The Demon’s Bride

"Y-you killed a person," Mr. Scott started in his confession and it wasn't a good sentence to start with.

"She killed a demon," corrected Leviathan while gazing angrily toward the couple. He never once would forgive those who had harmed his family and he had only tolerated the couple without telling the truth to Elise for the sole reason to not hurt his daughter's heart again. 

"We.. didn't know it was a demon. That person… he was wailing in hell and he had a whole family with him," stated Mr. Scott in defense.

"You can blame it on your naivety and ignorance but not at the action that you two had plenty of choices to take," answered Leviathan with a judging eyes as Mr. Scott and his wife turned silent. 

"Who did I killed?" Elise swallowed hard as she questioned. She believes in herself and believes that she didn't took anyone's life without a cause. The statement Mr. Scott gave made her as a demon who had killed another demon who had a family but she knew it wasn't the truth. 

"We were in a river," started Mr. Scott with a regretful expression, "It was only for a split of second when we took our eyes away from her. By the time we noticed, Elise had gone. Of course we panicked. Both me and my wife went to find you, but you were no where to be found until we saw a trace of your shoes dropped at the entrance of the forest."

"We.. were scared that a wild beast had taken a feast on you," Mrs. Scott then added, "We had to find you therefore we went to the forest and there," the woman gasped as if saying the next words were difficult, "We found that you had killed a man who was three time larger than you. We didn't know what had happened but we knew that if anyone had found you in the situation you were, your would undoubtedly be sentenced."

"That's why you bring me back home in a hurry," Elise said, realizing what had occurred, "How do you know that man had a family with him?"

"The next day the report was sent and news were shared by everyone in the town. As the incident occurred around the border between the two town, it was difficult to pinpoint who had killed him. His family had put a wanted list for the killer… we tried everything to hide it and at that time… we didn't know that they were demons."

"An excuse," Ian said with narrowed eyes, "And? What made you think Elise was a demon, because she killed someone?"

Elise now realizes that perhaps her parents' adamant reason to stop her for being a church member was so she won't leave the house for them to keep a continuous eyes on her. To watch over her movements in fear as she might killed someone near her. 

It pained Elise to know all this time, she wasn't viewed as a family or daughter but as a monster with blood on her hands who hunger for more deaths of people around her.

"The holy water," Mr. Scott confessed. Since child she cannot touch the holy water. When she did her hand would itch and turn red. We thought at first it was an allergy but that day we found out it wasn't. The holy water repel her demonic side. We loved her as much as our own daughter. But days goes on and Elise would speak on her own. We decided to consult to a priest. A priest who we knew we could trust with about this matter."

"Priest?" Elise questioned after calming herself down.

"He had performed many exorcism, to let the ghost and evil spirit leave the world for good. When he saw Elise, he was in fear. He told us there was a demon inside her, a demon who would take over her and kill the people around her like she did to that one man."

"He wasn't a goddamn human. He was a demon!" Ian turned furious. He could tell Elise's action to take the life of the demon was because the latter had somehow tried to harm her child self. Most demons, and Elise who were a special case had an instinct to protect their own life, even if it meant to kill. "And then what? Did you guys fear her after all that and decided to leave the dirty work to the dark sorcerers?"

"N-No!" Mrs. Scott raised her voice that wasn't pleasing to Ian and the woman's tone quickly lowered in fear for the red eyes, "the priest taught us that there are only one way to dispel the malicious presence from her. Similar to how only the evil could defeat the evil—"

"You left the dark sorcerer to dispel the demon inside me," Elise interrupted Mrs. Scott's words. Understanding the situation didn't make the sting she felt in her heart any easy to endure. "But what if those dark sorcerers cannot dispel my demonic side?"

"They hired the dark sorcerers to kill you if their plan didn't work out on their favor," Leviathan answered with his arms clenched. 

"I'm sorry, Elise…" Mr. Scott said with his hands holding the iron bars with a twisted expression. "We are sorry and I know my apology won't be able to be forgiven simply because I have said it but trust us. All we did was to make sure that you aren't effected by the demonic side; that you would be a normal girl like all others, and for you to not kill anyone."

Elise could feel water pushing itself to surface over her eyes. Betrayal. That was what she felt at the moment.

She cannot imagine how all this time she never noticed the different look on Mr. and Mrs. Scott's eyes. It wasn't only concern they had for her but also fear. They feared she would one day turn into a heartless monster.

"All you had to do was to trust me," Elise said to Mr. and Mrs. Scott where she had to break her words to inhale a deep breath. "I would rather be abandoned again rather than believing those happy days I had spent with you all were only my sweet illusion. The matter of a apology, I won't blame you two. However, you should remember how much pain you have caused to me now. Ian," she then said, turning away to look at Ian's face that calmed her, "Can I take a break for a few seconds?"

"I will be with you," Ian offered and gave her a pat on he side of her head, "Follow me."

Lady Caroline watched the couple left as she tapped the end of her smoking pipe to the iron bars, "I think you two should understand this," said Lady Caroline to the two humans. "but while you believe you loved Elise, your action said other wise. What you loved was yourself and what you care was your own wellbeing. No parents would want to kill their child even if their child is doomed to become a monster."

Mr. and Mrs. Scott cannot speak as their face filled with regret, guilt and shame. 

Lady Caroline blew a smoke from her deep red lips, "What would you like to do to them, my prince?" 

Leviathan closed his eyes, "Let the judges gave their punishment. I am not kind as she is. For hurting my daughter you two will suffer a pain worth your action. Count this as a blessing as I have not stepped to bring the punishment to you by my own hands. Mark my warning and hope you shall never see me again," warned Leviathan where his golden eyes that stared at the Scott's couple sent a deadly warning. 

Elise was walking outside the prison. The cold gust of wind calmed her which was strange as if it was in the past, she would have shivered from the chill. Or perhaps it was because her heart that was beating so loud and yet so silent at the same time. 

"Ian, you never lied to me. Therefore can you answer me? Am I also cursed?" She asked, looking at Ian who took a few seconds of silence while staring back at her eyes. "Do you know that I am cursed?" She asked again, her lips pursing after her question.