"Beloved, you won't have too. Your father wrote to my father, and said that
if both he and Stefan died, the two main protectors of you, then even if
you aren't sixteen yet, we can be wed to insure your safety. Even though
Bryam will protect you in anyway he can, he isn't a close someone that we
can trust. He has been known before to ask for mage's help. Even though it
was only to help his daughter who was sick, he still did it."
I was in a state of shock. I looked at him and he nodded. I will marry
Shand, and I don't care if it is only Shand, the priest and I. I never
liked big weddings, too impersonal.
"Sweetie, say something. Don't just stare at me like that. Please say
something."
I couldn't say anything. I tried to, but no sound came out. I gripped his
hand and opened my mouth. Nothing came out. I tried to scream, I wanted to
scream. I tugged on Shand's shirt, and he looked at me. Tears came down my
face, and I continued to tug on his shirt.
"Angelina! Say something; don't just tug at my shirt. Please say
something."
Tears rolled down my face and I opened my mouth again. I looked all around
the room, and then I saw it again.
I bolted up and Shand grabbed me. I pointed to the face, and Shand looked.
He turned and had a puzzled look on his face. I was scared to death and he
couldn't see it. What was wrong with me?
"Angelina. Angelina, he can't see me. So don't bother anymore. I'm sorry
that I had to take your voice, but I couldn't have you screaming now could
I? You're so beautiful when you're scared. But I won't hurt you. No, I
don't like damaged goods."
I heard this voice before. In my dreams this voice hunted me. Who was it?
Why won't it leave me alone?
"You can never be rid of me. I will haunt you forever if you refuse to
marry me. I will kill everyone that you love, and you will suffer.
Understand? You have until this time next year to find me. Until then."
I dropped to my knees and bowed my head in anger. NO! He can't do this to
me. Just when something good was about to happen to me, Vagnone comes, and
destroys it. I will not marry him, I will marry Shand, and somehow I will
defeat Vagnone. Why can't he just leave me alone?
Shand rushed over to me, and put his arms around me. I looked up at him and
just seeing him made me cry. I will not lose him
"Shand, lets get married now. I don't care if it's small, I want to marry
you now."
He smiled and laughed.
"Anything you want. I know a little chapel a days ride away from here, and
there we will be wed and after that, for our honeymoon, we can sail to the
little Spanish island that is just off the coast. I heard that it is
beautiful, and the sunsets are to die for. Ok? But Sweetie, why didn't you
answer me before? What were you pointing at? You scared me, and I wanted to
protect you, but there was nothing to protect you from. There was nothing
in the room beside you and me."
I stood up and started to pace. Should I tell Shand about what I saw, or
no? He has the right to know, but it might frighten him away. I'm going to
tell him anyway, and if he doesn't believe me, then he doesn't believe me.
"Shand, I saw the face again, but this time it talked to me. It was
Vagnone, and he told me that I have a year to find him and marry him, and
if I don't then everyone I love will die, and he will haunt me till the day
I die, and make me suffer. I will not marry him, but if you still want to,
I will marry you, and I will find Vagnone and destroy him."
Now Shand stood up and started to pace too. He stopped and took my hands.
