The Demon’s Bride

The crowded people continue to whispers, and the situations was looking very grimly. When Elise spotted Ian, as if knowing her gaze, his eyes automatically finds her. The people who spoke beside him stopped and also turned their heads to see who he was looking at. Noticing who it was, the people made way for her to come and Elise made way toward him.

"What happened?" she asked, wanting to know what was going on that made the guests to move from the ballroom over toward the hallways now.

Ian tipped his chin toward the glassless window, "Someone was found dead, it seemed the person jumped from the window. I don't know why everyone needs to die on the merry day I am having now. But death do cling to me like a narcissistic person do. Did you pass by this hallway before?"

Elise shook her head, "I didn't. I walk toward the opposite hallway."

"That's great," Ian said, and she saw a grin on his lips that curled with an opposite meaning than what his words sounded to be. He leaned next to his ears, making his voice to whisper, "He didn't kill himself, someone killed him. If you had walked here, it was possible we were going to fight, but then I think you would be fine."

Elise's eyes widened while looking at him, "How do you know that?" she made her voice smaller, by now people saw that they wanted to talk and made room by swarming away. Only a few people was near them but they didn't seem to need on their conversation as they were immersed in their own talk.

"There," Ian pointed his hand toward the ghost that stood on the hallways. It was a ghost of a man holding his hand together as if in fear. Because of how dimmed the hallways was and the fact that the ghost was almost transparent while standing in the corner of the room. 

By seeing the ghost it wouldn't be enough to know that it was killed, but the man was whispering things. Elise couldn't hear it well, and she tried to read the person's lips, something that she liked to do in the past, to see the person say, "Someone killed me!"

Elise turned to Ian who had crossed his arm together, "He said he was killed," and Ian nodded. Because of his sharp hearing, he could hear the ghost's words clearly. 

It appeared that the ghost was confused and filled with resentment which why it could materialize as ghost and the grim reaper hadn't took his soul. 

"Should I ask who killed him?" Elise questioned, to find the killer, it was easier to outrightly ask the man but Ian shook his head.

"The worse ghosts you could ask are the ones who have just died. They have not fully understand that they have died, and most of them bear deep grudge that makes them instead dangerous." As Ian explained, he then bring his hand to snake around her waist, taking the chance to bring her closer, "What do you think they would do if they find out that you could speak to them?"

With a slight hesitation, Elise then replied, "Take over my body by possession?" she had heard before of people who was possessed by ghost. She also heard some people saying that it was even easier for ghost to possess the body of a person who could see them, like hers.

Ian nodded and he took his hand to rub her nose that tinged in red color from the coldness, "Although you don't have to worry, you soul is particularly stronger than lost humans for being a sweet child. But it's better to be careful than not."

Elise in agreement nodded. They both know that she was different than most people. While she was a sweet child and a Demon's Bride, there was also the possibility that she was not a simple human. The dream that she had when fainting back in Saltige Village haunts her. She wondered what the dreamy mean, was it trying to show what she was?

"My Lord," came the voice from the left side, and Elise's blue eyes that stared at Ian's handsome side profile slowly saw how the corner of Ian's lips curled deeper, malicious glint flickered over his eyes.

"It's a shame that I was not able to greet you early even though I was the one who had invited you. I would admit that it is very surprising to have you as a guest, because you often return the invitation." The man who had spoken was a man who had a shorter figure than Ian, his height was almost the same as Elise with a large round stomach and a smile that didn't reach to his eyes when seeing Ian. Instead, Elise noticed the grudge and hatred the man showed toward Ian.

The man appeared more than sixty, however, the woman who was holding his arm affectionately didn't seem to be older more than five years compared to Elise. She also noticed the similar rings the couple had on their ring fingers, proving them to be husband and wife.

As if noticing Elise, the man smile, "Pardon me for the late introduction, I am Garfon Sicth and this is my wife, Rachel." Lady Rachel the bowed with a smile, her eyes were brown and she appeared to be a human like most people who live in Runalia. Elise had heard about the rumors when she was still living in Runalia, of how Lord Garfon hated mythical beings and for him to take a human wife was a must.

Being polite, Elise returned the bow and introduced herself, "Elise Scott." and while introducing, she saw the gaze that Lord Garfon gave, the gaze lingered for too long than necessary, making her to feel uncomfortable.

"My bride is beautiful isn't she?" Ian's voice chimed, and he pulled Elise closer to him to shield her from the gaze of the disgusting man, "But it is unnecessary for you to keep staring her, I'm not fond of people eyeing my beloved. Just like last time when there was someone who stared at her despite the warning. I was weighing on what to do to make this person learn their place and decided to dig out their eyes and it seemed to work. If you don't want that to happen, restrain your eyes Garfon."

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A/N: The next chapter will be updated in a few hours. Today is more painful after the surgery...TT I can barely keep my mind sane from the pain and frustration of unable to eat anything. I try to write but the pain acted like walls of maze in my mind, making loop which only hardened my brain from thinking. Still another ten or fifteen days with this pain...