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Chapter 6

I felt hurt. Why did he avoid my kiss? Did he not really like me?

I kept quiet as we arrived at the landing pad and walked down the dimly lit corridor to our place. Rael didn't look at me. Was it wrong of me to have wanted to kiss him? I regretted doing it since it meant it would be awkward like this between us.

We weren't hungry since we ate many fruits at Edenvale. He went for a shower and then I. For a change the closet gave me a decent dress to sleep in. They all seemed downhearted somehow... I wondered why? When I got to the bed Rael seemed to be already asleep. Or was he pretending like I did the one time? I got in and turned my back towards him. Silent tears soaked my pillow and I eventually drifted off. In a dream I could hear Rael's voice say: "sorry", and felt his lips lightly on my forehead.

The next morning I woke up alone. The desk informed me that Rael had left early to go speak with the demon. I changed and then made myself some breakfast that I ate on my own. I was worried. What would the demon want in exchange?

I tried keeping myself busy by reading, but my mind kept wandering. Eventually I just sat and stared at nothing. Later when I was going to the kitchen I passed the locked door again. I checked to see if the desk was anywhere to be seen and then peeked into the keyhole. To my surprise it seemed dimmer in there than before... I could somehow make out something...was it a tree? I could see leaves falling off it. Was it the leaves that gave it light? If it all falls off what does that mean?

Just then I heard a door open and quickly stepped away. Rael was back and looked very angry and scary. When he saw me he changed his expression.

"Um... good morning," I said, not sure what to say to him.

"I spoke with the demon..."

He was looking grim again, but not as frightening as he did when he thought I wasn't seeing him.

"What happened?"

I felt my heart sink and was expecting the worst.

"He refused to state his terms until tomorrow night."

"Oh..." I said relieved. So it's not decided yet! That's not so bad...

"That's not all. He wants us to attend the banquet tomorrow night as well."

"What? Another banquet?"

"There is one almost every night here, it is up to each demon if he or she wants to go."

"Really? Don't they get tired of it?"

"Some do...but that's beside the point. I don't like this...I think he is planning something, but we are not in a position to make demands."

I could see that he was very frustrated.

"I'm going to my study. I need time alone...to think."

I decided to stay up so I could apologise to him about the day before when he came to bed. My thoughts wandered. Why did I want to kiss him? He's a demon and I still don't know much about him. He could have done horrific things that I don't know about. I couldn't help but shudder when I recalled the banquet I attended on the first night here and seeing what the demons did to their 'companions'. But Rael somehow seems...different? Or is that my mind trying to make it okay because I...could it be?

He did not come to bed that night and I eventually fell into a dreamless sleep.

Rael was out the next morning and I ate breakfast alone again. I hated how things had become. Did he dislike me that much? I quickly wiped away a tear when I heard the desk coming and put on a happy face.

"Good morning."

"Hmmm...good morning," he replied. The desk seemed unusually quiet today. Usually it would be rambling off a whole list of things for me to do by now.

"What can I do today?" I asked, trying to sound cheerful, but it rang hollow in the room.

"Er...what? Oh, yes. You can just do the usual, and the windowsills need dusting..."

"But...there are no windowsills here?" I asked.

The desk coughed.

"Of course not! I was just checking if you have your wits about you! You can't let anything slip by you tonight or it could have catastrophic consequences."

With that the desk walked off.

"Wait! What do you mean?"

I could as well have asked the wall.

The night came sooner than I would have liked. It turns out that once a month the demons had a special banquet where there was also dancing and this night would be one of those. I was terrified. I've never danced formally before. This was nothing like hopping around with Maggie while singing or swaying with the broomstick while I was sweeping. I didn't want to put more pressure on Rael so I kept quiet about it.

The mirror picked up I was unusually quiet as the screen dressed me for the banquet.

"Is there something wrong Annabelle?"

I smiled a quick smile to reassure the mirror.

"Don't worry, I'm just a bit nervous about tonight."

In reality I wasn't just nervous about not knowing how to dance. I was worried about my father. It had been several days since I last saw him. I wasn't sure what terms the demon would set for his release and if Rael would be able to do anything. Most of all, Rael still wasn't acting normal around me. He stayed in his study all day today as well when he came back later in the morning and the desk told me that he didn't want to be disturbed. Why did my wanting to kiss him at Edenvale upset him so much? Perhaps I had been foolish. He is a demon after all. I should just find a way to get father and escape this place!

Just then the screen let me go and I walked to the mirror to see what I looked like. I was dressed in emerald green. The dress was a one-shoulder dress with beautiful gems adorning the top part of it. Soft green material flowed from the top piece in layers and made my movements look very smooth and gracious, like I'm somehow floating. The makeup made my eyes seem greener than they were and my hair was just simply twisted into a very elegant bun. My elbow-length gloves were in a different shade of green that complimented my dress very well. I felt a bit sad thinking that this would probably be the last beautiful dress I wore. It was good while it lasted...

