Chapter 13: A strange metamorphosis
Seb was unable to get any sleep.
When she heard a little noise again, she pulled down fraction of her quilt and peeped. Lucifer has slammed his laptop shut.
Then he gathered few books and placed them vertically on his shelf.
All of a sudden, he grabbed his shirt and stripped!!!
Then he started emerging towards the bed.
Seb went paralyzed. Why the heck did he open his shirt? His intentions are rather sick! There is no particular reason to do that. Isn't it too cold to move around with a bare upper body? And why was he approaching the bed? What is he up to this time? Seb didn't dare look.
Lucifer was going towards the other side of the bed. He had no expression on his face. He started to pull the blanket up. Was he trying to get inside the bed? With Seb? Without any upper garment???
Seb started shaking again.She didn't realize it again. Little of the quilt slid from her body, as Lucifer was pulling it up.
No, no, no, no!!!! Seb screamed in her head, this is not happening to her!!! This can't happen to her!!! After all she went through, not anymore, please no!!!
She sensed that the motion of the quilt has stopped all of a sudden. An weird silence followed too.
Seb felt someone's intent gaze on herself.
Lucifer didn't lie down yet. What was doing waiting? Why the moment was so calm?
Seb gulped down little fear and turned her head slowly.
Lucifer was indeed staring at her. He understood her reaction immediately. He detected the same fear from earlier. She was feeling uncomfortable. She was scared to hell with him on the same bed. She literally shrank inside the bed.
But when they found themselves in an eye-lock, Seb discovered something else in his eyes. Something very different.
It wasn't something devilish like before, not anymore, contrast to his character. In fact Seb wondered, did his eyes always looked so beautiful? It showered concern. He learned something was wrong, as Seb was shaking terribly. She studied his face for a moment. Such a perfectly created one. His locks and lips looked so sharp. Even his masculinity had perfectly built features, abs and biceps. When did he start looking so gorgeous? Why didn't Seb notice before? Is he even the same man? Why didn't Seb notice, or rather tried, to see this part of him before?
Seb suddenly turned back with a jolt. No!!! I mustn't, she scolded herself, What on earth am I doing? Admiring my abductor? I need to get back to my senses. What's wrong with me??? I mustn't go falling for his physique, It's a trap!!!
Lucifer was still staring at her. He didn't opt for any explanation for his actions because he knew it was going to go in vain. There was no way he could tell her that he didn't open his shirt for any definite reason. Rather, he won't waste time explaining this to someone who won't get it. Because stripping and going to bed is something, he's doing for years. That's one of his die hard habits. Even if it is freezing cold. And he forgot that Seb was still on his bed. He approached his bed out of habit. After all, he's sleeping only there. He realized what he was going to do when he caught Seb shivering.
But this time his conscience struck him hard. Tonight, I mustn't, he said to himself, else Ill worsen the situation than it is more from now. I'll have to stay away, else I'll make her more uncomfortable.
He placed the quilt as it is and stepped away from the bed. Grabbing his shirt and also a sweatshirt, he crashed on his easy chair, resting his head on the back. Tonight's slumber is gonna end up on this chair, he thought. But it didn't.
Whole night, neither Seb slept, nor did she let Lucifer sleep. Each time she twisted and turned, her arms came under pressure and unbearable pain shot through her whole body. Every hour, whenever she tried sleeping, she kept getting nightmares and woke up with sudden gasps. It was horrible for her. She was trapped in a living nightmare.
Lucifer's slumber is very thin. Every time Seb gasped out and started panting, his sleep would be interrupted. It went on like that. After thrice or 4 times, he stopped getting anymore sleep. He stayed awake for a while and witnessed what was happening. In a second, all of a sudden, Seb again jerkily woke up.
Lucifer understood the situation. He couldn't accept having done that to her, and it was making her go through so much. He felt sick from inside.
Seb was really tired. She tried to stay still and not move much. She tried not to fall sleep, but each time she calmed down, she started drowsing. She suffered a very rough day. Falling asleep was not peculiar.
It happened again after a moment later. Lucifer was still watching, his hands folded. He didn't take it lightly.
"Is there something I can do to help?", he asked.
This time Seb's voice was completely gone. She tried to reply, but couldn't.
"What is it?", asked Lucifer again.
Only a cracked groan emerged, that too didn't reach Lucifer.
He stood up and approached Seb hesitantly. He maintained his specific distance.
"Say now!!! What is it I can do?", he repeated his earlier service.
Seb lowered a little cover from her head. Lucifer saw her bloodshot eyes.
"Wa...wa....water...!!!", she couldn't continue further.
But Lucifer had received his clue. He went out of the room and was back in a moment. He fetched warm water. It was chilling cold and some warmth might do good to her.
"Here", he brought the glass and the jug up to her,"Can you get up?"
Seb was in no position to sit up. But she needed the water desperately. Slowly she applied pressure on her palms, careful not to effect her arms.
The blanket slid off herself. Seb lost her strength of her left arm and fell back on the bed.
