Finally, the wedding. I wanted to make it as dark and dreary as I could, so I listened to Mozart's Requiem in D Minor on a loop throughout the whole time I wrote this chapter. It also helped that I just re-watched Amadeus as well. But anyway, I hope you all enjoy this one. Happy Reading.

There was a certain anxious frustration that consumed me around the days that led up to the wedding. I sat around my window from night to early morning watching the ending few days of autumn change over to winter-the fog that crept off the ground early in the morning and the dew that collected at my window. The chill in the air grew worse and sharp and most days were rainy, frosty or cloudy. The weather was unforgiving in letting me escape the constant rush and preparations about the manor. Even though the mansion sat a little away from Cambridge in its own little secluded region, I found it suffocating and stuffy. I wanted to return to Arthur's cousin's and lay around the fields and moors.

Eventually, the wedding day finally came. Unable to close my eyes once my mind started to tumble with thoughts of today's events especially after I'd thrown up nearly twice from a nervous stomach, I had woken up early. With every blink of my eyes I was zoomed to the parlor, zipped up into the dress, and then finally handed the bunch of deep purple harebells all the while my family and friendly hurled around me in an excited buzz.

She shook and then gingerly pulled on the hem of the train, "Kallin"

I sat quietly on the lofty chair near the bed, my hand folded on top of each other upon my lap. I looked down at the soft black lace layered on the skirt of the dress before Olivia stood up and sat on the arm rest of the chair.

Adele, my mother, Aunt Daphne and Mrs. Clark had just left after delicately pinning the dark veil at the crown of my head

Arthur had just snuck in after the women left, then, leaving both Olivia and Arthur in my room.

Olivia smiled at me with a mixture of happiness yet grief, while softly placing her hands on my cheeks and forcing me to look at her.

I suddenly let out a faint giggle as I felt my eyes getting watery—I suppose because I couldn't believe what was just about to take place—and then tenderly grabbed one of her wrists, while looking over to Arthur sitting on top of the bed.

The boy closed his eyes nodding "you look beautiful," he whispered.

I shook my head in response, trying to wipe at my eyes.

Although I knew nothing was going to be alright and that I was actually silently walking along with what everyone else had planned, I finally got my words of encouragement from the two in silent gestures and smiles.

I wanted to hug both of them, bury my head into their shoulders and hope no one would claw me out of their grasps. They were proving to be my only motivations and voices of reason.

"Just…" Arthur finally stood up and walked over to the two of us, brushing my soft bangs away from my face and then poking my cheek—which made me wince and look up at him. He sighed, lightly chuckling and then poking the other cheek "... never mind…" he spoke when his pokes forced me to smile.

"You're needed, best man" there was a knock and a slight opening of my room door, letting in the loud chatters of the hushing wedding party. Eugene, Holland and Rafael respectfully didn't enter the room just quickly informed Arthur, waiting a moment for him and then left with him after the boy patted my shoulder.

Olivia sighed once we were the only ones left "tell me, how are you holding up" she always spoke frank to me, and honestly, I liked it because letting my bottle open in front of her was better than letting everything contained and explode later.

"…I feel numb…" I shrugged and then slowly looked over to her, holding her wrist again "do you have to leave after all of this?" In two days Olivia would be leaving and returning home to the U.S. I had prepared myself knowing she'd leave along time ago but now after witnessing exactly the solitude and unfamiliarity of living here, I wanted someone to stay with me to keep me sane. "…transfer here, like me" I pleaded

Olivia smiled back but I knew she was close to crying but boldly kept it in "… I can't…you already know that. I'll try, but there are no positions open here, and where would I live … where would-"

"With me" I interrupted her but she just shook her head.

She wasn't leaving me because she wanted to, but I knew she felt as if it wasn't her place to stay here after my marriage. I would have my duties and she didn't want to interfere with anything because all of this was out of her control. If things were different I knew she would have stayed, but she was more afraid of these vampires than I was. She only kept her fear hidden to keep me brave.

"I'll visit often…"

That would never be enough.

Olivia tucked her bangs behind her ears despite the fact that it still fell down over her eyes again after a few seconds "I'm sorry, Kallin…"

I let out a heavy breath and met her gaze to which she gave me a hug afterwards.

"Just…" I heard Arthur's familiar tone in her voice "…know the difference between your duty and your heart…"

Her whisper left me speechless and transfixed on what Arthur had probably wanted to tell me all along.

"Are you two ready?"

"Uh… yeah…" Olivia let me go and I heard her cough before patting her cheeks and letting out sigh—something she always did when she wanted to stop herself from crying.

But I just nodded, still silently thinking about exactly where my duties and heart did lie.

I was escorted downstairs with her and waited around the area where the whole wedding party was being assembled. Arthur was probably already waiting around the corner and up the long aisle with Evan.

In fact, I didn't know where my duties and heart lay. I respected my family and I would be selfish if didn't listen to them, but listening to them kept me from being happy. That girl, Imogene, left for her happiness but she rejected her family for it and to anyone, she would seem selfish- but is seeking happiness really all that selfish?

