As much as you thought about it, the more confused you had got. Andrew looked down at the drawings that were slightingly covered with paintings. His fingers scraped over the surface of the drawing trying to find out what was hidden under the painting.

Was it a mistake?

He had left the villa back to hell and when he came back, he was shocked to see that one of his drawings was tainted with red oil paint.

Sure enough, he had locked his room when he left leaving guidance not to enter his villa to the maidens. Certain more than ever, he never did have paintings or cans of paints in his room. Just frames and portraits.

He looked down at the drawing. Mysteriously, he saw a weird canvas that was stained with paint. He also didn't recognize the drawing that was hidden under. He couldn't even make out what was drawn.

"Who?" He murmured under breathing, tapping his chin. Did someone get inside his chamber when he was gone?

But he locked his chamber.

"Maybe it's one of the maidens." Richard spoke out. He too had never seen anything like that before. Evidently, the paint meant something and was drawn by someone. The only question was who could have snuck into Master Andrew's chamber and draw something so roguish and then splatter red paintings on it.

Almost like he/she didn't want anyone to find out what was drawn.

"It can't be. It's not the maidens. Perhaps, an immortal. Only an immortal use red to paint." Andrew considered in confusion.

"You sure master?" Richard asked confused as well.

Andrew's finger stopped tapping his chin, letting out a deep chuckle. "Doubting my words again?" He asked.

Richard suddenly sank in fear, his facial expression staggering. Richard answered, "No.

Andrew irritatedly answered with a scowl. "It has to be a death marker. I think they are more to it than it leads." He raised his gaze a little, trying to think a little harder.

Are there more than just 3 death markers in one villa being Breth, Richard and himself?

Could it be the death marker who had tried to strangle Linda to death?

He kept on wondering for good 10 minutes. By then, Richard was gone from his chamber and off to assist the maidens.

One thing was sure, he needed to go back to Lucas. Something was wrong somewhere.

"Is there something I should know about?" Uria questioned the enthusiastic girl that looked moderately confused.

"What is it going to be?" She asked herself. "It's just a week ahead and it s-scares me." She whimpered feeling slight revulsion coming along.

Uria felt sympathy for Linda. Whoever was in Linda's position would have committed suicide just to get away from the dreaded position. She could feel Linda wasn't yet. Wasn't ready for what's to come.

"W-why me?" Linda whimpered aloud. By now, tears were sauntering down her cheeks. "I don't want to go see him. I don't want to." She wailed.

Uria wished she could mutate into her human form and hold the girl close. Close to confront the little girl. She wished she could tell the girl that he wasn't bad as they say but they'd both know it was a lie. He was nasty, roguish and petrifying.

"It's going to be okay, sweetie," Uria said.

"How? I don't want to go to hell. I don't want to be part of the deal." Linda told. She glimpsed through her wet eyelashes and asked. "Have you seen him before?" She sought Uria.

Hell was a place no one would dream of going to.

Uria nodded with a shrug. "I have. But we can't talk more than that. Just hope for the best."

"How does he look like?" Linda asked with a blush. Uria smirked.

"Getting impatient aren't we?" She teased pulling Linda's leg.

"N-no. I just want t-to kno- I mean does he loo-k I mean-" she trailed off.

Uria, let out a hearty laugh spiralling into a heartfelt person. Linda was just too entertaining for her own good. She would make a good bride, thought Uria.

They continued to stroll around the garden relishing the salubrious flowers and the waterfall that sprung. Linda scrutinized the waterfall enjoying the sound of the taps of water. Her hands plunged into the water, giggling at the funny faces she made. Uria watched calmly.

The girl was just too beautiful.

She thought about the reaction of the devil when he meets her. She remembered the last time she went to hell and the last words she heard from the devil.

He had warned her to protect his bride from any evil and make sure she was always happy. If only he knew that she was never happy. She was damped down to the core and even those smiles and peals of laughter were just fake. Fake to hide the wounds she managed to hide so well.

She has never disclosed any information about Linda but she studied the girl. The way she talked, moved and worked. It lured her.

She spoke softly

She talked elegantly.

She worked efficiently.

Her voice was like music. Soft to hear and cherish.

When the bell had gone off, Andrew called Linda to his chamber to have a talk with her. She felt off.

"Sit." He demanded, his gaze solidified dangerously on Linda. Linda sat, avoiding his gaze as possible.

"Do you know what's the time it is?" He questioned, his intentions anonymous.

She shook her head, shaking apprehensively on her seat. Why had he called her?

He bobbed his head, looking straight ahead at Linda who just sat waiting for another question or at least a reason why she was called.

"It's exactly 4 in the evening." He relaxed, sinking back into his seat. His eyes placidly ran, his gaze moving to her exposed neck before returning back to look at her.

"When I'd asked about the time, what did you think I meant?"

Linda looked up solely confused as a dog. Whenever he always called her to his chamber, their conversation was always small and useless. Nothing exact to even start with and here he was asking her what she thought.

"You wanted t-to know the time of the d-day." She replied shakily.

Small thing

He murmured, scraping his lips with his tongue to moisturize them. "I want the truth from you." He inaugurated.

Linda's heart started beating faster in her rib cage. Has it come to this?

She waited. Waited silently so he could ask her. Ask her what he wanted to ask.

"Did you come into my chamber today?" He asked cocking his head to the left to see her face well.

She shook her head in a way saying 'no' but then he continued. "Do you know how to paint?" He questioned throwing more questions to her face. He wanted to feed her. Feed her up with questions.

After he asked two or three questions, he stood up from his seat and walked casually to her presence, his shawl laying flatly on the floor. He knew so well. He knew she didn't come into his room and that she didn't know how to draw. But he wanted to crack her up.

He needed to know what was behind the soft wall.

"Are you ready to be brided to Synn?"

Her lips cracked extensively just at the mention of the topic. But that wasn't what made her pull that action. It was for the reason that he had mentioned his name. The censored name.

"Why the shock?" He mocked, his tone more menacing than a devil's.

"S-synn?" She said his name.

The breeze blew promptly like flash entering through the window of Andrew's. Abruptly, the sound of thunder made Linda jump on her seat.

That was name? She asked herself in thought.

"I demand for my answer now." He raged. "Are you?" He continued.

She bit her lips in distress. Knowing about it was worse but answering a question linked to it was way worse. How was she going to answer that when she didn't even know.

"I don't know." She blurted out before she could stop it. She was saying the truth though.

Andrew leaned back, flying around his thoughts. "You don't know? Why?"

Why

There were countless answers to just that one word.

"I'm scared." She whispered but Andrew caught everything.

That was just the right answer to compile the whole reason.

Andrew drew out a full laugh, making Linda look dumb. He was unmistakably mocking her in such a defenceless state.

"Scared?" He said to himself. "That shouldn't be the right word to use, Linda."

Linda quailed. The way he said her name made everything sounded horrible.

"You haven't even seen him yet. When you do, then maybe you can add more words to your vocabulary."

Loud, Linda flinched when she heard another sound of the petrifying thunder. No doubts, it was going to rain soon.

She looked back and faced Andrew. Unfortunately, he was already staring at her.

Her face heated up.

Scrunching her nose, she scrunched hard to perceive the odour that flew mercilessly in the room. It smelt like Lime and blood. A very bad aggregate.

"You smell it too?" He asked but didn't give her time to answer. "It's coming from the gruth's place." He said.

The awful smell continued for two minutes until it gradually evacuated.

What was the cause of that smell?

"A death marker just died."

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