Damien 🥀
I am standing at my assigned position and looking around till the ceremony starts. Dad and George are chatting with some aristocrats. Mom and Abby are talking to some women. Nico was chatting with Zaria's uncle. Most of the guests sat on the tables placed on either side of the aisle. Long rectangular tables on all three sides of the square garden, leaving the side that is left as a false stage. The tables have a minimalistic but pleasant vanilla décor with rare real flowers that trailed its heavenly fragrance in the air.
The sound of large waves hitting the cliff in a rhythmic tone is like music to the ears. It feels like the ocean itself is singing with joy and praise.
"You are the groom but all the ladies out here are eye-fucking me." Cade grunted but in a satisfied way from where he was standing just behind me.
Standing on the altar of course, all people were paying attention to us and all he noticed were the ladies eyeing him.
"Don't take all the credit Cade. Some of them are looking my way as well." Lex remarked from beside Cade.
"Don't make me regret making the two of you my groomsmen." I grunted, annoyed.
"Don't make me regret not kicking your ass from behind." Cade said nonchalantly.
"Funny how you are paying attention to my ass." I said with a stoic face, looking forward.
"Funny how badly you want me to pay attention to your fucking whatever." He cringed with annoyance.
I could've given a witty reply but my attention is on the strange feeling which is making me really impatient. Half of my focus was on the entrance of the house which is around 150 metres away from here with a small bridge in the middle. The bridge which connects to the villa is decorated with veils of beautiful flowers curling around the parapets.
Hundreds of high-profile people are here with no paparazzi allowed. A few authorized photographers were allowed inside who will release the pictures and videos in the news just after the wedding.
There was never a single photo of me on the internet before, I was just a 60 year old powerful man with money and power in the public's imagination, but after today, the world is going to see my face for the first time. Its necessary. To make a statement. To publicize this wedding so that the news reaches the ears that are supposed to hear.
I just can't wait to see Zaria.
The musicians played a romantic instrument, a signal of arrival. From here, I could see Zaria crossing the bridge in a beautiful white mermaid gown with the long tail of her veil grazing over the ground. Her bridesmaids held up the edges of it behind her.
Holding a flower bouquet in one hand and another hand held by Thia. I wonder why Zaria chose Thia instead of her dad. I sensed things were not really great between them but I didn't think it was this bad that she wouldn't allow him to walk her down the aisle. I will learn the truth in the future. But for now, I can't look away anywhere but at her.
The feeling of being nervous is extremely foreign to me but I'll have to admit, I am nervous. Seeing her, my heart hammered in my chest, threatening to break free and roll into her feet. Fuck. I'm totally gone for this woman.
The white lace drape falling over her head did not allow me to see her face but I already know, even the heavens are jealous of her beauty.
I have never longed for something until I met Zaria. Not just because she is beautiful or because she is Thora, but because her soul and mine are connected.
It doesn't matter whose face we take in each rebirth or where on earth we get lost, our souls are connected in a way that they'll always find its way back to one another. It'll only yearn for each other and for that, we don't need to be with each other physically because even in death, my soul will chant only her name.
I have loved Thora, I'll love Zaria and I'll even love whoever she forms into her next birth because I'm not in love with her body, I'm in love with her soul.
Zaria walked on the wedding altar and stood in front of me as I turned to my right, both of us facing each other, her face visible enough through the veil. Her bridesmaids stood behind her. To my right between us, stood the priest, his back facing the ocean and green mountains behind.
The priest started the ceremony, recited the vows and I followed it with a promise not only to her but to myself too. And when the priest said the words for us to repeat "...till death do us apart."
"...not even death can do us apart." is what I promised instead-so quietly only she could hear-and she shot her eyes at me through the veil. Death itself has tried to tear us apart before but it failed. I'm not going to let even death take her away from me ever.
The priest announced for the rings to be presented, little lush white cushion made an appearance at our sides, held by lex, on top of which rested the two wedding rings which looked like little tiny Tiaras for the finger; natural blue sapphire diamonds with a white diamond in the centre, crafted on a designed white gold band.
Zaria's ring has a band which is in a crown shape and mine is a little small in comparison. Two one-of-a-kind rings, especially designed and handmade for us.
I could see the surprise on her face when she saw the rings, she was taken aback by surprise. I lifted up her soft hand and replaced the engagement ring on another finger and placed the wedding ring on her ring finger, I lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
Our eyes locked, the moment so intimate. Zaria recited her vows but my focus is more on her and the feelings havocking inside of my not-really-existing heart.
Yes, I'm in love with Zaria Williams. Before making the decision of marrying her, I never thought I'd ever be capable of bearing any kindness, any affection, any love in me but Zaria proved me entirely wrong in every way. Our souls were meant to be together then how was I not supposed to fall in love with her?
Even after knowing I am the villain for her, even after knowing I shouldn't feel this way for the reason why I'm marrying her, I couldn't help but desire every ounce of her.
I want to have her, protect her from this gruesome and faulty world, keep her safe in my arms until I'm the only one who haunts her but also love her beyond imaginations. I vow to never let her go, to never leave her alone, not even if the god himself is trying to take her from me. I'll not even allow her to get away from me. I'll reside within her veins and blood forever.
She finished her vows and placed the wedding ring on my ring finger. The priest officially announced us as the husband and wife. "Now you can kiss-''
Before he even got to finish the sentence, I lifted up Zaria's drape and held her face in both my hands as I placed my lips on hers. I couldn't get myself to back up and break the intimacy. Fuck, she's so addicting.
