The Demon’s Bride

Dalton staggered back, he was in shock and confuse seeing how his brother was. The expression on his face had changed, there was something— a deep indescribable eeriness exuding from Ernest. His expression that looked at him had turned almost soulless.

It was as if the person he saw right now wasn't his brother but someone else whom he can't recognize.

The reality clouded his head, making him confused whether it was his dream or whether it was the true reality and the price for the deeds that his parents had done. As well as his folly for unable to stop his parents any sooner. For letting Ernest become who he is now and for letting him did what he had done now.

"Ernest," Dalton didn't know what he had to say. Ernest had came to his side the moment he spoke.

"No worries brother, I won't kill you," Ernest responded, knowing how slowly Dalton's legs moved behind, retreating in fear. "I will ask you to help me prove my innocent." Saying so, Ernest reached out his hand to touch Dalton's head.

Once the fire had settled down and extinguished, what remain was ashes on the ground of the charred walls and woods. The sky that greeted Dalton that morning was a beautiful orange color but what he felt was a sense of emptiness.

The church member who attended to him questioned, "Do you remember whom you have seen near your parent's body?"

There were traces of blood on the shirt that Dalton wore, slowly he shook his head, "I saw four men dressed in black before my parents body."

"Anyone else whom you saw?" The church member questioned again and the person had been none other than Kyle.

"I do not..." Dalton touched his head where he felt a sting, "remember seeing anyone else."

"He is still shaken," whispered the church member beside Kyle and the man nodded his head. "The younger one had woken up."

Kyle then left Dalton as the latter was still shaken from what he saw. Walking to Ernest who was laying on the safer place, Kyle saw the younger man's clothes that had turned dark from the ashes, "My apologies for your lost Mr. Ernest and forgive me for being insensitive. Do you think you can answer to questions about Mr. and Mrs. Lone?"

Ernest slowly bring his head up and down, looking weak.

Kyle asked, "Your older brother attested that he saw four men around the late Mr. and Mrs. Lone's corpse. I also heard you were there. Do you saw anyone around Mr. and Mrs. Lone's body?"

Ernest looked at Kyle straight by his eyes, "I'm sorry investigator but I don't remember anything. My head hurts."

Elise opened her eyes as she was pulled back into reality. Her eyes met Ernest's back where she quickly reached out her hand for her shadow to appear yet for some reason she cannot summon Jett. In the same time, the door of the case room opened with Alex and Dalton entering along with one man beside them.

Elise pulled her brows, wanting to tell the three people who Ernest was when she realized how many lives could be taken if she was careless with her action. Knowing how merciless The dark sorcerer Lord or Ernest was, she can only tell that if she was to exposed the man here, he won't hesitate to kill everyone.

She had to single the man from the group but with heightened guard, she doubted it would be easy.

The key maker stared at the key with an extreme caution, wanting to make no mistake in his judgement. "Indeed this is a key that I made. I won't mistake it as I have been the only person who design and forge the key. However, as to who it belongs to I have no recollection..."

"Perhaps there is an entry on whose name should be carved to which key?" Elise questioned the key master who then nodded after taking his time to think.

"I think I might have the entry with me," the man responded, "It should be in my office down on the underground."

"We shouldn't waste time then," Alex suggested. As both Dalton and Ernest walked, Elise had retreated a few steps behind her when she suddenly fall on her knees while touching her head. Her action was abrupt and at once took the attention of the other three men around her.

"Lady Elise!" Alex was surprised to see her fall and exclaimed as a moment ago, Elise appeared lively and healthy.

Ernest had came beside her, offering a look of concern. After assessing Elise's pallid complexion he then said, "Pardon my question, milady. Have you been sleeping?"

Elise showed a small smile, "I'm sorry but I am certain I should be alright soon. Let us continue."

"I disagree with that," Alex quickly denied, "It is better if you take your time to rest, milady. We will be reading and seeing the entry. Ernest can I leave it to you to take care of the lady to the resting room?" 

Elise smiled and the others thought that she had smiled in gratitude without knowing how she had planned to divide Ernest from the rest by her small act.

"We will come back quickly. Ernest, I leave the lady to your hands," Dalton said, his eyes stared at Ernest with a faint frown.

As the other three left Elise to be together with Ernest, the man showed his and to offer her help. Elise took the man's hands and they walked out of the room where she begin to notice how there were lesser and lesser people around them as if they have been told to avoid them... as if something had repelled them from getting closer.

As they walked out and made their way through the long and empty corridors, Elise noticed the air that became thicker, the stifling atmosphere between them grew like a living shadow; with the brighter light, the thicker hat shade of the shadow was.

"I think it is time for you to drop your act here, Ernest," Elise said and slowly Ernest turned his face to look back at her. She continued, "Dark sorcerer Lord."