The Demon’s Bride

Elise woke up in the morning feeling less burden on her shoulder. Yesterday had been an easy ride, but Elise can't help but wonder why the church member had questioned her about Tracey's death. Elise knew her feelings never betrayed her, and she could tell how the Church was keeping tabs on Ian, possibly thinking that he had been the one to murder Tracey, which was correct but there was a reason and she was the center of it.

Elise felt it was unfair if Ian was to be blamed for the killing. Elise looked away. She felt happy she could be together with Ian, the Lord who she loves. At first, Elise had only thought this love of hers will continue to hang by a thread, a one sided love. But God has other means by granting her wish and at the same time, cursing her.

Elise could not be at rest with her power. That morning as soon as she woke up, she pulled a few cups that had been broken. The cups came from the kitchen which couldn't be us as some careless maids had broken the cup.

Elise knew the power of a Demon's Bride was to destroy and she was also aware of how dangerous it was. It could hurt the people whom she loves and she couldn't let that happen. To make sure that her power didn't go spiraling in the wrong direction, Elise decided it was time for her to practice.

Closing her eyes, she thought of the dark sorcerer. In a second the thought passed by her mind, the cup she touched broke and shattered to ash. The sound of breaking startled Elise and she retracted her hand. Why did the cup break so fast? Last time it took more time to work, thought Elise in speechlessness.

Only a few days had passed and her power had grown like a monster. If this goes on, would her power go out of control? What if she can't touch any people in her life forever because she can't put a stop to it?

Being brave, Elise tried to touch the cup again, this time she tried to be slow, but the problem wasn't whether her hand touch the cup slowly or quickly. The moment her fingertips touched the cup, it shattered and the cup beside the other hand did the same, turning all the seven cups in her cupboard to turn to black clouds of dust.

She frowned, what should she do with this?

Should she asked Ian-

"You are doing it wrong, sweetheart," came the voice from behind her, and Elise clasped both hands on her chest as she turned her body to look at Ian. He was sitting on the corner of the room, leaning his back to the couch that made him look lazy, but the view was not something anyone could peel their gaze from including Elise.

She didn't begin asking why he was here, knowing that he could come and leave a room without no one noticing him.

"When did you come here?" she asked, her voice soft like a morning bird that had Ian to pull his charming smile wider. Elise noted his clothes. Ian was still in his night clothes where the front side of his clothes open wide to show his chest muscle. His hair fell beside his face, framing his strong features, and his red eyes were brighter than the morning sun.

Ian uncrossed his legs from the couch at the corner, pushing his arm, he stood up toward her, "Take a guess."

Elise remembered that she was still in her nightdress, where her body could be seen as it wasn't thick enough to cover what it needed to cover. She bent to take the blanket but before she could Ian put his hand over it, "Ignoring me, are you?"

"I will change my clothes," Elise suggested, she didn't know why Ian would be here in the early morning, but his gaze was fierce. Had he been drinking? But she smells no alcohol from him. He didn't seem to be drunk, and instead, she felt herself being drunk from his smile and presence.

This was unfair, thought Elise. Her heart was beating out of hand, but Ian looked enjoying her expression.

"Why do you need to?" Ian's eyes took time as it traveled down from her face to her neck, falling to see the ample curves of her breast and down to her hips. Her body was barely covered by the fabric, and that was what makes her more tantalizing, "I enjoy the view."

Elise bit her lower lips, pressing her hand to cover her breast and bellow to hinder him, big instead, it only emphasized the sight. Seeing her, Ian licked his upper lips. "Do you know?" Ian questioned and she looked at him in question. "I have been hanging on a very thin thread of not going to eat you now."

"I'm sure I am not delicious," whispered Elise, knowing this wasn't what he asked when she felt him pulling her hand and her back bounced on the bed as Ian had thrown her there.

"Elise, are you tempting me? It sounded very much to my ears that you are saying to taste you so I would know how you taste," Ian pressed her hands on top of her head, her cheeks blushed bright pink at his words. She didn't think like that!

"I didn't say that," she whispered, no matter how courageous Elise sounded when her voice left her mouth, it instead sounded like a kitten. Her heart thudded and when she felt his hand brushing her knees, pulling the hem of her skirt further up, her gasp left her lips. The sound was maddening for Ian, but the Sun is still high up, he thought. Not that he truly cares.

Night or morning didn't change Ian's desire of wanting to ravish Elise. His eyes were fierce as many thoughts stayed and left his mind, and all his thoughts were about his sweet bride, Elise.

Elise blinked a few times, trying to think what to do when she said, "Did you come since I practiced?"

"I thought so, you were practicing," Ian spared a glance at the cups that now had been turned to ash. "Why did you do it alone?"

"Because it's safer?" she meant to reply but her words turn to question. She didn't want to hurt a person, and she thought to try it before turning to Ian.

"Silly you, am I not here in front of your eyes?" Ian raised his brows, his eyes scolding but his voice was still soft on her. "Perhaps I didn't stand out a lot to you? It's dangerous to use your power alone. I'm not saying this because I mind of the things or people who could turn to ash when touching you, but I worry about you."

"Worry about me?" asked Elise, confused about why. It was clear that her power hurt people but not her, which make her less worried about harming herself when her palms touch her own body.

Ian said, his red eyes peering down at her in a way as if he was caressing her skin, "You began to use your power, but you don't know how to activate them or put a stop on it. You might think it is right to use your emotion— anger to activate your power, but no one in this world can control their emotion, my love," Ian warned her, "We don't know where your power stemmed from, the last thing I would ever want your power to do to you, is to exhaust you. Every power needs a price, and we still don't know yours."

"What kind of price?" she asked, does that mean Ian had paid his price to use his power?

"I don't know," Ian pulled himself from her, pushing her any longer to the bed would soon turn him into a wolf, thought Ian. "In case you are wondering, the price of my power is the 'me' you are seeing currently."

Elise was confused by what he meant. Her brows pulled in curiosity, "Do you mean, the curse?"

"Correct," Ian said, he took her hand, pulling her to sit on the bed. "The curse to never die. It sounds like a miracle to humans but it's nothing less than a curse. It doesn't mean that you'll have to pay the price with a curse. It could be fatigue, or maybe fever which why it's best not to act first."

"But I want to control my power," Elise said, "It's too dangerous if I can not control my power." If by the time she had touched a person in her anger without knowing how to stop her power, turning them to ash. It would be too late.

"Ask me then. I will help you," Ian pulled her hand so Elise could sit on the bed. "Should we try a little?" he asked and she nodded.