The Demon’s Bride

Ian had marched into the room as if it was one of the rooms in his castle. The abyss belong to no one but death and God, while the death angels are those who protect and organize the situation inside the abyss at the same time, choosing souls that could pass to the purgatory and those souls which would become a grim reaper

The creature sighed, "Even if it is you two there will be consequences of entering to the abyss or this room."

Ian raised his hand and from the thin air had pulled the rolled scroll to then threw it over the creature. Though the creature seemed very fragile with how his boney hands was covered in molds, to the point that it seems he could be broken at any minutes, he had took the scroll Ian threw in ease and precise time. 

The creature didn't say anything and instead turned to scroll to his sight when he noticed the familiar signature. 

"It's from Heaven, the one and only Heaven above hell," Ian explained to the creature who huffed. "Don't worry it isn't a fake. We are brave but not stupid to forge the Heaven's order."

The creature turned the scroll to read what was written.

'To Elise White and Ian White, the two people who has brought peace back to the world, defeating Apollyon and putting an end to his twisted goal in bravery, I will announce them a reward befitting to the glory they have brought. The reward states for the two to visit all the place they wish to visit, whether it is Heaven, Hell, or the Abyss for forty eight hours."

The creature looked down to see whose name was written, finding the shocking person who had agreed to the decree was the head of the angels, Michael himself.

It was shocking for the creature, who was once an angel to see Michael's name as he knew how the archangel had never passed a reward to the people near him, even the angels unless he see fits.

The creature knew it was against the rule. But Heaven had spoken and no one including the creature of the abyss were able to oppose the rules and decree which had been given.

"Take… your time," the creature said resignedly but remain to stay at this position while holding the two souls for Hallow to choose. 

Elise walked from beside Ian and met his red eyes briefly. After giving her husband one nod, she made her way to stand behind the boy whom she had suspected as Hallow. 

"Hallow," Elise called and showed the boy a smile even though the latter didn't turn his face despite hearing clearly his name being called by Elise. 

"You cannot change my mind," answered Hallow, guessing that Elise would stop him from his revenge which he could only see as beneficial to his eyes. 

Hallow's eyes quickly shot up to look at the creature and asked, "Where do these two soul belongs to?" He wasn't going to let it settle if the creature announced another place other than Hell as that was the only place for the two souls to reside at.

The creature seemed to smile as he said, "They… are about to continue the cycle of life, receiving the chance to live a second life in the mortal world."

"What?" Hallow snapped, his voice lowered while his eyes were burning and fierce. "These people who had attempted on killing a child, letting a poor girl to continue bleed until her death, and God-knows whatever dirty deeds I am sure they have done every moment they breathe. You are saying this people will be receiving a second chance? Out of all people… THEM?" 

"It… isn't my choice," the creature said before looking upward as pointing to the father of all creation. 

Elise squeezed her hands together when seeing Hallow who had acquired a new body; or maybe, it was his original body when he was once still a human. 

Much to Elise's guess, Hallow was younger than her perhaps by a year or two. Before she had entered the room, Ian had given her a brief explanation of Hallow's pasts. There she learned what occurred to him and his younger sister. 

"I am not here to change your mind, Hallow," Elise spoke while looking at her friend even though the latter didn't return the same action. "I have heard what happened to your past life. Your sister, and the twisted choice which these two people have taken that caused your death and your sister's."

"You are not here to change my mind?" Hallow shook his head. "That's a lie."

"I don't lie," answered Elise. "I only came to give one last parting to my dear friend."

Hallow who was deep in anger had his eyes slightly widening when hearing her words.

Elise noticed the faint flinch that occurred on Hallow's hands and took it as a confirmation that Hallow could still hear her words. 

"Like you, I lost my brother. Our circumstances are different but as you had been beside me, I know you must have seen the amount of separation that occurred until I could stop Apollyon. I understand you, Hallow. And I only wish to warn you."

Hallow scoffed, "Won't it be hypocritical for you to say that? You have succeeded in avenging your mother's death and those who was once close to you. The difference between us is that now, I am given a choice where I can directly kill these two people in exchange for my life while you have an honorable excuse to become a hero of the dark hours in the three realms."

"You will avenge your sister and your past self then what about you?" Elise questioned which had Hallow to turn his head and looked at her in speechlessness. "Your sister, Hallow is somewhere in the mortal world. For two souls to be reincarnated again at the same place, in the same family, and as a sibling is difficult but there's a chance."

"And you are throwing the chance away, dumb chick," Ian continued Elise's words. "Would you rather kill those soul for pure satisfaction or would you use your head, deciding to go on that door and find yourself a new life and an opportunity to meet your sister again? I am sure there's a lot of thing you wish to talk to her."

Hallow looked at Ian. He only see the man as a demon, someone who he rarely associate himself with. Perhaps all this time, he had only seen Ian as a demon, not as the person himself which why now he noticed that humane expression that went across the ma's mien. How when Ian advised him, it feels that Ian know it better than him as he had first-handedly experienced his situation.

"Hallow looked once again at the two souls. But they are soon going to receive a second chance in their life as a soul, obtaining the resurrection. It's unfair," Hallow shook his head. "What about my sister? What about… what about me? All this time, had I became a grim reaper for nothing? Only to see people's suffering and that's all it is?"

Hallow's usual appearance made him appeared comedic as a chick and his speech didn't give away his true age which was much younger than Elise had guessed. With his childlike face and the spec of innocent on his face, it only caused Elise to sympathize more to Hallow. 

The air was tense and stifling. Elise didn't know what she should say or what was right to say. When someone had to shoulder a very heavy burden was it correct to tell them to persevere and hold on to that burden? It was a careless approach to Elise's eyes by telling others to endure their misfortunes as no one deserve to endure and carry such heavy burden in life for long.

Hallow didn't deserve to be sacrificed without his knowing. He regretted on agreeing to the head crew's offer as it had led to the death of his sister. As such, Elise couldn't say anything about his misfortunes and the unfairness of his life. 

Hallow's head was down when a heavy weigh landed on the top of his head. He was alarmed to see it was Ian who had settled his hand over his head. 

"I didn't know you were a child, you speak like an adult and act like a grandpa. Maybe it's because of your past life," Ian hummed. "No one has answer to why you have to suffer. Why those scumbag souls are allowed to reincarnate easily when their soul should be thrown to the Black Sea so it would never be found ever again. But who could we blame for our misfortunes? God? And what comes after blaming? Anger, grudge, and envy? There's no stopping on those negative emotions. Once you feel anger, you would feel grudging, and finally envious of other's lives. What point I have to make is that questioning the events that occur in your life is futile. Unfairness is a part of the world and everyone must have experienced it once in their life. Take it as a part of life. Like how there's joy in when you're still alive, and hold that joyful memories in you."

Hallow looked at the souls again before finally he stopped his fingers and looked at the creature, saying, "I will choose the door."

The creature was unsatisfied as Ian and Elise had helped Hallow to change his mind for what's better. However, choice had been made and the creature wasn't one to stick unto the rules.

"Fine," the creature stepped aside. 

Elise who walked passed by the creature then noticed the black sparks surrounding the souls that surprises her. 

"You lied. Those souls—," Elise uttered to the creature who then grinned and placed his boney finger over where his lips was located at.

"You... didn't play by the rule, don't expect me to not do the same."