The Demon’s Bride

Elise could stay calm. She hope the water filled the bathtub more than it did so she would sink down, and leave Ian's gaze that always found its way to unnerve her with the overwhelming emotions that mixed from happiness to a feeling that make her scold herself as it was naughty.

"Are you hungry?" she asked to receive Ian's eyes that widened slightly. "I'm not a food so I wouldn't be tasty," she explained for Ian to laugh heartily at his words.

"You just now how to play me, do you Elise?" Ian pushed himself from the floor, "I will let you go for this time. Wash yourself well all the way to the nook and cranny, okay?"

Elise shyly look down with the pink color that spread wider from her cheeks to her ears. She heard Ian spoke when he arrived next to the door, "But I am a little hungry, and you just don't know yet how tasty you are. Although I still don't know your taste either."

Ian left Elise who felt confused by his words. She pushed her body deeper to the bathtub. When she finally understood what Ian meant by her being tasty, a shy sigh escaped from her lips which muffled as Elise pushed her face to the water.

Quickly, Elise wash herself in count of minutes. She saw a new dress had been placed carefully on the cupboard inside the room and felt relieved that she could change inside. When she walked outside, Elise first searched and found Ian sitting on his bed. 

The side of Ian's bed was covered by curtains when she entered the room in the beginning but the curtain had been pushed opened. "How was the bath?"

"It was good," Elise replied, her hair was still wet so she decided to stand in front of the door and wait for it to dry so the water wouldn't drop carelessly on the floor.

"I expected more than good, so you would get too attached to my bath that you wouldn't be able to use the one in your room, but I suppose this is fine for now. Your hair is still wet, come here, I will take it care for you," Ian patted the side of his bed, and Elise grew cautious while staring at that bed that had occupied her mind for days since the time Ian brought it to their conversation. Ian found Elise's jumpy expression to be extremely adorable. 

She was like a cat who was going to take a bath for the first time, extremely cautious because she wasn't sure of what was going to happen to her, and there was the feeling inside Elise that wondered if taking a sit on his bed would only end with her leaving with nothing happening to her.

Elise moved from her spot, her steps weren't slow or fast. Sitting on the place where Ian had patted, she felt him taking the towel from her hands and began to drape it over her. His fingers carefully dabbed her hair, "I always love your red hair."

To ease her nerves Elise, began to talk, "Many people found it odd. In the village and the town, they found my hair color always put of place."

"Hm," Ian pulled her hair from the side, his hand slide on her neck and Elise shuddered, "What did they told you about your hair?"

"They say it was strange and out of place, but I remember my mother have the same hair color," she answered. She can't remember her mother other than her red hair, her face was hard for Elise to recall. And when she did, all she could remember was the horrible dark shadow that always covered her mother's face which perhaps came as she felt fear in the past. 

"I remember you told me that. Those villagers, on the other hand, they must be blind not to see how beautiful your hair color is. They look like sunset and roses." 

Elise had her family who praises her for her hair color which made her feel less uncomfortable with her own hair color and the discrimination that people put on her when seeing her rare red color. But the praises Ian said smoothly from his lips, seeped to her heart, tickling her that her smile was spread wide across her lips could not stay calm. 

 Ian pulled the towel from his hand, placing it beside her hand and Elise thought there was all they did, and stood up but before her body raise, Ian pushed her back to position with his hand on her shoulder gently. "So quick to run, I will not bite you now."

"I thought we are done," said Elise. Was there still things Ian want to talk? His expression watched he making her feel conscious than ever.

"No, if I am the one to decide here, but if you prefer it to be done you could leave," he offered, once again with the push and pull, thought Elise when he knew perfectly that since the beginning there was only one answer.

Ian watched Elise didn't move and his face leaned closer to the back of her shoulder where his lips brushed her skin very softly but enough to wreck the ship Elise was standing on, "Not leaving?"

Elise shook her head, she twist her neck to the side where Ian had rested his forehead on, "W-what will you do to me?" Her words were very innocent that he couldn't have but chuckle.

"Some sweet things," Ian whispered, his words push the hint of seduction to her ears, "But we will start by brushing your hair. I like to hear your voice Elise, but you tend to speak less and ask or keep your thinking in your mind. I would like it better if you speak more."

"But what should I speak about?" asked Elise. She was used to stay silence as in her earliest childhood, she was often scolded to stay silent. It had groom her to chose to speak less and keep her thoughts in mind.

"About anything, your useless talk, futile worries, or even gossips, I'll be here to lend you my ears," Ian pulled his hand on the back of her head, his large hand captured her whole head and he lifted her to look at him. "I told you didn't I? That I am all yours from top to bottom and even my soul. You could use me as you like, and I will do what I like too."

Not knowing what to say, Elise could only whisper, "Okay."