“It smells like the Demon village here,” Reia commented, smelling that similar sweet aroma.
“Ah, yes,” the woman chuckled, her ankle bangles clinking together with each footfall. “We did see that Orpheus took you there. Jabez has used the same cloaking spell from there, here. It helps to keep those inside sane. They may be superior Demons to most, but they still have little self-control if they smell blood or fear.”
She kept her eyes on the hallways and the different turns they made in case she needed to make her way back to the throne room by herself. More so that she could run back if she discovered Orpheus had come so he could get her the hell out of here.
I miss my home. This cold, barren castle could never compare to her small, but cosy, cabin.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To a bath. I’m sure you want to wash off the spell he placed on you, and, you know… everything else.”
Why does she know so much about him? She even knew about the scent cloaking spell. She didn’t know what she meant by everything else.
Just as she was about to ask who she was, she was led into a large sleeping chamber. It was almost as wide as the living and kitchen area in her cabin, and it housed a bed with a frame canopy, multiple dressers, two chairs sitting in front of a coffee table, and a mirrored vanity table with a cushioned stool.
Everything was mismatched, like it had all been found or stolen and shoved into this room to make it appear lived in. There was a small film of dust on most of the surfaces, telling her it was mostly unused.
She took her to a room in the back that had a white ceramic clawfoot tub. Other than a singular vial of liquid soap, there was nothing else in the room, not even a towel.
“I had this prepared for you when I knew Jabez had grabbed you safely.” She gestured to the water. “It should still be warm. I will find you a towel.”
She turned to leave, and Reia watched her. Then she eyed the tub with water that was steaming.
Why is she being so kind to me? A bath, really? Do I stink or something? She lifted her arm to sniff her skin. Then again, she’d had it prepared before Reia even arrived. It’s like she wants me to wash off the evidence of Orpheus.
She crinkled her eyes at it in dismay. I don’t want to.
Despite her apprehension, Reia undid the ties at the back of her dress and slid it down her body. Just do what you’re told. Then she kicked off her shoes while untying the sides of her underwear before slipping inside the water.
The room was bright because it was lit with a crystal chandelier that housed many candles. It felt unnatural sitting naked in a bathtub with so much light, her eyes wanted the dimness she was accustomed to.
The woman appeared moments later with a towel and placed it on the ground next to the tub.
“Here, I’ll get rid of this for you.”
She bent over to pick up Reia’s dress by pinching it, like it was a disgusting thing, and Reia shot forward while reaching her hand out over the rim.
“Hey!” she exclaimed. “You can’t take that.”
“Don’t worry,” she laughed warmly, her lips pouting with humour. “I’ll bring you something nicer to wear.”
“No,” she rebutted. “I would prefer to wear it.”
Her smile suddenly fell, and she unfurled the bundle in her arms to hold her dress up in the air by its short sleeves. She crinkled her nose at it as her lips twisted with disgust.
“But why? I have plenty of dresses that are made of the finest velvet, silk, or cotton you could wear. A lot of it is stolen from the castle ruins back on the surface, or I’ve gotten the best Demon tailors to craft them – and they weren’t easy to find since most of them suck at creating anything human.”
Reia’s cheekbones warmed.
“Because I made it.”
And because Orpheus had given her the materials to do so. She had a light blue one she was halfway through making that was nearly the same, but she liked this one.
“I was wondering why you suddenly weren’t wearing the white dresses or the ones you tried to dye with food.” She looked over the dress once more, her face of disinterest still present. “Well, if you want to wear it that much, I’ll lay it on the bed so it doesn’t get dirty.”
That’s right, they said they couldn’t see inside. That meant they didn’t actually know what they’d been up to. Relief sailed through her, thankful they wouldn’t have been able to see the private and intimate moments of her and Orpheus being together.
It was theirs, and nobody, especially not these people, deserved to see them.