The Demon’s Bride

The sight of blood frightened Elise and as if it wasn't enough the blood had her bed to the corner of her bed, the amount of blood was enormous so much that it made her head dizzy. Ian wasn't in the room as she had slept alone in her bed. She stepped away, not knowing what to do as she was still stunned and startled by the blood. Only then an uncomfortable feeling the surfaced from her stomach and Elise held her hands.

The sickness continue to push to her throat and she took a step away spewing blood all over the ground. Her head was hit by a Lang of dizziness and hurriedly she stepped away from her room, trying to find her way to Ian's room and notify him what happened as her throat couldn't form any voice.

Her legs then stopped when she felt something fleshy hitting her. Bending her neck, her eyes widened upon seeing Ian's body. Elise immediately sat on the ground. What was happening? What is going on here?

Elise looked at Ian's chest that had been emptied, a cavity was made on the place where his heart should be and coldness latched on her spine. Panic arises and as it happens all too quickly, her mind could only think to find a way to save him.

She pulled out her hand again, trying to put pressure on his wound when she saw the bloodied heart of Ian which was now on her palms and looking closer, she noticed it wasn't only her palm that was drenched with blood but also her fingernails... as if the one who had killed him was her. Her eyes snapped wider, and as she lifted her face, Elise looked at the mirror that sat in front of her and she saw her own reflection looking differently from how she was. Her eyes were bright golden, two horns grew from her head which was straight and sharp in the color of black, traces of blood settled on the corner of her lips.

"Demon's bride.." a whisper then echoed beside her ears. 

Elise snapped her eyes opened, sweats trickling on the sides of her forehead and she looked up at the ceiling in daze. She pushed herself from the bed, huffing for breaths as if this entire time she hadn't been breathing. She got up too quickly and it causes her head to turn in dizziness. "Milady..." came the voice, the whispery voice was enough to let her know it was the shadow that spoke to her. The pool of blackness stepped out of her shadow, and like black long latches, it went to take the jug and the glass, pouring the water without spilling it and passed it to her hands. "Please drink it slowly."

Hallow who slept next to her had one of his eyes close and the other half opened. "Elly?" He asked when seeing her wake up and pushed himself off the blanket that she made for him. "Are you okay? Is it sickness?" He asked quickly as he knew humans are prone to illness even by a touch of a hand.

Elise shook her head while drinking the glass, whispering thank you to the shadow and answered, "It was a nightmare." She remembered how this wasn't the first time she had seen nightmares since she begin to live in White Mansion and it put her in uneasiness to see one. What causes her to be more uneasy was the fact her marriage with Ian was coming closer and now the terrible dream decided to come and visit her. 

She wiped her sweats, was it because she felt Ian's heart beat too quickly underneath his chest that doesn't happen before? Because she knew that it could be a sign he had regain his humanity which was something she knew he wished for. A part in her believe wholeheartedly that even if Ian was to break his curse, he would be alright after all one cannot forget how strong he is and only a few which was Lucifer could wound him. 

It's hardly believable for him to get hurt or die in the hands of others. The problem was, Elise didn't scared of others, she was scared of herself who was said to be the Demon's Bride. The book she borrowed from the Church about Demon's Bride wasn't too helpful either as it was only filled with sayings of Demon's Bride, nothing too intricate or worth to note about.

"I remember that women often says they get nightmares around the time their wedding is approaching," Hallow then said with his one of his wings raised high, "While some believe it to be a bad luck some others believe it to be a good luck because not everything in a dream is true sometimes things that happen in nightmare would even occur differently then it does in the true world."

Elise smiled, she found herself happy of Hallow's encouragement, knowing that the grim reaper had never done so and perhaps he had done it only to her. "Hallow," Elise called and the grim reaper who was busy talking raised his round head.

"What is it?"

"I am happy to have you as a friend, thank you," Elise sincerely said, letting him know as sometimes action wasn't enough to tell what needed to be said.

Hallow's green eyes widened, shocked then he became flustered, "Naturally you should be happy to have a friend like me. Not everyone is as kind as I am."

"Of course," Elise agreed, chuckling a little at how his cheeks seems to redden and she could tell how happy he was over her words that made her more joyful. The shadow who was peeking everything from beneath her narrowed their eyes, their expression showing dissatisfaction but couldn't say it away and decide to sent a glare to Hallow to vent their envy.

When afternoon came, Elise had left white mansion. She sat on the carriage accompanied by the other two people who had volunteered to accompany her, although one didn't and it was only the other who did it.

The one who didn't come willingly grumbled, "Why do I have to come out with you? Are you mad? I should be under arrest right now."

Elise smiled at the woman whom she had just discovered to be her aunt, "I thought it would be boring to stay in the castle. Do you not like to be outside, Esther?"