Chapter three Starting an End
I sat in silence worrying about Ian, with every second that passed came a new topic. What if he was captured or was lost? What if he got hurt or something far worse? But my biggest question that constantly ran through my head was what if he wasn't coming back? I sat on the cold ground rocking back and forth, thinking and waiting, waiting and thinking. Just thinking and thinking endlessly, what went by as minutes seemed like hours and even though I knew it had only been half an hour it seemed like days?
"I can't stand this anymore, when is he coming back?" Leah's voice brought me out of my thoughts "I don't know soon I hope." "I hope so to for your sake, look at you your sitting there rocking back and forth on the ground with your head to you knees" "so" "so, so look at what has done to you if he doesn't come back I'll kill me my self" she was being over protective but I knew she was telling the truth.
"He'll come back don't worry" Quilette's voice surprised me; he wasn't very talkative except when it came to Leah thus the phrase meant to be. "Yeah I know but I am so accustomed to him always being here with me." "You've only been together for like five hours!" Leah was defiantly not as sensitive as I am but she has her moments. "Yeah but I feel like its been years, like I already know so much about him. Isn't it interesting? How close I feel to him after just meeting it's like... well I'm not sure but there has to be a name to it." I was pondering now. "Let's try love at first sight." I heard his creamy voice from behind. I turned spinning on my knees with my palms to the ground, "your back!" I smiled and he chuckled as he strides over taking my hands. "I wasn't gone for long." He spoke as he pulled me up to my feet, "it felt like hours to me." I spoke a grim smile in my voice. He pressed his cold nose against mine and gave me an Eskimo kiss, "I'm sorry I kept you waiting but I feel much better on the flip side." I could feel the blood in my cheeks pool up making me blush; I giggled a lovey dovey sound and then was swept off my feet by his cool arms.
"I'll never leave you, so don't worry your pretty head about such things." He spoke with such softness to his voice, that it gave me chills in a good way though. "I know." I whispered smugly as he hugged me into the hollow of his chest. I rested there for a moment closing my eyes in hope that the world around us would disappear and only we were left here. No Paradine, no thirst, no vampires or power hungry priest, just Ian Leah Quilette and I.
I knew my fantasy was a never possible dream but I continued to imagine it all in my head, until Leah put her roasting hand on my shoulder. I jumped with chills turning putting my back to Ian. "Geese sneak up on me much?" I was sarcastically scared and all my jumpiness did was put a smile on the others faces. I gasped for breath to relive the empty space in my lungs, "okay love birds its time to get moving, we need to find a waterfall or stream okay?" her voice was friendly though I still shook with the chills she had given me just a moment ago. "I know where a waterfall is, I passed one when I was chasseing a cougar earlier." Ian new the area around here a bit better than the rest of us since he had been out hunting for the past forty five minutes. "Good then our search is over before it started. Let's go" he nodded once pulling me into place on his back but I slid off letting my feet thud into the ground. Ian turned looking confused "I want to stretch my legs" I said pulling my lips into a smirk. "Ah" he acknowledged my demand and began forward. "follow me." He sigh with a stern voice.
We traveled for maybe a minute more or less and about ten miles before we reached the water fall. It was beautiful in every way, the water hitting the rocks and the babbling sound of the stream. But isn't that what we came here for? The sound?
"Okay so let me get something straight why did we have to run ten miles to get to a waterfall so we could plan out our actions?" Quilette obviously curious wanted our explanation. "Because the sound of the water drowns out our voices no matter how hard they are listening to our conversation." Leah explained putting her pale hand up to her ear. "So you want to make sure no one can listen?" "Yes". We all sat around one the ground at first separately. We were about to plan it all out but Ian picked me up with one arm and set me in his lap. Of course I blushed. "Have you ever held a guys hand before?" he asked grinning wide. "Uh um" was all I managed to squeak out before he held his hand up with mine entwined in his cold fingers? "How does it feel?" he asked looking into my eyes, and for an instant I thought I was melting. "Um" I still couldn't speak a full word there as I sat on the damp ground in between his legs.
"Ahem!" Leah cleared her throat. I had forgotten about our little audience of two. "Lets get started" Leah answered my unspoken words in a professional business like manner. : Where are we going to go? Paradine won't stop looking for you until you're his bride." "His bride?" Ian said looking at me his face getting even paler if possible. "Long story but I said no twice." I told him it was the truth so I had no worries about it. "Oh" he said with a smile.
"Anyways" Leah said to clear up the atmosphere. "Were we heading?" "How's about a new city in Japan?" "We were just there though!" "Yes, and they know that so they wont be looking there." "That's..." Leah continued "a good point." She sighed I knew she wanted to go somewhere new but we didn't have many options. "Okay Japan it is but what city?" "How's about Osaka?" "Sure" she made a face at me. Osaka was boomed during a world war but it was rebuilt and Leah liked the old time Osaka better. "Whets our role going to be?" "Students in ninth grade" "what about school?" "Imamura high school" "okay lets get going" Leah and I had planned out the whole next couple of years with out Ian or Quilette help.
