The Demon’s Bride

Once all matters happening in Warine had been sorted out, the courtroom floor which was stained by blood had been cleaned in time. All the while the meeting was held, the ministers in the room were afraid of making the slightest mistake which end the court faster and increase the people's productivity. Ian found this method to be good to do once again after seeing how people work better after fear.

Standing up from his seat, Ian walked down from the short stairs, his long legs making its way to the floor at the spot where Vervor had been killed and his grin widened. He lifted his head from the floor that was now clean toward the people on the room and as he met his eyes with some of the people, he could see how all of them were afraid of angering him as if they were walking on a thin ice now and was afraid to be drowned inside the ice cold water which could lead to their deaths. Duke Gary who was always scheming in his mind like the sly mice he was also found himself short from words.

"I feel like I should do this everyday." came Ian's nonchalant words from his lips, his eyes gleaming with delight and out of all people inside the room his eyes fell to the Count, "Don't you agree with me Gerald?"

Count Gerald who had been picked twice knew well that the man was thirsty of blood and was yet to have his fill on taking lives. Any mistake coming from his mouth would cost him his life he couldn't afford. "T-The court, milord?" asked the man for Ian to roll his red eyes.

"Should your head roll on the floor too for you to understand what I mean? Tch," Ian clicked his tongue at the man who had a paled expression. Humans did loose blood from his face often, thought Ian to himself, "One of these days, I should gather everyone inside this room give them a show they needed after working very hard for this land to relieve their tire." The room fell silence at Ian's sarcasm. No one would want Ian to give them a show unless they were ready to have their neck on the line.

"Hm, who should I start with..." drawled Ian and his red eyes fell at one person with his grin widened, "Gary, do you want to be a part of the show?" The Duke who had kept his head low flinched at the floor. His eyes from the floor went to Ian in alarm and fear clouded his eyes. The Duke tried not to react, to show fear but there was no one who could remain calm with the deadly threat the Lord has not so subtly given.

Others didn't know what kind of mistake Duke Gary did for him to be picked out but Gary knew why. The last time when their lunch ended up badly was enough reason for Ian to pick him up. Inside his mind he cursed the red headed maid, the source of their bad luck for disrespecting his daughter.

"M-My Lord, I..." Duke Gary felt his blood running cold as fear crawling under his skin, thinking that this was the end as Ian had put his eye on him as if thinking how to kill him soon.

Ian turned his head at the people at his room and broke to chuckles, "Oh please, I'm joking." He raised his hand as if waiting for them to agree. Some guests began to exchange relieved breath which was short lived when Ian continued,

"But I should take a note on how everyone works better when they received terror. If chances came when some moron folks repeat what Vervor did, I mean late Vervor did, thinking that I've become some toothless tigers for them to steal whatever they want, this could be a good shock therapy to help you all and learn." His smile died down along with the gleam in his eyes that had lost.

Ian watched how all their heads were looking down on the floor, fear evident with their hands and body shaking in fear and his wicked smile reappear. He enjoyed himself basking in other's plight and had never shied away from it. Seeing how the fear had sank into their brainless head, Ian decided to stop for the time. Unless they were awaiting their death, they should now not to repeat Vervor's mistake, offering their own necks to him. Ian didn't mind if they do though.

"Maroon." Ian called and the butler obliege by standing by his side, bowing as he wait for Ian's order to come. "Show all the gentlemen their way out to their family." His black shoes clanked on the floor but stopped after two steps, "I forget to add safely. We can't have them die before meeting their dear families."

Once he left the room before the people, Ian's steps fastened. He couldn't wait to have his talk with Elise, to find out what she thinks about him. Somewhere Ian found he should treasured her, like the sweet puppy Elise was. Unlike all women he met in his life Elise was different, everything about her was special to his eyes.

The first time Ian had met Elise when she was still a child, she was no different than others. He used to call her as puppy because she looked like one and thought her not as much different than the term. However, it changed when he met her again nine years after.

Elise had turned into something beautiful but too pure and innocent for her own good and soon he would teach her the ugliness of the world by his own means.

Although Ian's sense to protect and fend off all hands that are trying to take her, he also couldn't help himself to push her button, seeing her fear, her shyness, and her cries just for himself to watch and enjoy. To be the only person who could make her feel sweet pains to then coax and pamper her gently.

From pain to sweetness, Ian's grin widened when he thought of the expression Elise would have in the future and he pitied Elise for taking his attention. But Ian had never plan to let her go.

Noticing the sounds of two pair of shoes coming toward Ian halted his steps, his chin lifting down to look at his two aides who seemed to have been waiting for him by the opposing look on their eyes.

"Milord."

"Milord." Cynthia and Austin greeted him with a bow, bending the body before raising to stand straight when the saw Ian cued them to stop the pleasantries.

"I doubt you came for greeting. Is it about Elise?" questioned Ian and his two aides to stop speaking as if he had cut their tongues with searing hot knife and at their expression Ian's eyes narrowed, "Nine years ago I ordered you two to became her chaperones not her family or figure to protect her. I am enough for her protection."

"Milord, forgive me in advance for talking out of my line," Austin started by asking his forgiveness before his gray eyes went at the Lord who was taller than him and say, "I thought you were going to treasure Elise but your ways are-"

"And I told you I will tell her all about me that she needed to know of." Ian interrupted the werecat. "We still are standing at the starting phase. If Elise is someone who had chosen me couldn't stand by the sight of death, her the future would be far worse for her. I am with blood but she had chosen me and she knew to run if she can't." On his own words, Ian chuckled but very subtly. "I will not hide who I am to someone who would stand by my side. Unless I am serious, I wouldn't have done this charade."

Ian's words had the ability to proof his point to the point where Cynthia and Austin couldn't find any fault of his words. Ian was a demon and this fact was disclosed to a few people. Not because Ian wish to keep it as a secret but rather out of a whim. Since before when they had just met Ian, it was clear that he was someone who moved by his whim and it made both Cynthia and Austin in worry that his whim would fade on Elise.

"I will treasure her but on my own way. Else what have I been doing?" Ian raised his brows at them with his smile set low on his lips. There was a dangerous tone in his voice that borderline Austin and Cynthia to stop caring for what they shouldn't.

"Austin. Cynthia. What do you two have to say?" He asked and his eyes intimidatingly gouging their expression for the two people to shake their heads.

"No, nothing milord."

The smile went again on Ian's lips to broadened, "Wonderful." praised Ian before he left the place, to his room where Elise was now.

A/N: Sadly we were unable to reach 1000 power stones however we had a very high increase of 600+ power stones! This week, if we could gather 1000 power stone by the end of the week, Sunday, we will have a mass release, please remember to vote <3 (144 PS per day could reach to 1000 PS on Sunday)