The Demon’s Bride

Elise knew how important sleep was. On the first three days after her family's death, she felt as if she was wasting away, unable to sleep. The moment she closed her eyes, the image of her family drenched with blood and the face of the mythical beast came to her mind, reminding her of the bloodcurdling event.

Could it be that Ian could not sleep well because of his past?

"Why can't you sleep well?" asked Elise, the girl use a gentle voice as if she was trying to catch a drop of dew from the end of a leaf. "Is there a reason for it?"

Ian leaned his head on the headrest, only the side of his face as most of his body had turned to her direction, "Beats me. When I realized it, sleeping became unnecessary. I hope you can tell me and teach me how sleep would feel to me."

"I don't know if I could ever teach sleeping," said Elise. Sleeping was a human instinct, not something to be taught. If she could teach the relaxation that came from the art of sleeping, she would gladly teach Ian but the problem was there were none. "It is often said that people feel better sleeping when they share body warmth with others. Like hugging before sleeping, William often does that too," explained Elise, trying to find a solution without knowing what she had suggested.

"Come here," Ian brought his finger and beckoned her to come closer by moving his finger back and forth. Elise moved slowly toward him as Ian had leaned his back on the opposite armrest of the couch. "Closer," Ian whispered when she was about to stop and she took another move before stopping completely.

"Do you remember your past?" asked Elise, making small talk to fill the silence. She was curious about Ian's past. It was on their last talk on the cliff did she saw a glimpse of Ian's past and from what she heard, it didn't seem to be an easy past to tell or remember.

"Hm, faintly," Ian said without breaking his eye contact with her blue eyes that glimmered despite the lack of light. Reaching out his hand he had fun with her hair. "Nine hundred years is enough to make one forget what took place years ago. It's similar to how you try to remember the menu that you ate for breakfast three weeks ago. It's still there in the back of your head but you can't pull the memory."

"Was it hard?" came Elise's next question, she tried not to be intrusive but as Ian had told her, she didn't have to hold back which was what she was doing now.

"It was at that time I remembered how there was never a day easy for me but I was fast to grow numb to my surroundings and everything that came on me," replied Ian when he smiled she could tell the lurking coldness behind his red eyes and his smile turned wicked as if he was thinking something that was amusing to him but painful for others. "What else do you want to know?" questioned Ian, "I know you are trying to learn more about me and I am very happy to know you are having an interest in me."

Elise blushed, she can't help the faint smile that kept to raise the corner of her lips, "I have always been interested in you," she whispered her thoughts aloud, trying to keep a low voice, she pursed her lips.

"I know. I know how your eyes have always been on me, watching me, am I that handsome for your eyes?" His sweet voice tickled her, and her fingers on the surface of the couch tightened, curling the fabric of the couch.

"You are," she whispered before pushing herself, wanting to move back, and went on with the glass when Ian pulled her hand and had her fall on his chest. Elise felt his finger slipping to her waist, taking hold and her eyes looked wide at him in surprise.

"Why are you so in a hurry to run away, Elise?" Elise felt her heart hitched on his words.

"I was not running away I just can't breathe," corrected Elise which was the truth and her hands on his chest pushed herself to stand up. Ian didn't let her go, continuing to hold her and enjoying the flustered look on Elise's face.

Ian's lips raised on her naive words, and he dropped his voice low, "Why can't you breathe? Is it the corset?" He questioned, his eyes moved from her face to her nape before moving down to her back that was visible as her body settled over him. "But you are not wearing a tight one now, should I help you?"

When his finger tugged the ribbon on her waist, Elise craned her neck, her expression wanting him to stop in alarm, "I don't need help, I am alright I just need some space," she replied.

With the pair of chaste eyes looking at him, Ian can't help but want to tease her, "Why do you need the space when you have me now all for yourself? If you still can't breathe well I know how to help you."

"How?" She blurted out the question she only had in her mind and found the devilish look in Ian's eyes.

"By sharing my breaths to you, mouth on mouth," Ian saw Elise startled and she climbed on his chest, wanting to get away only to be pulled closer and tighter. "Tch, was the lesson in the gallery didn't teach you much, sweetheart Elise?"

"I'm... no..." Elise didn't know what to say and as much as she tries to run away, she had a feeling it would not end well. There was a glint she could see from Ian's eyes that were not only from mischief. "I think I am okay now," in truth she was not and she hoped Ian would not go further with his words and action as her heart feel as if it was about burst right now.

"Really?" Ian looked at her with questioning eyes as if he was truly offering her help to solve her problem while knowing that he was the source of her problem. Elise quickly nodded her head vigorously without putting words. "What a pity, and I was looking very forward to it if you had agreed."

Elise wondered which was Ian going for by his action. Was he trying to kill her or was he trying to help her? Because his words only affected her with a loud heartbeat that could perhaps fly from her chest at any moment.

"The painting," started Ian and to receive Elise's look at him which was apprehensive. Her heartbeat was getting out of hand with the loud palpitation that she could not stay calm and at the mention of painting, the rate of her heartbeat raised.

Elise recalled the day when she had made a mess over Ian's paintings. Until today, the painting which she had somewhat destroyed was stored on the deepest part of her cupboard as it was not a painting she could hang in her room without feeling embarrassed. Not to mention there was the odd pool of green paint that was her mistake.

"You promised me to help me paint later, don't forget," Ian teased her, his lips curling and when he saw Elise nodding with all innocent he can't help but feeling wanting to be meaner to her who didn't seem to understand what he meant by help yet. "Okay go on with the glass. I will stay here like a good boy." He pulled his tone when saying the last two words, making it less believable.

Elise calmed her heart down which was impossible and she took time to remember her family and the dark sorcerers. It was not easy to regulate her anger but when she recalled everything in an instance, the feeling of ire budded from her heart which burnt ablaze as time passes.

At one point while he was staring her, Ian's lips were set in a straight line and a serious expression took place on his face. He saw the glass and it seemed that Elise had not realized the crack which started from her hand, vapors came over the glass as if the glass had been put out while snow covered the land. A white hazy line spread like vines on the vapor, turning it to look brittle as if a light hit could turn the glass to shatter.

When Elise open her eyes, her blue eyes had darkened and Ian did not miss every single change which happened to his sweet girl.

It took less than a minute for the glass to break and compared to before, the shards were much smoother, turning like small dust of snow.

After a moment Elise snapped out from her daze and she watched the broken glass with her eyes wide. What happened? Once again she didn't realize the glass was broken from her hands.

"Isn't that a handy ability you have there, sweetheart?"