CHAPTER 26: The Refreshing Ablution

"Let me go!!" Aella blasted out as soon as her weight was held in mid-air to prevent her from falling.

The next second, her request was heeded and her entire body was sent falling to the floor as she couldn't save her face from the impact.

"Ah!!" Aella winced as pricks of pain shot up her limbs from the fall.

Without wasting time to recover from the fall, she picked herself up with the duvet still around her waist as she blanched out at the male standing at the other end of the bed with a pristine look on his face.

"What is your problem with me?!" She fired at him with an outraged look on her face.

"I only abided by your demands. You told me last night to stop with it and I made a mistake by using it again so I dropped you as per your orders. Was I also in the wrong in that?" Bane raised a thick eyebrow.

"Yes!! You are!!" She hissed.

There was a bed next to her, even if she asked to be let go, he could have dropped her there and not let her fall to the floor.

"So I am in the wrong for holding you in the air and also in the wrong for abiding by your request and letting you go? I see you are not only clumsy but confused as well," he let out a strained breath as though he was tired of her antics already.

"And you're insufferable!!" She spat at him before she picked up the dress from the floor.

She had no time or energy to argue with him this morning.

Aella threw one last glare at the male before she marched towards the lavatory, barely being able to suppress the curses that were about to escape from her lips.

She stepped out of the bathroom a few minutes later after washing her face with the water set aside. She felt so much better when the cool water touched her skin.

It had been a long time since she got to bathe with clean water and all the dirt which were on her body had lessened to make her feel refreshed and agile.

Aella had changed into the dress which Bane had given her and though, she hadn't seen her reflection, she was already in love with the delicate flow of the gown on her legs.

She was unable to tie the sewn corset at her waist but she managed the dress like that because she would never ask the young lad for anything, much less to help with her clothes.

And she knew he wouldn't even help her out but only use it to mock her that she couldn't even wear cloth herself.

Aella had used her wet fingers to run through her hair and it took a great amount of time and effort to eradicate the bundle of web on her head.

She hadn't combed or washed her hair since she left home and she knew it smelt bad but she saw no lather to help with the smell so she made do with what she got.

Aella had to remind herself that she wasn't in an inn where all her demands could be met but rather, she was in a dangerous place where her life could be taken at any time.

She had yet to meet the demon that she was asked to slay but she knew it was only a matter of time before she did.

As she walked out of the lavatory, Aella noticed that the dress she was wearing was of an old design which made her question the age of the fabric.

She might not be adept in fashion like her younger sister was but even she knew that the dress was as ancient as it could be.

She wouldn't be surprised if it dated back to a few hundred years back.

Her nose tingled when she got a waft of something sumptuous in the room.

She looked up to see Bane sitting on the same chair he sat on when she woke up yesterday.

His golden orbs were set on her and his expression was unreadable. Aella couldn't help but feel uneasy under his scrutinising eyes.

His eyes travelled down her length as though he was checking for something before he settled back on her face with a clouded look on his face.

What was up with him now?!

She had thought he would leave after she entered the bathroom but she would have been more surprised if he listened to her.

"Your food. Eat," he said in two short sentences with a rigid nod towards the bed.

Her eyes trailed to where he was directing and the steaming bowl placed on a wooden tray came into her view.

As though on cue, her stomach growled in protest at the sight of something delectable.

Aella's cheeks flushed with colour at the howl which went louder than she expected.

She didn't bother to look at him because she knew he would only find a way to tease her for it.

"Wow, the birds are really loud today," Aella mumbled as she walked towards the bed.

She sat down and saw the menu for today's breakfast. It was chicken porridge with a mixture of herbs in it to soothe her illness.

Aella looked up to see Bane already staring back at her with a bit of intensity hidden in his golden orbs.

'Who are you? And why are you doing all these for me?'

She questioned in her head.