His first night visit

"... I will disintegrate you."

Aries's hands and feet turned cold at his threat while he planted a kiss on the area he bit. She carefully glanced over her shoulder, only to see Abel trace her shoulder with the apex of his nose.

'This man will kill me,' she thought, clenching her teeth secretly. 'Not now, but he will eventually kill me for sure.'

If Aries added even the slightest lie in her story, the water in the tub would turn red with her blood. Fortunately, she unconsciously knew Abel was the person she shouldn't lie to. Her shoulder relaxed when Abel rested his forehead on her shoulder, shivering at his deep breaths hitting her damped skin.

His arms that were draping over the rim of the tub slid down under the water, wrapping them around her lean waist. She was too thin, as he could feel her hip bone.

"You feel so delicate," he muttered, resting the side of his head on her shoulder with his eyes on her. "So, why are you so obedient to me if you would rather die in that animal's hands than submit? By now, I'm certain you realized that your old owner is better than your new one?"

Aries relaxed her body against him, hanging her head low. "Your Majesty is better."

"Oh? You think so?"

"His Majesty isn't the one who slaughtered my family. That alone already made you a thousand times better." Aries glanced at him, locking eyes with him. "Even if His Majesty used me as a sandbag, it is still better than suffering in the hands of the man who took the lives of those who were dear to me."

"Ahh... that's what you mean when you say I am better — a better option, not a better person... well, aren't you daunting?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, mustering her courage to ask. "Do you find my honesty offensive, Your Majesty?"

"Mhmm," Abel crooned, as his long lashes fluttered ever so slowly. "Well, I don't feel like snapping your neck, so maybe I don't?"

Aries opened her mouth but decided to keep silent instead. She had been toeing the line and god knows how nervous she was deep down. Abel was like a ticking time bomb and with one wrong word, he would kill her.

She gazed down and let out a shallow breath. She didn't notice until now that his touches weren't sensual. It didn't disgust her, even though they were skin to skin. Abel was simply holding her... like a real pet to be taken care of.

'But that doesn't mean I will get away from serving him,' she told herself to kill whatever silly thoughts that were attempting to resurface in her head. 'Men... are all the same, after all.'

While Aries kept quiet, Abel stared at her while still resting the side of his head on her shoulder. The corner of his lips curled up into a diabolical smirk with his eyes glinting.

'I should kill her now,' he said internally, but he didn't move a muscle to do what he already ordered to himself.

Normally, he didn't need to tell himself, as he would act even before he could think about it. However, although the thought of torturing her while listening to her screams thrilled him, he just didn't have the will to silence her.

He also wondered why he was hesitating, when he already knew this woman was dangerous? But perhaps that was the main reason: the lack of answer, the intrigued, the perplexity, the anticipation of the day she would shred her skin and show her real self.

'That's even fun,' he simpered while batting his eyes. 'Once she uncovers her facade, I will have a reason to kill her. Until then... let's have fun, my darling.'

Occupied by his own twisted thoughts, Abel didn't consider that his decision not to kill her while early would lead to something... deeper, darker, and maddening.

*****

Abel helped her clean her body like how an owner does to their pet. His lack of interest in her made her loosen up a bit until the servants came to assist her to change. Aries went out first and headed to her chambers with the help of the servants.

Like the past several nights, Aries was already used to this routine of the maidservants dressing her up without speaking a word. But tonight felt different. All the servants remained quiet, but the way they looked at her was strange.

'It's more like... they pity me,' she thought, glancing at the three maidservants standing not far away from where she sat. As soon as she glanced at them, the maids hung their heads low to avoid her gaze. She glanced up, setting her eyes on the reflection of the maid, who was brushing her hair.

The maid wasn't looking at her, keeping her mouth shut while doing her job. Aries wasn't friendly towards them, nor did she cause trouble for them. For the past month since Abel took her in, the only person she was able to talk to was Conan. Not that the servants avoided her, she just knew they were keeping a clear, safe line.

'Maybe they were looking at me like this because Abel said he will spend the night in my chambers.' Aries pressed her lips into a thin line, clutching her skirt as she gazed at the mirror. 'They even put a light makeup... I'm scared.'

After the maid finished brushing her hair, she took a step back. "His Majesty will soon arrive here, my lady. Please wait for him until then."

Aries nodded, staring at their reflection as they left without saying another word. Once the door closed, she bit her lower lip and set her eyes back to her reflection. She cupped her cheek, forcing a smile.

"Unlike a month ago, I look... better," she mumbled, nodding in encouragement. The bruises she had were almost gone now, aside from the bite marks Abel left on her shoulder. Aries pulled up her sleeve to cover the bite mark.

"This is the least I can do." She exhaled sharply before assisting herself up. She marched towards the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress, palms on her side, gazing down at her feet. She waited and waited until she heard someone announce Abel's arrival and the door slowly opened.

Aries lifted her head, and her eyes instantly landed on the man in his white nightshirt strutting inside. As the door shut behind him, she slowly stood up on the side of the bed with her hands before her.

'He really did come,' she thought while raising her head up, watching Abel approach. He stopped when his toe touched hers, smirking at the determination in her eyes.

"Darling," he dawdled, raising his fingers to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Were you waiting for me? How cute."

Abel cupped her jaw as his eyelids drooped. His thumb brushed her lean cheek, staring into her eyes. It was clear she was scared, but the determination in her eyes reigned above everything else.

"This is new, but well..." the side of his lips curled up into a smirk, tilting his head as he leaned forward to claim her lips. Aries instantly shut her eyes, but he stopped when his lips were an inch away from hers.

"Pfft —!"