Laura the Devil's Wife

“Who… who are you?” I asked, breath trembling. “And what was that sound?” “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said. His voice rolled through the air, calm yet commanding. “It’s called a violin. You’ve never heard one?” “The vio… what?” He chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent warmth through me. “This,” he said, raising the instrument. “There’s more of it — beyond the woods.” “Beyond?” I repeated, almost breathless. “You’ve never been outside Ashford?” he asked, stepping closer. His height made me tilt my head to meet his gaze. His eyes glowed faintly, like embers refusing to die. “No,” I whispered. “Then let me take you there.” His tone softened, like silk wrapping around danger. “My horse is waiting. I promise, you’ll never be the same after tonight, Laura.” When he said my name — “Laura” — it wasn’t just a word. It was a touch. Immediately, the stories of beasts and demons echoed in my mind. But looking at him — his face, his voice — I couldn’t see a monster. I froze. I had always wanted freedom, to get out of Ashford, but this time, I didn't search for freedom; freedom came to me. It was the same, boring Ashford two days before. ___ Ding Dong! The village church bell rang again. Ashford’s only music. I’d grown up with that sound, never imagining I’d hear anything different before I die. Walking sluggishly to the church, I can hear the priest crying and preaching about freedom from sin and condemnation. I had hardly woken up and words were flying through my head. I sat, like any other girl in the village, in the small, yet familiar church. After the morning mass, I walked home lost in thought. Life felt like a loop — wake up, pluck corn, greet the same faces. No change. No freedom. Just the same gray sky staring back. “Life is the same here,” I muttered, kicking a stone. “I wish I could see the outside world and experience real freedom.” As soon as I stepped into the house, my mother’s voice cut through the silence. “Laura,” she began softly, but her tone carried a hint of worry. “You’re my only child. Don’t go too deep into the woods. I can’t lose you like the village lost Sofia.” “I know, Mom,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I won’t go there.” But inside, something stirred — the quiet kind of defiance that comes before a storm. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I turned restlessly on my bed, staring at the wooden ceiling. Freedom. The word pulsed in my mind like a heartbeat. What was beyond the woods? Why did they forbid us, especially women, from crossing? Mom shifted beside me and sighed. “You’re not asleep, are you?” “No, Mom. I just need some air,” I whispered, already pulling the blanket away. “Don’t stay long, Laura. The night listens.” I tried escaping that night but the priest, Simon, was outside. He usually stays outside at night, praying for Ashford or watching over the village to make sure no one goes missing. I sneaked past him and was heading towards the farmyard at the outskirts of Ashford. “Hey, what are you doing outside at this time of the night?” Simon called, raising a fire lamp towards my direction. “I..I felt uneasy and wanted to stretch my legs a little.” I whispered. “Hmm. You know it's not right for you to be outside now. You might get hurt or even captured by the beasts in the woods. It seems you don't pity your poor mother, Laura.” He murmured. His words seemed to strike me like a bolt of lightning. I felt we were being used in the village and we were meant to live no life. “And why are you still standing there? Head to your mother's tent now.” He yelled at me. I ran. I cried. I was stubborn. I knew that, but I was stubborn about the truth I wanted to know. “You took too long, Laura,” my mom, worried, called out to me immediately I entered the room. She was already seated. “The air was cool and I wanted to stretch my legs a little.” “That's fine, but don't make me sad, please. I don't want to lose you. You are the only daughter and child I have. Without you, I'll be a mockery among the village women.” she pleaded. Tears were already gathering in her eyes. “I won't, Mom,” I said, covering myself with the blankets. The next morning. Everything was still the same. The church bell, the morning prayers, the plucking of corn or planting of seeds, the village silence. “Ah,” I yelled again. “Everything is boring here. I hate this place.” That night I was determined to leave Ashford. I quietly got out of bed. My mom was too tired from the day's work and was deeply asleep. When I got outside, I expected to see Simon but he was not outside. He might have fallen asleep too. I took my chance. Outside, the air was cool and still — until I heard it. A melody. Soft, strange, beautiful. It wasn’t from Ashford. No one here played like that. I should’ve gone back inside, but something about that music pulled me forward. Each note tugged at my heart like invisible hands. My legs followed the music without me in control of them. And that's how I saw him. A man sat on a fallen tree, moonlight tracing the edges of his hair. When he lifted his head, our eyes met — fire meeting frost. He smiled, slow and knowing. ___ “How do I know you can lead me safely?” He smiled again, tilting his head slightly. “I’ve traveled worlds and crossed realms. Trust me, I know the road even a snake fears to crawl.” Something in me gave in. “Then… I’ll go with you.” The ride through the woods was silent except for the horse’s hooves. His scent — dark, sweet, dangerous — surrounded me. My hands clung to him tighter than I meant to. “How did you find Ashford?” I asked softly. “In the outside world,” he said, “we can see every place in the universe.” I wanted to ask how he knew my name, but his voice left no space for fear. “So… what should I call you?” I murmured, my cheek brushing his shoulder. He looked back, eyes burning through the night. “Lucifer.” The name sank into me before everything went black. When I woke, I was on a bed too grand for a queen. He sat across the room, watching me, his fingers tapping the armrest of a throne-like chair. “How long was I asleep?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. “Long enough,” he said, smiling faintly. “But tell me, Laura… do you remember what you agreed to before you closed your eyes?”