The Little Demon

Chapter 7

"Here we are," Harry smiled, opening a gate before walking them down a sidewalk to a handsome Victorian style mansion that Malice couldn't help but stare at.

"I inherited this place from my great aunt." He explained opening the door, completely oblivious of Kill and Anti behind them. "My parents didn't want it so I suppose I got lucky. I like it and all, but it took forever to redecorate."

"Pffft." Kill scoffed rolling his eyes. "Mortals..."

Malice followed Harry in and felt her mouth drop. The hallway was vast with white painted walls and an oak flooring as a golden chandelier hung from the ceiling while a grand staircase stood in the middle.

"Carlotta?" Harry called. "Are you busy?"

"I am right here, Dearie." A plump, middle-aged woman wearing a black shirt with long light blue sleeves, and brown jeans appeared from a door way. She had shiny black hair tied back into a tight bun, and kind hazel eyes.

"We have a guest," Harry smiled, taking his coat from Malice's shoulders and hanging it up on a nearby hook. "Could you please run her a bath and find her some clean clothes to change into? I'll explain everything later."

"Can you believe this guy?" Anti whispered while leaning towards Kill, jerking his thumb at the human.

Carlotta blinked at him, but nodded without question.

"Of course, Harry." She said, approaching Malice with a gracious smile before ushering her up the stairs. "I'll also have dinner ready by 7."

-'ღ'-

"There we go!" Carlotta said, turning off the taps of the bathtub. "Nice, hot and bubbly."

She turned around to smile at Malice who stood shyly watching, hands clasped in front of her.

"Feel free to use as many towels as you need, dear." The maid said. "While you have a good soak, I'll see if I can find you some clothes. I'll leave them in the guest room which is the third door to the right. Just leave your own clothes outside the door and I'll have them washed for you. Okay?"

Returning the smile, Malice nodded her understanding as Carlotta left the bathroom, closing the door behind her; unknowingly blocking her view of Kill and Anti who stood on the landing.

Stripping off her clothes and underwear, Malice stepped into the tub and let out a contented sigh as the warm, rose scented water soothed her skin, before completely submerging herself.

Once she had scrubbed off the mud, shampooed and conditioned her hair, she stepped out of the tub before pulling out the stopper.

The bathroom was extremely spacious, decorated simply with white tiles and a large silver shelf filled with towels hung on the far wall.

She picked up a black towel and wrapped it around herself before picking up a second one for her hair.

Scooping up her clothes up off the floor, she opened the bathroom door and peered around to see Kill and Anti still on the landing.

She rose an eyebrow at them.

"Okay..." Kill said, covering a clueless Anti's eyes with his hand and doing the same for his own.

Smiling, she walked past them across the landing before finding the door to the guestroom. As she opened it, a large grin brightened her face as she took it all in.

The bedroom was made up with a gray color scheme, ranging from different shades from the lightest hue painted on the walls to the darkest toned carpet.

A simple double bed made up with silver gray sheets stood near a large window that gave a beautiful view of the garden.

On top of the bed lay a candy red dress with a scalloped neckline and quarter sleeves.

After drying herself, Malice pulled it over her head, before zipping it up. It was at least one size too big, but it didn't stop her from twirling around and making the skirt swirl around her legs.

Malice fastened up her black boots before looking at herself in a full length mirror that hung on the far wall. Surprisingly, her shoes went well with the dress.

Finding a brush on the dresser, she ran it through her hair a couple of times until she was satisfied with how it looked.

Kill and Anti were waiting for her on the landing as she closed the bedroom door behind her.

Kill did a double take while Anti's eyes and mouth dropped open at the sight of her.

"Mal..." Anti wheezed. "Y-you're in a dress!"

"Willingly." Kill added.

Malice grinned at both of them as she dropped her clothes near the door, before making her way down the stairs with them both following her.

She heard Harry and Carlotta's voices come from an nearby room. With a glance at her friends, she approached slowly down the hall, listening hard.

"Oh Harry, be reasonable. Nice young ladies just don't appear out of nowhere and then flutter off into oblivion."

"I'm telling you, Carlotta, I'll bet anything it is her..." Harry sighed. "And once I'm sure, I'm never letting her go..."

A surge of warmth burst through Malice's chest. She looked at Kill and Anti, her eyes shining as she beamed.

Anti gave her a warm grin and another double thumbs up, while Kill offered an encouraging smile.

A set of footsteps gained their attention when Carlotta rounded a corner. When she noticed Malice standing in the middle of the hallway, an adoring gasp escaped her.

"My goodness!" She laughed, approaching her. "I'm so happy that I didn't give this dress away. I ordered the wrong size by mistake and never got around to sending it back to the store."

She took her by the hand, pulling her into another room. "You're just in time for dinner, dear. Harry is already waiting in the dining room."

Carlotta led her into the dining room which had a contemporary yet sleek design to it. Like the guest bedroom, it had a large window that offered a beautiful view of the garden which Harry stood by.

As he turned around, his eyes widened when they landed on Malice.

"Oh isn't she a vision, Harry?" Carlotta smirked as he stepped away from the window.

Harry blinked several times at her, his mouth opening and closing as though he had trouble getting his words out.

"You..." He began. "You look great."

A deep blush dusted her cheeks as she looked away bashfully.

"Come come now, you must be famished." Carlotta said as he pulled out a chair for her. "It's not often that we have such a lovely dinner guest, is it Harry?"

"No." He said, not taking his eyes off her. "It's not."