The Demon’s Bride

Beelzebub kept his eyes away from Esther throughout the carriage ride that was only whenever her eyes looked anywhere near him. Both of them didn't exchange their gazes but they could feel the attraction of one another's gaze where they keep stealing glances while avoiding to lock sight.

Dalton was the only one watching it and felt awkward. Even though he couldn't see it, he could feel the burning tension in the carriage.

When they got down from the carriage, Esther's eyes locked with Beelzebub who raised his hand as if to offer her to go down before her.

Don't be gentle, thought Esther to herself. The gentler Beelzebub was to her, she could feel her heart stung more in pain.

Esther remain silent as she left the carriage but her pained expression wasn't missed by both Beelzebub and Dalton. As Venervy wasn't with them, the path they took to the church was extremely silent. 

When they entered the Church, much to Esther's imagination, she witness the tall building of the church.. It's beauty was clearly preserved as she could see there was no crack on the painted wall, making it look fresh to her eyes.

The flowers surrounding the church was also kept well, growing in colorful blooms. Esther was in a daze as she stared at the place around her. The beauty sucks her focus that she didn't notice Beelzebub who stared at her, having the same expression as his center of attention centered around Esther and her only.

"There's too many things that I regretted,"Dalton who was standing beside him spoke, causing Beelzebub to move his sharp red eyes and look at the man. "The reason why I came here, Miss Esther didn't ask and nor did you."

"You are praying to your God, I have no discrimination against that," Beelzebub shrugged his shoulders. Unlike most of the demons who loathed heaven, he found himself to be a person on the neutral side.

"I—" Dalton sighed, "I believe in God since I was a child and now, but I also am aware that what my brother did could never be forgiven. Even God who had so much kindness in them won't be able to forgive him. I had seen the casualties of his action. I was the one to see and witness everything with my own eyes when people were killed by the dark sorcerers. I regretted…"

"Regretted in having him as your brother?" Beelzebub asked him, as he was good at twisting words, he didn't fail to bring out Dalton's surprised eyes which he wanted to see.

"When I was still in the church, I learned that not all victim are one. Some victim became a victim because they were a villain. There was one woman who had been abused by her mother in law. In the end, she couldn't take the abuse and push her mother in law from the stares. The victim was the mother in law but the villain to my eyes was also the mother in law."

Beelzebub hummed at Dalton thorough expression, agreeing at his words. "Which mean your brother was a villain but also a victim?"

"Yes but the mistakes that he did, I do not tolerate them," Dalton was firm at his answer that somewhere made Beelzebub to envy him. 

"Miss Esther is a strong and lovely woman. I heard because she has a blood of demon in her, she doesn't grow old as others humans does, but she does have a lifespan," warned Dalton. 

Beelzebub's eyes narrow in distaste, "Giving me a lesson?"

Dalton offered Beelzebub a gentle and polite smile which he always showed to the people around him. In calm and collected manner he said, "If I were you I won't make her wait."

Beelzebub wasn't able to utter a single word in retort or put his hand on Dalton's neck for his impudence as Dalton had escaped and made his way to stand beside Esther. 

From afar, Beelzebub watched the short distance between Esther and Dalton. When Dalton had said something, Esther softly smiled, causing Beelzebub to clench his hand out of anger.

On the way home, Esther watched Beelzebub's sour mood. What happened to him? Was the question Esther wanted to ask to people who might know the insides of Beelzebub's head but she decided to keep quiet. 

They left the carriage as soon as they arrived back to Beelzebub's house. Venervy who seemed as if she had been waiting for them for hours noticed their appearance and rushed to the carriage. 

"Lord Beelzebub!" Venervy yelled, huffing for breaths. 

"What?" Beelzebub clipped question came 

Esther turned her head and tilted it slightly, hearing Venervy's words patiently. "It is about your uncle, Lord Beelzebub. A report came in, saying that they saw someone who looked extremely similar to him."

Esther was taken aback by the news as she had heard it from Beelzebub's own mouth that he had killed his uncle as a revenge. She was wondering what look would appear on Beelzebub's face when she felt chill running down her spine.

A raw thousands thorns stabbed Esther's back, making her shudder from the brimming anger she could feel coming from Beelzebub's side. 

"Where?" Beelzebub's voice was rigid and icy when he asked. 

Esther's breaths turned rasped and she saw Dalton who also had the terrible time of breathing as he was stifled by Beelzebub's anger as well.

Venervy was shaking on her feet even though she was well aware the anger Beelzebub directed wasn't toward them and rather to his uncle who was said alive.

"Around the south part of Travenlinia," Venervy replied, still shaking in fear. 

"Stay at the house and notify me when someone comes," warned Beelzebub who then made a sharp turn away from Esther's left side, surprising her. 

With Beelzebub being a high demon, his anger could affect many people around him especially the humans and the lower demons. His anger had reached to the point it made Esther, Dalton, and Venervy to stand still, unable to move. 

Yet Beelzebub felt a hard grip on his sleeve the moment he passed by Esther's side. 

Esther's blue eyes was filled with fear but Beelzebub knows how stubborn she was. Despite her pale fingers quivering every so slightly, her eyes was fixed on him firmly. "I will come with you."

Her words dissolved the fear of the other two people around them. 

"If I told you not to, will you not come with me?" Beelzebub asked her. His tone was still demanding and fearsome but Esther didn't back down. 

"I will try my own means," she answered in all honesty.

Beelzebub's jaw ticked when he ruffled his hair and she could see his green veins on his neck trembling in frustration. "Do what you wish."

Esther breathed out in relief when she could sense Beelzebub toning down his anger. 

"I will come as well," Dalton said, still unable to regain his breaths but had made his mind.

His appearance caused Beelzebub to frown further. 

"No Venervy," warned Beelzebub when the witch tried to add herself into the group as Dalton did.

Venervy wanted to complain but feared she would only worsen Beelzebub's mood and decided to remain quiet. 

"Suit yourself," Beelzebub uttered toward Esther and disappeared through a magic portal he had created using a magic spell. 

Esther quickly followed him by three steps. After entering the portal, her vision blackened out. She opened her eyes again to find herself surrounded by red sky. 

She looked behind to see Dalton when she witness the portal was closed behind them. 

Esther questioningly stare at Beelzebub, "You forgot someone."

"If he wish to dig his own grave, I would prefer him to find someone else to accompany him," Beelzebub then walked away, causing Esther to rush after him. But as she ran, Beelzebub stopped his steps. He waited until she arrived two steps closer to him compared to before before continuing his walk but slower this time.

Esther couldn't miss the small endearing action that Beelzebub did with her in mind. She smiled, also sighing at herself who was easily pleased by the simple gesture that barely meant anything. 

"Can I ask you something?" Esther spoke from behind. 

Beelzebub looked at her once before turning his gaze forward again without replying anything. 

Esther bravely took this as his silent agreement, "Beelzebub isn't your real name, is it?"