The Demon’s Bride

The friction showed between Ian and Father Redrick was something that Elise wasn't aware. It was hard to read their expression in between as the two posed a smile on their faces when the test of strength had begun on the handshake.

Elise noticed, however, their handshake took a little too much time than necessary. When Redrick return the force of Ian's iron grip, a crack was heard crisply and the priest frowned before pulling his hand away. "The Lord, I see, is he a vampire?" asked Father Redrick as if he didn't know what Ian was and Elise wondered why he asked her when he could have asked Ian but didn't press much thought. Everyone do get nervous when they form a conversation with the Lord.

"He..." Elise answered unsure as she didn't know what to reply. Now that she wondered what do Ian claim he is in front of others? Sneakily, she sent a request for help with her eyes to the man beside her.

"No, I am a human," Ian flashed a polite smile, pulling Elise closer by her waist that add another line of frown to Father Redrick. It was because Ian knew the priest would read that way that he showed much more of his skinship to Elise, aware that this would pull another line of anger to the person who posed as a human.

And the priest didn't let his question end there. He gazed at Ian in a semi-glare not enough for Elise to know his sudden guard he fenced between him and the Demon, "Earlier you spoke about bride, might you be able to explain me about it?"

Ian shrugged his shoulders, the way he asked him sounded like what a father would do when Redrick wasn't Elise's father. With a smirk, Ian answered, "As simple as it sounded. Which part of it isn't clear?" and he knew his words popped a vein to crawl on the priest's forehead. "Elise soon would be my wife, we are planning for a marriage. One more reason for us to come to the Church is to see how the Church would suit for our future plan."

"We were thinking if we could hold our marriage ceremony here," said Elise, adding more explanation.

Father Redrick was floored with the revelation. He didn't showed it externally. But internally he was filled with shock and distrust to the Demon who had promised to marry Elise. He looked at Ian with an underlaying glare. What does he mean by marriage? Elise wasn't someone who a Demon could leisurely marry, thought the Priest. 

By the handshake they shared, it enough words to tell Redrick that the Demon. knew what he was and likewise. What he wasn't sure is whether Elise knew the man who soon she would marry was a Demon. If she knew, it would be better to separate them now. But if she doesn't, the man prepare to do roundabout ways to stop their marriage and informing the golden-eyed crow about this. 

"We have hold a marriage ceremony previously for a few times, I will ask another Sister to help you, milord. Meanwhile, would you like to read the books in the library with me, Elise?" asked the priest to Elise without looking at her as he was busy subtly glaring at the Demon.

"We can go together, I am very curious about these 'Demons Books' the Church have. Unless I am not allowed to?" Ian reflected the question to the priest who would rather say no than yes, "Seeing the Church would take not only my opinion but Elise to as our marriage are something we both commit to each other."

Only a day passed after Ian had announced their future marriage plan. Elise felt the marriage become even more real as Ian showed her the preparation to their marriage. There hadn't been the talk about her wedding gown or ring, but the mere talk about choosing the place for their marriage ceremony had her feet floating. The entire day she felt as if she was walking on clouds, the happiness even makes her forget about the possibility of falling if she had stepped a little away from the clouds. 

Redrick, on the other side, looked unsatisfied with the arrangement. How could he when he learned Elise is going to marry a Demon? As the priest glared at him, Ian looked back at the priest with a plain expression though a smirk was on his lips that brew no good intention. He wasn't aware that the priest was a human but after seeing how people around Elise turns out to be different from what they appear, he wasn't very surprised by the fact.

"The Church indeed do not permit a few creatures to the vicinity," and by that, Redrick meant Demons. Ian's smile was still wide on his lips that irked the priest as he had behaved innocent as if he doesn't know what the priest talked of. "But I should allow it for today. Please follow me." His words coming rigid as he wasn't happy with the abrupt outcome.

Elise went inside the Church before Ian, she looked carefully at him who had released her hands to stop at the entrance that had her feet stopped on its own to watch him. Could it be that the Church bear a protective measure against Demons? She looked slightly worried at him, seeing how he stared at the entrance before finally moving a step to enter the Church.

"What were you staring at?" asked Elise when Ian arrived by her side. Their hands immediately locked as they took steps to follow Father Redrick.

"Some memories," he said, looking around at the tall window where light shines through, "When I was a human there was a lot of time when I went to Church. Unlike the rumors about my uncle, my mother was a devout woman. She always brought me to the Church to pray."

Due to their last night talk, Elise felt she had gotten closer to Ian and his past. He had told her the story about him at times and it made her happy to know more about his past. Even if the one she loves was the current him, to know about his past made her understood the pain he had went through.

There was quite distance between them and Father Redrick. Elise took the chance to ask, "Do you condemn God?"

Ian raised his eyebrows, his face moved at her and his gaze lowered. A wry smile was on his lips that wasn't necessarily spiteful. "How could I when he give me the chance to meet you? I don't despise him. The reason why I chose to become a Demon was because I had no choice. I don't like him but I don't hate him either. Although if I could get a punch across, that would be good on its way too."

Elise didn't know whether to laugh or react to his reply, "You have gone through so much," she whispered, her lashes lowered when she thinks about it. Ian's mother had been subjected to such a cruel and unfair treatment. Based from the few broken informations she took from Ian, it was possible that she was immolated. She could feel the frustration Ian had and imagined how painful it must be for him to watch everything happen before his eyes.

It was true though that Ian's action was driven by his ire but more than that, if anyone had been in his shoes, would they not chose the path he took? If taking the Demon's power helped him to appease his anger and desire for avenging the pain his mother went through?

As if knowing what she thought, Ian took her attention by kissing her lips, "Part of the reason why I don't want to tell you about my past is this. I don't want you to be sad with what have happened. Earlier when I talked to Kyle you seem to be wanting to tell me something, what was it?"

Elise remembered what she needed to tell him, "I heard whispers again, similar to the time when I was in the gallery. But this time the whisper talk differently."

Ian narrowed his eyes at the piece of information, "What did the whispers tell you?"

"It was during the time I was looking at Mr. Oliver and the whisper told me to 'stay away'. I think they are trying to talk to me but I'm not sure," Elise gathered her guessed about the whispers during her carriage ride, finding nothing but a single guess, "Do you think that is my magic element, the shadows? Carmen told me that when I moved by places, I would drop things from my shadow. I am not sure of it before but this could be it."

She saw Ian put a thought on it, "That is possible but I have never heard anything about shadows element being playful and hides around you. If they are aware you are a shadow user, they would have come directly to meet you. But for some reason they don't."

Elise also questioned herself about it. The shadows could have come to her directly but why do they hide? "Do you think you know a way to call them so I could meet them face-to-face?"

Ian shook his head to her disappointment, "But I can find a sorcerer from the Church to talk with. I use my demonic magic which is kind of hard for me to look more into your power. Seeking professionals is good at times such as this."

"We are here," announced Redrick who then turned his face, and Elise saw a rather hard gaze from the priest that finally crack his gentle smile. It didn't stay long as the man turned his face to the door before showing a milder look.

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A/N: Don't forget to vote. Voting makes another day to look forward for me to write~