The Demon’s Bride

The window outside the carriage was cover with fog. The snow had fallen, turning the weather to become colder with days passing. Elise still wondered about Maroon. The butler had always been surrounded with mystery, just as much as Ian did. Elise was particularly interested in Maroon because he was the only person to know Ian for many years and possibly the most person who knows everything about him.

"Why did Maroon agreed to become a Demon?" She didn't ask whether Ian had been the one to forcefully change Maroon to Demon like one would think first when hearing Ian's explanation, and he smiled at this question of her. 

"To answer this question of yours, I would have to go the past. I have told you that Maroon was a slave didn't I?" 

Elise remembered and she nodded, "I do. Was the reason started from the slavery market?"

Ian moved his hand from Elise's waist, this time to fix her posture so she could sit while looking at him. "Maroon looked the way he was gloomy and forlorn now, but in the past he was more of a bright guy. That was what I heard from a certain someone. He was engaged to a woman named Lilith."

That was a little unexpected, thought Elise. She didn't mean to say that it was unthinkable for Maroon to be engaged, but from his behavior, he didn't seem like someone who held a love one in his heart. She clearly thought the butler didn't want to hold a candle of interest in romance.

Ian saw her reaction and chuckled, "I know looks can betray. He didn't only get engage but he was madly in love with Lilith. You could say they were an inseparable couple. Both of them were in love with each other, eyes only looking at one another," the way Ian had spoke sounded as if he was there to see it happen, "They live in a farm happily until one day an attack rain over their village."

"Who attacked them?"

"It happened in the past. It was still at the time where Hurthend and Runalia was having a ghastly war. I remember he was living in Runalia when this happen and vampires didn't go easy on humans," Ian answered her, like telling a story.

Elise could feel the story was going to end tragic, "Did Lilith died?"

"Not yet," Ian answered. So she would die, thought Elise which made sense seeing Maroon was alone, "They were taken as slaves by the vampires. Then one day they were saved by humans from Runalia. It was a rejoice only until Maroon saw that."

The story was going to bring sadness and Elise knew but she can't help to feel curious. "Saw what?"

"He saw that humans were decided to two sides, one supporting the current king and another supporting the prince who was going to dethrone the current reign. This wasn't a good news because they didn't come to save Maroon and Lilith, but to sell them to gain money for war."

Elise pulled her brows, "How could they do that when there was still war between Runalia and Hurthend? And the people they sell are their own subjects." She can't believe the story, not because it was far-fetched, but it was the greed showed by the royals that had her to look at them with disgust.

"Greed don't stop people Elise, it only fuel them," Ian thoughtfully replied to her, teaching her. "Many wants the crown, to become the ruler and no matter what it takes, what they need to sacrifice, they would give anything even their souls to the Devil for the sake of their unquenchable thirst for the crown."

Elise felt sorry for the people who had to be in the middle of the royal's greed, the people who had to suffer for them.

"Maroon and Lilith was then sent to the slave market. Lilith was sold and bought first for women the slaves are far more easy to sell than men," Ian continued, telling this had him remembered of Elise. He saw her having faint frown on her forehead while her hand turning to loose fist was careful not to place it anywhere for fear it would turn to ash.

Ian continued, "After she was sold, Maroon didn't stay quiet, he escaped from the skate market with the price being his life, almost when I met him. It was on a whim when I saw his fierce eyes and decide to help him. I offered him to become a Demon which he took without the slightest hesitation to meet Lilith. But by the time he met Lilith, it was too late. She was buried inside under the ground without a coffin."

Elise saw Maroon to be a quiet, strict, and sharp person. He treated person on an arm's length, not letting them get close or near him which know she learn for a reason why. 

"Is it sad?" Ian questioned her, he didn't know whether it was. He thought it was tragic, not because he felt so but because that was what most people would feel.

Elise nodded her head, "Did Maroon managed to retrieve Lilith's body back?"

"He did. You know I am very concerned about you, sweetheart," Ian pulled her hand and she raised her brows, questioning what he meant. "You always wear your heart on your sleeve. You always prioritize others before you. However, you shouldn't do that from now on. Remember your body doesn't belong to you alone. Few days ago, you promised me that you are mine now, puppy, which mean half of you is mine and half of me is yours. I never treat what belongs to me carelessly or to get it hurt, understand?" Ian pushed his head forward, his forehead pressing hers, "Next time protect yourself well."

To be treated special by Ian, made Elise to feel her heart squeezed. She put a smile and nod, "I will try to protect myself well." She didn't want to be hurt or to die either. When Carmen almost killed her, the only thing she could think was to see Ian's face again. To see his smile that had always looked as if he was about to do something evil. 

Elise still felt sorrow for Carmen's death, but somewhere she was glad that she didn't die. It was perhaps bad for her to feel thankful, but Elise thought that all people would feel like her, and she didn't regret feeling so.

When the carriage stopped, Ian released his hand from her waist, his eyes turning to see Lipton's manor that had reduced from what it looked like a few days they came from, "Looks like we've arrive."