The Demon’s Bride

An hour after the chaos in the village, the Church members arrived to Saltige where carnage broke. A familiar face that had gotten older stepped out from the carriage and seeing the bodies on the side of the carriage which was covered and bundled in whites he sighed, silently counting the bodies in his mind.

"Some doesn't go the way we wish for, do they, Kyle?" asked a man from behind. Kyle, who had shifted his eyes to watch the part of houses from the village that had been destroyed frowned. He pressed his forehead. What else could be worse than having Christmas Eve which was only two day after turn to a bloody day?

"We can't wish for anything. We could only thank God that it seemed people are saved more than death." Kyle looked around the village, his eyes then falling to see the villagers who have gathered to start fire to warm themselves.

"That is true," answered the same person who had spoken with him earlier, his eyes were red that signified he was a vampire while his entire hair was colored in brown. A streak of black color was on the side of his hair that stood out, "But I don't know what to say seeing this..."

The vampire whose name was Walles said, he drawled as he saw the bodies of the beast and dark sorcerer's head pierced through a spear which was then hanged on the ceiling of the villager's house.

'This should serve death that is befitting for them, you don't have to feel pity for those dark sorcerers. How long have you work in the Church?" questioned Kyle.

"Three years sire. I don't not feel sorry for the dark sorcerers as I share the same sentiments, but I don't know what to say. I have never seen deaths like this before," where bodies are hanged to serve as flag on the houses as if the person who killed the dark sorcerers wanted the rest dark sorcerers to be warned never to do the same eve again.

"You should get used to it especially with the person we are about to handle," and as if Kyle had called a Devil's name thrice, therefore calling the Devil from Hell, he heard a laughter and his neck twist to look behind, meeting Ian's smile an internal sigh of fear struggled to escape which she managed to hold down.

Ian watched how Kyle bowed, "Good evening, Lord Ian. There are no words I can express more to show how thankful I am for you helping this village."

Elise, who walked beside Ian saw Kyle. For a moment she looked at the man in surprise, she remembered who he was. Although he had aged and some scar came across his forehead, she knew who this man was. It was the man named Kyle, the same man who had brought her out from White's Mansion in the past.

"Don't mention it, I was helping out of a whim as 'coincidentally' when the village I visited was under attack," Ian emphasized on the word 'coincidentally' which had Kyle to narrow his eyes and sigh internally again. Ian knew he was not guilty which why he could say all this, but even if he wasn't innocent, no one would able to put him to trial as there had never been any evidences before.

"I see, that must be a certainly misfortune to you, my lord," Kyle said as he and both Ian knew that it wasn't out of a pure coincidence that Ian had come here. "May I ask what did you come here?"

"I came here to meet my soon-to-be family member that failed horribly," Ian met Elise's eyes as he said this, he smiled and Elise didn't know what she had to say about it, choosing to stay quiet.

"Soon-to-be? Are you going to adopt anyone, milord?" Kyle inquired as he doesn't know what else other than adopting could fit that term.

"No, I was going to meet my aunt-in-law, Elise's aunt. But a tragedy struck to her place and I saw her death there along with other surprising thing that I could never expected to ever be there in her house." This was enough for Kyle to look at Elise. The moment they met, Elise had noted of how Kyle looked at her for a long time. He seemed to remember her as much as she did.

Seeing how their eyes met, Elise bowed to the man and Kyle returned with politeness. His eyes were strict as he watched Elise but he didn't say anything.

Unlike Ian and Kyle, Walles was surprised with the news and had a bigger reaction, "I didn't know you are going to get married. It is a pleasant news, Lord Ian! A news worth celebrating," his eyes then shifted to Elise and she saw the vampire bowing, "Congratulation to you too, milady."

Elise had her cheeks slightly pink at the congratulation. They hadn't talk about marriage but Ian had used the word 'Bride'. She felt all fluffy in her heart, and happiness surged in her when she stared at Ian whose lips were twisted into a gentler smile.

"Thank you," Elise replied, returning Walles' words of best wishes.

"Congratulation, Miss Scott," Kyle followed after his subordinate. His words had some sincerity in it that Elise could pick although it was cursory and lasted short.

"You two are the first ones to here it, but I want to make the announcement of our marriage soon in a better manner which why I believe you two could handle about keeping this as a secret until the Winter Ball of Christmas Eve, would you?" Ian asked for the two men to nod.

Elise didn't know about marriage yet as they hadn't talked about it. But she was happy with the promise of marriage, and like Ian she couldn't wait to be one with him in marriage. It had been a simple dream of Elise to live and settle down with family of her own.

"About the talk we left earlier, Lord Ian," Kyle began, deviating the talk from marriage as his work was more important. It was his responsibility with the lives he was trusted with and the justice he stood upon to find the root of what had taken place in the village. He didn't know if he should be thankful it was Ian who had protected the village as the man do more deaths than saving. "What do you mean by something unexpected that you found in Miss Scott's aunt's house?"

"Coffins and dead bodies," answered Ian with a nonchalant tone while he saw a wrinkle of frown gained on Kyle's forehead. "Want to see?" He sounded as if he was offering Kyle for a tea which only added another sigh from the man who had gotten far older than he was before.

"Please show us the way."

Ian nodded but he didn't walk immediately, he then went to Elise, asking, "Elise would you like to follow or stay in the carriage? You've been through much, you can rest if you are tired."

Elise had been hiding it but in truth she felt exhausted both physically and mentally, "I will stay in the carriage."

"I'll come back soon. I can't keep my reward waiting, can I?" Ian kissed her forehead and he looked at her, taking her every features before leaving.

Now alone, Elise looked at the village, she wondered why she didn't saw any death shadows from the villagers earlier or from her aunt. Knowing that she would die, she would have emitted a death shadow and the vision that come along yet she didn't saw anything. Was there possibly a rule for it to appear?

She was still staring when a cough greeted her from behind, Elise turned her head to see Karen, the old lady who stared at her expression with a strict expression, "Did you killed anyone, Elise?" The woman's direct question had Elise to look at her with wide eyes.