Sinyster, who had anticipated seeing a room with two or three people, was more than surprised to find that there were more who gathered in the dining hall for dinner.
On either side stood black stone pillars, and at the center of the dining hall a big window that held a tomb shape was present. In front of the window sat six people at a table that sat a couple steps higher then the other two tables that were placed. The rectangular tables sat vertically on each end of the main table that was placed horizontally facing them, they made a "U" shape. The guests suddenly sat watching every step she placed on the floor.
She noticed there were five men and a woman who sat at the higher table and out of the six people, she knew three of them and one of them being her brother, Slayer.
'The rest of the guests must be the families to the head people that are sitting at the higher table?' Sinyster thought inside her head as she kept walking slowly towards it.
It had been years since she last saw and spoke with her brother. The big brother who she loved the most and held higher than any other person in her life. The one who stood by her and who had always protected and loved her for who she was, not caring that she was different from all her brothers. She was overwhelmed with such happiness to finally see Slayer again, and could only pray that he would be happy to see her as well. She wouldn't be able to bear it if Slayer were to refuse her presence and demand her to leave.
Sinyster slowly made her way to where everyone was sitting, trying not to pay attention to the stares that she was receiving from the guests, not to mention from the maids and servants as well, as she made her way to come to stand in front of where Slayer sat. She didn't raise her eyes from the floor yet, focusing on her steps as she walked forward.
When she stood right in front of the table, on the opposite side of where Slayer sat, Sinyster bowed her head, feeling the piercing stares coming from the others who were seated on either side of Slayer. Her heart beat so rapidly within her chest, that it was all her ears could hear.
"Who is this woman?" General Gruesome said in a disapproving tone. He than went on to ask, " Tell us what's your name, I've never seen you before and who do you to think you are? Do you honestly feel that you have the right to think that it's ok to just walk in here and walk right up to our Lord, no less ?" He looked at her with disgust and gave off a venomous warning as he looked at her with his black eyes that had red speckles in them.
Sinyster didn't expect that there were going to be other guests attending tonight's dinner and if she would've known she definitely wouldn't have attended and would've instead chosen to just stay in her room and wait for Vishious to return. She now started to regret her decision.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Slayer who answered before she had time to think of what to say, "That woman, first of all who is standing before us is My Little Sister!" Slayer answered in a threatening tone, as he looked over at General Gruesome. He then shifted his gaze to Sinyster, his eyes pinning her in place.
Quickly raising her head, Sinyster's eyes widened on hearing him ask, "How's my sister doing?" Slayer questioned her with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Sinyster could feel her heart thudding rapidly in her chest.
"Everyone, before dinner gets started I'd like to introduce my little sister, Sinyster. She will be joining us for dinner this evening." Slayer said, his eyes subtly narrowed as he spoke. It was obvious that there was something on his mind and wasn't saying.
Sinyster's eyebrows furrowed in worry as she stood there with her eyes being locked on by Slayer's intense gaze.
It made Sinyster's throat slightly dry and left her speechless. She had not expected for her brother to greet her so casually, as if her appearance here was normal, and unsurprising. Almost as if he knew that she would be coming to dinner tonight.
"Why are you here?" Slayer then questioned while staring at her with his blood red eyes. Not seeming to care that she didn't answer his last question that he had asked.
Meanwhile, The five others who sat at the table with Slayer were shocked at who Slayer had just introduced to them and were becoming confused at their Lord's questions that he was asking her. 'Doesnt he know why she's here?' They all thought to themselves.
"I find it rather surprising that you decided to come and visit me, Sister?" Slayer remarked kind of coldly.
Sinyster didn't know exactly how she should answer Slayer's questions because the extra company that had attended dinner made it harder for her to talk openly to Slayer like she initially wanted. She swallowed, her palms suddenly slick with sweat, she wiped them on her skirt and forced her voice to stay level.
"Well brother, I have missed you dearly and trust me when I say that I've wanted to come visit you so many times but my fears and doubts always seemed to win. But I actually accompanied Vishious here, I thought I'd surprise you?" Sinyster said with a innocent look as she spoke.
Slayer listened without blinking. His expression didn't change, but his eyes stayed locked on her face. His jaw, already tight, seemed to clench even harder.
