The Demon’s Bride

Elise watched her little self offering the scarf. At that time she remembered she wasn't too fond of ghosts but from the way she look at it, she seemed to be much more comfortable with this man who she had called as a ghost than the usual ghosts that she would meet at times.

The man looked at the scarf with his hand crossed in front of his chest. He eyed the scarf, scoffing, "A scarf in exchange for a protection? I was wondering what you are doing by not wearing that scarf and instead go out in the cold with that thin layered clothes. Are you not afraid you will shrivel up like a potato left out in the cold?"

Little Elise didn't know that a potato would shrivel, she asked, "Really?" and the man rolled his eyes in reply.

"Have you always been prepared by bringing that scarf with you in case I ask for a payment? What a sly girl you are," accused the man and Elise shook her head.

"You seem cold, Mister Ghost. Yesterday when we meet you look freezing," reasoned Elise, she stuck out her little hands to offer the ghost a scarf. "Here."

The man seemed to have many things to say but decided to keep a sigh before reaching out his hand to hold the scarf. However, instead of holding the scarf the ghost's hand went through the scarf. "Doesn't work," chimed the man, and Little Elise looked utterly disappointed at it.

"Is it because Mister Ghost a Ghost?" she questioned with her lips turning upside down, upset and sad. "You will shrivel up like a potato Mister Ghost," she frowned, borrowing his words which he had said earlier.

"I'm not a ghost. I've told you this yesterday too," the man scoffed and clicked his tongue, "Also I will never shrivel up. Unlike you, I am far stronger and built sturdier."

"But you are see through," responded Little Elise with a deep frown and Elise who was standing not too far from the scene agreed at her own words. If the man wasn't a ghost then what was he? From the red eyes, she could only conclude he was either a vampire or a Demon. Since what had happened to her that shift her entire world and environment, Elise can't help but to lean more toward the latter case.

Her guess was put to confirmation when the man said, "I am a Demon not a Ghost."

Little Elise still can't believe it, "But Mister Ghost is a ghost. Demons are in Hell."

"My soul is traveling here while my body is there when I was caught by the nosy you," explained the man in his briefest word, "That's it, go away. This is not your place it's mine and I am very sensitive with people disturbing the peace that I've made." And Elise thought that the Demon was petty. Can't he share his place which wasn't a spot that was reserved for him alone to her little self? Little Elise was also disappointed as the man kept on urging her to leave. 

"Forest belongs to everybody, that's what Mr. Barner says," Little Elise deflected.

"Ugh, you and your mouth. Why do you not want to go home, anyway? All little runts like you would be more than happy to be able to go home. Yet you would rather stay with a Demon."

Little Elise suddenly appeared more upset than before she crouched down and murmured under her breaths, "My mommy is angry. I don't want to go back home now."

"Angry?" The Demon raised his brows, and he lowered his gaze, looking at how under the thin dull coat Elise wore there was light bruises and he frowned. "Have your mother lost her marbles? Did she beat you?" But Elise shook her head.

"I tripped," she answered and Elise wondered how much of it was true. Her mother never beaten her until she have bruises and the only thing she had done was strangle her in her faintest memory, but then she wasn't sure of it. Her memory felt like mists that if she doesn't bottle them strongly, it will evaporate and she would be left with no single memories of the past. 

"You tripped, hm, seven-year-old children like you always trip," the Demon said not pressing the matter with questions as if he knew that she didn't want to discuss of it when he suddenly raised his brows, "Rather than the scarf, I am very interested in that which you have around your neck."

Little Elise inclined her head to the side and then pulled the necklace which she thought the man was talking of. Looking at the necklace, Elise immediately knew what it was. The necklace was the same one which Lucifer had instructed Beelzebub to take. Her necklace which now she recalled was given by her mother before the Scotts decided to make a similar one for William.

"Yes that," the Demon walked closer, the smile he had on his lips were stretched wider. He couldn't place his fingers toward the necklace but was able to hover his finger upon it. His eyes that were red glistened before it turned back, "I found it amusing that a little runt like you could have this. This is far better than that scarf you gave me. Would you like to give me this necklace? I would be very happy if you do," said the man with a smile as if he knew that requesting Elise this way would make her want to give the necklace as robbing it from her would only have her run.

But little Elise shook her head, "My mommy said this is important. It was given by someone who my mommy love."

"Your father?" The Demon asked but little Elise shook her head, and Elise who was behind them wondered if that was true, she had thought it was her mother who had given her the necklace, her memories had become old that she didn't remember her mother had said that. "Well if it isn't him, who is it?"

"I don't know," answered little Elise naively even though Elise hoped she would have known. But her mother gave her the necklace before she had gone mad, which mean little Elise couldn't ask her mother again out of fear for her mother would burst out of anger.

"Hm," The Demon raised his brow at this but he decided not to continue further as his brows raised when his ears caught voices from afar, "Little runt I think it's your time to leave," and on the response Little Elise filled air to her cheeks, looking extremely sad. "This time I'm not chasing you away but it seem that someone is searching for you it's better if you go home."

Little Elise wondered if it was true, she walked a little when she heard voices. She was torn between talking to the man or leaving and decided to leave. "Here," said Elise, placing the scarf on the ground. She watched the Demon looking at her curiously and broke into a smile, "I hope you have a body, Mister Demon. It would be fun to play with you."

The Demon looked at the little her in thought. He seemed to be staring as if studying and it was true. The man wondered how sad was Elise live while she was here and the future that would come. With a sigh to himself as if regretting for putting his hand too deep, he said,

"That would need another eleven years," said the Demon who then grinned and stood on his knees, "Well, how about this. You seem to taste good, I mean you seem to be a good girl. Once I got my body back, why don't you visit me on the place where I leave?"

"But I don't know where it is," little Elise said.

"I'll come for you, because I believe you would come with something important to me when I meet you again," the Demon widened his smile. "Also I am not Mister Demon. My name is..."