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Penelope laughed. “If you think you can have everything to yourself, think again.”

When Penelope reached for the bag of candies, Neera moved it from her reach. She gave Pen a long, hard stare.

“I said,” Neera enunciated. “Find something else to eat.”

Penelope was stunned. She sat in silence, neither of them saying a word. There was something really strange going on, and she didn’t understand what was happening to her friend.

“I will be back”, Penelope said, standing to her feet. Neera did not acknowledge her exit, and when Penelope came out of the room, she saw the King and the Commander talking in low tones outside the door. The words she will be fine floated to her, and Penelope caught it.

“What is wrong with my friend?” Penelope asked.

“What did she do?” The King asked.

“She was really cold to me, and she’s different,” Penelope said. Then, to Azriel, she said, “And she wouldn’t even allow me to share the candies!”

.....

Penelope did not miss the look the King and the Commander exchanged. There was something going on, and they were not telling her.

“What did you do to her?” Penelope shot at the King, forgetting her place.

Zavian folded his arms. “What did you just say to me?”

“She’s only confused, Zavian,” Azriel pulled Penelope behind him. “It’s her best friend.”

“And she is my everything,” Zavian said.

“We will come back,” Azriel said. “To see her again.”

Zavian nodded a dismissal. Azriel put a finger to Penelope’s lips when she wanted to argue, stopping her from saying anything. He pulled her after him, and Penelope watched as Zavian disappeared into Neera’s room.

“There is something someone isn’t telling me,” Penelope said as she walked beside Azriel to the horse. “Something isn’t adding up. Something has been done to Neera. Why isn’t anyone worried?”

She hurried forward and blocked Azriel’s path.

“Please,” she pleaded. “Talk to me.”

Azriel blew out a breath. He looked up to the quarters they had just left and back at Penelope.

“Neera’s a demon now.”

Azriel saw the way her face blanched. “What?”

“She and Zavian agreed to it,” Azriel added.

Penelope held up a palm to her chest. “No... no. They have messed her up. They have ruined her.”

“She only turned into a demon.”

“Exactly.”

Azriel frowned. “And how is that bad?”

“Look at what he’s done to her. I can’t even recognize her anymore. I know she was coerced in some way, manipulated into thinking it is the best for her.”

“Do not speak that way of the King,” Azriel warned, his jaw tightening. Again, Penelope had forgotten her place. “It was what was best for her, Pen, trust me. Now, let’s head back to the estate.”

He took her forearm and continued to walk, but Penelope shrugged it off, keeping her distance away from him. Once she was on the horse, Penelope kept her back stiff and rod straight, avoiding any contact with him whatsoever as he rode back to the estate. She ignored the ache in her back as the horse trotted on in a hurry.

“Pen”, Azriel’s voice was soft in her ears, his hair tickling her face.”Neera is fine now. She only needs time.”

But how would she know what was wrong with her, when no one would even tell her to begin with? It was like she was locked in the dark room with them all, and they had heightened night visions. But she didn’t possess any powers, and there was nothing to grasp to lead the way to the truth.

Neera became a demon, and it removed all traces of the human Neera she knew. Tears streamed down Penelope’s face at that.

Azriel pulled her close until her back was against his chest. His lips found her neck, and he pressed a chaste kiss there.

“We’ll go see her again, I promise,” he said, but Penelope wasn’t too sure she would be looking forward to the next visit.

….

Zavian sat by Neera’s bed, watching the still woman in front of him.

She hadn’t left the room ever since she woke up. He found his appetite to eat again, only a little, and their meals were often eaten in the silence of the room, the only sounds of cutlery clinking against plates.

Neera had kept her words mostly to herself, and he had often found her staring into space. Zavian promised to have the witches take a look at her again as soon as possible and hoped it was a temporary thing caused by the ritual.

“Why did you allow her in without my permission?” Neera suddenly asked.

“Because she is your closest friend.”

“I clearly overlooked the part of her being a maid.” Neera held up the bags Penelope brought in disgust. “And I shall have a maid dispose of these.”

“Neera”, Zavian moved to sit on the bed. He cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes, searching. But Neera’s eyes were empty, devoid of the warmth and happiness he had gotten used to.

“Do you remember how you and Penelope always hung out together?” He asked.

Neera’s brows creased into a deep frown, an expression she very rarely used to do before, but she had done it a lot in the span of the few minutes he sat there.

“Of course, I know her,” she said. She pushed away Zavian’s hands from her face. “I didn’t lose my memory. I just got it more clarified. Now, moving unto more important people, where’s Jasmine?”

Zavian ached to reach out to her again but held himself. “She is somewhere in the castle. Would you like for me to call her to keep you company? She has been dying to see you since.”

“Not yet, one visitor at a time”, Neera said, and laid her back on the pillow behind her.

But Zavian would not give up. He took her hand in his, and Neera looked at their joined hands, and her eyes flicked back up to him.

“Neera, I love you,” Zavian felt his chest expand as he said it, something come unknotted. “I know I haven’t said it to you before… before you became a demon, but I always have loved you. More than you can ever think of, Neera.”