MEETING THE DEVIL 1

We appeared in an unknown dark land, a completely different realm, covered with nothing but large trees and grasses. My eyes were on the man from the ballroom, the one that has brought me here. My heart pounded hard in my chest as my body shivered from his dangerous cold stare.

He didn't look like the monster I had imagined in my head. He looked nothing like I expected a vampire to look. He was different, more like a human, yet seemed so dark and dangerous.

I had never seen anyone so handsome—and never had so many warning bells ringing in my head because of it.

His tall and large frame could be double or triple my size. Though he was not a monster. I was still frightened by him. My head felt fuzzy and I fought the need not to faint right now. I couldn't keep my gaze on those dark intimidating eyes.

The ones that seemed like a bottomless barrel, holding endless pains, cries and tortures struggling to break free. The one that pierced into my soul. I felt naked before his eyes.

His black hair was split by the side of his head falling to the side. His eyes are as black as Vantablack. His appearance blended with the darkness making him look like a monster.

The monsters we were warned to stay wary of, the ones you'd run away from.

He hasn't said a thing but yet it felt like a thousand words have been said. I still couldn't believe I was married.

This is my husband. The man father talked about.

Asmodeus...

All my thoughts varnished when he moved two steps forward, closing the gap between us.

I felt my heart summersaults in my chest as my entire being got stuck to the floor. My brain blacked out and my feet turned numb and shaky, I had no idea I stopped breathing till he said,

"Breathe woman."

Still, I breathe out carefully trying not to offend him as I squinted my lashes at him. He tilted his head to the side a little, his eyes narrowed and his lips parted.

"What trick is this?" He voiced out calmly. It didn't sound like a vicious question, he sounded rather confused his eyes still roaming around me as if searching for a clue.

"What are you? Why did you summon me?" He asked and began circling me, slowing, like the predator he is.

My heart kept beating so fast as I watched the dark figure move around me.

Is he not my husband?

Is he not the ruthless demon, Asmodeus?

The one father had spoken about.

Wasn't he the man at the ball?

Different questions bubbled in my head as I tried to figure out his words. I took in deep silent breaths to calm my shaky nerves, I tried not to let him know how terrified I was.

But everything I did gave me away.

"I... I'm y... your wife?" I managed to say gathering all of the courage I had left in me. The word 'WIFE', sounded strange in my ears. And it seems to have offended him.

He paused to stand before me, a small frown appearing on his face.

His brows furrowed slightly in thought as he watched me closely. I gulped and licked my dry lips.

"I don't have a wife, go back to where you came from." He said moving away from me.

What is he talking about? The ritual was meant to be a marriage feast so how is it possible that I'm not his wife? I've never seen a more confused demon as this one.

I didn't know whether to be happy or sad at his rejection.

Was I being rejected cause of my looks?

Did he not find me attractive enough?

Did he not find me worthy enough?

The last thing I wanted was going back to Neil. I gritted my teeth at the thought of them. Father had humiliated me, there's no way I want to go back there.

"My Lord," I called to see him pause turning his head to the side as if permitting me to speak.

"I have nowhere to go to as I've been rejected by my people and turned into your bride." He said nothing to my words, rather groaned and kept walking.

I trotted towards him, my feet moved quickly till I was standing right in front of him as I struggled to catch my breath whilst staring at those cold dark eyes.

"These beads my lord." I held the beads on my neck, pointing to the others around my body as his eyes followed my hands.

"These clothes on my body, don't they mean anything to you?" I tried to sound as convincing as possible, there is no way he must have forgotten everything about the ritual and how we got here.

"Are you trying to seduce me, woman?" He asked meaningfully narrowing his eyes.

Seduce him? Why would I do that? I'm at loss trying to make him understand he's meant to be my husband but here he is acting all dumb and blind.

"N... No, my Lord, I was just trying to exp..."

"The beads or clothes didn't summon me, neither did your little fetish rituals. You can't bind a demon with little feast, it takes more than just a feast to do so." He walked away.

"What does it take, I'm willing to do it?" He paused and turned to look at me in astonishment. Those dark eyes glowing with darkness and burning with hell.

I knew I was digging my own grave, but being with him is better than going back to father. I would rather suffer here than spend the rest of my life being locked up in a room. I was already banished from Neil, I had no where else to go to.

He returned to me, every movement exquisite and laced with lethal power, but I held my ground as he gave me a lazy smile.

"Do I look like one that is interested in finding a wife princess?" His words were tinged with arrogance that only an immortal could achieve. The smile falling from his lips as he moved his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Do you want do die and rot in hell with me?" He asked and I gulped.

What did he mean die?

Not only did this man that is meant to be my husband reject me, but he has threatened to kill me. When I said nothing to him he smiled.

"Thought so." He walked away.

He couldn't just leave me here all alone. I clenched my hands. He brought me here, if at all he wants me to leave then he must take me back. Or perhaps he must have not been informed about me, maybe I've been doing a wrong introduction.

I had forgotten the ways of demons were different from humans. Maybe he didn't understand my language.

"Asmodeus, you're Asmodeus." He paused again and I smiled feeling glad he remembers.

"You're Asmodeus aren't you?" I asked further.

"NO, I'M NOT!" He snapped. His roar could be heard at the end of the forest if it had an end, causing a surge of wind that almost pulled me from the floor. But before I moved, he held my hands pulling me to himself.

I hit my head harshly on his chest gripping his shirt firmly as my entire body trembled beneath him.

The entire forest turned dead silent and I didn't dare open my eyes. I heard him sigh, his hot breath brushing against my skin before pulling me off his body.

"Your soul is precious for now. If you die I die." I heard him say and I opened my eyes slowly to look at him.

My green eyes met his black once as he started at me in silence. I saw his lips slowly curl as his smile widen causing a wrinkle at the sides of his eyes. He was smiling as if he had seen something amusing.

"You are the bride of Asmodeus?" My confused gaze met his and I nodded. His smile widened further showing off his white teeth and fang.

"Now this is interesting." He said sizing me with his eyes.

"Are you not my husband?" I asked the man who hasn't stopped smiling.

"Oh I am. We just got married today at your ritual didn't we?" I narrowed my eyes at him. For a demon, this man seemed more human than usual.

"Tag along if you don't want to get eaten by werewolves." I heard his voice in my head and I immediately tailed behind him.