The Demon’s Bride

"Angels," whispered Elise, narrowing her eyes as she exchanged a glance with Ian. She found while it was tricky to put the differences between Ian and Lucifer apart, they don't seem to actively sought for fight. Perhaps when she left earlier, the two had talked and found their current middle ground. "Do you know who are they?"

"The one that came for you was lesser angels. Though I doubted lesser angels would come and attack people as their wish, while some of them are greedy, they are too fearful of punishments that they won't act unless someone influence them," Lucifer replied, talking calmly for now.

"Which mean someone had ordered them, is this person a higher Archangel?" asked Elise and Lucifer hummed.

He took a glance of Ian who didn't speak and started, "A thousand year ago, when I had left Heaven, I was once called by a dear friend of mine, the only angel who wanted to come in contact with me even after I decided to turn to Hell. His name is Seraphim. I was still in Hell when I received his message. At that time, he asked me to meet him in Golgazia Mountain, at the top of the mountain."

Elise didn't know how the correlation between Lucifer's story and the Angel who came to attack her and it might not related at all, but she could tell this was necessary as at times, she noticed how Lucifer's gaze went back and froward between Ian and her. 

"He was a type of the Angel that only follow Father's words, so I didn't doubt anything would happen on that night but when I came, guess what happened?" Lucifer looked at her and Elise could feel it in her heart the answer but she shake her head as she wasn't too certain. "I found him dead. His heart had been torn, tossed away, and his head cut off from his neck."

"Someone tricked you," came Ian's comment, and he was right on the mark.

"Hatefully to say they have succeeded," said Lucifer, and the fragile teacup his hand had been holding shattered in pieces at the end of his words. "Angels then surrounded me, someone had tipped my location and waited to ambush me as if I was the one responsible for the attack. My only suspect of this person who managed to trick me is an Angel."

"Why so?" Elise questioned.

Lucifer was about to speak but Ian stole the answer right under his nose, "Because only angels can notify angels. Unless it was a Demon who want to risk their own life by spreading a news to an Angel. It's hardly believable that angels would work with Demon as doing so would be beneath their questionable pride, which even narrow down the suspect."

"Certainly I can see how you have my blood," Lucifer left a remark with a grin that was wide and prideful.

"And I can see how disgusted I am that you reminded me of it," Ian deadpanned, his expression was barely holding the smile he often wore, looking quite threatening and if Elise didn't know him better, perhaps she would also be on edge to sit next to him in his current situation.

Lucifer seemed to take Ian's remark with a frown but manage to tone down his anger by his own reason. 

Salvaging the situation again before the air turn terse, Elise said, "Do you know who that Archangel might be?"

Lucifer shake his head, and Elise thought, 'so there was indeed a few things that even Lucifer wouldn't know.' Considering how crafty and clever Lucifer was, it would only mean one thing, whoever this Angel is, the person is much smarter, always keeping one step ahead because it's not often anyone could trick Lucifer.

"I didn't manage to clear my name either. Right after that day, I was punished. My soul and my body was separated. I didn't die, but as my soul had been taken out from this flesh, I became an empty body and a wanderer on the human world. That was during the time I also met you," Lucifer tipped his chin to Elise, referring to their earliest conversation, "I became like a ghost. That is one reason why I cannot safe Lucy or stay by her side. Though if she had called my name, I would appear in front of her, as a ghost or not."

The reason was now said aloud while Elise understand Lucifer's excuse, it all fell not to her hand but Ian's. She looked at him, finding him silent. The silence didn't came from unwillingness to speak but something opposite, he was thinking and she let him have his own room.

After a while, Ian then asked, "When did you got your body back?"

"Just recently," Lucifer answered, looking as if his energy a little lifted up upon Ian's question. "Earlier you said that Lucy called someone's name before her death. Do you know what she said or heard it?"

Elise's brows drawn together and while she was curious, Ian said, "Other than your name, I don't think she has anyone to relay on. She won't call that fucker's name either nor mine when I was right in front of her. The fire that night crackled louder than the wind preventing me to hear her words coherently," and not to forget he was still a human at that time. "You should know better whose name she called if it isn't yours."

"It can't be our father's and mother's name," whispered Lucifer to himself, "They have long died... before I forgot, Malphas!" called Lucifer and Elise turned to look at the servant who stumbled when he was called. "Bring it in."

'It'? Elise curiously pry, seeing Malphas slapping his forehead and left the door to came back bringing a large sack filled with an item that was so large that it caused the sack to rip from the corner, Malphas who brought the sack even have to drag it across the floor.

Lucifer's voice beamed at the same time, "I thought you didn't have the good chance in killing this one. With her dying of old age seems like too much of a kindness and mercy, don't you think? Count this is my house visit gift."

As the man spoke, Elise looked at the sack that was opened and a body of a woman rolled on the ground, her eyes widened.

Lucifer had came to give a person as a visit gift?! Was it a custom in Hell?

And to add, when Elise looked at Ian, she found a spark of anger flickering on his eyes, this woman was someone he knew. Someone who he hate as much as his family that had caused his mother's death.

"I hope you haven't forgotten her, this one's name is..." Lucifer pulled his brows, trying to find the right name amongst his memories and Ian spoke,

"Arrah," answered Ian, his voice tight, and Lucifer snapped his finger.

"That was her name. Lucy's one and only closest friend, the closest maid of Lucy, and the woman who helped your mother to escape from people's wrath by giving her a house to stay at. While it sounded good until here, her true nature then was revealed as she was the woman who had exposed you and Lucy's location, causing her death," and while he speak, Lucifer's smile had fallen, his eyes narrowing and Elise could feel how the rage of the two Demons once again shifted the tension of the room.

One high demon can cause chaos to destroy a whole town on his own, but two High Demons in anger? Not only could they slaughter an entire Land but a kingdom.