Chapter 2 'Denial at its Finest'

Victoria stood flabbergasted in the middle of the church aisle, her hand outstretched and pointing at the long dead corpse bride and her equally dead ex-husband to be. Shaking her head for what seemed like the millionth time since she had stepped into the church that afternoon she clenched her fists in fury. Why had this happened to her? She was suppose to have a 'simple normal wedding' with the man she loved and ensure that her families step back into high-class society was a smooth one. Even though she hated the fact that her parents were using her, she was willing to do it, because she truly did love Victor. Yet all of their hope, dreams and carefully laid plans had been ruined, all because of her the other women.

That was the problem though, wasn't it? Emily the infamous 'Corpse Bride' It was because of her, that Victor had left everything he had known. Sacrificed any chance of being happy, all for her, yet all for nothing. How could the dead really understand love? How could the living really love the dead? Victoria sighed when she remembered that Victor wasn't exactly alive anymore. Just another fact in this freaky day that proved that she was just incapable of saving the man she loved. Silently she glanced at Victor's blue skinned figure and felt the hot tears of Betrayal sting her eyelids. How would she get through it? Her husband to be had married a corpse and she was destined to live out the rest of her unhappy life with a one Lord Barkis Bittern. With a barely concealed sob, Victoria turned away from Victor and Emily as she slowly sunk to the floor.

With a sigh, Victor watched helplessly as Victoria turned away from them. He had known deep down that his choice would cause her heartache and pain and that she would have tried with all her might to deter him from the choice. Make him forget why he wished to stay with Emily. She would never understand what he saw in Emily and that was what tore Victor up the most. He knew that she wouldn't have agree with his thinking, but to be totally rejected by her, was something he hadn't expected. Pulling away from Emily he moved towards Victoria. He knew that he couldn't turn back the clocks and change what he had done, but not having her blessing, her solemn promise that she wouldn't tear herself up over this, that would prove to be his undoing. Walking up behind her, he placed his hand on her shoulder happy that she didn't push him away, yet sadden by the fact that she would not face him. With yet another sigh Victor let his hand slide from her shoulder.

"Victoria I know you're hurt and confused. You feel betrayed…" He was unsure how to continue. What do you say to a woman who just had her heart torn from her, crushed and then given back only a pile of dust? Victoria turned around to face him finally, fuelled by the anger she felt for this situation.

"You, Victor have no idea how I feel right now." She said softly as she placed her right hand on her forehead. "You couldn't possible understand." She repeated again only this time without all of the bitterness and much more longing. Again she collapsed her to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. She glanced up at Victor and her bottom lip began to tremble again. She was so in love with the man standing before her; she didn't know what to do. Dropping her gaze back to the floor she gasped as she laid her eyes upon Barkis's blue and battered form. She raised her hand shakily at his still form and pointed at him. Victor gave Victoria a confused stare, he apparently had no idea what had transpired in the Everglot household once he had been swept off of his feet and taken down to the land of the dead. She shook her head again; it was just too much for her to take. "How's this possible?" She said softly her voice was lacking the bright and sunny spirit it usually carried. Victor took her hand and slowly helped her up.

"What's possible Victoria?" He asked wanting to know, why she was suddenly so concerned about Barkis. He glanced up at Emily to see if she understood what Victoria was talking about, but the corpse bride only shrugged and shook her head. It seemed that Victor wasn't the only one who had no idea what was going on. Victoria pulled her hand away from Victor's and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I've lost them both…" She said softly as Victor gasped. Victoria ignored his gasp and continued on. "I lost my one true love to her." She said pointing at Emily. "And I lost my husband… to whatever happened here."

Silent echoed throughout the church at this little revelation. How could anyone willingly marry Barkis? Nervous laughter replaced the silence in the church as Victor stared at Victoria, searching for something to say to her. It was Emily who finally said anything.

"You should be relieved that he did away with himself. He is a twisted soul who loved to prey upon young maidens such as yourself, for their wine and their money. After they were done, he got rid of them. If anything you should be grateful." She said softly as she gazed out the church window, a solitary tear slipping down her blue cheek. She knew what true love felt like, just as well, as the sting of betrayal. Victoria glanced up at Emily and for the first time, understood why she had fallen for Victor. Slowly she walked over to Emily and placed her hand upon the bony shoulder of the Corpse Bride. Emily glanced at Victoria, who in return gave her a sad small smile.

"I understand what you mean by your words and you're right, I should be grateful. No other women shall ever have to deal with that tyrant again." She said as Emily nodded and began to walk towards Victor. All she wanted was to return to the land of the dead, but Victoria's words stopped her in her tracks. "Take care of him." Those four words meant the afterlife to Emily and she turned back to Victoria, only to find her displaying the truest smile she had ever seen. Emily again nodded and flashed Victoria a smile of her own, before joining Victor by his side one again. She embraced him, before glancing at Victoria one last time as Victor gave Victoria a short wave before pulling Emily into a hug. He mouthed goodbye to Victoria as he whispered the magic words that would take them all back home.

'Hopscotch'

A flash of green light engulfed the church and moment's later Victoria was the only one left standing in the church. Everything was empty, no evidence of the dead ever being there. Except the crimson stain centered in the middle of the stage. That spot alone marked the resting place of a great evil; an evil Victoria wanted nothing to do with anymore. With a long sigh, Victoria turned away from the stage and started her journey out of the church and back to town. Her parents wouldn't be pleased, but at least she wouldn't have to share the last name Bittern anymore. She tossed her veil and flower away once outside of the church and made her way to the bride at the brisk walk. As she walked back to town, she was unaware of the evil red eyes watching her.
Until we meet again my sweet… which I promise won't be long at all… The figure disappeared with a brilliant flash of green light.

Author Note: I want to thank all of you who reviewed the first chapter of my story. It means so much to me. I'm currently working on the third chapter, but I want your imput. I'd like some of your ideas to put into the story. I won't tell you the big twist that I'm planning you'll have to wait and see what that is, but If you have any idea that you'd like to see, submit me a review and I'll take it into consideration.

Special thanks goes out to Imagi, griffin-queen-of-silver-skies, gracefuldead56, Deyinel, VeganHippie for reviewing my story. I'm so glad you like it.