Chapter 4 -- Illusions

She let out a curdling scream that echoed throughout the house. She frantically grabbed at anything fearing that everything would be at lost if she didn't. Her tears pooled down her cheeks escaping her lids. Fear throbbed in her chest wildly trying to rip out from her chest. Her eyes flew open and she jerked upwards from the impact. Soon her head was pounding, remembering that she had hit her head against the table when she had fainted. She slowly touched her temple feeling the bruise that had started to take form.

"I was beginning to get worried since you haven't woken after you fainted yesterday evening," she heard Rei's voice in the background but paid no attention to it. Her thoughts were on her sister's betrothal and how she was going to leave her for good.

'What does it matter anyways? I die now or I die later either way you'll be gone forever,' she said signaling to her sister as her eyes welled up with tears all over again.

"Oh Serena, I hope you don't mean that. I'm in the same predicament as you. Do you think I want to marry this man that I don't even know? I just wished our father had known our pain before making this arrangement," Rei said as she encircled her sister, her eyes misting but she refused to cry. Crying was a show of weakness and she had to be strong for her sister.

'What about him?' Serena signaled looking at her sister.

"I guess I just have to marry him," Rei said with a bitter smile.

'No, not him,' Serena knew very well that her sister was avoiding the question.

"Then who?" her sister asked flabbergasted.

"Him?" she replied. She pointed at the door where a man stood with his arms crossed looking nonchalant. Soon Rei's body had stiffened at the sight of the man that stood at the door. She shifted her gaze at something that didn't lead to the man before her.

His brown hair fell swiftly in his dark charcoal eyes. The urge to push his hair out of his eyes was inevitable. His eyes bore through her back but she did not dare look into his eyes. Thoughts and scenarios swarmed through her head as her anxiety was building minute by minute.

'I'll leave you two alone,' Serena said and swiftly moved out of the room before her sister could protest.

"Hello Rei," he said, his voice held no emotion but nonetheless it sent shivers up her spine. She still hid from her gaze fearing of being his prey. Without any warning he was behind her. She felt his chest graze gently against her back. His closeness only brought memories, memories that had to be sealed in a hidden box within her.

"I was expecting an open armed greeting but I guess I hoped too much," he said huskily in her ear. She moved away so their bodies didn't touch but it was impossible. He held her hand gently as she tried to move farther away.

"Hope is always meant to be crushed. Its better not to expect too much in life before one must get totally obsessed and ruin itself in the fire of hope," she said coldly trying to build a bridge in between them but failing miserably.

"Ah but my love, if there wasn't any hope then there wouldn't be people like us, the dreamers," he said, amusement filled in his voice.

"Dreamers have no sense of reality, they are stuck in illusions that they create for themselves. I daresay people like you, dreamers, get trapped in they're dreams and have no sense of reality whatsoever," she said scornfully, her insides were churning as she inflicted the words upon him.

"Dreams and illusions are only created when another person urges one to have that kind of freedom, and if I'm correct it was you who urged me to vision these dreams and illusions. I must say that you've done an excellent job to entrap me in these illusions," he said bitterly. Every word lashed out at her like a whip leaving imprints on her mind, body and soul.

"I apologize for leading you into these false impressions but it was hardly my notion for things to work this way," she said as she tried to hold her tears that clouding her sense of vision.

Soon after the words slipped out of her mouth he whipped her around so she was facing him. He could clearly see the tears that pooled down her cheeks. Her eyes had dark circles from the recent events. He wiped her tears gently, but his touch only brought the starting of a storm that had taken form in her eyes.

"I can't do this anymore," she said stepping away from his embrace.

"We can face this together and find a solution, you and I," he said gently.

"What part do you don't understand? There is no we or us, we've broken apart and now there is only you and I standing at separate ends of a broken bridge," she said blabbering mindless sentences.

Moving swiftly, his lips were placed on hers, silencing her for a mere moment. She protested beneath him but he didn't dare let her go. Knowing that he wasn't going to let her go any time soon, she melted against his embrace. Granting his tongue permission in her mouth, he kissed her savagely, devouring every bits of her. Her fragrance left him intoxicated wanting the need for him to kiss her more passionately.

Knowing that this would be there last moment, she poured her heart into the kiss. He pinned her against the wall as she clung to him, fear of losing contact clung to her severely. The passion ignited from the core of her body, loosing herself to this man was the only irrational and the many rational things she had every done. Soon, they broke apart from lack of oxygen. Oxygen rushed through the lungs but still the hunger of lust, pain and unrequited love still radiated from their bodies.

"Why are you making this hard for me than it already is," she replied hoarsely as hauled as much air in her lungs as possible.

