The Demon’s Bride

Elise who had her breakfast had came down from her room. She had planned to rest but when she tucked herself to sleep, she found herself unable to close her eyes. She went to her window when she saw the bird on the ground. It appeared to unable to fly as a patch of blood colored the white wings.

Elise frowned, being one who couldn't let a bird to die when it was wounded, she didn't want to watch. Leaving her room, she made her way to the garden and pulled out her handkerchief to bundle the bird gently on her palms.

She checked on the bird's pulse and saw how it was still breathing. Not wasting time, she then left to tend the care when a man made his way inside the garden. Elise saw the man whose eyes settled at her as if he was seizing her features.

"Would you mind to move, sir?" asked Elise as the man didn't move despite minutes passing. He was standing near the door, blocking her way and Elise didn't want the bird to die on her hands while the man stood there.

"I am quite lost," said Elijah, offering a sweet smile after looking at Elise's feature. Upon a closer look, other than the girl's unique red hair and bright blue eyes, he found that the girl held a delicate feature. She might not be the most beautiful but she was indeed a sight for the sore eyes. "Are you going to tend that bird?"

Elise knew who the man was. She might not remember the man's face before but she had heard from the maid before about the arrival of two guests to the castle. It was Lady Monica's older brother whose name was Elijah. 

She looked at the bird and nodded, "Yes, if you mind could you move?"

"Sure," Elijah made way by moving to the side, "But could I come with you?" At this Elise couldn't help but raise her brows subtly. She was smart to know there were dangers around here. The man appeared to look like a human but she had seen how her aunt who seemed like a human to turn out and be a corrupted angel who had horns on her head. 

Elijah at first narrowed his eyes seeing how Elise didn't took his offer quickly. By now most women would have said yes, but the girl appeared to be careful which had him to wonder if she was playing hard-to-get. "I might look like this but I study as a doctor, I could help the bird if they are in danger. Just like how you couldn't bear to see the bird die, I also don't have it in me to watch the bird to die while doing nothing. And I could see from where I stood now that the bird's ribs are broken. It would be dangerous if we leave him like that."

Elise looked down on her hand, the bird seemed to be struggling and she could also tell before Elijah telling her that the bird's ribs were broken. She don't know how to mend that, but Elijah seemed to know, "Okay. It would be great if you could help me, sir."

"Give me the bird and could I ask you to bring the first aid kit?"

Elise pulled out her other hand, showing that she had brought the first aid kit. They then move to sit on the bench of the garden. While Elijah taking care of the bird, Elise stood to watch and to remember what the man did so in the future she wouldn't need any help if she come across this case again.

When Elijah was done, he passed the bird to her, taking the handkerchief to clean his hand. "That should be enough for him."

"Thank you," Elise answered when she saw the bird peacefully asleep on her hands. "I will be now taking my leave."

"Wait a moment. I need to ask you a few question," Elise stopped at her place, she wanted to leave but then it would be rude as the man had helped her, "Are you Elise?"

Elijah knows his name, thought Elise and this was enough to put her on guard. "I am." she answered, "Why do you ask me that?"

"My sister said that she met you once and I was curious. She describe you as a lady with a beautiful red hair and blue eyes. Looking at you now, I could understand what she meant. Your hair remind me of Roses, it is a very beautiful color I have never seen before that makes me want to touch your hair."

Elise didn't let Elijah off by the flattery. She wasn't stupid nor blind to not be aware of how Monica and their mother had looked at her. If they both dislike commoners, she could guess that Elijah would be no less tolerant than his family. It was even more surprising for Elise to hear that Lady Monica had spoken good words about her, as she knew the Lady didn't like her. In the soiree where she came with Ian, she noticed how Monica glared at her and the glare was enough to tell everything the Lady felt about her.

Why did Elijah lied then? wondered Elise, knowing that somewhere the reason lied in her.

"Are you in a hurry? If you are not, would you mind to talk a little more beside me?" Elijah reaches out his hand and he touched Elise's palm. Before Elise could move away and pull her hands, suddenly felt her sight covered by blackness.

Elise didn't know what happened but when she opened her eyes she could hear a faint whisper, "Dangerous." The voice startled her out of no where, and she immediately recoiled from Elijah's touch and the man looked at her with wide eyes and surprise at the rejection. But Elise didn't notice Elijah's expression as she was focused more to the voice that warned her earlier.

It was the same voice that had spoken to her when she had went to the gallery this early morning, thought Elise. But unlike the time in the gallery, the voice had spoken using a louder voice and there was a scratchy voice laced in the whispers voice that made her goosebumps as it felt to her like a person was speaking directly beside her ears.

She looked around but there was no one— no ghosts. Then who was that? It felt uncomfortable to Elise that she was the only one who could hear the voice because by Elijah didn't seem bothered as if he cannot hear what she heard.

Elijah saw how the girl rejected his touch as if she was rejecting his entire sweet talk and a deep frown came inwardly. What was going on? It was weird how by now Elise didn't take upon his kindness, instead the more he talked with her, the more the girl become closed off. This never happened to Elijah before. He knew he was fairly handsome and maids like Elise would have been like the maid he met earlier, swooning over him but this one girl did not.

"Did I perhaps do something that offended?" questioned Elijah, keeping a smile when deep down, he was in disbelief and angry at how Elise had boldly swatted his hand.

"Germs," Elise whispered, for a moment she wasn't sure of what she was saying either and her words seemed to break the smile on Elijah's face. "My hands are a bit dirty, I don't think it would be great for you to touch my hands now as it is filled with germs. Thank you for helping me and the bird. I will take my excuse now."

Elise didn't want to stay any longer in the garden, it was because of the whisper that had startled her from earlier brought her a feeling as if the wind was bringing her ill omens. She left the garden, leaving Elijah and make her way to her room to wait for Ian to come back and tell him the odd things she had been experiencing. 

Elijah, however, who was left on the garden turned to be sour. He cannot accept a mere maid had ignored and rejected him. Without wanting to waste time, he came back to the receiving room, wanting to tell her sister when he opened the door to see the Lord had taken a seat beside Monica. 

Ian looked at the window, and his lips curled deeper in a smile, "What an ugly view to stay beside my Rose," Ian remarked and the siblings could feel their heart drop at the small remark. They both looked at each other before on sending the other a glance. Monica felt the most threat as before Ian came she had questioned the maid when suddenly the Lord opened the door. Both Monica and the maid was still in anxiousness, wondering if Ian had heard what they sat.

Ian who was calm with his demeanor and only his words that went like a threat startled the Lady with his next question, "Did you see what I saw, Monica?"