The Demon’s Bride

Outside, Beelzebub stood alone near the carriage with the coachman named Frank. The human man looked at the Demon with a weary look. They had been standing for quite some times but Beel hadn't speak and it had him wonder what the man was thinking as the silence prolongs. "Would you like to wait inside the carriage, sir?"

Beelzebub eyed the coachman, a faint smile started from his lips before a wider smile came to rest on his mouth, "You can focus on your own work and I'll put my mind on my own goal, understand?"

Inside the library, Elise entered to look around the place. It was larger than White Mansion's library and much wider with many tall book racks. Elise looked at her left and right, seeing many books that covered variety of genres. Mostly about Angels and God. Ian also took few glances at the names of the book. 

It was evident that there were only three people by the sounds of their footsteps with Ian's footsteps being less audible than hers or the priest.

"Earlier you said there are few people who could not enter, who are they?" asked Elise to Father Redrick who walked before her.

The priest turn to look, his eyes falling first at Ian, "There is a few beasts and some other evil creatures. In the past there was a tale that a few priest protect this Church when beasts came to attack. This book here speaks about Angels," said Father Redrick when he stopped and his finger trailed on one book. He pulled the corner of the book, and Elise took the book. She could see dusts settled on the book which she tried to wipe it away only to realize that she couldn't do to the cracks over the surface of the book as it was made ages ago.

Elise began to open a few pages, noting how the white paper had turned yellowish. Ian also leaned to her side, eyeing the book. "Amusing," he commented slightly that had the priest frown. At this point, Ian knew whatever come from his mouth would irk the priest and that itself became like a fun game for him to play. 

Father Redrick looked at Elise in silent for a moment, thinking of what to do to shine light in Ian's actual being. The priest knew that Elise believe in God if she learn Ian was a Demon, she would surely put an end to the thought about marriage which was noxious to think about.

"I will read it later to take my time," said Elise as the priest seemed to be waiting for something. She saw the priest nod and he ushered with his hand,

"The books about Demon is keep in different room. Part of the reason being some of the book was proved to hold a very fatal curse," the priest walked forward until they reached the wall and took a left turn, and Elise noticed that they were going further away from the door they enter. 

"I thought the curses had been lifted," said Elise, referring to their talk they head before.

"The priests are afraid that the curse took another measure," Ian chimed in the conversation where she turn her attention at him. "There must have been a history where they thought the curse on the book had been lifted but suddenly reappear."

With a lowered spiteful tone, Father Redrick nodded, he hate to say it but, "The Lord is correct. That happened and unfortunately two priests lost their lives in the accident."

Elise didn't understand why there would be curse on the Demonic books, was it so humans wouldn't be able to open it? Hearing the talk about the books make her recall about the book that Ian found long before he turned to a Demon that helped him to convert into what he is now. "Do you perhaps know what kind of curse was it?"

"That happened around eighty years ago. I only heard faint stories that the curses was of ghouls. The ghouls crawl out from the books, which was something no one expected. At the time preist doesn't have access to weapon either as Church us seen as a holy place, most of us have nothing that could help us to go against the ghouls," Elise noticed how Father Redrick's eyes went to her shoes as he spoke about this. 

"Who killed the ghouls then?" asked Elise as it didn't sound like the priest was able to face the ghouls.

"No one," Redrick's reply puzzled Elise. "After taking the two souls, the ghouls suddenly disappear. It seemed their initial goal was only to take humans' lives."

"Sounds to me very much like what a Demon's curse would do," hummed Ian as if he didn't know he was a Demon, this had Redrick to raise his brows.

After a few round of light retort, Redrick decided not to bother and waste his emotions on Ian's provocation, as that would only makes the Demon to spin him further on his palm for his amusement. He chose to attack only on the right time where Elise wasn't present. 

"The special room is just around the corner," Redrick stated and Elise was very looking forward to it as she could tell this would help them with more information about her as the Demon's Bride and end the curse where she would need to kill Ian. "Right-" Redrick's words were interrupted when Elise, him, and Ian heard a loud sound of the library door being open.

The sound was very loud as if the person that had entered was very impatient. Elise turn her back to see that a sister came on the library, once she found Redrick, she turn her eyes to Ian, bowing, "Milord, there is a guest who is searching for you. Her name is Cynthia."

Elise meet her eyes with Ian's when they heard the name. Ian raised his hand to the back of her head, bringing her head close and his lips against her ears, "Call my name this time, okay?"

Elise answer with a prompt nod, "Should I come with you."

"It's fine, we should not let the priest wait either," Ian said it aloud enough for the preiest who had been using his sharp hearing to take in what he tells to Elise. Elise felt a light peck on her forehead and watched Ian left until she heard the crisp sound as the door was closed.

Once she had seen him left, she turn to see Redrick's eyes who appeared to be at her while she stared at the library door, as it was tall enough to reach the ceiling, she was able to see it open and close. "I hope it's nothing emergency," she said.

"Me too, the room is only a little trip," and they resume their walk toward the special room. The walk was short and filled with silence in the first one minute before Redrick spoke, "Can I hear how you meet the Lord, Miss Elise? No offense, but I just find it surprising as not everyone would have the opportunity to meet the Lord personally."

Elise understood what the priest said and after their marriage announcement, she heard about people questioning how they met. She didn't see harm in telling the priest who had been kind and pleasant to show her Demonic books which was something that should be kept very carefully. "We met a lot time ago, Ian saved me in a numerous occasion. We separated but came to meet each other again in a different circumstances. It was then when I," drawled Elise, and Redrick who watched her expression noticed her pink cheeks turning brighter, "I fell in love for him."

"Love at first sight," whispered the priest and Elise nod with a shy smile which was wide to show how happy she was. Was this coincidence or fate that everything played the way it did thousand years ago? wondered the priest as he looked at Elise in a deep thought.

Love is a great thing for humans which Redrick have to agree too. Yet it goes the opposite effect if Demon was to marry Elise. She had gone through much that another Demon was not needed in her life. 

The black buds that blew beside the red rose needs to trim before it grew into thorn that captures the rose.