"You have no idea, what you're doing to me," he said huskily, nuzzling his face against her cheek.

"Chad, we have to stop before we both regret," she said pushing him away. The loss of his warmth hit her instantly, making shivers coarse through her body once again.

"There's not one ounce of regret in my body for loving you. I hope you realize that before you regret later on," he said gravely and soon left.

"Forgive me," she whispered. She crumpled on the floor letting tears make their own little pathways as they descended down.

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The days went by quickly at the Crescent mansion but still the gloom and disparity hung through the hallways. The once laughter that droned the hallways were now welcomed by the screams of silence. It was almost like the time when tragedy had hit at the Crescent's. Nobody dared to relinquish the silence that was filled in the mansion.

She stared out the window, watching the sun shine brightly through the sky. It was mocking her with its brilliance. It almost succeeded in blinding her with its radiance. She shielded her eyes by turning away from the window. Bitterness had become one of her main emotions as the days passed through.

"He's here, Madam," she heard the maid say.

"Bring him in," she said quietly. Today was the day, when she finally meets the man that was destined for her. Her insides were churning at the thought of actually getting aquatinted. She faced the window once again shielding her view from the entrance. Her raven locks were free of tangles. The urge to run a hand through them to give her an unappealing look was tempting. She felt someone enter the room and soon enough her body stiffened at the presence.

She knew she couldn't just stare out the window. It would be exceptionally rude to leave her guest unattended, her fiancé to be exact. She sighed, and finally turned around. She saw a man with raven locks matching with hers. He had cobalt eyes that held no warmth in them. Coldness and masculinity oozed out of this man. Authority also shone through his eyes, making shivers run through her spine. They stared at each other for a few moments, looking for strengths and weaknesses. Finally, unnerved by the silence that hung through the atmosphere she spoke.

"Hello, My name's Rei Crescent," she said firmly as she took her hand out for a shake.

"Darien Shields," he replied coolly.

"Umm… I was thinking if we talk about our situation outside, in the gardens perhaps since it's a nice day it would be a waste to spend it inside," she said giving him a half smile but not reaching its full brilliance.

"As you wish," he said making a gesture for her to lead the way.

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They settled in the gardens on the swing set. Rocking gently, silence hung thick in the air.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," she said to him, breaking the silence. It actually caught his interest.

"Life throws you unexpected surprises and you just have to deal with them," he said watching the beautiful scenery before him.

"Surprises that lead to a bitter life," she whispered but he had heard her. Not knowing how to ease her pain he kept quiet.

"Well let's talk about our arrangement that makes us bound for the rest of our years," she said giving him a bitter smile.

"Just a year," he said gazing long and hard waiting for her reaction.

"A year?" she asked, confusion evident in her eyes.

"Yes, there's also a part in the will that if things don't work out we can proceed for an annulment after a year," he said offering a strained smile.

It was one of the little good news she had heard during these monstrous days. Her hope suddenly soared through the sky. It meant that she would not have to live in a bitter life for the rest of her life.

"But that doesn't mean you're off the hook," he said hardening her gaze on her. The comment caught her attention making her look in his direction.

"You have to be on your best behavior, I don't want any scandals about affairs or other fidelity. I would like to have a small ceremony; I'm not interested in the whole affair. I don't expect us to share a marriage bed because I see this as an agreement," he said matter-of-factly.

"Percisely," she said matching his cool tone.

"Well now that we have it under control I should be going," he said and stood up from his seat.

"I have one condition," Rei said and making him stop in his tracks. He turns around and looks at her curiously.

"My sister would be staying with us," she said also standing up from seat.

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"As you wish," Darien said. From previous events with his lawyers he remembered her sister was disabled in some sort. Not caring the least, he just wanted this agreement over and done with.

"Thank you," he heard her say. Sadness truly stood out from her. It was like a mask that hid her real beauty. Her beauty still held that confidence that radiated in the picture but something was amiss. It must have been the tragic event and plus the betrothal. All of a sudden he heard shouting from the other end of the courtyard. They both turned to look.

"SERENITY ELIZABETH MOON CRESCENT!! IF I GET MY HANDS ON YOU…YOU JUST WAIT AND WATCH!!" he saw a woman screaming her lungs out. She was clearly covered with honey and flour and other indefinable goods. It would take hours to take the slimy food products out.

Who would pull such a grotesque act?

Soon after those thoughts occur in his head, he heard her laugh…

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Hey guys!!! I hope you like this chapter… WRITE REVIEWS to let me know hahahha sorry abt the cliffy I just found it exciting just leaving it at that lol thanks for all the reviews that ppl have posted and more are always appreciated lol well cya for now….twinkle eyes