Curious, Slayer decided to be direct and said, " I'm glad that you decided to attend dinner tonight without the cloak that you were hiding behind which I don't know why? or is it only because Vishious isn't here, that you decided to make yourself known to me? It's a little odd for you to say you missed me and wanted to surprise me when it was only because Vishious summoned you that you came here. So it didn't seem like you didn't want your identity known by me until now, since Vishious left and figured he wouldn't return tonight. Please let me know if I'm wrong, dear sister, but It almost seems to me like you want to think of me as stupid?" Slayer said calmly but the look that he now was giving her was cold and void and absolutely bone chilling.
Sinyster couldn't hide the look of shock that came to her face upon hearing this. 'H-he knew?' She said inside her head, she had never seen him like this, Not directed towards her, anyway, ' Did Malice tell him that he had caught her?' Sinyster wondered, suddenly her thoughts were interrupted when someone spoke, "One thing is clear and that is she obviously cannot be trusted." Beast snarled, raising his upper lip to show his fangs. A dark, low growl coming from his throat.
Speaking up right behind Beast another added,
"Your Lord, she shouldn't be allowed to roam freely. She's acting as if coming here with Vishious gives her a free pass to disrespect you My Lord! And from the very little I've heard so far, she is lying about her reason why she's here. It's obvious that Commander Beast is right, she can't be trusted and it's obvious that she's up to something!!" General Grievance grunted out angrily. Moving his head to tilt down to the left side before he brought his head back up to tilt it down on the right side as he finished speaking, popping his knuckles that he had on the table in front of him.
While they continued to mumble in agreement with what was just said about her, it was dead silent from all those that were sitting behind her at the other two tables. Sinyster felt some stare at her in suspicion and distrust in their eyes, even from the maids and the servants that were present. Sinyster was slightly feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected attention she was receiving, She knew now that Slayer had planned on his dinner to lure her out because he knew she was the one who was with their brother and figured he'd use this opportunity to get her to reveal herself. Thinking she would since Vishious had left and he had been right.
It was like stepping into a trap. The air rushed out of her lungs. Adult of pure, electric awareness shot down her spine, freezing her in place. Those eyes didn't just see her, they assessed her, cataloged her, and dismissed her in the span of a heartbeat.
She let out a shaky breath. She sighed and swallowed hard before saying, " Yes, I came here with our brother Vishious but I didn't come here with any Ill intentions towards you, Slayer. You have to know that?" Sinyster bowed her head, feeling everyone's piercing stares on her. "Please brother, believe me?" Sinyster pleaded in a soft voice.
Slayer raised his hand to silence the ones from discussing further in regards to Sinyster. He then looked directly at the one in front of him and said to Sinyster, " Having heard from Malice of your presence here in the Palace, only after he had caught you following him in the forest, makes me wonder?" Slayer spoke low and cold. " Don't get me wrong, when I heard who it was that he had caught, I was almost glad to finally get the chance to see you again after all these years that's passed. After all , the last time we met and spent time with each other, wasn't what either one of us had expected. I just don't think it's wise to trust anyone who is bound to someone. Especially, to our older brother, Vishious." Slayer let her know that he knew that Vishious had something over her and she was nothing more than a pawn right now to do Vishious' bidding.
Sinyster wasn't sure of how Slayer would feel about seeing her but she wasn't expecting things to go like this and understood where Slayer was coming from and couldn't deny it or explain why she had chosen to keep her identity hidden from him until now. Slayer had a valid point for thinking the way that he was. It came to her being with Vishious and she knew that she was in the wrong. She just wished that there weren't others who were present in the room with them right now, so she could've possibly tried to explain herself but she knew that she just couldn't defend herself and say much with other people around that she didn't know and knew she had to be careful when dealing with others.
Sinyster inhaled a deep breath to try calming her nerves before she said, " I'm sorry and you're right to think and feel towards me like you are, my actions would make anyone question my motives but please, brother, give me the benefit of the doubt and know that I wouldn't ever do anything to bring any harm against you." Sinyster paused before she continued, " I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am to be able to see you and speak with you after all this time. Even if briefly. It has meant more than you'll ever know for me. I won't hold up things longer, If it's ok, I'll just retire back to my room, unless you want me to leave? I'll respect your decision." Sinyster finished speaking with a quiet voice. She was really trying hard to not let her voice crack or waver when she was talking.
Sinyster couldn't bring herself to meet Slayer's gaze and instead kept her eyes lowered to the floor. She could feel her legs shaking out of nervousness and prayed silently that her legs wouldn't give out on her. She suddenly heard a chair screech against the stone floor and looked up to see that Slayer was now standing.
