14

Grace's eyes widened as the girl called out again, softer this time, but more desperate.

'Please... you must help me...'

Grace ran out of her room, candlestick in hand, and bounded down the stairs. She then walked as fast as she could down the hall and made towards the doors. Her hand trembled slightly as she touched the handle, but it mysteriously gave way and both of the doors slowly swung open.

She stepped out, and instantly held the candle closer; for it was unexpectedly cold and dark outside. She slowly made her way to what looked like the yard, and sure enough, there was the girl with the rose in her hand.

'Are you all right?' asked Grace, walking towards her.

'No,' said the girl, and her voice seemed to echo rather eerily.

Now that Grace was close to her, she found the girl's appearance to be quite odd; as though she were lighter than the air itself. Even though she seemed to occupy a certain space, she looked... transparent in parts – rather like a ghost might appear.

'I know I look odd to you, but don't let that make you hate me, please,' said the girl, coming towards her with tears in her eyes. 'I've been held prisoner, and I still am one.'

'That's awful,' said Grace. 'How can I help you? Would you like to come inside?'

'No, I can't do that,' said the girl. 'For this castle is enchanted, and I cannot enter – and neither can my captor. That is why we had to call you here instead.'

'We?' said Grace in alarm, taking a step backwards. 'What do you mean by that?'

'I mean, he is here, too,' said the girl sadly, and her voice seemed to drift away. 'And that is why I must go now, or he will shut me away again... I'm so sorry... if you can, please do help me, though...'

The girl faded away, until a mere speck of light was left behind, which drifted with purpose towards the rose on the ground, until it became one with it.

Grace looked at the rose for a few seconds, before she slowly stepped forward and picked it up. She was about to go back inside when she heard a smooth, velvety voice behind her that she recognised at once.

'Oh, no, don't go so soon,' he said, and he seemed to come closer as he spoke.

Grace turned at once and found the Devil's Assistant standing a foot away from her, with an odd smirk on his face that looked more cruel than playful.

'What do you want?' snapped Grace.

'You're so hostile,' said the Assistant with a malevolent softness, shaking his head and drawing closer. 'That won't do at all. All I want to do is talk to you...'

'Please, keep a distance,' said Grace uncomfortably. 'And what is the meaning of this? Who was that girl, and why are you here, and why do you want to talk to me in the middle of the night?'

'The night is young,' smiled the Assistant. 'And so are you! Have some patience, and I shall tell you. But first, I must say the moonlight compliments your face so well...'

'Who was that girl?' said Grace, crossing her arms.

'Ah, you're just like I thought,' said the Assistant. 'Always ready to rush and save someone else and never a thought for yourself...'

'Whatever!' said Grace, shifting awkwardly under his piercing gaze that seemed to X-ray her very soul. 'Who was that girl?'

'First, give me that rose,' said the Assistant, holding out his hand – pale, long fingers that looked accustomed to taking what he wanted.

'No, I won't,' said Grace firmly.

The Devil's Assistant raised an eyebrow. 'You won't?' he said sternly, before breaking into a cruel laugh. 'Oh, you will. And you'll give me yourself, too, when I ask – but I won't; not now... for the moment, that rose shall be quite enough.'

As he spoke, his hand whipped out and took the rose from her hand in a thrice, much to her shock.

'Thank you,' he said pleasantly, fitting it in his top button. 'It does make this coat look so much better, doesn't it?'

'It's not just a flower, there's a ghost girl in it,' said Grace. 'And she didn't look very happy!'

'Didn't she? Well, she should be,' said the Assistant. 'I keep her in my mansion, after all, and that's the finest place to live in, in all of Hell!'

'If she's a prisoner, it makes no difference,' said Grace.

'Oh, she's not a prisoner,' objected the Assistant. 'After all, she did agree to be with me in the first place... even if that feeling changed later on.'

'Then you should honour it and let her go!'

'No, I won't. She promised to stay with me, and a promise is a promise. But, forget her. I want to talk about you.'

'Well, I don't! Say what you want to say and leave, please!'

'So curt, so cold...' said the Assistant, almost sadly, but his eyes still held the cruel playfulness he had had before. 'Why do you hate me so much? Because that demon told you to? Did you not think that, perhaps, I am not as bad as I appear to your mortal, inexperienced eyes? I came here to ask you to live with me, in my grand mansion, until your time comes and you have to leave us.'

'Live with you? Why would I want to do that?' said Grace in surprise.

'Because I like you, Grace,' said the Assistant simply. 'I think you're beautiful. And any beautiful thing in Hell deserves to be with me."

'Or rather, you think that you deserve any beautiful thing that comes your way,' retorted Grace. 'But you're wrong. In any case, beautiful or not, I want to have nothing to do with you if I can help it!'

'And if you can't help it?' whispered the Assistant, and Grace felt him grow larger somehow, until all that was left was him and his shadow, eating away the dimming moonlight in the background, and her... wrapped in the spell of something she could not control... could not help...

Sometimes, it's better to give in...

Was that her? Or the Devil's Assistant? She wasn't sure.

'Of course I can help it,' she said, quieter than she had meant to, and her voice echoed back from a distance.

Can't help it... can't help it...

She hadn't said that. She was sure.

'Stop!' she said, loud and clear, and the moon grew bright again.

'I like you more and more,' smiled the Devil's Assistant. 'I believe that's enough for our little meeting. Think about me, and what I said. Good night!'

Grace blinked and he disappeared. She stood alone in the moonlit yard, the fragrance of the rose still in her hands, even when its source was far away already. She shuddered as she remembered the Assistant's smile and his frightening invitation. Had that ghost girl been someone like her once? Had she accepted the Assistant's offer only to become what she was today?

Or was he really not so bad after all? Shouldn't she get to know him more before she judged him? He did come all the way just to see her, after all...

Grace shook her head. She needed sleep. Her mind didn't feel like her own for the timebeing. The thought unsettled her. She hurried back inside, and as the doors shut behind her, her mind felt clearer again. Had the enchantment inside removed some lingering spell the Assistant had left behind?

She trudged back upstairs and into her room with a heavy heart. The Devil's Assistant was dangerous, that she was sure of. And she must avoid him at all costs; but how? What if he showed up again?

She threw herself on the bed, completely drained of energy, and pulled the covers up. They felt warm and comfortable. Once there, she had intended to analyse the events of the day and think of a solution ahead, but as soon as she sank her head in the soft pillow, sleep overcame her and she succumbed gladly.