The Demon’s Bride

Elise had no intention at all to release Ernest leave unscratched. Ian tilted his head in a thought, "How do we bring out Apollyon? Come out. I have some business with you."

Ernest didn't answer and had only glared sharply with his eyes as if doing so would keep him silent. Elise frowned, "There's a reason why you cannot come out Apollyon?" She asked, her taunt was clear with her words.

Ian liked the way Elise had given the taunt, "Perhaps he is scared of us, my love. The lonely Apollyon must be scared of us considering his cowardice to kill people while hiding in the darkness."

Ernest who was out of breath as Ian had clutched his grip tight on his neck pulled out a tilted smirk. "You have to do more to bring him out," and raising his hand Ernest had tried to pull his weapon from the wall when Ian had broke the vase nearest to him and stabbed Ernest's hands to the wall, nailing him to the wall.

"I have a bright idea. Apollyon seem to be living inside you for free. Tell me, Ernest if I take your life now, would he die too?" Ian had reached out his hand and took the same sword Ernest had used to hold it against Ernest's neck. 

Ernest was taken aback and even startled but tried to form a confidence smile that slipped up "Killing me early, Lord Ian?"

"The earlier the better. It would be foolish to let you alive for long only to know more answer which is hidden. I am only weeding out the parasites," Ian didn't think twice before pressing the blade deeper to dug the skin of Ernest's neck. "Think of it as your mistake for being foolish and proud by coming here without preparation, Ernest. Did you fret when knowing I had came back alive and put it to your top priority to kill me?"

Ernest narrowed his eyes when he looked at Ian with his smile that was still wide on his face, "Then kill me."

Elise narrowed her eyes at the quick acceptance that Ernest had given. She still hadn't forgotten who Ernest was. He was the dark sorcerer, someone who had hid behind the curtain, doing whatever he could to pull people and play them by the string. He had created people as his puppet. It was difficult to think that he would come to both her and Ian unprepared when the last time he had used a clever underhanded trick that cost Ian's his life.

"Wait," Elise stopped Ian by holding to his arm. Her blue eyes stared deeply at Ernest's eyes that had turned golden.

Ernest stared back at Elise with a grin that quickly fade, "I really hate you from the bottom of my heart, Lady Elise. You are unpredictable, hard to track, and miracles seem to be following behind you. And like now, you are uselessly perceptive."

Elise's eyes widened as she realized what had in truth occurred. "Ian don't kill him!"

Ian turned to look at her when he noticed Ernest had brought up his hands together. Clicking his tongue, Ian pulled himself away when Elise said, "Don't let him kill his current body."

Ian who at first couldn't grasp her words looked once again at Ernest. However, this time, he had looked at a different aspect of Ernest, noting the two vertical red stain that had colored Ernest's back. They had no time to lose as Ernest had placed a magic that would blew the building once again. In a swift movement, Ian had hauled Elise to his hand, bringing Ernest whose consciousness had faded before hurrying and leave when he almost forgot Dalton and pulled the third person to his hand. 

Arriving on the sky, Ian looked down at the building before red and black smoke burst out followed by a blasting sound that could tear one's eardrums. The building that had been made out of bricks shattered and the pieces lunged to the yard surrounding the building like fireworks. 

Once the blast had ended, Ian landed to the ground, letting Dalton to collapse on the ground and releasing the other man before carefully letting Elise down. His red eyes then moved toward the person beside Dalton who was unconscious. Elise also frowned to see the person who at first appeared as Ernest but now with the magic that had been broken, he turned back to his true identity and the person was none other than Gabriel.

Everything happened too quickly for Elise to wrap her mind around. She took steps back to understand what had occurred.

Ernest, knowing both her and Ian would arrive to the church building had laid one trap. The trap was simple. As Ernest knew how much anger and hatred both her and Ian had to him, he had expected that either two would kill him at first sight. Knowing this, he had manipulated the entire scene. 

He also knew how to appear shocked by Ian's resurrection, painting himself to be the flustered enemy who would do anything at all cost to execute Ian for good. But truthfully, his plan was to have Ian to kill him— the him who had manipulated both Gabriel's appearance and voice into him. He wanted Ian to kill Gabriel by his hands!

The magic had been done seamless, as expected from Apollyon's assiatance, one of the original archangels.

"It's not the end Elise," Ian quickly warned her and he turned his face to look up at the sky where creatures who possess the large white wings had appeared to the sky. The head of the angels plunge down to the ground while holding his spear. His bright golden eyes were furious and his eyes glared as he look at Ian and Elise.

"I trusted you, Ian White," said the angel who was none other than Michael. Eyes filled with rage where he was almost blinded by it. "But you and your uncle had cleverly fooled me."

"No, there's a misunderstanding here," Elise raised her voice for Michael to direct his spear toward her. "You are Raziel's granddaughter in a way, you are someone of my family. But remember this young lady. I hold back nothing to those who harmed my angels."