The Demon’s Bride

The voice that had spoken was low and hushed. It brought shiver to those who hear the voice with the maliciousness that could clearly picked out from the voice. There was no one inside the room except for Elise and Ian who was watching Ernest and the boy was alone in the room but neither of them had spoken. The voice had came from the fourth person in the room who had just appeared from thin air.

Ernest's expression was full of shock as he didn't expect another person in the room he was in. He still remembered how the wounds and injury on his back was inflicted by and grew afraid it was those people again. Ernest quickly pushed himself to the corner of the room as if to blend in with the wall. "Who is that?!" He demanded. 

Laughter echoed in the room, one that caused Ernest's hair to curl. 

Elise frowned as she understood what part of the past this is to Ernest. This was Ernest's turning point before he became the dark sorcerer lord. "It's Apollyon."

"What a great timing he has. Too great even," remarked Ian with his eyes narrowed down. Knowing how much Apollyon fancy to predict the future of people around him and manipulate them for his own control, he wondered if he had also planned for his own appearance before Ernest as he knew the boy would be a great ally to him. 

"I am someone who can lend you a helping hand, boy," said Apollyon to Ernest but the boy had just falsely taken the help of the Lone Couple. Therefore, making it difficult for him to take the help Apollyon offered especially when Apollyon's figure wasn't able to be seen by Ernest. 

"I don't trust you. If you are a friend to that bastard who came early then you should know I would never agree to any of your offer. Not when you had caused injuries on me," Ernest responded while still wondering how the person could come in when the door was locked. Perhaps he was too much in pain that he didn't noticed the door was opened? If so, he could only guess this to be another method for the family to torture him.

"I am not that man's friends nor the couple's ally. I am someone who had just passed by and seeing you, I do think you needed a help," Apollyon answered. 

"What a sweet mouth," muttered Elise under her breaths with her hands both clenched together. She know could understand why Apollyon had been known as a clever person, the man knew what to say and to do to swing his opponent's thoughts and choice into his liking. 

Even though young, Ernest was smart on his own way as well. He said, "But the help wont be free, is it?" The boy didn't know who this person was nor can he see him. But when there's a help offered in front of him, whether it be lies or truth, he didn't see why he shouldn't accept as his situation calls for an immediate help. "Also I do not know how much help you can offer me, how can I trust you with that?"

"One. Help is never free and you are correct in that but the payment I need from you won't affect anything to you. Instead, it will only be more advantage to you. And fair enough. I do think it is unfair for you to think about my offer when I had showed nothing to you. What do you want to do the most right now?" Apollyon assertively questioned. His tone was convincing for Ernest to consider on what wish he want to make. 

For a moment Ernest was quiet. His expression was hesitant when he said, "I want to leave this house." 

Apollyon didn't answer for a few seconds before saying, "But why do I feel that is not the extend of your wish? I can tell you don't want to leave this house for a reason. There's something binding you here, is it? Or maybe someone?"

Ernest was taken aback and apprehensively said, "How much do you know about me?"

"Nothing at all. However, I can see everything from your eyes, you know boy. You are much more of an open book than you think you are. For one, no one can fool me," Apollyon's voice lowered as if it was a warning to Ernest not to ever lie to him and the threat was well received by Ernest whose eyes grew more cautious. 

"How about this," Apollyon then suggested. His tone brightened up as if he hadn't lowered any pitch of his voice earlier, "I will make that man who wounded you earlier to disappear."

Ernest gave a couple of second to think and although he hesitated when asking to leave the house, there was no little hesitation on him when he nodded his head at the idea of murder, "Alright."

When the next day came, the door to his room was opened again but this time it was by Mr. and Mrs. Lone. The couple looked down on Ernest with anger when they realized their boy's soul was still no where to be found in the boy's body. 

"You dare to corrupt my son, didn't you!" Mrs. Lone shouted. She used any excuses she had on her hand to beat Ernest. 

Ernest shielded his head as the woman had grab him by the back of his head to deliver harsh slaps on his cheeks. 

"I didn't do anything!" Ernest defended himself. It had been his daily event to be beaten by Mr. and Mrs. Lone and he questioned why he still tried to defend himself while knowing it was impossible.

"You liar! Today Dalton came and said he would rather not have Jeremy to come back if it was in the exchange of your life! Dalton had never behaved that way! You have put that thought on him. How dare you!" Mrs. Lone in anger took the nearest vase and when she was about to break the vase to Ernest's head, her hand was pulled back, resulting to the woman swinging the vase dangerously behind her when the sound of crash filled the room.

Ernest's eyes widened when he saw Dalton who had slipped in the room. The older boy had wanted to stop Mrs. Lone and helped him when instead, Mrs. Lone had rock the vase toward this head. 

Dalton crashed on the floor and in one instance, blood overflow like water all over his forehead, flowing down across his chin. 

"No!!" Ernest shouted as Mrs. and Mr. Lone who didn't expect Dalton to enter and stop them went still in shock.