P R E V I O U S L Y
I slowly pushed open the door to her room. The cup of coffee fell from my hands and stained the floor. She was fast asleep!
RYVENNDEL MANSION, BELLHAVEN, STEFFITH.
EDWINA
I WOKE UP WITH A start to the sound of shattered ceramic.
"Ed - Edwina - is that - is that you?" I heard a soft voice stammer. I blinked, trying to get up.
There was a strange hammering in my head that surprised me to no end as I rubbed my eyes.
"Huh?" my voice was groggy. I heard curtains being drawn, further increasing the agony in my head as the light my nerves raw.
"Hey, it's me, sleepyhead, it's Amphitrite!" I heard my sister shriek into my ear as I finally saw her face come in focus.
"Amphi?" I asked, confused. The woman! I had seen the tall woman with black eyes - where was she? And who brought me here?
"Idiot, open your eyes!" she lightly slapped my cheek as I rubbed my eyes further. My sister bent down to examine my face, light blue eyes wide. "What have you been doing since the last few days? Hibernating?" she asked.
"What? How did I come here?"
"Here?" she gasped. "You've been here since the evening your marriage was fixed, sleeping!"
"But... I was in the corridor," I whined.
"Corridor?"
"Uh... with Valmont. And he - lord, he chok-" I suddenly stopped mid sentence, pulling up the sheets to run my fingers along the skin of my neck. There was nothing.
And yet, I had felt those cruel, silk hands around me, touching me. His hands. Like a necklace of satin, white and cool. Strangling me.
"Did you see a woman?" I asked.
"What woman, Edwina? Can you stop being so bloody dramatic?" Amphitrite tsked.
"There was a woman, Amphi. In green robes. She was - lord - she was tall! And I smelt something burning - like acid. Didn't you see her?"
Was I going mad? What was happening to me? Was I losing my mind?
"You're impossible," she shook her head hopelessly.
"I'm not," I huffed. "And how did I end up in my room?"
"What is wrong with you today?" she groaned exasperatedly. "You've been in your room since two nights!"
"I haven't!" I protested, "I was in the corridor. And then - I... I passed out!"
There was only one person in the corridor when it had happened, I realized. The person I'd been arguing with. Had... had he brought me up to my room?
"That's not possible," I muttered, seizing a bottle of Chardonnay and pouring it into a glass, draining it. I flung on my robe and made for the door, seizing my knife, while trying to control my wanton temper. Tristan was so going to pay.
"Where the hell do you think you are going?" Amphitrite stopped me, pulling me back and prying the door handle from my grasp, closing it as I angrily pulled it back open.
"Excuse me. I have to go kill someone," I hissed. This time I was taken aback by my sister's force, as she determinedly made me sit down, face cross.
"You're not going anywhere. You have to get ready for your wedding!" she screeched into my ear. I shook as her voice blasted my eardrums, travelling to the innermost membranes. I was sure that she had permanently deafened me.
She was still standing over there, demanding, arms crossed with a no nonsense look in her blue eyes. It was obvious she wouldn't take no for an answer.
And yet, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. I was angry and frustrated. I was confused and curious. And I was not able to process anything else because my head was throbbing so badly I could hardly see anything beyond red rage.
Fine. I could just do it some other day.
Sighing, I got up. She closed the windows and pulled off my robe to reveal the smooth ivory silk petticoat underneath it. It was completely stained with sweat.
I was sweating. Profusely.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Amphitrite's voice softened, her tone gentle.
I licked my chapped lips, trying to ignore the blinding headache. Putting down the wineglass, my fingers fluttered to straighten my laces.
"I agreed to it," I sighed.
"Agreements can be broken," she whispered in a hushed voice, as if afraid someone would hear.
"I gave my consent. I told them with my own lips."
Amphitrite remained silent now that I had actually started to speak.
"I gave my consent," I hissed angrily. Now I picked up the glass again. "I... agreed."
"Alright," she coaxed, understanding and rubbing my back as I strained to keep the emotion out of my voice. I put down the glass again.
"Edwina. What's wrong?"
I laughed. It was hollow, like the rattle of dead bones. And honestly, the sound that left my lips chilled even me.
"I - agreed. I - AGREED. DAMN IT!" I shouted, vexed to no end.
I was angry. Angry at myself, angry at Tristan. Bursts of anger exploded in me as his face came in mind, and my fists balled.
There was a crash as the wine glass hit the wall, shattering into one million tiny crystals and I let loose a string of expletives.
