The Demon’s Bride

No reply came to her. Scared, the nun who didn't want to get closer to the light only to die from the ghost, turned her back and made a quick dash to run away from the source of the light and her fear when her shoulders were caught by firm five fingers.

A loud scream erupted from the deepest back of her throat, enough to cause the other person who was holding the candle to frown at the sound, "Bethilda," called the other person, his deep voice broke Bethilda's shock.

Bethilda pulled the candle near the person who spoke, now seeing it clearer of who it was when the shadows recede. "Father Redrick."

"What are you doing at this time? All the nuns should be asleep, it is four in the morning," the priest reminded, looking at the nun with a faint frown, "Next time don't scream that loud. Fortunately we are inside the chapel but if you had scream inside the house, you will wake up people."

"I-I..." the woman was still shocked that she had a hard time speaking back. After a whole she finally found her way to speak, "I was in the house, woken up by a sound and was looking at the Church from the window of my room when I saw someone running to the Church. I thought it was a person..." or a ghost, but because it sounded strange, Bethilda swallowed the rest of her words.

"That must be me," Redrick sighed a little, thinking that it was actually a false alarmed that he caused, "I apologize for startling you but if there was actually a person coming here next time. I would like you to find me instead in my room or someone else to come with you. We cannot forget the possibility of a thief coming inside. Facing a thief alone is dangerous for a young lady. It is already late as well, you should go back as soon as possible."

Bethilda quickly nodded in agreement. The shock had been too great that she didn't think she would ever step in the Church at night again without anyone's company. She had left the corridor and reached the threshold of the Church when a question came to her mind. "Why is Father Redrick here in the night?" But asking would need her to run back and she didn't want to do that therefore she pushed aside the question and left.

"That was close," said Leviathan, stepping out from the darkness he had been standing at as the nun came. "How were you able to live here without gathering anyone's sight and attention? You hid much better than any of your brothers."

"My brothers tend to separate themselves from the living but I learned to blend with humans I need to become closer with them. You also managed to blend with the humans back in the village with Adelaide," reminded Redrick, his back turned to the nearest window and placed the candlestick on the lower edge of the frame.

Leviathan went silent and unnaturally still over what Redrick said. A while after his low voice came, "Yes. The damned village." He answered while hiding something wild before his voice. "Only now I found out how terrible that village is for both my wife and daughter. I should have come and visit Saltige soon."

Redrick who was an Angel supported the idea of peace but he didn't comment on Leviathan's action and words because deep down, he understood the pain Levi went through. While it was not right to kill people solely out of anger and revenge, Redrick could only hope in his heart that Levi wouldn't have to kill more people but he could not talk him out of it as he didn't have the place to do so. And sometimes killing is the only action one can take to heal wounds and protect more peace, thought the Angel.

"Have you killed the Demon who is about to marry Elise?" Redrick asked then before turning his face to Levi who was quiet, "You have gained your body again... but you didn't?"

"He seems to be protective of Elise," Leviathan answered then, taking more steps to the window where the candle was placed at. "If she is happy, I don't have any place to come between her happiness and cause her further miseries. She had too much on her palate and for her father to come and kill her beloved would not only break her heart but destroy her fully. I don't want to do that to my daughter, Redrick."

There was no speech coming from both the Angel and the Demon. Leviathan sucked his breath, "It is still like hours ago that she clutched to my leg, pleading with tears on her eyes to stop me from leaving the house, I should have known that day I had been tricked and if I had listened to her words that day and stay at home. I would never need to lock her precious memories. Now I only hope that she is happy and safe. Adele would want that as well."

Redrick pursed his lips, "My worry is her safety as well, Levi. She is not my daughter and I might not be related to her but I think of her as my own niece. The Demon that she married hates his fellow Demons and Humans. It is difficult for you to kill him and I won't force you as it is your choice. But I only fear that one day he would use her power to either destroy Heaven or Hell, maybe all the three realms. We both know Elise's power. Isn't that the reason why you locked her memories?"

Levi sighed, the choices he had was both deciding and overwhelming that it could cause a lasting impact to Elise. Not to forget Ian White was Lucifer's nephew. "I will watch him with my own two eyes and see what kind of person he is myself. If he proves to be as you said..." he let his words hang but the continuation was clear.

Redrick walked to his side, placing his hand on his shoulders, "She is going to get married soon in this Church. I would be the one to give her the blessing." He let him know.

Levi crooked his lips, "Odd of how her groom wanted to marry in this Church. We failed back then on my marriage. It must be destiny for you to give blessing for her marriage as you did to me and Adelaide."

"It's my pleasure to have this chance. If you cannot attend to her marriage in the castle, visit the Church, I will give you a leeway to enter the altar though I think she would be happier if her father was to walk her down the aisle," Redrick then looked down when Leviathan rummage a thin object from his coat pocket, scrutinizing his eyes on the cursive letters written upon the front of the envelope, he then noticed it was Elise's wedding invitation. "Where did you receive that?"

"From a person who doesn't need to come to her wedding. I took it from them," Leviathan answered calmly as if he had not barged into a mansion of a high Viscount and made his way to the private room and took the invitation. "She wouldn't want to see me for what I have done but I want to see her even if it's just once."

"I hope you can meet her. It is around another five days, isn't it? I wish everything would go on her favor without hitch or problem," Redrick said. He was sincere with his words and smile, encouraging his friend. "Lucifer had also come back around the time you came back."

"I know. We met," Levi said, causing Redrick to look at him with wide eyes, "We decide to work together." 

"With him?" Redrick said, the emphasis he put on his second word was clear on how he didn't agree with Leviathan's decision, "You ought to remember how no one have ever work with Lucifer and reached a benefit. He is untrustworthy."

"Yes." Leviathan was quick to agree despite working with Lucifer, "But I have just found out that I might have the same enemy as him. Our aspire align," Leviathan omitted the part of how the groom who is going to marry Elise was Lucifer's nephew; he swirled his hand around the flame of the candle, "There is an Angel who betray the words of God. They seem to be preparing something in action— Actions that might involve my sweet daughter." and he continue to explain the rest to Redrick, with the Angel replied to his words with shock.