Right On Time For Hell

Ava's POV 

My eyes shut tighter as the sun fell on my face. I tried looking away from it, but it seemed to follow my eyes wherever it went.

I couldn't help but feel irritated at the sun itself.

It was one thing to unrelentingly disturb my sleep, but did it have to be so focused on my face?

It was almost like it was trying to remind me of my scar.

Rolling over on the soft bed, I sprang upright with all of the clumsy grace my chubby body could muster.

It looked more like erratic flailing.

I took a quick look around in a bid to get my bearings, but it was largely unfamiliar.

Clearly, it was a bedroom.

Elora's room was pretty big, but this was easily twice its size.

It had a king-sized bed like in Elora's room, but much more comfortable. It was so soft that I was almost sinking into it.

On the right was the window wall that opened up to a beautiful horizon, one I hadn't noticed on my way in here last night. On the left was a dressing table along with a vanity mirror I couldn't bear to look at when I saw myself in it.

The space between my bed and the door was enough for a small living room set. It had a small couch facing the door, along with two armchairs placed adjacent to the couch but on opposite ends of the table, effectively occupying three corners of the rectangular table set in the middle of them.

They all looked comfortable and extravagant. The table even looked to have intricately designed markings and engravings on it.

For a few seconds, I was stunned by the sight.

Even with all of these, it still had enough room for me to do whatever I wanted.

How did I get here, though?

The thought still puzzled me.

The last thing I remember was sitting by the Devil's bedside. I must have fallen asleep there.

Who brought me in here?

I would have thought he might have taken me here to take advantage of me, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't sleep through something like that.

I hadn't eaten anything since I got here, so I wasn't drugged.

Besides...

He didn't seem exactly interested in doing anything sexual with me last night. I remembered his orders for me to strip. I was lucky I didn't do that.

He treated me like a whore for obeying his order to be given a show. If I had stripped, I can't imagine what he would have said or done.

For some reason, I thought of his eyes.

I saw the hurt in them when he called me a whore.

It almost felt like he was projecting onto me.

Almost like a memory of the past haunting him.

The abrupt opening of the bedroom door caused me to flinch and lay back in bed hurriedly like a child caught awake past her bedtime.

I heard the door click shut and small, light footsteps trod over to the foot of my bed.

"Princess Elora?" a small, pleasant voice called out to me.

I remained silent, hoping she would give up and go away.

"Um, I-I saw you lay back in bed when I opened the door," the voice said shyly. "I know you are awake, Princess Elora."

I considered not giving up my pretense, but I decided against it.

She sounded shy, but she was sure I was awake.

There was no need to be childish.

I slowly let myself sit up as carefully as possible and gave the lady in front of me a lazy stare. She was a petite lady. I would assume she was barely 5'2", with a full head of wavy red hair, a round face. She had freckles on her cheeks and across the bridge of her nose.

I must admit, she was quite cute.

"Who are you?" I asked, keeping my voice drowsy.

"My name is Lyanna, Princess," she curtsied. "I am your personal maid."

I did a once-over of her once more.

She almost looks too delicate to be working as a maid.

Almost.

She was still a werewolf, after all.

"How did I get here, Lyanna?"

"Um, the guards were tasked with bringing you to your room by the Alpha," she replied.

"I see," I nodded. "Wha—"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Princess," she cut me off as she glanced up at the time. "Um, could you, um, get off your bed so that we can prepare for the ritual?"

I furrowed my brows at that.

"What ri—"

The words were caught in my throat as I remembered the warning I received from the Devil when I dared to suggest I wouldn't be attending.

"You would see the face of the Devil you fear."

Those words are haunting.

With a tired sigh, I waddled through the fluffy bed and finally let my feet touch the floor.

I strolled over to the vanity mirror at my dressing table and stared at myself in the mirror.

I was still stuck in this nightmare.

I thought the mark was a problem in my past life as Ava, so the goddess chose to make me fat and still have the mark this time.

I wanted to curse the goddess.

I wanted to curse that bitch so bad.

I glanced at Lyanna, who shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

Cursing the moon goddess in front of a werewolf would only bring more troubles than it is worth.

"Um, is there a problem, Princess?"

I turned to look at the girl. She still looked fidgety.

"I should be asking you that?" I replied. "You've been shifty since you got here. Is something wrong?"

I really should thank Elora for this new wave of confidence. Despite being in the same predicament as me, she didn't let herself cower like I did. Even dying on her own terms rather than be forced to marry Dravin Skull, that demon.

I would make sure to never cower as well.

Lyanna looked up at the time and then offered a small smile.

"I fear that we might end up running late for the ritual, Princess."

"What happens if we do?" I asked.

She gave me a look of pure horror.

"For both our sakes, Princess, you do not want to be late to the ritual. You do not."

I could feel her horror in those words, and I made a mental apology to Elora as I felt my heart pound from the apprehension I was feeling.

It would take a little while to completely embody her confidence.

For now, I had to survive.

"Let's hurry then," I said as I looked around the room for the bathroom.

I took a step in that direction once I saw it and almost tripped on my gown. I wasn't used to wearing long dresses like this. In my past life, they'd only hinder my work.

"How did this get on me?" I hissed.

"I dressed you, Princess," Lyanna said. "You were passed out, and your original gown was missing a sleeve and looked uncomfortable. I thought you might be more comfortable in this."

I stared down at the pink gown, which was obviously made from a fine silk. It would have looked better on me if I wasn't so chubby.

"Never mind," I said as I lifted the hem off the floor and hurried to the bathroom.

Lyanna was right on my heels.

I stepped into the bathroom, and she followed me in.

I gave her a curious look as she closed the door behind us.

"What are you doing?"

"I will be the one to bathe you, Princess," she replied easily.

"Is this related to the ritual?"

"Yes, Princess," she nodded. "I'd suggest we hurry."

I hesitated for a second, but her calm and intent gaze told me she was going nowhere until she did her job.

I reluctantly took off the sleeves of the gown and held on to it, unwilling to let it drop.

"It's okay," she smiled. "I can understand your reluctance. There's nothing to worry about, Princess."

"My body isn't the best, you see," I said, staring at my feet. "I haven't exactly shown my nudity to anyone before."

"I think you have a beautiful body, Princess," she said, causing me to look up at her.

I stared intently at her to detect even a shred of dishonesty, but there was none. Her eyes were as pure and sincere as ever.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I suggest we hurry with this, Princess. We'll definitely be late at this rate."

I let the gown drop at that reminder.

Lyanna seemed especially skillful at her job as she hurriedly bathed me, even complimenting my stretch marks as she worked.

We hurried through my dressing, as my outfit and everything else I needed was already laid out on the bed while I was in the bathroom.

I had no time to register any of this, as my eyes were glued to the time.

It was almost 8:00 a.m.

We only had five minutes left.

I walked as fast as my chubby body could take me while Lyanna easily met my stride, strolling through the hallway I ran through last night, and heading to the door I ran away from.

"Right on time," a deep voice said from behind me, causing me to stop in my tracks.

The imposing figure of Alpha Dravin Skull walked past me without sparing me even a glance.

"Come along," he said as he strode in front of me. "I'll lead you to the depths of hell."