Lucifer went cautious as he kept the utensils aside and let out his hand towards her," I can help.....", but he lost the trail when his fingers came in contact with Seb's. She snatched it back immediately.
Seb then applied her whole strength and brought herself up. Her palm held the glass shakily and she started drinking slowly. It felt very nice. She savored the moment when the warmth spread-ed through her body. She took one more sip.
Lucifer, on the other hand, have discovered one more surprise. The contact, which he had with Seb for a moment, was enough for him to learn that she was burning up. She has a high temperature.
How much more to come!!!
Was it that bad?...What Lucifer did?
Seb sensed his eyes on her and looked his way confused.
"You....", uttered Lucifer slowly,"....have a high fever!!!".
"Yeah, I thought so", Seb's voice was back to normal from the warm water. But she was talking coldly,"Don't bother, I'm fine".
"No you're not", came Lucifer's protest,"Have you eaten anything?".
"You...don't have to bother!", Seb sounded herself bothered.
"Well I do!", was his sharp reply,"Don't get sick and die here. I'll get something, have it and take the medicines".
Of course!!! It was for his sake. How foolish of Seb to think for a moment that he was really concerned.
As Lucifer was about to go, Seb stopped him. She reached out and caught his hand weakly to prevent his depart.
He immediately felt the heat shoot emerging from her body. He looked down at her bewildered. Seb let go of his hand embarrassed.
Lucifer waited for her explanation, as Seb kept glaring down.
Finally she spoke," I don't need no medicine. Just let me go from here!! I swear that I won't say anything to anyone...please!!! I'll pretend this never happened and I'll forget everything. There are people out there who love me and need me. If I don't keep up with them, they'll be worried!", Seb tried to sound sincere as she referred to Erica.
She stopped for a breath," Just let me leave. No one will EVER, know of your existence!!!", she looked up. Her eyes were shining. She had never begged anyone like this before.
Lucifer froze where he was. He witnessed such honesty in her eyes. She wasn't pretending at all. Even after what happened to her, she pledges not to spill anything. What kind of girl is she???
Lucifer got hypnotized on her words for a moment. He was on second thoughts of his actions, but shook it off. No way!!! He can't let her go.
He had to put extra effort to look away from her.
"We'll talk about that later," he didn't sound hopeful nor cold,"Right now, I'll get something for you", with that, he exited.
Seb looked down and remorse on her failure again.
When Lucifer opened the door, a faint whispered was heard,"Bloody Lucifer!!!" and he slammed the door to express his annoyance.
When he returned after a while, Seb had drowsed off. He had bought some rice porridge as he didn't get anything else at dawn hour. Seb was sleeping like a child. Lucifer felt little at ease seeing her like that. He didn't feel like waking her up. But then again, she'll become weak if she doesn't have anything in her sick body.
"Hey!", he called softly,"Listen, wake up!", he raised his voice a bit.
No reply came. "Hey you!", it was almost a loud call.
Seb's trail of sleep was interrupted again. She woke up startled with a sudden jolt and breathed hard. Then she turned her eyes towards the cause. Lucifer was standing motionless in front.
"I'm...I'm sorry", he fumbled apologetically,"I prepared something....if you could get up...".
Seb wasn't showing any sign of irritation. Her expression was plane. She started getting up, and sat with her back leaning against the wooden support of the bed behind.
She looked at Lucifer and it said that she has no objection to the meal. He was surprised a bit but her sudden obedience.
He placed the bowl and tried to adjust it according to Seb's comfort. Seb shot a burning glare which warned him to stay away. Lucifer was taken aback but he didn't offer any more unnecessary help.
He placed the medicines on the table beside the bed and said,"Have the medications when you're done! Are you...I mean, can you fill the glass on your own or shall I?".
Seb nodded once without looking at him.
Lucifer walked up to the easy chair and sat with his eyes closed, pretending to sleep.
Seb had inserted half spoonful of the porridge in her mouth. She debated for 5 minutes if it was edible enough or poisoned! What gives anyways? She didn't give it much thought. The taste was not what she expected to be.
It was better than her imagination but would be completely inedible for normal conditioned people. She expected far more worse. And since it was distasteful, it's certainly not poisoned.
Having found a meal in such a situation is better than nothing. It was little tough to finish all of it though.
Then arose another problem. To intake medicines or not.
Certainly medicines won't harm her. Might be, her fever go down and she can find a way to escape on her strength.
Nah!!! Seb excluded the idea instantly. Getting down to proper health would be her greatest reward for now.
She consumed the pill with the water doubtingly. When she had calmed down a bit, she lied down and immediately dozed off.
A small grin appeared on the corner of the lips of Lucifer, who was peeping on her this whole time. At least she didn't doubt on him for that.
She'll get better by morning, he thought, and then will come the real challenge.
Should she be allowed to return from that place?
Lucifer's intellect wanted, brain didn't, and his heart wanted both. It was a severe dilemma!
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