The Demon’s Bride

Elise walked from the spot she was and sat in front of the chair, her steps lightly tapped the wooden floor for the crisp sound to enter the library. Taking a seat, she took the envelope out. The wax stamp of the envelope had not been broken by a knife letter, proving that the letter hadn't been opened by anyone yet including Elise. Now she wasn't only feeling giddy in front of Ian but also nervous of the result given by the Church. She had done her best and wished she could pass the exam but she was also worried that she wouldn't pass as her knowledge compared to the rest of the people who had entered the exam could be seen as lesser.

"Nervous?" Ian spoke her feeling aloud, not missing anything from her as he always did.

"I am." Elise inhaled her breath with her blue eyes staring at the letter.

Ian who had propped his chin on his arm above the desk didn't miss how she kept on pursing the delectable lips she had. He then asked, "Tell me why do you want to enter the Church, puppy? It isn't a job anyone is looking forward to, to humans or woman. No offense, puppy. I'm asking out of pure curiosity."

Elise met his eyes, the blue color faded as if it was engulfed when it reflected to Ian's scarlet eyes. Seeing her eyes for too long made her feel more nervous and she brought her eyes down to the letter, "I wished to use my power for a better use. All the time I've been thinking that there must be reason for me to be able to see creatures or ghosts that people couldn't normally see and wished it could help someone and myself to find a reason for the power."

Ian whistled a subtle hum, "Did your father and mother opposed your idea? By father and mother, I mean Mr. and Mrs. Scott. You are the only daughter of the family, there must be one or two objection from your parents."

"They did, father in particular and uncle Russel." It felt long since Elise had called for her family. The memories were still fresh to her mind but their absence stayed when she tried to recollect her happy days with her family.

"How did you persuade them?" He continued to ask.

"I was being stubborn, requesting them to allow me to participate to the exam for days and didn't stop studying from morning to the dusk." Ian chuckled, his lips were widely spread, he ner thought that could be the other side of Elise he didn't knew and wonder what more he hadn't seen from her yet.

"I didn't know you could be stubborn." And it was true, Elise had tried to be less stubborn as she was in the place which was not her home. Not that she didn't considered White Mansion as her house because she had seen it as one long since before she was adopted but she was alone now and she had only herself to lean on which made her to forget about her stubborn side.

"Because I wish to be more mature." she replied briefly and feel the spot of her cheeks where Ian stared of burned from shyness.

"Was being stubborn equals to being childish? Then I would be count as one then." He deadpanned.

Elise quickly looked up and shook her head quickly, thinking that perhaps Ian had took her words in different meaning.

"I'm joking, puppy of course I know what you mean." So he was joking with her, thought Elise. She could never see Ian's joke as one because how often he was serious with his words almost as if he words were placed in the borderline of serious and mischievous jokes. "Being stubborn is one of your charm, puppy. You shouldn't hold any of your feelings tight inside your heart as human heart is weak when it come to emotions. You could be stubborn but in moderation, Everything should keep neutral and so is your emotions."

The words he said felt resonated to her heart that a smile form on her lips. "Will you not be opening the letter?" asked Ian as she looked as if she had forgotten the envelope.

"Y-yes." Elise said for her to hear him chuckling.

"What are you doing silly puppy? Daydreaming? Is having a handsome master in front of you makes all the thoughts in your head floated away?" Red color splashed on her face. He had nailed his words. Elise was swayed with emotion that she almost forgot if the letter not entirely as she still have the thought but just now she found herself lost while staring at him.

"N-no." she uttered beneath her breaths but Ian didn't stopped.

A grin came to stopped at one side of his lips. "What do you mean by no?" He could detect the jittery nerves of hers as he asked, "Do you mean that I'm not handsome?" His tone was like a hook waiting to fish her reply.

"No! You are handsome master Ian." Her following words after 'no' came as little whispers. Her ears were beyond the color of red that one could mistake her as a boiled prawn. In her mind, Elise prayed that God would spare her a moment to breath.

Ian tilted his head to the side as he laughed, his smile was wide and the raven lock of his hairs fell to sway beside his ears. There was little lights in the library as how Ian preferred to be under the darkness and with the books in the library, the room became dimmer but a ray of orange light had found it way through the curtain and stopped to shade his black hair with a hue of orange-red color. Elise stared at his handsome face for a good two second, her ears felt numb as if she couldn't hear anything else but she could hear the loud sound of her heartbeat well enough to make her wonder if she had placed her heart right beside her ears.

"It's an honor to be seen as handsome to your eyes." Ian stated, his eyes dipping into the darkness of the shadow.

Elise didn't know what to say she only gave a small nod and opened the envelope by tearing the wax with the knife letter Ian had given her. She didn't know when he had prepared the knife letter but didn't ask as she didn't want to ruin the air where she was in which felt tense yet relaxing to her.