The Demon’s Bride

Someone was going to kill her with a curse? asked Elise to herself, her brows she pulled turn tense. In the house, she didn't think she has any dispute with other maids to the point where they wish to kill her.

"Master Ian, is the Voodoo magic you mean where one uses a doll to curse another and harm the doll so the person against would be harmed?" asked Elise.

"That is voodoo magic, you have done well by remembering the term, did you learn this from the church exam?" Ian asked. Not all information regarding magic or curses are accessed to villagers or townsfolk. Although the book was kept in library it was never left open for everyone to read.

"Yes," Elise, who stood up from the seat, nodded her head, "they asked us to learn a few types of black magic." When Ian took the candlestick, Elise spoke, "I should hold the candle, Master Ian."

Elise appreciate Ian's graceful kindness where he had always treat her not like simple maid. The words where Ian asked if she wants to stay in the hospital still remain in her mind. She thought when there was a chance she was going to ask Ian of his relationship with Lady Ellen but then Elise saw there was a cold glint passed by Ian's eyes the moment he ordered the maid to gather and thought it wasn't the right time to ask.

She didn't know why he had requested them to round up in the hall but she had a feeling it wasn't for any simple reason. "I like to hold a candle, light is something one should hold on their own not let others to hold. I don't mind if you hold the light in my stead but I often walk before you, it would be dangerous if the candle is behind me."

They both stepped out of the room and Elise watched the curtain. It was opened unlike in her dream where it was close and she wondered if the curtains in the floor where her room was present, closed like her in dream?

Ian matched his pace to Elise whose eyes were on the curtain. "Why did you call the maids, Master Ian?"

"I want to ask them of who had used the curse to you," Ian used the word ask which seemed to be tamed and kind without showing the murderous intent he had. "Seeing the possibility only your friends are able to put magic on you. Do you remember i&you ever offended anyone in particular?"

Elise shook her head, "I don't think I haven't," she drawled to add, "perhaps Nancy."

The woman, however, had died thought Ian, which make it impossible. Ian also know Elise wasn't one to instigate a fight nor hate that had him question if there was another reason the person had for targeting Elise.

Ian then took of the night robe he wore, revealing his shirt which he wore to showcase his prominent collarbones that were sharp and toned under the lights that came from the curtain. Elise who stop when she noticed Ian stopped the felt the night robe draped over her body, "Raise your hand," Ian instructed with a tone not letting her to say deny his instruction and Elise wore his night robe gingerly by sliding her hand to the sleeve of the night robe.

Elise felt her cheeks turned red as Ian helped her wore the robe, and by the time Ian tied to secure the robe, he took one look at Elise and watch how his robe was comparably larger than her figure, as her hands disappeared because of the sleeve.

"Looks good," Ian hummed in praise, he wasn't speaking of her robe but Elise didn't knew.

"Thank you for letting me to wear the robe, Master Ian," said Elise, her head bowing which he stopped.

"We should go now, it would be bad for us to keep others waiting," Ian smiled to Elise but by the moment his face turned from her, the smile fell and his red eyes glowered in the shadow of the dark.

Elise, who was unaware of the expression Ian had, smelled the fragrance which reminded her of Master Ian, where the smell made her gulp as it make her feel as if she was hugged by the man himself. It is warm, thought Elise who then followed Ian's steps obediently with a smile on her lips. It felt scary a moment ago but now, she was feeling better.

Her mind drawled back to think who could curse her. Was it someone she know? Air was it someone she didn't know? There many maids in the castle and perhaps Elise had only talked to half of the castle maids, she didn't know who could curse her as when she met the maids, most of them smiled back at her. Except for a few who instead, felt scared and chose to avoided her for their safety.

They then arrived at the hall. Candles had been light up around the hall to give lights to the room where moonlight doesn't help to see. Elise walked behind Ian before she stepped on his right side. She darted her eyes on the each maids in the hall. If she was cursed one of them should have an different expression then the rest. Yet when she looked at them, Elise found how most of the maids had an expression questioning why Elise was there with Ian.

Her blue eyes then stop to meet Mila's black eyes.

The elder woman looked shocked, part of her expression seemed to feel as if she was questioning her and Elise didn't know how to respond. Vella and Carmen who noticed Elise by her red hair was also surprised but like others, none of them voice out any question as they don't know if Ian was pleased. By his expression where his smile was void, it didn't see, like he had called them in the hall for any good reason.

"Did everyone have a good sleep?" asked Ian, there appeared a smile on his lips when he questioned but he didn't wait for their answer to continue, "I am sure most of you do except for one who had woke up through the night to do their work."

Ian's question left the maids in the hall confused. It was pass midnight by now, no maids should be working. They wondered what the Lord mean by work as it didn't sound to be a good thing when Ian mentioned.

"I noticed that today many seemed to be looking down on me, forgetting my position that they can't follow one single order I gave you before you enter the castle. Not only do I find this very insolent, this offense will be your ticket to hell." Ian swept his red eyes to the maid, "It's time for you to be conscious of your mistake and take a step forward. I promise to give sentence you into a painless death if you do so."

All the maids looked at each other, wondering who had done what, and waiting for anyone to step out, apologized to the Lord for what they had done. But they know how apologies would never be enough. Ian had never pardoned or condone anyone's mistake. All of them know what will happen if they cross the Lord.

Two minute had passed, the time Ian gave for the person to come out but no one had stepped out from the crowds and Ian stepped nearer to the maids where everyone wish they could shrink back in fear.

"Seems like you are waiting for a painful death, you could have told me." Ian smiled a charming smile but people who saw him how could only feel shiver and chill running on their back. The dread filled the room, making it hard to take a single breath. "I would be more than glad to escort you to the gate of Hell."

Elise felt her hand suddenly turn clammy. Gate of hell wasn't a good term, thought Elise. Didn't Master Ian told her he was going to talk? She knew that now death was not anyone to judge. But to kill someone now didn't come in her mind.

Ian swept his eyes amongst the maid who looked back at him in dread. When he found one who met his red eyes with a look of surprise, Ian smirked to have the same maid who met eyes with him, fled from the room, trying to reach the door by outstretching her hands to the door when she felt pressure from her back.

As if wind blew from the front, the woman flew back. Ian's hand hold the maid's neck, hoisting it up to the air. "Oh, running are we here?" The maid struggled on his hands and it took Elise to clearly see whose face it was, the black hair and when the maid turned her head, she saw it was the older maid named Tracey.

Elise's eyes stopped at the woman's expression and when their eyes met a glare came over the woman's features where her brown eyes looking at Elise with contempt which confirmed to her that Tracey was indeed the person who had cursed her using voodoo magic.

Why did Tracey tried to kill her using voodoo magic? The only action Elise did to the woman was talk of the chores she was assigned to and there came nothing after where they had a fight. The woman treated her rather kindly than the rest which make Elise surprised to see Tracey's neck caught by Master Ian.

A/N: Please vote to reach 1000 powerstone and have a mass release!