Jahanara and Dahl got back to their mansion before Vanadis did. She was shown to her room-- a small apartment compared to her rooms in her father's place, however many times more luxurious than what she had been residing in for the past few weeks (or months). There was a canopied bed that dominated one wall with floor to ceiling windows occupying another. Outside of that could be seen a small terrace with a potted date tree to one side and a metal garden set opposite that. It was the perfect place to lounge under the starry sky. Perhaps, tonight she just might do that.
Through a small archway was an adjoining private bath that boasted of a bathing pool that could probably seat four people all at once. Jahanara was quite impressed with this and also quite curious as to how long it will probably take to fill it up.
One of the servant girls went to open the curtains, another prepared her bed, while the most senior of the lot was beside the door directing a pair of boys that were carrying in buckets of warm water. Then the one who had opened the windows rifled through a drawer and took out what looked like a towel, comb, and a bar of soap. The old servant now came to Jahanara's side and said, "This is Bailu. She will be assisting you in your bath."
Despite having a nobleman for a father, she had always done her washing by herself and thus felt awkward that another human being was told to wash her body for her. "Thank you.But I can do that well enough on my own." she replied.
"No my lady. You are a guest of the Lord Duval. You must permit us to serve you." she responded with dignity. "I will not have it said that the house I serve cannot pamper their guests right.
She was a stubborn old woman so it took her way longer than the boys could fill her bath for her to convince the old servant that letting her wash herself would not in any way be an insult to her, to herself, or to their lord and master.
With a sigh of relief, she finally closed the door to the last exiting servant and with great pleasure disrobed and gingerly planted herself into the foamy bath water. Lying back against the side of the pool, she thought hard about what could have happened to her yet nothing new surfaced from her memories. She thought also of the reflection she saw in the onyx gem and decided that it was time to have some answers. She looked around and saw the gem lying on top of her new clothes on the drawers in the corner. She got up and tiptoed to get the gem. She then tiptoed back to her place and sat back down. Now comfortably seated, she looked hard at her reflection in the gem and demanded, "Who are you?"
Silence
Again she demanded the same question but this time with a more imperious tone. "Who are you?"
It was then that the reflection of her face began to cry. "How mean of you to speak to me like that." it sobbed.
Alarmed at the display, Jahanara apologized. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
But then the reflection laughed. "This is exactly why you need me in this world, my dear." the reflection spoke. But then it became a little blurry and the reflection morphed into the face of a man. "If it weren't for me, you'd be a legally bound sex slave to the most lascivious man on this planet. And I dare say he can very well rival me." He laughed out loud at that.
Jahanara shushed him, afraid that they would be heard.
"Relax,landlady. Only you can see me."
"Landlady?" she asked with a puzzled look.
He simply gestured towards her body with his eyes.
Jahanara instinctively covered her breasts in shame.
"Pfft... ain't nothing I haven't seen before, sweetness."
"Who are you? And what do you mean?"
The man in the jewel stepped back to reveal himself from the waist up and made a courteous bow. "That's how you humans introduce yourselves, isn't it? I am Czernobog, previously resident of the dark realm. It is thanks to you, my pretty, that I can now roam free in your world."
Jahanara gasped. "A demon! Oh no!" she stood in alarm and paced about the room, thinking. But then she turned back to the jewel and demanded again, "How do you go back? Leave me! Go away!"
"I'm afraid I would not tell you even if there was a way." he began with a haughty air. "and besides, how will you keep your neck on your shoulders without me?"
"What..."
And here Czernobog showed her a vision of what had happened. Of how she murdered the noble who was to become her husband.
Her left hand flew to her mouth. "No!" and tears began to fall as she saw guards chasing her. She was now a wanted criminal. Then the vision changed. It was now an image of the boy from this afternoon. Of him asking around about her. Jahanara's spirit fell. Of course his generosity is too good to be true. If he finds out what she had done, he will most likely hand her over to the authorities and she will be beheaded.
"You need me." came the male's voice again.
Jahanara slumped to the floor in defeat. "What do I do?"
"Just sleep."
Now here Jahanara laughed. "With what you just told me, how do you expect me to sleep?"
Czernobog shrugged. "Wine had always worked."
But their conversation was cut off by a knock on the door.