"Osaka, Japan?" Quilette asked. "Yes it's a place they would never think to look. We need to start moving; Japan is to the west from here so we're going to start in that direction and you'll follow us got it? Leah was controlling the plans for the moment and she seemed to like that allot. "How long will it take us to get to Osaka?" Ian asked trying to plan out hunting trips in his head. "Let's see we can run at about six hundred miles and hour and japans' only twelve hundred miles from here so about two hours to get to Japan and about twenty minutes to get to Osaka." I planned the map out in my head calculating the time distance and routes it was easy with centuries of practice.
"Okay let's get going then." Leah suggested walking toward the west. We walked with her and then ran. In a flash we were gone with no trace that we had ever been there.
I was tired of running from Paradine, but what could we do knew that he had the venom running through his veins? Kill him? I hate killing people I much rather kill an animal. But I guess I'm just use to it since the law was accepted in Victorian, and even when we left we took that law with us.
I felt like there was something missing as I ran through the forest though it had been half an hour and the time seemed to fly by. I was still thinking about the differences between the level two vampires (Ian and Quilette) and the pure bloods (Leah and I). It wasn't long until the subject of marriage popped into my head. It wasn't forbidden to marry or love a level class under you it was just frowned upon. So I spouse I could live with that, especially if I include the fact that Leah and I are the only pure bloods left. Or so we assumed seeing as how we hadn't seen another pure blood in almost one hundred and thirty years. The last pure blood we saw was a man named Brandon and he was already dieing of his injuries when we found him.
I really didn't care if it was frowned upon though I could care less of what people thought f me. Threes still that thing that always bothers me though, but it doesn't bother me with Ian. The men always say that they're love is true but when they get what they want wither its money or material things they up and leave. That always other me but something about Ian makes me not only think but know he won't leave.
It's been an hour knows and we're about half way to Japan. At least my mind is catching a different subject now, the subject of afterwards when the wedding is over us pure bloods when marrying under us have to drink the blood of our soul mate. At least its only drink not kills but the thought of hurting Ian was troubling me of course we weren't engaged or anything.
My mind pondered on this subject for the rest of the hour until we got to the Sea of Japan or in other word the east sea. "How do we get across?" Quilette asked Leah and I muffled a giggle. Ian only had a smirk on his face it seemed that Quilette was the only one who hadn't crossed water before. "You can run across or swim. Your choice" she giggled on the word swim, probably thinking he would choose it over the run. "I think I'll do what ever it is your doing sweetie." He reached his hand up to her face and brushed a drop of water off that the ocean had sprayed. "Ahem" I broke their long gaze and blushing cheeks just the way Leah had broken Ian and ifs earlier. "Right" she sighed and the began the short trip over the waters mercy surface.
I always loved running on water, because if you looked close you could see the curious fish and even sharks if you're lucky. It only takes us about five minutes to get to the island of Japan and then about another five to get to Osaka, once there we'll find somewhere to live.
Even though the trip was short it still gave me time to think more about the after wedding, and how life will be like for Ian and Quilette when they enroll in the high school as well. I knew we would have all our classes together if I could per sway the administrators and how hard could it be to break in and change a few things? I didn't have time to think about the situation yet.
Once we arrived in Osaka Leah and I broke into a clothing store, for money to spend, rent, and for the enrollment. We would need to pay for food and furniture as well. The store name was Juine Swayve. It was fancy and loaded as well. But it was also one of the easiest break inns I have ever done; we got about four thousand from them easy. Next we went to find an apartment someplace nice with at least two bedrooms and a bathroom. We found one called East Osaka creak, it had three bedrooms two bathrooms a nice kitchen, a living room and a balcony. It cost about five hundred a month if you're a student so we got lucky there, but we needed to go buy clothes and furniture.
Our next stop was at a girl's school uniform shop called Lawrara Shop, they had some cute uniforms but we ended up with the one our school assigned us. It was cute with its dark red ribbon on the green neck peace and the green skirt with the one little dark red pin strip line at the bottom. We also grabbed legwarmers, school bags, and key chains.
We stopped by the local grosser store to get food as props in the house and then at the cheap furniture store to get a couch, four twin beds, a desk, computer, and table. Witch went nicely in our new little home. We would start school in a week plenty of time to get everything situated.
Leah and I sent Ian and Quilette to a more expensive furniture store to get a safe while we went to a shopping district on the outskirts of town; we needed some time to relax after all the chasseing.
The mall was beautiful and full of school girls rustling around to get a good sale. We stopped at a novelty store to look around, and found some posters and picture frames to go in our rooms. After all we had to put up a good show if we wanted to fit in and slip by.
