The Demon’s Bride

Maroon dragged a heavy sack which from the garden in ease. His eyes looking dull and passive when he saw a certain yellow bundle hiding behind the wall and his eyes narrowed to remember it must be the chick that kept on making the castle messier than it is. Not to forget, the chick swore at him. But he had a matter to take care, deciding to ignore the chick as long it doesn't arouse problem.

He continued to pull the sack when a maid came toward him. The woman first look at his expression seeing how he didn't make a single change in his expression and instead only stared at her once he stopped which only aggravated the maid and she felt sweat covering her forehead from the intensity of his gaze.

The maid's eyes then fell at the sack. It was large and seemed to be filled with something very large where she could see that it was heavy. When the maid continued to stare, Maroon took a step to his right covering what the maid staring at. "What is it that you need? I am sure you are not here to stand idle like a wall."

"No sir," the maid quickly replied. It had been her third year working here but she couldn't get use with either the butler or the Lord. After what transpired last night everyone was afraid to make mistake or to be killed the same way Tracey did.

"The gardener John had been missing from his house. This afternoon we received words from John's family how he had disappeared and wished to ask if the Lord know anything," the maid who had been looking down to the ground slowly lifted her face.

"The Lord do not have time to be bothered by servants working in the castle. He wouldn't know what would happen to John. How did he disappeared?" asked the butler as if he never knew what had taken place with the missing gardener.

"The family claimed he was about to go to travel with a carriage in the morning before disappearing. That is the only news they knew," replied the maid.

"How odd. The last message we received from John was that he took a break due to illness. I don't suggest ill people to travel around," Maroon then pulled the sack and looked behind, "You could relay message to his family that the Lord would try to help finding him, However, there are possibility he had been kidnapped when traveling. Where was his destination to?"

The maid shook her head, "They also didn't know where he was traveling to."

"Alright, I shall tell this matter to the Lord. You could return to your work," and once the maid had left, Maroon bent down to the sack. His ears then caught the sound of crying from the sack. Pulling the body of the sack, he then rested it on top of his shoulder to enter the castle using the opposite way to arrive at the dungeon which was on the third floor.

Opening the sack, a human hand fell out. Maroon pulled the hand and moved the man who was the same gardener the maid had reported missing out from the sack to tie him to the chair he had prepared. Once he was done, he then walked out to watch from the window the Lord had came back with the human girl and his eyes narrowed.

Maroon made his way to the entrance of the castle and his expression was unchains as he helped Ian with his coat. Austin who had came back only yawned lazily and wiped the drowsiness that stayed on his eyes to hear Cynthia spoke, "Milord, will you be attending the winter party held in Runalia? I heard that you received the invitation."

"I will." Ian responded and he then looked toward Austin, "Have you prepared what I've told you yet?" There was the quirk on his lips which pulled higher when mentioning it.

The dress for Elise,, thought Austin to himself and he gave a print nod, "Yes, the tailor have finished the dress it should be done before the end of this week."

"Tailor?" Cynthia pried, her eyes questioned Austin as she knew Ian wouldn't bother to answer her question.

Leaving Austin and Cynthia to discuss with a not-so-calmly discussion, Ian asked Maroon who had quietly accompanied his steps to the stairs. "Anything happened worth mentioning today?"

"I have brought the gardener to the dungeon and the family of the gardener came to one of the maid's castle to question their missing family member. I have said that the Lord will try to look in the matter," answered Maroon.

"Great job." Ian praised with mirth, he knew his butler would know what to do as he had instructed him.

"And an envelope came for Elise today, it is from a person named Edward Harland." added Maroon, thinking that Elise's matter count as something worth mentioning which it did as Ian's brows twitched at the report.

The vampire thought Ian, since when did he got closer to her without his knowing and sent her a letter only after their first time meeting in the Clin Village? For the vampire to be brazen and sent an envelope to her despite knowing who he was up against with. Should he call the man as brave or plain fool? It didn't seem like the vampire had a clear understanding yet.

He didn't said anything for a moment when his soles stopped patting the carpet. "From now on anything and everything that come to this mansion directed to the little puppy, should first pass through me. No matter how small or trifling the matter is don't miss a single thing."

"Yes, milord." bowed Maroon to show that he understood the instruction.

Ian then question, "How long has it been since she received his letters and was the anyone other than him who had sent letters?"

"No, this is the first time for her to receive a letter from a direct person, the other one came from the church." Hearing this a frown appeared to form a displeasure to Ian's handsome face.

The red glowing color of his eyes flashed with an expression and his jaw tightened. He pushed the black hair that covered his sharp forehead to the back of his head and said nothing for a moment.

In his mind he wondered, how would the vampire knew Elise lived in the White Mansion? Even if he knew Elise was his aide there was no sure telling she would stay inside the castle. But what good would it be to think? He could ask the girl himself whether she had met the vampire again after the incident in the village, thought Ian and he resume to walk to his room.

"Time to go and visit our dear gardener to the dungeon, shall we?" Ian grinned wider and he went from the entrance to the dungeon.

The dungeon in White Mansion was different than any other dungeon made in other's castle. There was only one way to enter the dungeon which was the third floor. However, not everyone could easily pass by the third floor.

At the end of the hallway a mismatched wall was built. With the right push, the wall would move on its own, making way to show the stairs which was steep and low to reach the lowest floor of the castle.

The dungeon was built hundred of years ago and even though the outside walls of the castle looked perfect, the dungeon was the only place which was never renovated. The place remain the same and by years growing, turning more eerie as time passed. The walls were made with bricks and with no lights and Ian went down with his butler in the darkness.

They only used lantern once they have reached the bottom of the stair. Using magic, Ian light one lantern and walked with a hum from his lips.

The man who Maroon tied in one of the dungeon cells woke up from his unconsciousness. He had just woke up when he saw shadows appearing with lights coming from the right side of the room he was in. John's eyes opened barely to feel fresh blood dripping to cover his eyes. The man wanted to wipe the blood only to notice how his hand was bound. He tried to move several times, pulling his hand to release it from the rope which tied his wrists together.

"I would not want move too much if I was you," chuckle erupting from the figure who was standing in front of the iron bar. The shadows covered Ian's face while some was lighted by the lantern he hold behind him. "If I was still a human, I would know not to strain my hand by moving it. The rope digging into your skin feels burning, isn't it?"

Ian's red eyes glowing as he stared at the man's condition, "Did you beat him with a shovel, Maroon?" asked Ian to his butler who was opening the door which lead to the narrow cell room.