"Kallin…"

I looked up and over the wedding party who were already grouped and paired, Olivia with Rafael and Virgil on each side of her; Adele with Eugene; and Cecile with Holland—all waiting to walk down the aisle. My father had just arrived and smiled at the sight of me. I saw in his eyes the pride and happiness he found in me.

"..Dad..." I let out and he folded one arm with mine.

Cecile and Holland looked back with a smile before tuning back around letting my father and I have our moment.

"You look like a true bride"

I nodded my head with a faint smile because I found it ironic that he thought I looked like a bride in black. My smile made my father's quiver. He was a strong man, and I never truly saw him show me any signs of weakness but right now I saw the guilt on his face.

"If I ever hurt you-"

"-Dad-"

"-Kallin" he looked at me straight in the eyes, his a little moist.

My heart or my duty?

"-no, I'm sorry" he softly murmured and I suddenly felt selfish for making my father feel so guilty. I respected him enough to not bear the sight of this weakness.

I rested a hand on his cheek and smiled, shaking my head slightly in order to make him stop. Though, just before I was to speak to him, we heard the cue of the orchestra and I quickly wiped at his eyes and fixed his tie, patting at his chest.

I look away up towards Olivia and the boys walk out, preparing myself to face everyone and Evan.

"I only wish I had your courage" my father quickly muffled and kissed the top of my head.

I was caught of guard.

It wasn't long before we walked around the corner into the large hall. I was overwhelmed with all of the vintage and Victorian décor and the dark flowers woven around the room. I almost clung to my father and avoided eye contact with any guests watching—it was easier with the dark veil over my face. I felt like a small infant grasping to her father's leg to protect her as he took her to meet new people. Only half way down did I slightly look up to see past my mother, Uncle Nero, Aunt Daphne and the Clarks seated on the front row to Arthur and Evan. They stood by an old man who wore nothing to resemble any type of priest. I wasn't aware of vampire marriages, but I could only assume they didn't have priests or any holy service at weddings.

Arthur had already brought Evan's attention to me and he stood there uneasy and guilt written, yet he masked it well with a certain smile at me which strained and tightened my chest.

Like a silent doll whose mouth was plastered shut and painted heavy with red to conceal that plaster, I was given away like a gift to Evan.

There were no vows, and no hand holding. We were to knell as if in prayer upon the old man who seemed nearly one hundred or even more years old. He rested one surprisingly firm hand over Evan's head once while he spoke some speech, which was probably in Latin and had a familiar tone to a Requiem, and then transferred his hand over to the top my head. The weight of his hand felt old and heavy as if it symbolized the burden of marriage, but then just as I'd found it making me tear, the old man's voice grew stately and almost wrathful to which he stood up straight and removed his hand. His voice was like hell fire, punishing in tone and wrathful. I wish I knew what he was talking about, but I could here from the many guests behind me, the few who were sniffling with a frightened whimper, that it wasn't anything pleasant. Was it talk of the punishment god had ensued on them? To live while your mind and sanity rotted? Or to be reminded that they were not all powerful beings because they were now upon an age of mortality?

His tone then soothed into something sweet yet full of grief and it was then when we were gestured to stand.

I didn't think I was crying but I felt warm tears often slipping down my cheeks; the whole experience was other worldly- as if I wasn't in my body and watching the ceremony from somewhere afar.

We stood for a long moment in front of each other. While the old man went on with great conviction, I peered up at Evan. His face was worn and tired but that didn't take away from his usual handsome features. He was in deep thought, maybe he knew what the man was saying, but once he noticed me, he subtly without the guests noticing, met my eyes. They were just as vacant as I thought mine would have appeared to him. For a moment I thought I saw sorrow flicker in his hazel eyes.

I choked, my breath caught in my throat and I started to cry. I wanted to cover my mouth because I felt as if I was about to hiccup loudly but I bit my lip.

Evan's face immediately jumped and he held my wrist in a firm but gentle grasp. He could not have cared at how the old man and the rest of the guests had suddenly noticed.

The man was quick to finish there after and then switched back to English and from my understanding he then orated the meaning of a bond and marriage to their society. His spiel continued until he mentioned Evan to officially seal the marriage.

I spotted hesitation on his expression once he met with that man's direction. I was confused, but had the idea that he meant for us to kiss—no there was more to it, it saw it in Evan's face.

I tried to meet his eyes to understand what was going on, but Evan swiftly inched closer to my face and pressed his lips on my mine. His kiss was a sad one, nothing happy was about it and yet it made me grow a little soft because it was so warm. But then, I felt something sharp retract from his teeth and then I realized too late- He bit my lip and I forced back my sudden pain and shock.

Evan pulled away with two small drops of blood on his lower lips, licking them quickly away.

The old man smiled fulfilled and most of the guests started to softly clap. I stood dazed and stiff as the man proceeded by bringing a finger to my lips and smearing the blood collecting on my lips as another coat of lipstick.