The Demon’s Bride

Adelaide, her mother felt like a fragment of her dream, a dream high was so surreal yet intangible at the same time. Since Elise regained the true part of her memory, she had been curious about her mother who she didn't remember well. To date, there was only four memories she had about her mother with the rest empty as her father had locked her memories. 

"I didn't know you know my mother," Elise answered Esther who showed her a smile.

"While Satan had so many wives and concubine which was not enough to even fill his castle, he only had a few children including Leviathan. I had only a tiny bit of his blood but it is different for him. His mother was a very lesser angel and as one expected their rendezvous story ended up pretty badly."

Her grandmother, thought Elise, "Did they separate?" Because Esther's words sounded like her grandmother and Satan then break their relationship. 

"No," Esther answered, "She died," and Elise questioned how she died and listened to the rest of Esther's words, "Not only was the environment in Hell was terrible for an angel, the baby she carries held the power of Satan. It only adds up the odds against her labor and rumors said that Satan stopped the angel from giving birth but then she was an angel, aborting her child was not something she could. And so unable to withstand the process of labor, she died a second after she gave birth. While having a heir is important to Satan, he couldn't bother himself of his children. The angel had been his only focus which why despite being the prince of Hell, Satan never gave an ounce of care to him."

To know her father only from the stories told, Elise could imagine that he must have felt lonely as a child. While her Satan sounded like a person who unexpectedly hold an emotion which was different from most books depicted him to be, his emotions didn't seem to reach until his son.

"Levi and I met when he was going incognito in one of the most dangerous street in Hell. I was trying to save up some souls to escape Hell and tend to do reckless things in order to get one. That particular day, I stole a soul which had been a food for a high Demon. The people chased after me and by chances, I caught a very familiar scent which was similar to my own family's scent. That was when he saved me."

"How was he," Elise pursed her lips, "My father?"

"A cold hearted man. I said he saved me but before that I had to begged him to save my life. I noticed that he had an enormous power with him. Therefore I thought by using the fact we are a family by the scent, he would helped me. I was naive. Levi didn't immediately agreed and that bastard—" Esther raised her hand over her mouth and cleared her throat, "—He said he would help me if I become his servant."

Elise couldn't help but say, "Like Malphas."

Esther rolled her eyes while remembering her past. "Anyway, that bastard one day left Hell to the human world to have fun while bringing me with him. Because he didn't like Hell as much as I did, he built a castle inside the cave of a mountain. One day then a curious girl came into the cave, lost on her way but was also found..." Esther's words drawled as her memories run back to the time of the past where she appeared younger by four years than now.

'Levi! Levi! Leviathan!" Only after she had shouted his name for the third time that the other man sighed. 'I said there is a human who came to the castle!' Esther shouted, her eyes looking at the man who was sitting on a chair with a book on his hand. 

'Noisy, tsk,' Leviathan couldn't be bothered to turn around and instead flipped the next page of the book, 'Bring them away, show them the way out and erase her memories, if they are an asshole then kill them, don't we all know the rule? I wonder how can a servant shout to their master like you.'

'Do it yourself! This woman, she is not a human there is an angel scent coming from her! I told you someone would definitely notice if you build a castle inside a—' Esther's words were cut off when Leviathan's book shut with a loud thud.

His head slowly turned, letting his jet black hair to fall slack on his forehead. A smile etched wider on his lips, 'Angel you say? Did you see her?' Esther nodded in reply and she watched how for a moment Leviathan's golden eyes that had always appeared vacant brightened. 'How pretty is she?'

Esther came back from her memories when she saw Elise and continued, "Her marriage with him was extremely simple. After all, at that time, once Hell and Heaven knew the granddaughter of an archangel was going to be untied in marriage with the son of Satan, no one agreed. We took help of an Angel, the only angel who agreed to bless their marriage. The marriage was held in a large meadow where flower scattered below their feet and that day despite the continuous rain was clear without a single drop of rain."

Elise closed her eyes to bring the words Esther uttered to her imagination, smiling then when she imagined two couple smiling as they exchange rings. "Were they happy?" She asked as it turns out that question was the most important.

Esther nodded her head, and Elise could see how the woman's eyes softened, "I have never seen any marriage filled with happiness as much as they did. Your mother's wedding gown is very similar as yours. You two share the same taste. While it is simple I could see how this is a wedding gown worth for the Lady of the land to wear in her most important day."

Elise was happy to hear there were things she shared with her mother whom she didn't remember much of. When Esther turned around she then took hold of her hands. A sincere look set on Esther who said, "I hope you a blissful marriage where you two would be together forever. While I am not a good aunt and I don't plan to act as one, I am your father's friend. While I am here, I can lend you my ears in what you need."

It was only a moment ago that Elise wished one of her family members to come with her and she was happy with how God was quick to grant her wish but she also felt anxious. Anxious, because God had never been this kind to her and lenient when it comes to teaching her how to live. A fear budded in her that asked if she was the happy wouldn't a sudden misfortune befall to her? Elise shook her head and filled herself with more hope. 

"Thank you, I am happy that you are not my enemy, Esther," Elise let the woman know.

"I as well," Esther answered. 

When Esther left the room, Elise spent a little more time. When she turned to walk, something jingled in her pocket and she pulled it out to see that Hallow had disappeared, leaving only the two pendants which her grandfather Raziel had gifted her and Ian. Her mind went to remember Lucifer's words before he left. 

'This pendants hold a power of an angel. If you use it in the time you need the most, the strongest aid will come for you.'

Elise asked herself of what kind of help the pendant could offer and what was the limits. Can she asked the angels to give back her locked memories? While they might be able to help, Elise didn't think it was very urgent compared to other dangers around them. Seeing how important the pendant was, she decided to hold it tight for now until the day where she direly needs help come which she wished to never come. 

Elise opened the door from the room when she took sight of Mila who then bowed and left, causing her to sigh as the housekeeper had avoided her again. She decide to find a time later as it appears that Mila also need a time of her own and left to find Ian.

Esther who was passing by the corridors smelled a wafting fragrance that passed for a brief second. Her head turned in curiosity only to pull her eyebrows together, "Why does it feels like I smell this scent before?" But then the only scent a Demon could sensed was that of another demon...