He remembered how the skirt was ripped, the slit so high the rest of the fabric barely covered her legs. It reminded him of what Erlos said-about how he saw her with her dress torn. Just as he was about to fix her skirt, his gaze landed on her bare leg. A mysterious smirk appeared on his lips as he covered that wound again in bandages. He unwrapped that bandage around her thigh. He then moved the blanket covering her body aside and pulled the skirt of her sleeping gown up to check the wound he had sewed shut. He unwrapped the bandage covering her right hand and checked her wound. ‘Hmm, still the same.’ He pulled his hand back. He sat at the edge of the bed and held her bruised hand to check her pulse. Rather than sleeping, it seemed more correct to say she remained unconscious. Since the water was out of her reach, he was the one to shift that water container closer to her bed.ĭraven approached the girl and watched her peaceful sleeping form for some time. The previous night, he did not leave immediately and heard Ember ask for a drink. Even the stool with the water jar was still on the spot where he left it.

Nothing changed inside, aside for the clean bedsheets and the new clothes the girl was wearing. The door of the home opened and Draven entered inside, ignoring the tree spirit. Though tree spirits could not see or talk, they were generally aware of the feelings of those who live within them. As Ember was the one living inside the house within this tree, the tree spirit had started to treat the quiet Ember like a friend. Sensing the intense heat of the fire, the tree spirit recognized the intruder, and the threat from the king of this kingdom worked on it.Īlthough the tree spirit backed out, it still waved its tree branches around, as if to show distress. A small flame appeared on the tip of his fingers, as if to remind the tree spirit who seemed to have forgotten who is its real master. Upon noticing the presence of an intruder, several branches of the tree moved to block the front of the door.ĭraven was not bothered and simply raised his right hand palms up.

Just as he took a step towards the door, he sensed movement in his surroundings.

While the entire city of Ronan was asleep, Draven quietly appeared in front of the door of Ember’s house.

Devil house novel