I remember falling asleep some time in the middle of the night, but it was really hard. I tried closing my eyes, but every time I did, I saw my room engulfed in blue flames. I saw each horrific vision that appeared in my nightmare flash before my eyes. My heart rate skyrocketed every single time that I closed my eyes. To be scared to go to sleep… I haven't experienced such a feeling since when I was little.
The thing that woke me up was the blinding light that was shining through my open windows. It was so bright and fierce.
Once again, I would like to say, for the record, that I hate the sun with every fiber of my being.
After a while, I realized there would be no way I would get back to sleep. Even if it WAS a day off, I suppose it wouldn't do for me to stay in bed all day.
I sat up in my bed, yawning before stretching my arms. It wasn't the best night of sleep, but at least I got some. Still, I really could have done without those nightmares.
I raised an eyebrow, realizing that my bed was missing three bodies. Then my head turned towards my alarm clock.
How late was it?
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Someone was banging their fist against my bedroom door. I rubbed my temples, finally noticing the aching headache that I had.
"Ugh… I'm awake… I'm awake. The door's not locked."
Then the door began to open, another familiar face sticking her head into the room. "Um… Forgive me, Ruto-s—I mean Ruto." Isabela knew I didn't like being called "master" or being addressed with "-sama". I told her that she should just treat me as she treated me before.
"Oh, Isabela. Come on in." I gestured for the masked girl to enter my room so we could speak more easily. Isabela nodded, opening the door wider so she could step in. I admit, I was surprised by her sudden change in wardrobe. She was currently dressed in nothing but a tight-fitting white tank-top and very short shorts. I almost felt the urge to turn away due to embarrassment.
Isabela sighed, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. She looked off to the side. "Sorry… I… I didn't really have many outfits. They were kind of—"
"Chosen by Riser?" I guessed.
Isabela smiled, more amused than embarrassed. "Yeah. He was like that. A pervert, but not too bad a guy."
I stared at her, wondering how she could say that with a straight face. The guy was a freaking pervert! Even Haru, the King of Perverts, called the guy a freaking creep!
"I'm not saying he didn't have his flaws. When I say 'pervert', I mean a raging one, but he never mistreated his servants." Isabela explained. "Dress in showy or fetishistic outfits and sometimes look the other way when he kisses you or cops a feel and he treats you fairly well. Despite what you may think, he's one of the kinder Devils. He had his greed and pride, but he wasn't abusive towards his servants or family." Isabela shivered, showing a look of disgust as if remembering something unpleasant. "Trust me."
I sweatdropped. "OK, I'll take your word on that." I didn't doubt that there were those kinds of Devils out there, but I didn't enjoy trying to picture Riser as a Saint compared to them.
"I don't even mind outfits like these. As long as my most private areas are suitably covered around others, it's no big deal." Isabela explained, waving the whole matter off. I considered something that Riser's Knight, Tania, once said about Riser's servants being unable to feel embarrassed about being seen practically naked. I think I kinda understand that now. For Isabella, this was normal casual.
I sighed. "Well… we're gonna need to work on getting you some real clothes. The only other outfit you have is your school uniform. The moment I come into some cash, we're going clothes shopping."
Isabela shook her head. "Don't worry yourself. I'm used to these outfits. I know it's normal to wear less revealing outfits outside, so I will either borrow an outfit from your Onee-sama or will go out in my school uniform." I shrugged.
"Very well." If she didn't want new clothes, I would just have to either accept it or simply wait until she did. "Anyway, what did you come here to tell me?"
Isabela placed a hand on her hips. "Well… your Onee-sama told me to wake you up for breakfast. I'm surprised you didn't hear her… She was rather… upset when she saw my current outfit." Isabela honestly seemed embarrassed or perhaps humiliated.
"She threw a fit because of how skimpy your outfit looked and only calmed down after you told her you didn't sleep in my bed?" Is my prediction correct? I wonder…
My unofficial Rook blinked. "Yeah. That about sums it up. How did you know?"
"Coz I know how Mito-nee thinks." I stated blandly. I stretched my arms again, standing up. "Alright then. Tell everybody to give me a fe—Wait." I paled. "Did you say MITO-NEE made breakfast?" Isabela seemed confused by the amount of fear in my question, but shook her head.
"No. Ravel and Asia-san woke up earlier and decided to make breakfast this morning. Why?" I let out a sigh of relief, shaking my head.
"No reason." No reason to subject you to the horrors of Mito-nee's cooking that is. "Just tell them to give me a few minutes. I'll get cleaned up and dressed and head right down."
Isabela nodded, smiling slightly. "I'll go tell Ravel and Asia-san to expect you soon." With that, Isabela walked out of my room. I felt embarrassed to say I was completely ogling her posterior. I was not proud of it but… Isabela is very well-toned. Haru. For once, when it comes to women, I envy you.
"So… I wonder what today has in store." I wondered to myself, doing my damned best to forget about my nightmare for the moment.
After I got dressed and brushed my teeth, I headed downstairs.
Asia and Ravel were cheerful that morning. Jack didn't show it, but I could tell she was cheerful, too.
All in all, everything was quiet and pleasant…
So why was I cursed with such a terrifying nightmare?