The Demon’s Bride

The demons all looked at her askew. Their judging eyes seized Esther's entire figure, wondering which demon was daring enough to call a high demon to ask for their audience. 

"Invitation?" Esther frowned, thinking she didn't have that. "I was only told by Ian that I should come here to meet him."

The entire room once again fell silent, deadly silent.

When someone who was stunned knocked the glass from the corner of the table, causing a loud crash, the bubble of silence finally finally burst.

"I… I will call the Lord here soon, milady. Please take a seat at one of the private room. Laviene," the person who had attended to her need then called for another servant to assist her.

As Esther walked across the room, she could feel the loud silence. Everyone looking at her curiously and she wondered if calling out Asmodeus's name along with Ian's name was a wrong move here as people immediately looked at her as if she had two heads. 

Without looking at her own path, Esther had bumped into something hard that caused her to frown. She looked up to see a man covered in black cloak. 

"Oh, pardon me," Esther whispered when the latter man rushed out of the place in haste without receiving her apologies. 

"This is the place, Madame," said the servant who was told to attend her, earning Esther's attention. 

Esther followed the servant to be led into a luxurious room. A large table was placed in front of her. Food covered the entire surface of the red glassy table, leaving no space for anyone to put even a fork between the plate.

Esther raised her hand to the servant, stopping her from leaving, "I'm sorry but I don't need this. I only came to see Asmodeus for a question."

"It is a tradition for the guest of the Lord to be seated here, Madame," answered the servant who was troubled by her request and immediately fled the place as if scared of her.

Esther sighed at her situation. She didn't have time to stand around, waiting when Beelzebub's was in a trouble and ask for her help.

She waited for Asmodeus to come only for the man to be late for twenty minutes. Esther had been staring at the clock, entertained by the ticking noise that slowly get on her nerves as she was in hurry. 

Standing from her seat, she was ready to bring out Asmodeus when a shadow of a person appeared from behind the curtain and a person slowly entered the room she was in.

The black hair stood out amongst the red curtain, accompanied by his deep red eyes and a look of grin covered the demon's face. 

"It's been a long time since someone had used Ian's name to come here," the demon said, "I am Asmodeus and who might you be?"

Esther looked at the demon who had came. For a human's eyes, he was handsome and even for the demons as Asmodeus was known for his affairs with women that spread across Hell. Esther could tell by his smile of how accustomed he is to handling his conversation with women and it could be seen by his confident smile.

While Esther was the servant of Leviathan, she had served him for a very brief while. Not many people knew about her and even if they did, in Hell, demons won't notice other demon unless they are on par on them or stronger. Esther was known for her weak demon blood line.

Even though Esther had met Asmodeus before, the latter didn't seem like he remembered her at all.

"I'm Esther and I'm here because Ian told me that you can help me to find someone," Esther said directly watching how Asmodeus make his way to seat at the chair parallel to hers.

"Find someone…" Asmodeus set his chin on his arm over the table. His eyes curving as he chuckled, "I know that it was Ian who had mentioned you to come here. But I also hope that he had told you my service isn't as free as people think it is, don't you?"

"Isn't free?" Esther replied with the same smile. In Hell it was eat or to be eaten. One should never show their weakness or to turn meek in front people. "I thought to ask for you to read our future is not free but I have never heard asking for help to search for people which use less than a quarter of your clairvoyant power would require you a compensation."

Asmodeus only smiled wider. "In the end it is my power and I don't want to waste it on things that doesn't benefit me. Tell me, Madame Esther. Do you think you can give me anything that would satisfy me? If you could, then I would think of helping you."

"I came here with Elise's help. The princess," Esther didn't care if she was misusing her position as Elise's aunt to get what she wanted as she didn't see how it would hurt her niece. And she was more aware than anyone how she had nothing to compensate in exchange for Asmodeus's help.

"True, I would have rethink and accept the help if it was the princess who asked me for help. The merit to be on the good side of the royals is too good for me to reject and ignore but you are not the princess," Asmodeus flatly rejected her offer. "Don't worry, Madame Esther, I'm not someone who would ask for the impossible. You have what I want and I am sure even without that thing you have with you now, you would still be living perfectly well."

"And how successful would you be able to search for Beelzebub?"

"My power has never failed me, Madame. I have read the King's future and it was correct," coaxed Asmodeus whose eyes keenly stare at her like an eagle who in front of its prey.

Esther didn't reply as she couldn't trust Asmodeus's clever words and his wide sly grin.

"I can even not take anything from you, madame. But in exchange, I wish you to accompany in a small game," Asmodeus crossed his legs, placing his hands over his knees, "This must be easier for you; what do you think?"

While Esther contemplate on her choice, the person who was cloaked in black, the same person who had bumped into her earlier time stared at the curtain of her room, his eyes narrowing as he stood around to eavesdrop on Asmodeus's offer.