As much as I would love to see everything happening in the kingdom today, I knew it was in my best interest to keep my mind distracted and to keep up with my own work.

As I slowly pulled from his vision, I walked to the kitchen to grab a morning snack and to my surprise Marcel was in the kitchen. “Marcel?”

“Lovely, to see you this morning.” Marcel walked over to me and held out his hand. I was hesitant but I knew I needed to continue the charade of our impending marriage. He held onto my hand tightly and pulled it up to his crisp lips and gave it a gentle kiss.

“You, too.” I said with a small smile on my lips. With the chaos that is happening outside of the castle, Marcel being here was really throwing me off. “What brings you to the breakfast table this morning?”

He released my hand, as he shrugged, “Morning snack.” He said with a foolish grin.

Bet that morning snack was that man’s soul… I groaned through the bond.

“So what does a man of your status eat?” I asked as I truly never really saw him eat anything other than small things.

He shrugged again, “Eggs usually with some bacon on the side.” He pulled out a tray of eggs that had been prepped. “Want me to cook for you?”

“Usually that’s Roland’s job.” I said as I looked around the kitchen and was a bit surprised that he wasn’t here.

“I sent him to get a few more supplies.” Marcel said, “Eggs?” He held the eggs in his hand.

If I keep him busy… Perhaps he won’t be able to consume souls. I thought to Théoden.

“Sure. Let me help.” I said as I moved over to the stove and pulled out a skillet. I grabbed the butter off the counter and began to butter the pan as I lit the stove with a bit of magic. I held my hand out to Marcel so he could hand me the tray of eggs. Instead he walked over, placed them on the counter and picked four up with his hands and cracked them over the skillet. Shoving me over gently in the process.

“I may not look like it, but I swear I can cook.” Marcel said. “Just show me where some of the supplies are in this dang kitchen.” He said with a bit of a growl in his voice.

I nodded and went over to the left side of him and pulled out a spatula and handed it to him. “I prefer my eggs with a bit of yoke and seasoning.” I said as I also reached above and attempted to grab the salt and pepper from the shelves above.

Marcel chuckled, “Let me..” He said as he reached above me and pulled the salt and pepper off the shelf.

“Thanks.” I said as he handed me the shakers so I could put the amount of salt and pepper I wanted on my eggs. “There.” I said with the last shake.

“A bit salty but not bad.” He responded as he looked down at the eggs and up at me with a bit of a smile.

“How do you know how to cook?” I asked as I went and sat down at the kitchen table and watched him.

“When you have an army, you learn to cook.” Marcel spoke, “I don’t necessarily eat a lot myself, as I make sure my army and people are fed first.”

That’s…oddly sweet. I thought. “Is that why I never see you here?”

“Old habits die hard Maria.” He said as he flipped the eggs with ease.

“You know you don’t have to worry about that here. We have helpers for a reason.” I told him.

“I know. It’s just hard to get out of the bad habits you were once in.” He told me.

“How long have you gone without a proper meal?” I asked as I was curious to see how many days he has gone without fully eating. I know souls provided him with something but I didn’t know if they provided him with the same substance food does or if they just provide him energy for his power.

He paused his cooking for a brief moment before responding, “Three days.” He turned and looked back at me, “Plate?” He asked.

I stood up and walked back over and opened another upper cabinet. “I’d get them but…” I said as I stared up at the shelves.

Marcel chuckled a bit. Honestly, I think this was one of the first times I think I might have heard his laugh. It was pleasant and ethereal almost despite him being a devil. His laugh was oddly charming and pleasant to hear. “I’ll get it if you watch the eggs for a second.”

I nodded and stepped back and moved to the stove to watch the eggs while he took two plates down. “Let me.” He said as he took the skillet from my hands and plated the eggs. “How do you turn off the magical stove?”

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I flicked my finger and the fuse went out. “Just a simple flick. Just like the water and lights.”

Marcel nodded. “Sometimes I forget.” He said, “My home may not be fully in gear with all of the magical creations that you all do.”

“Huh. Where is your original home again?” I asked Marcel as we took a seat at the table and began to eat the eggs. He split the four eggs between the both of us. Giving each of us two. I then took a few treats off the counter prior to sitting and placed them on the table.

I could tell he was hesitant to say where he was originally from but he sighed, “If we are going to have an honest marriage, I should be honest here. I am from the Nine Hells. The Fourth layer to be exact.”

He read me real quick. And to my surprise my body didn’t tense. I didn’t flinch. I just kind of stared at him as I calmed my breathing. He was being honest, too honest but perhaps this was part of a charade for his bigger plan.

