The Demon’s Bride

Hearing the voice, Alex turned his face and so did Elise to see the two young man who had just come from the opposite way where the maid disappeared awhile ago. They both had the custom uniform of the Church, the uniform that Elise had always admired and read in her books. Both of the man had a charming face the other one looked very humanly with grayish hair and deep blue eyes while the person who stood on his left had curly light brown hair with his sides swept cleanly and a pair of bright red eyes almost similar to Ian's eyes.

"I presume you already know him, is that correct Lord Ian?" Alex suddenly took a stern voice and a formal speech. Elise didn't voice out her curiosity but she guessed that he must have done it for the sake of Ian's image as talking to a Lord who is higher in status informally could be seen as an impudent behavior.

Ian White hummed, gazing at the two man before stating. "You're Dalton Lone but as for the on the left I haven't yet acquainted with him."

"Your correct, my Lord my name is Dalton Lone you met me in the last meeting of the Lords. The person beside me here is Edward Harland." Edward gave a bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my lord."

"Likewise." Ian gave his greetings short. He wasn't a person who is fond of talking to the member of the church like any of mythical beings in the land. But for Ian to still reply their greetings could still be count as their good relationship as before he never even bothered to bat a glance toward them, only saying what he need.

Edward Harland stood there gazing at the Lord but Ian knew that that gaze was directed not to him personally but the woman behind him. He took a side step, blocking Elise who had been standing beside him with his figure and stared back at the pair of red eyes of Edward. The two man stared at each other both having no single intention in tearing their fierce glare.

Dalton Lone spoke. "I think it will be better if we start the inspection from Clin Village. Since the kidnappings began from here, I believe it will have more traces than the other spots."

Alex rubbed his chin and agreed with the smart youngster. "That makes sense they do say thieves always make mistake on their first robbery." He turned his eyes toward Ian, not knowing the two man who didn't want to back down from each other in matter of Elise. "What do you think, my lord?"

"That sounds well." Elise heard him speaking. As a person with the lowest status, she couldn't say anything other than standing three steps behind Ian. Since they began in their conversations, she had been beside Ian and used her sharp hearing to here the words that the men exchanged between each other and studied in her own perspective.

"Since we all come with the same aim and goal. I hope we could all go well together." Edward offered a smile, extending his hand toward Ian.

Ian took his hand and returned back the same amount of power that the man gave to his palm. He grinned. "My only hope is that you wouldn't drag my feet."

He turned around toward Elise, speaking with a low voice. "I will be going for a moment with Alex, stay here and don't speak with strangers."

"I understand." Elise replied, seeing the Lord ascending the stairs with Alex and Dalton.

"Are you perhaps the Lord's aide, my lady?" Edward took the chance to speak with Elise in Ian's absence. His red eyes peered down on Elise but it although it wasn't an uncomfortable gaze, Elise felt a little tensed in front of the vampire. However, Edward smiled gently, it was milder than what she expected at first and grew less tender.

Elise faced up to see the man's face, thinking whether he was talking to her and heard him speaking again. "Of course I was talking to you."

Elise lifted her brow faintly, wondering how could the man read her mind. She avoided his gaze away and contemplated whether she should reply to the man after Ian's order but at this point ignoring would also be rude. Thus she kept her words scarce. "No sir, I am a maid of the White's Mansion."

Edward saw that Elise hadn't been looking at him and took a few steps toward her to cut their distance. "You don't have to be formal with me. But a maid? I hope I didn't offend you but there would be a very dangerous journey after this, or perhaps you will be staying in Mr. Anderson's mansion and wait for the Lord to come back after the investigation?"

"I do not know, sir. I will only be following Master Ian's order." She spoke as little as she could, remembering Ian's order of not talking to stranger but the man adding seem to have an intention to stop talking. When he took another step toward her she retracted her steps behind. Edward didn't missed the back steps that she took but he didn't felt offended and instead continued. "You don't have to be formal with me or perhaps I was to rude? I apologize if that is the problem. My name is Edward Harland."

"Yes, I have heard earlier."

"I also assumed you have heard my name in the discussion before, however, I want to introduce myself again. I heard first impression will leave a long term memory and I hoped I achieved it." He spoke boldly, showing his fondness to Elise.

Elise showed a confusion upon her blues eyes, perhaps he meant he was only trying to be friendly? If he didn't have a bad intention then perhaps she was a little too on edge, she replied. "You certainly didn't made a bad impression."

"I'm glad to hear that. May I ask for your name, lady?" Edward continued.

Ian walked down the staircase to see Elise standing only a few feet's apart from Edward. The man had a smile, a smile that he knew well what man would use to make a move on the woman they like. His jaw ticked and a frown appeared one the skin between his brows. He had just told her not to talk with stranger for this to happen and as expected she attract many pest around her.

"That's why I suggest you to not-" Alex has just started his sentence when he saw Ian disappeared from his left and appeared in front of Elise in a blink of an eye with smooth moves.

"Elise." He stepped down to the last staircase and brushed his cold gaze once over Edward. "Come here, we will be going now."

It was the first time, Elise thought. It was the first time for Ian to call her name properly and the way he spoke her name sweetly, there was a bubbles of feeling bursts to her heart. It was a simple move yet to Elise it was one of her largest happiness. Breaking to a soft smile over her delicate face, her red hair glittered to Edward's eyes.

Her small steps brought her beside Ian, seeming to forgot something she turned toward Edward. "I'm Elise Scott." Before running toward Ian and had her smile for him. Seeing her over delighted expression, Ian chuckled his grin that almost faded when he saw her with Edward found its way back to the corner of his lips. "It's dangerous now be sure to follow me closely."

"Yes." She nodded.

Edward noticed Ian sparing him a stare and fixed back his red eyes on him, as a vampire, he was a man who stayed true to his primary desire meaning, he will chase for what he desire, forever.