Chapter 47 Objection

Lupe tried to cheer herself up as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. You're getting married! To Richard! Today! In about thirty minutes! She smiled, hoping that the smile would trick the rest of her body into feeling it. But all she felt was a vague sense of emptiness.

What was even the point? No God, no family, no possible children…Lupe's smile collapsed. I got to go out there and say those words otherwise I'll break poor Richard's heart. And it wasn't that she didn't love Richard, she did, but getting married was so futile. It was a waste of money, although they had enough of it. She'd trade it all in a heartbeat though to be a waitress again back on dry land.

"You're not the first bride to be down in the dumps, if that helps," Mimi offered from her wicker chair in the corner of the dressing room. She was the closest thing Lupe had to family down here, and despite their mostly business relationship Lupe was happy, or at least fortified, to have her with her.

Lupe's neutral expression turned to a frown. "Is it that obvious?"

"No, not terribly so, but I can tell." Mimi crushed out a cigarette. She wore a dusty pink two-piece, which was fitting for her de-facto mother-of-the-bride position. "You want to go through with this?"

Lupe nodded. "It's not Richard that's the problem, it's…." she trailed off, unwilling to name the real problem as it was nearly illegal to wish to leave Rapture.

Mimi sighed. "I know. May as well make the best of it, huh?"

"I suppose." Lupe eyed the garment bag which held her dress. "Did any of your girls ever marry their johns?"

"Tale as old as time, that," Mimi affirmed and took a sip of champagne. "Hardly a year would go by without one of my girls leaving to marry a john. Sometimes it'd be an old widower who just wanted the company of a pretty and sexy young thing, sometimes some young hot-headed mobbed-up type, sometimes a lonely fellow, and sometimes just an average Joe with stars in his eyes. Some of the girls came back to work after a while, but not many."

They probably got married in a church, Lupe grumpily thought. The chapel they had booked was nice, even she had to admit that, but its only purpose was to wed people. It was a soulless facsimile. It would be better to create new traditions down here than carry on with the motions from before. She arose and unzipped the bag. White. What a farce. I'd better served in a flashy red dress like Scarlett wore to Melly's birthday party. The thought of that made her smile while she ran her fingers down the tulle on the skirt.

The dress was tea-length with ¾ sleeves and was white as the driven snow, with a gossamer netting of tulle on the skirt and pearl beading on the scoop neckline and cuffs. She had forgone a veil and instead a pearl-studded headpiece was sitting on the vanity. Her hair had been done up that morning, and all that remained was to don the dress as her makeup was already done as well.

"You sure you want to do this?"

"Yes. It'll make him happy and I like how things are now. This doesn't change anything, which is why I suppose it bothers me," Lupe said as she took the bag off the dress.

"Nonsense. Everything is changing all the time. Maybe slowly, the way a tree grows, but it is still changing," Mimi replied, getting a bit philosophical after the several glasses of champagne she'd imbibed.

Change is not always for the better. She unzipped the dress and then took off her robe. Ah well, how can this make it worse? "Zip me up, Mimi, and let's do this thing."

Would you kindly imagine a page break here?

Richard nervously adjusted his ivory-colored tie for what felt like the hundredth time. And it must have been about the hundredth time because his mother noticed and motioned for him to quit fidgeting. She's not going to leave me at the altar, he reassured himself and checked his watch. Oh, it's not even time yet. Unless my watch was slow…

The chapel was cozily lit by dozens of candles in candelabras and chandeliers. Two massive six-foot-tall brass candelabras with intricate winding designs flanked the entranceway, casting warm inviting haloes of glowing light onto the members of the wedding party as they entered. The two stately wooden doors with brass fittings that opened into the street were currently closed. The walls were draped in dark red and gold satin and the floors were polished shining wood. Twenty or so simple wooden chairs were clustered around a podium in front of an arrangement of red and pink gladiolus.

It was a minuscule wedding party – just his brother and parents on his side and Mimi on Lupe's side. Richard hadn't actually met Mimi (although he had heard about her) until the diner they all had last night, and watching his mother slowly understand that Mimi had been a madame was entertaining. But his mother had been cordial the whole time and he was extremely happy that she was making an effort to accept Lupe, if not love her.

The officiant, who's official title was just that, officiant, was currently shuffling through some paperwork behind the podium. On the podium a gold fountain pen was waiting for them to sign the certificate. Richard had to more or less bribe him a hefty sum to agree to generate a marriage certificate despite the fact that Richard could not present a divorce certificate, but it was done. Soon it would all be sewn up and he could move on with his life.