"Damn." I rubbed my temples, squeezing my eyes shut. "That felt good." Another deep breath, and I opened my eyes. "I'm sorry," I apologized to Amphitrite. "My head is still aching too much. As if someone is trying to break my skull."
"Do you want some more?" she dryly asked, gesturing to the open bottle.
"No. Look, Amphi - I'm sorry."
"Hey. Hey, it's alright," she said, taking my face in my hands, keenly taking in the lines under my big eyes.
I sighed sharply.
"Yes. Yes, it's alright," I echoed hollowly, repeating, as if I were trying to convince myself. Alright. I could do this. One foot in front of the other. It was just one day. A few hours. I could survive a few hours.
"Edwina!" a woman chirped from outside.
"Come in. The door's open."
The doors opened.
A bevy of goddess and attendants stomped in, faces alight with purpose. The mortals immediately began to draw up water for the bath. The heat from my body immediately began to drift towards the water as it began to get hotter.
"There you are! My gleaming rainbow!" said merry voice, and before I knew it, Vanessa LeVane had hurled herself headlong into my chest to wrap me in a hug that nearly crushed my bones.
"What's this? I'm getting ready for a wedding, not death by stampede," I dryly replied. God, please stop the hammering in my brain!
Vanessa pulled back, tongue clicking. With hair like beaten gold and cherry lips, and the signature grey LeVane eyes, Vanessa was Eric's younger sister - and the youngest of my fifteen cousins as well. As goddess of nature, Vanessa was a cheeky, happy lady who pranced about with flowers in her hair and anklets around her feet. Everywhere she went, butterflies circled the carnations on her hair.
"You little moonbeam," she said cheerfully, "you will get stampeded on if we're not very good at our job!"
Olinda Rotavelle, one of the more carefree and cheerful goddesses of House Rotavelle, brushed her brown hair aside and regarded me critically. She was goddess of revelry and festivities, who loved nothing more than a good party and all that went with it. Her minty green gaze looked me over, taking in the lines under my eyes.
"No, no, no - this will not do," she clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "You overslept, child!"
"But it's the crack of dawn," I shot back, and Olinda forcefully made me sit down on the stool, now properly regarding my face and brushing back my hair.
"No, Edwina, you slept too much for two days and now you look like a shady raccoon!" Vanessa exclaimed fretfully, and I burst out laughing despite the hurt in my skull.
"Gods, stop! We have no time for this!" Olinda clapped her hands purposefully. "What were you doing last night, Edwina? Hunting elephants?" she asked crossly, putting her hands on her hips.
I snorted out loud.
Excuse me? I was busy passing out on the floor after smelling imaginary acid and seeing imaginary spirits.
"Elephants in Steffith? And I almost thought those cups were made of porcelain, not ivory..." I snapped sullenly, draining the Chardonnay.
All the ladies laughed.
Because that's what you do in Steffith. You laugh and gossip and judge people. Because what else are we supposed to do all day?
"It's our sweet little coffee sapling's wedding! Which means we need to move!" Vanessa exclaimed, sniffing her carnations.
"You mean Edwina needs to move!" Amphitrite pointed out smugly.
"Towards the water!" Olinda agreed. "Come on!" she purposefully snapped her fingers, "we have lot of work to do!"
I rolled my eyes with an indifferent sigh, fingers hovering at the fringes of my shift, waiting to pull it off. Everyone looked at me intently and met my icy glare.
"Ever heard of a thing called privacy?"
Turning red, they turned their faces away as I shrugged off my shift and stepped into the water. I was not shy, but damn it, did they really expect me to disrobe me in front of three dozen people?
The room was silent as my shift pooled to the floor, my glare acid. I caught sight of my reflection in a corner of the pool. Hourglass shaped, slender waist, long legs and shapely breasts that perfectly filled out my chest.
I was beautiful. And I knew it.
The water was brimming with large, colorful bubbles, the scent of rose and lavender wafting out from it. Near the corner, I caught sight of my reflection in it, eyes tired, brows knotted, bright spots on my flushed cheeks, rest of my body naked as the day I was born.
"-it's too hot, the water's too hot-"
"-shh. It's fine," I waved her away, as I descended into the tub. The water was steaming hot, white wisps of steam emanating from the surface. I sank deeper, propped up against the wall, closing my eyes, as the heat seeped into my bones.
"Such a very desirable body you have, Edwina. I do wonder what Tristan will say when he sees it tonight?"
My eyes snapped open, and that was when I saw Fayette Everly lurking in one of the corners, staring at me like nobody's business. Who in hell invited her here?
"That wasn't a very nice thing to say, was it?" I asked, my tone sharper than intended.
