center u Innocence's Shadow

Prologue

The Triplets /center /u

It was a summer's night when Jane gave birth to her children, the father wanted a son, but she wanted a daughter.

The labor of the birth had gone on for hours and the mother was dying. Her face was red from birthing her children and her blue eyes were pale from the not so distant death.

When the final child was born she whispered to her husband, "I love you." Before her eyes became transparent and misty.

Holding his three daughters he whispered back to her, "I love you too." Before kissing her cheek.

The midwife looked at the heartbroken man and told him it would be alright, she took a child from his hand and washed and cleaned the little one. One by one the triplet was clean of blood and had been fed and wrapped in a blanket.

Eric stood over his children and looked down on his sleeping children, "Even though you are not boys I will love and cherish you, Amelia, Victoria and Selestia." He kissed each one on the forehead before he turned and left for the Nurse to come in and check their conditions.

"Papa, we were only playing."

"That may be girls but you are of age and I will marry you off."

Selestia scrunched up her nose and looked at her father, "Papa I don't want to be married off, I want to… to… to have a life, all that marriage is nonsense and I doubt I would make a good mother."

"Selestia Black, you will marry Sir William, he is a descent man and is kind and caring."

"But he's not kind and caring, he's so… perverted." She said as she remembered his words to her.

Eric looked down at his daughter and looked at the innocence in her eyes, but knowing her, he knew that she was not as innocent as she may seem, "Have your hair redone and I will see you soon, besides, Sir William is coming for dinner, along with Sir Nicolas and Sir October."

"Those men are fine, its Williams I have a problem with he's so… needy and he scares me."

"Nonsense child, now do as I aid before and Tell Amelia and Victoria the same."

"Yes father." She said bowing her head, knowing she had lost an argument yet again. With the red dress flowing behind her, she walked up the stairs; one silver heel at a time, trying to take wisps of air, for her corset was much to tight, and if she tried, she could probably wear a men collar on her waist.

"Amelia? Victoria?" She called into the marble hall.

"Yes Selestia?" The two chorused.

"Father says, Sir William, Sir Nicolas and Sir October will be coming for dinner, so we must become ready before hand."

"Sir Nicolas…" Began Victoria.

"And Sir October?" Finished Amelia, the two grinning like idiots until they remembered the first and the three chorused sadly, "And Sir William." Signing at the end, the triplet split up to the designated bedroom, each calling in a maid to help with a new corset, dress, undergarments, hair and make-up.

When the three walked down the stairs, each in a different dress, they curtsied at their men, while their men lifted their hand and kissed said hand.

The girls sighed, but only to out of happiness, while the other out of sadness.

Selestia looked at Victor William, at his golden brown hair and silver, misty eyes, then she looked at his stomach, his slightly over weight stomach, no way was he a solider. Looking at October and Nicolas, she silently sighed, with their chocolate brown hair and Nicolas' emerald eyes, ad October's amber eyes, their sturdy build, she wondered why god had cursed her so, was it for the sword practice and dance lessons she did privately?

Was it because of her cursed and swear words that poured out of her mouth?

Was the way she wished for freedom, away from her fiancé?

Or was it because of that rum she steals? Maybe all of that combined, but it did not matter, she would escape from William, she would not become Selestia William, it had no ring to it, even Selestia Nicolas had a better ring.

When dinner was served, Selestia mentally groaned, she hated, hated seafood, in fact hate wasn't a strong enough word, maybe loathe, yes she loathed it with a passion. Biting back her tongue she ate small amounts of the fish, agreeing in the conversation, while she and her sisters rolled their eyes.

When dessert what served, Selestia had no room for it, even though she barely touch any of her food, her corset refused to let her have a bite more, so passing on the melted chocolate and strawberries, which were plump and juicy, making her mouth water, she watched the men grab every last piece.
Halfway through dessert, Victor stood up and tapped his glass lightly, receiving everyone's attention.

"Thank you, I have a surprise for all of you, and especially you Miss Black." She said looking at Selestia, "Your Father is allowing us to wed, and if possible this time next month." Stunned silence filled the room, Victor and Eric grinning, the Black Sisters frowning looking at Selestia and the other men, stunned.

That was until, "Excuse, I'm getting married, without been asked?" Selestia said as she stood up.

Everybody looked at her, seeing her flushed face filled with anger and disgust, "I don't think so, I would of liked to of been told of this earlier thank you very much." She said as her crystal blue eyes looked at her father for an explanation.

"Selestia, you will sit down now, you are of age, and you are getting married end of story." Her father's face filled with anger and Selestia's face became upset, as tears filled behind her eyes.

"No, I will not." She said, standing up and running out of the room in her sapphire blue dress. Her black hair was slowly but surely coming undone as she ran to her room and collapsed on her bed.

She could hear the muffled apology coming from her father, and the pitter-patter of her sister's heels on the marble floor.

"Selestia, you all right sweet heart?" Victoria asked as she sat besides her, brushing her hair softly with her own fingertips.

"Oh honey, it'll be alright." Amelia said, wiping the tears away from her sister's face. The two looked down at Selestia and the three had a group hug, giving their sister hope and faith into her world that was empty of both.

When Selestia finally opened her eyes, and looked into her sister's, she smiled, she smiled a smile her sister's hadn't seen since she admitted to going to midnight sword lessons or stealing rum, the smile that when it hit her eyes, they saw a lot of mischief and want. And they knew straight away what was going to happen, they knew what to call this smile, it was i Innocence's Shadow. /i