Leah dragged me into a shop called Chocolate Sugar; it had cute clothes that she wanted to try on. "What do you think?" she asked me holding up a harajuku style skirt. "Cute I think I'll get one in black" I picked up the black colored skirt and held it in front of me to look it over. "Yeah I'll get the pink one" she nodded to her self and then began looking through another rack. "So do you think we can last long here?" I asked curious to what she thought. "Yes... and no" she hesitated on the last word making a face. "No?" "Well what if someone from that little town comes to Osaka? They could see us and ask why we are in high school again. Or Paradine would find us and make a big scene and we'd have to leave.
"Yeah I see your point but I doubt that will ever happen. The town we were in was so small and no one ever left, and Paradine is to pride full to leave his city. I never sensed him leavening the tunnel." Leah sighed a sign of relief. "How's about this?" I asked holding up a pink shirt with a black cat on it. "Cute it'd go with the skirt." She pointed out and I nodded in agreement.
The shopping was fun but we had to blend in so we took the forty five bus home. "Do you think it was a good decision to ride this thing?" Leah spoke as the bus bumped and rumbled along. "It's fast for humans and we look normal riding it so yes it was a good decision." "Okay." She said putting her hands up in serener. It took about ten minutes to get to the apartment by bus and Leah complained the whole way. "This thing is so slow!" "Shah is quite!" "My butts sticking to the seat!" "Ohh well just shut up!" "The windows won't open and I want a breeze!" "You know what?!" I said turning to her and I saw the smile on her face she was messing with me and it ticked me off.
When we finally arrived we jumped off the bus in a hurry and took the elevator up to the twelfth floor. Ian was inside on the couch reading a mange magazine and Quilette was on a recliner watching television. Our mouths dropped. Not only Leah's and If's but Ian and Quilette to. "You bought a recliner and television?" Leah said in an angry awe. "So look at how much clothes you bought!" Quilette answered back eyeing the hands full of bags with different store names on them. She just lifted her nose into the air and walked casually into the back bedroom with Leah and If's beds.
"The nerve of them buying stuff with our rent money!" she scoffed after slamming the door and laying the bags of clothes on her bed. "We spent allot to and we still have enough for rent, we can always go steal some more money you know." "Yeah but I don't like stealing it's not right and plus we had our money rosined out." "Yeah but ohh well its money not the end of the world." I reminded her and she took one deep breathe to calm herself down.
"Let's put our clothes away okay?" I finally said breaking the silence. "Yeah we should." She agreed emptying the bags onto her bed. I emptied mine and put the shirts on hangers and lifted them into the closet with out saying a word. It seemed that a new backward silence had drifted over us. I began putting the pants and skirts on hangers when Leah finally sighed. "What if we don't fit in?" she said with a gloomy look sweeping across her face. She looked up to me her excretion constantly changing from worried to sad to worried again. "We will we always do".
I tried to calm her a little by making a face she giggled a stiff sound and then sighed her way out of the room. I sat on the bed and thought to me for a long moment until Ian came through the door with a lime green comfier under one arm and a bag of poles in the other. I sighed again and lazily lifted my self from the bed and sat on the floor. He only grinned and the started putting the rest of the bed together by fastening the poles to the four corners and putting the canopy drapes on a new set of poles all while talking to me.
"Why so sad?" "I'm not sad I'm just worried that's all." "About what?" he asked in disbelief that I would be worried at all. "About if we will fit in at the new high school." "We will" "I know but I still worried about this kind of stuff" "yeah, just don't get caught up in it all, we may have to leave sooner than we want."
He was right, if we got to close here we would be in to deep and would want to defend our stay but that can't happen. I thought to my self looking up every now and then as the metal bars clunked together. "There now you can make your bed." He smiled patting the rolled up comfiture. I lifted myself from the floor making lazy movements, "alright let's hurry up imp tired." I sighed out of my stiff lips. And before I even got to the bed he had made it. I lifted the comforter and slid under it. I laid there thinking as the minutes passed, Ian and Quilette sit on the sofa watching TV and Leah on the twin bed next to mine. It was quite except for the small sounds of the TV in the other room, but I didn't pay any attention to them. Even though Leah and couldn't sleep we lay there in our beds thinking to ourselves about tomorrow, our first day of school in Osaka. It wasn't something we particularly enjoy but we would have to fit in after our first school experience Leah and I had hated the whole ordeal.
