Chapter 8 First time of seeing a black witch
For a fleeting moment, she felt happy about finally getting to see what the world looked like. How fluent and colorful it was. How the outside world lived. Only to be reminded by this crazy vampire that she was still trapped in hell. Thinking about the money, she panicked hard. Her heart was under pressure, and maybe in pain as well.
“Why is your heart beating so fast?” asked the Duke, pretending not to know what was going on with her.
“Nothing,milord,” came the girl’s quick reply. She didn't want to die. That word ‘death’—she was extremely scared of it. Just hearing the word terrified her a lot, let alone death coming for her itself. Goosebumps formed all over her skin. And praise the Lord in the heavens, because the maid’s attire had long sleeves, hiding the goosebumps from the Duke beside her.
“I-I’m just scared of going into the market alo…”
“So you're scared of going alone,huh?” asked the Duke. He would be overjoyed to take her into the market.
“Yes,milord. But it's fine, haha,” said the foolish Evan, never knowing she was getting into hell willingly.
“Is that so?”said Ezekiel as he raised one of his brows.
“Yes, milord. This is my first time coming to a market.”
“Ok,let's go in together,” came the Duke’s gentle voice. He just sat relaxed in the carriage, wearing a solemn expression.
He saw the girl fidgeting,and a silent chuckle left his lips. This was just so cute to him.
“Milord,I-I was just overwhelmed when I first saw the crowd. I think I'm fine now. I can go on my own.” Ezekiel threw her a glance that made the girl look downwards. His gray eyes were intimidating. They could scare a kid away.
“Mi-milord,I-I'll go now.” She looked at the maid who gave her a little nod. She breathed out in relief. Happy, Evan gathered her long skirt, ready to get down from the carriage.
“Where is the money you're using to buy the groceries?”Boom! Came the question Evan was most worried about.
‘Oh no!I should've left when he said I should go ahead at first! What master brings his maid to the market? This is an abomination!’ she said inwardly with frustration. She wished she could say it to his face, but that was only a wish.
“Haha, actually I didn't bring money, sir,” said Evan. She had subconsciously said that. Realizing what she did, she gave herself a slap, leaving the Duke baffled. He tsked and slipped his left hand into his blue coat pocket, bringing out three coins.
He opened his palm to Evan's face.She was shocked to the bone marrow, and her jaw dropped open.
The Duke shook his head in disbelief and then threw the money into her lap.
“Learn how to control frustration and anger.Next time, be more careful. Now go!” And before the Duke had successfully landed the last word, Evan was already outside, running into the market crowd like a bird set free.
She saw many disgusting things. People begging, looking messy and dirty. The scene was something that could leave someone traumatized. She paused for a moment as she watched little children begging for fruit and other stuff from a fruit seller. What left her dumbfounded was not the children begging, but how they looked. They looked like witches from the abyss of hell.
Some didn't even have eyes.Some had only one hand or one leg. Some had no nose. They all looked creepy. It was so disgusting that she was mystified. The fruit seller kept chasing them away, but they wouldn't go.
It seemed like the fruit seller was used to them coming.Just looking at the scenario was enough to make her belly turn as if she was about to throw up. The children weren't only at the fruit seller's shop; they were everywhere, wandering around any shop that sold something eatable.
And then, something strange happened. A little girl who had one red eye while the other was a deep black hollow hole—she was disgusting and frightening. Her nails were black. Her hair was messy, dirty, and unkempt. She dragged Evan by her cloth.
“Help me!Please help me!” said the creepy girl. More of them came, pulling her by the cloth and chanting, “Please help us, please help us!”
If death were available at the moment,Evan would have summoned it urgently. She screamed, throwing away the money and screaming at the top of her voice. She tried to break free from the children, but it was impossible. She was too scared, as she had never seen this type of thing ever since she was born.
“Let go,please! Let go!” She tried struggling, but the more she screamed, the more creepy children came, looking even scarier.
The creepy children were so many that no one could pull them away or help Evan out.
Suddenly, all the children attacking her were on the floor, groaning in pain. Evan was covered by someone's embrace. It felt so warm and soft. Her shoes were already far away, and her feet were muddy, stained by the muddy ground of Greenwave that never dried.
She hugged the person tightly,never wanting to let go as if she would die on the spot if she did. Ezekiel hugged the girl back as he used his other hand to pat her head gently. His expression was blank. He took the girl back to the carriage. When he placed her on her seat, she clung to him, not wanting to leave.
“It's ok,they are all gone,” said Zeke as he patted the girl's head, sitting beside her and hugging her in his arms. The carriage started moving. Duke Ezekiel instructed the coachman to take them home as soon as possible.
Evan was still crying in fright. She was traumatized by that scene. This is how the outside world is—the answer to the question she had desperately wanted to know. Mrs. Caviar would always tell her, “It's a dangerous world, girl. Never leave the mansion.” She had thought that was just Mrs. Caviar's way of keeping her from stepping out.
When she was a little bit calmer with stable breathing,she pulled away to look at the Duke's face.
“W-what was that?” asked Evan as one hot tear rolled down her slender cheek.
“Black witches,” replied the Duke.
‘Lord of the heavens!' though Evan inwardly.