BETROTHED TO THE DEMON KING

Eleanor's p.o.v

"Holy water, check. Holy oil, check. Dagger dipped in holy water check and a golden holy hair pin blessed and dipped into holy water, perfect." I whispered to myself happily.

I was kneeling down looking at my things which were wrapped in a silk cloth in the wardrobe.

"Eleanor." My mother called loudly then rushed into my room.

It came as a surprise that she was calling me by my name. Since Zara was born she refrained from calling me by my name for some reason. The only time she did that was when she was very angry with me.

"Yes mother." I answered while I stood up and shut the door of my wardrobe.

"Change your clothes right now and put on your best robe." She said in a cracked voice.

I calmly looked at her trembling hands then at her face.

It was only once that I had seen my mother this scared in my entire life and that was the day the demon king visited our village.

"Is he here?" I asked in a low tone.

"Yes." She answered with tears forming in her eyes.

"Calm down mother, I trained all my life for this. Remember I have a holy dagger which is as good as the holy sword. I will kill that monster before it lays its hands on me." I whispered softly.

"That's my daughter." She said proudly then quickly rushed to my wardrobe and opened it.

As she went through my gowns and dresses, I stripped off my outer robe and remained with the inner ones. I then pulled off the string tied to my hair letting it drop to my shoulders.

"Here, put this yellow one on." She immediately instructed me.

I nodded and took the yellow silk robe, putting it on. It was my best robe because it was very expensive and beautiful, a gift given to me by my step father on my coming of age ceremony. It had golden rings on my chest and white fur around my neck and wrist. It truly was beautiful with art golden symbols on its back.

"Sit down and let me fix your hair." She ordered.

I quickly went to my things and picked up the golden hair pin then handed it to her.

"Use this." I said then quickly sat down.

I sat in silence as she quickly began to fix my hair.

"Where is the monster?" I asked seriously.

"He should be here any second. He was spotted by some villagers approaching our village. They came here to report in time." She answered, then quickly moved and looked at me.

"You are very pretty because you have my beautiful features, but I still think that we need to add a little bit of powder and make-up on your face." She said then rushed out of the room.

I took that chance to stand up and grab my robe which was on the floor.

I ripped out two pieces of cloth and raised my gown tying one to my thigh.

I glanced at the door for a second to make sure no one was watching me, before proceeding to grab my wrapped cloth with my things in it from the wardrobe carrying it to the bed.

I took out the dagger and wrapped it in the remaining piece of cloth I had, then lifted my gown again and tucked the dagger under the tied cloth around my thigh.

I glanced at the entrance again, then picked up the holy water and tucked it in the inner cloth wrapped around my breast.

"Here, sit down." My mother said as she came in with a small clay bowl in her hand.

I sat down and closed my eyes while she fixed my face.

"Mother, now that I'm thinking about that day, I have been curious about something. Where did that handsome lord with white hair and red eyes go?' I asked seriously.

I remembered that he was heading for our village but I didn't know what kind of business he had, moreover he was nowhere to be seen when the demon king appeared.

When she stopped fixing my face I opened my eyes to find her looking at me with a terrified expression.

"Dear did you not know?" She asked loudly.

"Know what?" I asked.

"That lord was....'

"Wife. He is here" My step father called loudly.

"Let's go." She said at the top of her voice.

I grabbed the oil bottle in my hand and walked out of my room with her.

Immediately we went out, everyone looked at us. When my eyes went to the monster standing at the center, I felt repulsed. He was exactly as I saw him that very day.

His dark red hair was long and his eyes were completely black. On his head near his forehead were two big horns that stuck out. His robes looked expensive but were covered in dark smoke.

"I believe this land has never lacked rain when you need it and no one has ever died due to diseases since that day." He said in a deep voice then looked at my mother who was standing next to me trembling.

"I fulfilled my end of the deal, you should now fulfill yours." He said.

My mother looked at me for a minute then took a step back.

I slowly walked forward to where he was and stood in front of him trying so hard to compose myself.

"My bride." He said as he extended his hand towards me.

"My Lord." I whispered then bowed low.

He took a step forward and leaned in to touch my face when I moved my hand in the gown and pulled out the dagger, quickly unwrapping it and stabbing him in his chest.

He stood upright as I did too. I was expecting him to cry out or scream in pain, but he only looked at it in silence then at me.

I quickly opened the bottle of holy oil and poured it on him.

"Die you disgusting monster!" I yelled at the top of my voice with a rapid beating heart as everyone gasped loudly.

I watched in shock and fear as his horns grew larger and his claws grew longer .

I was about to move when a hard slap across my cheek sent me flying to where my mother was.

I groaned in pain when I hit the ground. I felt dizzy and the scent of blood filled my nose.

I was about to stand up when I fell down to my knees weakly.

"Eleanor." My mother called then rushed to where I was, kneeling down and holding my hand tightly.

"Step aside." Different male voices I have never heard before commanded at once.

My mother quickly stood up while I blinked a few times to get rid of my dizziness.

"Please have mercy on her, she is just a child." My mother screamed when I was grabbed by my hair.

I bit my lower lip to swallow my scream as my scalp burned in heat and pain.

"Because of her misconduct, this village will go back to how it used to be. Rain will never fall again and diseases will strike you down." He said as a large wind began to blow.

I had no strength left and as much as I wanted to fight or keep awake I couldn't. My eyes got heavy and the last thing I heard was my mother calling out my name.