The Demon's Bride

Esther couldn't guess what kind of game which Asmodeus playing about but she had no time to think further on her choices when Asmodeus was the only key of Beelzebub's whereabout.

"Fine," Esther shrugged her shoulder. "What game?

Asmodeus's grin curled chillingly. "It's easy. I was quite bored this days. As you see I have a gambling house but as the owner of this gambling house, I have almost no one who could be a good opponent for me to play with. I am actually happy to see an opportunity for someone to help me."

"That sounds lonely but you could have step out of your gambling house and find a worthy opponent. There's numerous amount of people outside the gambling house; some must be worthy of to be your match." Esther pointed out, not realizing how Asmodeus's eyes narrowing as when she lifted her chin, the man had gained back his smile.

Without replying to her statement, he said, "We will play three round of game. I know you don't have time. But three game should be short enough for you, don't you agree?"

Esther didn't know how much time Beelzebub had but she had no room to negotiate, "Okay. What kind of game?" Was it the usual card game? Or was it something similar to bloody chest? Wondered Esther.

"It's a game famous in Hell, or should I say as the one who popularized this game as the speciality of this gambling house," she heard Asmodeus speak and saw him raising his hand to cue his servant who stepped out from the door and clapped his hand for a few humans to step inside their room.

Esther narrowed her eyes at this and when she stood up, Asmodeus swipe his hand to push the table toward the wall in a loud crash. The food on the table fell on the ground, crashing and making a nasty mess.

Esther saw how quickly the wily grin of Asmodeus disappearing at once and a look of hatred covered his face. "I would suggest you not to stop the game onesidedly, Madame Esther. I hate it the most when people stopped the game I'm playing in."

"Did I offend you?" Esther asked at once. She knew she couldn't afford to anger anyone not a high demon who was much stronger and powerful compared to her.

"You just met me, how could you offend me, madame?" Asmodeus returned her question yet his face was still filled with anger.

"Maybe not I who had offend you but someone else?" It was clear that he is angry, that's for sure, thought Esther to herself.

Asmodeus chuckled, "I am amused to see how smart you are, Madame Esther. Correct."

"Who was it? Beelzebub?" Esther recalled there were only two name who had brought her here. "No, Ian, was it?"

Asmodeus's hand that was holding to the edge of the table cracked, causing him to break the red crystal table to pieces. The table slide down after loosing one side of its leg, creating more ruckus and Esther noticed the fear that crossed the faces of humans who came to the room.

"That fucker," cursed Asmodeus.

Well, it turns out someone can call Ian as a fucker too, thought Esther in the midst of seeing the anger slowly shimmering over Asmodeus's head.

"You asked me why I couldn't just step out of the gambling house and find a worthy opponent? It's because that fucker dared to cheat on the game he won and sealed me here!" Roared Asmodeus; his scream causing all the fragile things made out of glass to quiver where a touch could destroy them to dusts.

"That's not me," Esther reminded. "I came here on my own behalf and not his."

"I don't care. The fact that Ian had sent you here means that you and him has a certain relationship in where he would help you by telling my location," said Asmodeus spitefully. "Which also mean if I take your life here it would be a great loss for him."

Does that nephew in law of her have to create grudge everywhere he go? And did Ian sent her here while being aware of the deep hatred Asmodeus had against him?

"Once again I'm played by the demons," cursed Esther underneath her breaths. "Fine. Bring it on. What game are you playing about? If it is taking humans' life I'm not in."

"No that's not the kind of sport we practice here. They are here as our 'pawns'," Asmodeus seemed to regain somewhat of his composure but now there was cruel glint on his eyes. He made his way slowly to one of the human, standing in front of the child who was barely tall enough to reach Asmodeus's hips.

The child cowered in front of the demon's presence and Asmodeus took the twisted amusement in the fear that the humans showed. Taking a crown from his servant, he then placed it toward the child.

"This will be your King, Madame," Asmodeus smiled. "The game we play will be nothing more than our old beloved game of chess."

Esther cut in, "But instead of inanimate pawns you want a human as pawns on the chests." It was a game that Esther have seen before, a completely twisted game which she could never agree to much less to enjoy them.

"Correct," Asmodeus then walked between the other line of the humans, choosing people when he stopped by the largest and tallest person in the room. The man was filled with scars all over his body, appearing like a warrior— a fallen warrior as the fact he was here means he had died.

Asmodeus's grin widened, "This would be the king for me."

Esther's eyes narrowed, "This isn't a fair game then." fre𝑒𝘸𝚎𝚋n૦ѵℯl.c𝒐𝘮

"Because your king as a child and mine is an adult? Or because that kid come from a small and peaceful village while mine came from the colosseum?" Asmodeus questioned obliviously.

"Both," replied Esther.

"No worries, madame. I'm not heartless. If I have an upper hand you will also have one in this. I will allow you to enter the chessboard but only a single time in each turn. The rules remain unchanged as a normal chess game."

Esther thought about the traps that was laid. Obviously it was Asmodeus's goal to win and the sweeter the temptation of his game, the deadlier the consequences for her to lose the game.

"Okay," Esther, who had nothing to negotiate, agreed. She could see the clear ecstatic from Asmodeus's face who seemed to look as if he could see the vision of his triumph.

"Follow me, milady. I will show you the way to the board."

Esther followed Asmodeus who made his way out of the room, walking away as they had to change into another room. More eyes stared at Esther as the loud crash earlier had caused a small ruckus between the guests who expected for Esther and Asmodeus to fight.

The man who stood in front of the room had disappeared by the time Esther had stepped out of the room. As they walked Esther took her time to observe her surrounding that wasn't for long as they arrived in the room.

The door opened for Asmodeus to come in and the humans who were brought earlier was now standing on each of their perspective boxes. Instead of black and white checkered floor, the tiles where a mix of red and black, a typical chessboard for the demons to play.

"The game ends when I conquer your King or when you surrender—" Asmodeus's words cut off when Esther spoke.

"But this is still an unfair game. Lets not forget your ability to see the future which could also mean you'll be able to predict my next move," Esther pointed out.

Asmodeus's head lifted up and down, "I have to say you're right but you're wrong. I can't use my power as to my liking as to what others would want to believe. I need a surface to reflect the vision I received from my power. Which mean I need this," Asmodeus flick his hand for a crystal ball to appeared over his hand. "This is one of my finest creation. The crystal ball which would give me my clearest vision. And to respect the rule of this game, I won't be using my power at all. Any other question?"

"We haven't discuss the consequences of loosing and winning this game," Esther reminded him to which Asmodeus clapped his hand.

"True! I almost forgot about it."

"Because you think I won't win," whispered Esther.

"Let's see," Asmodeus walked to the second floor of the room where rather could have a better place to see the chessboard of humans below them. "It's clear that if you win, you would receive Beelzebub's location. As a demon, I promised you, to tell you his location honestly. But if I win… yeah. I would like to have you help me on my revenge against Ian."

"Revenge? You mean kill," Esther helped to fix his words, causing him to chuckle. 𝘧𝓇𝒆𝗲𝓌𝙚𝙗𝓷o𝘷𝒆𝘭.𝐜𝚘𝒎

"I don't wish to anger the King. I think harming him enough is enough for me. Yeah… I want a deep scar for him to remember his whole life." Asmodeus crushed the railing of the stair case again out of anger.