CHAPTER 31: The Incredulous Revelation

Aella peered her eyes open slowly as consciousness knocked into her body.

As each of her limbs awoke, she realized she was in a different room than the one she had been in before the events of last night flooded her head.

She remembered getting out of the room before heading to the Bane's chambers only to end up getting caught by him before she could wound him.

She picked her weight up and rested on the head of the bed with a sigh.

"Can't believe you failed again!" She hissed and hit herself as she reprimanded.

Her second attempt to leave this mansion had been proven futile by Bane's unceasing sharpness and agility.

She wondered if she would ever be able to leave this place alive.

It was only a matter of time before she was fat enough for the demon to have her as his meal.

How was she going to get out of here?!

Speaking of the mysterious lad, Aella noticed he wasn't in the bedroom which made her sceptical about where he could be.

Where did he even sleep last night? Did he have to stay in the chair because she was on the bed or had he gone to another room to stay away from her?

Aella brushed her blonde locks away from her face as she swung her legs onto the floor.

"Hey, I don't remember having a nightmare," A small smile slipped into her lips at the realization.

Her nights had never been devoid of terrifying dreams since the onset of the journey to get the demon's heart but she hadn't gotten a disturbing visitor last night.

This was actually the first time in a while that she was able to sleep peacefully throughout the night without any disturbance.

"Bane's magic must be rubbing in," she mused as she stood up from the bed to leave the room.

The light peeking in through the room from the window made her look up. She headed to the side of the room as she pushed open the glass but it didn't budge.

She peeked through it to see a huge courtyard around the building. She wondered how far it would be from here to her home.

Aella sighed as she got reminded of the family she had left before heading for this ridiculous journey.

She wondered if her father had recovered from the stroke or if he was still bedridden. And whether her mother was coping well.

With a sigh, she grabbed her sword which was by the chair Bane had sat on before she walked out of the room.

"Ah!!" Aella jumped immediately when she saw Bane's dark figure leaning on the doorway.

"Why so much fright?" His cool voice rang.

"Maybe because I wasn't expecting to see someone as soon as I opened the door!" She hissed and placed her hand on her chest.

Why was he behaving like a ghoul?!

"Apologies, you asked me to not step into the room while you were sleeping so…" Bane trailed off as he looked somewhere else.

Aella had to do a double-take to make sure she was hearing right. Did the obnoxious young lad just apologise?  She furrowed her eyebrows.

Ha! Pigs must have started flying for that was so unlike him.

"Oh, you could have just knocked and demanded permission," Aella mumbled as the air felt a little bit awkward after his apology.

"I assume this belongs to you," he opened his palm to reveal the golden compass that she had dropped in the hallway yesterday.

"Yes," she picked it up and held it close to her chest.

"You should head to the room you were assigned and never return here," Bane muttered as he moved into the room.

She placed her hand on the door immediately before he could close it. She watched as his golden orbs widened a bit.

"And why is that? Are you hiding skeletons in your closets?" Aella snickered, standing a few inches away from him.

"Whether I am hiding bones or birds in my trunk, that has nothing to do with you. I just like to have my space to myself," He said as he pushed the door closer but she tightened her grip.

"Oh, maybe you should have thought of that before listening to your Master and bringing me here against my will!" Aella spat.

"My Master? Pray tell, what do you mean by that?" He seemed confused.

"The creature who commands you to do all you do. The infamous demon of Cassa Dron, or you thought I wouldn't know about it?" She lifted her chin defiantly.

Bane's face slowly morphed into one of understanding before he looked up at her with raised eyebrows.

Aella wavered a bit under his stern gaze but she remained stubborn and didn't break the eye contact despite the sparks on her skin.

"So you had come in search of the demon?" He posed a question.

"Y-Yes, what else do you think a maiden like me would be doing in unruly areas like this?" She huffed and tucked her strands behind her ear.

"Unfortunate to inform you that I serve no Master. I am the only inhabitant in this Castle," Bane let out and Aella stilled.

She couldn't believe her ears. Her eyes widened as her head began to process what she had just heard. There was no way that was possible.

He had no Master? How probable was that?

"N-No way," her voice came out like a whisper.

"Every way possible because I am the very creature you seek, Aella," Bane uttered, leaving her in a complete state of shock.