Hello guys, I decided to try a soft fluff with a little comedy to get away from heavy and complicated writting. I hope you enjoy it.
~~ Silent sedition, bridled liberties and broken fingernails~~
Sweat rolled down her throbbing temples and her nails hurt from digging into the intricate carvings on the wooden post - the bed creaking from the sheer force as she fought against the arms trying to pull her away.
"Dont be difficult." A cold voice rang in her ears and she looked across the room to the deep hazel eyes much like her own, a hard frown marring his face. He folded his arms against his perfectly tailored suit as he stood at her doorway, his greying coffee brown hair slicked back without a strand out of place.
"Think of your mother" He growled, his thin mouth twitching in anger. She did, trying her hardest to recall the face of the woman that gave her life and shaking her head when only a blurry image of a set of kind golden eyes and a warm smile entered her mind. She sighed, he always did this. Never finding it difficult to use the dead mother she never knew to force her into whatever 'duty' he demanded of her. That same scowl he had on now plastered on his face like she was somehow tarnishing her memory. Well not today, he would have to drag her kicking and screaming before she'd ever agree to marrying that dull oaf.
She winced as her fingernail broke and her grip faltered, the servant pulling her back swaying with the imbalance. Suddenly, her weak arms gave out, the momentum throwing her backwards to land on the maid with a loud thud.
"You disgrace yourself, but I will not let you disgrace this family" He continued and she hung her head, letting her wild blue locks shade her face. She didn't do it in shame, she had discarded that as well as her dignity a long time ago. She felt the carpet between her fingers and she grasped the rich fur. No, she just couldn't let him see the tears stinging her eyes, he would only see it as a weakness he could exploit and she was done letting him have his way. She inhaled sharply, her lips forming a hard line as she willed the tears from falling down her cheeks. Then she balled her hands to fists, dragging herself up to her feet. The tension in her hands caused the blood from her broken fingernail to trickle down to the expensive rug but she barely felt the pain, the slow stream wetting her palm as she faced the scowling man across the room.
"Father please" She tried one last time.
His eyes fell to her bleeding hand, brows pulling down sharply at the sight of the blood dripping to the carpet before those hard eyes were trained on her face.
"The business needs this marriage. Your duty-"
"I will not do it. I will not marry him"
Her father's expression was suddenly dark and tension sizzled in the air between them. He suddenly seemed larger than his medium sized build, his frame filling the doorway as he fixed eyes blazing with anger on her.
"You will do as I say, even if I have to drag you there myself!" He thundered and his voice sent a cold chill down her spine. She swallowed against the knot in her throat and kept her feet planted despite the weakness in her knees
"I will not-" The words had barely left her lips when he suddenly leaped forward and grabbed her by the arm. She lunged to grab the bedpost again but grimaced as her broken fingernail scraped harshly against the wood, her hand slipping off.
She tried to fight but her father's grip was strong and he continued undeterred by her struggle. She screamed as the doorway loomed ahead and a chilling laughter rang from beyond it. The sound had a foreign quality to it as it mocked her, echoing throughout the room to be imprinted in her mind. The doorway seemed to grow larger, sucking her through and she felt the sweat beading her forehead run down to join the tears that were now streaming down her face. She screamed louder but her voice was overshadowed by the loud maniacal laughter that seemed to draw in closer...
She woke up, sweating and panting. Her eyes scanning the room and breathing a sigh when she realized it was only another nightmare. She fell back to the bed with a huff. These nightmares were becoming a common occurrence and each one seemed more real than the last. She almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of her door slamming open and a body falling on her bed.
"Levy! Wake up!" Came the bubbly voice from her best friend.
"How much longer will you remain asleep?" She whined. Levy cracked an eye open, taking in the pleading golden eyes staring at her before she let out a sigh and rolled to her side.
"No" She mumbled through her pillows and she felt the sheets ruffle about and golden hair fall on her face.
