The Demon’s Bride

Elise stared at the rose that has become lively as if it had just been nipped a few second ago. She didn't know if it was her imagination or if there was indeed a water drop stopping at one of the petals. Her face was with a mixture of surprise and amazement. Master Ian's magic, wasn't it water and another that could turn object into dusts?

"How did you do that?" she asked him, fascination covering her voice and she leaned forward to study how the rose had completely bloomed in perfection and Ian smiled at her curiosity. It was one of a trait he found it to be lovely from Elise and when her blue eyes looked up at him with the same eyes, he had to stare at it for a good one minute, taking the gaze under his red eyes.

Elise wondered if there was a spell for this or was it only something Master Ian could do. If it was other who had turned a wilted rose to a blooming one, Elise would perhaps doubt her eyes first. This was utterly different than the magic trick played in the festivals which was actually a sham. William and her often watch the trick and she could tell this was not the same trick. It happened right in front of her eyes, the petals coming back to life as she watch each second. "Was it a spell?"

"Kind of," Ian said to her, playing with the stem, he trailed it between his fingers. "I only coaxed the rose to bloom and stop wilting, fortunately the rose is an obedient one to hear my instruction." Only by instruction? wondered Elise if it was actually possible. Then came her thought that it was only possible when Master Ian was the one who asked the rose to.

"The immortal being, what is it?" She asked. There was a suspicion in her heart with the way Master Ian had spoken about the immortal being with a tone that felt as if he know the immortal being well. Or perhaps...it was himself who he was talking about.

Ian stopped the stem of the rose from dancing between his thumb and index finger. The smile on him, didn't leave and he replied to her question with another one. "Well, what do you think am I, Elise?" As he said this, his hand was brought to raise, moving to the side of her face, he pushed her hair behind his ears and the rose with it. For a couple of second, his red eyes stared to her blue ones. Elise held a confused and eyes of brimming curiosity; while Ian looked at her with fascination.

"The rose doesn't suit you when it is staying beside your face, the rose loose it value of being one." He praised her, his words were with all sincerity and Elise felt her lips pursed, her slender fingers clutched above her chest and felt how her heart was pounding aloud. He took it out, placing it on her fingers, "For you take it as a souvenir."

"Thank you." she whispered and her eyes fell on the rose that was from his hand and now on her.

"All for you." he whispered to her with a gentlemanly voice and Elise's cheeks that were slightly pink, flushed in a deeper color. "But the punishment is still on set, or was it your offer to help whatever you could do to me?" He chuckled. The word punishment got her worried. She was still holding the canvas that were splashed with paints because of her carelessness.

"Can I see this?" She asked to him, and he gave her an easy nod.

"You can have it for yourself, I will paint it again." But Elise thought the painting was precious perhaps he had a change of mood or mind? Without a delay, her fingers pulled the white fabric. There her eyes stopped at the painting, her ears were blushed red when she realized what painting it was. It was a painting of a woman in a sheer clothing. The girl was wearing a chemise as she slept in green leaves, with the large puddle of green on the girl's face she couldn't see who Master Ian was painting on, but everything about the painting was sensual.

Like the way the body posed, curving her back while she try to pull whatever left in her body, her hands were covering her breasts. Elise who was mostly guarded by sensual paintings found herself curling her toes. She pulled over the curtain, hiding it again with her shy eyes looking around to find wherever she could to place the portrait. "I-I don't need this," she whispered her voice was just making the situation more delicate. As if she was walking on a tightrope. To where she would fall to, if she miss her steps, Elise didn't know.

Ian found her expression hard to resist not to push her from her save point. He chuckled, the breeze of his chuckle brushing her fingers. "You don't have to be embarrassed. Was it too much revealing for you? Or too stimulating?"

"Do I have to answer?" She asked to him and saw him nod. Elise clearly didn't expect him to nod, she thought Master Ian would have mercy on her but no she was still under his mercy. "I-I can't..." her voice turning smaller and smaller, almost disappearing like air.

"Which of all this painting you want then? Take one and I'll take my payments later." Ian asked waved his hand as if telling her to go and choose.

"What payment?" she asked.

"Payment for ruining my portrait that haven't finished yet and payment for taking one of my painting."

Elise furrowed her brows, "But I didn't say I would take one."

"Yet," He added, Ian talked as if he could see through Elise like a transparent girl she wasn't. "I know there is one that you want." He trailed and his red eyes stopped at all his portrait pictures laying on the table after Elise picked and placed them there earlier. "I saw how intent you were admiring my portrait. Your expression tell me you want it." By it, Ian didn't only mean the portrait but the real person who was posing for the portrait.

Hoping Master Ian would stop giving her heart attacks which she wasn't prepared for, her eyes turned at the canvas. Placing the canvas where it was the adult painting, she took it to her hands and asked, "Are all the portraits of you was also painted by yourself?" asked Elise, she had seen Ian's talent when it comes to painting. All the paintings he had created was on par and nothing less of those created by the royal painters. She wondered if he perhaps had painted the portraits?

"No," Ian denied, "I had painters draw most of it, I can't seem to draw myself. It doesn't feel as fulfilling one thought it would be. I choose my subjects to draw, my muse. I've never missed the best view for my paintings." His eyes stared at Elise with an intensity that made her gulp for mischief to then appear on his lips when he questioned, "Will you be taking this portrait or taking another one and double your payments then?" He waited for her reply, personally hoping that Elise would choose his second offer. But his puppy was still shy to do that.

Elise took the canvas and the rose to her hand, "I-I will be taking this one." Elise was one who always speaks clear but that afternoon, she could do nothing but stuttering as her lips were quivering under Ian's watchful gaze.