He wanted so badly to correct his personal mistakes. Marrying Lupe was correct. He loved her and she loved him. They were physically and emotionally compatible. Today he finally got to put his terrible marriage to Dorothy behind him. He could hardly wait. Mere minutes stood between him and having his error fixed. Mere minutes, he thought as he checked his watch again. Only thirty seconds had ticked by.

Richard took several deep breaths. There was no overly strong sense of sentiment or romance. He was just going to be able to breathe easier once Lupe was safely his wife. Mere minutes, mere minutes, mere minu-

His nervous inner monologue/mantra was interrupted when the polished wooden door to the bride's dressing room opened a crack. Since there was no father of the bride or anything like that, Lupe had elected to just come out at the appointed time without any fanfare. But it wasn't Lupe he laid eyes on. Mimi was discretely peeking her face out and once she caught sight of everyone present she whispered to the officiant that Lupe was ready.

The officiant pointed at Richard. "You, get up here and stand to my left. The rest of you sit."

Richard only had to take a few steps forward. From behind him, he heard his family take their seats. Despite his calm and cool nature his heart began to beat faster. Mere seconds. He could hear his pulse in his ears.

The door swung open fully now, and Lupe appeared. She was stunning. This wasn't just an error he was correcting. He had been deluding himself. This was more, so very much more. If pressed he wouldn't be able to name a single detail or feature of her dress – it was all just a white blur. Everything else was a blur as well. All he truly comprehended at that moment was her, her essence, her being, her willingness to be in unity with him.

Lupe slowly walked to the podium, her eyes downcast slightly, but once she got to the podium she looked up at him and smiled nervously. He took her hand in his and smiled back at her. He wanted to lean in and kiss her, but decided he'd save that for the end.

The officiant opened his mouth to speak, but before he could begin the doors were thrown open as violently as if a hurricane was bearing down on them. Everyone turned to the door, and Richard knew whom they were all expecting to see. He and Roland had discussed the possibility, and Roland gallantly offered to 'whisk away' Dorothy, should she make an appearance. Ideally, she should have no idea of the date or location, but gossip and secrets made their way around Rapture faster than shit through a goose.

So it was a surprise, and an unpleasant one at that, to see Robert at the door.

He was, despite his expensive clothes, a mess. His jacket was torn at the shoulder and his shirt was stained with what looked like blood. But it was his eyes that were the most concern – they were bloodshot and wide, and when paired with the extremely inappropriate manic smile on his face it painted a worrisome picture indeed.

"I'm gonna guess my invite was lost," Robert called out in a loud and oddly shrill voice.

"Get out!" Richard yelled at him. "I don't know what you're up to, but get out!"

Lupe was too stunned to move, but Mimi appeared from seemingly nowhere and grabbed her arm. "Doll, let's get out of here, out the back," she whispered loudly.

"No one is going anywhere!" Robert shouted, and with a flick of his hand the dressing room door slammed shut.

Roland rushed at Robert but tripped over a chair that seemingly came out of nowhere. He cursed loudly as he careened into the wall. Their mother scrambled over to him, and she tripped over the same chair, which supernaturally bounced off the wall and struck her in the back.

"What a clumsy bunch you are," Robert laughed, and the doors slammed shut behind him.

"What do you want?" Lupe shouted at him. She sounded scared.

"Don't worry sweetheart," Richard assured her. "I've handled him once and by God, it looks like I'm going to have to do it again!"

Robert laughed. "You think you can dust me up again? I'm no easy mark anymore, I've got your special treatment, brother, and it's a fair fight this time!"

No, no you haven't. Robert didn't have glowing eyes, nor could Richard 'see' him the way he saw others with the slug in them as well. But there was an undeniable ADAM aspect about him now. Richard didn't know exactly what was on the menu, but those doors and chairs didn't move of their own accord.

"I'm not going to fight," Richard slowly said, trying to suss out exactly what it was Robert was angling for other than to ruin his wedding. "You're just going to have to leave because you aren't getting what you've come for."

Mimi was furiously tugging on the dressing room door but it wouldn't budge. His father had waddled over to check on Roland and his mother, who aside from being bruised seemed alright. The officiant stood stock still behind the podium, as this was apparently neither something he had encountered before or something he had encountered so many times he thought it best to let it just play out.