Rael didn't say anything when he saw me, but quietly offered me his arm. I considered talking to him, but then decided against it. He clearly didn't like me anymore for some reason. That must be why he can barely stand me now, right? I should just focus on finding my father.

We joined the banquet and several demons came to speak with Rael. I kept close to him while scouting around for any sign of my father.

"Excuse me," a voice suddenly said next to me. I was surprised to see it was the demon who "owned" my father. He wasn't speaking to Rael, but me.

"...Yes?"

"Could I have the honour of this dance?"

I could hear Rael breathe in sharply like he wanted to say something, but he kept quiet and let go of my arm. Did that mean I should say yes?

I looked at Rael, but his face didn't give anything away.

"Er...okay?"

I took the demon's offered arm and let him lead me to the dance floor. My heart was beating very fast. I can't believe I found myself in this situation...

The demon suddenly pulled me closer to him and started dancing. The way he was holding me made it impossible for me to move away from him. I stepped on his feet.

"Sorry!" I quickly said embarrassed and kept wanting to look down to see where I need to step.

"Look up at me!" the demon demanded. It was not a kind tone. I looked up and saw him grinning sardonically.

"I don't care if you step on my feet, but seeing that idiot so furious makes this the best dance ever."

Idiot? Who was he referring to? And why did he have to hold me so tight?

I kept praying that the dance would soon end. It felt like it kept going for a long time. I sighed in relieve when the demon let me go, but he kept holding onto my one hand.

"Eh?"

He suddenly brought it up to his lips...and kissed the back of my hand? What was up with that? I was so surprised at the sudden intimate gesture and couldn't help but be embarrassed.

"Oh my, you are still so innocent! How refreshing! What a stroke of luck that your father is in my... employment. I can see a way how things can work out very well...for both of us."

With that he signalled over to a corner in the hall.

"Your father is over there, you are welcome to speak with him while I speak with the idiot."

I didn't wait to see what happened. I immediately went to find my father.

"Father!"

"Annabelle! By God's grace, I am so thankful to see you alive!"

My father's face looked thin and he had dark rings under his eyes. My heart ached for him.

"Annabelle, you should forget about me and leave this place!" he whispered to me.

"I can't leave without you!"

"I...I made a deal with that demon you just danced with. On my way back home I had an accident. My cart's wheel came off and it rolled down a bank. The cart had fallen on top of me and I would have died if the demon didn't save me. And in turn I had to swear that I would serve him. In my desperate hope that I could later perhaps reason with him and return to you I agreed. He hasn't listened to me no matter how much I tried. I...can't leave this place. Please, don't tell me you are bound to a demon as well!"

"Um...not really... I saved the demon's life so he owed me a favour."

My father's eyes widened.

"I asked him to help get you back, but I don't know how this is going to work..."

"Did you have a nice chit chat?" a voice interrupted. It was my father's demon. Rael was standing next to him, looking resigned but I noticed that his hands were clenched into fists.

"We will leave now!" Rael suddenly announced and grabbed my arm, forcing me to go with him.

"Annabelle!" my father called out.

My father's voice quickly faded as Rael pushed through the crowd in the main hall. He realised too late that he had pulled me onto the dance floor and that another dance was just about to start. It was the first time I saw Rael unsure. I knew he wanted to get out of here and so did I. I wanted to know what the demon said to him. Perhaps it would be very rude to interrupt the dance now?

"We should dance," I whispered to Rael. He nodded and pulled me closer to him, but held me gently around my waist. Even when dancing he seemed distant from me. I stepped on his feet and apologised.

"Don't worry so much, just let me lead," he whispered, "and keep looking at me, your feet will know what to do."

I did what he said and found myself looking into his dark eyes. He didn't have any expression on his face as he looked back at me. I wished that I could tell what he was thinking. I so much wanted him to hold me tighter, to smile, anything. This time I wished the dance would never stop. Even if there was this distance between us it was better to dance like this than being ignored. Eventually the music stopped and Rael slowly let go of me. In the end I didn't step on his feet too much.

"Let's go."

This time he took my arm gently and led me away and eventually we got back to Rael's house. As soon as he closed the door behind him he spoke.

"The demon stated his condition.

"Oh...what was it?" I asked.

"He wants you."

"What?!"

I felt a bit faint. I should have guessed... My glaring at him that first night at the banquet really did come back to bite me... So it's me in exchange for my father...

"Is...that the only way?" I asked. My expression must have given my train of thought away.

"No! I refuse!" he said angrily. In his outburst he had pushed me against the wall.

"I will find another way..." he whispered looking at me with a sad expression. Why was he so sad? I thought he wanted to be rid of me. I couldn't help myself and gently stroked his cheek. His hand covered mine and he closed his eyes. He then suddenly let go and walked passed me and went into his study and closed the door.

I sank down to the floor. What was going to happen to me now? Is there really no other way? Why was Rael pushing me away again? I wish he would talk to me more. I was exhausted from trying to think of a solution when I eventually fell asleep.