The Demon Bride

Chapter One - The Ceremony

The chapel stood elegantly against the light blue sky, towering over the buildings alongside it. The sunlight shimmers upon its exterior walls constructed of white-dressed bricks. They lay magnificently in the shape of a cruciform, with a long central rectangle reaching for the sky. A large bell in the center, a golden cross of Jesus displayed above it but below its burgundy slate roofing. A short flight of stairs led to its double burgundy arched doors at its entrance, decorated with white wicker floral wreaths. And two Tiffany-stained glass angels alongside the doors, in the shape of a full spring line.

Its interior felt like heaven, with white marble stone floors stretching from end to end beneath the rows of burgundy pews decorated with white floral vines. A floral arch before the pews with a long luxury carpet matching the pews in the center of its aisle separating the pews. It leads from its doors, straight down its aisle, and then to its altar with a Crystal Statement chandelier hanging from its ceiling. Above the rows of little candles glimmering inside the red transparent cylinder-shaped holders before the rows of pews. Three Tiffany-stained glass angels above the altar shaped like a full spring line, and another above it shaped like a full chord. Then three additional full spring lines alongside the walls and pews.

The friends and loved ones of the bride and groom gathered in this chapel at ten in the morning to celebrate a beautiful wedding ceremony in which two hands are joined in holy matrimony. The bride's loved ones were seated firmly on the pews on the left while the grooms were on the right. They wore suits and dresses in various colors and styles for this special occasion. Cream, white, burgundy, and light blue for the ladies; gray, navy blue, black, and charcoal gray for the men.

The church bell rang, signaling the bride's arrival. All heads were turned and eyes glued at the entrance as Hailey Campbell entered. She was no stranger to the church; it was like a second home to her. She sang in the choir and participated in bible school, church camp, and Christmas events. That's how she met him. In some traditions, the father, mother, or both parents would've walked the bride down the aisle.

But due to her strong and independent nature, she wouldn't allow it; she wasn't some prize that needed to be given away. She only requested flower girls, page boys, and a ring bearer. The flower girls' dresses mirrored the bride's gown, and the page boys and the ring bearer mirrored the groom's attire. The ring bearer laid the procession, then the flower girls on the left alongside the page boys on the right, following in second, and lastly was the bride. The flower girl's giggles echoed throughout the chapel, scattering white petals, making their way to the altar.

Hailey's gown was elegant and unique, a white lace veil shielding her slim face with a chiseled jawline and slim lips neatly covered in dark red lipstick. This shade, combined with her makeup, brought out her emerald, green eyes. Her bridal jewelry was extravagant—a pair of white pearl teardrop earrings hung from her ears and a matching pearl necklace around her neck. Her blonde hair was styled in a soft, textured bun decorated with white petals and a Leila Delicate pearl tiara on her head. A soft white fabric lace clings to her body like a second skin, from her shoulders and straight down to her feet. It was the shape of a mermaid, reflecting her slim, curvy body with a long flare at the end. a V-neck to the front with sleeveless arms, a halter back covered in a beautiful floral pattern, and a pair of satin high heel sandals with pearls firmly on her feet.

They match down the aisle to the rhythm of The Power of Love, composed by Jennifer Rush, which played in the background. Midway through, Hailey felt sick to the stomach when she heard the guests addressing Henry's absence. She stood at the altar facing right; the groom's men were present, but not him. When she was startled by her father's sudden outburst.

"Honey! Your phone! It's an emergency!" Her father shouts from his seat.

"What? What is it, Dad?" She answered in a panic, racing towards him.

"It's about Henry; someone wants to speak with you," he added.

Hailey took the phone and placed it by her left ear. "Hello," she breathed.

"Is this Hailey I'm speaking to?" asked the woman on the other side of the phone.

"Yes, she is speaking," Hailey breathed again.

"Do you know why your fiancée is not at your wedding?" the woman confides.

"No, he may have been kept back," Hailey stated.

"Believe me or not, but he's with another woman," the caller commented.

"H-H-He won't; Henry is not unfaithful," Hailey stammered.

"Fine, don't believe me? Then, go see for yourself; he's in room 101, the motel two blocks down the street," the unknown caller uttered as she hung up the phone.

Tears filled Hailey's eyes as she dropped her phone to the floor, flinging off her shoes and yanking off the veil. The guest's jaws dropped witnessing her holding the sides of her wedding gown bolting down the altar and then out the chapel, hoping it was all a nightmare.

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