The Demon’s Bride

Cynthia came not soon after and she accompanied Elise by standing next to her. Upon hearing what Elise had done to the woman who was posed by their green monsters, a laughter erupted from Cynthia. "Austin would bust his hat off in laughter if he knew this."

Elise gave the woman a smile. She was suspicious of Cynthia for a moment during the time in the garden but learn that this person was indeed a the Cynthia whom she knew. "Is it really funny?" She asked unsure. 

"Of course, and also necessary. You know, milady, those women doesn't appear only once but multiple times. A one deep threaten instilled in them would give them a once in a lifetime warning. Even after what you have done I can tell some of them would still holds grudge against you," Cynthia said and she clicked her tongue, "You can ask me to slap them. I am quite an expert in that."

Elise raised her brow on the newfound talent she find from Cynthia, "Do you often slap others?"

"Due to Austin. Despite how rowdy and disastrous he is in fact many women are fond of his look. I acknowledge he look good with his wavy long hair, it's a shame he isn't my type. Those women who slept with him for a single night often come barging to my house some times slandering me in parties publicly and that's when this come in handy," Cynthia raised her right hand with a proud smirk. "I only needed to slap six people for no one to ever disturb me again." 

Elise chuckled at the story. Truthfully, she found herself matching Austin and Cynthia together but now she understood how Cynthia didn't seem to look at Austin as a partner in term of love. "You must have been busy searching about my family. Thank you for your help, I found new things about myself."

"That's nothing," Cy smiled at her, a smile that was dear to Elise as the woman had always been there for her when she was young, she was a friend and also similar to a figure of an older sister. "Instead, I am glad to be of use to you and I was busy due to some problem happening on Marshforth. Another attack happen there due to the magical beast for some strange reason, the forest had been in a chaos."

Elise frowned at the information, "Are the magical beasts agitated by the dark sorcerers' calls on them again?"

"No, instead it was the opposite," Elise wondered what that meant and Cy continued her explanation, "The magical beasts are in a complete silence. They were almost in a tranquil that it is hard to believe that they were there this never happened before."

"Have anyone found out why they went in hiding?" Elise questioned. Magical beasts were known for its viciousness. They appeared like animals but posses qualities more frightening than a normal wild animals on the woods. Magical beasts posed power others don't and this could even destroy a single town alone. One kind of a magical beast had also killed her family.

"No and that was what I am trying to find out. It's a little of a bad omen to many because it's almost feel like a still before storm. The way the magical beasts are hiding as if they are afraid of something, I'm not too sure either," Cynthia replied when Ian came back, the woman bowed leaving to let the couple have a time of their own.

"How did it goes with the church members?" Elise questioned. Her eyes had been fixed on Ian during the time he spoke with the church members, discussing about the resurrection of the dead. She could hear how the discussion heated for a moment. Oliver was there and it seemed that he was the one who had scoffed at the report Ian gave which resulted the man to be shamed badly by Ian and left the place storming in anger.

"It went well, no hitch and Kyle will hold a meeting soon around this week. I think the date will correspond on the day you take the second exam," Ian replied, brushing it off as if he hadn't shoo Oliver by his sharp remarks.

"That will be fine," Elise assured, the second examination was known to be dangerous but the church member had begin to increase the protection the examination in order not to lose more life of the innocents. "Mr. Oliver from earlier," Elise said and Ian quirked his lips.

He knew what Elise wanted to know and answered, "He told me that I am in delusion that the dead can be resurrected back to life and even accuse if I am in use of opium. Then I told him why in my delusion he is still alive because if I am indeed in delusion he would be chopped in pieces. He was persistent and questioned for prove so this is what I told him, 'How about I kill you for good and offer your body to the dark sorcerers? We can see how it will work Loy you will serve some purpose for your futile life."

Elise blinked, not knowing what to answer, "I think I might enjoy some of your hobby but not entirely."

"That is fine," chuckled Ian, his large arms then went over her shoulders, "We can take it slow. Both you and I already know how your color changes more into me and likewise I am influenced by you. Dyed by your color sounds very romantic and both erotic," Ian bent down as he whispered the words to her, sending Elise who was sober in a moment or entice. "Let's go visit your family graves now and spend times together."

Elise felt him tug her hand, question still linger in her and she asked, "What kind of spending time together?"

"What would you like?" Ian asked her in return, "We can enjoy a bath together, naked. Or we can enjoy drawing each other a portrait, naked."

"I can only hear naked from both offers," Elise answered him as her eyes turn shier. But unlike her, Ian didn't feel any bit of shame from his bold words. He knew what he want and he didn't see the need to hide it. She saw how he enjoyed their little banter have her to widen her smile like his, a little grin etched on one corner of her lips. 

"Oops, I didn't mean to show my true intention but now that you find out about it, let's forget about the two offer and focus on the latter one. We can try something new," Ian smiled. He had promised not to have sex with her but there are plenty of things to enjoy without having sex and some times he knew sex wasn't the answer for a relationship to prevail, it was the communication. He wanted Elise to enjoy it with him just like he did as that was what mattered.

Elise felt her cheeks heating up despite the cold weather. The snowflakes seemed to have begun falling again and it dropped to her cheeks which she was sure it had melted with the amount of heat accumulated on her cheeks. "I can stay with the orthodox ones."

"You don't even know the orthodox ones, sweetheart. Enjoy and learn for the future. Sex isn't only about bodies but also emotions," kissing her hands, Ian pulled her a witty smile which she returned with a warmth one, agreeing with what they said. Immediately after, they rode the carriage along with Cynthia, stopping by to the graves where it felt like it had been a long time even though only one and a half month have passed.