Silent in the dark

Chapter Eleven

In a moment of contemplation, Ramiel withdrew his hand from her head, weighing the decision of whether or not to erase her memory. He knew that erasing her memory would only further traumatize her. However, he placed his hand on hers again before speaking.

"Forget everything you saw in your dream," he gently instructed, before exiting the room.

Returning to his own quarters, Ramiel retrieved his clothes and headed to the bathroom for a shower. After thirty minutes, he emerged dressed in a bathrobe, his hair still damp. This palace was the last place he wished to be. It had been revealed to him that his deceased mother had been a concubine to the king, resulting in his birth as well as Damien's. His mother, a demon, had fallen in love with an ancient vampire, but their love was doomed to falter. Years after Damien's birth, his mother had passed away. Damien, however, found solace in Ramiel, despite his troubled relationship with his father, Arya. Ramiel had initiated an investigation into his mother's death, which ultimately led him to suspect the queen's involvement. Unfortunately, his attempt to voice these suspicions had backfired, leaving him feeling foolish and ignorant of his stepbrothers' malicious intentions. He longed to forget the whole ordeal, and his father, not believing Ramiel's accusations, had taken him away from the palace. During that time, demons were wreaking havoc, indiscriminately killing humans or forcing them into unwelcome unions, thereby exposing their true identities. As punishment for falsely accusing the queen of murder, Ramiel had become part of the demon slayers. Meanwhile, his stepbrothers had continued to reach out to him, feigning concern for his well-being and urging him to stay away from the palace. Reluctantly, Ramiel had heeded their warnings, but over time, Arya's words started to resonate with him. Recognizing his loyalty and trustworthiness, his father had appointed him as a leader, acknowledging the value of burying certain secrets in the ground. Ramiel had remained patient, awaiting the opportune moment to take action.

Exhausted, Ramiel drifted off to sleep, plagued by incessant nightmares.

Derek's chambers
Seated on a cushioned chair, Derek was accompanied by a scantily clad woman perched upon his lap, her hand exploring his body. She poured another glass of wine and handed it to him, which he eagerly accepted, swiftly downing its contents.

"You're adorable," he declared with a smile, planting a kiss on the woman's lips. Suddenly, the door swung open, bringing their encounter to an abrupt halt.

"Get out!!!" Louise shouted at the woman, her voice filled with anger.

Gently, Skylar allowed her eyes to flutter open, rising from her reclined position and glancing at the time displayed on the clock: 5:30 a.m. Breathing a sigh of relief, she reclined once more.

"Oh dear," she exclaimed, her eyes widening in realization. "How could I have fallen asleep? I haven't prepared his dinner! He will surely punish me. What am I to do?" she contemplated, standing up. She couldn't believe she had allowed herself to doze off without providing his highness with his evening meal. In a rush, she hurried to the bathroom to freshen up. A few minutes later, she emerged, dressed in an elegant gown of royal blue that reached the same length as before. She combed her vibrant red hair back and departed. Making her way to the study, she knocked, but received no response. Opening the door tentatively, she discovered the prince was not present. Consequently, she closed the door and ventured to his room instead. Quietly entering, as was customary, she found the surroundings dimly lit by a few flickering candles. Stealthily, she approached his slumbering form and observed his peaceful countenance as he slept. She couldn't help but acknowledge his beauty, noting how gentle and tranquil he appeared while in repose. Deciding to sit by the side of the bed, a gesture that would surely add to her impending reprimand, she was about to rise when she felt a warm hand grasp her wrist. Surprised, she looked at the hand and then back at Ramiel, realizing there was no other possible owner. He pulled her closer, his arm enveloping her slender waist. Skylar was taken aback, her head resting against his chest, while he seemingly slumbered, dreaming of someone. She immediately regretted her decision to approach him, apprehension creeping upon her. However, she couldn't deny the sense of tranquility that washed over her in his embrace.

"How comforting," she thought introspectively. For a few fleeting moments, those words played repeatedly in her mind, akin to déjà vu. A smile graced her lips as she looked up at Ramiel, freezing in her tracks.

"Your Highness, this is not what it seems," she stammered, fear welling up within her. She should have listened to her instincts. "I am sincerely sorry."

"Sorry," he repeated, leaving Skylar perplexed by his lack of reaction.

"I deeply regret not preparing your dinner. I inadvertently fell asleep," she explained.

"In that case, you must be punished," he stated, prompting her to sit up.

"Your Highness, please find it in your heart to forgive me. I beg your forgiveness," she pleaded, lowering herself to her knees. Ramiel scrutinized the fragile figure before him and sat up.

"Stand," he commanded, and she immediately obeyed.

"You must make amends, Skylar," he declared, his use of her name causing goosebumps to prickle across her skin.

"Come," he beckoned. Everything felt peculiar to Skylar as she cautiously approached. Extending his hand palm-up, he signaled for her to place her hands within it. She complied, and he drew her closer to him, settling her upon his lap.
In an uneasy manner, she addressed him as "Your Highness" while he gently placed her on the bed, holding onto her tightly.

Perplexed, she gazed at him and inquired, "Who might you be?"

Identifying herself as Skylar, she added, "Previously, I was known as Elina," all the while feeling her heart race. "Is there something amiss, Your Highness?"

"Of course not," he responded with a smirk, "Your penalty shall involve cooking dinner for the royal family."

Shocked, Skylar exclaimed, "What?!?"