"Come on Levy, you never sleep in...what's wrong?" Lucy asked and Levy sighed almost scaring her friend out of her wits when she abruptly sat up
"It's nothing" She murmured avoiding Lucy's curious gaze
Lucy cocked her head to the side, taking in the way her best friend for almost 20 years bowed her head, her shoulders slumped as she fiddled with her fingers
"Lev, you are talking to me. What's wrong?"
Another sigh before she mumbled, still looking away
"The dream..." she trailed and Lucy's eyes widened.
"Again?" She asked and Levy nodded. Now Lucy was worried. Ever since Lord Mcgarden had made the announcement that his heir and only child would be marrying his closest friend's only son, things had been in an uproar in the Mcgarden household. Considering the fact that his best friend's son is at least twice Levy's age and an absolute drudge, it was no surprise this news didn't sit well with Levy nor her for that matter. Worse still, Levy had suddenly started having nightmares. Atfirst they had been mostly ridiculous, involving Lord Berilan's son in ridiculous outfits getting kicked by a horse and other equally hilarious scenarios though recently they had begun to take a more sinister turn that left the poor girl waking up abruptly, sweating and clinging to her blankets. Worry creased Lucy's brows, she couldn't even bring herself to ask what this one was about.
"Lucy" Levy's soft voice broke her from her thoughts and Lucy turned to see a resolute light in the girl's eyes. She gulped, she had grown up knowing that once Levy had that look in her eyes, nothing could change the usually quiet girl's mind.
"I won't do it...I can't" She murmured and Lucy took in a deep breath.
"But what can you do?" Lucy grieved, eyes pleading as she regarded her closest friend.
Levy smiled and held her friend's hand in her own. She didn't like to see Lucy worry, they had been inseparable for as long as she could remember. Growing up with the Heartfillia mansion next door to her home, they had bonded over their love of books and their shared loss of their mothers at a very young age. They had protected each other from everything including their controlling fathers who ran large corporations, but now she would have to do this on her own. She didn't know what yet but she knew she couldn't involve Lucy and get her in trouble.
"L-Levy?" Lucy stammered when she didn't respond, eyes wide staring intently at her and Levy gave her hands a light squeeze, shaking her head
"Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid" She said reassuringly
The bell for dinner suddenly rang cutting of the barrage of questions Lucy was about to ask and Levy took the opportunity to lead the worried girl out the door.
"I need to get dressed and meet you for dinner, you know how Father doesn't like to be kept waiting" She said as she quickly closed the door behind her. She breathed deeply, her back against the wooden door. She could decide what to do later but first she would have to survive dinner.
"What!?" Levy exclaimed out loud before quickly recovering, her father giving her a stern look of disapproval at her lack of proper etiquette. It didn't matter that he had just dropped a bombshell that shattered all her possible plans or that he didn't care what input she might like to have in the direction of her own life. Under no circumstances, should she, an heiress to a substantial fortune, be seen uttering such a visible expression-at dinner! In front of guests for that matter! If Levy hadn't been reeling from his sudden announcement she would have rolled her eyes.
"But Lord Mcgarden, I wouldn't be able to see Levy if she is shipped off-uhm I mean taken to the Berilan Manor. It would be such an inconvenience to go to such a faraway place when we are planning the wedding here" Lucy intervened
"Don't worry about that my dear, I have spoken to your father and you will accompany my daughter to the Berilan Manor. I believe Levy should get to know her new home and learn how to fit in with her new family before the wedding."
Levy's hands had begun to shake as her father's voice faded to the background. Her vision tunneled in like she was sinking down a hole and she grabbed onto her fork like a lifeline as her heart thundered in her ears. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to control her ragged breaths while the room began to spin-
"Levy McGarden, why are you standing when you haven't finished your dinner!"
Her eyes flung open and she realized she was standing, holding her fork in her hand like a weapon. She took in the wide eyes of Lucy and the sharp frown on her father's face before gently putting down the fork and taking a deep breath.
"May I be excused?" She muttered
"You can't just leave your food barely touched. You should-"
He didn't finish before Levy walked out without another word, ignoring her father's sharp commands to return to the table and Lucy's quiet pleas.