Heavenly Love from a Demon

LILITH sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her hands rested on her lap, fingers curled into the old wedding gown she had been forced to wear in place of her step-sister, Maya. While growing up, she's been raised by her mother's constant reminder. “A man may rule the world, but it is the woman by his side who shapes his path.” Lilith scoffed at those thoughts, shaking her head sarcastically. “How am I supposed to shape his path when I don't even know mine? Marrying this stranger is definitely not one of her path in life.” She was raised to please a husband, taught how to keep him happy, cook for him and satisfy him in all aspect. Yet, she had never even met the man she was meant to serve. Another of her mother's words flashed in her head again. “Silence can be more powerful than words sometimes, peace is kept by knowing when to hold your tongue.” She smirked again, pointing a finger at her reflection. “I wasn't silent about this so-called arrangement, and here I am being handed over to someone I've never met before. So, tell me exactly how powerful silence is again?” Oh, poor mother! She died while giving birth to another child for her father, leaving behind a daughter who missed her everyday. If she were alive, she would have done anything, something to stop this madness. But fate had been cruel, replacing her with Hazel, a step mother who had no kindness in her heart. Hazel was not the type to offer sympathy, she was cold, harsh, and only cared about herself. Her father, Gerald, once a strong and reasonable man, was no longer the same. His mind was clouded by Hazel's charms, turning him into a stubborn, unyielding man who saw nothing wrong in throwing his only daughter out of the house. Her mother had been a woman of duty, the perfect wife to a man who never truly loved her. Lilith has watched her swallow her tears, smile when she wanted to scream, and pretend to be happy in a marriage that stole every part of her. She exhaled slowly, while standing up. Was that exactly what she wanted for herself? “Marriage is not about love,” her mother had told her. “It's about survival.” And now, it was her turn. “Father, who's the man I'm getting married to?” Lilith would always ask each time she gets the rare chance to spend time with her father. Gerald would be so quick to shut her up, but not without an instruction or rather a warning. “You don't need to know his name,” he would snap. “All you need to know is this, you will serve him. You will respect him. And you will never question him.” The finality in his tone always sent chills down her spine. No warmth, no reassurance, only orders. Lilith never thought of this as an arranged marriage. It felt more like a deal, one where she was pushed into it, her voice ignored, just because her sister couldn’t go through with it—which made her even more suspicious. A soft knock sounded on the door. Her maid, a small woman with gentle eyes, stepped inside. “Your father requests your attention, my lady.” Lilith's heart clenched. It was almost time, the day she leaves her father's home to meet her stranger. The weight of the wedding gown felt suffocating. Even as her maid helped adjust the heavy fabric, she still struggled with each steps, as she descended the grand staircase. At the bottom, Gerald stood waiting, his expression cold. “Lilith,” he began, his tone firm. “I've told you before, this marriage is for your own good.” “For my own good?” She scoffed, her fingers curling into fists. “How can you say that when I don’t even know my husband-to-be? How come Maya isn't the one getting married to him?” Gerald’s gaze hardened. “I don’t need to answer any of your questions. Your duty is to obey.” “I won’t,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I won’t be a prisoner to someone I don’t know.” A slow sigh came from behind her. Hazel, her stepmother, stepped forward, her hands folded neatly in front of her. “Lilith, must you always be so difficult?” Her voice was smooth, almost pitiful. “Your father only wants what’s best for you.” Lilith often wondered how her father's love for her faded, replaced by his devotion to his new wife's child. It began when he repeatedly told her to stay quiet whenever Maya took something that belonged to her. She turned sharply. “Best for me? Or best for him?” Hazel’s lips pressed into a thin smile. “You speak as if marriage is a punishment. Do you know how many young women would kill to be in your position? A wealthy, powerful husband, a secured future. Why must you be so ungrateful?” Lilith’s hands trembled at her sides. “Because I refuse to be sold like cattle.” Gerald’s face darkened. “Enough.” His voice was sharp, final. “You will do as you’re told.” Hazel shook her head, stepping closer. “Lilith, dear, you don’t understand. Love comes later. First comes duty.” She reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Lilith’s ear, her touch gentle but her words laced with steel. “If you resist, you will only make things harder for yourself.” Lilith jerked away, her jaw tightening. “It’s already hard enough.” She met Maya's gaze and saw a flash of guilt in her eyes, maybe that’s why she had stayed silent the whole time, so unlike her. Gerald’s patience snapped. “This discussion is over. The marriage is set, and you will obey.” Lilith’s breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest. No matter what she said, they wouldn’t listen. They never did. “Father—” “The words I've always reminded you of?” “Father please—” “You know I don't repeat myself, Lilith!” She lowered her head, her lips trembling as she whispered the words she had been forced to master since childhood. “To seve, respect and never question him.” Gerald nodded approvingly. “Good.” Her breath hitched. “I don’t want this,” she admitted, voice breaking. Her father’s face remained cold. “Wanting has nothing to do with it.” Before she could say a word, the carriage horn sounded outside. A cruel reminder that her life no longer belonged to her. Tears burned her eyes, but she held them back. Instead, she turned to her maid, pulling her into a tight embrace. “I’ll come back for you if I can. I promise.” The maid clutched her back, whispering, “Be careful, my lady.” Then the carriage horn sounded again, its sharp call sealing her fate. Lilith took one la st breath of freedom, because once she stepped through that door, there would be no turning back.