I remember it as fresh as the night was clear, the beautiful morning air and the cloudless sky. I sat there on the ground in front of the school talking to Laura. She was one of my good friends at the time. She had shoulder length brown hair and freckles across her nose. We sat there talking about stuff and then she mentioned Shandra. Shandra never hangs out with Cassie any more I wonder why. She asked herself allowed. They still hang out with each other; I think it's that you just don't see them hang out in school because they have no classes together. I tried to explain it to her and I saw a frown swipe across her face. I don't like Shandra anymore she's not very nice and I think she's a ho!I gasped when she said the word gritting her teeth. Well I still like her and she's one of my best friends, so imp warning you I will tell her. Her frown got even bigger and her face scowled. She lifted her nose in the air and got to her feet. Well don't. She told me before walking away.
The whole day seemed to slum by as I waited for study hall, the only class I had with Shandra. The funny thing was that when I was walking to lunch with Megg, Clair walked up to me her face sad and she eminently told me her story. Somia! People at lunch were talking about you! They said you called Shandra a ho, and they want to jump you! I laughed of course you can guess why. The thought of one little person or even a couple putting me in danger was just funny as all get out. Wait what? I never called Shandra a ho that was what Laura said! I said with furry in my voice. She had turned it against me and I had to talk to Shandra and fast. Lunch rushed by my stomach uneasy. I sat in the cafeteria waiting for study hall to start when Shandra walked up to me her face twisted. I need to talk to you. She whispered out with anger. I need to talk to you to and I think now would be the best time. I suggested and she nodded her head until her senior friends butted in. No! We will talk you will listen. Shandra looked up at them fro a moment like they were signaling something to her. Yeah and I don't appreciate what you said about me! She then agreed and walked away leaving me in the pit of the lions.
I looked at her in disbelief, she was so easily turned against me then she wasn't my friend. Then the two seniors came walking around to my table. Don't you ever call Shandra a ho do you understand me? A short dark haired girl shouted at me and I ignored what she said all I could think about was her clothes a belly shirt tight jeans and baggy jacket she was the one who looked like a dirty woman to me. Yeah don't you disrespect her! The other girl called from the other side and soon they were both yelling as I ignored them and started to do my homework. The junior boy sitting across form looked up at them his brows turned down as he stood. Shut up! You two are just losers! He yelled at them both and they turned around and sat down. He sat swell and looked at me. Did you really call her that? He asked to get both sides of the story. No I would never it was Laura not me I swear! He only nodded his head and started to work.
The next couple of days they were in my face when no upper class man were around to protect me so just to let the dust settle I started a plan to disappear for the rest of the year and it worked with out a hitch. I hated the fact that I had to hide but I couldn't risk a fight.
I awoke out of my day dream during the night with Leah getting up to turn off her alarm. This was how it was for us, an alarm to remind us of the time we didn't even have to sit in bed but we did. I felt like sitting alone, like solitary confinement only no one confined me to the bed.
I pulled the covers off and stumbled a little in the darkness over to where my closet lay in the wall. I opened the double doors and switched on the closet light. I walked to the back and pulled one of many school uniforms off a metal closet bar. I walked out of my walk in closet flipping the switch and closing the doors with my hand and foot.
I walked into the bathroom closing the door and sliding the uniforms wire hanger on one of the four hooks placed on the back of the door. I stood there glaring at myself in the pitch black, wondering if it was worth all this effort. Couldn't we just grab a trailer and steal more money? Just travel across country shopping in expensive stores and buying extravagant dinners? I guess that's not what we really want.
"Are you alright in there?" Leah called from the other side of the door. I picked up my uniform skirt and sighed. "Yeah" I replied stiffly as I pulled on the dark green material. "Just checking." She reassured me as I pulled the white blouse over my head. "I'll be out in a minute." I called as I tied the crimson bow. I sighed to myself and the turned on the light to reveille myself in school attire.
I looked myself up and down and smirked at the reflection in the mirror. I grabbed a brush and styled my hair, and then I opened the first drawer on the left side and grabbed my makeup bag. I didn't need makeup but anything to blend in. I pulled out my black eyeliner and mascara, that's about all I used seeing as how I didn't really need any thing else. I quickly put them on and reached for my lip gloss. I opened the door and headed for the kitchen. "Hey" I said slumping onto the couch. "What time is it?" I wonder aloud. "Five till we leave for school." Ian answered as Leah came into the living room.
"We can just leave now no point in waiting a couple minutes to go to school; let's just get it over with already." I stood up taking her suggestion, and headed for the door. "Alright let's go then" Ian said through drained lips walking up to the door stiffly. He was nervous but what did it matter anyway? We walked to the elevator and waited for it to rise to our floor. It took about fifteen seconds; I counted them in the silence. We stiffly walked into the box and pressed the lobby button. The elevator took about thirty seconds to take us down including the time it took for the door to close.
