The Demon’s Bride

Maroon's eyes were still as passive as the unchanging darkness of the night. He stared at the human woman who stared back at him and questioned to himself why was this woman staring at him. One could see he wasn't a man of charm. While he held the strong feature of a man, Maroon tend to be a dark person his expression held no emotion and although he wasn't angry he appeared to be so. Most maids avoided to be with him because of how strict he appeared and the chick even called him as a lifeless puppet because he was similar to one. 

He took another second to realize he had seen this woman before and identified her to be the same woman who he had saved during the time the Demon had done illegal kidnapping to Hell. The woman had been casted a magic to erase her memories so he doubted she stared at him because of that.

"Is there anything on my face?" Maroon's words came snipped and Austin behind him rubbed his neck.

"Don't scare the girl, Maroon. She will be staying here," Austin said in a whisper which wasn't exactly one as all of them could hear well what he said. 

"I am not scaring her," replied Maroon and his gaze lowered to Harriet who was shorter than him. Still staring, thought Maroon to himself, "I am questioning her."

"You appears like someone whom I know," Lilith then broke the tension with a smile. "Very very similar though you seem older."

"Well. I am not him. It will be polite if you direct your gaze somewhere else," Maroon curtly replied, turning a blind eye to the gesture Austin and Cynthia sent behind him that told him to be nicer. Maroon didn't see why he need to be nicer to a human he barely know not to mention she would be gone soon. Thus, he maintained his attitude, "Is she going to stay here."

Cynthia was the one to answered before Austin so the werecat wouldn't sillily blurt things, "That's the arrangement we have discussed with the Lord. He agreed until perhaps she find her own way to live and strive." If not, they had another idea by making Harriet a maid but that was only a thought for now as it was better for the human woman to leave the place as quick as she could because this was no place good for people who still want to spent their youth. 

Maroon nodded once and he brushed his eyes to Lilith, not knowing that she was the woman who he had been wanting to see for hundred of years. Only Lilith knew the secret and she wanted to reveal anything to her but if she did, it would also mean she had turned her back to the promise she made with Caleb. While she didn't care about honoring promises, it was the effect that she didn't want to cost now.

"Follow me," Maroon said and Lilith offered both Cynthia and Austin a smile before tailing him. While she stared at his broad back and entered the house, she noticed how he appeared to held more muscle on his body than he was in the past. He had covered his handsome face by his untidy hair he had let down and it had her purse her lips to finally see him after all this time. Her heart squeezed and she kept the feeling to herself.

Within the next second, her emotions was cooled down when she passed by the other two people who passed by the foyer. Her gaze fell still on the blonde-haired man who was dressed in a smile gray shirt and opened brown vest. Their gaze met for a brief one second and Lilith was quick to turn away once she assessed who it was.

Esther noticed how Beelzebub suddenly stopped but she was in no mood to ask him out of anger and left the place in quick steps. Beelzebub noticed how quick Esther left and quickly went to follow her. 

Lilith held her hands against each other while her eyes ventured to the hallway which was curtained beautifully. "It is a very gorgeous mansion." Her voice had been loud but no reply came from Maroon and she added, "Is there an upcoming grand event that will be held here? I saw the white curtains all over the foyer."

She was as noisy as he remembered, thought Maroon. While he had thought it to himself to not entertain talks he can't help this question and answered, "The mansion will be holding a marriage in the next two days."

"Marriage? Whose?" 

Maroon rose one of his eyebrows at her question, "The Lord and the Lady. There is no one else in the land who will have the opportunity to hold marriage in this castle other than him."

"Yes, of course," Lilith glossed over her words with laughter and Maroon questioned the breath of relief the woman had. Her eyes had been filled with joy for meeting Maroon again after their painful separation where she was not able to tell him goodbye as she parted away from the world too quick than she wanted. Caleb's voice rang on the back of her head when she looked around the house and at once, her eyes narrows. The once lively gaze of Lilith's then narrowed and freezing. 

In the viewing room, Elise was amazed with the beautiful white gown that was placed there. Not only was the gown sparkled to her eyes, she saw the crown and the wedding veil and she couldn't express how overwhelmed she felt. The overwhelming emotions were far from making her nervous, instead, it fills her with eagerness. She hoped the wedding day would come faster, so she could be one with Ian in term of husband and wife.

Many have went on in her life. She lost people, she found friend, and soon she believe in her heart she would be able to discover her family.

At times such as these, Elise hoped she had a family member. One was enough for her to tell them about how she feels and share the happiness she felt right now. She was staring at the gown, walking over the floor to touch the golden embroidery of the creamy silk of the skirt when she heard the door of her room creaked open.

Esther had been finding for a way to escape from Beelzebub and she startled herself upon seeing Elise. She watched the girl as Elise watched her back, seeing a light frown quickly appeared on the woman's forehead.

"I know brides often feels anxious but why the tears? Your wedding is just around the corner tears is a very unnecessary accessories for a bride," said Esther.

Elise's eyes widened and her blue pupils gleamed with the tears that fell only on one side of her eyes. Tears? She then pulled her hand to her face, touching her face where she felt the wetness that moisturize her cheeks. Esther came closer beside her and offered her the fabric from her hand. Noticing it was a handkerchief, Elise took it to her hand and wiped her tears, "Thank you."

"It is easy to throw thanks but you should know that when you thank someone make certain the other person is worth your thank or else you would be a bumbling fool thanking your enemy," the woman advised and she studied the wedding gown, "What? Is there anything you are not satisfied with the gown? I heard it once that when a bride is dissatisfied with their wedding gown it could lead to a marriage disaster."

Elise laughed at her words and the woman turned at her, "Is there anything funny?"

In reply, Elise shook her head, "I just notice how many people question how satisfied I am with the wedding arrangement."

"Isn't that great then?" Esther took back the handkerchief when Elise passed them back to her hand. She then stared at the woman in question. "It means your are taken care well, dummy child. It means you have people who love you enough to question whether this wedding is what you wish for because wedding is only once in life. They must want you to take this day to the grave with a wide smile on your lips in anytime you try to recollect the memories. Once..." the woman repeated while staring at her dress which was hung on a tall dress holder to make sure there should be no crease on the skirt and the bodice. 

She noticed how Esther's eyes sunk a little and came back she said, "Once someone did her wedding preparation in a week. Clearly it was too short of time needed for a proper wedding ceremony."

Elise asked in her mind if the person was a close friend of Esther as there was hint of fondness on her words. "Was she dissatisfied with it?"

"Hardly, she was. A simple woman, hoping a simple wedding. It was a very small wedding with only three people as guests including me. Everything was too simple for my taste but she was happy though her marriage wasn't all roses like all those who wish for one," Esther crossed her eyes as she continued, "That woman was your mother, Adelaide. You wish to know about her, don't you. I can tell you a little of her from my eyes."