The Demon’s Bride

"Without knowing what element you belong for yes, it would be hard for you to borrow the Sulix's power but for elements that deviate from the four elements, you wouldn't be able to borrow the power from any Sulixs. Which mean you magic fall to the category of unknown elements." Ian explained and Elise formed her thought.

Unknown wasn't a good word when she is in a hurry to find power to protect herself, thought Elise. "How would I be able to use my magic without the help of the Sulix?"

"There are ways but most of elements only appeared when they are called or summon. Unless you call what elements you are, you wouldn't be able to find or work your magic." Ian filled in and hummed, "From what I could remember black water means shadow magic but since you have tried to find your elements, it should appear soon before you."

"Appear? How could elements appear?" she asked confused, still unable to understand.

"They often appear in form of living beings, such as animals or people you've met. The elements would only appear when they think you are ready to hold their magic." Ian then walked to take the book he placed somewhere in the bookshelves and chose a few more books to accompany the first one and went back to place the book toward her. "You could learn more with this two books about elementals magic."

"Thank you," Elise whispered and felt a little disappointed she couldn't find her magic elements and as if noticing it, Ian rubbed her head, smoothening the red hair that were as bright as sunset to his hands.

Elise felt him staring at her red hair for a moment as if feeling the texture with his finger before she looked at him meeting her eyes. She wondered if he had something to tell again with the way he was looking at her now and she was right when he asked, "From who did you acquire your beautiful red hair from?"

Elise felt her heart skipped, it was rare for people to call her hair beautiful if not odd. "My mother." she replied finding him nodding subtly at her response.

"What about your blue eyes?"

"I think my father." Elise said and saw his head inclined faintly to his shoulder, curiously finding her words.

"Think? Did you not meet him?" he asked with subtle gentleness, not poking to ask if her father had died before. He was curious since the day he had found her of who her parents were who had passed her to an irresponsible uncle and aunt.

Elise shook her head, "I don't remember a lot about my childhood, only a few memories." She confessed, "I remember my mother but I've never seen my father before. My uncle and aunt had never told me anything about my parents either."

"Uncle and aunt." muttered Ian before letting go of the hair from his fingers. A wicked smile tilted the corner of his lips when he thought he should greet the uncle and aunt she mentioned who had brought her to the slave establishment. "Do you hate your uncle and aunt? For selling you to the slave establishment, I mean."

The slave establishment was not a good place at all. Either for humans of mythical beings. It was a place where one sell another being for the amusement of others and most slaves would have to undergoes a harsh life before they were sell to their masters or mistress.

Not many could come out alive and save without being touch by the wardens inside the slave market. Even if they do come alive, they would either turn into mindless dolls who would follow their master or mistress's orders obediently out of fear or they would come out from the slave establishment with anger and hatred. It was an often news where slaves kill their own master and mistress which was why most slave would be subjected to a physical punishment.

Elise was lucky on her own way. She was young at the time that the wardens would rather have the women to touch than her and that day she was taken by Ian not some old men who had hobbies of having their hands on a child.

Elise looked up at him, frankly her feeling was mixed when it come to her uncle and aunt. Before she was sold to the slave establishment, she was taken into several houses before stopping to the last house which was the house of her aunt, Angelica who then sold her to the slave establishment.

Every time she had changed house, she wished to be accepted in the house and did whatever they requested so she wouldn't be kicked out or shifted into a different house but everything she did was useless. She never knew the reason why she was hated by her family and the people she once lived with or the reason why they hated her so much to the point where they sell her to the slave establishment where people who have become slave would be went through pain or torture to the point where one soul's would break in a young age.

"I don't know." she whispered and looked up at his eyes she continued, "It may be weird but I don't remember much about my past until I come to White Mansion. I don't know about hate but I was angry because I thought them like my own family." She found he didn't reply and wondered if her words were as weird as it sounded.

"It's not weird." Ian replied, rubbing her head again, smoothening her hair and head before he stood straight, letting go the side of the table he held before. "What about your mother? Is she still alive?"

Elise shook her head, "I think she had died." She didn't remember anything about her mother other than the nightmare of her mother that constantly visit her dreams.

"You didn't see her casket?" He asked her, wanting to know more of her past that could partake to make her different than others.

"I don't," she replied, her head shaking. She was still six at the time, she didn't remember most of her memories before her mother's death. "My uncle then brought me to a different house after telling of my mother's death."

"Do you know how she died?" she shook her head again, as much as it was odd, she knows very little informations regarding her mother; and worse her father. She almost knows nothing about him whether he died or left the house.

Ian also found that something was hidden under her past and the key to how she is different than the rest of the sweet children would be her parents he thought. "Do you remember where the village your aunt live at, puppy?" She gave a thought, drawing her brows. As it had been nine years ago, it was hard to remember the village's name when at the time, she couldn't read.

When remembering the village's name, Elise spoke, "In the East side of Afgard, the village called Saltige." Ian noted the name of the village in his mind. He was very much looking forward to meet the aunt and uncle who had sold Elise as a slave. It must be fun, he thought, a grin creeping to the side of his lips in excitement when there was a knocking sound. The sound of knocking sounded lighter unlike the knock that came from a hand and after the knocking seemed not heard, a screeching sound came. It was easy to guess who it was as the grim reaper had done the same sound before.

Ian broke his gaze from Elise to silently walk and opened the door for Hallow who had been knocking with his beak inclined forward to the floor. He tried to regain his balance but with how skinny and light his feet was, his round head fell first to the ground. "Oh hell, damn it!" cursed Hallow before rolling his body and trying to stand up but was unable to move. "Help me." Hallow said while waving his yellow wings toward Ian who did nothing but watching him as he rolled on the ground.

Ian's scarlet eyes passively stared at the chick making a scene for himself, "Explain what you came for this time."

"I didn't come for you!" humphed Hallow, "I came because Elly promised me to knit a cloak to protect myself against winter and came here to ask her for it!" Hallow then exerted his non-existent stomach muscle to help him stand up to no avail. "Help me get up." requested Hallow as he reached out his right wing toward him.