When we arrived at the bottom we went straight out the double doors outside, surprise. There where four cars new shiny and ours? Ian held up two sets of keys one in each hand, "witch do you want? The silver slug bug or the black Bentley?" "Bentley" I said holding out my hand for the keys. Leah jumped up and down when she received hers; a silver slug bug was her car to love. Ian took a red porches and Quilette had an midnight blue Lamborghini. "Idiots" I murmured. This wasn't going to help us fit in any just stick out. Ian lifted his hands up in wonder and sarcasm "what?" he said smirking his dark almost black hair blowing softly in the breeze.
I shook my head and clamed into the car. I looked forward at Ian and felt the slight shift in the air. Without thinking I kicked the car door off and assumed my stance. In that very same instant Ian was by my side eyes wide with furry. "So soon?" Quilette asked with a sigh as he clamed out of the shiny blue car. Leah was on my left then and whispered into my ear. "Head east" she smiled before disappearing. "Come on" I hissed to the boys and I disappeared to.
Chapter four Deaths Toll
We had been running for about an hour now and we had caught up to Leah. I wasn't sure of how many he had brought or of how long we could fight but he found us and fast. We stopped now at the end of our trail, at a cliffs side the ocean crashing up against the rocks. "What now? We can't run forever." I cried confused dazed and most of all scared. "I know but we can't stay and face them there are so many." Her words were caught in the wind but I could still hear her. "I'm tired of running scared Leah we need to do something or we'll never be safe!" I cried into the wind tears streaming down my face hot and salty. "But how? How do you stop running scared from something your afraid of?" she was crying to now. I wiped the tears from my eyes and turned to face the man himself, "Paradine." I glared twisting my mouth around his name. "Isn't it lovely the works of a little venom?" he purred into he howl of the wind. "It's against the law to bite a human, Paradine. You're a federal crime" Leah scowled at him her hair whipping viciously in the salty air.
"Yes but it's not against the law to inject yourself." He grinned happily. It took me about three seconds to understand and all that sadness went blank with anger. "You used Mary-Angela's dead venom to turn yourself?" I scowled growling at the name. He only smiled wider "you may be beautiful Paradine but you're a monster in my eyes!" Leah growled deep within her chest. I gritted my teeth, "disgusting" I managed to let out of the uncontrollable snarls in my chest.
He came forward and crouched down ready for attack, "if you won't marry me then no one can!" he growled the words and I crouched as well. We began moving in circles copying each others moves going from left to right in rhythmic patterns. I noticed that Leah and Ian had begun to fight Quilette still on the defense. My slight distraction gave Paradine the moment he needed and he crashed his stone shoulder into my chest pushing me over the cliffs edge. I grabbed the grassy rock side to keep from falling and began to pull myself up.
Ian threw a fist into a young vampires jaw and rushed to my aid. He reached out for my hand and pulled me up. My first sight of the fight was that Leah had set someone afire. The poor vampire was running wildly about. Ian grabbed my hand tightly, and then kissed my mouth with an scary tension to his lips. I didn't protest because I knew we were both in mortal danger. It scared me the way his lips moved against mine giving me so many unasked questions that I had no answer to.
I pulled away breathless and gazed deep into his brown eyes, he pulled me to him again but before our lips touched I could see Paradine out of the corner of my eye. His face flushed red with anger as he realized that I had found my one and only. I ignored his glare and crushed my lips to Ions knowing it could be the last time our lips touched. The salty air gave the hotness a kick and the kiss some power. My knees we getting week my head clouded with fantasy as his lips took over commanding mine. I ran my hands through his hair, as the rain came pouring down. I could still hear the screaming of the flaming boy the poor unfortunate soul.
Paradine had commanded someone with a deep snarl but I ignored it. Suddenly Ian was pulled away from my waiting lips. The rain was pouring down so hard I could only see about two feet in front of me, but that was enough to watch Ian and the flaming boy collide and fly into the mist. I ran toward the dim light the grass crunching beneath my feet. The rain was blinding as I stumbled toward the light that had disappeared. I slipped on cliff side grass tumbling over to be caught by Leah's hand around my wrist.
I was at the edge, the cliffs edge. I dangled in the pouring rain my mind mush. I began to cry and my chest started to hurt. "The cliff!" I cried out in pain. "Yes now let's pull you and Ian up." Leah shouted into the mist. "I don't-." My voice cracked off the sobs grew intense. "I don't have him Leah." I broke out weeping hard. "What?" she asked her voice panicky. "I didn't reach him Leah." I sobbed against the cliff side. "Has gone Leah has gone!" my chest was giving tight squeezes, a stabbing pain. In that instant I realized it was my heart hurting, and for the first time I had felt it deep in my chest.
I cried my tears disappearing in the rain, the stone cliff got colder and the world around me began to shift. I was panicking gasping for air my sobs cutting through me, my eye lids were getting heavier by the second. The world around me grew black and my body became week and limp. I shut my eyes and it all went quite.