When Slayer heard what Sinyster had to say and was ready to leave, he was suddenly angry that she would choose to run and hide so quickly without really trying to make amends. He could only wonder if the sister he once had been close to and knew was permanently gone now.
This abrupt action of his caught everyone's attention, and everyone held their breath waiting to see what Slayer was going to do.
" No!, you won't be leaving and will come sit and have dinner like I said earlier. After all dear sister, I believe there is a lot that we need to catch up on." Slayer said in a demanding voice that left no room to argue. He then sat back down in his chair and leaned back to look at Sinyster still standing in front of him, with a cold expression on his face that let Sinyster know that he wasn't happy with what she had just said.
Sinyster could only nod in agreement, as she knew that she wasn't going to be able to avoid this situation with Slayer.
Slayer then ordered, " Start serving the food, I think we all are here now and have been waiting long enough for the meal to be served!" The servants and maids bowed before they hastily hurried to go and bring the food and drinks from the kitchen to start serving everybody.
Sinyster walked forward and took a seat in front of where Slayer sat and the way he looked at her made her extremely nervous and she quickly looked away from him to look at the other guests that were sitting on either side of him at the table.
On one side, she knew was his Commander Beast, who still had a look of suspicion as he looked at her. She quickly looked away from making eye contact with him because Beast had always been fearful and a demon who demanded respect from everyone who he encountered. She than turned her gaze, only then making eye contact with Malice, who was seated next to Slayer on the other side of him.
She wasn't sure why but when their eyes met, she could feel her cheeks heat up and she shyly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as she looked down at the dish that the servant just placed in front of her. The food looked delicious and only then did she really notice how hungry she really was.
On her plate was mashed potatoes that were lightly covered in gravy, steamed vegetables with melted butter, meat that was covered in sauce and a couple rolls. The servant than placed a bowl of freshly made salad next to her plate. She could feel her mouth start to water by smelling and looking at the food that was put In front of her.
She noticed that she was the only one who got such a dinner. Noticing how everyone else's dinner was what looked to be various kinds of raw, bloody meats and other things that made her stomach turn because she noticed how whatever it was on both of the Ryot Kamairas plates were still moving. She had to quickly look away and focus back on her food in front of her.
"You don't have to wait to start eating," Slayer let her know. He had noticed how she was looking at her food and it made it only obvious that she was starving. ' has she been kept from eating?' Slayer thought to himself and the thought didn't sit well with him. He knew he had to find out what was going on with her and Vishious and it had to be tonight. For this could be the only chance he might get where Vishious wasn't around to know what he was trying to do and the only time that he might get to be able to talk to Sinyster like this. Slayer wasn't sure how Sinyster would act and be once Vishious returned. But if he were to guess, he'd think that she would not want to let it be known that Slayer knew she was here and wouldn't do anything that could possibly upset their older brother.
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Vishious and Payne finished their dinner with each other and Vishious thought it'd be nice to take Payne out and show her the Demon City Sprague.
"If you're not tired and feel up to it, I would like to take you out and show you the city. That is if you'd like to?" Vishious asked in a very soft voice. He then stood up and offered his hand for Payne to take, to help her up from her chair.
"I have to admit that I did rather enjoy dinner and I also appreciate you allowing me to join you," Vishious said. A slight smile showed on his face as he looked at Payne as he spoke.
She knew in the back of her mind somewhere that she shouldn't be allowing herself to be entertained or even enjoy this man's company, but she just couldn't deny that she did. For some reason her heart beat more quickly when he was around her.
She even found herself to be shy and nervous around him, and she didn't hate this feeling that he brought to her, but she had to remember to guard herself and be careful when it came to this man.
"Thank you so much for the dinner tonight and for giving me your company, but I will have to decline on the invitation of you showing me around your city. After all, I'm nothing more than your kidnapped prisoner, remember?" Payne said, giving a slight bow of her head as she said this to Vishious. She then continued on to say, " You should probably just go ahead and lead me back to the room that my tank is in. Where you have kept me and intend to still keep me, right?" Payne said in a quiet voice. She avoided looking at Vishious as she tried to make a stand in reminding Vishious that she was a prisoner who he had kidnapped and forced to come here, and she wasn't here because she wanted to be. She wanted to go home.
This made the charming demeanor that Vishious had held this whole time that he had been with Payne suddenly fall and the smile he had slowly dropped as he heard the words that Payne had just spoken to him.