CHAPTER 24: The Blanket

Aella was stopped from falling to the floor by something magical which was keeping her in the air.

Her back was bent and hovering like a broken broomstick as her pacific eyes stared up at the ceiling with shock.

She didn't feel anything on her body other than this invisible sensation she felt earlier today when Bane had kept her from pouncing on him.

She brought her head up to see the culprit standing like there was no one in front of him.

His arms were behind his back as he only looked down at her with a bored expression.

But she was sure of it. He was the one doing this. For the second time today!

"Let me up at once!!" She belted out at the top of her lungs, her back aching from the awkward position she was put in.

A second later, Aella was straightened up by the same force which kept her floating and she used her hands to brush her blonde locks away from her face.

"And add clumsy to the list. You are a blasting package," 

There was no hint of humour in his voice but she ignored his remark.

"You!" She pointed her index finger at him.

"I have no notion of this thing you do that keeps me waddling in the air like a bird but I need you to stop! Whatever magic you are using should halt at once!!" She spat.

How dare he use her body to practice his skills?! She never asked to be saved from a fall, she could attend to herself!!

"I merely prevented an action which would cause too much commotion. I detest noise and you have been an ideal example of one," he muttered coldly.

"Oh, pardon me for being a nuisance, but last time I checked the book of my requests, I never asked to be brought here!!" Aella shot at him.

Bane didn't say a word, instead, she noticed he was peering down her body and inspecting something.

Suddenly, she felt self-conscious which made her look down to see what was off that caused him to stare so intently.

"Is that the blanket from the room?" He raised an eyebrow as he looked more closely.

Aella, once again, felt her cheek burning up as she timidly looked down at her makeshift attire and cleared her throat awkwardly.

Before she had left the room, she had tied the duvet around her waist so it could cover the parts of her body the tunic failed to conceal.

She wasn't used to wearing such skimpy clothes and that was the only option she had in a limited room.

It wasn't like she was going to ask this intolerable being for a dress so she did the next thing available.

Looking down now, Aella could see how hilarious this might seem.

A prisoner who was trying to run away, stole the duvet to make a skirt to hide her body.

It didn't even look like a skirt. It only made her look like a padded duck preparing for a chicken fight.

Mirthful and entertaining.

She could laugh at her state.

"I couldn't leave the room wearing only that so…"  Aella trailed off sheepishly.

He always found the right thing to turn her into a laughing stock.

"I reckon. That was my bad, I only wanted to make sure your hellish fever would wear off," he had a clouded look on his face now.

Aella stood transfixed and stunned for a moment, not believing her ears.

Did she just hear him admit a wrong? That was a complete change from the lad who was taunting her just a few minutes ago.

"I-It's okay," Aella coughed lightly, not knowing why she suddenly became shy in front of him.

Actually, it wasn't okay! How could one just leave a lady in a man's tunic?!

She could overlook the fact that he had to undress her due to her clothes which were soaked with sweat and filth but why leave her only in a shirt which was twice her size?!

But with the way he admitted it, she saw no need for her to scold him for it.

An awkward silence followed for the next minute.

"Let me take you back to the chamber," Bane crashed the silence with his cool voice.

Astonished by the offer, Aella stammered.

"U-Uh, no, thank you. I can find it myself. You should head off to sleep now, I must have disturbed your night trying to find another lavatory around here," she scratched her head.

She wanted him to head back to his room or wherever he was so she could continue her search for the stairs. 

She didn't want to give up so easily.

"Sleep is only for those with life in them. You wouldn't be able to find the room yourself," Bane said which elicited a frown from Aella.

Only for those with life in them? Was he claiming he was dead? She couldn't quite understand his ominous words but she brushed it off anyway.

"You underestimate me, I can find my way," she scowled and moved past him.

"It's the other way round," Bane said and Aella grumbled under her breath as she changed directions.

"I knew that," she retorted his way and moved down the other side.

"I thought you said you could find the way? Then why did you believe when I said it was this direction?" 

Aella halted in her tracks as her fists curled up into a ball. She was seething with rage now.

Why was he hellbent on making her look like a fool?!

He had messed up the route in her head and she couldn't even remember which was right or wrong.

"You're an expert at deriding people," she hissed and moved down the hallway.

As she walked, she heard his footsteps moving with her and instead of feeling scared by his presence, she strangely felt assured.

Each time she went down the wrong lane, or almost opened the wrong door, Bane would correct her and she would instantly change position as though she meant to go there from the beginning.

By the time she reached the room, Aella was already exhausted as she felt her body about to give up again.

This night, she had failed to escape this prison and she didn't know how long she would be able to last here.

As she lay on the bed, Aella could only imagine ways to get out of here before she was used as the demon's meal.