"Oh, come on now Richard," Robert taunted him. "You wanted to kill me, I saw it in your weird freak eyes, just because I wanted to screw your pretty little bride there. I thought it was a bit of an overreaction, I mean, it's not like I was going to hurt her or anything, just have a little nibble of that honey you'd been helping yourself to while your wife's back was turned."

Richard didn't have to be the smartest man in Rapture to realize this was some kind of bizarre set-up or trap. Probably relying on the officiant as a neutral witness. "I've got a much cooler head today," Richard pointed out, keeping his voice calm so as to not alarm Lupe any more than she already was. "It's not happening, I don't know what you've got up your sleeve exactly but it isn't going to work."

"It's not what I got up my sleeve, but what's up yours." Robert gestured slightly at Richard.

Richard felt himself pulled by strong and unseen forces at Robert. He didn't struggle at first, as it was such an utter shock to find oneself yanked forward as if they were a fish on a wire, but before he was halfway across the room he found his footing and skittered to a halt. Lupe shrieked his name, but Mimi grabbed her by the shoulders and held her firm.

"What in the devil is this?" Richard's father gasped from the side of the room.

Robert grimaced and held both his hands out at Richard. "Get over here you son of a bitch and finish the job!"

Richard resisted and leaned back towards the podium, still struggling against the powerful pull that Robert was somehow exerting on him. "Give up, you bastard, I'm stronger than you! Give up and leave! You've already caused one hell of a scene and ruined my wedding, what else do you want?"

Robert grunted and Richard felt the traction release. He stumbled but quickly got back onto his feet. Lupe was trying to wiggle free of Mimi's protective grip, but Mimi had a powerful grip on her. "Stay out of it doll, it's a man's fight," she authoritatively told him. "Your mister can handle himself, can't he?"

"I sure can, you know that sweetheart," Richard reassured her with a glance and smile.

She nervously pressed her lips together and Richard looked back at Robert. Robert had pulled a hypodermic needle full of a familiarly glowing blue fluid from his jacket and jammed it into his left arm. Roland was back up on his feet, but exchanged a look with Richard, looking for direction. Richard shook his head and motioned for him to stay his play.

"It would seem that you got a little something extra that I didn't get," Robert exclaimed, the pulsing vitality that ADAM lent him punctuating his words with maniacal vigor. "I must say I'm a bit jealous! I've been working on my skills for a while now and you're the first person who's been able to resist!"

"I'm flattered. Now do please fuck off from my wedding!"

"Nah, I've…" Robert moaned and rolled his eyes back as the ADAM really began to take hold. "I've got a gift for your bride! A nice fat widow's life insurance payment!" And with that and a raised fist, one of the massive candelabras rose off the floor and flew at Richard faster than the express train at rush hour.

The candles had all fallen off by the time the candelabra reached Richard. A dozen or so – he wasn't in the mood to count – sharp spikes pierced his ribcage and abdomen. The kinetic force of the blow propelled him to the floor. Richard yelled despite his knowledge that he'd be peachy keen once he pulled the candelabra out. The spikes were several inches long and the pain, while brief, stung hard. In his periphery he saw his mother faint and heard Mimi shriek in shock.

Lupe tore away from Mimi and rushed to his prone body. "Richard," she breathlessly called to him. "Darling, oh, oh Lord! Is this too much?!"

"No, not at all," he quickly affirmed and gripped the shaft of the candelabra. He ripped it out and grunted as the spikes were whisked from his flesh. His nicest suit was ruined. But that wasn't what was getting his Irish up.

Lupe helped him to his feet but cautiously stepped away when she saw the anger boiling in his eyes. Richard picked up the incredibly heavy candelabra effortlessly with one hand. "This was supposed to be a good day!" Richard yelled at Robert. "This was going to be the last thing I needed!"

Robert seemed to be at a loss once he realized that Richard was essentially unkillable. Robert took a step back. "Don't come any closer or the next one has your honey's name on it!"

"Robert, you utter idiot, I'll have your worthless head for that," Richard hissed at him in a low voice that no one else could hear. He grasped the candelabra like a baseball bat and before anyone could react Richard swung the candelabra with a force that Robert wished he could generate with his parlor tricks.

