To Bewitch a Devil

Knowing Pen and how hesitant to his love she had been in the past, Azriel didn't want her to change her mind again.

Zavian watched humorously as Penelope stalled for an answer.

"I think she is going to say no," Zavian piped in.

"Get out," Azriel ordered. "This is a private moment."

Zavian raised a brow. "And this is my castle, and I am the King. Or have you forgotten?"

And an insufferable boastful one at that, Azriel wanted to voice his thought to the King, but he didn't want the proposal any messier than it had already gotten.

He gazed up at Penelope, her dark hair as silky as the black gown she wore. She was smiling down at him, and all the sadness that covered her since her best friend's death fell off, and he could see the Penelope he had met from the first day at the castle, the maid he had wanted to bed as a challenge, but ended up falling in love with.

It was a crazy, unusual way things turned around, but all for good.

"Well," Penelope finally said. "Since you asked so nicely," her small hand slid into Azriel's warm palm, and her grin could power the entire castle with light. "Yes, Azriel, I will be yours, as you will be mine."

Azriel rose to his feet so fast and picked her up that Penelope screamed. He twirled her around, and Penelope's laugh was music that filled the empty, somber hall.

He put her back on her feet, and he kissed her, pouring so much passion into it that made Penelope's brain fuzzy and made her belly dance. She could kiss him every second of every day and never grow tired of it.

A throat cleared from somewhere in the chamber, and she remembered they had the company of the King. She pulled away, and Azriel made a groan, pained.

"I would have asked you two to go get a chamber," Zavian said. "But I will need Azriel's attention with some work."

"Can't it wait?" Azriel asked.

"This one can't," Zavian smiled. "And we can start planning the wedding too. After such dark times, all our Kingdoms need right now is a cause for celebration. And our infamous rake has given them just that."

Azriel glared at him so fiercely Zavian could have turned into dust at that point.

"Forgive me," Zavian said, still smiling. "Ex-rake."

"Zavian, I have been looking all over for you!" Freya huffed as she stomped into the hall. She slowed in her step, taking in the smiling faces before her. "Okay, what's going on?"

"We have a wedding to plan for these two," Zavian announced.

Freya threw her hands up, her mouth open. She rubbed her forehead, paced two steps forward, three steps back, and finally, faced Azriel, stopping her dramatics.

"Nope, count me out," she said and walked back the same way she came in.

"You know Freya," Zavian said, "and her allergy to romantic love."

Azriel guffawed. "We all know Freya, Zavian." He took Penelope's hand in his and tugged. "Let's go. Turns out I am lovesick and your kisses are my cure."

Penelope giggled at the silly line as she followed after him, and Zavian watched them both exit, leaving him alone in the chambers.

He turned so he was facing Neera's portrait and could feel the ache spread through him. He had been lucky, having the privilege to have her twice in his lifetime, and he hoped, with his entire being, that she was happy where she was now.

Because he knew, and she knew, even death wasn't the end of their love story.

*1000 years later

Zavian was well aware of the woman across the bar looking at him.

He didn't know why he came into the club in the first place, but again, the ways of the ever-changing world interested him to look at, like an endless book he loved to turn, the next page more interesting than the last.

There wasn't much to surprise him in the 21st century that he hadn't seen in prior centuries. Humans and demons were still the same at the basic level, only with advancements that made life easier to deal with. The technology grew each day, social media became a drug, studies became compartmentalized in classes, new modes of transport came forth and many, many more he was still discovering.

But through all of this, his castle stood solid with occasional renovations. He was content with his home, which was now secluded in a sprawling land at the heart of the woods – his private property.

Although his castle did attract the attention of some people, most of them were realtors. He had had one just that morning before leaving, and she had offered him a contract to 'take it off his hands', her eyes smug in anticipation of a yes from him as he looked at the number of zeros trailed on endlessly on the paper.

Zavian did say no, of course.

Zavian also did reject the many others that came before her, each bidding higher than the last, each interested in his antique and rare architecture.

The woman across the bar now slithered over to him with her glass of wine. Around them, the music pumped with vigour, bodies gyrating on the dance floor to catch up to the tempo of the beat.

Red lacquered nails trailed down the front of Zavian's shirt, and immaculate blood-red lips smiled at him, seductive, inviting.

"Hey handsome," the woman purred. The straps of clothing she wrapped around her body could barely be considered a dress, and she pulled the barstool to sit next to him.

She whipped her long hair and batted her fake lashes at him. "I haven't seen you here before, and I am a regular," her eyes ran over Zavian like he was a snack she wanted to devour.

"First time here," Zavian replied.

"Ooh," the woman faked a tremble. "Your voice. It's so...masculine. I like my men with that rough edge."

Zavian gave her a polite smile. "Thank you."

"So where are you from?" She asked, leaning so close to him he could smell the tequila on her.