"Fayette! That was inappropriate!" Amphitrite said angrily.
"Apologize!" Olinda scolded.
Fayette, however, just smirked as she flicked back her hair. No one but the goddesses of Endollon knew her true appearance. The gods had never seen her true form, because as deity of love and sexual desire, Fayette Everly took the shape of the person they found most attractive. None of the males had ever seen her true form.
I often wondered... did she appear as me to any god?
"I think not," Fayette said sweetly, almost purring. "I've seen enough," she turned on her heel, leaving the room, before flipping her blonde hair behind her. She was just as sour as her blasted children, my Everly cousins.
"Edwina, she was just-"
"Don't mind her."
"She's just resentful it's not Drusilla who's the Queen-"
"Forget it." I cut them off with a distracted wave, closing my eyes again. I wished I could just sink deeper into the water and maybe... just stay there.
Forever, preferably.
I heard the moments of those around me - three of the ladies were scrubbing my skin raw, two of them washed my hair. Another was buffing and polishing my nails, my arm trailing out of the tub, as I drifted off into my thoughts. I think I fell asleep, but I wasn't sure. Why was I feeling so sleepy even when I had apparently been snoring away since two days?
"Tell one of the ladies to get some aspirin, please," I asked. My headache was not ceasing and it felt as though the heat was searing my brain.
"You're-"
"Alive, yes," I murmured, eyes closed. "The aspirin."
"Of course," someone said, and I could hear the door open somewhere and shouting in the corridors. I opened my eyes. My skin shone like silk, as the welcome heat slowly faded.
"Alright, come on out," Olinda called me.
Wordlessly, I stood up, leaving the heat behind in the water. My entire body was beaded with tiny drops of water as the attendants brought out a robe and I impatiently wrapped it around myself.
"Alright. Now come here," Amphitrite commanded, and three of her minions walked me to the vanity table, sitting me down in front of the huge mirror.
God, too many people. There were too many people. Everyone crowded around the mirror with me sandwiched somewhere in the middle. With my throbbing head. What a recipe for disaster.
"Too many cooks spoil the broth," I pointed out with a sulk.
"Please. Have you tasted the broth I make? It's divine," Amphitrite said as she fussed over my hair, unwrapping the towel.
"Your broth? Trust me, if that doesn't kill you, nothing ever will," I muttered with an evil smile.
Everyone laughed again, as my sister gave me her sad pout with the puppy eyes, before breaking into a wide grin again. I sighed, closing my eyes as they started the lengthy process of making up my face. Someone started to tame my hair, dividing and sectioning it out, then braiding and pinning it up.
"Are you always this pessimistic?" Olinda's voice floated to me.
Her tone was just curious, not rude. Surprisingly, Emerick Rotavelle's eldest daughter had all of his charm and none of his bitterness. She had the characteristic brown hair and green eyes of the Rotavelles, yet she was one of the nicest people I had met.
"It helps counter the optimism," I replied.
"It's kind of rude, sometimes," Amphitrite clarified, delicately blowing on a coat of newly applied nail polish. I turned my head to find her giggling and sprinkling some silver glitter on my nails, which she'd proudly painted shell pink.
"I call it being blatantly honest, sister," I offered my opinion.
"Many people don't like it, sweet pomegranate," Vanessa chirped happily. Her nose scrunched in concentration as her clever fingers worked on braiding my hair.
"Honey, it's not your job to like me. It's mine," I whispered coolly. Amphitrite clicked her tongue and scolding me for opening my eyes, brandishing the wand of mascara. I sighed, shaking my head, and closed my eyes again.
All their comments and gossip washed over me like waves, as I mindlessly let my thoughts wander. It was two hours before they stopped finally.
"Okay... you can look," Amphitrite told me. I opened my lids slowly, taking in my reflection.
At least I didn't look like I was dying from sleep deprivation.
My natural complexion of peach and roses seemed to be lit from within. The sleep lines of fatigue under my eyes had dissappeared, my cheeks were tinted a soft red. My eyes were no longer looking tired, but were teal green, aglow with mirth.
Then I noticed my red hair.
It was beautifully rolled into a loose tangle of curls that fell over my shoulders cascading down in soft waves. I turned around to see a bunch of crimson berries and a sprig of lilac secured in an elegant knot.
"It is... beautiful," I said, sincerely pleased as my reflection saw my lips pull up in a smile. Everyone proudly beamed.
"Oh, just wait, you delectable honeycomb!" Vanessa giggled. "You haven't seen the wedding dress yet. It is a masterpiece."
"I look forward to it," I said, as my mood considerably improved. But the damned aspirin wasn't here yet.