“Well?” He questioned as he tried to read me more and more.

I took a deep breath, “Thank you for being honest. But I must ask…” I stopped. I was hesitant to ask.

“What am I?” He blinked. He knew exactly what I was wanting to know. I nodded. “I think you know. Take a guess.”

What is he doing? I asked Théoden. I could feel my heart slightly racing as his behavior was concerning me. Then again so was the chaos going on outside my castle walls.

I’m not sure. But I just saved one of his victims. I hate to say this, but keep him distracted. We may be able to save all of them today.

What Théoden said made sense. But this all felt strange to me but I needed to play along. “A devil?” I asked.

He nodded. “Are you still afraid of me?” He asked.

That… I thought about it sometimes and needed to answer him as honestly as I could. “At first… when you attacked me and threatened my life, yes. Now, still a bit less than it was when we first met.”

He nodded and sat back in his chair and stared deeply into my eyes. “I’m sorry for the terrible things I have done. I know they aren’t the proper cultural things here. I often forget this isn’t Hell.” I began to feel a bit of darkness start to surround me as he spoke more and more. As if Marcel was slowly beginning to utilize some of his magical abilities.

Damn this devil and his mind games. Why is he telling me this shit?

Perhaps he wants your pity. Maybe he thinks you will stand by him if he is fully honest. Théoden told me. I could hear his concern loud and clear through the bond. I could feel his adrenaline still running high. I could feel his anger boil. But I could also feel his protectiveness kicking in. Marcel’s conversation and sudden change in behavior was making him a bit uneasy and perhaps this was all a trick of both our minds. A well developed distraction to pull Théoden's mind in all sorts of directions and keep him from finding out what was really happening. Or did he have Theo where he wanted him all along? As Théoden was distracted by the conversation at hand he wasn’t fully aware of the things going on around him.

“Marcel, may I ask something?” I asked as I put my fork down as I ate the last of my eggs?

“Yes dear?” He asked as he sat up and stared at me directly. His red eyes pierced through my mind and into Théoden's. As I could feel Théoden tense through the bond as something felt off in the air all of a sudden. As if a switch had been flipped and our simple conversation overturned and started brewing something magical.

“As much as I admire honesty, why now? Why be honest now?” I asked if I could feel my heart begin to race as he stared at me. My muscles began to tense then that feeling quickly faded. My mind went blank then became filled with thought again. My emotions flooded in some ways. Then it quickly faded. My body felt like it was in a battle but a battle I couldn’t control any part of. As my body acted like a gateway for magic to flow through between the two of them. And I… had very little control if any.

Magical forces were being shielded. Magical forces being utilized. As I felt warming sensations through the bond as I knew Théoden was utilizing some magics to help block any of Marcel’s advances on the both of us.

Let alone my own pendant that was made was fully activated. Blocking anything Marcel was throwing at me as much as possible. However Marcel was throwing multiple attacks at once, causing Théoden to respond to them quickly.

My mind… felt heavy. However, I knew one thing. I needed to look away. But something about Marcel was drawing me in. Something about this situation reminded me of the game of chess. Two masters at work and a pawn that is being played, and I felt like a pawn in the moment. As Marcel was attacking Théoden through me. As Théoden was protecting himself and I through me.

Maria! I heard Théoden shout once more as there was a brief pause between spells and abilities being utilized. It was a brief moment of clarity that I was able to establish in my own body. But that was all I needed to regain control over the situation my body was put in. I managed to slowly blink, breaking the connection, which allowed me to turn my head away from Marcel’s piercing red eyes.

I could hear Marcel growl low as he cussed underneath his breath, “Damn it…”

“What was that?” I asked as I rubbed my head. My brain still throbbed but I was able to refocus once more on my own surroundings once more.

“Nothing.” Marcel said as he stood up angrily and walked to the front door. With a huff he spoke to me as if speaking to Théoden directly, “That was fun, I hope you had enjoyed your break as time is ticking.”

As he left, my body slowly went back to feeling normal. Theo?

Everything’s alright Maria. You did well. He told me. Rest, your body needs to heal.

What was that? I asked him as I slowly walked upstairs and into my room.

He was trying to attack your mind. He was doing that to try to get to me. But he failed.

Fuck. I responded as I laid down in my bed. My head still slightly throbbing. I thought I was the one that was supposed to be distracting him… I grumbled through the bond.

Guess he was the one distracting us. Théoden responded. Rest, now love. I need to focus on the kingdom.

I nodded, please be safe.

I will Mi Amor.

Instead of sleeping, I wanted to check in on how Théoden was doing and how my kingdom was doing.