Robert's head came off with one blow, but it was not clean as if an expert French swordsman had done it, which was fair, as Richard was no expert French swordsman. Blood spurted out all over the lovely floor and drapery. Shouts of agitation and shock from everyone assembled, including his father and the officiant, emanated from behind him, but Richard only stared at the inelegantly torn stump of a neck that was oozing blood. I suppose it was fate that I was going to remove this monstrous menace from the world. And I suppose that the chapel is going to charge me an arm and a leg for the mess.

Lupe stalked up next to Richard and put her hand on his arm. He expected a kiss or a swoon or some such expression of feminine affection and weakness, but instead gave Robert's fresh corpse an angry little kick with her white satin shoe. "Hijo de puta," Lupe swore and spat on his body. "Andate a cager!"

"Richie, um, you wanna fill us in on what happened?" Roland called from behind him. "And maybe get over here and let Ma know you're still kicking?"

Richard unceremoniously tossed the candelabra onto the floor. I am supposed to be married again now, he bitterly thought. How am I supposed to get married now with a corpse in the room? Miserable shit of a corpse that he is. "I'm sorry darling," he whispered to Lupe. "Looks like we are going to have to reschedule."

She squeezed his arm. "It could have been much worse."

Richard approached his family. His father was supporting his mother's crumpled form while Roland was trying to bring his mother around. "Look, Ma, look, Richie's fine. Danged if I know why, but it's going to take a lot to put your littlest in the ground!"

"Mother, I'm perfectly fine," Richard crouched down on the floor next to her.

"You there, get the closest medical crew on the horn," Mimi directed the officiant, who had never seen something like this before. "She's had a conniption, and rightfully so! Hop to it!"

Lupe ran to the dressing room and quickly returned with a pitcher of water. She hesitated, then tossed some tepid water on her mother-in-laws face. But it was to no effect. "I guess it's not like movies then." Lupe set the pitcher down on a chair and stood up. She took a few steps back and helplessly wrung her hands, obviously uncertain as to what to do to help.

Roland gave their mother a gentle smack. "Come on Ma, Richie is alive and well, open your eyes and see!"

"Mother, it's a-"

Richard's reassurance was cut short by sudden pained screams from behind him. He whirled around to see Lupe engulfed in a miniature firestorm. Flames danced and roared on her arms, her head, her waist. Her dress peeled and shriveled and fell off her body before his eyes. Her shrieks of agony floated above the flames, as if lifted by the hot air.

Lupe flailed and grasped at nothing as she burned. Richard remained where he was, paralyzed with horror like one is in a nightmare and is being chased by a beast beyond comprehension. No one else moved either.

After what seemed like an eternity but was less than ten seconds, Lupe's eyes found Richard's and wordlessly begged him to be roused to action. The spell of terror was lifted and he rushed to her. He pulled off his jacket and attempted to smother the fire.

The flames spread to his clothing, and the pain was born anew repeatedly as his skin and blood instantly regenerated as it was burned away. Lupe's wails did not abate as he struggled to put the fire out. Clumps of her skin and flesh tore away as he tried to snuff out the fire.

"Stop! Stop it! Please, please, make it stop!" Lupe choked out in agony. "Stop it!"

The pitcher of water was poured on her from behind by Roland's hand, but the water was just as useless on her as it was on his mother. Her skin was red and blistered and she clasped her hands to her face in an instinct of futile protection. Lupe sunk to the floor, her piercing screams fading into heart-wrenching sobs.

"No," Richard impotently whispered as she fell from his arms. "No…you can't…" He was totally incognizant of his own meaningless pain.

Someone threw the entire contents of the vase of gladiolas on her. Either the flowers and their water sated the flames or whatever mysterious force that started the fire waned. The flames dwindled to a low burn and died out almost as quickly as it started.

"Lupe," Richard sorrowfully called her name and dropped to his knees, unable to make any sense of what he just saw.

Lupe groaned pitifully, wheezing and moaning as her bloodied and raw skin crackled in the air. "It hurts," she excruciatingly cried. "Please make it stop!"

"Medics are coming doll, they're already on their way!" Mimi shouted from across the room. "Hold on!"

Numbly, Richard reached out to comfort her. He touched her shoulder but as he laid his hand on her she moaned loudly in pain. He pulled his hand back and felt the horribly gooey fluid that was only moments ago her healthy body. Richard heaved in horror and tore his eyes away from her, unable to bear it anymore.

As he looked up he caught sight of Dorothy lurking in the now-opened doorway. She caught his eye, winked, and retreated into the street, a mysterious wrapped bundle in her arms.