The Demon’s Bride

Early when Elise woke up, she wore her uniform earlier than the other where the sun wasn't up yet. Elise look at her reflection as she brush her long and bright red hair. She recalled the memory of her sleepwalking and her wound.

When she was living in the Scotts' house, her father Mr. Scott often brought her out to hunt in the forest. Being the eldest girl, she learned from her father hunting which was odd for a girl. Mr. Scott once told her when she accompanied him in hunting.

'You are strong Elise, stronger than any girl I ever know. I'm proud to have you as my daughter. Soon, even if you went alone to the mountain, I know you will be able to protect yourself.'

But father, she wasn't strong, thought Elise, her blue eyes bringing her back from her memory to stare at her own reflection. It vexed Elise how Master Ian had to come and save her every time she needed. Master Ian was a very kind person even if the man doesn't think that way, Elise could swear by her life of how his kindness was vast than the ocean.

Since the day Elise first met Ian, he had always saved her from any moment where she was wounded and worse, almost killed. But she was weak and was unable to do anything to save herself. If she was going to work in the Church as powerless as she was, she could be killed.

Elise wondered when her element would come and if she could study magic soon to protect herself. More than that, Elise who had recalled how there was a hole in her memory in the time she was living in the town, tried to ring her memory to pull a few moments of the event when she was ignored by the villagers but she can't remember anything.

Was there a memory that she had forgotten? There shouldn't be, thought Elise as she settled the hairbrush on the table to then stand up. Noticing something in the mirror, Elise reached out her hand to touch the surface of the glass before she turned her back without noticing how the spot where her fingers had touched crack with sharp white lines like spiderwebs.

Elise spend her time cleaning the hallways when she saw the maids who made eye contact to her before scurrying over as if out of fear. They were afraid to associate themselves with Elise where deaths linger even when they know it wasn't Elise's fault for the deaths that happened.

Elise knew the event last night must have frightened the maids, making them afraid of her who they thought had indirectly cause Tracey's death. It would be better if she could fix the misunderstanding but she sees no end in fixing a loose end of a ribbon where the fine intricate ribbon had unraveled.

Elise went alone from the place with Hallow in her pocket who had been unusually quiet when from afar, Mila came to find her. "Elise," said the older woman for Elise's head to turn to her, a frown was subtly pulling Mila's brows which Elise noticed. "Can we talk for a moment? It wouldn't take long," and a smile appeared on the woman's lips.

"Alright," Elise followed Mila who had called her, and the woman brought her to the housekeeper room where it was smaller to Elise's room but larger than the maid's room.

"Do you like two of three sugar cubes on your tea?" Mila, who was holding the teapot on her hand asked, seeing Elise whose eyes went slightly to tour over the room.

"Two would be fine," and when the teacups were placed on the table, "Thank you, Mila," Elise thanked her.

Elise wondered what Mila would ask her by bringing her to the room. Was it about last night or perhaps the time she disappeared from the castle. In the past Mila had acted like a figure of her mother. She didn't remember her birth mother but Mila was nothing less compare to Mrs. Scott who had adopted and loved her like her own daughter even when she wasn't.

Unexpectedly, Mila's first question wasn't what Elise had in her mind. "How have you been?" Mila looked at her eyes, and a smile gently appeared on her lips. "After your family's death, I thought that we should have a talk but the time just doesn't fit in."

"I have been doing great," she replied and found the woman's concern to be touching to her.

Mila brought the cup to her lips before placing it down to the cup, the motherly eyes came upon her gaze, "That's great to hear, are you... lonely?"

"I have friend, Master Ian, Cynthia, Austin, and you. I'm not lonely," replied Elise. Somewhere the conversation felt like an exchange between a daughter and mother who had not seen each other for a space of time. Elise felt her heart warm with the feeling that came to her.

Mila noticed the Lord's name and her lips were pursed. She looked down on the cup, whispering, "I see," a silence went between their conversation. "Do you like the Lord, my dear?"

Elise thought that it was time Mila would bring the question. She held the cup on both hand, her lips changing to where it was wide but calm and pink blushes covered her cheeks. "Yes, I do. I like Master Ian."

Elise lifted her chin to meet Mila's eyes where it showed surprise to then feel the woman bringing her hand from the cup to squeeze her hand warmly. "It would not be an easy journey Elise. The Lord he may seem to be kind but you should now like last night, there are no knowings when he would be enraged."

0Master Ian would not harm people without reason, Mila. Last night, there was a reason." Elise wondered why Mila had a low opinion to Ian. Being a human, she must felt scared of how the Lord could kill people but Ian wasn't a person she thought.

"I know, I heard that Tracey used voodoo magic to harm you but I just hope you wouldn't be hurt. In this relationship. You must know it yourself, that you are a maid and the Lord, he is the Lord. It wouldn't be easy," Mila released her hand where she stared at Elise who she felt like her own daughter.

"I am prepared, Mila," she assured the woman who was still having doubt and concern. "I want to learn accept everything about him. Master Ian, he meant more to me than only the person I love. I will get hurt but I am strong, you know."

"Yes, you are," Mila agreed. Much lesser than Elise think, Mila didn't deny her love for Ian and it made her happy to know that Mila support her. They talked a little longer before Elise left Mila's room.

Once Elise went from the place, Mila went to take care the teacups, placing it in a tray and when she took Elise's cup, the woman's eyes narrowed. She noticed the crack line which was form in a line created from the seam of the cup to the bottom of the cup. Was the cup she gave to Elise broken? But she was sure that it didn't crack before.

Mila found it odd but thinking that it was perhaps her carelessness, the woman took care the rest of the cups.

A/N: Dont forget to vote, We are nearing the goal!