Corey only stared at the woman, but she couldn’t help but see a little bit of a smile in Florence’s face. However, her eyes still welled with a bit of anger and bitterness.
“So… what does Milan plan to do now?” Corey asked, ignoring the strange things that she saw on Florence’s face. “If he is the one Lasair wanted, then… he won’t be allowed to escape, right? Did he say anything we can do to help him?”
“He only said he has things to speak with Lasair about…” Florence lowered her face and held her own hands. “I don’t think we’ll leave the island tonight. Corbin doesn’t even know the plan. Say, Corey, do you think… Milan will lose his interest in leaving?”
The younger woman looked at the older one, only for her to smile at Florence. “Of course not. Milan wants to come home to his Mama soon.”
…
When the procession passed by the houses, Milan could see how the people lit up lanterns as if sending her off. After all, the bride was the village’s payment to the prosperity they had. It was even merciful of Lasair to not abandon them when the last two brides didn’t reach him alive. He even let people like Martin Clifford bring something so fascinating.
That was why when ‘Esperanza’ finally accepted the nomination, they sent her off with lanterns and faint lights to show gratitude. No one wanted to be sent to the doll-faced demon, but someone had to pay forward the village’s wealth. After roughly six decades of Lasair letting them off, they definitely had to send a bride and make sure she would reach him.
Milan only had a smile on his face. Not everyone in this village deserved to be cursed. He just happened to be closer to those who did.
“Your sacrifice will not be in vain, Miss Sheppard. Look at all these people. They may actually think of you as my daughter instead, but we will always remember you for you. If it elates you, I’ll treat you as my daughter, too. After all, you’re not that old compared to my son.” Martin suddenly spoke to him, making Milan glance to the side. “I’m even surprised your brother allowed you to do this.”
“…I took your daughter’s fate. Are you still hoping to harm my brother?” Milan disguised his voice. No, that was his other voice. Since Martin had never spoken to Florence, he figured Martin wouldn’t recognize her voice anywhere.
“Your brother is an eyesore. Anything that comes his way is a fate well deserved.” Martin hummed. “I will just cover expenses the village couldn’t. After all, when you’re gone, he only has himself.”
Milan bit his lower lip, but he couldn’t get angry. He only squeezed Martin’s hand as if it was enough to show a bit of his anger. Then he remembered something. A smile curled his lips. “If you harm my brother, Mr. Clifford, I will ask my powerful husband to get rid of your riches. When you’re poor and miserable, I will let you beg me again. After all, when it’s all gone, you only have your mouth.”
For some reason, Martin looked in the direction of the bride. If the bride didn’t sound like a real woman, he would have doubted the identity of the person under the veil. It’s just that he couldn’t see through the veil, nor could he demand them to check. That was disrespect to Lasair who had already cursed him with degrading health. He didn’t want to risk it.
The procession finally reached the gates of the village. The woods looked eerie, but with the rains not falling despite the heavy clouds, they all knew how Lasair was clearing the path for them. Even if the nocturnal hunters should be out on a clear night, the deity kept all of them in their homes.
For tonight, only the bride was allowed to come to him.
“Be careful on your way up, Mr. Clifford. The path here is awful.” Milan had a devious smile. However, he didn’t want Martin to slip and take him down along with the sedan.
“I trek mountains higher than these steep hills.” The father frowned, but he already found himself almost tripping a lot. Not only were his shoes not made for trekking, but it was too dark without a flashlight. Moreover, he couldn’t use both hands to balance himself.
Swoosh. A faint breeze blew on the whole procession, and the people feared it. It might be a sign the rains would fall at any minute. They were at a steep hill so they might slip and fall if the ground got wet. However, only Martin and the priestess noticed how Milan moved as if chasing the wind. He was not even scared to pull on the ceremonial knot.
Milan’s eyes grew a bit brighter. It was because Lasair had come to circle them. Perhaps he was aware that the ceremonial knot was an accident begging to happen. The half-body deity kept on flying around them to clear the path in the dark. With everyone else walking by then, it was best for the place to feel flat and unhindered instead.
“Did we just get to the top? Why did it feel like we’re walking on plains rather than the woods?” The other police officer asked Boris. The steep ground felt easier to trek as if the elevation was gone.
“Don’t get too loud.” Boris breathed out through his nose. He could feel the circling winds, He then glanced at the priestess walking in front of him. The sheriff also saw how the bride was seemingly reaching out to something outside the sedan when the winds brush against them.
Boris gulped down the lump in his throat. He had a feeling those were not normal winds; that was Lasair.
Not only Boris and the priestess realized Lasair was aiding them in their trek. However, they couldn’t look behind them to find the bride seemingly playing with the winds that blew on them. This notion made Corbin look back and find Milan behaving strangely. He just wished the deity would not be angry upon seeing who sat inside the sedan.
Soon enough, they reached the cave that housed the shrine of the great Lasair. Milan was helped down by Martin, but the priestess didn’t release the knot just yet. The sheriff, four priests, and Martin walked with her inside the dark cavity of the shrine.
Then they stopped at a spot with a dedicated small stage at the side. Milan saw chains attached to the walls and to the ground. Upon seeing those, he shook visibly. He turned to the priestess who only went to untie the ceremonial knot.
“Don’t fight it.” The priestess smiled. “This is the fate of the bride.”