The Demon’s Bride

Esther was stunned. The air wasn't cold around them as the inferno river continue to flow around the castle where the heat wasn't to far from them and yet she could feel how the air turn cold when brushing her cheeks as her body heat raises along with her heartbeat. 

It was loud, Esther could hear how her heartbeat grew louder. She could have laughed before but now, she was too stunned to be able to do anything.

Beelzebub suddenly narrow his eyes as if he was angry and slammed his fist to his own head. Loud slap rang across Esther's ears as she had just witnessed Beelzebub hitting himself across his head to the point where blood trailed down his mouth.

Beelzebub whispered a curse under his breaths while Esther watched his quick transition from being seducing to angry once again with eyes full of confusion. Beelzebub then spit out blood to the green grass and looked at her with his eyes narrowed. 

"Tell me, Esther. You have always been annoyed at my presence before and yet you come for me. Mind telling me what reason you have to do this?" Beelzebub's question seemed restrain, as though he was saying the words with his teeth clenched tightly. 

Esther stayed silent. The question Beelzebub asked lingered in her mind. Why did he followed him? Even she, didn't know the answer.

When they were still living under the roof, Beelzebub was akin to a moth who would always snapped his wings next to her ears, remaining beside her ears persistently to the point where she wanted to end his life. 

He had been annoying but also when she was in danger, it was Beelzebub who had came first to save her. Was the reason for her to run after him was gratitude?

Yes. 

But also not.

Esther pursed her lips together. She had thanked Beelzebub before and it wasn't like her to keep expressing her gratitude when she had done it once and when her sincereness had been conveyed. 

But when she had seen Beelzebub ready to spread his wings and leave, there was an urgent compulsion in her heart that drive her to chase after him.

Beelzebub released her hand that had touched his arm which Esther had only noticed after he removed her hand from him.

"See? You don't have any reason to stop me." Bitterness could be heard from Beelzebub's words but Esther felt like a baby who was told to walk, awkward and clueless. 

"Where are you going now?" Esther quickly asked, feeling the urge to ask him his next destination.

"I don't know but I want to go somewhere far," and his eyes stared deeply to her eyes as he said, "Somewhere far from… her..e."

"Why?" Esther asked, "You can stay in the castle now."

"It's not my home and neither is yours, isn't it? I'm going to my own journey now and you should do the same. Hell is peaceful and you don't belong here."

"Don't belong here?" Esther repeated the words that had caused her to feel a sharp pang on her heart as it felt that Beelzebub was saying she has no right to be in hell. Esther frowned, feeling angry at herself who had turned into a sudden sensitive person. 

"Well," she spoke again once she had calmed herself, regaining her composure. "I don't belong here and I don't have a place I could properly called home as it was destroyed many decades ago, however, I as, your friend, am very curious about where are you going next."

Beelzebub smiled, "We are friend? Since when?" 

Esther gripped her hand into a fist, glaring at his eyes. Raising her feet, she stomped down to Beelzebub's feet but the man who towered in front of her received the stomp regardless how he could have avoided it.

Seeing how Beelzebub was barely bothered by her little attack only vexed Esther more. 

"You don't have to be mean about it!" Esther turned herself and walked away, "Fine, if I'm not your friend. I will just leave you and find someone else who I can call as a friend," she angrily yelled in a fit of anger. 

Beelzebub then caught her by her arm, "What about you? Where will you be staying now?"

"And who was it that called me wasn't his friend? Why are you curious of where I will be living in?" Esther spitefully replied but decided to be the bigger person, "I will be staying in White's Mansion. It's the only place in which I could stay at now."

"I see," Beelzebub stared at her hands as he released her. "Take care."

Take care? Esther frowned. According to Beelzebub, they weren't friend; then what were they? Partners in crime? 

Their relationship can't be describe with other words if it's not friend and somewhere it shocked Esther how easily their relationship could break. 

Was this the end? She won't be able to meet him again? 

Slowly, Esther realized the true reason why she had chased for Beelzebub was because she feared the sudden separation. She couldn't tell what other reason they would meet again now that mastermind of the war was dead.

Beelzebub seemed to be first to make the choice, turning away without looking at her. His wings spread behind him marked his departure. Esther jerked out her hand to hold Beelzebub's hand.

"Can we meet again?" Her words blurted faster than her thoughts, but Esther didn't regret her question.

Beelzebub's red eyes glimmered in purple for a very brief moment where Esther who had been staring at his eyes didn't even noticed the change.

"If fates allow us," Beelzebub released her hand once again, in act to push her away and Esther felt a missing sensation on the part of her skin that he had touched. "Don't ever be in any more danger as you can only protect yourself in this world."

Esther watched Beelzebub left the garden, staring at his majestic wings flapping across the sky and how his figure turning smaller and darker as he reached the higher part of the sky until he disappeared. 

There, Esther stood in silence, feeling a hollowness in her heart that grew wider.

Esther snapped back to reality, looking at Ian who had a frowned on his forehead and said, "This bracelet is indeed Beelzebub's and I think it's his servant who had left this on your window. The meaning of this bracelet is 'help me'. I think we can safely assume he is in danger right now."