Someone knocked at the door again. It was an attendant with a tiny glass bottle of aspirin. I almost cried with relief as he handed it to me with a smile. I got up at once to fill a glass of sangria, swallowing two tablets and downing my drink.
"Feeling better?" Amphitrite asked worriedly.
It only seemed to have gotten worse.
"Yes," I said, gritting my teeth as everyone turned to the bed, where the mistresses were laying out the wedding gown.
Behind a screen, I pulled off the robe, quickly donning the necessary undergarments. Vanessa helped slip the silk stockings over my legs as Amphitrite tightened the ivory corset at my chest. She tied it so tightly that I was sure my ribs were crushed thoroughly.
"I can hardly breathe. Am I supposed to be unconscious at my own wedding?" I asked of no one in particular.
"Don't be ridiculous," Amphitrite muttered. "You only get married once."
Meanwhile, the rest of the ladies and Olinda laid out a sheet on the floor, placing a pair of alabaster white satin pumps on it, high heeled to about three inches. They were detailed with golden lace at the tips of the toes. Someone unhooked the gown, positioning it around the shoes, and beckoned me over. All I could see was that the dress was white, the color I hated the most.
I didn't want to get married in white like all other brides!
I opened my mouth to say something, but Amphitrite shushed me with a deadly glare.
"Wait," she mouthed, and I sullenly stared at her. "Step into it, very carefully," she ordered.
I placed my feet into the heels, and the ladies brought up the gown and hooked the clasps at the back, making sure to see that every fastening was secured, every inch was smooth.
"Can I look in the mirror?" I asked.
They brought out the ornate, long mirror as I saw my reflection and gasped.
The dress was strapless, fitting perfectly at my chest. It gathered at my hourglass waist, finally flaring out into an elegant flute from below the hips.
The dress appeared to be pure white at first, but I noticed the subtle details. It was creamy white gauze, but the skirts under were lined in crushed velvet the shades of midnight blue and salted teal. Strings of gold beads draped over my bare white shoulders. The stitching at the hem was a delicate filigree of blue and gold, and when I moved, the skirts swirled in mesmerizing swirls of white, blue and teal, creating a latticework of a million unnamed shades that sparkled with the little sapphires embroidered into the fabric of the lower hem.
"Well?" Olinda asked me.
"It is gorgeous," I whispered, truly awestruck. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she proudly said, smiling, as everyone else gushed over the stitching, the fitting, the way the fabric moved when I moved.
"Well..." I began uncertainly, "don't you all have to get ready yet?"
"Oh, damn, I nearly forgot!" Amphitrite cried, as Vanessa and Olinda gasped at the same time, and a series of knocks sounded on the door again.
"Can I come in?" I heard a man's voice outside the door, and all the women laughed.
"And... I believe that's our cue to leave," Olinda said, dragging my sister out of the door, and everyone grinned, bouncing on their feet, leaving me alone.
"Why, Nessa, you look lovely today!" I heard the same man's voice exclaim, and then a feminine purr of laughter.
"Why, you adorable pinecone, I'm not dressed in my bridesmaid gown yet!" Vanessa giggled.
The door opened and the grinning god came in.
Tristan's younger brother, Llewellyn Valmont.
Despite the softer features of Llewellyn's face, it was striking to see how much he looked like his elder brother. They both shared the same straight nose, the sculpted cheekbones, the messy black hair. Yet Llewellyn's eyes were black, like his father Apollo, and Tristan's eyes were royal blue.
God of stones, boulders and earthy elements, Llewellyn's lips widened into a grin when he saw me.
"I... must say, you look lovely, Edwina," he said, bouncing on his feet, nearly tripping and tumbling the boxes, catching them just in time.
"Thank you, Llewellyn," I said, managing a pleasant smile.
"Compliments of the groom," he happily announced, passing me the first box. It was black marble veined with silver, and I took it tentatively, opening the curious lid, taking in the sight of what lay inside.
Two delicately crafted earrings.
Inside were two perfectly cut freshwater pearls set in delicately tinted platinum, the tear shaped drops dangling a twelve faceted piece of aquamarine. It was obvious they had been crafted keeping the dress in mind.
Not diamonds, no. Tristan Valmont didn't just go for diamonds like other men. No, he had selective tastes. I turned the earrings over in my hands. The freshwater pearls must have cost much more than any diamond.
I had to grudgingly admit how much I loved these. The notorious rogue had taste.
"Did you like them?" Llewellyn eagerly asked.
"Yes. Thank you," I graciously said, giving him a smile. "They're very pretty."
