The Devil or a Hero

Raman came out of the bathroom after taking a long shower, walked up to the closet, and wrenched it open. Picking out the perfect clothes, he got dressed and heaved a long sigh, feeling more relaxed than before. It was high time he went to pay the stranger in his house a visit. He thought to himself, walked out of the room, and headed to the kitchen.

....

Shutting the door again for the third time, I returned to the trundle and sat on the edge of it. It had been three whole hours, and my savior hadn't come to check up on me, not even once. I had been waiting for him to walk right through that door, yet no sign of him yet. What could be taking him so long? My patience was beginning to wear thin. I needed to take a bath as soon as possible, as my body began to itch. But I had no clothes to change into, and that was one problem I needed to fix before coming down to handle my growling tummy.

I watched as the clock kept ticking, and numerous thoughts began to ponder my mind. What if he doesn't even show up today? What if he doesn't even live here, and I'm the only one here? The thought of going outside kept running through my mind, yet I knew deep down it would be rude to go roaming around in someone else's house. That's if he actually even stays here or is available at the moment.

As I waited for my savior, my mind wandered back to the day I was forced to flee the palace. I remembered the sound of clashing swords, the smell of smoke and sweat, and the feeling of fear as I ran for my life. The royal guards had been my protectors once, but now they hunted me like a criminal. I pushed the memories aside, focusing on the present, but the pain and betrayal still lingered, a constant ache in my heart.

I sank into the plush bed, feeling the softness envelop me like a warm embrace. The warmth offered a fleeting respite, but the weight of my past lingered, refusing to be forgotten.

Just as I was about to give up, the door finally cracked open, making me sit up almost immediately, and a man walked in. A mix of relief washed over me for a moment, knowing he had come to check up on me. But as I lifted my gaze to the man who had just walked in, I was taken aback, with my jaw hanging open.

The man I was staring at right now was breathtaking—completely beyond my imagination. The man, who was about six feet tall, was holding a fancy tray with fruits and a dinner knife in it. His charcoal black silky long hair, which was an inch longer than mine, fell over his broad shoulders. His muscular arms bulged beneath the black shirt he wore, which struggled to contain his powerful physique. The black trousers he wore accentuated his pale skin, creating an aura of mystery and elegance.

I watched his slowly yet gracefully walk up to me.

With every step he took, a faint feeling of fear and relief washed through me at the same time.

I myself couldn't comprehend or explain exactly how I was feeling.

One one hand, with every step he took it felt like the devil walking up to his prey, and on the other, a hero walking up to his heroine.

A rush of adrenaline swept through me and I couldn't help let out a low gasp the moment he sat next to me.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked not sparing a single glance at me. His low and smooth voice broke the silence that lingered between us. The moment he turned his gaze to me our eyes locked, and for a moment, time stood still. The scent of oranges enveloped me, transporting me to a realm where time stood still. It was as if the fragrance had a life of its own, weaving a spell that drew me closer to him with every breath. I felt the boundaries between us blurring, like the edges of a painting smudging in the rain.

Then, he spoke again, "Are you in any sort of pain?" his voice made me feel a shiver run down my spine as I searched for words, my mind racing with the implications of his question. Was he concerned about me, or was this just a ploy to get closer? I had watched him majestically walk up to me while I studied his every feature, but seeing him from this close made me feel completely different. Like what I had seen walking up to me was just a shadow, while the real person was here, sitting right next to me.

His piercing silver eyes seemed to bore into my very soul, as if they could see beyond the façade, into the depths of my fears, lies, and darkest secrets. I felt exposed, vulnerable, like an open book laid bare before him. His gaze was like a gentle breeze that rustled the pages of my heart, revealing the hidden truths I kept locked away. The dim light of the room seemed to fade into the background as his gaze held mine, his eyes piercing through the shadows like two shining beacons in the darkness. The air was heavy with tension, the only sound the soft hum of a distant engine, a reminder that there was a world beyond this moment.

As I sat there, frozen in his gaze, I felt like I was drowning in the depths of his eyes. The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, suspended in a sea of tension. I couldn't help but wonder what he saw when he looked at me, what secrets he uncovered with his piercing gaze.

I finally managed to break free from his spellbinding gaze and nodded my head, trying to find my voice. "Hmm... mmm... I'm not in any sort of pain." I stuttered, still trying to process the intensity of his gaze.

Her baby blue eyes were captivating and drawing him in. It was almost like he hadn't seen any woman like her.

No, he had actually seen many but none came close to her.

Her presence, her eyes most especially were doing things to him, things he couldn't understand.

Right now, he could tell exactly how she felt, it was exactly how any human would feel.

They're supposed to feel this way, it's one of his speciality… drawing people to himself. But this time around, it felt different, everything regarding this lady felt so completely.

Never in his life had he felt this drawn to a human.

And he felt it again.

A strange feeling of familiarity, this time stronger than the first time and he was losing control over his demon again.

He needed to act fast and get his act together.

Finally taking his gaze off her, "OK then. Eat up and take a shower; if there's anything you need, just inform me." He said and stood from the trundle, his movements fluid and graceful.

I watched as he walked away, feeling a sense of loss wash over me. I had finally met my savior, but I hadn't even thanked him yet for everything or told him that I need clothes or even asked for his name, and now he's leaving.

Sprinting out of bed, "Wait..." I yelled out, and thankfully, he halted in his steps.

I walked up to him, but he didn't turn around to gaze at me. "Thank you for everything... For saving me from the royal guards, for bringing me here, for nursing my wounds, and for the kind gesture of offering me fruits. Thanks a lot." I said, hoping he'll at least say something or turn around, but he didn't; he just nodded his head slightly and was about leaving again.

"Wait... Can I please know your name?" I asked, but he tilted his head slightly, still maintaining the same position.

"Raman," he said, his name hanging in the air like a challenge, as if daring me to forget it. The sound of his voice sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a thrill run through me.

"Hmmm… can I call you hero?" I asked taking a step up to him as I watched him slightly look over his shoulder. "The reason is, only a true hero would do this sort of things," I hastily said before he could utter a word, "So, may I?" This time I was expecting an answer.

"Hmm…" He slightly nodded his head as a smile crept to my face.

"Hero, I actually need some clothes to change into, and I don't have any at the moment." I paused before I continued my statement, "I don't know if you know what I mean, but I need some clothes. I'm sorry if I'm asking for too much or being a burden..."

He understood my unspoken request. "No, you're not asking for too much, neither are you being a burden; I understand what you mean. Go take a shower; I'll give you some of my clothes to wear for the meantime, then you can go get some clothes later at the market. There's a nearby market around the area, and don't worry about the money; I'll take care of it. If there's anything else you need, just inform me; I'll be next door."

With that, he finally walked out of my room, leaving me in awe of his kindness and generosity.

As I watched him walk away, I felt a mix of emotions: gratitude, curiosity, and a hint of fear. Who was this mysterious man who had saved my life and was now taking care of me? I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I needed to focus on my recovery and figure out my next move. But as I turned to head back to the bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was about to change forever.