The Demon's Bride

Recommend song: Rosa La (only yesterday)

Elise had a lot to say to her mother when it comes to her father. She didn't want to tell her mother all the sad time she had during her life, wanting to illustrate her only happiness.

"Father missed you," Elise said. She can see it from her father's eyes when talking about her mother, how deeply in love her father was to her mother and likewise.

"I thought he would. I am glad to see you and your husband to be alright," Adelaide then said, her eyebrows frowning a little as she talked.

Elise tilted her head slightly. From what she knew was that her mother had spent most of her time isolated in the thorny side of the garden. She didn't seem bored nor stuffy as Heaven would make certain to supply all the accommodation which the souls needed. Her mother didn't know much about what occurred outside the Heaven other than those which Elise had talked to her.

Where did her worry come from then?

"What do you mean?" Elise asked gently.

Her mother took her hand, looking at her fingers before saying, "I have never said this to Levi. Because I know he would always be the first to bear guilt on his shoulder. I can only imagine how much pain and guilt he had when I had died away from him. I didn't want it to happen… but his curse, it is not something that I could control."

"His curse?" Elise raised one eyebrow to her mother's statement.

"As you know, all demons have their own curse but the King and Prince of Hell had never found the truth of their own curse. I didn't know what curse had plagued Levi as well. But he appeared to be free of the curse's restrain. At one point, I concluded that the King and Prince of Hell, my husband was the two only demons who weren't cursed. It was all my wish, however," whispered Adelaide. Her red hair, like Elise glimmered in a slight orange tint as she sat underneath the sun.

"What was father's curse?" Elise questioned as she didn't notice any curse dooming her father as well.

Adelaide inhaled her breaths sharply, appearing to be shaken by her own thoughts as she said, "The King's bloodline hold a curse. Where his direct descendants will suffer the same curse. The curse was for them to lose their… first love." 𝗳𝓇ℯe𝓌𝚎𝚋𝓃𝚘𝚟𝘦𝑙.𝑐𝚘𝙢

Surprised; Elise looked at her mother with her eyes wide. She could feel her heart dropping as her mother spoke, "I thought the same curse would be put on you but seeing your husband with you, I am sure somewhere along the line the curse had been broken and for those demons whose curse had been broken, their descendants will no longer suffer the same curse."

Elise hadn't told her mother about Ian's death which why the woman wasn't aware that the curse had once activated on Elise's life. She looked at Ian's face, finding his surprised look as well.

"Does father know this?" Questioned Elise to her mother, replied with her mother shaking her head in response. "I didn't know this either until an angel came and sat beside me. He talked about curses and told me about the curse that had harmed Levi. There were lots of things that I remember when I was still living, dearest, but also there are a lot more of things which I had forgotten. Even though Camael was free around Heaven, I had forgotten that he was the one who had killed me."

"Heaven wished only to keep the happiest part of your life while you're here," Elise said to her mother who nodded her head in response.

"I don't blame their decision as every day, I live happily with the memory that we share together. You, me, and Levi, that happy time never change once in my mind and I am grateful Heaven didn't erase those memories from me," Adelaide confessed. Elise watched her mother who she only imagined to have and never thought would meet again.

Elise heard her mother talked about their past, when it was still time full of happiness; where Elise and her parents live together, share the same dream on one bed. Every day was happy and it wasn't only her who had treasured those memories but her mother as well.

Time passed as quickly as ever. Elise stood up when it was time for her to leave. Adelaide also stood from her chair, engulfing her daughter around her arms and patting her daughter's back gently.

"You did great, Elise."

The single word caused Elise to want to cry again. But she sniffled her tears, showing her mother a wide smile. "Thanks to you, mother."

Adelaide then looked at Ian, giving the man a pat on his shoulders.

"Don't you worry, Lady Adelaide. I am here for Elise, and I will forever be there to protect her," Ian gave her his words, the words which he wanted to state to Elise's parents but unfortunately wasn't able to until this day.

"I trust my daughter's eyes and where her heart bring her to. Take good care of them," Adelaide waved her hands as Elise and Ian made their way out of the garden.

Elise couldn't keep her eyes away from her mother until she had stepped out the garden. She then heard Ian humming with a small grin.

"What's wrong?" Elise asked curiously.

Ian looked at Adelaide and said, "I am glad to have such a great mother in law." And Elise's smile was quick to blossom at his praise.

"Them…" whispered Ian to himself while looking at Elise. Clearly Adelaide didn't mention them to Elise as a single person… but rather plural.

In Elise's journey, she learned through many hardships a lesson. Her life didn't start smoothly and there were too many loss and betrayal that occurred from her surroundings, but Elise never regretted any of the choices she had made.

The best present that God had given to her was Ian, her husband, her dearest husband, who had stayed with her despite all the harms they went through together. There were tears, both sad and happy tears. But now, the fact that they could walk to Heaven, meeting their mothers and looking over to the blue sky from the Kingdom of God, tells the fruit of their hard work.

"Ian…" Elise whispered when they walked out of Heaven's gate. Along the way, she recollect her past that brought her to this day.

"Hm?" Ian gently questioned her. His eyes that looked at her had always focus solely on her, caring her, loving her, and Elise loved his gaze and his pure love he had for her.

"Do you know what your name means?" Elise held his hand tighter.

Ian tipped his chin slightly and shook his head, "Not that I am aware of. I didn't asked my mother what's the meaning beside my name. Do you know it?"

Elise nodded softly, "Your name means, gift from God. It's correct, you are a gift God had given to me. My lovely gift."

Ian was taken back to the time when his mother had told him where in the future, God would gift him someone who would stand by his side forever.

His smile that always seemed mischievous now turned to a fulfilled smile, "And you are the gift of my life." 𝗳𝓇ℯe𝓌𝚎𝚋𝓃𝚘𝚟𝘦𝑙.𝑐𝚘𝙢

Elise chuckled at his words, holding his hand tighter, enjoying to bask on his warmth. She heard him then said, "It's time for us to leave; your hand, my love."

Elise gently wrapped her hands around his neck while Ian had picked her waist and the back of her knees. "I was afraid to fly at first," Elise confessed before they fly.

Ian's wings spread behind him, the majestic black feathers spread wide across the sky. "And you are not scared now? Getting used to it, aren't you?"

"I was afraid at first but I trust that no matter what happen during our flight, you would always be there to catch me," said Elise, receiving a kiss from Ian's lips that pressed down gently.

"And you are not wrong. I would always be here for you."

Elise never felt so much happiness in her life. When they took off from the ground, soaring on the sky, she looked away to see how the Sun felt so near to them. Oddly, it wasn't as hot as Elise had thought, rather it felt warm and good. The freshness of the air brushed gently on her skin.

She remembered the time when they had fly together in the beginning and realizing so much thing that had changed.

"Let's go home," Ian said, the person who had given her a place to call home and protect.

Elise nodded her head, closing her eyes as she leaned her face toward his chest, hearing his soft heartbeat, cooing herself for their peaceful life that lies ahead of them.