The Demon’s Bride

The thought of rage or anger was foreign to Elise. Not because she couldn't get angry but when people offend her, there had never been the time when rage course to her blood and she lose her composure. She didn't care if she was mocked. Her entire life, Elise had hear every mocking that she never felt anymore pain. But the people had rubbed the wrong sore spot inside her by mentioning Ian even without their own knowing.

"What you want to know is whether I am a human and my grandfather's true granddaughter, is that it?" Her melodic voice brought coldness that was now noticed and the laughter which had been resounding inside the room finally died down. No answer, Elise dully thought. When they berate others, there would not be any hesitant in them but now when she asked, they all went quiet.

She tested the leverage she has as the princess of Hell. It appears though some didn't like her sitting on her own chair, they were also afraid to offend her. 

"What do you want me to do then?" Elise inquired while looking at them. Her eyes were sharp and deep when she looked back at each of the demons' eyes. Without answer, Elise sighed, "This?" 

The demons were confused and some was looking forward to what she would do when all of them suddenly felt a tight pull on their neck. A black blade made out of shadow hovered right across their neck. To the man who had condescended Ian, the blade was particularly closer to the skin of his neck, drawing blood when the blade graze his skin.

Elise rested her elbows and locked fingers on the surface of the table. There was no smile on her beautiful face, carving only a serious expression on her. From behind her chair was her black shadows that whipped out to wreathe itself around the demons' neck and forming a blade.

"If this is not enough. Should I show you how determined I am to become the Queen?" As she spoke, the blade went closer to their neck. "I don't allow anyone who still look down on me or my other half. If you are spiteful for not being a princess—" Elise pulled her smile that didn't reach her eyes, "—perhaps you should respect to one. If your neck is still precious to you that's it."

As Elise had expected, Satan didn't stop her. She didn't know who Satan see as his kingdom. Most King see his retainers as a part of his kingdom but that wasn't how it is to Satan. Was it not his people that matter to him? Was the Kingdom that he expressed as important are the land? Elise questioned to herself.

"Our apologies your highness," spoke the one whose head was a beast. His long horns seemed to be sturdier than the rest and as his face wasn't a human face and rather a lion's, Elise could see the man was the most level headed person in the room. 

The man said, "If there is anything that have offended you, we will not resist to the punishment you bestow to us. And to those who had offend you, they will apologize with their life as you wish to do," the lion said while seeing to the demon who was sitting with the snake.

The man's face dried up when Elise looked at him, "Which mean I can do whatever I wish to do," she said while humming. Was this how Ian felt? thought Elise in her mind. Having the power on her hands, Elise knew now how it felt to be the one judging how a person's life could end. Everything was now on her hands, up to her choice.

"Yes," Satan was the one to answer. "You would be looking forward if I tell you how many tortures are prepared here in Hell. The worse would be the wings ripping ceremony. What do you like to do?"

Elise was silent for a few second before she said, "I will leave it for today. It's my first time staying in the castle not only I feel tired I don't want to entertain myself into this futile act. Today is only a warning," Elise stressed. She noticed her grandfather proud smile when she turned her face.

In the underground, Hallow sat on top of a wooden table while his eyes looking apprehensively to the very tall woman who sat in front of him. The woman's white dress was as pale as her skin and her appearance though beautiful was also eerie. 

Why was he here, you asked? He had been abandoned by Beelzebub!

"I know I have been bored these days," said Caroline while pulling the teacup from the saucer and reached it out to her side for her servant who was cloaked in black thin dress to tilt the teapot she had and poured the liquid inside the teacup. The color of the liquid was so red, Hallow wondered if it was blood. "But to think that I will have to consecutive guests coming to the underground. One a demon and the other is a chick. A talking chick," she added.

Hallow tried not to speak and act mum. He wondered if he acted as if he didn't speak earlier, sooner the woman would doubt her ears and released him.

"Not speaking, that's fine. You see, my underground is very sacred," Lady Caroline speak and every time one word escaped from her scarlet lips, a sinister look settled on her eyes. "There is just a few things odd about demons. There are some who is too greedy, sometimes there are those who are too envious. There are also those who can't pull themselves away from the lust of blood."

So? Asked Hallow in his mind while keeping his mouth sewed. 

"But since child I was different. I love all the items I possess. I love them so much and too deeply that I would do anything to protect it. Everything inside this underground, it's mine," the woman uttered with a bold tone of pleasure on her voice. "But when someone trespasses my place like all other people, I don't like it. Such as demons, humans, angels, and... a talking chick."