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

Started May 21, 2019 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

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.

Malachi snorted. "I take it you're not a fan of dresses then?" He pulled himself up into the branch with ease. He climbed through the tangle of branches until he came to the branch besides her.

"I like dresses enough, they just aren't practical. You can't do anything in a dress besides look pretty." She shifted her weight to balance better on the branch, holding onto the tree with one arm.

Malachi looked up at her. "Well isn't that the point? To look pretty, impress others, and make all the men in the room wish they had you on their arm."

She laughed, a wry sound that held no amusement. "Hardly. The point is to feel comfortable and practical. I guess looking nice is alright, but not like a dress." She hauled herself up one more branch and sat back.

"Sounds like you don't dress up much. Well, whatever you wish to wear will be made for you. Though don't be surprised when Celeste tries to get you into more dresses. I would like to see you in more as well." Malachi looked at her thoughtfully.

Zoey froze at that and risked a glance down, pulling her eyes away when she saw him watching her. She felt red start to creep into her cheeks, but kept her face up away from him until it faded. She rubbed the bark, letting the roughness scratch away her confusion until her palm was red and sore.

Malachi pulled hinself up to her level. He grabbed her hand, to make her stop scratching herself. "Hey, quite that. You'll hurt yourself otherwise." He raised her hand to his lips amd kissed her palm gently. He watched as the redness faded quickly. "Better?"

She froze, watching him with wide eyes like a scared rabbit. Her other hand flashed up to her hair to pull it off her face. "Thank you." Her voice didn't shake, and she glanced down at her hand and pulled it away from him to look at it. "How did you…?"

Malachi didn't fight as she pulled her hand back. He dropped his hands to the branch he was sitting on. "It's just one of the many things I can do. I would show you more but i fear it might frighten you. Perhaps in time."

"No, show me!" She momentarily forgot her fear to stare at him with curiosity. One hand absently held the other, still marveling at the way it felt. She bounced slightly and shifted herself down a branch, standing on the other side of the tree but leaning around to still see him.

Malachi jumped off the branch, landing perfectly on the ground below. He looked up at her and waved her down. "Come on. I'll show you a couple things." He spoke loud enough for his voice to reach her.

She started swinging down, careful to keep her dress from getting caught. The branches seemed thicker on the way down, and it took her longer to get to the last branch to jump down.

Malachi helped down once she had reached the last branch. He offered her his arm. "Come. If I'm to show you best not be in a place as beautiful as this. I do not want to destroy anything here."

She raised an eyebrow but accepted both his arm and his explanation. "So what kinds of other things can you do?" Her curiosity was still significantly stronger than her apprehension.

"There's a reason your people picture me with horns and wings, though the pitchfork is off. I don't carry one of those. I can shapeshift. I can sport wing from my back luke the devil you think I am or I could into a mouse."