The quite gave me a peace, an illus ional world something to get away to where everything was perfect. To some the quite may sound scary but to me the real sounded scary. I guess that was my coping point. The way I differed the two world the real world and my world the quite world where Ian was still here with me and I spent forever in his arms. The quite was a place where a kiss could last an eternity and an love could never die. It was my place my perfect place.
Maybe it was the crazy running through my veins or the sudden shift in the world I knew as the quite but my eye lids had gotten lighter and I felt my heart start to hurt once more. I lay there wherever I was, not caring just letting my heart hurt and my eyes stay closed. I couldn't think about anything else but him he was my world and for the short time we were together I was his. There wasn't anything I could do to make the pain go away but could I distract myself from it? No it wasn't possible to forget about a pain as deep as this, my mind was set on it and time was all I needed to heal.
It was so unreal like something in a movie, how someone could be taken from you like that. I ran through all the movies I had seen how people coped with the pain what was they're next move? Some moved away others used suicide; there was revenge and new lovers to fill the empty space. Wait revenge. In that instant my mind shot to the revenge cycle, most people give up or fail others get there revenge and end up dying in the end. But imp not human ill get my revenge, Paradine will die and I will take over his kingdom. My plan was perfect, if I followed it precisely it would work without a hitch.
First things first I had to sneak away from Leah, it would be hard but it's a sacrifice imp willing to make. I opened my eyes and found that I was in the bedroom of the last apartment we had recently run from. Leah wasn't here she must be grading the building from the outside. I walked over to my night stand and picked up a green picture frame. The picture was of Ian and me in front of the apartments in our school uniforms. It was the day we first got the apartment, we were smiling and joyful. I broke the frame in my hand and removed the picture. I started at it for a moment longer then folded it and shoved it in my jacket pocket.
I was still in my school uniform like it matter. There was no attire for revenge and taking over a kingdom so why change?
I slid open my bedroom window slowly inch by inch. When the gap was large enough for me to fit through. I slipped out grabbing the side of the building. If I just jumped out it would make a noise loud enough for Leah to hear. I quickly and quietly scaled down the wall careful not to slip until my feet reached the ground. The grass was still wet from the night of rain and the ground was very muddy in some places. I didn't know where to start or witch direction to go in I just took off on instinct alone.
I guessed it would take an hour maybe more to reach the city I could sneak in the same way I sneaked out. I had to suppress the memory of Ian as long as possible if I were to get my revenge. But if I sneaked in I would have more a chance to get caught, then if I wanted to get caught.
I smiled wickedly to myself relishing the perfect way to get so close to Paradine that no one would notice my scheme. I had to marry him. The well thought out plan played like a movie in my head and when that movie was over I had reached Victorian.
I stood in front of the wall for an hour maybe more waiting for them to realize that I was there but no one came nothing happened and I knew I had to open the gate myself. I folded my hands together and recited some words, but instead of the mahogany gate and arch shaped light appeared. I stood there for a moment departing to myself and then walked blindly forward into the light. I exited out the same way the last time I had come here, in the middle of the city in front of the white fairytale castle. I didn't hesitate I just walked forward with confidence eager to get the plan in motion. I climbed the many steps and reached the hideous door with Paradises face on it. I winced away from the image as I pulled the door open. Inside was the same the blooded and many paintings portraits and sculptors of me. Obsession can drive a man insane. I hurried through to the next door not looking at the many familiar faces and entered the thrown room, where Paradine himself was plopped on the oversized chair his head mounted on his cheek.
As soon as he caught glimpse of me he jumped to his feet and rushes over stopping five feet away." this is an unexpected surprise." He murmured. "I would have never guessed you'd come back to me let alone the city." Hi smiled his teeth glistening in the light. "I know, a month ago neither would I." I smiled my best lusty smile to put on a good show. "Why" he paused "is it that you came back may I ask." His face became bewildered. "I have finally realized my lord." I would never call him lord but this is an exception. He nodded for me to continue, "That you are my only need and that I hope you will forgive my childlike behavior." I bowed at his feet and almost gagged. "I thought so" he smiled a crooked smile as he kneeled in front of me. "This is the last time I will ever ask you Somia." He said his honey voice sounding like a growl in my ears. He lifted my head with his hand and gazed into my eyes as I into his. All I could see was shallow waters twisted into blue.
"Somia Hen ridge, will you marry me?" I wanted to gag and yell no in his face but for the plan to succeed I had only one choice. "Yes" I whispered and he let go of my face. We both stood together him taking my hand and smiling to our audience. "Send out invitations there is to be a wedding" he howled smiling from ear to ear. The room applauded us and he called a woman over. He whispered in her ear she nodded then grabbed me by the wrist. "Come with me miss" she spoke in a soft voice as she pulled me along.
