Not What You Expected

Chapter Twenty Nine

It only takes us a few minutes to reach the ballroom. Hundreds of candles light the enormous room. The room's floor is made out of gold, with hints of silver and white. A large chandelier hangs above the center of the room. Its crystals shine brightly in the light of the candles. The gold designs on the chandelier help bring out the white crystals even more. The high ceiling allows for there to be wall-sized windows, which are placed around the room. Because of the windows, it allows for the moonlight to shine in.

There are no food tables or sitting tables anywhere, as this is a ball, not a high school dance.

Ethan and I pass many guests, all of them either dressed in suits or dresses. I do notice that most of the dresses that the girls wear look like prom or homecoming dresses. But I choose to ignore that simple, little, annoying fact.

"Their teenagers. They can't afford a eight-thousand dollar dress."

We both nod towards an elderly couple who are werewolves.

"May I ask, how did you come to know the price of my dress?"

I offer a small smile to a few little girls who are werewolves. They wear identical dresses, just in different colors; one in purple, another in pink, and the other in yellow.

"Who do you think picked the dress out?"

For a moment, I lose the mask of steel from my face, and confusion is quick to make its presence known through my facial features.

"How."

I quickly cover up my emotions and offer yet another smile to a woman who is a vampire.

"I may not have much, Riley Jane, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm poor."

We pass a young vampire couple who turn and glare at Ethan. I offer them a smile that shows off my now visible fangs.

"Jackson."

In our relationship, Ethan and I don't have to explain everything we say. For example, when I said 'Jackson' I'm asking Ethan if Jackson paid for my dress. For others, this way of conversation may be hard, or even impossible to understand, but that's why it's our relationship, and not theirs.

Ethan scoffs, "No, I picked out the dress and paid for it. I did background checks on the make-up artist and hairstylist. I made sure there is a special bottle of blood in the kitchen in case you need it. I ensured that after we spent the appropriate amount of time here, we’ll have a special cabin in the woods awaiting us. And I will make sure you enjoy yourself tonight...both here and the cable."

We stop walking once we reach the center of the room; the dance floor. Ethan leans over and nips at my neck.

"You will bare my mark soon enough, my moon."

A little blush appears on my cheeks, highlighting the artificial blush which on my cheeks as well. The dance floor is empty and the sound of 'Arcade by Duncan (feat. FLETCHER) begins to play and with one look into Ethan's eyes. We begin our dance. It's slow, graceful, and above all it's... painful. We both love it's each other so badly and when you have a love like this, like ours. Something is going to destroy it. Nothing this perfect and special will last forever. It could be now or it could be a hundred years from now, but I know...that my heart will truly never be able to be happy forever.

A single tear escapes from my eye. Ethan wipes it away with his thumb. He leans down and rests his forehead against my own. Without words ever being spoken, I know he feels the same pain and has realized the same thing that I have. He knows that this isn't a happily ever after...this story, our story, isn't filled with little heartfelt moments. No, our story is filled with pain, suffering, anger, depression, and abuse! We have had the most freaked-up hand of cards anyone could have been dealt. We suffer daily just because we breathe! Humans may think that vampires and werewolves don't suffer just because we are superficial beings. But we suffer, if not, more than humans do.