Chapter 3: The Origin Of Elias

"How could you do that?" Marcell shouted while pacing back and forth waving her hands in the air. Her washed out dress crumpled as she sat on the ragged sofa facing Elias.

Elias still silent and unresponsive sat beside Marcell placing his hands on her shoulder.

"No, don't!" Marcell shoved his hands and stood up. "I can't believe it." Her voice cracked on the verge of crying.

"What are we going to do?" She faced him with a terrified look on her face, her hands still shaking. "You have to give it back, Elias. I don't want it here, please." She pleaded.

"I can't. It's too late now." Elias muttered while shaking his head. "They'll know I took it. Even if I return this now, it's not going to change what I did." He slowly reached inside his pocket and showed Marcell a red satin pouch bag. He opened it carefully revealing a huge piece of black diamond. A rhombus stone of pure carbon sat heavily on Elias' palm.

Marcell's eyes widened, obviously drawn by the precious gem in front of her. But her astonishment didn't last long as her expression quickly changed to terror and fear upon realising the severity of the situation that they were in.

"This is the Devil's Stone, Elias. You brought a curse to our home." Marcell closed her eyes, covered her face with her hands and started crying. Elias took a deep breath and sat beside her. He wrapped his hands around her, rubbing her back and consoling her. He could feel her body trembling.

"Shh. It's going to be okay. We are going to be okay." He whispered. "Look at me." He took Marcell's hands and placed it on his chest. Still weeping, Marcell met his eyes and reluctantly nodded at him.

"Why did you do it, Elias?" Marcell muttered in between sobs. She wiped her tears and leaned against his shoulders.

"I want to give you a better life. A life that you deserve. I want to give you a beautiful home. I want you to have nice things, I want you to have everything. Everything that you deserve." He answered softly.

"But I don't need those things! I have you. You are enough for me. I don't need a fancy house, I don't need anything. We have each other and that is enough for me." Marcell exclaimed with sadness in her voice. She turned her back and started crying again.

He could only watch her in agony. He wanted to tell her that he would fix everything but he didn't want to lie to her. No, he could never lie to her.

Elias could still remember the day he asked Marcell to marry him. It was winter. He asked her to meet him in their favourite place, on the outskirts of town where tulips bloom, hidden inside an outlying forest. It was their secret rendezvous. Marcell worked in the city's candy shop and she would occasionally slip out to meet him angering Mr. Valdez, the shop's owner.

Marcell arrived wearing a ruffled red dress, the floral garb hugged her body perfectly, the pink trimmings slid down below her knees. She wore a flesh-colored flat sandals and her hair was tied in a simple braid. She looked beautiful, more beautiful than the first time he saw her, in that lonely alley, humming innocently with a basket of oranges in her hands. At that moment, he knew that his pointless life had meaning, he finally found someone to live for.

He remembered feeling a little embarrassed because he didn't wear anything special that day. He didn't own a decent clothing anyway. He was only wearing a plain white shirt. His faded jeans almost begging to be replaced were paired with his worn out brown leather shoes, the same shoes he wore to work everyday. He remembered not getting enough sleep the night before wondering if she would say yes.

Her wide smile made him more nervous. He could smell her sweet scent, her hair dancing with the wind. Her soft skin against his, her warm hands around his waist. He closed his eyes, wishing this moment would never end, wishing he could lay with her for the rest of his life.

"What?" Marcell giggled. "What are you thinking?" She leaned closer to him, her breath was warm and calm.

His heart was pounding like crazy. Hesitating, too afraid to ask the question.

"Marcell." He stammered, gently touching Marcell's rose-colored cheeks. "Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He finally asked the question.

Marcell's face turned red and her eyes beamed. "I...Yes! I want to. I will." She looked at him passionately, her lips pursed in a playful smile. She leaned closer and kissed him.

He didn't give her a ring. He couldn't afford one. But she didn't mind. They got married with the little money that he saved doing different jobs across town. Fixing the roof of his neighbors, doing errands for the local shops, delivering goods to the market or tending to the folk's hogs and poultry. He did all the work he could to survive and earn money.

They lived far away from the city, he couldn't afford to rent so they had to live in his shabby homestead outside of town, up the hills on Cashmere Road. The home was surrounded by tall trees and saplings. It was a simple house, the walls were pieced together by thick layers of plywood. There was one window near the below par wooden door. Inside was a typical living space with a tiny bathroom suspended by a movable red printed curtain. They didn't have enough furniture. They only had an old bed, a tattered sofa and an ordinary dinner table. There was no kitchen so they opted to cook outside using a rocket stove held together by iron sheets. Iron sheets which he found in the trash probably discarded by middle class residents of the city.

Marcell enjoyed the space in their backyard, she liked planting tulips and vegetables. She would always greet him with a sweet smile whenever he came home from the city. He would bring her tulips he picked up along the way. She loved tulips.

Although Elias gave Marcell a poor life, they were happy. It has been months since the wedding but sometimes he thought it was all a dream, he couldn't believe that a woman like Marcell would agree to marry a penniless man like him. He had promised to himself that he would work day and night to give her a good life. He swore that someday, he would give her the ring that she deserved.

But as he was staring at her now, sobbing and wailing, clearly inconsolable, he could no longer see the Marcell he once knew. Years of penury was written all over her face. Her skin that was once as soft as the clouds were made rough by the life he gave her. Her body was thin and malnourished. Her hair that used to dance with the wind withered from dearth of nutrients. Her eyes that used to shine so brightly was now dimmed by destitution and worry. He had drained the life out of her and although she didn't seem to care, he still hated himself. He hated his weakness. That's why he did what he did. Although he knew it was wrong. He had to have it. He had to change their lives even if it meant selling his soul to the devil himself.

Marcell, still crying and shaking, looked at him again. Elias could almost see a slight anger in her eyes. He looked down and fiddled the diamond in his hands. "This would change our lives, Marcell. If we could find someone who is willing to buy it."

"Who would want that curse? Elias? Tell me? Who would buy that curse?" She laughed bitterly. We should tell someone, someone who could help us return that 'thing'". She moved closer to Elias and tried to take the diamond away. He briskly avoided her reach as she was trying to grab the stone.

"No!" He gripped the diamond tightly. "Listen to me. This is our only chance. Just trust me." He slid the stone down his pocket and held Marcell's hands. "This is our only chance."

Marcell shook her head and turned to him angrily. "What are you willing to sacrifice to the devil to get what you want, Elias? Tell me! That thing is not from this world. Are you prepared to make a deal with the devil? I will not be a part of this!" She let go of his grip and headed to the door.

"Where are you going?" Elias hurriedly followed Marcell before she could get past the door.

"I am leaving. I cannot be a part of this. I am sorry." Marcell pushed him aside and walked away.