surprise.

What?am going to meet Xander already? Not after how he treated me last night gosh!

I told them I’ve taken my bath already but they refused and forced me into the bathroom.

I can’t believe I will have to take my bath again just because of a meeting with Xander, it’s not like it’s the king’s wedding night anyway.

After few minutes, I came out wrapped in a towel and they helped me dry my hair while the another maid prepare my body scrub and makeup box in front of her.

This actually feels nice but I’m not comfortable with these girls dressing for me, I wonder if this is how lesbianism starts... wait don’t tell me this is how they dress for Xander too? I let out a short laugh and covered my mouth immediately.

With the maids working wonders on me, I finally looked different and radiant as ever, “Money is everything I guess” I said to myself and then I saw Kayla approaching me cat walking in the best Royal way ever.

I smiled at her silly message she’s trying to pass and when she got to my presence, I kissed her forehead.

“I’m going to school sis, take care okay?” She said to me and left without waiting for me to say anything, she is enjoying her life already.

A strong aura filled the room and I could tell it was someone powerful coming only to see Mrs.Grimes at my doorstep.

She walked up to me and ran her eyes on me from head to toe, I could tell she was satisfied with what I’m wearing.

“He is waiting for you in the flower house” she said to me and asked one of the maids to accompany me to the so called flower house.

ғʟᴏᴡᴇʀ ʜᴏᴜsᴇ

Mr.Grimes appeared in my dreams last night and the first face I saw this morning was his, how horrible he just won’t let me be.

He explained how he had brought a certain girl from overseas to be my bride, I rejected the offer but then he threatened me again and I have no choice than to meet with the girl.

I don’t care if she comes from overseas or from the stars, I’m sure she is going to meet the same fate as the previous brides too.

If she is smart enough, she will run for her life but if she turns out to be greedy, I should warn her there will be no strings attached to our marriage.

I saw a flower that caught my attention and I so I picked it to smell it’s sweet scent.

I could hear approaching footsteps so I hide the flower and turn around to see the girl from across the seas but to my surprise, it turned out to be the girl that entered my room yesterday.

Don’t tell me she was trying to seduce me yesterday? It was all planed I guess. How smart of them, but then I remember the sad look on her face when I was playing the Violin, the emotions written on her face looked so sincere she couldn’t be faking it.

I really hope she knows what kind of family she is getting married into, she looks like the naive type of lady.

“Uhm hi Xander” her tiny yet melodious voice smacked me back to reality.

“Yeah hi” I replied sternly.

“I was hoping if you could recognize me actually” she said.

“You mean to say we both knew each other?” I questioned her still maintaining my straight face.

“Uh it’s okay if you don’t “ she replied back immediately considering the cold look I was giving her.

I walked to her side and pull out a chair for her “The only moment I remembered was you sneaking around my room” I said to her and I watch her throw her hand in defense.

“No please don’t misunderstand me, I actually heard you play the Violin so I traced it... I didn’t know it will lead me to your room” she explained.

“ Noted” I replied but something caught my attention on the table,

“Shrimps”

who the hell included shrimps in my breakfast?

Damn I’m allergic to shrimps! I’m sure Mr.Grimes did this just to warn me to get along well with his so called golden opportunity sitting in front of me, if only she knew she’s being used right now.