forum A Deal With the Devil (o/o closed)

Started May 21, 2019 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

Zoey nodded to him, glancing around at the familiar foods. She tucked one leg up underneath her and watched Malachi for the rules. Hopefully it would answer some things.

"You have been told this but do not roam the halls without someone with you. The halls are a maze, designed so that if any of enemies breach inside my Carle, they will lost forever. I'd hate for you to get lost. It's likely you would die before anyone found you. Though with time I promise you learn tge halls and one day be able to walk them without assistance." Malachi grabbed a few things ans set them in his plate. "Do not talk to the souls. It shoild be a rare occasion that they are in the palace. I fear if they see a mortal they may get upset and that is the last thing we want. Now im regards to your family, you may send them letters every couple of weeks, keeping up the pretense that you are traveling. They will be read by Obsidain before they are sent to them. Just to makw sure nothing slips in there about your whereabouts. Perhaps in time you might be avle to visit them. But that depends on a whole otger thing."

"What other thing?" Zoey asked, mentally cataloguing each rule to remember for later. She still felt like she was missing something, like there was more to it she wasn't being told. So she wasn't going to let him get away with quiet remarks.

"Personal things, so don't worry your pretty little head about it." Malachi picked up a roll on his plate and buttered it. "Dig in. I promise nothing here will keep you here in hell. That is only in the Greek myths." He took a bite out of the roll."I wpiod also perfer for you not to ask the servants to reveal their faces. They are absolutely horrid. Most may make you insane after seeing their true faces."

Zoey watched him for a moment, her suspicious eyes flicking once around the room before she gave up and focused on the meal. She had a roll herself, along with some rice and potatoes. She ate quickly and neatly, finishing her meal and setting down her fork.

"I wouod also like to ask that you do not seek out my company. If I require you I will fetch you myself. If you need me, ask one of your servants, and depending on the reasoning I may ir may not oblige." Malachi ate bits and peices of the food. When it was evident they were done, he called in the servants who took the plates and dishes away. Malachi stood and offered her his hand.

She accepted it, standing next to him cautiously. She lifted the hem of her dress off the ground slightly with one hand, focusing on walking without tripping on it. "Thank you for the food."

Malachi nodded. "Of course. If you wish to retire I can escort you to your room. Or I could give you a tour of the palace instead." He offered her his arm.

Zoey perked up. "A tour, please." She accepted the arm, glancing up at him.

Malachi held her close to him, their sides brushing up against each other. "We won't have enough time to visit the entire palace, its far too big to cover in a day much less a few hours. But I will show you my faborite places."

Zoey shivered away from him at first, but soon got used to the motion and accepted it. Her eyes were bright and moved quickly through the halls and rooms, taking it all in.

Malachi showed her to the gardens first. "This is the only place in hell that I would call beautiful. It's the only place I can go for peace." He said

Zoey's anxiety started slipping away, and she looked around, marveling at the beautiful flowers and occasional trees. It was better, more beautiful, than anything she'd ever seen. Without realizing, she'd stopped walking and was standing in place, craning her head and neck to look around. An unconscious smile was gracing her face, and her eyes were wide with awe, instead of fear.

Malachi moved his hands behind his back, watching her. "I've made them my private gardens. No one is allowed here except for the servants that care for the garden, myself, and now you. You are welcome here anytime. You are welcome everywhere except in the rooms that are locked, which are locked for a good reason."

Zoey looked up to meet his eyes. "You know, when you tell someone what they aren't supposed to do, that makes them significantly more inclined to do it." She was a few steps away from him now, still facing him.

Malachi chuckled lowly. "The doors are locked. The inly way you can get in is with the key. There is magic preventing any other way to unlock." He informed her. "You can inquire whats behind them but I doubt you'll get an answer."

"I see." She gave him a quick nod. "How many of these locked doors should I expect to find?"

Malachi shrugged. "Many or rarely. Depends on the hallway. Depends on which part of the palace you're in. Though the magic in this palace is good at keeping things hidden from those who don't need to see it."

"Good to know." She looked around, subconsciously wondering about the magic he'd mentioned.

Malachi's lips turned up in a smirk. He started walking forward, coming to a stop in front of the fountain on the middle of the gardens.

Oblivious to his movement, Zoey studied the garden and the walls and the vast expanse of green. She pinpointed her gaze on one particular spot, and started walking confidently deeper into the garden and away from him.

Malachi sat on the fountain edge, watching her walk away. It warmed him how taken she was with the garden. "Shall I show you other parts of the palace or are you content on staying here for the rest od the evening?" He spoke loud enough for his voice to carry to her.

"Staying here." She called back, rubbing a hand up the tree she was standing near. She crouched and jumped, catching a branch and hooking her foot over another one until she was upside down and resembled a koala bear.

Malachi chuckled at her child like actions. "If you tear your dress I won't be able to save you from Celeste's death." He warned her. He stood from the fountain and walked over the tree she was hanging on to.

"It's these…" She panted between words. "Idiotic skirts." She managed to get herself on top of the branch and scramble up through them, ignoring the fabric as it stretched and tore in a few spots. "Besides, there was no way I could wear a dress like that and not ruin it." She said with triumph, peeking her head out from the top to look around.