He nodded his head with a very serious look, then failed, as the easy smile took over again, making me laugh at the attempts.
"And... Cosmo and Titania told me to give you this," he handed the box to me, this one made of midnight blue granite.
"I - what, they really meant it?" I gasped, seeing the ring inside the box. Helios had said they would get the rings but - I mean, I didn't really expect that he was saying it seriously!
"He did?" Llewellyn said, curious, but keeping his mouth shut, unsure of what I was talking about.
The ring was heavy in my hand, a sort of... medieval design - made of pure gold and platinum. It was engraved with runes all over the band, and I took it to be the traditional ring worn during ceremonies.
"Anything wrong?" he asked.
"No, nothing at all," I replied firmly. I saw Llewellyn's ears turn pink as he nervously wrung his hands.
"What's the matter?"
Now he turned red, impatiently tapping his foot.
"It was just that... er - my brother wanted to speak with you-" he stammered.
"I am not interested in speaking with him, no," I said, balling my fists.
"Hey, please - he's just waiting outside - just - look - I know Tristan is an asshole - but he's a good man, Edwina, he really is -"
"-I told you before, and I'm telling you again, Llewellyn Valmont. I do not want to speak to him," I hissed. "I find it hard to believe that he is a person capable of loving someone other than himself."
"Edwina!" I heard my father's voice outside the door. "Can I come in?"
I looked pointedly at Llewellyn, who smiled apologetically, rubbing his chin.
"I'll... just go, then?" he asked softly, ears drooped and shoulders slumped. He was adorable, making it hard to refuse.
"Yes, please," I croaked.
He went about, sadly, and my father came in.
"You look beautiful, my girl," father complimented me, closing the door behind and it was then I noticed the silver box in his hands and a red cloak over his arm.
I was receiving a lot of boxes today.
"Thank you," I said solemnly.
Most of the morning had passed by in a haze, but it was only now, alone with my thoughts, that the implications really struck me - I was getting married!
"Are you scared?" he asked me quietly.
"I'm scared I'll trip over my dress because I'm most probably drunk."
Father sighed, his brown hair shining like chestnut in the light as he stroked my hair. And yet, his eyes shined strangely with the knowledge of something. Something I didn't know. His voice softened, and he offered the silver box to me.
"Open it."
I took it, opening the engraved silver lid and looked at the beautiful object within.
It was a tortoiseshell comb.
Nestled within the folds of satin, it gleamed prettily at me. It shined silver, and was inlaid with light blue diamonds and white pearls. It was exquisite. I looked at my father, who had come to stand behind me, and was looking at it over my shoulder.
"It's beautiful," I acknowledged.
"It was your mother's."
Oh.
My mother had held it in her hands once, this beautiful comb.
I touched it again, but this time, the touch was reverent and worshiping. A living memory of Asteria Tremayne. The person who should have been there today. To watch me become a wife. Then watch me become a Queen.
Except she wasn't even here.
My throat choked, my head ached, but I clamped my fists tight. I would not cry. I turned the comb once again in my hands, watching the light ricochet off the diamonds. There was a question playing at the edges of my mind.
"I didn't give it to Amphitrite on her wedding," he said, as if reading my mind.
"Why?"
"She never even knew your mother. Amphitrite got married so quickly to Eric. Eros and Erida are more of a family to her than we are."
"That's not true. And Erida has been missing since fifty years," I countered.
Eric's mother, Erida, along with two of Cosmo's children, apparently made a trip to Vezort island - a place no one could ever get into. The three immortals were never seen again since that night. I had lost count of how many others had tried to go and look for them.
He didn't say anything, merely held out his hand for it. I silently gave it to him, and he slid it into my hair.
"It's yours now," Lucius Tremayne said. "And... this," he added, gesturing to the red cloak over his arm. He shook it open gently. It was a cloak of red velvet, soft as sin, with the golden Tremayne phoenix embroidered onto the back.
Wordlessly, my father stepped behind me as I turned around, and gently brushed my hair aside. I felt his strong, protective hands place the soft cloak on my bare shoulders. They rested there for a moment, then my father silently lifted his hands and kissed me on the head.
Then he held out a hand, and I ruefully settled myself on his arm.
"I still can't believe it," he said with a sigh. "My little girl, all grown up today. Your mother would have been proud of you. All these years, you have been under my protection, my responsibility, and today..." he quietly inhaled, shaking his head, eyes full of sadness. "... Today I pass on the duty of your protection to another man."
• • • • •
!!!
Yes, finally! I'm sure none of us have to say anything at this point. Hell breaks loose in the next chapter!