Somewhere in France
The Dark Ages
I took the broom from by the door and finished sweeping the room. Mother was making dinner for Father when he got home from visiting Lord Bryon. There have been more and more wolves attacking our village every day. Just yesterday, a wolf had come and taken a bite out of a little boy called Alexander. His leg is badly broken and they wonder how long he'll live before infection starts in.
That is why Father is talking to the Lord Bryon. He wants our lord to send down some soldiers to take care of the wolves. I doubt that he will though. Lord Bryon only cares about himself and how many more people he will have to kill before he is next in line to be king. Nevertheless, Father will still try. He is the leader of our village. He has now grown old, but before he was the best wrestler and always had a nice thing to say about somebody.
Just then, my sister walked into the room. She was only eleven but it was obvious that mother and Father wouldn't have any trouble finding her someone to marry. She had Father's blond hair and blue eyes and Mother's slim build.
I on the other hand would be a bit more difficult. I have Mother's brown hair and brown eyes and Father's build. I am average looking but very tall. 5'9 to be exact. I am 16 and Mother and Father already are having trouble finding me someone to marry. There is only one unmarried girl my age left in the village and that will soon be changed by next week.
My sister took a seat at the table as she finished setting out the dishes. I put the broom away and went out of our back door to the well in our backyard. I filled up the bucket and took it inside. I then poured some into each of our cups. I rinsed my hands in what was left.
Just as I finished and sat down Father walked through the door. Mother put the food on the table and gave Father a kiss. He smiled and sat down and we all said grace.
"Did Lord Bryon agree to send soldiers down to clear away the wolves?" Mother asked.
"No he is to afraid to have any of his soldiers leave his side for fear that one of the many enemies that he has made will come and stab him in his back." Father said.
Mother started to say something when we heard a scream.
"Stay here" Father said.
Mother listened to him but me and Amelia didn't. We ran out of the front door and followed father into the middle of the square.
There surrounded by a group of people was a very handsomely dressed man. He was blonde and he had blue eyes. He wore clothes that looked like they were made of air but sturdy enough to withstand a blow from a knife. He looked to be around my age and was very tall. At least 6'0.
But I didn't like him. Something inside me screamed at myself to stay away from him. And it didn't seem to me that I was the only one. The circle of people who surrounded him was slowly backing away.
Father stepped forward and asked, "Who are you and why are you here."
He answered, "I am Lucifer and I have come to find myself a wife."
There was a low moan from the crowd and I looked over to see who had made that sound. It was Grace a girl who had just gotten married a few months ago. She had brown hair and was petite and always happy to help someone out who was in trouble.
"I told you, you ignorant girl not to say HIS name here or that he would come. Now look what you have brought upon us," her mother yelled at her.
Meanwhile, Grace was sitting on the ground bawling her eyes out. I was getting ready to comfort her when HE said something else.
"You have until sunset tomorrow to decide who shall be my wife. If not I will burn this city to the ground with everyone in it." he paused for a moment to let that sink in. He then continued with "But there are some pluses to being my wife. She would be immortal and would live forever. She would also rule by my side making her Queen of the Underworld, which gives her some power. And this agreement will not even be forever."
Well when you say it like that.
I still thought it was a trick. I really felt bad for whoever was chosen to go with him. All of a sudden, I saw Sam walk to the front of the crowd.
Sam and Father don't get along to well because Sam is always trying to take over Father's job. Sam wanted to marry Mother but Mother didn't want to marry him so Sam always resented Father for that. Sam wants to be everything Father is and have everything Father has, and since he can't he tries everyway to make sure that Father doesn't either at least not for much longer.
"No need to wait until tomorrow, Lucifer. We already know who will be chosen. Emma will go."
I froze when he said my name. What did he say! He must mean a different Emma cause it sure isn't me. I mean I'm not even pretty. I can't cook, or clean, or sew good or anything. And then I realized something. I'm not pretty, I can't cook, or clean, or sew good or anything. Whom would I marry? Would I have to live with my parents for the rest of my life or... or... what.
Just as I was getting ready to say something Lucifer exclaimed "Ah, yes just sign here... uh huh...initial here... cross your I's and dot your t's .... and just one more time on the dotted line here... Good job! I'm so very glad we've got that finished good sir." Lucifer said while shaking hands with Father.
How long had I been daydreaming about my terrible future.
I gasped not believing my father would do such a thing. "Father how could you," I yelled at him.
He just looked at his feet and said, "Emma we can't find anyone for you to marry and you have no brothers or uncles to take care of you when I'm gone. At least this way you'll have someone to take care of you."
I could not believe what I was hearing. Just as I was getting ready to tell him off Lucifer appeared at my side. He took my arm and said "Time to go wife."
"I'm not your wife yet," I said.
"Oh, yes you are. What do you think your Father was just signing over there?" Lucifer said.
I just stared at my dad for a very long time hoping for him to look up so that he could see all of the hate in my eyes. He looked up but stared at Lucifer instead.
"You said that it wasn't forever. How long does she have to stay you're wife?" he asked.
"Oh, just until pigs fly" Lucifer answered smugly. "Well, look at the time I had better get going see you later" he said.
And then poof! We were gone.
