The Devil's Bride

Chapter 1

                                               Three Days, Five Hours, Ninteen Minutes

The withering red rose petals slipped through my fingers and drifted to the cold pavement of the stone walkway. The gentle breeze made them fly along the ground and shook the trees that rustled quietly in the early morning sun. My sigh was carried off by the wind and the first signs of fall appeared all around me. I pulled my coat tighter around me, leaving the dying roses to walk further along the path. The trees grew thicker with each step and the stone path faded in to soft dirt and fallen leaves. The dryer ones crunched under my feet as I walked, sniffling my stuffy nose. Of course i would catch the cold as soon as a chilly wind blew by. Let's just say my immune system isn't as gracious as it should be.

 The path dissolved all together and soon I was just weaving through the trees. My mind wandered off into random thoughts and before I knew it, I was lost. I tried back tracking my steps but everything looked so simialr, I was sure i was going in circles. After a few heart pounding minutes, I came to a break in the trees. A small, dirty clearing with a big oak siting in the center came in to view and I gasped. The long, twisting branches curled outward and the bark's dark color made it even more enchanting. I stepped up to the trunk, running my hand over it. The tree was so beautiful, even without it's leaves. I knitted my brows when I looked down and noticed that I didn't even see any leaves. Had they all already rotted into the soil?

 I kicked the dirt to check but it was still dry and light. Hmm...

 "Hello there young girl." I turned around, starled to see a small, elderly woman standing near the edge of the clearing, a cane grasped in one of her skaing hands. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and twisted my hands nervously. She looked creepy, but she was old so, what harm can she be?

 "Um, hello. How are you this morning?" She smiled slowly, the wrinkles around her thin lips stretching.

 "I'm doing well. This forest isn't safe for young girls like you, dear," she croaked, her scratchy voice sending shivers up my spine. "How old are you?"

 "I'm only seventeen. Um, why are you out here? Isn't it unsafe for you too. You are a bit...old..." Her dark, lifeless eyes stared back at me and that wide smile faltered just slightly. I backed up a step when she rasied her cane to the sky. The skull on the end shined like marble under the sun and the red, jeweled eyes glinted.

 "It's rude to ask the age of a woman, dear. Very rude," she slithered, her tongue flickering past her lips. I watched in horror as both her eyes went black, entirley, like an alien's. Her tongue flickered out of her mouth and split down the middle, making two, snake like tongues. She hissed and thrust her cane down into the dirt, a shock wave of red energy pulsating at me. It swept my feet from under me and I fell to the ground, crying out in pain as my back hit something sharp.

 "By light of day and Dark of night. Prepare for the ultimate test of flight," she chanted, over and over as the wind picked up and began swirling into one big twister of dirt, leaves and small sticks. I cowered against the trunk of the tree as I got pummeled with debris, and tried to keep my heart from jumping out of my chest.

 "The blood of good and sould of evil, a bride of Hell shall be commenced!" She yelled to the sky, oblivious to all the harmful and sharp things flying around her. I tried crawling away as she chanted but somehow, she dragged me back with her words. Her spell chained me to the ground with tree roots from the dark Oak, and she stepped over to me as I struggled relentlessly against my bindings.

 "Let me go," I yelled, dirt flying into my mouth. She grinned, revealing sharp, pointed teeth. My eyes widened and I struggled some more. The tree roots tightened around me, keeping me from breathing properly. I choked with each breath and tears brimmed my eyes.

 "The deal has been sealed already. You will be the future bride to Prince Isreal Lancer, one of the most powerful demons on this world. Be prepared, dear. Three days, five hourse and ten minutes. Be ready," she said, then some how, her body lifted away like ash, flying around in the wind until she was gone. I gaped at the sight and finally sucked in air when the roots let me go. I laid on the dirty ground, grimacing when the dirt, leaves and stick fell to the ground.

 All I could comprehend was that this demon lady just did something impposible, bound me to a demon, and gave me three days, five hours, and ten minutes until he came to get me. Everything else was a mushed blur that I wanted to remember, but was too afaraid to.

My life ended in three days, five hours, and ten minutes.