The Demon’s Bride

Elise watched her aunt who seemed to have lost it all. Streak of fear of dying was evident on her face. Ian seemed to still hold his playful tone, "Did you remember what did you told me earlier?" Angelica didn't know what he was speaking of but Ian remembered what the woman told him. He had a good memory and a bad habit where he like to owe what others told him. Now was no different.

Angelica stuttered, "I-I don't remember... Please let me go. I can tell you what I now, the ticket to everlasting life, an immortal life."

Elise, who stayed quiet wondered what her aunt meant. All the talk of bringing back people to life and having a life without death was fable-like. But the latter one reminded her of Ian as he also retained immortality. She saw how his horns appeared, and his black wings seemed to turned darker when he unleashed more of his demonic side.

She heard him laugh like a person who was truly enjoying a play, "Don't worry if you don't remember, I will tell you about it. You told me you would teach me manner. But you don't seem to know what manner is which why, I will help you study manner we have in Hell. First manner is not to touch what belong to others, but you failed to do that and here come the punishment. Enjoy it."

Ian released his hand from the woman, letting her fall before taking two steps back as the woman tried to run. Elise saw how the skin on her aunt's neck which had turned blue began to form bumps as if her skin had bubbled. She ran and Elise didn't know if it was a good idea for Ian to release her aunt; but then Angelica who was running with a smile, thinking she had won failed to run. Her entire body stopped and fire suddenly started from bellow her feet before engulfing her entire body.

A scream erupted from the place and Angelica continue to run frantic searching for anything to extinguished the fire but failed to find anything. She went toward Ian, reaching out her hand, "Hel-" But that was all she could say as the flame blazed harder.

Ian then left to stand by Elise's side, his stride was long and it brought him faster to hug Elise. He pressed the side of her cheeks and she could feel how his warmth spreading to her body. What once felt frightening and chilling now become better when she was under his embrace.

"You did it, you saved the village, thank you," Elise said when pulling away, she saw how his horns had disappeared as he came back to his normal state without his wings.

"What is there to thank for when it is for others? You should have thanked me for saving you or maybe I didn't do it well enough?" Ian tilted his head, he made a sad expression by sloping his brows and looking defeated.

She can't help but to smile at his action, "No, you saved me well, for that I am more grateful. I know you would be there for me."

"But I left you alone for a moment and I shouldn't have done that. You forgot to call my name, if you do I would have come faster," Ian saw how there was a small wound on her finger and he pulled the finger licking it, "I didn't see this, my apologies."

Elise shuddered when his red velvet-textured tongue rubbed her finger, the warmth tickled her cold finger, "W-What are you doing? It's dirty, Ian!"

"Don't underestimate a small wound Elise, it can have invective that could even lead to death. Also, I can't have you complain your future groom to not notice a wound and not heal it after," Ian twisted his lips and his tongue continued to caress her wound, Elise then felt shiver when his teeth nibbled her. This was more than only licking a wound!

"I won't do that," she answered, trying to pull her finger, "We should go from here, there are still enemies."

"No there are not. I've killed all of them and the villagers it at rest. There should be no one here that I could sense and I've sent Cynthia to guard the village. Why didn't you call my name when the Relics appeared? I would have come here," Ian repeated the question he had asked earlier. He wanted to know the reason as doing so would have notified him when the Relics appeared. Without a good intention, he didn't know what the Relics would do to her and the thought that they would harm her boiled his blood.

"I was scared and surprised that it didn't come to my mind." Elise didn't understood either why calling his name didn't come across her mind when she was in the basement. She thought that she was a person was who had a quick wit to protect herself through troubles. But she was in a panic and it was often that people fail to think clearly when they were shocked or in fear. 

"But how does calling your name work? You are far even when I call your name." With the distance it should be hard for him to hear her calling for his name.

"Because I have this," Ian pulled his hand and she saw a red thread formed on his ring finger which was attached to her neck, "This is our little communication string. Although if you are too far, I wouldn't be able to hear you this much distance is enough."

"When did you attached that to me?" she inquired because all this time she didn't know Ian had put a string on her.

"Guess?" Ian teasingly smiled, it wouldn't be easy to take answer from him when he was heaving this way, thought Elise. She was conscious of how much Ian love to tease her by drawling to give what she want like last night. "What are you remembering? Look your cheeks is all hot," whispered Ian when he caught Elise's expression turning all red and her heartbeat picking a faster pace.

"N-Nothing. I was thinking of anything," Elise quickly replied, stuttering as she replied. She was about to get away now that her finger had been released when Ian leaned forward to bit her ear. The little action had Elise yelped and shuddered. The heat she felt had subsided last night felt crawling to settle on her stomach again.

She shook her head, and her eyes were stern when she met Ian's red ones, "No."

"No what? I only thought that your ears looked delicious, remember my reward?" Ian pulled away to see her think and Elise recalled that she had indeed promised him a reward.

"But I can't do anything special," she replied without knowing that in truth there was something only she could do for him. 

"That's not yet for you to decide, don't worry I already have something easy that only you could do," he whispered, watching Elise. The rush of adrenaline that was still on his blood had turned to something completely opposite like lust when seeing Elise near him, making an expression that was hard for him to resist to. 

Elise questioned what the reward was but before she asked, Ian said to her, "Let's go to the basement. I got a feeling that Angelica's panic for losing a body is important." and Elise agreed at his words with a nod.