The Demon’s Bride

Lilith held her head which was aching in pain. She didn't remember what happened but faintly she recalled a few of her last memories before her death, remembering her dearest lover, Maroon. She looked at her hand and slowly pushed herself from the coffin after pushing away her grip on Thomas's hands. She walked toward the cupboard where she saw a basin filed with water and her eyes looked back on her reflection.

Now she recalled what happened. She had died, more than hundred years ago, turning to a ghost, and then followed the dead girl's body as she smell Maroon's scent on her. She didn't quite remember what happened after that but when she grasped her situation, she finally reached to an understanding.

She had long died and these people brought her back to life in another person's body.

"You woke up," said a smaller boy who stood behind her when she snapped to look at him who wasn't too tall but not too short either. The boy's hair was blonde and his eyes were bleakly black. "So it is true that you cannot bring back the people on your list as you wish and that you can only bring Demons back to life."

Thomas sensed a disgruntled underlaying Caleb's words and though he was irritated, he was quick to cast aside his personal  emotions and said, "The resurrection magic is tricky, sire. But we can perform a little more experiments to utilize the resurrection magic as we wish and bring back whoever you wish to call from the dead."

"It is what you promised me. Keep your words," answered Caleb sharply, his words accept no room for mistake.

Lilith had only seen the boy but she could feel chill running on her spine, she didn't know who this boys as but one look tells her that he was dangerous and what is inside the boy is not the same as how he look now. "What are you?" Lilith question after gathering her courage. She had died once so there was to little things that she feared for. Worse case she would die.

"Creature like you but higher in position. A Demon. The name is Caleb," said Caleb, who had been brought back from the dead and settle on William's dead body.

"Lilith."

"Lilith, is there anyone who you want to see again?"

Anyone? Asked Lilith inside her mind, of course there is. That man who she love, the man who she could not speak to before her death. Caleb didn't wait to elicit more answer for her as he could already read the answer through the woman's expression, "Lend me your aid and I promise you to meet him again. As thing stands now we still have control over your soul. To take back your soul is an easy task for us. Don't get too hot-headed. We won't do that now and never if decide to help," Caleb reached out his hand, "The answer?"

Lilith looked back at Caleb's hands, the temptation was unending. She took a deeper breath. Each second she can only find the advantage of being brought back to life rather than denying the offer. Her fingers begin to raise and took its time to hover over Caleb's hands, her eyes gazes at the hand. Back in White Mansion, Maroon stared back at his hand which had just pulled a pocket watch from his waist.

"This should be the end for the dark sorcerer's matter," said Dalton, taking both scrolls of Thomas's sketch to the custody for the instruction to be passed from the man to his subordinates.

Ian raised his brows both at the same time, "Is there anything else other than the dark sorcerers case that is needed to discuss?" He questioned with a naive look and Elise also leaned a little more forward with interest. Was it another case?

"Yes, milord. It is about the death of the Count's family and Lady Monica," Dalton said and he tried to read Ian's expression finding it unreadable. Elise's eyes widened and she resisted her eyes from moving to look at Ian, pulling only a confused expression while Ian from her side sounded a low gasp. 

"Death? They have died?" Ian instead asked with a surprised expression and a deep frown. "Strange, I always make sure to keep my ears on all the news of death due to how dangerous our land have became. Many creatures pop here and there that you can't never miss a day without a story of dead. Yet how come this news had not reached my ears?"

Austin who had been standing behind then came beside Ian with a bow, "My apologies, milord. It is I who had forgotten to relay you of the news."

Ian waved his hand, dismissing the werecat who had played with his act, "My deepest apology to the people who lost them. Can you tell me more of how they died."

Dalton hesitantly shared look with Elise, "I don't think the Lady would like to hear the content the first thing in the morning."

"You don't have to worry about it. My sweet Elise is a strong woman, after all look at her, she is still brave after witnessing what transpired in the village," Ian turned his face and tipped his chin toward her as if asking for her confirmation and Elise nodded.

"The Count's house was found burn to the ground, there is an approximately eighteen deaths in the house and as for Lady Monica, she was found on the gate of her house. When she was found, her condition was not for anyone to see. Her bones had been broken, she had no eyes nor tongue, and her fingers were also missing. There was trace that she had crawled her way back home. It was a very tasteless and horrific act," Dalton explained, and though Elise was not there to see, she can imagine it happening before her eyes. Slowly when no one kept eyes on her she turned to see Ian whose face held no guilt or whatsoever.

"How saddening," Ian said and the Church members nodded only her and the other two people, Maroon and Austin was the one who knew his bland and monotonous tone. Another knock came to the room and enter Mila who stood next to the door. Her eyes scouted the room and the people inside but stayed not long as she quickly make her way beside Elise.

"Miss Esther had woken up from her sleep. Do you wish for me to call for her later?"

Elise exchanged gazes with Ian, "Can I leave?" It doesn't seem like there would be anything important to discuss or for her to be there for. 

"You can. There should be a guest coming to the gallery around twelve sharp which is in another thirty minutes, bring your 'sister' there," replied Ian, bringing one of his hand and folding his two fingers to give an emphasis.

"Guest?" Elise question only to face Ian's usual bad habit of explaining less and showing a grin. He indeed love to smile a lot and that often make him look as if nothing can ruffle his feathers.

"You will know it when the guest came. Take care." Ian was not scared to let Elise held a private conversation with Esther for he knew that inside the White Mansion, Esther was nothing less stronger than a mouse. 

Elise nodded promptly. She was determined to get to the bottom of the story and unravel whatever secrets Esther was having as she had another worry she need to take care which was Ian's curse.

On the second floor of the castle, Esther held out the folded paper which was sent for her last night, her eyes narrowing at the letter,

'Dear Esther,

I see you have leave your house. Can I take this as a sign that you have brought me a fortuitous news regarding the Demon's Bride?

Regards, the Lord'