Page 89 of Hell-Bound

He picked up an elegant and silky scarlet dress and held it up to her face.

“What goes with silver?” he murmured.

Ren relented to the conversation change. “What areyouwearing?”

Not meeting her eyes, he continued to stroke different dresses with the sharp points of his fingers.

“I’m not going. Azur asked, but I’m…tired of being the butt of everyone’s jokes.”

“Aren’t you the royal Jester?” she asked, trying to tease and then immediately realizing how insensitive she sounded.

He looked at her full-on with a strained smile.

“Yes! But even a Jester needs a night off, eh?

She shifted uncomfortably, a thought dawning on her.

“Is…Jester your real name?”

His smile disappeared, face becoming serious.

“I…don’t know,” he said quietly, cheeks changing color. “I’ve been Jester for so long. I’ve given up so much of who I was that I can’t quite remember what I was before.” He laughed ironically. “Not unlike you, I suppose—but I like Jester!” he said, his mood changing starkly. “It suuuuits me, don’t you think?”

His grin stretched from pointed ear to pointed ear, dimples brightening his face.

She admired Jester for his ability to turn any conversation around, but it also made her sad. He was fighting to forget as she was fighting to remember.

“It does suit you, Jester,” she said, giving him a warm smile and hesitantly reaching out to touch his arm.

He stiffened, and Ren was momentarily afraid she had crossed the line. His eyes told a different story, however, glittering at her in appreciation.

“Why are you always so seeeerious all the time?” he drawled, rolling his eyes.

He reached for her neckline and pulled out the vurmite necklace tucked behind her tunic.

“The red dress goes best with this. I know you were already thinking about it,” he said affectionately. “Now, if you don’t mind, it’s late, and I need my beauty rest. Believe it or not, this fiery complexion doesn’t maintain itself.” He smiled once more and leaned in, kissing Ren on the forehead. “Sweet dreams, little Elfy.”

And he was gone.

Ren turned and saw herself smiling contentedly in the mirror. Her smile grew as she realized she could finally call someone her friend. She would do just about anything to keep those dimples on Jester’s face and liked to believe he would do the same for her. Not the dimples part. She didn’t have those, but try to help her find herself in this hellscape.

Ren suddenly felt tremendously tired. The purple lightning was starting to appear in the sky. She’d forgotten that it was almost morning. Lazily and without undressing, she threw herself on the silky sheets and didn’t awaken until midday—a cold meal already waiting for her at the edge of the bed. There wasn’t wine this morning, to her great displeasure, but there was a note.

When you finally wake up from your beauty sleep, expect Zelaia. She will help you with your preparations for the party.Please pick out an appropriate dress from the ones Jester provided and meet me downstairs at a quarter past.

King Pelegros, Sir Maddeningly Muscular

Groaning, she shuffled over to the vanity and her pile of dresses. She pulled the red dress from the mix and held it in her hands. It was so silky that she felt that her rough skin would offend the delicate fabric. It was one solid color but could certainly not be called plain.

As she slipped it on, she observed that the low cut of the front cupped her breasts seductively, and the slinky material hugged her hips to accentuate her curves. Jester’s selection made her vurmite look like the centerpiece of the whole facade. Like the dress was created to draw one’s attention to her neckline.She loved how, even in something so soft, she could feel commanding.

After undressing so as to not wrinkle the delicate fabric, she jumped with a start as Zelaia let herself in without a knock. She had a large bag full of intimidating accouterment for styling, coifing, and contouring.

While Ren’s first reaction was to snap at the Devil for walking in without notice, she knew she might need another Azur-sworn Devil on her side.

She plastered on a smile.

“Good afternoon, Zelaia, I appreciate you helping me with this.”