CHAPTER#28: Getting to know better.

She lay on the bed with him over her. She started to break a cold sweat. His smile was oddly bewitching to her. But she felt more in hot water than to stare at him. Her hands were entwined with his.

-"What should I do? Do I scream? He won't move away even if I do so."

"Will you scream for help? No one would believe you need any help."

She bit her lower lip. There was truth in his words. She became his legal wife. It is a wife's responsibility to fulfill her husband's desires. That's what her mother Empress taught her and reminded her from time to time.

-"Even if he appears to be cold he still has desires. But... What about me?"

He closed into her when she closed her eyes and turned away instinctively. This situation was overwhelming for her. She never allowed a man near her. All of this was too sudden.

"Rejecting me is not a wise choice... as my wife." his words hinted her a warning.

She trembled and struggled to look at him trying to hide her fears. He kissed her on the neck and slowly released her from his grip. Her heart was thumping louder than before. She feared it might explode out of her chest.

"From here on get used to it."He got off the bed and tied the robe belt around his waist.

She could barely breathe. Her body trembled. Tears welled up in her big eyes.

-"I...how...I can't...I would never be able to carry out this burden."A tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek.

Erebus had left the chambers after changing to train himself routinely as he did every morning.

To him, it was the best time when the demon world was asleep.

Luciana entered the bathing room after washing her face. There was no warm water prepared for a bath. She realized that he never disturbed the servants to do his chores.

-"He used cold water...on the wounded body." She looked at a wooden shelf near the corner of the room. The fresh bandages were gone. He must have changed the dressing.

-"I'm glad I dipped them in the ointment the physician prepared."She recalled how hard it was to get him to apply the medicine to the wounds.

-"I feel like I'm raising two kids." she sighed.

She came out of the small room and heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it? "She wondered who might be there at this early hour.

"It's Mina, my lady." the voice replied.

"Come in."

Mina entered following Luciana's approval.

"Good morning milady."She chimed and placed the breakfast tray that was made of metal on the wooden table. It was covered with a metal lid to keep the food warm.

"Where is Nemesis?" she asked her maid.

"He's sleeping milady," Mina replied.

"Sleeping?"

-"He's usually a morning lark."She insisted.

"He was missing you the whole night so Jafar and I played with him.He wouldn't cooperate with other maids."

She stared at Luciana with big sparkling eyes.

She flinched and did not understand why the girl kept staring at her.

"What's wrong?"

"Milady did something good happen?"She asked.

-"Something good?"She tilted her head in confusion.

"Nothing in particular."She replied dejected by her lady's lukewarm reaction.

"It's alright it's your privacy. I'm sorry for butting into your private life." She bowed down heartbroken.

"What? Wait what do mean? I don't understand."Luciana looked even more confused.

"Master was smiling when he was going to the training grounds. So I thought maybe something good happened between you and the Master." She looked away breaking a cold sweat.

Luciana recalled when Erebus smiled looking at her flustered expression.

Her cheeks flushed recalling what happened a moment before Mina came.

-"I didn't think he would tease me like that."

"I didn't think he would tease me like that."

"Master used to have a mischievous side as a child."Mina interrupted her thoughts.

"What? How did you?-"

"I overheard you mumbling your thoughts. I apologize for it milady."Mina changed the bedsheets to the fresh ones.

"What was he... I mean Erebus-like?"Luciana asked.

"I don't recall much of my past. I lost a fragment of my memories in an accident as a child."

"Ah!"She was left speechless.

"But it didn't harm me. All I remember is the master bringing me and my brother to this place. However, I feel like I've known the lord since childhood. As if he is more than just... My master."She smiled.

"So... Do you not recall anything else? About your past?"

"I do but some are from when I was too young. We were orphans abandoned in war. There were five of us. Brother, Sister Lilith and I were taken in by an old man. He pitied us adopted us and raised us as his family. He had two sons of his own. After he died we were left alone. But my brother tried to search for work and we ended up at this fortress. Lord Stygian aided us and provided us with food, clothing, and shelter. Since then we have been devoted to serving him. Almost all the servants here have gone through a tragedy in their lives. He gave us a purpose to live."

Luciana looked out of the stained glass window. Mina went into the changing room to prepare a bath for her.

-"He has a gentle side too." He was a mysterious person shrouded with mist.

"I want to know him better."She said silently.

-"What's the use? The moment I find a chance. I wish to divorce him."She suddenly thought.

"OH MY DEVILS!"She cried out loud.

"What in the seven hells happened in here?"

Luciana got up startled by her cry.

"MASTER! I won't forgive you for making this poor servant work overtime!" She was holding the bandages tightly in her fist and dumped them in a straw basket.

"Pfft!"Luciana let out a small laugh.

"He really looks more like a brother to you two."

Mina grinned showing her sharp canines.

"You finally laughed milady! I succeeded." She picked up the straw basket.

"Huh?"

"Your eyes were red as if you cried when I came in. I thought maybe you were missing your homeland. I apologize again milady. But... Please don't leave us."

Luciana looked at Mina's hollow eyes. There was sadness and loneliness in them.

-"What... Should I say?"