She took me to a bridal shop full of white gowns and long silky gloves, but instead of the display gowns she led me to the back of the shop where a beautiful puffy white wedding gown was on a revolving mantle. "Do you like it?" she asked walking over to the piece and adjusting the material. "Yes" I awed breathless. It's the exact dress I would picture myself wearing if I had been able to marry-. Never mind I thought gathering my emotions. "Paradine requested the design he said it would look right on you." She smiled at the word. Right. It would look right on me? "You don't think so?" she asked I shrugged my shoulders. She smiled "threes only one way to find out" she said with great enthusiasm as she carefully pulled the dress off the mantle and placed it in my arms.
"Try it on" she smiled wider and then left the room skipping. I shook my head and undressed. I pulled the dress on then called for her. "Yes" she said poking her head into the room. "Can you get the back for me?" I asked turning around then looking over my shoulder at her. She buttoned my up and pushed me in front of the mirror. "Oh" was all I managed. The reflection was not one I recognized though it was breath taking. "What do you think? He'll love it right?" she asked tailoring the bottom of the gown with pins in her mouth. "Yes he will." I answered still in awe. I would have never pictured my self her in the scene I was in, not in all my wildest dreams would I imagine that I would marry Paradine even if for a short moment.
"alright." She gasped standing on her feet. "Let's get you over to Paul. She said with a smile. "Why whets Paul going to do?" I asked suddenly flustered. "Your hair and makeup silly." She laughed then pushed me out into the main shop where she covered me with a very large trench coat that covered the whole dress. "Let's go." She squealed in excitement and pushed me toward the door.
When out side there was a crowd of young woman and men. The woman squealed whispering to each other, "Why did she suddenly have this change of heart?" one whispered. "I wish I was fit to marry the king" another whispered. The men just stood there rubbing their chins as we passed by giving each other quick glances. I bowed my head looking straight to the ground. I left my sister for this? I wanted revenge through this? Does revenge really feel like this? A million questions started running through my head making it impossible to think.
I sorted through every wonder one by one until there were none left and I was able to breathe easy again. "Don't worry they wont talk for long soon you'll be queen!" the said the women who had given me the dress. She in particular was excited and unusually kind about this all. "Why are you so different?" I asked straighten my head up to look at her. "What do you mean?" she said tiling her head slightly to the side. "well everyone else is criticizing this wedding and talking gossip what about you why are you so nice?" she smile wide and her cheeks became rosey.she laugh a little and turned her head forward her long curly hair fastened in a bun. "Well you see it's not so hard to be nice when threes all a sudden joy around you." She smiled again her face seemed to glow. "What I mean is I am a royal clothes designer and my entire job up until now has been for is to make Paradine's clothes and some guard uniforms." She explained eyeing the guards ahead of us. "It's a chance to design women's clothing for a change" she only looked ahead and smiled. "But the day is rushing by so fast I wonder what my first project will be." She said smiling showing her white teeth now. They where perfectly straight and they brightened up her brown eyes.
Once we got to Paul's he sat me down on a soft and odd chair. "So the dress doesn't get damaged." He said while opening up a bag of hair tools. "So what will it be? Big hair or elegantly big or elegant?" he seemed to only smile at the elegant hair as would I. big hair didn't seem right for me and I didn't want to parade around looking like Marie Intranet. "elegant." I said with a smile and he smiled to. He started to softly tug at my hair and pull at other times. He seemed to mummer to himself babbling some none's about messy hair down and neat hair up then it was something along the lines of fix the part neatly fix he kept repeating fix time and time again. It came across my mind that he might have cod about hairstyles.
I sat there in the quite until he twisted the chair around reveling my elegant new style. It was beautiful breathtaking it marched the dress with so much precision every last detail noticeable without flaw. "Well?" he asked anxious leaning on the back of the chair. "I love it." I gasped out, turning my head to get every angle. "Good" he smiled and began to pack his utensils. I had though we were done for now until he unpacked a whole new bag with makeup brushes powders and eyeliners. I rolled my eyes and he only chuckled. "Doesn't worry I wont make you look like a clown?" He chuckled out holding his stomach. "It'll just look natural" he promised before he put a light brown powder on my cheek bones. I watched everything he used to mea sure it wasn't too much. Light eye shadow a light brown blush some lip stick mascara and he was done. My reflection did look natural as he promised. "You look like Christmas morning darling. now lets get you to the wedding." He chuckled as he held the door for me and the wedding dress woman Samantha as I heard was her name draped the same oversized trench coat over me and led me to a colossal building with stained glass windows and extremely large doors. The church. I guessed. All of a sudden the rush became too quick Samantha pulled off the coat and another woman handed me and bouquet of whit flowers. I heard the music begin inside then the double doors opened and the large crowd stood looking back at me.
