Chapter two: Demons

After congratulations and handshakes, Cal and Rose went to the car that had taken Rose on the church and collapsed down, waiting for the driver to begin. "We should arrive last in order to make a good appearance? Do you agree sweet pea?" he asked, watching Rose carefully. She looked at him and nodded, her veil hiding her green eyes.

"Take this from your eyes now we're alone darling. There's no use on having it"

Rose focused on the road, avoiding Cal's gaze on her. "Rose look at me when I'm talking to you"

Rose glanced at him. He didn't seem angry but... disappointed. Like she was his daughter and he had failed in maths. Rose wondered what kind of children they would have. Both Cal and Nathan wanted boys to inherit the Hockley steel but Rose secretly wanted a daughter in case she gets pregnant. She prayed hard that her life would get a twist to better.

"Now darling I think we should talk about some things," Cal said gripping her forearm. "From now on, we are bound. I'm your Husband and I don't want to give the impression we hate each other."

"As you wish," Rose sighed, "I'll try to act as I am the happiest woman in the world"

Cal shook his head annoyed. "I gave you everything. Expensive jewelry, clothes, a perfect wedding and for what? For you to be miserable?"

Rose kept staring at his eyes without telling a world. Cal sighed and turned back on the road watching the scenery pass on. Rose was totally absurd! What did she find at Dawson, making him a better man. The boy couldn't even be considered as a gentleman! He looked at Rose who was staring outside of the window, probably feeling melancholy.

I know you've been melancholy. I don't pretend to know why

Today was their wedding night. Would Rose refuse to do anything at all or would she follow his orders? After all they were legally married now, meaning that she had to produce heirs to continue the Hockley Steel. Nathan Hockley had approved of Rose; she was smart, beautiful and charming, something that the future children might inherit.

When the Golden Ballroom came into view, Rose felt her heart beating extremely fast. She glanced at the engagement ring with wedding ring on her finger. It felt so heavy- like a stone sitting on her finger, forced to sit forever. Forever was a scary word to Rose's ears, almost like she would die and still be with Cal.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hockley" the driver said to glance at the newlyweds. "We are here"

Rose fixed the veil on her head and glanced at Cal. He was buttoning his cufflinks and Rose wondered what he was thinking right then. Of her? Of Jack? Or of their new marriage?

God she hated that word.

Cal's valet opened the door for her and took her hand gently, guiding her outside of the car. The air hitted Rose's skin and she shivered under the gown and corset.

Cal took her arm and they made their way to the Ballroom. Rose's heels echoed and the music changed when the couple arrived in the elegant room. People stopped chatting and turned their attention to the large double doors. "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present you Mr. and Mrs. Caledon Hockley!"

The room burst into cheers. Rose tried so badly to put a nice smile but she couldn't. She wondered how many people who were sitting in this room were going though the same things but don't tell it...

She was one of them now.

Rose heard whispers as she walked with Cal in a large table which was set for the bride, groom and their family. Women glanced at her as they chat for her behind their white gloves.

"So this is the DeWitt Bukater girl..."

"She was very sick upon returning in Philadelphia. I heard she was in the water-

"Who knows why she didn't get on a lifeboat..."

Rose tried her best to ignore the gossips as she and Cal made their way to the table. It was true, Rose sadly remembered. Jack had died upon making her promise she would survive. But again what was the result? Cal found her aboard the Carpathia and made her go back. She should have died...

"It was such a lovely ceremony!" Marie Hockley exclaimed, wiping her tears on a handkerchief, "It was definitely the wedding of the year!"

Ruth approached her daughter and son in law beaming with pride. "I'm so happy for you two! All these tears and preparations deserved it! It was the best that could have happened to our family!"

Of course Rose thought sarcastically. After all if it wasn't for me you would be in the roads right now

"Welcome to our family Rose," Nathan Hockley, a proud man with grey hair and moustache smiled at Rose, "It's my pleasure to have you as daughter in law"

Rose faked a smile and sat in one of the chairs looking around. They weren't people dancing yet; they were just eating and having fun with gossiping. Rose felt Cal sit besides her and she trembled.

"Isn't this great Rose?" Cal whispered in her ear, sending goosebumps to her body, "Seeing all these people cheer for us?"

Rose grinned at Cal although it was fake. "Yes it is darling. May I ask when the food is to be served?"

Finally, a waiter came with the food. There was caviar, which Rose detested, salmon, casserole, fish and glasses of champagne. Rose drank the alcohol, trying to escape the reality.

She didn't focus on the conversation during eating, she kept digging at her food ignoring anyone, even her mother who was hissing at her to sit properly and eat her food slowly. She ignored the conversation and continued eating.

"Rose," Cal interrupted her before she could finish eating, "It's time for the cake and dance. Come on"

Careful not to ruin her beautiful dress, Rose enveloped arms with Cal and moved in the centre of the ballroom where the stewards had set a large, oak table. Rose looked at it and noticed that it had flowers around the table, two glasses of champagne and the bottle besides them, two plates with a spoon and a knife and something that almost made Rose gasp. It was a big cake, with vanilla cream and two figures of a bride and a groom on the top.

Cal took the knife in his head and slowly cut the first piece putting it at one of the plates. Rose put a fake grin as photos started to be taken and Cal gave her a bite of the cake. Rose couldn't help but melt at the taste.

As with her turn gave cake to Cal people started laughing and cheering at the couple. As Rose ate the last bit of the cake, Cal opened the glass of champagne and poured it in the two glasses. People started clapping and Rose felt really dreadful.

The dance even was more horrible. It was nothing compared at dancing with Jack; he was tense, his hands were at the small of her back pressing her towards him...It was horrible.

When the dance ended, Rose whispered at Cal "I have to go in the toilet"

Cal nodded, "Just don't be late. We need to greet people"

Nodding, Rose hurried to the toilet. Thankfully no one was there since everyone was watching the reception. Rose hurried in one of the toilets and locked the door besides her.

Rose hovered over the toilet, fighting the urge to vomit. After a few minutes, she puked her breakfast and dinner there. She cried as she got up and wiped her mother.

"Oh Jack," she sobbed, "Where are you?"

She started crying as she thought she and Jack getting married in a small church, exchanging rings and kissing each other...Why I'm so unlucky? Why, why, why? My life is plugging ahead and I'm not able to stop it. What am I going to do? I'll have to be his wife for God knows how long.

Realising that fifteen good minutes had passed since she had left the main ballroom she searched in her bag to find a small mirror she owned. She gasped at her own sight. The mascara had run down her cheeks and her cheeks were deadly pale. She couldn't possibly appear like this. Cal would kill her.

Thankfully, she had a small purse with make up with her. Trying to be gentle and nice, she applied the mascara and put some colour on her face. When she grabbed the lip gloss she heard three sharp knocks.

"Rose? Are you in there? What are you doing so many hour, we have guests that we need to attend!"

Rose winced at Cal's voice. "Just a minute!" she called and putting the things back to her purse she opened the door to face Cal. He was leaning against the sinks with his arms crossed. Rose grinned. "Sorry for the long delay darling. Should we go?"

"Yes," Cal nodded glancing at her. He offered her his arm, "Come on"