I let out a long held breath, “Fine, I will head there shortly.”

I turned around and headed back up the cobblestone street. The smell of sweets drew me into each booth. “Maria…I am waiting.” Marcel’s voiced boomed in my head with annoyance.

“Thank you sir.” I said as I handed the human male running the booth three gold pieces. “I will be there shortly.” I said to Marcel with annoyance.

“Hurry up please. The dance is at noon and we only have thirty minutes to learn it.”

“Fine, fine. I won’t stop any more. I’ll be there in five.”

I began to pick up pace as I hurried along the cobblestone. No matter how delicious those treats smelt. No matter how loud the rumbles in my stomach got. Ignored the impulse to buy. Which was harder than it seemed. My sweet tooth was causing my mouth to water at the simplest scent of delicious goodness.

I pushed open the dark oak doors of the castle and found my way down the main hall and into the side room where Crimson showed us our attire. The room where our outfits hung was a simple room off the grand hall. Consisting of a divider for changing, two wooden chairs, a desk, a floor length mirror and plain wooden walls. The floor in this room wasn’t marbled like in the grand hall but made of simple stone.

“Finally, you may know how to dance effortlessly, I don't.” I moved into the room further and closed the door behind me. I walked carefully over to my dress as I dared not to look Marcel in the eye.

“Were there no dance lessons where you came from?” I teased as I figured a devil wouldn’t know how to dance.

“Not exactly.” That is not a surprise. I thought.

“What type of dance are we doing?” I asked Marcel as I had not received any details of the type of dance that we will be doing. I grabbed my dress and stepped behind the wooden divider and began to change.

“Ballroom?” Marcel asked me. As I could hear him start to change into his outfit.

“Are you asking me or telling me?”

“Both?”

“So, you don’t know what we are doing?” I said annoyingly. First I have to dance with him. Then I have to decide on the dance?

As long as it is not our dance. Théoden huffed in the bond. I knew what dance Théoden was referring to and it was the dance that my father had made us dance to when he was still alive.

Like I will allow that to happen. I responded as there was no way in hell was I going to do our dance with Marcel.

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“Ballroom. We can do a bit of freestyle to make it less awkward.” I told Marcel as I slipped on the dress that looked like the starry sky.

Great. I groaned through the bond as my back was exposed to the elements.

What is wrong? Théoden asked in curiosity as my mood hadn’t shifted nor was there a threat.

He’s going to have to zip up the back of the dress.

Théoden went silent in the bond. Yeah, I knew the thought of Marcel’s fingers brushing up against my back didn’t set well with him either.

“Marcel?” I asked in a low voice.

“Yes Maria?” He asked as I heard a snap of the suspenders going on his belt.

“I need you to…” Dang this was hard to ask.

“Need me to what?” Marcel asked me. I could almost hear his lips form a grin.

I let out a breath, “Zip me up?” I stepped out from the wooden barrier and had my back towards Marcel. “Please?”

“Of course.” Marcel’s feet fell behind mine as he carefully gilded the zipper up the back of my dress. His fingers left goosebumps along my spine. “There.” He rested his hand on my shoulder.

“Thank you.” I said softly. I stepped out from his grasp and turned around to face him. “Freestyle would be the easiest way to go. It will allow us to perform anything that fits the music. Without any constraints.”

He smiled at me as I moved past him to the mirror. I looked at myself and sighed. “What is wrong?” Marcel fell behind me once more. There I stood in the mirror looking at both of us. Marcel’s daring red eyes that glistened with hatred. My emerald green ones that spoke of pure and innocence. His tanned and toned figure overtook my frame with ease.

Then there was me, who seemed so small and frightened standing in front of him. My dress matched his attire perfectly. His dark black pants, his starry suspenders and my jet black dress with stars throughout the whole dress. If it wasn’t for the fact that I hated this devil with every ounce of my blood, I would say we were stunning but looking at the two of us in the mirror made my stomach churn.

“You look beautiful Maria.” Marcel said as he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

I just stood there. Staring in the mirror. No reaction visible. However, in my mind I was screaming. I hate every ounce of this!

Easy Maria. We can get through this. Just do not look into his eyes.

If you were in my spot, how would you feel, Théoden? I growled at him. This wasn’t his fault by any means but I couldn’t lash out at Marcel. No matter how much I wanted to.

“Maria,” Marcel moved his hand to mine and collapsed with mine. His hand felt warm and sweaty. Something I did not desire. I felt Marcel’s eyes stare into mine through the mirror, “I think I am starting to love you.”

I fought it with all my might. Screamed through the bond how much I hated that bastard. Fuck this devil! Please Théoden don’t make me say it! Please! I beg of you! I felt that tears wanted to fall but none dared to escape.

Maria, I would if I could. Théoden said to me in the bond. His voice carried worry and concern. I think this is a ploy to figure out that we have a bond. If I do this, they will know.

Damn it! Damn them! Damn all of this! I hate Marcel! I wished I could have just shouted this to the heavens but that was not the words that escaped my lips.