"Around." Came Zavian's vague answer as he downed the last of his expensive wine, the only drink he could manage to enjoy in the pool of the new drinks invented.

"You got any girl with you?" The lady asked.

"No."

"Good, because I was prepared to fight her off tonight." She smiled. She stood from her stool and came closer to Zavian, bringing her lips to his ear. He didn't back away, never needed to because none of them had any effect on him.

"How about...," the tip of her tongue tickled his earlobe. "...we get out of here and go back to mine?"

Zavian rose from his seat. The woman's smile was meant to be a victorious conquest.

"I'm good, thanks," he said.

The shock fell on the woman's face, and before she could recover, Zavian walked out of the bar. Too many nightstands turned down, and he should be out having fun, living his life, as the youth used to say, but he was no youth, even if he did look like what a young boy at a bookstore had called a 'Millennial'.

"And what is that?" Zavian had been confused by the term. The boy went on to explain some funny terms used to grade people based on their age group and what made them 'cool', and Zavian had gone on to ask,

"And if the person had lived for thousands of years? What do you call them?"

The boy laughed like he had told a really funny joke.

Zavian walked down the noisy street, music trickling out from the doors of soundproofed buildings. It was barely nighttime, and because it was the weekend, party life was in full swing.

He would just go to his regular bar, a former café turned liquor store slash bar that many 'Gen X' liked to visit. It was quieter, calmer, softer country music and the drinks were good.

So Zavian made his way there, and when the bell chimed above the door as he entered the modest interior, Bill, the owner, and part-time bartender grinned at him through a bushy mustache.

"The usual?" He asked, wiping clean a glass tumbler with a handkerchief.

"On the rocks," Zavian added with a smile.

The man went about to serve, whistling a western tune as he did so. He was fast, and soon, a glass of wine was served before Zavian, and the man tapped a beat on the table.

"Enjoy," he said and went about his cleaning.

The bar was emptier that evening, and Zavian could find peace in the chaos of the outside world. Behind Bill's bar doors, it was as if the world was shut out. And he also liked Bill, because Bill minded his business and didn't suffer him with small talk.

The bell jingled, and Zavian didn't look up at the new customer. Bill grinned, and Zavian heard him ask, "And what can I get you this fine evening?"

"Something strong, something sweet, something that says, 'yes, it's the weekend!" The person said.

Zavian froze as his cup rose to his mouth. That voice, no, it couldn't be...

"Bad day?" Bill asked.

"You can say that," she said.

Zavian looked up at her then, his lips parting. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans, and topped it with a white shirt with the word Beyoncé! sprawled on the front. She took the piece of headphones off her ears and rested it on her neck with a sigh.

That was when she turned to look at him. Purple eyes meeting golden.

She quirked her head and stared at him, the silver length of her ponytail dangling by her side.

Zavian was speechless. How could Neera be right by his side?

....

The lady stared at the most beautiful pair of eyes she had ever seen, the luscious hair, the handsome face, and yet, she could have almost sworn she had met him before, could even say she had known him all her life.

He was staring at her too, mirroring her wide eyes. He felt the same way, that she could tell.

"Hello," she greeted first.

"Hello," he replied, and his voice...something coursed to her in gentle waves, and she wanted to hug this man at the magnetic pull he oozed to her.

"I am sorry, but...I feel like I know you...," all my life, she wanted to say, but she would come off like a creep.

The stranger's lips drew into a smile. "Likewise."

The lady rubbed her palm down her side and produced it for a handshake.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," she said.

The man never took his eyes off her. "The pleasure's mine as well."

Their hands clasped together, and neither of them let go. Fate, as they would both come to know, had the trickiest of tricks up its sleeve.

*******************************

To Bewitch a Devil has finally come to an end; although it could have been longer, I needed to complete it to begin a new project. WSA 2023 would begin in a few days!! And I have a new book, a fresh kind of story, fantasy although.

The name would be 'Bride of a Dragon'

The competition has not begun yet, but I'll give you guys a sneak peak of the first chapters before we move to the new book, as I cannot start uploading, until the competition begins.

So in that case, if you re interested, you can unlock the next chapter.

If you don't want to check it out, please do not unlock. When the competition begins, we'll move the chapters to the new book, so do not forget to check for 'Whispers of the Night' on my profile, when it starts.

Special Packages rolling out for new book:

^Art illustrations of interesting scenes in the book

^Art illustrations of reader's favorite character-shouting out to top supporters

^Steamy Romance (Enough love scenes, don't worry)

^Coin gifts to the top commenters

And many more!

Do check it out though, I promise it'll be very interesting!

Thank you for reading my book and sticking beside me through thick and thin. I love you.

And to those who buy my privilege chapters, I don't know all of you, but thanks so much. And to my top three supporters, Jennifer_Goliah, MrsTazzleonard and Tina_Roberts, thank you soo much!

I appreciate you.