People were still clapping and cheering and my eyes were still closed when I felt something cold on my skin, like wet drops falling. Torturing myself, I broke the kiss and looked around to find the culprit.
My eyes squinted for observation, the crowd gasped looking at the sky and started recording the miraculous nature in their cameras.
Tiny flakes of snow fell from the sky, they were so tiny and glittery it appeared like heaven is sparkling their blessings on us.
Zaria gasped but with amusement, looking up at the sky.
Snowfall in Kauai in the broad daylight with sky as clear as it can be was definitely an impossible miracle.
But after a moment of thinking it's clear what this is. Thora and I never got the happy ending we deserved, we never got married but we are now finally here, so of course, the universe is lit up with joy.
I am too, but I wish that Zaria remembered who she is, who and what we are. I wish she realised what kind of a moment this is. My heart yearned for my queen. It would happen. Soon.
I don't remember most of our past life, only meeting Thora at the ball and keeping her to myself and a little bit of the night when we died. There's so much more and I'm desperate to know that. Desperate to unveil the whole story.
Zaria's smile widened and she let herself enjoy the moment. She held her hand in the air and collected the tiny snowflake. Her eyes sparkled and the smile on her face couldn't get wider. Her happiness warmed my heart. It's the first time for me to see her genuine smile. It's so beautiful that I only want to keep it to myself.
The snowfall stopped in just a minute and her eyes wandered everywhere, not knowing what to do next.
It wasn't a sexual attraction. It's love. I'll gladly let her shatter me, break me, kill me. I'm a fucking fool, I'll take whatever she gives me with a smile on my face - even if it's death- if that's what makes her happy.
We all head to our assigned tables. It was only a few moments ago she officially became mine and my eyes have been following her ever since.
There's nothing inside of me if not her. There's no Helios without Thora. There is no Damien without Zaria. I can conquer the entire world with her by my side.
I'm half focused on the business associates and a few politicians including Leonard Balker chatting with me, my attention focused 3 tables across, on Zaria standing and talking with the fucker whose name I remember was Levi. The same guy from the photograph.
He is making her laugh and getting a little too close to her. Zaria threw her head back as she laughed and placed her hand over Levi's arm. It's past evening and she is shining bright as ever in the night and the lights around making her dress sparkle beautifully.
I clenched my fist around the water glass standing by the empty plate. I'm tempted to shoot him right there.
"We have a small inconvenience." Cade's voice came from the small earpiece microphone in my ear - almost invisible-, standing with Thia by the parapets in the shadows.
"What is it?" My eyes went back to Zaria and the guy.
"Clark's underboss had invaded the house during the vows. Our men had restrained him before shooting the bullet at both of you. He is still alive and tied up in the house." Cade informed.
My anger only got worse but I'm keeping my calm just for the day. I already knew they'd pull something like this on this day. That's why there was high security.
"Get the information before finishing him" I said low enough only for him to hear. I can't risk any of the people in front of me having any idea about the situation. They'll only use it for their own advantage. both Thia and Cade started towards the house.
The microphone allowed me to hear everything what's going on when they entered the room behind the kitchen where Clark's under boss is. Cade told the guards to leave except the one who is important.
Leaning back in my chair, my gaze fell predatory on Zaria, ignoring the people sitting with me and the information the culprit is blabbering. I don't need to hear the information when Cade is there.
Zaria looked at me while talking with Levi. When she noticed the anger in my eyes, she gave Levi a hug, purposefully trying to make me jealous.
Her act was platonic, nothing sexual or inappropriate but hell, I am fucking jealous. She knew what she was doing. How she was playing me. And it was working.
Levi left and a woman approached her. Zaria smirked at me, proud of herself for trying to pull a reaction out of me but little does she know, she is only tempting the Devil more? Tonight, she'll learn just how and whom she belongs to.
My patience is over. I discreetly take out the gun and point it at Levi from beneath the table cloth. The gun is sound proof, it won't make a loud sound and no one would probably hear anything because of the music and voices of people. Plus, I'm going to shoot his leg only because it's my wedding and I don't want to ruin it for Zaria by killing her friend.
I fired the bullet in his thigh. Levi screams in agony, a few people rush around immediately to help him but Zaria did see what I did. She looks back at me with pure rage and Hatred. I give her a smug smirk in return.
I hear Cade unlocking his gun and cocking the hammer while the man begs for his life but even after a few seconds, the bullet is not shot.
"Cade?" My eyebrows narrowed and my voice low. Cade doesn't wait this long before shooting someone.
I call his name again, even Thia asks him to shoot but Cade doesn't utter a word.
"Dulce tentationem" ( Sweet temptation )
Cade groaned low in Latin, his voice suggestive and pleased at something.
The low noise of the soundproof bullet is finally there. I gesture to Nico when he approaches me, I tell him to clear up the dead body and any physical evidence. He takes some of our men under him and goes inside the house.
A minute later I see Anaya D'Souza step into the venue again. My guess was she must have gone inside the house for some reason. I just hope she didn't witness what just happened inside. judging by the way she is calm and beaming at Zaria who is eyeing the food most of the time, I don't think Anaya saw anything.
My eyes land on Zaria again. I'm going to make her pay for the little stunt she pulled today. She really is a little violence and it fucking turns me on so much.
Nothing about the way I'm in love with her is sweet or adorable, it's all sick and fucked up. I'm going to make her feel what I do...addicted, corrupted, helpless. let her taste the drug of love as well, she will not like it at first but even if she runs away from me, she won't have any other choice than to love me back.