I felt a pull of two small girls carrying my train; I swallowed hard and started my long walk down the blood red row of carpet. As the crowd fell behind me I heard an ohm and some awes as they noticed the elegant hair style mounted on my head. Paradise smiled in his black uniform. It wasn't a tuxedo though it was just as his usual attire except black and with a white leopard fur cape. Arrogant and extravagant at the same time it made me sick.
As I reached the altar the crowd sat with a sigh of relief. Paradise smiled at me and then we turned to the head priest Gifford as I came to know him. Paradise nodded his head once and then Gifford began the ceremonial oath that we had to be taking.
"We are gathered her today to join the love of king Paradise the 3rd and Somia Henrique." He began with a motion of his hands. "Do you Paradise take Somia as your wife in sickness and in health until death do you part?" "Idol" Paradise spat out prideful and straight. "Do you Somia take Paradise to be your husband in sickness and in health until death do you part?" my heart started to race pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. Paradise looked at me his eyes full of pride and there was only one thing I had to say. "I do" I finally spoke in a whisper. The whole church seemed to sigh a sigh of relief, but only if they knew that those words were for the departed then they would not be here today.
"You may kiss the bride." Gifford pronounced us with glee. Paradise closed his eyes puckered his lips and leaned forward to claim his prize. I got queasy for a moment before I leaned the other few degrees and pecked his lips slightly. The crowd clapped and cheered and I straightened back and he sighed grabbing my hand. We walked down the aisle then began to run pushing our way out the doors. My heels clucked down the steps and into the carriage. They didn't allow cars in Victorian, so the hoarsest did all the work.
Once inside the velvety interior it was quite awkward and most of all tempting. I was so close to what I wanted, it dangled on a thread in front of me. I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes I could imagine his death it would only take a few seconds for me to rip open his throat and pose it all as an horrible accident it would put him in a coffin and me on the thrown.
I tired to calm myself, I was so close to breaking point I could feel my insanity slipping away with each given second until the carriage came to a halt. As Paradise stepped out I gave a sigh of relief, the plan was safe for now at least.
I was relieved by more than the fact that I was able to hold off my revenge but also to the fact that even though we're married we sleep in separate rooms until a child is to be conceived. The only flick of that is that Paradise can't have children seeing as how he's half dead and all. I guess that's the highlight of being a pure blood you are still able to have children and that is one of the many reasons why it is frowned upon to love a lower class like I loved-. Quiet An unknown voice spoke to me. I looked around but only the guard was there leading me to my royal suite.
Hush now. The voice called to me, it sounded like it was coming from very and any direction. "Did you say something?" I asked the guard and he turned giving me and look of insanity. "No my queen I did not speak." He was being so formal it almost shocked me but there was no one else here to talk. Don't worry I am going to help you succeed in what you want. It spoke again.
I thought of a way that I could talk back to it all I could manage was to think the words and so I tried. Who are you? I thought. I'm a nameless existence. The voice scared me, it was a bit scratchy and sounded like that of a dead witches voice. Just the sound of it gave me shivers running up my spine.
What can I call you? I asked the nameless existence or so it called itself. You have come to know me as the Quiet. The last word seemed to roll of the nameless tongue and my eyes grew wide. The Quiet? The world I had retreated to so many times? My sanctuary? It was speaking to me in this awful voice. How is it possible that this nameless thing is the quite? I became extremely flustered nervous and scared. How is it that you are the Quiet? I asked hoping for a reasonable answer. I am your subconscious mind, the world you go to is only for your eyes you are the creator the puppet master. The Quiet revolves around you and its time to pay your dues. With every word the Quiet spoke I became more and more frightened. I was talking to my self, and now my subconscious mind wants to trade places? Was that it? I was the puppet master the creator? And know it was time to par my dues?
I couldn't manage to figure it out the dues the creator all the words turning inside my head, I had to ask or I would never know. What are my Dues? You must switch places when called to you will sleep and we will become the conscious mind and control your body until the time is replayed. Time? How long exactly is the time to be repaid? Sixty six hours. That's about three days. Could I manage for three days? No! I can't my revenge everything will go wrong! We will be the conscious mind for six hours at a time until your time is played. Six hours? That's ten times of sleep while the Quiet is doing god knows what with my body. I was a little much for my body, talking to this nameless thing.
"Ahem." The guard cleared his throat to capture my attention. I felt like I was going insane, my body was shaking fear ran through my veins. The gaud opened the suite door and I quivered inside. As soon as I had made it in the room he softly closed the door behind me.
I was scared, no more than that terrified that my own mind was speaking to me calling itself nameless. Most of all scared of the fact that it was the world I knew as the Quiet the world I visited so often, an know I must give them ten sets of six to do what ever they want's sat on the bed still in my wedding dress shaking violently.
I tried to clear my thoughts as I changed in to my night gown there wasn't much to chose from in my closet I would have to have Samantha make something suitable for a queen tomorrow. I had a million things running through my mind when I finally closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
